Samuel Roof was born in Shenandoah County, Va., March 3, 1797. His parents were from Germany. When a boy, his mother being left a widow, with a large family, the son Samuel was apprenticed to the tanning business, which vocation he followed at intervals for more than fifty years. March 25, 1819, he was married to Miss Dorothy Steffy, of Rockingham County, Va. They were the parents of nine children - four sons and five daughters. When James, the youngest son and seventh child, was four months old, the family started in a wagon to move to Indiana. After a tedious and perilous journey of one month they landed, Nov. 1, 1835, at Washington, Wayne County. March, 1837, Mr. Roof contracted to take charge of the tannery of John Powell at New Castle, and moved his family to this place, which then contained but few houses, surrounded by dense forests abounding in wild game. Two taverns opened their hospitable doors to weary travelers - one kept by Thaddeus Owen, the other by Rev. George G. Rogers. Two stores - Miles Murphey's, in a log-house on the present store-room site; and Silvers & Thornburgh's, where Campbell Brothers now sell goods. One church, the Methodist Episcopal, standing where the "Shady Side" boarding house is now located on East Race street. The brick building were the new court-house, which had been erected about five years; the seminary, a two-story building, with one room and a hall on each floor, and a small, one-story residence, occupied by Henry Hazzard. In 1839 two brick buildings for county offices were erected, one on the southeast and one on the northeast corner of the court-house yard; many tenements were of the primitive order. In this village two daughters were born them - Sarah A. R., January, 1838, and Leah E., July 1840. Samuel Roof and his wife were the first persons immersed as Disciples of Christ, in New Castle, Nov. 5, 1839, by Elder James McVey. At the organization of the Christian church, in this place, he was chosen as one of its Elders, and has served as Sunday-school Superintendent a number of terms. Nothing but sickness prevents him from filling his place in all services of the church. Until within the present year he has had excellent health, and born the burden of his years well. Blessed with an exceedingly retentive memory, he discourses on "the days of yore" with unusual clearness and distinctiveness. In December, 1866, the youngest son, James, was buried; in December, 1871, his wife was laid away to rest; in August, 1875, his eldest daughter, Ann Eliza, was called hence; in May, 1880, his second son, Erasmus, was summoned by the pale-faced messenger. His remaining sons - John, of this county, and Frank, of Wells; his daughters - Catherine Murray, of Iowa; Leah E. Murphey, of Illinois; Elizabeth Brown, and Sarah A. R. Boor, of New Castle, take pleasure in various ways of administering to his wants in his declining years. "The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness." Many tokens of respect have been shown the old pioneer by citizens and members of the Christian church. March 3, 1878, when he was eighty-one years old, a large number of members of the church dined with him at Dr. W. F. Boor's - where his home has been for several years - and, among other interesting exercises, an original poem was read by Mrs. Anna E. Robson:

"My dear friends, I do not bring
A gift of beauty rare, or priceless worth;
Only a simple, free-will offering,
In an earnest heart having birth;
Only some kindly thought,
And wishes sincerely true,
With respect, love and reverence fraught,
Is the gift I bring to you.

"Another year into the shadowy past,
On the wings of time has sped;
Oh, year! how all too soon and fast
From our grasp ye are fled!
Ye come, and lo! ye are gone,
Swiftly as a transient dream;
Ah! so quickly are ye flown
That even as days do ye seem.

"Fourscore-and-one of these years so fleeting
Have been numbered by you to-day;
And these friends who come with their greeting
All honor to these years will pay.
Fourscore-and-one years have silvered your hair,
And bowed your once-erect form;
But their burdens of sorrow and care
Have not chilled your heart, strong and warm.

"Amid the sunlight and blessings of life
You have found many pure pleasures;
Amid its shadows, its losses and strife,
You have gathered many rich treasures.
Treasures of hope, faith and trust,
And an all-abiding love,
In and for the dear Savior, which must
At last lead you to him above.

"Yes, when your life and labor is done,
And earth recedes from your sight,
A glory greater than that of the sun
Will await you in the realms of light.
Fourscore-years and-one, a long life indeed,
Truly a long race to run;
And yet we pray that God will not speed
The setting of your earthly sun.

"Many days, kind friend, may you be spared,
Ere the call of the Master will come;
For those for whom you have kindly cared
Will miss you when you go home.
Aye! when you no longer stand
In your old accustomed place
Greatly will you be missed by the little band
Who plead at the throne of grace.

"But we know that you are only waiting, listening
For the stroke of the boatman's oar,
That will bear you on the waters glistening
To the beautiful spirit-shore;
Only waiting with an earnest longing
For the blessed glad reunion
With the loved ones who are thronging
'Round the throne in sweet communion.

"Then, be your days many or few, with love and good cheer,
We will brighten your declining years,
And tenderly watch as you draw near
To the home where are no parting good-bys or tears."

For nearly half a century Samuel Roof has resided in Henry County, and noted its growth and development, attained through the energies and industries of an enterprising people and the blessing of a kind heavenly Father. He has followed most of his contemporaries to their long home, and contemplates with delight the silent, solemn shore of that vast ocean upon which he must soon launch his boat.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 529 to 532.
Submitted by: Jeanie

George H. Root, proprietor of City Meat Market, New Castle, Ind., is a native of Virginia, born in the Shenandoah Valley, in December, 1829. He came to Henry County, Ind., in 1861, and engaged in farming till 1870. In the spring of 1871 he moved to New Castle, and carried on a dairy two years, milking from fifteen to twenty cows. He also began butchering in 1871, and in 1878 bought his present place of business. Mr. Root was married in his native State in 1855, to Catherine B. Stowers. She died in 1870, leaving one daughter - Mary N., wife of J. Gilbert. In 1872 Mr. Root married B. J. Lowery, daughter of George Lowery. They have two children - Martha B. and Catherine C. Mr. and Mrs. Root are members of the United Brethren church. He has been a member of the City Board several years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 532.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Richard B. Rudy, dealer in pianos, organs, and all kinds of musical instruments, New Castle, Ind., was born in Middletown Valley, Md., March 15, 1851, a son of Joshua and Phoebe Rudy. He was educated in the State Normal College, Baltimore. He then began to learn the piano-maker's trade, at the same time educating himself in the art of music. He subsequently went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and obtained the position of manager of the music house of Rudolph Wurlitzer & Bro., remaining with them eight years. He then accepted a position in the office of the Chase Piano Works, Richmond, and subsequently went to Toledo, Ohio, remaining till the company failed in business. In the winter of 1883 he came to New Castle, and became associated with D. S. Johnson & Co., opening his present place of business at 124 Broad street. He keeps a full line of musical instruments, including the Chickering piano and Johnson organ. He thoroughly understands his business, and is a reliable and expert tuner and repairer. He was married in 1876 to May, daughter of W. C. Bowman. They have two children - W. Otto and Leona.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 532 and 533.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Lewis Shelley, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of North Carolina, born July, 1818. He came to Indiana when a young man, and was married in Henry County to Mary A. Coates, a native of England, who died in 1873. They had a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters. All lived to be married, but the sons only are now living. One son, George, resides in Minnesota; the others are at home with their father. Mr. Shelley's farm contains eighty acres of choice and valuable land, most of it under cultivation. He is one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of the township, giving of his time and means liberally to all laudable causes.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 533.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Winford W. Shelley, was born June 28, 1822, in North Carolina, a son of William and Prudence (Cordry) Shelley, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively. They came to Henry County, Ind., in 1828, residing near New Castle till 1857, when they moved to Iowa, where William Shelley died in 1868. His wife died several years previous. They had eight sons, of whom four are living. Our subject was reared on his father's farm till he was about twenty years old, when he was employed in the livery stable of Joshua Chappell. He was then engaged some four years in selling fanning mills for Daniel Coble & Co. He then sold stoves and tinware for a firm in Dublin, Ind., after which he sold clocks for A. D. Bond. He was also engaged in selling lightning rods. He was married in 1849 to Mrs. Ruth A., widow of Exum Saint Pickering. She has one son by her former husband. In 1853 Mr. Shelley was elected Sheriff of Henry County, and served two terms of two years each. After retiring from that office he acted as Deputy Tax Collector of Henry County for several years, and during the same time was engaged in auctioneering. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1871. His wife belongs to the Society of Friends.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 533 and 534.
Submitted by: Jeanie

John W. Sherry is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born Dec. 15, 1822, a son of George and Susannah Sherry, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Montgomery County in the spring of 1822, remaining there till the death of his father. In 1832 his mother, with her family of six children, moved to Henry County, Ind., and settled in Liberty Township, near the present site of Millville, and with the help of her sons cleared forty acres of land, where she remained till her death, in June, 1847. At this time the children were all married, except one, and the farm was sold. John W. was married the year previous to Louise, daughter of David Shell, and settled on the old homestead. He remained in Liberty Township till 1880, when he moved to his present farm, a mile and a quarter north of New Castle, which contains sixty acres of good land. His wife died Dec. 25, 1877, leaving five daughters, one of whom has since died. In 1879 he married Sarah A. Van Zant, widow of Nicholas Van Zant, and a daughter of George and Rhoda Reed. She has four children, two sons and two daughters, by her former marriage.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 534.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Benjamin Shirk, of Shirk, Johnson & Fisher, manufacturers of grain cradles, was born in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Pa., March 20, 1819. In 1847 he came to New Castle, Ind., and established a factory for making grain cradles, carrying on the business till 1853, when he was appointed agent of what is now the Pan Handle Railroad, and served in that capacity two years, and in 1855 was appointed Deputy County Clerk; four years later was elected Clerk, and re-elected at the end of his term, thus serving eight years. He then served as his successor's deputy two years. In 1871 he resumed the manufacture of grain cradles, forming a partnership with Messrs. Johnson & Fisher. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Shirk was elected State Senator from the district comprising the counties of Henry and Hancock, and served two years. For the last fifteen years he has been Secretary of the New Castle Cemetery Association. He served as disbursing agent during the building of the Henry County court-house. He was married in 1842 to Frances Newcomer, of Franklin County, Pa. She died in 1857, leaving six children - George W., who was mortally wounded at the battle of Chickamauga; Sophia J., wife of D. W. Kinsey; John J.; William H.; Anna R., wife of C. M. Harrison, of Huron, Dak.; Mary F., died at the age of seven years. In 1859 Mr. Shirk married Mrs. J. F. Wood. They have had two daughters - Martha O., who died in infancy, and Lois. Mr. Shirk has been a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity since 1849. He is a member of the English Lutheran church. In March, 1876, upon the death of E. Johnson, Vice-President of the Citizens' State Bank of New Castle, Ind., Mr. Shirk was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of that officer, which position he now holds, and has held ever since his election in 1876.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 534 and 535.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Henry L. Shopp, florist and vegetable gardener, East Broad Street, New Castle, Ind., was born in Cumberland County, Pa., March 24, 1831, a son of Jacob and Ann Shopp. When twenty-two years of age he came to Henry County, Ind.; in February, 1853, returned to his native State and married Mary A., daughter of William and Elizabeth Wilson, near Mechanicsburgh, Cumberland County, and immediately came again to Indiana. He engaged in farming till the year 1858 when he moved to New Castle, and worked at the carpenter's trade till after the breaking out of the Rebellion. In November, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and served till June, 1865. He participated in the battles of Franklin, Nashville and others. After his return home he resumed work at the carpenter's trade. In the spring of 1868 he was appointed by the commissioners to superintend the finishing of the court-house, grading and completing the yard and its surroundings, Morris F. Edwards having resigned. After its completion he served as janitor for the court-house ten years. In 1876 he resigned his position as janitor, and then opened the greenhouse, where he is still located. Mr. and Mrs. Shopp have two children - Anna E., wife of W. W. Modlin, and Wilson A., married to Ella, daughter of Jacob Weaver. Mr. Shopp is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 535.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Henry Shroyer is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Greene County, July 28, 1810, a son of David and Catherine Shroyer. He learned the saddler's trade in his native county, when a young man. He lost his father in 1826, and in 1835, with his mother and sister, he came to Henry County, Ind., and settled in New Castle, where his mother died in 1838. He opened the first saddle and harness shop in the town and worked at his trade eight years. He then disposed of his stock and engaged in the dry-goods business. He was one of the leading merchants in that line for thirty years, carrying a complete stock of general merchandise in connection with dry goods. He retired from active business life in 1882. He was nominated by the Democratic party, Treasurer of Henry County, but was defeated by 260 votes. March 21, 1839, he was married to Esther, youngest daughter of David and Catherine Hoover, of Wayne County, Ind. To them have been born seven children, but five of whom are living - A. R., a wholesale grocer of Logansport, Ind.; Caroline, wife of J. T. Elliott, a partner of A. R.; Julia, wife of T. B. Loer; Catherine, wife of G. W. Hillock; Lizzie, wife of Henry Bierhaus, a teacher in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Indianapolis. Mr. Shroyer has been a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity thirty years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 535 and 536.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Mrs. Elizabeth Stanford, the youngest daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Martindale, is a native of Wayne County, Ind. She was married in 1848 to Philip Stanford, and was left a widow at the age of twenty-seven years. After the death of her husband she taught school several years, when it devolved upon her to take the care of her parents. She has always had a taste for pursuits of a literary nature, and has been a frequent contributor to the columns of several journals.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 536.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Edward K. Strattan was born in Warren County, Ohio, April 19, 1831, only son of Joseph and Rebecca (Kindley) Strattan, his father a native of Pennsylvania, of English descent, and his mother of North Carolina, of German descent. Both parents had been previously married and had children. Joseph Strattan was run over by a pair of horses and killed before our subject's birth. In 1839 his mother came to Indiana, and settled on the farm now owned by her son. She purchased 227 acres of land from Joseph Hall, where she reared her family, and resided till her death in October, 1855. She was a woman of rare ability and management. Edward K. received but a limited education in the common schools, but by home reading has acquired a good knowledge of all general subjects. When fourteen years of age he took charge of his mother's farm, and by the time he was twenty-one had paid an incumbrance of $2,700. He then purchased the homestead of his mother, and was married to Hannah, daughter of Enos Bond. His mother made her home with him till her death. He now owns 1,200 acres of the finest land, well stocked with the finest grades of horses, hogs and cattle; also a saw-mill, pike and bank stocks, and has put up and owns the first roller flour-mill in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Strattan have had six children; but four are living - Albert, Ella, Benjamin and Minnie, They are members by birthright of the Society of Friends.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 536 and 537.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Lewis H. Swindell is a native of Guilford County, N. C., born Oct. 27, 1820, a son of John and grandson of Joshua Swindell, who was a native of England and emigrated to North Carolina in an early day. John Swindell was a sailor on the Atlantic Ocean seven years. Lewis H. was married in February, 1843, to Nancy H. Petty, who was born June 7, 1824. In 1857 they came to Henry County, Ind., and settled in Henry Township. In 1868 he bought his present farm, which contains 283 acres of choice limestone land. Of late years he has turned his attention to raising horses, owning several fine Clydesdale horses, imported direct from Scotland. He is one of the most influential men of the township; public spirited and progressive, he is an enthusiastic worker for all projects of public benefit. He has been a director of the free pike many years. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the lodge at Greensboro, chapter and council at New Castle, and commandery at Knightstown. Mr. and Mrs. Swindell have nine children, five sons and four daughters, all married with homes of their own.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 537.
Submitted by: Jeanie

John Taylor is a native of Athens County, Ohio, born Dec. 1, 1802, a son of George and Mary (Fulton) Taylor. When he was six years of age his father died and his mother, with her four children, three girls and one boy, returned to her native State, Pennsylvania, where she died in 1855. When sixteen years of age Mr. Taylor began learning the saddle and harness maker's trade, and worked at it in Jefferson, Pa., till 1835, when he came to Indiana and located in New Castle. Soon after coming here he built a saw-mill, which he ran three years. In 1838 he opened a hotel on the site of the Citizens' State Bank, and subsequently opened what is now the Bundy House, running it nine years. Since 1877 he has lived retired from active business. He has always been a public-spirited man and many improvements of the city and county are due to his enterprise. He was the first man in the county to take stock in the Richmond & Cincinnati Railroad and solicited subscriptions from his friends to the amount of $25,000. He received the nomination on the Democratic ticket for Treasurer of Henry County, and in the face of a strong Republican majority was defeated by only forty votes. Mr. Taylor has been a member of the Masonic fraternity over thirty years. He was married in 1827 to Ann Shroyer, of Jefferson, Pa. They have had a family of six children - Maria, wife of James A. McMeans, of Nebraska; Mary, wife of Jesse Mellett; Kate, wife of R. B. Smith; Emma, wife of Judge E. B. Martindale, of Indianapolis; George, married M. E., daughter of Waterman Clift; James H., married Lizzie Strawn, of Ottawa, Ill.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 537 and 538.
Submitted by: Jeanie

John F. Thompson, M. D., is a native of Carroll County, Ky., born June 17, 1851, a son of Thomas F. and Mary C. (Carpenter) Thompson. His parents reside in Lebanon, Ohio, removing there when our subject was six months old. He received his early education in the school of Lebanon and in 1868 began the study of medicine. In 1869 he received instruction from Dr. Cropper, an eminent physician of Lebanon, and in 1870 took a course of lectures at the Homeopathic Hospital College, Cleveland, Ohio, after which he began his practice in Liberty, Union Co., Ind. In 1874 he came to New Castle and the following winter returned to the college and took a second course of lectures, graduating in 1875. He returned to New Castle and has since had a steadily increasing practice. He is now Secretary of the Board of Health of New Castle. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F.; New Castle Lodge, No. 91, F. & A. M., and of the K. of P. and K. of H. fraternities. In 1876 Dr. Thompson was married to Mary Wright, of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have one daughter - Cordelia L.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 538.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Moab Turner, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Virginia, February, 1838, and on attaining his majority went to Tennessee, where he remained till the breaking out of the civil war. He enlisted in the Union army in the First Tennessee Cavalry, and served three years, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Resaca, Atlanta and many others. At Atlanta he was taken prisoner and was confined in Andersonville about a month; was then sent to Florence, S. C., and remained six months, when he was paroled and exchanged. Returning to Annapolis he was in the hospital two weeks when he was sent home on a furlough, and was afterward discharged at Nashville. In the fall of 1866 he came to Indiana and settled in Wayne County, remaining there till 1878, when he came to Henry County and settled on the farm where he now resides. He was married in Tennessee to Frances Derrer. They have eight children, three sons and five daughters. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Dunkard church.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 538.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Isaac Van Matre, farmer, was born in Highland County, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1813, a son of Isaac and Mary (Caldwell) Van Matre, his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Pennsylvania. His parents moved to Fayette County, Ind., in 1814, and in 1834 to Madison County, where the father died in 1835. In the fall of 1835 he moved to Wayne County, and in 1838 to Henry County and bought 118 acres of timber land, which he has cleared and improved. He was married in Wayne County, to Judith Cripe, and to them were born nine children, four sons and five daughters, seven of whom are living. Mr. Van Matre is a member of the German Baptist church, and has been a minister of the denomination thirty-five years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 539.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Frank J. Vestal, Treasurer of Henry County, Ind., was born in Greensboro, April 14, 1857, a son of Henry L. and M. C. Vestal. He moved with his parents to Knightstown in September, 1865, and there received an academic education. After arriving at manhood he taught two winters. He was then appointed Deputy Treasurer and served five years. In November, 1883, he was appointed Deputy County Auditor, and in the spring of 1884 was elected to his present office. In March, 1879, Mr. Vestal was married to Alice M., daughter of Allen T. and Lucinda C. Kirk, of Knightstown. They have one son - George K. Politically Mr. Vestal is a Republican.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 539.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Milton M. Vestal, dealer in hardwood lumber, New Castle, Ind., is a native of North Carolina, born Jan. 7, 1836, a son of William and Elizabeth (Newby) Vestal. When he was thirteen years old his father died, and in 1852 his mother came with her family to Henry County, Ind., residing here till her death, Dec. 19, 1880. Of her seven children four are living. Soon after coming to the county Mr. Vestal was employed as engineer on the Pan Handle Railroad, serving in that capacity several years. He then engaged in his present business, in which he has been very successful. He deals in all kinds of hardwood lumber, shipping extensively to the seaboard. He was married March 27, 1858, to Jane E. Mullen, daughter of John S. Mullen, of Henry County, coming here from Georgetown, Ohio, in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Vestal have four children - Lizzie, John S., Mollie and Vaughn E. Mr. Vestal is a member of New Castle Lodge, No. 59, F. & A. M.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
New Castle and Henry Township.
Page 539.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Deb Murray