Joseph M. Whitesell, M. D., is one of the oldest physicians in the State of Indiana. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Alleghany County, Oct. 19, 1804, the youngest of nine children of Jacob and Catherine Whitesell, his father a native of Holland, and his mother of Pennsylvania. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving under General Washington, and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, from the effects of which he died in 1809. His mother survived her husband but a few months and thus at an early age he was left to fight the battle of life alone. His early life was one of hardship, spent in working on a farm with scarcely any school advantages. He possessed an insatiable desire for an education and when seventeen years of age had acquired sufficient to enable him to enter college, working outside of school hours to defray his expenses. In 1825 he began the study of medicine with the celebrated Dr. Speer, of Pittsburg, with whom he remained studying and practicing three years. In 1829 he came to Indiana, locating in West Liberty, near the present site of Knightstown. His possessions at that time amount to $5.18. He loaned the $5 to a man who never paid him and commenced life with 18 cents. He soon gained the confidence and esteem of the people, and won friends both professionally and socially. To practice medicine at that time required strength of character and force, but the Doctor was ready for any emergency. For many years he was the only physician in this part of the county, and was called upon to endure hardships unknown at this day, often having to walk or ride many miles to visit those who required his attention. His professional life has been successful and he is now giving up the practice to younger hands. His first certificate giving him the right to practice in Indiana was granted May 7, 1832. Aug. 19, 1831, he was married to Eleanor D., daughter of Waitzell M. Cary, the founder of Knightstown. They have two sons. Dr. and Mrs. Whitesell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1840. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, but on account of physical disability was obliged to resign after a service of six months.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Wayne Township.
Page 903 and 904.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Ellison Williams, of the firm Williams & Carroll, dealers in dry-goods, hats, caps and carpets, Knightstown, Ind., is a native of Indiana, born in Franklin County, Jan. 28, 1825, a son of Richard and Mary (Curry) Williams, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Virginia. He was reared in Hancock County, Ind., receiving a common-school education. After attaining his majority he worked on the farm a few years and then embarked in the mercantile business, opening a general store. In 1882 the present partnership was formed. The storeroom is 20 x 115 feet in size with a large room on the side which is used for groceries. Mr. Williams was married in 1852 to Margaret M., daughter of William Oldham, of Hancock County, Ind. They have two children - Charles E., and Emma B., wife of A. E. Carroll. Mr. Williams was for ten years a Trustee of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. He is one of the Directors of the First National Bank of Knightstown. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Methodist church.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Wayne Township.
Page 904.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Solomon S. Wink is a prominent farmer of Wayne Township. His farm contains 215 acres of choice land, the greater part under cultivation. His residence is a two-story frame building erected in 1874. His farm buildings are large and comfortable. Mr. Wink is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, born Jan. 24, 1822, a son of John D. and Elizabeth Wink, both natives of Pennsylvania. In 1829 his parents moved to Rush County, Ind., where his mother died. His father then returned to Ohio, but subsequently came again to Indiana and located in Wayne Township, Henry County. Solomon S. was fourteen years of age when his father came to Henry County. He spent his youth on the farm and thus early in life learned the principles of farming, and since putting them in practice for himself has been successful. He was married Dec. 28, 1848, to Sarah A., daughter of John Carr. They have two children - John M. and Lewis C. Mr. Wink is a member of Golden Rule Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., and Commandery No. 833, K. T. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Wink's parents came to Indiana from Kentucky in an early day and settled in New Castle. Her father afterward started for the West to buy land, and when crossing the Wabash River on horseback, was drowned. His body was recovered and buried near the river at high-water mark. Her mother afterward married again. They had a family of three children - Mary J., now Mrs. Frances Overman; Mrs. Wink, and John W. who was drowned when ten years of age in White River.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Wayne Township.
Page 904 and 905.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Joseph Woods, deceased, a prominent and successful business man of Knightstown, was born in Salisbury, the old county seat of Wayne County, Ind., Feb. 9, 1818, and died Sept. 24, 1880. His parents, Samuel and Mary Woods, were natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1770 and the latter in 1785. They moved to Indiana in 1812. In 1834 our subject taught school for a time near Richmond, Ind.; then he came to Knightstown and clerked in the store of his brother James. His first experience in business for himself was in Lafayette, Ind., where he had a general store for a number of years. He afterward was at Carthage and Raysville, and in 1850 he came to Knightstown and carried on an extensive mercantile business a number of years, when he retired from active life and gave his attention to hi small farm just outside of the corporate limits of the town. Mr. Woods was twice married. His first wife was Minerva Sanger, to whom he was married Jan. 22, 1848. She died April 8, 1856, leaving four children - James M., Alice A., Clarence and Greely. Jan. 26, 1858, he married Elizabeth Zimmerman, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Farris and Mary Zimmerman. To them were born four children - George W., Wilbur, Eliza and Samuel. Mr. Woods was a man of decision, shrewd and sagacious in business, with a clearness of foresight possessed by few men. He was successful in his business operations and from a poor boy came to be one of the wealthiest men in the township. He was widely known and eminently respected, and by his death the county was deprived of a good citizen and an enterprising promoter of all good works.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Wayne Township.
Page 905 and 906.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Robert Woods, President of the First National Bank, of Knightstown, Ind., was born in Bracken County, Ky., Dec. 26, 1806. He is the second of ten children of Jeremiah and Margaret Woods. In 1810 his parents moved to Ohio, and in 1815 to Union County, Ind., where he spent his young days and received a fair business education. He was a Whig from the start, and gave his first vote for John Q. Adams for President of the United States. On the third of January, 1828, he was married to Hannah Heaton, who lived with him until the 7th day of March, 1884, when she departed this life at the age of seventy-six years, having lived together for over fifty-six years, and having reared a family; seven children now living. In 1829 with his wife he removed to Henry County, Ind., and settled in West Liberty, a small village near where Knightstown now stands, but which has entirely disappeared, not a single house now remaining to mark the spot. Mr. Woods kept a grocery at West Liberty for a short time and soon after entered eighty acres of land, which in 1833 he sold for $750, and in 1873 bought the same land again for $7,500. He now owns some 1,200 acres of land in Henry County. Mr. Woods has been an active business man for nearly fifty years, at times doing a large business. For a number of years he was in business in Cincinnati in packing pork and buying and selling hogs, and was well-known at that time by all the drovers of Eastern Indiana. At the close of the war when everything depreciated in value, the loss of the firm to which he belonged was something over $160,000; all the members of the firm either went into bankruptcy or failed to foot up their share of the loss and he had to face this indebtedness himself, which he did and finally paid every cent of the indebtedness. Since the above misfortune he has been engaged largely in raising and fattening cattle, and has fully recovered from his disaster. At this time he is President of the First National Bank of Knightstown, Ind., and is also attending actively to his farms and stock. Mr. Woods is a well-preserved man at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years, and always has been regarded as a man of remarkably good judgment, which he still maintains with almost its youthful vigor.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Wayne Township.
Page 906.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Lucinda Depboye, Middletown, Ind., is a native of Ohio, born near Hillsboro, Dec. 1, 1821, a daughter of Lewis and Diana (Marsh) Sommers, who were among the earliest settlers of Henry County. Her parents were married in Ohio, and in 1829 moved to Henry County and settled on a farm in Fall Creek Township, near the present site of Middletown, where the mother died Feb. 8, 1850. The father died at the residence of Mrs. Depboye, July 23, 1879. They had two children - Lucinda and Elizabeth M., the latter born Aug. 24, 1827. The family experienced all the hardships of pioneer life, the inconveniences of having few church and school privileges. Their children received only a common-school education, their attendance being limited to the winter months. Lucinda Sommers was married Sept. 17, 1840, to Joseph Depboye, a native of New Market, Rockingham Co., Va., born Oct. 30, 1816. His parents were Abraham and Rosanna (Goodyear) Depboye. He was reared a farmer and always followed that vocation. To Mr. and Mrs. Depboye were born five children - Emma E., born Aug. 16, 1841, married Robert Carter, Feb. 15, 1858; Margaret G., born Sept. 23, 1843, died March 10, 1853; Arbena R., born Sept. 28, 1845, married Abraham Hopper, Jan. 1, 1865; Lewis S., born Oct. 28, 1849, died in infancy; Annie, born June 16, 1851, married James H. Welsh, March 16, 1871. May 3, 1864, they moved to Middletown where Mr. Depboye died Aug. 17, 1868. Mrs. Depboye is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Depboye was a member of no religious organization, but always gave his influence to the side of morality and business integrity. Before the war he was a Know-nothing, but since the war affiliated with the Democratic party.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 907.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Henry Warren Jones, M. D., was born near Pleasant Hill, Miami Co., Ohio, Feb. 23, 1845, the eldest son of Samuel B. and Rhoda (Coate) Jones, natives of the same county, his father born Dec. 13, 1820, and his mother, Dec. 25, 1825. His paternal grandfather, Philander Jones, was born in South Carolina, Nov. 21, 1795, a son of Wallace and Rachel (Patty) Jones, also natives of South Carolina and early settlers of Miami County, Ohio. His paternal grandmother, Naomi (Tucker) Jones, was born in Tennessee, Feb. 12, 1799, a daughter of Abraham and Mary Tucker. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Coate, was born in South Carolina, July 8, 1799, a son of Henry and Mary Coate and grandson of Marmaduke and Mary (Hasket) Coate. His maternal grandmother, Mary (Miles) Coate, was a descendant of the royal family of England. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving his early education in the Friends' boarding school. When twenty-eight years of age he began reading medicine with Dr. Thomas E. Teague, of Miami County, and subsequently attended the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, graduating in the spring of 1875. He located in Charlottesville, Ind., the following summer and continued his practice there till the spring of 1878, when he removed to Spiceland and formed a partnership with Dr. John Hunt. May 10, 1879, Dr. Hunt withdrew and Dr. Jones has since practiced alone. He has built up a fine practice, having the confidence and esteem of the entire community and standing high in the estimation of his brother physicians. Dr. Jones was married Dec. 9, 1876, to Carrie Thornburg, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Thornburg, of Charlottesville, Ind. They have two children. Dr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Society of Friends. Politically he is a Republican.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 907 and 908.
Submitted by: Jeanie

John Wesley Miller, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, Middletown, Ind., is a son of Isaac and Mary (Witter) Miller, the former a native of Rockingham County, Va., born in 1782, and the latter a native of Schuylkill County, Pa., born in 1792. His ancestors came to the United States from Germany about 1680 or 1700. His parents moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, in early life and were there married in 1812. In 1829 they moved to Cambridge City, Ind., and settled on a farm, where the father died in 1862 and the mother in 1863. They had a family of ten children - Samuel, Susan Shideler, Elizabeth Shideler (deceased), Isaac (an attorney of Paris, Ill.), Abraham (of Crawfordsville, Ind.), Sarah Barnes, Aaron B., George W. (of Indianapolis), Catherine White (deceased) and John Wesley. Our subject was born near Cambridge City, April 27, 1832, and remained on his father's farm till seventeen years of age. He then worked four years at the blacksmith's trade in Cambridge City, Dublin and Fairview, and subsequently taught school and attended Asbury (now De Pauw) University, where he took a partial course, including the English branches, mathematics, chemistry, philosophy and theology. In 1855 he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church and has filled appointments as follows: Anderson Circuit, South Whitley, Pierceton, Akron, Monroeville, Leo, Angola, Leesburg, Osceola, Oregon, Bristol, Jerome, New Waverly, Montpelier, Warren, Perryburg, Williamsburg and Middletown. He was married June 26, 1858, in Wesley Chapel, Summit Co., Ohio, by Rev. S. Heard, to Rebecca N. Tousley. To them were born five children, Brittannia Arabelle, Lilly Lauretta, Mary Alice, George Wilberforce, and an infant daughter, all deceased save Mary Alice, who is attending De Pauw University. Mrs. Miller died, and April 8, 1872, Mr. Miller was married to Esther A. Tousley, of Akron, Ohio, by Rev. W. W. Ramsey. They have two children - John Earnest and Susan Grace. Politically Mr. Miller is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Good Templar fraternities and has held the office of King in Masonic chapter.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 908 and 909.
Submitted by: Jeanie

John W. Moore, M. D., Mechanicsburg, was born in Blue River Township, Oct. 29, 1848, a son of Philip and Elizabeth Moore, a sketch of whom will be found in the chapter devoted to Blue River Township. His early life was spent on the farm. He received a good common-school education and then began the study of medicine with Dr. John Needham, of New Castle. He graduated from the Physio-Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1875. He practiced six years in New Castle, and in 1879 moved to Mechanicsburg where he now has a good practice. He is a member of the first District Physio-Medical Association of Indiana and has been President of the Association three years. Dr. Moore was married May 29, 1869, to Nancy E. Keesling. To them have been born three children; but two are living - Neva I. and Genevieve. Dr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Christian church. He was a member of the Town Board of New Castle three years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 909.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Joseph Showalter, postoffice Mechanicsburg, is a son of Abraham and Frances (McCormick) Showalter, his father born within thirteen miles of Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 1, 1778, and his mother, April 5, 1785. Abraham Showalter went to Virginia in 1781 and was there married in 1801. He was a soldier six months in the war of 1812. In 1828 he moved with his family to Wayne County, Ind., and six years later, in 1834, moved to Fall Creek Township, Henry County. The mother died Aug. 15, 1866, aged eighty-one years, four months and ten days. The father died in Harrison Township, Feb. 8, 1869, aged ninety years, six months and seven days. They had a family of fourteen children; thirteen lived till man and womanhood - Polly, born May 8, 1802; Nancy, March 23, 1804; Elizabeth, Aug. 9, 1805; William, Dec. 28, 1806; Julia, March 19, 1808; John, Jan. 6, 1811; Barbara, Feb. 18, 1813; Neomia, April 10, 1814; Anderson, April 13, 1817; Catherine, March 5, 1819; Samuel, Oct. 27, 1821; Henry, Feb. 21, 1824; Joseph, April 17, 1826; Francis J., May 22, 1828. Joseph was born in Franklin County, Va., and was a mere child when his parents moved to Indiana. He received a common-school education and since reaching manhood has devoted his attention to farming. He was married Aug. 22, 1844, to Sarah Riley, from whom he was divorced. June 6, 1857, he married Sarah Nelson. He has three children - Mary F., born June 17, 1858, married Isaac Myer, March 25, 1877; Wilson H., born Oct. 10, 1861, married Elizabeth Zyrkle, June 7, 1884; Minnie, born Oct. 18, 1863, married Charles Keesling, Feb. 21, 1884. Politically Mr. Showalter is a Democrat. He has been a prominent man in the township and has served in many official relations. He has been a member of the Christian church twenty-five years and of the Masonic fraternity twenty years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 909 and 910.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Nathan H. Starr, farmer, postoffice Middletown, is a son of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Starr. His father was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1795, and his mother near Wilmington, Del., in 1797. They were married in Delaware in 1818, and in 1825 moved to Wayne County, Ind. The father died in Richmond, May 1, 1855, and the mother, July 10, 1884. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living - William C. and James M., of Richmond; Hannah A., of Liberty, Dak.; Nathan H.; Joseph W., of Steele City, Neb., and Benjamin, of Richmond. John, Samuel, Mary and Lydia are deceased. Nathan H. Starr was born in Richmond, Dec. 29, 1835. His education was limited, and when twenty-one years of age he began to learn the trade of a machinist with Gaar, Scott & Co., of Richmond. He remained with them eight years and then bought wood for the Chicago & Great Eastern Railroad three years. He then bought a farm near Middletown, where he has since resided. He was married Sept. 1, 1862, to Clara Gustin, of Chesterfield, Ind. They have had three children - Benjamin, born Sept. 7, 1869, died May 6, 1872; Amos C., born July 13, 1872; Margaret C., born Sept. 30, 1877. Mr. Starr is a member of the Society of Friends. He takes an active interest in politics, casting his suffrage with the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Webb Lodge, No. 27.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 910 and 911.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Nelson Wisehart, farmer, Fall Creek Township, postoffice Mechanicsburg, is a native of this township, a son of James and Sarah Wisehart, natives of Virginia. They subsequently moved to Ohio, and later to Fall Creek Township, Henry Co., Ind., where the father died. The mother is still living in Middletown. They were among the earliest settlers of the township. Of their ten children but four are living. Our subject was reared on a farm. His educational advantages were limited to the district schools, when his services were not required on the f arm. He was married in Hancock County, Ind., to Nancy McCarty. To them have been born eight children; but six are living - Sarah Jane, Benjamin F., John J., Laura, Luella, and Charity E. Mr. and Mrs. Wisehart are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 911.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Daniel Waltz, a prominent and successful farmer of Blue River Township, was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., Dec. 7, 1817. He is the youngest of nine children, five boys and four girls, of Frederick and Charlotte (Dreschin) Waltz, both natives of Schuylkill County, Pa. His great-grandfather, John Randall Waltz, came from Switzerland to America in 1744 and located in Pennsylvania. Frederick Waltz and two brothers are buried in the Germantown Cemetery, Wayne County, and one brother is buried at Hagerstown, Ind. They were among the earliest settlers of the county, Frederick coming to this State in 1818 and his brother about the same time. Frederick Waltz died in 1849, aged sixty-nine years; Jacob died in 1868, aged eighty-one years; Daniel died in 1866, aged seventy-five years; Peter died in 1864, aged seventy-five years (buried at Hagerstown); another brother, John Henry, settled in Brant, Ohio, and died in 1874, aged eighty-nine years. The mother of our subject died in Germantown, aged ninety-seven years. She received a fright from robbers entering her house and the shock shortened her life. Her friends had every reason to hope that she would reach the age of 100 years. Daniel Waltz was a year old when his parents moved to Wayne County. He was reared and educated in the county, attending school in the old log school-house with a puncheon floor and seats and the wide fire-place. When about twenty years of age he began learning the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship with his brother Jacob who was a skillful workman in wood. He showed such aptitude for the business that he was soon able to command good wages. He followed his trade twenty years and became one of the most prominent contractors of Wayne and Henry counties, building some of their finest residences and barns. In 1848 he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising and settled in Henry County. He cleared a farm of 280 acres, doing the entire work on 130 acres himself. His farm is located on the waters of Flatrock Creek and is the choicest land in the county. His residence is a large two-story frame building, surrounded with beautiful shade and ornamental trees. His farm buildings are commodious and comfortable. He is a thrifty and energetic farmer and has been rewarded with success. He has been one of the most extensive hog raisers in the township. He is an enterprising man and is not content to settle down in the old rut of his father's. He has introduced a new and fine variety of wheat in the county and also the "Welcome oats," a variety that sells for $10 a bushel. The soil of Henry County seems specially adapted to this variety. He started in life in meager circumstances and has gained his property by his own energy. He is a plain, unassuming man, quiet and temperate in his habits and mild in his manners. He was born a Democrat and has always adhered to the party. He has been a member of the Lutheran church since eighteen years of age, his wife being a member of the same church. Mr. Waltz was married April 11, 1844, to Mary Fouts, of Liberty Township. They have a family of six children - Jefferson, Lewis, Francena (wife of Robert Manifold), Eli, Louisa J. and Aaron. All save one of their children are married, and they have twenty grandchildren.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Appendix.
Page 911 and 912.
Submitted by: Jeanie

Deb Murray