Owen County Biography Ref. Page

GEORGE W. EDWARDS, Justice fo the Peace was born in Clay Township, Owen County, IN., November 3, 1831. His parents, Isaac and Mary (Collier) Edwards, emigrated to Owen County at an early date and located in Washington township, where they remained until the mother's death, March 12, 1883. George is the third in a family of eleven children and was reared upon the farm in Washington Township, where he was educated in the district schools. In 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-Second Indiana Volunteers under W.F. Neil. In 1863, he was discharged on account of disability and came home, where he remained until February, 1865. He enlisted in Company G, Forty-third Indiana Volunteers, and stayed out until the close of the war, being in active service. In January, 1866, he married Sarah C. Dow of Owen County. By this union, there were seven children, all dead but two. The mother died in Spencer, December 31, 1881, and in 1882 he married. May Worrell, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Worrell, of Bloomington, Ind. After his first married, he farmed in Washington Township for eleven years; then came to Spencer and went into the butcher business, which he followed for eighteen months. After this he acted as Constable for some time and was finally appointed Marshal of Spencer, which position he held for one year. He was also County Coroner for several years, and in the spring of 1880 purchased a farm, about four miles east of Spencer, where he farmed for about one year, when he sold it and returned to town where in 1880, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he very creditably fills at present.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 836

DAVID N. ELLIS, farmer and stock raiser, eldest son of Abraham and Sarah (Couchman) Ellis, natives of the State of Virginia and of Irish and German extraction respectively was born in Berkley County, Virginia November 3, 1818. From Virginia he removed in the year 1847 to the state of Ohio, where he resided in Champaign county until the spring of 1872. Coming thence into Indiana, he located at Spencer and for one year carried on the manufacture of brick. In the spring of 1873, he moved upon the farm where he has since lived. February 20, 1845 Mr Ellis married in his native county to Susannah E. Small, who has borne him eight children--Henry L(deceased), Rebecca H. (deceased) Mary Ellen, John B, James L, Sarah, Charles B and Armilda. Mr. and Mrs Ellis are members of the Presbyterian Church and Mr Ellis belongs to both the Odd Fellows and Masons. He was reared upon a farm and educated at the common schools of Virginia. In politics, he is an out and out Democrat of the old school, having cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
CLAY TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 933

TUNIS EVERLY, farmer and stock raiser, is the fourth of the ten children of Jacob and Lydia (Miller) Everly, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, and both of German descent. Tunis was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 4, 1828, obtained what schooling he could and was reared a farmer. After the death of his father, when seventeen years old, he engaged as a farm hand for his board, clothers and two months schooling. September 27, 1852, he emigrated to Indiana, and located in this township where at that time but little improvement had been made, but in which Mr. Everly afterward took active part. June 6, 1856, he married Matilda J., daughter of John and Ann Kerr, and a native of Holmes County, Ohio to which union succeeded ten children--Emarine, Walter, William B, Armstrong Ellsworth, John Zelmon, Anna E, Rosa Belle, Horatio, Guy I, and Mary Hattie. Mr. Everly died July 14, 1877, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Everly is a successful man, having begun life poor and unassisted. He owns 305 acres of land, improved, cultivated and stocked and all acquired by thrift and energy. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a valued citizen. DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 963

JESSE L. EVANS, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind., born December 31, 1829, and is the seventh of the ten children of Samuel and Margery (Modrell) Evans, natives of Tennessee and of Scotch descent, who were brought to Kentucky when young and thence moved to this county about the year of 1818, where they lived out the times of their lives. Jesse remained with his parents until September 12, 1850, at which time he married Elizabeth A, daughter of Henry Evans, of this county, which alliance was followed by five children--William H, Mary B, Sarah K, Morton J, and Nettie. Mr. Evans followed the blacksmithing trade for ten years, having learned that handicraft when eighteen years old, but of late he has given his whole attention to farming. He began his life under frowning and depressing circumstances, but by energy and diligence he has been rewarded by a good living and a fine farm of 160 acres. Mr. Evans is a Republican and he and wife are honored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and much esteemed in their community.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
TAYLOR TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 952

SAMUEL P. EVINS, prominent farmer, was born in Bath County, Ky., June 3, 1821 and is the second son of Thomas and Anna (Martin) Evins, natives of Kentucky and of Welsh and Irish extraction. About 1824, his parents came to this State and settled in Putnam County, Ind., whence our subject came to this county in 1844, and located on the land he now lives upon. December 16, 1842, he married Mary Swift, by which marriage these parties had four children--Lewis Benson(died in the Union Army, March 1862), Ezra B, Catherine (now Mrs. Spear) and Thomas(deceased). In 1854, Mr. Evins was elected and served one term as Township Trustee. In 1864, he entered Company B, Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Without any private aid or brilliant successess, Mr. Evins has by hard work and good management secured a genteel competence and is the owner of lands aggregating 458 acres, all under good cultivation and with varied and modern improvements. Mr. Evins is a benevolent and an esteemed citizen and he and his wife are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
MORGAN TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 945

HENRY N. FISCUS, an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Jefferson Township, near the little village of Middletown, was born April 20, 1854 on the same farm on which he yet lives, and is the twelfth child born to Jacob and Jane (Bowen) Fiscus, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ohio and of German and Irish extraction. They were among the earliest settlers of Owen County coming as early as 1819, and are still living on the old homestead. Henry N. was reared upon the home farm, and remained with his parents until he was twenty one years of age. He was united in marriage to Sarah J. Herrington, a native of this county , October 17, 1875. Four children have crowned this happy marriage--Rosy M; Rosaline (deceased), Jesse J. and Homer A. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a sympathizer with the Democratic party and is an energetic, wide awake, well to do young man.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 906

SAMUEL FRANKLIN is the third and only living child of Thomas C and Ersley (Cline) Franklin. The father is a native of North Carolina and came to Owen County in 1818. He entered the land where the poor farm now is and lived there until his first wife's death. He then sold his farm and moved to Spencer, where for one year he carried on general merchandising. After this he built the Moore House, and under the name of Spencer House ran it for one year. He also built the block known as the Post Office Block, since which time he has farmed about four and one half miles from Spencer. He now resides in Spencer. He was for fifty four years an ordained minister of the Baptist Church. The mother was a native of Owen County and died December 17, 1871. Our subject was born in Spencer on December 10, 1855 where he obtained a good education and when nineteen years of age began learning the tinner's trade with F. T. Batterton, of Spencer. After three years apprenticeship, he worked at his trade in Freedom for some time and then returned to Spencer, where he followed his trade for another year. In 1880, he went to Morgantown in Morgan County and worked for J. S. Coleman, a tinner. Thence he went to Vincennes, where he was employed and remained until the fall of the same year, when on account of poor health he again returned to Spencer. In the following spring he went to work for Mr. Batterton again, and in 1883 he purchased interest in the business, the firm name at present being Batterton & Franklin. They are accomodating and energetic hardward merchants and tinners, and in every way worthy of the patronage so liberally bestowed upon them. Mr. Franklin was married in 1875 to Una S. Hough, a native of Owen County. His is a member of the Democratic Party.

THOMAS M. FRANKLIN, farmer and stock raiser, eldest son and second child of William and Sarah (Ritter) Franklin, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky respectively, and of English extraction, was born in Owen county, Indiana March 29, 1841. He was reared upon the farm now owned and occupied by him and educated at the public schools of his neighborhood. October 10, 1861, he enrolled at Spencer, Indiana as a private soldier in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry under Capt. (later Gen.) McNaught and served up to April 4, 1865 when he was honorably discharged at Wilmington, North Carolina. While in the service, he participated in the seige of Vicksburg, the battle of Missionary Ridge, and was one of the 60,000 men who went with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. October, 1868, he went to Missouri and remained twelve years engaged in the meantime at farming two years and ten years at mining, returning to his native place in the fall of 1880; he is now quietly leading the life of a bachelor upon his farm, which consists of 149 acres, all in cultivation, well stocked, and fully equipped with the necessary agricultural implements. In politics, he is an active, wide awake Democrat and cast his first vote for President for Horace Greeley.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
CLAY TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 934

JACOB I. FULK, farmer and stock raiser, is the fifth of the nine children of Henry W. and Mary (Shours) Fulk, natives of North Carolina, and of German extraction. Jacob was born in this county, October 22, 1834, was brought up on a farm and received a rudimentary education. When he was nineteen years old, he commenced his apprenticeship as a tanner, after which he went to Iowa for a year; then returned to Indiana, and March 29, 1855, he married Emily, daughter of John A. and Elizabeth Fiscus, the result of which union was ten children, seven of whom are living-Mary Melissa (Mrs. Wright), Sarah Elizabeth (Mrs. Willey), Alexander, Calvin Jacob, Marion, William V. and Merilda Ann. Mr. Fulk gave his first vote for James Buchanan in 1856. He is a practical and successful farmer, having a farm of 250 acres, well improved, stocked and cultivated with good residence, barns, fencing, orchards, etc, all the results of his own directed industry. He is a greatly respected citizen, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 963

DANIEL GANTZ, grocer and druggist at Freedom, was born January 29, 1853 in Carroll County, Ohio and is the ninth of the eighteen children of Jacob and Christina (Elliott) Gantz, both natives of Ohio and respectively of German and English extraction. Daniel Gantz came to this county with his parents in the fall of 1865, where he has since remained. He was reared a farmer with the rudimentary education of the common schools and one year at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso to prepare himself for the office of teacher and he has since taught twelve terms of school with flattering success. August 24, 1879 he married Mary E, daughter of J.T. and Louisa (Woods) Howe, which union has been graced with one child--Elizabeth, born April 23, 1881. Mr. Gantz is a prosperous merchant, whole annual sales amount to about $6000.00 per year and has made his own way solely by energy and thrift. He has been a lifelong and uncomprimising Democrat and is a liberal gentleman and a respected citizen. Mr and Mrs Gantz are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 919

LYSANDER GILLESPY, was born March 8, 1814 in Clark County, Kentucky, and is the sixth child of the family of eight of Martin and Lydia(McGuire) Gillaspy, who moved to this county in 1827, settled near the present town of Quincy and purchased 160 acres for $400. Here Lysander recieved what education he obtained and remained with his parents of the farm until he was eighteen years old, when he returned to Kentucky and remained four years, during which time he was married April 17, 1834 to Evaline, daughter of James Wren, which union produced two children, both deceased. May 26, 1837, Mrs. Gillaspy died. His second marriage was to Rebecca Martin, who also died August 24, 1878, leaving four out of seven children. His third marriage was to Jane Watson, October 23, 1881. Mr. Gillaspy resides about one mile from Quincy, where he enjoys a genteel competence the result of patient industry and well directed ambition. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since his fourteenth year. He is in politics a Republican a highly venerated citizen and one of the oldest pioneers of Owen County.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
TAYLOR TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 952

ANDREW J. GLOVER, druggist, is a native of Owen County, Indiana, born November 10, 1830. He is the fifth in a family of thirteen children born to William and Nancy (Anderson) Glover. His parents came to Owen County from Kentucky in 1826, and located in Owen County, near Gosport where they remained for several years. They then moved to a farm north of Spencer, where the mother at present resides. The father died on the farm in 1863. Andrew commenced farming and stock raising when eighteen years of age, and continued in it for several years. In 1859, he engaged in pork packing at Gosport and remained there until 1874. He was also in Indianapolis engaged in the same business during the year 1872-1873. About this time he lost $70,000 through going the security of different persons in Gosport. Yet not withstanding his misfortunes, he struggled on, again went to farming and trading in stock, and in June of this year (1883), he purchased a drug store and is at present doing a lucrative business in Spencer. In June, 1851 he was married to Elizabeth Alverson, daughter of Wesley and Savina Alverson old and respected pioneers of Owen County. To this union were born eight children. He subsequently in 1871 married Eliza Stewart. Mr. Glover is a member of the Democratic party and is ranked among the most substantial business men of Spencer.

EPHRAIM GOSS, the eighth and youngest son born to Frederick the first and Betsy, was born in the year 1770 and died August 3,1833 at the age of sixty two years.He married Ann Workman in North Carolina. She was born in 1776 and died in 1854 at the age of 78.They were the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters, five of whom were born in North Carolina and came when very small with their parents to their new home in Indiana. It is one of the saddest and most lamentable facts that there is so little written of these valuable histories. This family of children of Ephraim and Ann were said to all be of the first type sturdy, stalwart men and women, all of whom married and reared large families, endured the hardships of toil and drudgery,fought all the battles and left to the world a large number of descendants. When Ephraim and Anne Workman Goss came from their home in Wasington county IN where they lived only a few years to take possession of a section of land that Mr. Goss had purchased from a settler by the name of Jonathan Lindley, while he was on an observaton tour through White River Valley land in the fall of 1817. Mr Lindley had previously bought this land from the government for a few small amount of money. After Mr Goss became owner of this vast scope of dense forest his plans for bringing his wife and little children to a home in the wilderness were being made and Mr Goss had then returned to Washington county and the meager preparations were soon made for the long journey. The family and their scant household effects were conveyed by two six-horse primitive wagons. One of them the very same that they had used in the hills of North Carolina.In 1928 one of the sons of Ephraim had vivid rememberance of the hardships they were compelled to endure and the difficulties they met while on this long journey to the new country which meant to them distress,privation and want, because much of this journey was made in the season of the year when the narrow trails were next to impassable. Yet they were compelled to press on and face these daily storms of the long winter and spring and at last reaching their destination in March of 1818.After reaching this wilderness they spent many months in felling the timber of this dense forest to make for themselves and little ones a mere place of shelter, not only a protection from the storms and snow, but from the ravenous wild animals that were so numerous. Their first habitation was a covering made over one side of a large hollow log which served as a shelter and a place of safety for the father,mother and children and often for those who might be out seeking a like shelter from the storms of winter. Very soon materials for a rude pole cabin was under construction but when ready for their occupancy was very little superior to the hollow log that had met their needs. The cabin had no windows or doors and the covering was only pieces of wood, cut from large pieces of wood with a large chopping ax. But this did afford protection not only for the family but for 2 young men who had left their families in North Carolina. The first winter this family spent in the wilderness went by slowly. They endured days and nights of distress hovering around a log fire. The first spring 10 acres of this land were cleared and planted with corn. But it was planted too late and didn't mature properly and could only be used for feeding the stock. Mr Goss was considered to be a man of great forethought and had means to be amply prepared with sufficient provisions of food and other items to tide them over to the next crop in 1819-1820. Mr Goss through hard and conservative labor and economic living soon became the owner of a large portion of this land; hundreds of acres, for miles around the little town of Gosport and became the sole proprietor of the town which has for a centuryand a half borne his name. His body with the other two of his father family and a number of their children, was laid to rest in the quiet little family burial yard near the west side of the town of Gosport.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"FREDERICK GOSS OF ROWAN COUNTY NC AND HIS DESCENDANTS"

DAVID M. GRAY, a leading farmer and stock raiser here, was born December 29, 1835 in Morgan County, Ind., and was the third of five children, all living, born to William and Catherine (Matthews) Gray, Mr. Gray being of Dutch, and Mrs. Gray of Scotch and English descent. David M. attended the public schools when not employed in farm labor, but, as his father died when he was ten years old, he, being the only boy was obliged to take care of the family, and did not have much opportunity for education. He was married, May 27, 1858 to Thursey A. Smith, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Crum) Smith, natives of Kentucky. They were blessed with four children-- William H. (deceased), Clara May (Truax), Mary E (deceased), and James Nathan. Mr. Gray was formerly a member of the Masonic fraternity and now with his wife,belongs to the Christian Church. They are both very charitable and give liberally to all benevolent institutions whenever called upon for aid. On September 23, 1861, Mr. Gray enlisted in Company E, Thirty third Indiana Infantry, commanded by Capt. William Whitson, the Colonel of the regiment being John Coburn. He took part in the battles of Wild Cat, KY., Resaca, and was with Gen. Sherman at Atlanta. He was discharged at the latter place September 23, 1864, after which he came home and engaged in farming. He enjoys good health. In politics, he is an active Republican. Mr. Gray's parents were among the first settlers of Owen County.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
HARRISON TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 960

WILLIAM R. GWIN, an enterprising farmer was born in Owen County, February 24, 1823. He was the seventh child of eight children and received a good as education as those primitive times could afford. Previous to his birth, his parents, Thomas and Nancy (Orum) Gwin, had moved from Kentucky to Van Buren township, IN., where they lived for several years. The father died in 1841, the mother in 1875. The subject of this sketch was married in 1847 to Mary A. Burk, a native of Kentucky. After marriage he settled on a farm of his own in Van Buren township, Monroe County, which he cleared and highly improved. He lived in Monroe County for fifty two years. In 1875, he traded his farm for a farm in Greene County, moved there and remained for four years, after which he traded for property in Spencer where he now resides. Mr. Gwin is the father of seven children. He has been a consistent member of the Christian Church for forty four years and is a staunch Republican.

B.F. HART, a pioneer of Owen County, Indiana, is a native of Kentucky, born in Bath County, January 10, 1828. His parents, John and Hester (Adams) Hart, immigrated to Indiana from Kentucky in the fall of 1841 and located in Hendricks County on a farm, where they remained until their death, which occurred, the father in 1850 and the mother in 1863. The subject of this sketch is fourth in a family of eight children, and was reared in Kentucky until thirteen years of age, up to which time he had attended school in Bath County. He came with his parents to Indiana where he attended school for five years, afterward teaching for three years in Hendricks County. He then moved to Owen County and located in Gosport, where he farmed and traded in stock until 1860. He then opened in a livery stable, when he soon sold and purchased another one, which he ran for a number of years. He moved next to the National Hotel and in October, 1881, to his present place of business. He married in 1849 to Jane Higgins, daughter of Thomas Higgins, an old and respected pioneer of Hendricks County. By this union there have been five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Hart is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Gosport Blue Lodge, No. 92. He is well known and respected by all.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
WAYNE TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 931

GEORGE HART, is the eighth of the twelve children born to Henry and Catherine (Bricker) Hart, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. George was introduced to life, May 22, 1854, at Salem, Owen County, Ind. About the year 1849, his parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to this county, where they afterward died. Henry Hart was by trade a blacksmith. At the age of eight years, George having lost his mother, began to work for himself at the rate of $4 per month, and was steadily advanced, until he received $2 per day. October 8, 1875, he married Miss Clarissa J. Evans, a union which was followed by three children--Lola M, Lillie (deceased), and Henry. Having learned the blacksmithing business in youth, he purchased when of age about $2000 worth of groceries and general merchandise, which he subsequently lost; but by determination, he soon made a new beginning and has now a stock worth about $8000. and is doing a prosperous business. Mr. and Mrs. Hart are esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are very generally known and regarded.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings
"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884" CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
TAYLOR TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 953

Deb Murray