Submitted by Meredith Thompson (Scotlass94@aol.com) Biographies of Eel River Township from "Atlas of Hendricks Co Indiana" (1878: J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago) BALLARD, CALVIN, P.O. North Salem; Teacher; settled in Lincoln Township in 1872; born in Clermont, Ind., Sept. 13, 1853; son of George Ballard and Margaret Polk. Married Dec. 23, 1877, to Emma James. BATEMAN, NOAH, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 9; settled here in 1823; born in New York Aug. 9, 1799; son of Joel Bateman and Hannah Miller. Married Sept. 15, 1820, to Sarah Gough. Again, Dec. 29, 1858, to Margaret Terhune; fifteen children-- Mary A., born July 14, 1821; John, April 29, 1823; Sarah A., March 20, 1825; Lucinda, Feb. 13, 1827; Matilda, Jan. 11, 1829; Washington, March 30, 1831; Monroe, Jan. 24, 1833; Noah, April 30, 1835; Adeline, March 5, 1837; Jane, Nov. 2, 1839; by second wife--Susan E., Jan. 6, 1860; Stonewall N., June 10, 1863; Carrie, Aug. 9, 1867; Dora, Sept.10, 1871; Nettie, Oct. 23, 1874; infant not named, Dec. 23, 1877. Mr. Bateman was first settler in north part of the county; was here long before the county was organized; was one of the first grand jurymen. BENNETT, WILLIAM A., P.O. North Salem; Miller; settled in Marion Township in 1853; born in West Virginia May 18, 1830; son of Jasher Bennett and Jemima Dickson. Married Oct. 3, 1854, to Sarah J. Wright, born June 3, 1835, died Nov. 24, 1877; six children--L.D., born Dec. 14, 1855; David E., born Feb. 3, 1858; Mary E., March 16, 1861; Jennie March 10, 1863; Oliver P.M., Dec. 3, 1865; John W., July 30, 1870. BIGGS, REASON, P.O. Jamestown; Farmer, Sec. 20; settled here in 1874; born in Morrow Co., Ohio, July 19, 1840; son of Davis and Sarah Biggs. Married Nov. 20, 1866, to Caroline Terrell in Shelby Co., Ind.; three children--Ida M., born Nov. 11, 1868; Charles E., March 6, 1872; Iclone, Jan. 28, 1877. BRANCH, DUDLEY B., P.O. North Salem; Farmer and Tile Maker, Sec. 31; settled here in 1868; born in Shelby Co., Ky., Oct. 21, 1840; son of Henry, born in Virginia Aug. 5, 1802, and Sarah Branch, born in Virginia Jan. 29, 1814; parents settled 1871. Married Dec. 24, 1868, to Sarah H. Pennington, born Sept.7, 1841; two children--Fannie, born Oct. 2, 1870, and Laiden, born March 2, 1872. BUCHANAN, JACOB, P.O. North Salem; Teacher; settled in this county in 1877; born in Montgomery Co., Ind., April 17, 1836; son of Alexander and Matilda Rice, who came to Montgomery County in 1823. Married March 28, 1873, to Juelda W. Duckworth; eight children--George I., born Oct. 29, 1860; Lillie, Oct. 4, 1862; Lulie, Sept. 11, 1863; Sammie, July 4,1865; Charles, June 29, 1868; Sadie, March 13, 1875; Blanche, March 30, 1876; Matilda, Jan. 1, 1878. BURGAN, JESSE W.T., P.O. Lizton; Farmer, Sec. 36; son of Isaac, born Nov. 24, 1786, died April 3, 1839, and Sarah Woodward Burgan, born July 4, 1796, died Jan. 20, 1875; was born in Lee Co., Va., Oct. 1, 1820, and settled in this county with his parents in 1834. Sept. 17, 1846, married Mildred Dall, born Feb. 1, 1825; children--Sarah A., born Sept. 13, 1847, died July 10, 1873; Mary F., born Sept. 10, 1849; Elizabeth, born Jan. 31, 1854; Amanda, born Nov. 11, 1856; Lydia J., born March 19, 1865. CLAY, JAMES H., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 8; settled here in 1840; born in Lexington, Ky., Jan 20, 1819; son of L.B. Clay and Arabella McCown. Married July 29, 1841, to Susan Fleece; ten children--Arabella, born Sept. 9, 1842; Mary K., Sept. 1, 1844; Samuel C., Oct. 16, 1846; Sallie F., March 2, 1849; James A., May 16, 1854; John J., Dec. 17, 1853; Charles M., Jan. 16, 1857, deceased; Arthur E., Sept. 17, 1860; Lillie J., April 21, 1863, died Feb. 2, 1864; Joseph F., Sept. 1, 1865. CONOVER, JOHN D., P.O. North Salem; Government Employe; settled here in 1871; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, July 29, 1806; son of Joseph Conover and Susan Drake, who settled in Ohio, in 1804. Married Jan. 1, 1824, to Sophronia Cook, who died May 23, 1866; again, to Mrs. Elnora W. Conover, on Oct. 2, 1867; four children by first wife, one by second--Daniel, born Oct. 30, 1824; Lydia, July 1, 1826; Ethalinda, April 15, 1828; Samuel, Feb. 8, 1831, and Mamie, Feb. 2, 1870. Mr. Conover left Ohio in 1830; settled in New Albany, Floyd Co., in 1832; moved to this county in 1870; most of his life has been spent on the river as engineer; the last twelve years have been in the employ of Government, clearing the Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Red Rivers of obstructions. COX, WILLIAM E., P.O. Lizton; Farmer, Sec. 1; born in Montgomery Co., Ind., June 10, 1832; son of Daniel H., born Jan. 2, 1811, and Lucinda Servis, born in 1806; parents settled in this county in 1861. Married Feb. 14, 1854, to Sarah Doyel, born Feb. 8, 1834, died Jan. 1, 1855; again, to Sarah Wray, born March 27, 1830, died April 11, 1858; again, to Mary Plummer, born June 1, 1833; one child by second wife--Samuel C., born July 9, 1857. DAVENPORT, GEORGE R., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 31; born in this county July 16, 1832; son of William, died Oct. 17, 1839, and Nancy Davenport, born in Virginia, Nov. 25, 1805; parents settled here on Sec. 11, Aug. 25, 1828. Married March 5, 1853, to Drucilla E. Pennington, born Jan. 18, 1836; nine children--William S., born Nov. 23, 1851, died Feb. 9, 1855; Mary A. born Jan. 22, 1855; Nancy E., Oct. 21, 1857, died Dec. 28, 1859; John D., born Oct. 31, 1859; Dora B., May 25, 1863; David S., June 27, 1864, died April 9, 1865; Laura D., Jan. 7, 1867; Orlando B., April 7, 1869; George E., Feb. 7, 1874. DAVIDSON, D.N., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 32; born in Montgomery Co., Ind., Sept. 6, 1832; son of Silas, born in Virginia March 1, 1794, and Elizabeth Carter, born in North Carolina May 32, 1876, died July 28, 1865, in Iowa; parents settled in this county in 1828. Married March 20, 1854, to Elizabeth Davidson born in Putnam Co., Ind., May 10, 1830; seven children--Mary N., born Dec. 9, 1854; Melissa P., Nov. 6, 1857; William R., May 14, 1860; infant, born April 21, 1862, died June 10 1862; Ida M., born March 3, 1864; Lillie V., born Feb. 3, 1867; Oliver F., May 6, 1869. First settled in Montgomery County in 1854; moved to Iowa in 1855, to Hendricks Co., Ind., in 1859. DAVIS, BENJAMIN F., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 3; born in Montgomery Co., Ky., in 1823; son of Enoch and Nancy Davis, who settled here in 1829. Married 1844, to Jane Russell; one child--S.R. Davis. DAVIS, GEORGE W., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 35; born in this county Feb. 7, 1854; son of Jeremiah and Sarah Davis, who settled in this county in 1826. Married Dec. 31, 1874, to Alice B., daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Landers; one child--E.S., born Dec. 13, 1875. DAVIS, JEREMIAH, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 16; born in Perry Co., Ky., Nov. 10, 1819; son of Henry Davis and Mary Walters, who settled in this county in 1826. Married May 9, 1844, to Lucy A. Reeves; again, Nov. 10, 1847, to Sarah A. Davidson; again, May 3, 1869, to Eliza M. Tinder; eight children by second wife--Calvin M., b. Jan. 24, 1849; Granville April 25, 1850; Mary J., Jan. 3, 1852, died Aug. 13, 1859; George W., b. Feb. 7, 1854; James M., May 19, 1856; Wm. J., April 10, 1859; Daniel E., Nov. 10 1861; Charles F., b. Feb. 4, 1866. Mr. David served six months under Gen. Taylor, in the Mexican war; was discharged on account of ill health; served two years and four months in the war of the rebellion. DAVIS, WALTER, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 35; born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Dec. 13, 1823; son of Nathan and Nancy Davis, who settled on Sec. 36 in 1835. Married in 1853, to Mary M. Spears; again, in 1863, to Mary A. Scott; again, in 1875, to Matilda South. Children--J.S., Q.A., L., M. E., N.A., F.A., C.E., B.L., W.S., L.D., K.M., T.C, E.L., R.F. DAVIS, WILLIAM, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 33; born in Montgomery Co., Ky., April 26, 1820; son of Enoch Davis and Mary Hart, who settled here Oct. 1, 1829. Married May 21, 1840, to Catharine Zimmerman; twelve children--Sarah E., b. March 31, 1841; Nancy, b. June 1, 1842; Minerva, Oct. 18, 1843; Mary, b. Jan. 3, 1846, died Aug. 9, 1873; Amanda, Oct. 10, 1847; Jesse F., Dec. 4, 1849; John E., June 13, 1854; Francis, Feb. 20, 1855; Clarinda, Dec. 23, 1856; Josephus, Nov. 8, 1858; Valesia, jan. 3, 1861; Minnie M., Aug. 20, 1867. DUNCAN, GEORGE H., P.O. Jamestown; Farmer, Sec. 20; settled here in 1864; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Jan. 10, 1846; son of James Duncan and Anna Proctor, b. October, 1813. Married Feb. 25, 1866, to Nancy Davis; two children--Elmer C., b. March, 1868; Lulu C., b. Sept. 16, 1873. EMMONS, JAMES M., P.O. North Salem; Carpenter and Joiner; born in Giles Co., Va., Oct. 28, 1824; son of Jabue Emmons and Sarah Henderson, who settled in this county in 1836. Married Jan. 20, 1853, to Elizabeth Trotter; eleven children--John W., b. Nov. 14, 1854; Sarah C., Jan. 1, 1856; James O., Nov. 23, 1857; Charles, Aug. 16, 1858; Tralonnie D., Dec. 16, 1860; Ida M., July 26, 1862; Oliver J., Nov. 7, 1864; Emma E., Dec. 31, 1866; Lulu G., April 1, 1868; Adinah, April 1, 1870; Stanley M., Feb. 1, 1876. FLEECE, JEREMIAH, P.O. North Salem; Hotel Keeper; born in Floyd Co., Ky., July 18, 1818; son of Charles Fleece and Mary Harland, who came here Sept. 20, 1836. Married March 2, 1843, to Mary J. Farmer; four children--Charles T., b. Jan. 22, 1846, died March 2, 1849; George, b. March 10, 1848, d. March 1, 1849; Mary C., b. Dec. 15, 1850, d. May 11, 1866; Fannie, b. Aug. 15, 1866. HACKLEY, WILLIAM H., P.O. North Salem; Blacksmith, born in this county Sept 30, 1845; son of Henry W. and Mary Hackley, who settled in this county in 1835. Married July 15, 1865 to Elizabeth A. Barnett; three children--Valey E., b. Feb. 1, 1867, died Oct. 15, 1867; Minnie B., b. June 25, 1872, and John H., b. July 5, 1874. HADLEY, JAMES A., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 16; born in Marion Township Sept. 1, 1847; son of Edmond R, b. in North Carolina in 1821, and Sarah A. Hadley, b. in Kentucky in 1824, who settled in this county in 1826. Married at Jamestown Oct. 25, 1872, to Louisa J. Fleece; two children Pearl D. and Lennie. HARRIS, WILLIAM, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 34; settled here in 1864; born in Putnam Co., Dec. 28, 1833; son of James, died Sept. 15, 1846, and Henrietta Harris, b. 1809. Married Feb. 9, 1864, to Nancy Pennington, b. March 22, 1834; five children-- Ollie M., b. Feb. 19, 1867; Cora E., b. April 3, 1868, died Dec. 19, 1874; Thomas P., b. May 13, 1869; Edward L., May 2, 1872, died Dec. 13, 1872; Stella M., b. Feb. 10, 1877. HART, SAMUEL M., P.O. North Salem; Patent Right Dealer; resides on Sec. 4; settled here in 1873; born in Parke Co., Ind., June 23, 1819; son of Aaron and Polly Ann Hart. Married June 23, 1849, to Nancy Warden. HEDGE, JOHN V., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 28; settled on Sec. 4 in 1860; born in Pulaski Co., W.Va., Sept. 14, 1831; son of James Hedge and Polly Elkins. Married Oct. 16, 1851, to Martha J. Lesley; eight children--William, b. Nov. 2, 1852; Julina V., Feb. 20, 1854; James C., Feb. 25, 1858; John W., Nov. 2, 1859; Oliver P., Jan. 5, 1861; Charles, March 2, 1864; Mary, Feb. 8, 1869; J., Aug. 16, 1872. JACKS, JAMES H., P.O. Jamestown; Farmer, Sec. 25; born in Bath Co., Ky., April 2, 1828; son of John Jacks and Sarah Gillespie, who settled in this county in November, 1851. Married July 29, 1855, to Nancy, daughter of Robert D. and Jerusha Covey; nine children--Mary A., b. Nov. 10, 1857; Ella, Oct. 19, 1860; Emma R., Jan. 6, 1861; Milton H., Oct. 14, 1863; Ethalina L., Sept. 2, 1865; Cora B. and Florence (twins), 1869, Florence died Sept. 17, 1870; Beatrice, Jan. 15, 1871; Justine F., June 27, 1873. KENDALL, W.W., P.O. North Salem; Druggist; settled here in 1874; born in Greencastle, Ind., in 1845; son of Thornton and R. Youngman. Married Nov. 16, 1873, to Mary Taylor; two children--Theodore, b. Nov. 16, 1874; infant, not named, b. Dec. 12, 1877. MORPHEW, JOSEPH, P.O. North Salem; Miller; settled here in 1877; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Dec. 20, 1835; son of Benjamin Morphew and Rebecca Bridgewater, who settled in this county in 1843. Married May 31, 1859, to Margaret A. Cox; five children-- Sarah E., b. Feb. 20 1862; Rebecca E., March 19, 1864; Kittie A., March 16, 1866; Margaret S., Feb. 23, 1872; Christina T., Feb. 23, 1875. O'REAR, ROBERT F., P.O. North Salem; settled on Sec. 17 in 1864; born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Jan. 7, 1839; son of Newton and Cynthia Evans. Married Jan. 22, 1864, to Mary Bamish; four children--Newton W., b. Feb. 24, 1866; Parchalottie, b. June 16, 1868; Otto C., born July 26, 1871; Dot C., b. Nov. 9, 1873. Residence on Sec. 4 of this township. OWEN, HORATIO, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 32; settled here in October, 1834; born in Clark Co., Ky., April 4, 1812; son of Samuel and Elizabeth Owen. Married in 1833 in Clark Co., Ky., to Margaret Sears; born Sept. 18, 1814; nine children, four of whom are living--Elizabeth (deceased), Kisiah J., William B. (deceased), Samuel B. (deceased), James M., Amanda A. (deceased), Rebecca H. and Oliver P. Mr. Owen and wife had $200 at the close of the first year of married life, which money enabled them to enter 160 acres of land (on Sec. 30, this township) and erect a cabin. After suffering all the privations incident to the life of the pioneer, in their old age they have lands and wealth to the value of $25, 000. They have both been consistent members of the M.E. Church about fifty years. Their portraits and view of their home will be found in the Atlas. PLUMMER, JOSEPH, P.O. Lizton; Farmer, Sec. 1; settled here in March, 1835; born in Greene Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1813; son of Levi, b. March 14, 1775, died July, 1870, and Martha Brock, died 1824. Married Aug. 2, 1832 to Ann Day, b. Dec. 29, 1805, d. Jan. 16, 1870; again, May 14, 1871, to Lydia Burgam; nine children by first wife--Mary, b. June 1, 1833; Martha, Dec. 3, 1834; Thomas, July 14, 1836; Levi, Dec. 13, 1837; Hannah, Jan. 22 1839; Fannie, Oct. 16, 1840; John, Dec. 24, 1842; Ann, May 10, 1845; Richard D., Aug. 24, 1848. Mr. Plummer settled with his parents in Fayette Co., Ind., 1814, while it was a Territory; had no neighbors but Indians; 1819, moved to Morgan Co.; lived there twelve years, and then came to Hendricks Co.; has now a large tract of land. Been an active member of the M.E. Church thirty-five years. POUNDS, JAMES A., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 3; born in this county Jan. 20, 1852; son of William S. Pounds and Sarah M. Downs. Married June 10, 1872, to Susan E., daughter of John F. and Rachel Parsons. (Mr. Parsons died of diptheria March 26, 1863, at La Grange, Tenn.; was First Lieut. Co. H, 99th Regiment Indiana Volunteers). Two children--John W., born Sept. 1, 1874, and Robert A., b. April 24, 1877. ROBBINS, ELIJAH T., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 34; settled here 1860; born in Forsyth Co., N.C., Aug. 17, 1833; son of Daniel and Phebe Robbins. Married June 12, 1872, to Louisa, daughter of Valentine and Eliza Montsinger; one child--William U., born Feb. 22, 1873. THOMSON, JOHN R. (deceased), born in Lincoln Co., Ky., Nov. 25, 1817, died Aug. 5, 1862; settled on Sec. 28 in 1843; son of Nelson A. and Hannah A. Thomson. Married Oct. 5, 1841, to Martha Caldwell, in Boyle Co., Ky.; ten children--Nelson, b. April 30, 1843; Mary F., Nov. 6, 1844, died Sept. 14, 1868; David D., Oct. 2, 1846; infant daughter, died April 24, 1850; Sarah E., b. Aug. 5, 1851; Samuel E., b. Oct. 12, 1853; Arthur R., Nov. 9, 1855; Ollie D., March 22, 1858; John R., May 5, 1860; Ella D., b. Feb. 13, 1863. THRIFT, LINDSAY L., P.O. North Salem; Miller; born in Guilford Co., N.C., Dec. 17, 1829; son of David A., b. Chatham Co., N.C., 1794, and Lydia Thrift, b. N.C., died 1859; parents settled in Marion Tp., in 1856. Married August, 1857, to Evalina Parsons; again to Mrs. Eliza J. Parsons. Children by first wife--Mary C., b. Aug. 24, 1858, d. Nov. 14, 1859; Martha T., b. Sept.24, 1860; George L, April 12, 1864; Cynthia M., Oct. 13, 1866; William E., Sept. 2, 1869; by second wife--Carrie E., b. Sept. 10, 1874; Thomas E., March 18, 1876; Julia E., Dec.15, 1877. Mrs. Thrift's former husband was V.L. Parsons, by whom she had the following children: Josephine, Dec. 13, 1863, died Dec. 7, 1864; John F., b. Sept. 27, 1865; Charles W., Nov. 2, 1867, died Jan. 3, 1875; Ulysses W., July 28, 1869, and Hattie L., b. June 14, 1871. TROTTER, WM. W., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 2; born in this county Feb. 19, 1833; son of James Trotter, b. June 15, 1813, died Feb. 10, 1876, and Sarah White, died Nov. 12, 1872; parents settled here in 1825. Married Feb. 8, 1857, to Nancy E. Keith, b. Dec. 9, 1838; seven children--Allen S., b. Oct. 27 1857; James I., April 23, 1859; Silas B., March 16, 1861; Oliver W., Sept. 10, 1865; Charles M., June 8, 1870; Nora B., Feb. 9, 1873; Arthur T., June 10, 1876. TUCKER, DANDRIDGE, P.O. Jamestown, Boone Co.; Farmer, Sec. 23; born in Clay Co., Ky., March 3, 1827; son of Lee and Marinda Durham, who settled on Sec. 27, Oct. 15, 1833. Married May 5, 1850, to Catherine Davis; four children--David L., Nathan A., Marinda F. and Robert Lee. VANNICE, ISAAC N., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 6; settled here 1875; born in this county May 28, 1839; son of Lawrence Vannice and Caroline Adams, b. Sept. 12, 1811, died 1846; parents settled in county 1833. Married Sept. 26, 1861, to Sarah E. Davis; five children--William H., b. Oct. 27, 1862; Oliver, May 7, 1866; Lillie, March 5, 1868, died March 10, 1868; Ettie, April 11, 1869; Laura, March 8, 1872. WEEKLY, ENOCH, P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 1; born in this county May 3, 1831; son of Tavanar and Lydia Tinder-Weekly, who settled here 1830. In 1858, married to Rebecca, daughter of Isaac and Lucy Trotter, born Dec. 27, 1837; three children--Emma Bell, b. Sept. 24, 1859 (wife of Charles T. Fleece); Osa F., b. Sept. 14, 1861, and William R., b. Sept. 4, 1863. WYNN, JOSIAH D., P.O. North Salem; Farmer, Sec. 18; settled in Marion Tp. May 13, 1855; born in Richland Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1828; son of Abraham, b. June 19, 1796, d. Oct. 15, 1853, and Ruth Piquern, b. may 5, 1805, d. Sept. 4, 1850. Married April 16, 1857, to Sarah J. Denny, born in this county Nov. 2, 1834; seven children--Charles C., Jan. 25, 1858; Alpheus H., Sept. 19, 1860; Jesse C., May 17, 1863; Robert E., April 5, 1865; James O., April 22, 1867; Elizabeth C., April 11, 1871; Carrie L., May 28, 1873. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Meredith Thompson (© 2000 Meredith Thompson)