Submitted by: Dianne Rossman
Living Leaders, Encyclopedia of Biography, Daviess and Martin County, IN

Rev. D. O'Donaghue is a native of Indiana. He was born in Daviess County, November 30, 1848. His parents were from Ireland, and they did not fail to impress upon the youthful mind of the subject of this mention the many wrongs of that long-suffering country. He studied at St. Meinrad's, Ind.; St. Joseph's college, Ky., and graduated from the Sulpitian seminary, Montreal, Canada. He was ordained by Bishop de St. Palais at Indianapolis, September 6, 1874. As a lecturer and orator he is very distinguished. He is noted as well for his witticisms as for his many labors since he became a priest. In recognition of his marked ability Bishop Chatard made him chancellor of the diocese. The parish over which Chancellor O'Donaghue presides and in which he has been rector since 1885 is St. Patrick's situated in the southeastern part of the Capital city. The ground for the church and the schools was donated, every foot of it, by Mrs. Phoebe Doherty, of Columbus, Ohio, a most excellent Catholic lady. It is after her family that the street upon which St. Patrick's church fronts has been named by the Indianapois city council.
From "History of Greater Indianapolis", Chapter XLV 'The Churches'

This sketch of the Catholic Church in Indianapolis was kindly prepared for this volume by the Rt. Rev. Denis O'Donaghue, whose official service here for more than a third of a century makes him pre-eminently an authority.

He is a native of Indiana, born November 30, 1848 in Daviess County, near the present town of Connelton. After the ordinary education of the common schools, he passed three years at St. Meinrad's College in Spencer County, entering at the age of 16; then four years at St. Thomas' Seminary at Bardstown, Ky. ; then three years at the Grande Seminaire at Montreal. He was ordained at Indianapolis September 6, 1874 and was stationed at St. John's where he remained for eleven years, filling various offices. He was then made rector of St. Patrick's where he continued in service until made Bishop of Louisville in 1910.

Submitted by: Dianne Rossman
A History of Catholicity and Catholic Institutions in Indianapolis" by M. W. Carr, 1887:

Nicholas Ryan, one of the most prominent members of St. Michael's congregation, near Trainor, is a native of Daviess county, Ind., was born July 10, 1840, and is a son of Michael and Mary Ryan, of Bogard township. He was educated in the common schools, but his knowledge has been chiefly self acquired. He was married, May 7, 1867, by Rev. Father Piers, to Miss Mary A. Doyle, a descendant of one of the oldest Catholic families of this part of Daviess county, and to them fourteen children have been born, viz: Mary J., wife of Wm. Smith; Anna, deceased; Michael; Patrick; Anna (2nd), deceased; James; Katie; Martin, deceased; John; Maggie; Ella; Lizzie; Christopher; and Nicholas. They were all confirmed by Bishop Chatard.

The Ryan family has ever been one of the most energetic of the early Catholic residents of St. Michael's parish, and has probably done more than any other in promoting the progress of the church in this locality. The first mass in the parish was read by Father Piers in the dwelling of Michael Ryan, about the year 1851, and the homes of other prominent Catholics were later utilized for the same purpose, for instance that of Patrick Fitzpatrick in 1855 and 1856; of John Garland, in 1856, and that of Peter Daily in 1855 and 1856, and in the latter the marriages of two of his children were celebrated, and in the home of Michael Ryan the rite of baptism was administered to two others. In the brief biography of Father Matthews mention is made of the active part taken by the Ryan family in erecting the present church building and parsonage and ever since those early days Nicholas Ryan has been a factor and a powerful one, in the promotion of the progress of the parish.

Nicholas Ryan is today one of the most prosperous farmers of Daviess county, owning, in conjunction with his sons, 540 acres of farming land, while his residence is the most elegant in the parish.

Submitted by: John D. McMullen
History of the Catholic Church in Indiana. (Logansport: Bowen, 1898

Thomas Riley, an ex policeman of Washington, Ind., and proprietor of one of the leading retail liquor establishments of that city, was born in Daviess county, February 27, 1845, and is the son of Patrick and Mary (Cassidy) Riley, both natives of Ireland.

His father was born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1804, son of Thomas and Bridget (Bigelow) Riley, the former of county Cavan, the latter of county Monaghan. When Patrick was about twenty years old he came to America and located in Pennsylvania. His first net earnings in this country were applied to procuring the passage of his father across the ocean. He had entered some land in Barr township, Daviess county, Ind., in 1838, and in 1839 was joined by his father (his mother having already died), who died at New Albany in 1854. Patrick Riley married Mary Cassidy, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He died in June, 1850; she in November, 1872. They were the parents of the following children: Mary A.; Julia; Thomas; Margaret; and Mary, of whom Thomas, our subject, alone survives. All were earnest Catholics and progressive farmers, accumulating an estate of 240 acres in Daviess county, which fell to Thomas, the subject of this sketch.

Thomas Riley was educated in the common schools of the county, remaining at home until 1874, working on the farm during the summer months and being engaged in railroad work during the winters. In 1874 he sold the farm and engaged in the retail liquor business in Washington, in which business he has continued since, with the exception of two years, 1883-1884 when he served on the Washington police force.

July 3, 1870, Mr. Riley married Miss Mary Collins, who was born in Daviess county in June, 1847, daughter of Patrick and Mary Collins, natives of Ireland. To them have been born four children: Mary, deceased; Julia; Mary; and Helen. Mr. Riley owns his residence property on Flora street, and has been prosperous in his business. Politically, he is a democrat, and takes a proper degree of interest in local affairs. He and his family are members of St. Simon's parish.

Submitted by: John D. McMullen
History of the Catholic Church in Indiana. (Logansport: Bowen, 1898

Among the worthy citizens of Elnora, Indiana, whose residence here has contributed in no small degree to the prestige of the vicinity, is Frank A. McMullen, for, while laboring for his individual advancement, he has never forgotten his obligations to the public, and his support of such measures and movements as have been made for the general good has always been depended upon. Although his life has been a busy one, he has never allowed his private interests to interfere with his obligations as a citizen and as a neighbor. Through the long years of his residence in this locality, he has ever been true to the trusts reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, and his reputation in a business way has been unassailable. Possessing in a marked degree those traits which have commanded uniform confidence and regard, he is today honored by all who know him and is numbered among the representative citizens of his community. Frank A. McMullen, the present genial postmaster of Elnora, Indiana, was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, on June 13, 1878, and is a son of Archie and Laura (Shirkliff) McMullen, natives respectively, of Ohio and Indiana. The paternal grandparents of F.A. McMullen were John and Mary (McCleary) McMullen, the former of whom was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter a native of Ireland. The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. McMullen, was John McMullen, who came from Ireland in an early day and located in eastern Ohio, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. In the late fifties, he settled near Dover Hill, where he again engaged in farming, and here lived the rest of his life, as well as his son, John, the grandfather of F.A. McMullen. Archie and John McMullen drove a team in the army. The maternal great-grandparents of Mr. McMullen were John and Mary (Gough) Shirkliff, the former of whom was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under Andrew Jackson, and at New Orleans received a bullet wound, which bullet he carried until his death. He was a native of Tennessee, the family having originally come from France to the United States, settling first in Carolina, from whence they moved to Tennessee, and later, John Shirkliff moved to Kentucky. After remaining in that state for a time, he moved to Indiana, but later returned to Kentucky, where his death occurred. The maternal grandparents of Mr. McMullen were Alex and Rose (Gouch) Shirkliff, both natives of Kentucky. The Gough family came to Indiana more than one hundred years ago, settling in what is now Barr township, Daviess county, Indiana. Alex Shirkliff came from Kentucky also in an early day, settling near Mr. Pleasant, where he was engaged in watch making, and also conducted a blacksmith shop. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, while his wife, Rose Gough, had cousins who served in both the Union and Confederate armies during that great struggle, and who participated in the same battles. Archie McMullen, the father of Mr. McMullen, has been a farmer all his life and is now living on a farm in Washington township in this county, where he and his wife are the parents of the following children, Charles, Rose, Laura, Mrs. Mary Ketchem and F.A. Frank A. McMullen was educated in the common schools of his home township, and was a student in the University of Valparaiso, for two years. After leaving school, he engaged in teaching, which vocation he followed in Elnora township for ten years, and was very successful in his educational work. In 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Elnora, and is now efficiently serving his fellow citizens in that capacity. Mr. McMullen was married in 1908 to Lola Sears, a daughter of Luther Sears, of Elmore township, and to this union have been born four children, Lois, Lewis, Gerald and Donald. Mrs. McMullen is a native of this county, and is a lady of much culture and refinement. She is an active member of the Church of Christ. Mr. McMullen is an adherent of the principles of the Democratic party, and has always taken an active interest in its affairs. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the welfare of which organization he takes an active interest.

Submitted by: John D. McMullen
History of Daviess County, Indiana, A.O.Fulkerson, editor. Indianapolis: B.F.Bowen, 1915. pp. 593-594.

Frank Mangin was born September 24, 1845, in Lorraine, France, and is the son of Frank and Katrina (Lawson) Mangin, both natives of France, where they lived and died. The subject of this review received his education in his native country and came to his country in 1867, first settling in Floyd County, Indiana, where he remained until 1870, and then came to Washington, Indiana. In 1878, he returned to France and was married there to Catherine Vourms, born on September 12, 1833, and a native of Lorraine, France.

Returning with his wife to America in 1879, he went to the town of New Albany, Indiana for a short time, then coming to Daviess County, entered, and at a later date bought his present farm consisting of forty acres. A number of improvements have been effected on the place and a general farming business is conducted. Mr. Mangin has a commodious and comfortable residence, well situated, and everything about the place is kept up in good shape, indicating a considerable degree of interest in his holding.

To him and his wife have been born the following children: Mary, who died at the age of fourteen years; Frank who died at the age of five years; Barbara, wife of George Rankle, of Washington township, whose children are: Frances, born on February 15, 1902; Margaret, March 15, 1903; Catherine M., March 23, 1908; Rosemary, July 4, 1911, and Vincent, July 19, 1914; Anna, wife of William C. Howard, whose marriage occurred on October 6, 1914; he is a machinist on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Washington, Indiana; Rose, who is a trained nurse and lives in Kokomo, Indiana, and Nicholas, who lives with his parents.

Politically, Mr. Mangin is a supporter of the Democratic ticket, but does not take any active interest in the political questions.

Religiously, he and his family are devout members of the Catholic church.

Personally, he is regarded as an unselfish, charitable man, of pleasing disposition and a gentleman in every sense of the word. His life in this community has resulted in a large number of friends, who hold him in the highest esteem and who recognize in him worthy motives, business ability, and high character. He is a man who is liberal in his views, believes in progress and improvement and does what he can to further these ends, taking an interest in whatever makes for the material advancement of the county, and the social, intellectual and moral good of the people.

Submitted by: Dianne Rossman
From The History of Daviess County by Alva Otis Fulkerson, Bowen, 1915

BENJAMIN W. STEEN was born in South Carolina January 4, 1834, son of John C. and Phoebe (Gregory) Steen, and of German-Irish descent. The parents were born in South Carolina in 1805 and 1806, respectively. The father died in 1878, and the mother in 1850. The family came to Daviess County in 1837, and located in Harrison Township, where the parents died. Subject attended the subscription schools, and aided his father on the farm until twenty-one years of age, when be began for himself. He located on his present farm in 1855 and now owns 160 acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1855 to Martha R. Colbert, born January 18, 1834, in Harrison Township, daughter of Tolliver and Sarah Colbert. Mr. and Mrs. Steen have two children: Oliver B., born in 1857, and Luella, born in 1872. Oliver has been twice married; both wives are deceased. He has two children: Emma by his first wife, and Leona by the second. Leona now resides with our subject. Steen is a Republican in politics, and has served two years as trustee of Harrison Township. Both husband and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Steen is a valuable citizen of the county and is the soul of integrity. Mrs. Steen's parents were born in 1789 and 1796, respectively. The former was a native of Virginia.

Submitted by: Michael L Tedrow
History of Daviess County Goodspeed Publishing Company 1886

TEWELL, Charles--Charles Tewell, born Oct 25, 1789 in Maryland, was a son of William and Elizabeth Tewell, who came to Washington Co, Kentucky. He was married Sept. 21, 1818 to Sarah Ann Matilda Raney, daughter of Jeremiah Raney and Mary Jane Sheehan Moore. They came to Daviess Co, Indiana shortly after their marriage, along with his brother, John, whose wife was an O'Brien; and his brother-in-law, Joseph Patterson who married his sister, Rosanna Tewell. The Tewells remained in the St. Mary's Church records for many year. The known children of Charles and Sarah were Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Hester, Alexander, Benedict, Greenberry, Morris, Mary G. and Charles, Jr. Sarah has no marker in the St. Mary's cemetery, but the stone for Charles reads "In memory of Charles Tewell, who was born Oct 25, 1789 - Departed This Life Sept 17, 1843."

Donated by: Shirley H. Platt

The following information was received from Jim Tewell:
There may be a problem on the bio of Charles Tewell. His father was in KY no later than 1780 - see land grands for western Virginia - and Charles was not born until 1789. Extremely unlikely that he was born in MD. Also, it is believed that he had a wife before Sarah Riney since he is known to have a son born in 1814. Actually it is suspected that William may well have been born in KY himself. There were Tewells there before 1760 - so this is possible. Jim Tewell

Judge David J. Hefron, circuit court judge of Daviess and Martin counties, Ind., was born in Jennings county, this state February 18, 1842, a son of Lawrence and Bridget (Dixon) Hefron, natives of county Mayo, Ireland.

Lawrence Hefron and wife, parents of subject, came to the United States in 1832, and located in Erie, Pa., where the father was engaged in contracting on public works until 1846, when he brought his family to Daviess county, Ind., and here engaged in farming until his death, which took place in 1851. He was a member of St.Peter's congregation, Montgomery, and in political faith was a democrat. His widow died in November, 1898, aged ninety four years, at the home of the judge, in Washington, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Hefron had born to themselves a family of five children, viz: Stephen, who keeps a feed store in Washington; Catherine, wife of James M. Graves, of Montgomery, Ind.; John, deceased; David J., the subject of this article; and Lawrence, deceased. Mrs. Hefron was born in the Catholic faith, fully attended to her religious duties all her prolonged life, and died a member of St. Simon's congregation.

Judge David J. Hefron was educated preliminarily in the public schools of Daviess county, Ind., and later entered the State university, at Bloomington, from the law department of which he graduated in 1869, then read law, until 1870, with John H. O'Neall, when he was admitted to the bar, and in 1871 formed a partnership with Mr. O'Neall, of Washington, under the style of O'Neall & Hefron, which was prosperously conducted until 1885, when Hefron was appointed by Gov. Gray, judge of the circuit court of Daviess and Martin counties, and so competent did he prove to be in the performance of the duties of this responsible office, that he was elected to the office in 1886, without opposition, re-elected in 1892 again against no opponent. He had, however, long been popular with the democratic party as well as with the public in general, and in May, 1871, had been elected mayor of the city for two years, and re-elected in 1873, for two years longer. In 1876 he was elected to the state senate to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Andrew Humphreys, and in 1878 was elected to the same office for a full term.

The marriage of Judge Hefron was solemnized in Washington, Ind., September 10, 1873, with Miss Florence A. Barton, a native of Washington, born in 1846, a daughter of Dr. G. G. and Ann (Murphy) Barton, the former a native of New York and the latter of Cork, Ireland. This marriage was blessed with four children born in the following order: Josephine, Anna B., Helen A., and David J. Jr., all residing with their father, he having had the misfortune to have been bereft of his wife December 18, 1884. Mrs. Hefron was a pious Catholic, was a member of all the charitable and social organizations of her church, and was a lady of character and womanly graces, whose loss to her husband and children is irretrievable. The judge is erudite, astute, impartial, and dignified, as a jurist, and as a gentleman he is genial andstable in disposition, and is possessed of all those finer qualities which are recognized in the man of culture the world over.

Submitted by: John D. McMullen
History of the Catholic Church in Indiana. (Logansport, Ind.: A.W.Bowen, 1898.) Vol. 2, pp. 709-710

Michael Zinkan, one of the leading farmers of Harrison Township, Daviess County, Indiana, and a native of the same, was born April 4, 1842, son of Philip and Ann Barbara Zinkan, who were born in Germany. They came to the United States in 1832, and located in Daviess County, Indiana, where they resided until their death. Subject obtained a common school education and spent his boyhood days on a farm. He remained with his parents until twenty-six years of age, when he located on his present farm. He has 200 acres of good land, the most of which is in a fine state of cultivation. He engages quite extensifely in stock raising, and is considered a prosperous and enterprising tiller of the soil. He has a fine barn, built in 1883. He was married in November, 1867, to Elizabeth Byrne, a native of Ireland, born in 1839, daughter of J.L. Byrne. She came to America when a child. Their union has been blessed with three children, viz.: Philip M., born October, 1868; Mary J., born May 1873; and John J.A., born June 1875. Mr. Zinkan is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for McClellan. In 1881 he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of O.B. Steen, as trustee of Harrison Township. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

Submitted by: John McMullen
"A HISTORY OF KNOX AND DAVIESS COUNTIES, INDIANA". 1886. GOODSPEED PUBLISHING CO. CHICAGO. Daviess County Indiana. Harrison Township. pp. 872-873

John A. Allison, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Washington Township, Daviess Co., Ind, April 23, 1838, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Ragsdale) Allison, and is if Irish-German descent. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania and South Carolina, born in 1792 and 1800, and died in Daviess County, Ind., in 1873 and 1870, respectively. About 1817 the father came to Daviess County and settled in Washington. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was one of the pioneers of the county. Our subject received a common school education and pedagogued about seven terms. In 1877 he located on he present farm and now owns 180 acres of good land. He was married, in 1863, to Mary Carroll, a native of the county, born in 1843, daughter of Dixon Carroll, one of the early settlers of the county. They have six children: Smith M., born in 1866; Owen, born in 1869; Ivie L., born in 1871; Laura G., born in 1873; Lillie A., born in 1875, and Robert K., born in 1880. In politics Mr. Allison is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is one of the leading farmers of the township and this year (1885) sowed seventy-five acres of wheat. He has been the architect of his own fortune, and an honorable and enterprising citizen.

Submitted by Andrea Dougan
"A HISTORY OF KNOX AND DAVIESS COUNTIES, INDIANA" 1886 GOODSPEED PUBLISHING COMPANY, CHICAGO DAVIESS COUNTY, IN. Veal Township, pg. 893.

Joseph C. Allison, ex-trustee and farmer of Veal Township, was born about three miles from the town of Washington, Ind., April 23, 1842. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Ragsdale) Allison (see sketch of John A. Allison for ancestral history), and was educated in the common schools of his native township and the public schools of Washington. He began teaching school in 1865, and continued that occupation during the winter seasons for about twelve years, and farmed during the summer. In 1870-71 he taught school in Newton County, Mo., and in 1873 settled on his present farm. He was married, in 1872, to Charlotte Brown, a native of the county, and daughter of Alex and Malinda Brown. She was born in 1853, and has borne her husband these four children: Frederick L., born in 1875; Ufa J., born in 1878; Edith B., born in 1880, and Nelson H., born in 1883. Mr. Allison is a Democrat, and was elected trustee of Veal Township in 1874, and re-elected in 1876. He has been a fairly prosperous farmer, and owns ninety acres of well-improved land. He is a Mason, and in 1862 enlisted in Company G., Forty-second Indiana Volunteers, and served his country for three months, but was honorably discharged on account of physical disability. He was at the battle of Stone River.

Submitted by Andrea Dougan
"A HISTORY OF KNOX AND DAVIESS COUNTIES, INDIANA" 1886 GOODSPEED PUBLISHING COMPANY, CHICAGO DAVIESS COUNTY, IN. Veal Township, pg. 894.

"The Diary of a Drifter" chronicles the live of Forrest Guthrie, grandson of a Scottish immigrant. This book, written by Daniel Guthrie, can be found online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Borders, Books a Million and is at the Borders in Evansville, IN.