Greene County Biography Ref. Page

AARON ARTHUR, one of the enterprising men of Beech Creek Township, is the son of John and Annie (Watkins) Arthur, and was born in Greene County, December 11, 1841. His father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Tennessee. They emigrated to Greene County, Ind., at an early day, and engaged in farming, but after a time moved to Moultrie County, Ill., and remained about two years; then returned to this county, where they resided until their respective deaths. Aaron Arthur is one in a family of nine children. He was married Jaunary 16, 1861, to Miss Margaret Ann Crockett, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Crockett, and to this union have been born seven children--William, Elizabeth, Charley, Benjanin, Annie, John and David. Mr. Arthur is a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He has always taken an active interest in the advancement of education and all the public improvements of the day. He owns a fine farm of 280 acres, and confines his occupation to farming and stock-raising.

"HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC." CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1884.
BEECH CREEK TWP. PAGE 389
Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

NEHEMIAH ARTHUR, a twin brother of Aaron Arthur, who is elsewhere mentioned in this work, is a native of Beech Creek Township, Greene County, Ind., where he now lives. He was born December 11, 1841, one of the famiy of John and Anna (Watkins) Arthur. His schooling was limited to the country schools where he has been reared. On October 15, 1861, he married Margaret E. Burks, and to this union nine children have been born--Mary A., William W. (deceased), John F., Joel R., Odella, Anna L., Martin L., Aaron L. and Amanda A. In the first part of life, Mr. Arthur was a farmer, and in fact has always been such, although he has been in the saw-mill buisness ever since the fall of 1871, with the exception of the year 1879. He now owns 298 acres of good farming land, well improved. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arthur are members of the Christian Church, while he is a Democrat in politics. They are of the best people, and highly respected as citizens in the community where they live.

JOHN W. ARTHUR, one in a family of eleven children born to John and Anna M. (Watkins) Arthur, is a native of the township and county where he now resides, his birth occurring December 16, 1850. When sixteen years old, he moved with his parents to Illinois, where he received the greater part of his educaiton, but after living there two years the family returned to Greene County. During his early life, Mr. Arthur worked at farming, but in 1872, in company with two brothers, Aaron and Nehemiah, he engaged in saw milling, at which he has since continued, although he owns a good farm of 120 acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation. The spring of 1884, he expects to move to Tennessee and make the lumber business his exclusive occupation. Mr. Arthur has been one of Beech Creek Township's best citizens, favoring the advancement of all laudable public enterprises. His marriage with Charity Cornelius was solemnized July 27, 1872, and himself and wife are highly esteemed as neighbors and friends. Mr. Arthur is a Democrat in politics.

HIRAM D. ARTHUR, one of Beech Creek's prominent young men, was born in the township, where he at present resides, December 25, 1856, and is one of eleven children born to John and Anna M. (Watkins) Arthur. He received the greater part of his schooling in his native county, and up to eighteen years of age worked at farming. In 1874, he began in the saw mill and lumbering business, and this has been his chief occupation ever since, although, he owns a well improved and fairly stocked farm of 105 acres. Mr. Arthur deserves much credit for his success, as be began doing for himself a poor boy, and by energy and industry has accumulated valuable property. On the 17th of August, 1876, Elizabeth Livingston became Mrs. Hiram D. Arthur, and to this union two children have been born, named James W. and Rosa E. In politics, Mr. Arthur casts his influence in favor of the Democratic party and as a member of this organization he favors reform in every respect. During the spring of 1884, he expects to locate in Tennessee where, in company with a brother, he intends continuing the lumber business.

GEORGE R. AXTELL, one of the foremost citizens of Beech Creek Township, was born May 10, 1825, in Washington County, Penn. He is one of five children of Thomas and Mary (Weir) Axtell, and his genealogy is traced elsewhere in this work. In 1832, with his parents, he located in Knox County, Ohio, where, with the exception of two years in Noble County, he lived until 1856, when he settled in Greene County, Ind., on the same farm where he now lives. Amanda Farnham became his wife November 5, 1846, and by her he is the father of five children--Samuel W., Bryan C., Mary W., Georgiana and Edna J., all living but the last. Mr. Axtell received a common school education in the Ohio schools, and while a young man began the tanning business, which he followed until he came to Greene County. Since that time he has been exclusively a farmer, and now owns 165 acres of good land, well improved and cultivated. On December 12, 1880, his wife Amanda, died, and again, on January 8, 1882, he married Sarah R. Ogg, of the same township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Solsberry, and a Republican in politics. He has held several minor township offices and shares the esteem of all who know him.

JOHN A. BALDRIDGE, a farmer of Beech Creek Township, is one of two children of David and Mary B. (Stewart) Baldridge, and is a native of Athens County, Ohio. His father, having exhausted his means in acquiring an education in medicine, died and left our subject while quite young to the care of a mother. During his younger years Mr. Baldridge lived at intervals in Morgan, Noble and Washington Counties, Ohio, and was engaged in farming in the summer, and in the winter attending the country schools where he received a common school educaton. He was born September 27, 1843, and on November 20,1863, he enlisted in Company D, Ninety-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was afterward trasnsferred to Company C, Thirty-first Regiment of Veteran Volunteers, from which he received an honorable discharge July 20, 1865. He was engaged in the battles of Resaca and Bentonville, and marched with Sherman to the sea. In May, 1866, he located in Greene County, where he has followed farming ever since. His nuptials with Georgianna Axtell were celebrated December 5,1868, and to their union two children have been born, named Harry W. and David H. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baldridge are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Solsberry, in whch organization they are leading spirits. He is a Republican in politics. His farm consists of 210 acres, well improved and cultivated. This he has acquired by industrious exertion and honest dealing.

F. H. BRYAN, son of Edward Bryan, was born in Beech Creek Township, Greene County, Ind., October 24, 1844. His father was a native of Orange County, Ind., born in 1819, and a son of Edward Bryan, Sr., who came from South Carolina to Lost River in Orange County about the time Indiana was admitted into the Union. The family is of Irish descent, but the wife of Edward Bryan, Jr., Malinda Bullock, to whom he was married in Greene County, in 1842, was of English and Welsh descent, and was a daugthter of John and Elizabeth (Gaston) Bullock, both of these families settling in Greene County at a very early period in its history. Edward Bryan, Sr., together with his family, removed to Greene County in 1822, and settled in Beech Creek Township. They engaged in farming and clearing until Edward, Sr.'s death, in about 1846. Edward, Jr., lived on the farm until 1853, when he moved to Bloomfield, where for one season he engaged in merchandising, but the fall of 1853 removed to Solsberry and continued a like business with success for eight years. He died of consumption August 6, 1861, leaving a widow--who died of the same disease two years later--and three children: F. H., E. C. and John E. F. H. took charge of the family left in his charge by the death of his parents until their respective marriage. He thus began doing for himself at the age of sixteen years, and in youth obtained only a common school education. On the death of his father, he purchased his store, and the greater part of his life has since been devoted to merchandising in Solsberry. He was married in 1873 to Miss A. F. Gibbons, and by her is the father of three children--Edward, Mabel and Fay. Mr. Bryan is a member of both Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternites, and is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Bryan was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, November 11,1850, and came to Greene County with her parents, Joseph and Margaret (Shaw) Gibbons, in November, 1865. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bryan held the office of Postmaster at Solsberry for three years. He owns about 450 acres of land in Beech Creek, Center and Highland Townships.

VANDAL H. CASNER, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of the Old Dominion, his birth occurring June 19,1830, in Randolph County, and is one in a family of six children born to George and Margaret (Yeager) Casner. He received his education from the old fashioned subscription schools, selected farming as his vocation through life, and Feburary 16, 1851, waas married to Mrs. Barbara L. (Johnson) Barnes. In May, 1855, he came to Greene County, Ind., locating in Beech Creek Township, where he has ever since resided, with the exception of eleven years, when he made his home in Center Township. September 29, 1864, he became a member of Company B, Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after participating in the engagements of Franklin and Nashville, and various minor engagements, he was honorably discharged July 15,1865. Mr. Casner is one of the progressive and substantial men of Beech Creek Township, beginning life with no substantial means, and by good management and industry accumulating 300 acres of good land. In politics, he is independent, voting for men and not party measures, rejecting the wrong and adopting the right. He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are the parents of this family: Solomon, George, Eliza R., Byron V., Lincoln R., Grant O., Ida M. and Edith E., all living.

T. R. COOK, Solsberry, was born December 8, 1822, in Washington County, Penn., but his parents, Jacob and Phebe (McCollum) Cook, removing to Ohio in 1832, he was largely educated in Athens County. He began for himself when eighteen years old, and a year later went to the cabinet-makers' trade. While at the latter occupation, he removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where in 1843, he was married to Harriet T. Gibbens, who was born March 17, 1825, and a daughter of Peter and Barbara (White) Gibbens. From cabinet-making, Mr. Cook gradually took up carpentering, which has been his occupation chiefly through life. In 1859, he moved to Greene County, Ind., and August 20, 1862, became a member of Company A, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. On the organization of the company, he became First Sergeant, but was discharged from promotion to First Leiutenant December 16, 1862, his commission bearing date December 11,1862. By reason of the Captain's illness, Mr. Cook commanded his company for a number of months. He contracted typhoid fever at La Grange, Tenn., and for three months was unable for duty, but afterward was afflicted with sore eyes and camp fever, which rendered him entirely unfit for further military work. He resigned March 30, 1864, and was honorably discharged. For the past eight years, he has served as Postmaster at Solsberry, and Justice of the Peace, the latter being his present calling. Mr. Cook is one of the county's ablest citizens; is a stanch Republcian, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are parents of this family: Elizabeth C., born July 4, 1845 (now Mrs. John Mullen); Peter M., April 17, 1847 (practicing medicine in Solsberry); Margaret E., August 27, 1849 (Mrs. C. W. Keys); Edward S., April 17, 1851; Charles H., September 1, 1853, died March 20, 1857; William F., October 11, 1857; John F., August 6, 1859, died February 10, 1863; Benjamin B., July 9, 1865, and Birdie, February 11, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational Churches respectively, and are highly esteemed people.

JAMES CRAWFORD, a prosperous farmer of Beech Creek Township, is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born February 16, 1828. To his parents, Thomas and Jane (McClure) Crawford, were born this family: William B., Joann, James, Thomas, Mary J., Margaret, Martha, Amanda, Nancy and Sarah. Six of these are all that now live. The parents were honest and industrious people, natives of Pennsylvania, and both are now dead. James Crawford came to Greene County, Ind., the spirng of 1853, and engaged in faming in Beech Creek Township, where he has ever since resided. In 1865, he became associated with Dr. J. P. McIntosh in mercantile pusuits, and after the retirement of Dr. McIntosh some eight years later, assumed the proprietorship of the entire business, which he continued some ten years longer. Mr. Crawford has been a careful and prudent business man, and by good management and industry has accumulated considerable property, consisting largely of farms, business property, etc. His marriage with Miss Nancy Conkle was solemnized June 21, 1850, in his native county, and although no children have been born to them, they have completed their home circle by rearing and educating three children from the neighborhood. Mr. Crawford is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic brotherhood; has served four years as Postmaster and a number of terms as Township Trustee, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the late civil war, he held the position of Sergeant, and afterward Second Lieutenant, and while doing military duty his actions were governed by the sense of honor and partiotism as when a civilian.

ABRAM DILLEY, a farmer of Beech Creek Township, is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, where he was born Mrach 25,1828, one of twelve children, of whom Ephraim and Rachel E. (Henry) Dilley were the parents. Mr. Dilley received such education as could be acquired in the primitive schools and through paper windows of this time. At the age of fifteen years, he began the blacksmith trade, which business he continued for about fifteen years. On July 2, 1848, Maria J. Yakey, of the same county, became his wife, and they are the parents of these children: Leroy H., Judson S. (deceased), George W., Sarah L., Lucy L. (deceased), Solomon Y. (deceased), Albert L., Rachael and Maria F. In September,1865, he located in Greene County on the place where he now lives. Since coming to this county, he worked at his trade about five years, and the balance of the time he has been farming. He now owns a splendid farm of 258 acres, well improved and cultivated. Of the 185 acres that are cleared, Mr. Dilley has cleared 100, which indicates his industry without other example. As members of the Baptist Church at Newark, they are among the best citizens in the county. Mr. Dilley is a thorough Democrat in politics, and stands high among his neighbors for strict integrity.

DAVID JACKSON DRAKE, a merchant and Deputy Postmaster of Newark, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, December 20, 1823, and is the son of George and Rachel (Johnson) Drake, natives of Ohio, in which State they lived until their respective deaths. They were the parents of three children--Elizabeth (wife of Waterman Benner), David and Dennis (deceased). Our subject came to this State in 1866, and settled on a farm in this county, where he remained one year, then removed to Newark, where he has since resided, and engaged in mercantile business. In 1881, he became Deputy for Postmaster Joseph G. Smith, and has since held that position. August 27, 1847, his marriage with Miss Mary E. Dotson, of Monroe County, Ohio, was solemnized, and to them have been born seven children--James W., George D., John (deceased), Seward, Clarence (deceased), Emma (Mrs. David D. Lyons) and Albert L. Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been successful in business, owns a good farm of forty acres of well-improved land adjoining Newark, and a fine business property in the town. Mr. Drake is an old and honored citizen of Greene County, and he and family are respected by all who know them.

GEORGE EDWARDS, one of the oldest settlers in Greene County, and a resident of Beech Creek Township, was born in Surry County, N. C., March 3, 1811. His parents were William and Delilah (Burch) Edwards, who bore a family of seven children, with which they came to Greene County in May, 1822. George Edwards, the subject of this sketch, received but little education, and that from the subscription schools kept in the log houses of those frontier days. In his starting out for himself, Mr. Edwards had the common misfortune of the day and place--that of being poor. By his wife, whose maiden name was Laodicea Burch, he is the father of eleven children--James, Sarah, Nancy, Martha, William H., Delilah J., George L., Samuel H., Mary E., Susan R. and Paris F. Their marriage was solemnized December 22,1831. By hard work and economical living, Mr. Edwards has obtained a large competence, now owning about 700 acres of as good land as is in Beech Creek Township, besides a great amount he has given to his children. His is probably the best improved farm in his township. Both he and wife are members of the Baptist Church at Hebron, and are universally respected.

WILFORD HICKAM, M. D., Newark, was born in Owen County, Ind., December 25,1856, one of eleven children in the famiily of E. and M. (Bray) Hickam. He received a thorough ordinary education in the public schools of his native county, and at nineteen years of age began teaching school, which profession he followed four consecutive years. He then began the study of medicine with Dr.Schell, of Spencer, with whom he remained until the fall of 1880, when he entered the Medical Department of Butler University, from which institution he graduated March 1, 1883. Dr.Hickam then located for the practive of medicine at Newark, where he has won flattering success in his profession, both in the treatmeent o fcases and in acquiring a lucrative practice. He is one of the lively, wide-awake men of Newark, progressive in his views on all subjetts, is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. Dr. Hickam met with a serious and distressing accident June 26, 1864, which was the loss of his left limb at the junction of the middle and upper thirds of the femur, leaving him a cripple for life.

DR. JOHN KUTCH, Solsberry, was born in Richland Township, Greene County, Ind., November 15,1841, and is a son of A. L. Kutch. He was raised on the home farm until seventeen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn blacksmithing at Bloomington. He served at this until he enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Light Artillery, and was mustered into the service on his twentieth birthday. His battery was ordered to Fort Donelson, but the battle terminating before their arrival, they went into camp at Cairo. He was an active participant in the battle of Corinth, in which his battery was warmly engaged. In 1863, they joined Grants' expedition against Vicksburg, but here the Ninth Artillery were sent to Fort Hindman, Tenn. From here they went to Vicksburg the fall of 1863, and later to Meridian, en route participating in a severe engagement at Queen's Hill. They then returned to Vicksburg, and from thence joined Banks' command on the Atchafalaya Bayou, and from here captured Fort Drusa on Red River. They then went to Alexandria, and there were engaged in a battle on Gov. Moore's farm. Re-embarking on Red River, they participated in a number of engagements along its shore, and after being engaged in the battle of Pleasant Hill returned to Memphis for recruits. After the battle of Guntown, they were ordered to check Kirby Smith, who was threatening St. Louis, and while here followed up the retreating rebels and engaged their force on Blue River. They were next in the battle of Nashville; then followed Hood's retreating army to Pulaski; then went to Westport, having then served six months over the time for which they had enlisted. They here embarked on the steamer "Eclipse," and while near Johnsonville during a fog on the night of February 27,1865, the steamer blew up, and thirty-two of the sixty-eight men of the Ninth Artillery were killed out-right, and, with the exception of six, the remainder were wounded. Among the latter was Dr. Kutch, who was scalded over the face and head, and struck in the back with a brick from the boiler. Owing to this injury, Dr. Kutch ws unfitted for his trade, and consequently began the study of medicine the winter of 1874, and in 1878-79 graduated from the Medical College of Indiana at Butler University. For a short time, he practiced his profession at Bloomfield; then located in Solsberry, where he has acquired a lucrative practice. He is a Republican, and was married on this twenty-forth birthday to Mary E. Danely, by whom he is the father of three children---Ollie, Maggie and Alford. Dr. Kutch was in thirteen battles and engagements while out in the late war, and was honorably discharged in March, 1865.

OSCAR MCDONALD, a merchant of Newark, was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 15, 1827, and is the son of Francis and Mary (Carroll) McDonald, who were natives of Kentucky and Maryland respectively. While in Kentucky, they were engaged in farming. Coming to Indiana in 1834, they settled in Greene County, and embarked in a like pursuit. They were the parents of four childrn--Sarah (Mrs. Jacob McIntosh), James, Elizabeth (Mrs. David Smith), and Oscar, who came with his parents to Indiana, and remained with them until his marriage with Miss C. Hoke, in 1852. He continued farming for sixteen years, when he moved to Newark and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, which he continued about three years; then, with Joseph G. Smith, became interested in harness and mercantile business, which lasted some four years. Since then, he has been in mercantile pursuits alone. Mr. McDonald has several times held the office of Trustee for Highland Township. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. McDonald is deeply interested in the advancement of all public enterprises. In politics, he votes for the best man, regardless of political party, faith or creed.

Deb Murray