Jacob S. Elliott was born on the farm where he now lives, May 14, 1825, a son of Jacob and Ann Elliott. His father was born in Virginia, Dec. 16, 1781, and when a boy went to North Carolina, where he was married, and in 1811 came to Indiana and lived in Wayne County ten years. He then moved to Henry County and settled in what is now Greensboro Township, where he died Nov. 13, 1855. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. Jacob S. spent his boyhood and youth with his father, working on the farm in summer and attending school in the winter till he was nineteen years of age. Since then he has given his attention to farming and stock-raising. He now owns 360 acres of land a mile southeast of Greensboro. June 10, 1851, he was married to Phoebe, daughter of Mathew and Rhoda McKinnie, natives of Ohio. They have had seven children - Addie, Charles H., John F., Nathan H., Annie M., Rhoda E. (deceased), Phoebe A. and Elva L. Politically Mr. Elliott is a Republican.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 643
Submitted by: Jeanie


D. L. Hinshaw, son of Benjamin and Annis Hinshaw, was born in 1826 in Randolph County, N. C., and emigrated to Indiana with his father's family in 1832, and settled in Henry County. When he was eighteen years of age he began learning the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked some eleven years. Since then he has devoted his attention to farming, and owns 360 acres of land. He was married in 1850 to Emeline, daughter of Enoch Isgrigg, whose father emigrated to this State from Ohio, and her mother from Kentucky. They have had four children born to them - Charles M. (deceased), Luther, Edmund and Warren. Politically Mr. Hinshaw was first a Whig but has affiliated with the Republican party since its organization. His wife is a member of the Society of Orthodox Friends. Mr. Hinshaw is of Irish descent, his grandfather having been born in Ireland. He emigrated to Nantucket Island; from thence to North Carolina.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 644
Submitted by: Jeanie


Seth Hinshaw was born in Randolph County, N. C., April 5, 1818, a son of Benjamin and Annis Hinshaw, natives of North Carolina, of Irish descent. In 1832 his parents moved to Wayne County, Ind., but a year later moved to Henry County and settled a mile west of Greensboro, where he cleared and improved a farm. In later life they sold the farm and moved to Greensboro, where the mother died, aged seventy-five years, and the father, a few months later, aged eighty-four years. Seth Hinshaw spent the earlier part of his life in teaming. His educational advantages were limited, and the knowledge he acquired was by personal application in his leisure hours. After his marriage he settled on a farm and devoted his time to that vocation for many years and now owns 160 acres of fine land, well improved, with good buildings. He is living rather retired, overseeing his farm, but letting the manual labor be done by younger hands. In 1836 and 1837 Mr. Hinshaw made two trips down the Mississinewa River, from Winchester to Lafayette, being one of five who volunteered to take the boats over the falls, the water in the river being very high and dangerous. March 29, 1838, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Stephen and Hannah Gregg. They have four children - A. G.; T. A., wife of R. P. Walton; Mattie; W. H., a master-mechanic, now of Pullman, Ill.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 644
Submitted by: Jeanie


Clark Hosier was born Jan. 2, 1839, in Greensboro Township, Henry Co., Ind., a son of Nathan and Alice Hosier, natives of North Carolina, and grandson of William Hosier, a pioneer settler of the county. His father died in 1852, aged forty-two years, and his mother in 1877, aged seventy years. She was a member of the Society of Orthodox Friends. Mr. Hosier has always followed agricultural pursuits and now owns a fine farm of 800 acres all well improved. Oct. 20, 1859, he was married to Mary M., daughter of Hugh L. and Rebecca A. Risk. They have had four children; but three are living - Cora, Clinton H. and Carl N. Ella died, aged one year. Mr. and Mrs. Hosier are members of the Society of Orthodox Friends. Politically Mr. Hosier is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge, chapter, council and commandery.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 644 and 645.
Submitted by: Jeanie


J. W. Kirk is a son of Thomas and Sarah Kirk, natives of Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, Timothy Kirk, came to America in 1682 with William Penn. He had four sons - Thomas, Timothy, Caleb and Ezekiel. Thomas was the father of three sons - John, Jason and Thomas. The latter moved from Clinton County, Ohio, to Henry County, Ind., in the spring of 1831, and bought land in Henry Township, where he lived till his death, March 29, 1867, aged eighty-six years. His wife died in 1837, aged forty-four years. J. W. Kirk was born in Henry Township, Henry Co., Ind., Nov. 9, 1831. He has devoted his exclusive attention to farming and now owns a good home of 165 acres in Greensboro Township. In July, 1862, he was married to Sarah M., daughter of Joel Wright. They have had two children; but one is living - Cora M., a graduate of Spiceland Academy, in the class of 1884. Eva died at the age of two years. Mr. Kirk has taken an interest in the cause of education and served as a member of the School Board many years. He is a birthright member of the Society of Orthodox Friends. Politically he has been a Whig and Republican. His influence now is on the side temperance.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 645
Submitted by: Jeanie


H. L. Risk was born in Augusta County, Va., Oct. 28, 1815, a son of John and Margaret (Daugherty) Risk, of Irish and Welsh descent. His grandfather, John Risk, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His early life was passed on a farm, and he had but limited educational advantages, but being a close observer and ambitious he applied himself to private study and acquired a knowledge of all practical subjects. He was married Aug. 27, 1835, to Rebecca A. Weaver, a native of Virginia, born Oct. 1, 1819, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah Weaver, natives of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent, who moved to Virginia in 1808, and from there to Henry County, Ind., in 1837, locating near Knightstown, where the father died Feb. 28,1857, and the mother July 9, 1874. In 1839 Mr. Risk, with his father's family, moved to Henry County, Ind., and located a mile south of Knightstown, where his father died the following October, and his mother, May 31, 1855. Mr. Risk was an industrious, energetic man and acquired a fine property, owning at his death 1,500 acres of land with a good residence and comfortable farm buildings. In his political views he was a Republican, and was one of the most enthusiastic to advocate the formation of the old Abolition party, although at that time the unpopular party. He and his wife were members of the Society of Orthodox Friends, and were always earnest workers in the church. Mr. Risk died Dec. 27, 1876. His family consisted of five children, but two of whom are living - William L., and Mary M., wife of Clark Hosier. John W., Josephine H., and Amanda J. are deceased. William L. Risk was born March 23, 1857, and was married Aug. 8, 1879, to Emma S., daughter of S. P. and Margaret K. Wood. They have two children - Nettie and Blanche. Mr. Risk lives on a part of the old homestead, and is the owner of one of the finest farms in the county.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 645 and 646
Submitted by: Jeanie


William Saint was born in Wayne County, Ind., Nov. 29, 1828. His parents, William and Achsah Saint, were natives of North Carolina, and were married in their native State in 1807, and in 1816 moved to Indiana and settled near the present site of Germantown. In 1836 they moved to Henry County and settled on the farm now owned by our subject, where the mother died Nov. 29, 1839, aged fifty-three years, and the father, Jan. 24, 1871, aged ninety years. Daniel Saint, great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of France and moved to Wales. His son, Hercules Saint, came from there to the United States, and settled near Philadelphia. William Saint, our subject, was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools, attending in the winter when the weather would not admit of his working. Since twenty years of age he has devoted his time to agriculture, and now owns a fine farm. He was married in 1849 to Mary A., daughter of John and Mary Elliott, of Wayne County. She died Aug. 16, 1851, leaving one child - Hettie S., wife of M. J. Kennard, of Omaha, Neb. In 1853 Mr. Saint married Mary A., daughter of James and Henry Johnson, of Spiceland. They have had three children; but one is living - Manta S., wife of W. S. Moffitt. Mira and Alice are deceased. Politically Mr. Saint is a Republican. He was a delegate to the National Free-Soil Convention in 1852, held at Pittsburg, and cast his vote for John P. Hale. Mr. and Mrs. Saint are members of the Society of Orthodox Friends.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 646 and 647
Submitted by: Jeanie


R. A. Smith, M. D., son of Isaac M. and Catherine Smith, natives of Ohio, and of English descent, was born in Hancock County, Ind., April 13, 1843. His early life was spent on the farm with his father. He received only a limited education, his parents failing to recognize the importance of the same. In 1861, at the beginning of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, under Captain Robert Allison. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw and all the battles in which the Army of the Cumberland was engaged. The last battle in which he participated was at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15 and 16, 1864. He was mustered out of the service in March, 1865, and returned home. In the fall of 1866 he began the study of medicine under H. S. Cunningham, M. D. of Indianapolis, remaining with him two years, at which time he entered the Physio-Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in the spring of 1870. He located in Grant City, Ind., and seven years later moved to Greensboro, Ind., at which place he has built up a large practice. He is a member of the First District, State and National Physio-Medical Associations. He was married April 9, 1868, to Mary J., daughter of Thomas J. and Jane Evans, of Welsh descent. They have three children - Katie E., George H., and Nettie E. Mrs. Smith is also a physician of many years practice, having been educated in Dr. Traul's School of New York. Politically Dr. Smith is a Republican. He is a member of the Society of Friends.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 647
Submitted by: Jeanie


J. M. Vance was born Oct. 13, 1823, in North Carolina, a son of Samuel L. and Sarah Vance, also natives of North Carolina. His parents moved to Wayne County, Ind., in 1830, and a few years later to Hamilton County, where they passed the remainder of their lives. His early life was spent on the farm, attending the district school three months during the winter, till he was seventeen years of age. He has always devoted his time to agriculture and stock-raising, and now owns a fine farm of 100 acres, all well improved. He was married Oct. 15, 1848, to Millie, daughter of Benjamin and Annis Hinshaw. They have a family of eight children; but six are living - Martha E., Benjamin F., Charles E., Sarah E., Samuel G., William L., Elias E. and Louis E. Politically Mr. Vance belongs to the National Greenback party.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 647 and 648
Submitted by: Jeanie


Joel Wright was born in Tennessee, Oct. 30, 1817, a son of Jesse and Annie Wright, natives of the Carolinas, who moved to Knoxville when young, and in 1835 came to Henry County, where the father died in 1847. He received a fair education, and lived on the farm till 1850, when he went into the drug business. He was the first to establish the business in the township, and is now the oldest man in the business in the county. He was married in 1839 to Annie Elliott, who died two years later leaving one child. In 1847 he married Eliza, daughter of Sylvanus and Rhoda Swain. They have had seven children; six are living. Politically Mr. Wright is a Republican. He is a member of the Society of Friends by birthright, and headed the congregation several years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Greensboro Township.
Page 648
Submitted by: Jeanie


William Burner, third son of Samuel and Barbara (Stover) Burner, was born June 20, 1813, in Augusta, Va. He learned the trade of a carpenter in his native State, and in 1835 came to Henry County, Ind., where he worked at his trade in Middletown about four years. He then rented and resided on a farm near Middletown three years, when he bought eighty acres of his present farm, which now contains 276 acres of valuable land. He was married Sept. 6, 1840, to Sallie Dennet, born in Page County, Va., in 1818, and daughter of Aaron and Mary (Windell) Dennet. Of their six children three are living - Eliza, wife of Dr. Farres, of Terre Haute, Ind.; John A., married Florence Prigg, and lives on a farm in Madison County, Ind.; Samuel D., at home; Joseph died at the age of ten years, and two died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Burner are members of the Christian church at Middletown. Politically Mr. Burner is a Republican.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 585.
Submitted by: Jeanie


Chauncey Hazelton Burr was born in Montgomery County (now Fulton), N. Y., March 11, 1806, a son of Bissell and Eunice (Robbins) Burr, his father a native of New England, born Dec. 14, 1771, and his mother of New York, born Jan. 29, 1774. His mother was a daughter of Thomas and Rosanna Robbins, natives of Scotland. His grandfather, Nathaniel Burr, was a native of Connecticut, of the old Puritan stock. Bissell Burr removed with his family to Butler County, Ohio, in 1820, and in 1822 to Shelley County, Ind. In August, 1836, his wife died, and he then returned to Ohio, and made his home with his son Alvin till the latter's removal to Iowa, when he came to Henry County and lived with our subject. Alvin afterward came to Henry County, and he then lived with him till his death, in April, 1845. When seventeen years of age Chauncey Burr began to work at the tanner's trade, serving his apprenticeship with Zachariah Gappin, of Crawfordsvillle, Ind. In 1830 he was married to Jane, daughter of Anthony and Eleanor Williams, of Union County, Ind. Two weeks after his marriage he located in Middletown, where he started the first tannery in the county, and continued the business till 1870. In 1839 Mr. Burr was elected Justice of the Peace, and served by re-election till 1882. He has held other township and county offices, and has been administrator of several estates. He has had a family of ten children. Seven are living - Almira, wife of H. L. Moreland; Zerilda, wife of J. V. Summers; Eunice B., wife of G. D. Noffsinger; Chauncey S., Miles H., Lafayette J., and Walter B. One son died in the army, aged seventeen years. Politically Mr. Burr is a Republican.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 585 and 586.
Submitted by: Jeanie


Isaac N. Chenoweth, merchant, was born Nov. 10, 1819, in Pike County, Ohio, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bristol) Chenoweth. Being left an orphan at the age of ten years, he lived with his grandfather, Reuben Bristol, till he was nineteen years old, when he went to Piketon, and for two years served as Deputy Sheriff, under Sheriff Colonel James Moore. He then drove cattle and hogs to the Eastern market for the next nine years, with the exception of two years, when he was with James Emmitt, of Waverly, Ohio, and less than a year he was in a dry-goods and clothing store of Moses Amburg, in Piketon and Jasper. April 1, 1850, Mr. Chenoweth left New York with seven young men for the gold mines of California, arriving at San Francisco, June 28. He remained in California eleven years, and returned to Ohio in August, 1861. He was married in October, 1862, to Elizabeth C., daughter of Absalom and Mary Chenoweth. His wife died Sept. 19, 1879, and Aug. 1, 1880, he married Hester Sheets, of Middletown. Mr. Chenoweth rented the Bristol farm one year, when he moved to Middletown, where he bought property. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry; was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and received his discharge Sept. 1, 1865. He then returned to Henry County, and with his brother-in-law, A. W. C., opened the pioneer hardware store, in Middletown. He was then engaged in dealing in stock a few years, and in 1873 again embarked in the mercantile business, in which he still continues. Politically he is a Republican. His first vote was cast for W. H. Harrison, on the Whig ticket, in 1840.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 586.
Submitted by: Jeanie


James R. Connell, eldest son of Silas and Elizabeth Rhoda (Hotchkiss) Connell, was born Aug. 24, 1833, in Adams County, Ohio. In January, 1841, his parents moved to Fall Creek Township, Henry County, Ind., where his father bought forty acres of land. James R. remained at home, assisting his father with the farm duties, till he attained his majority. He was married Jan. 15, 1860, to Eliza J. Woodyard, a native of Hancock County, Ind., and daughter of Noah and Mary Ann (Shaffer) Woodyard, who were natives of Virginia. They are the parents of one child - Tony, born in December, 1871. Mr. Connell owns 105 acres of well-improved land on the Middletown and Mechanicsburg pike. He was Township Assessor one year, and also served as Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. He is a Republican in politics. His father died in January, 1879, and his mother resides on our subject's farm near his home, aged seventy years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 586 and 587.
Submitted by: Jeanie


Charles Cummins, eldest son of James and Mary Ann (Riley) Cummins, was born Sept. 18, 1839, in Fall Creek Township. He has made farming his principal occupation through life, and at present owns 120 acres of excellent land near the village of Honey Creek. He was married Jan. 5. 1861, to Nancy C., daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Warnock) Gossett, born Dec. 14, 1840. To them have been born nine children, all living --Nathan Riley, born Nov. 6, 1861, married Cordelia Hoffman, and lives in Howard County, Ind.; Francis Marion, born Feb. 20, 1864; Mary Elizabeth, July 8, 1866; Rebecca Caroline, Jan. 11, 1869; William Henry, Dec. 18, 1871; Laura Alcinda, Dec. 17, 1873; George Lester, Feb. 21, 1876; Milton Edward, July 20, 1878, and Charles Loren, Oct. 17, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins are members of the New Light church, and are active Sabbath-school workers. In politics Mr. Cummins affiliates with the Democratic party.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 587.
Submitted by: Jeanie


Nathan Cummins, second son of James and Mary Ann (Riley) Cummins, was born in Fall Creek Township, Henry Co., Ind., and when about two years of age his father died. He remained with his mother till April 15, 1873, when he was married to Mary J., daughter of Henry and Barbara Haas, of Madison County, Ind. Four children have been born to them - Martha V., born March 7, 1874; Alta L., Feb. 26, 1876; James Clarence, March 4, 1878, and Banchy May, May 6, 1880. In 1877 Mr. Cummins rented his farm, and has since been actively engaged in business in Middletown, principally mercantile. Mrs. Cummins is a member of the United Brethren church, and is an active worker in the cause of temperance. Our subject's mother has made her home with him ever since his marriage. His father's parents lived with their son James many years, the father dying in 1849, at the age of seventy years, and the mother in 1865, aged seventy-seven years. After Nathan was married his Grandfather and Grandmother Riley resided with him some time, and died at his residence, the former Dec. 2, 1880, aged eighty-seven years, and the latter May 10, 1881, aged eighty-three years.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 587.
Submitted by: Jeanie


Overton Cummins was born Dec. 26, 1825, in Monroe County, W. Va., and when six years old, moved with his parents, Woodson and Nancy (Ellison) Cummins, to Henry County, locating near Middletown, on eighty acres of land entered by his father who died in 1847. His mother died in 1876, in Kansas, at the home of her son-in-law, John Noland. Overton Cummins was married Nov. 26, 1848, to Emelia Lindamood, daughter of Philip and Nancy Lindamood, of Fall Creek Township. They have had seven children, five now living - Nancy Jane, wife of Isaac Smith, a farmer near Bement, Ill.; Mary Ann, wife of S. D. Karicoft, farmer near Bement, Ill.; Walter L., married Belle Fink; Ida Alice and Laura Josephine living at home. Moses Emery died at the age of five years, and one child died in infancy. Mr. Cummins has a fine farm of 149½ acres, one and one-half miles northwest of Middletown. He and family are members of Fall Creek Christian church, and in politics he is a Republican.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 587 and 588.
Submitted by: Jeanie


John C. Daniels, miller, postoffice Middletown, Ind., was born Sept. 6, 1850, in Wayne County, Ind. His early education was obtained in the schools of Alexandria, and subsequently he attended Fort Wayne College, Fort Wayne, Ind. He began working in a mill when ten years of age, and worked at intervals when not in school. Thus by the time he was twenty-one he had a practical knowledge of the business to which he had given his attention. In February, 1878, he moved from Alexandria to Middletown and took charge of the Middletown mills. He remodeled and refurnished the mill putting it in first-class order, and has a good trade, doing a general milling business. He also buys and ships grain. May 3, 1874, Mr. Daniels was married to Maggie Keefer, of Alexandria. They have two children - May and Ethel. Mr. Daniels is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all the chairs of the lodge. At present is Noble Grand. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

From the History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884.
Fall Creek Township.
Page 588.
Submitted by: Jeanie


Deb Murray