Bartholomew-Shelby County IN Archives Biographies.....Ohdham, Granville L. 1850 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 24, 2007, 4:04 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) GRANVILLE L. OLDHAM, M. D. A successful practicing physician of Columbus, Dr. Oldham has won for himself the favorable regard of the public through the manifestation of his skill as a practitioner and his fidelity to the ethics of the profession. He has also displayed good business ability in the management of his farming interests and is the owner of a valuable tract of land in Shelby county. The Doctor was born in Shelby county, Indiana, on the 23d of May, 1850, and is the son of Joseph and Matilda (Harrell) Oldham. The father's birth occurred in Kentucky in 1812 and he died on the 14th of April, 1865, the same night on which President Lincoln was assassinated, there being only thirty minutes difference in the time of their deaths. Joseph Oldham was of Irish lineage and a son of John H. Oldham, whose birth occurred on the Emerald Isle. The grandfather of the subject was a farmer by occupation and in taking up his abode in the new world settled in Kentucky, where he remained until about 1820. In that year he came to Indiana and established his home in Shelby county. It was then a frontier region. As a pioneer settler he aided in the development and improvement of that portion of the state and his name should be inscribed among those whose labors were of direct benefit to the commonwealth. He continued a resident of Shelby county until 1853, when he was called to his final rest, the Doctor being at that time but three years of age. A man of good business ability, Joseph Oldham had successfully conducted his affairs and became known as a representative citizen of Shelby county, Indiana. He was a youth of eight summers when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Kentucky to this state and was reared here amid the wild scenes of frontier life. He became a trader and stock dealer of Shelby county, making his home near Fairland, and his business was conducted on an extensive and profitable scale. In his political views he was independent, casting his ballot for the men rather than for party, and he never aspired for office. He held membership with the Methodist Episcopal church and as a citizen was interested in all that pertained to public progress and improvement. He saw many changes in the county. His own home in early life was a log cabin and the great majority of the settlers lived in similar houses, but he has, like others, replaced this pioneer home by a more commodious and substantial residence and the work was as noticeable in other lines as in this direction. Unto Joseph and Matilda Oldham were born five children: Clarinda, now the widow of E. Ensminger, a farmer of Shelby county; Sydnian, who married Thomas Linville, a farmer of Shelby county, both dead; Granville L., of this review: John Q., who married Sarah E. Holmes, and is a trader living near Shelbyville and handling from one to five thousand head of cattle annually, being one of the largest stock dealers in the state; and Mannie J., the wife of John J. Dottan, who is also a trader a mile south of Fairlands. Dr. Oldham spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm in the county of his nativity. He obtained his preliminary-education in Shelbyville and afterward supplemented his early advantages by study in the Central College at Indianapolis, where he was graduated. He completed his medical course in 1898 and practiced in Clifford, Flat Rock township, from that time until September 1, 1903, when he removed to Columbus, where he is now living. Before engaging in practice he was successfully and extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and in stock dealing. He devoted about twenty years of his earlier life to dealing and trading in stock, making a specialty of horses, and his efforts in that direction were attended with excellent results, because he is a splendid judge of farm animals and was therefore enabled to make careful purchases and profitable sales. He yet owns one hundred and eighty-four acres of land in Shelby county, all of which is under cultivation and the rental from this property brings to him a good return. He likewise has eight acres of land in Clifford and a grain elevator which is located on an additional tract of land of two and a half acres. Among his possessions are a saw and grist mill combined, and his various interests, being carefully managed, bring to him splendid success. At the present time, however, he is devoting the most of his attention to the practice of medicine and already in Columbus he has gained a good patronage and won for himself an enviable position in the ranks of the medical fraternity. The Doctor has been three times married. In 1870 he was united in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth E. Oldham, who, though of the same name, was not a relative. Her parents were William R. and Eliza E. (Crum) Oldham, who were of German descent. The father was a farmer of Pennsylvania in early life and afterward removed to Shelby county, Indiana, where he became a very wealthy agriculturist and there spent his remaining days. For his second wife the Doctor chose Nellie Hoop, a daughter of James and Catherine Hoop. Her father was born and reared in Shelby county and in early life learned the blacksmith's trade which he followed for a number of years, but at the present writing he is engaged in the undertaking business in Fairland. The Doctor's present wife bore the maiden name of Catherine C. Kennedy and is a daughter of John and Jane (Sleeth) Kennedy. Her father is a farmer near Marion, Indiana, and it was in that locality that Mrs. Oldham was reared. By his first marriage the Doctor had four children: Maude E., who married Chester Fox, who was first married to her sister, Effie E.; Effie E. married Chester Fox and she is now deceased; Ira, who married Stella Pollard, is a farmer operating his father's land; and Harry E., who married Sevilla Bracken, is a practicing physician in Waynesburg, Decatur county. He was educated in the Union Medical College at Indianapolis, being graduated with the class of 1901. By his second marriage the Doctor had two children: Tiercie Iona, at home; and Neria Vaneria, who is living with her grandfather. The only child of the present marriage is Granville L. Oldham, who is now in school. The Doctor votes with the Democracy and has always manifested a deep interest in political questions, giving an earnest support to the principles in which he believes. In 1900 he was elected a trustee of Flat Rock township and filled that position until February, 1903. His has been a successful business career and gradually he has advanced on the high road to success until he is now one of the prosperous citizens of his adopted county. In all of his trade relations as well as in his professional career he has sustained an enviable reputation and is well known as a gentleman of genuine worth and broad culture. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/ohdham763gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb