KY-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest 2 Jan 2000 Volume 00 : Issue 2 ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:02:45 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: Thomas N. FOSTER, b. KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Richland Township, p. 627 Thomas N. FOSTER, stock-raiser and farmer, is the second son of James and Rachel (NESBIT) FOSTER, natives of Kentucky, the former of Irish, the latter of Scotch extraction. Grandfather NESBIT, after the Revolutionary war, came down the Ohio to Maysville, on a flat-boat, and settled about thirty miles inland. James FOSTER was a farmer, who in 1835 located on Clear Creek, and in 1838 came to this township, where his son Thomas now resides. He was afterward killed instantly while at work; his wife survived him until 1876, and made her home with our subject. Thomas N. FOSTER was born in Nicholas County, Ky., April 29, 1820, and was there reared until he was fifteen years old, when he came with his parents to this county, and here has continued to reside. After his father’s decease, he took charge of the farm, and made a home continuously improved and cultivated. It comprises of 172 acres, contains good house, good barns, and is profitably stocked. January 29, 1843, he married Miss Elizabeth ORAM of this county. four children graced this union - Mary L., Florence R., John T. and Dowe B. Mr. FOSTER is a liberal-spirited man, an esteemed citizen, and as well as Mrs. FOSTER, a member of the Christian Church. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:04:23 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: James W. FIGG, Shelby County, KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Richland Township, p. 626 James W. FIGG, farmer, is a native of Shelby County, Ky., was born March 19, 1835, and is one of the twelve in family born to Thomas and Rebecca FIGG, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia, and of German and English extraction. James FIGG was reared a farmer’s boy, and received some education from the subscription schools.. At the age of sixteen, he removed with his parents to Ellettsville, and when of age began farming in the neighborhood, and in February, 1864, located where he now resides, his farm containing 180 acres - a valuable property and comfortable home. December 32, 1861, he married Mrs. Naomi (WILLIAMS( REYNOLDS. Six children succeeded to this union - Mary I., Lilla B., Ella J., Jennie M., Sarah and Norah. Mr. FIGG is a liberal Democrat and a public-spirited citizen. He has made his own way unaided to comfort and independence, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:06:34 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: W.C. DRAPER, KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Richland Township, p. 625 W.C. DRAPER, hardware and furniture dealer, was born May 16, 1850, and is a son of Jesse and Eliza (CONDUITT) DRAPER, natives respectively of North Carolina and Kentucky, and of English and French descent. He attended school regularly during boyhood, and graduated in the classical course when seventeen years old - the youngest alumnus of the State University. He located at Martinville, and studied law for one year, which he abandoned afterward, and visited California, where he worked as a carpenter. On his return, he associated himself with the “National Temperance Alliance” at Indianapolis, and after the death of his father - May 28, 1872 - came home to look up his father’s estate, and then engaged in the lumber trade for a time. November 21, 1873, he married Miss Mary, daughter of L.W. SANDERS, a union which has been cemented by four children - Clarence, Admilla, Beulah and Blaine. In January, 1882, he engaged in his present business, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Draper is a member of the I.O.O.F., and a licensed local minister of the Baptist denomination of which his wife is a member. He is an influential and respected citizen. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:09:00 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: Hon. David BYERS, Mason Co. KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Richland Township, p. 624 Hon. David BYERS, retired farmer, is a son of David and Elizabeth BYERS, natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, David BYERS, Sr., located in Mason County, Ky., having come down the Ohio River on a flat-boat about 1783. He married Miss Rachel NESBIT, and was father of five children. After her death in 1803, he married Mrs. Elizabeth (RAY) TURNER, with an issue of three sons, and died in 1817, aged fifty-nine years. He was a superior man, both in mind and body. After his decease, Mrs. BYERS came with her family to this county in 1827, and some time lived, and finally died, with our subject, in 1852, aged eighty-three years. David BYERS, Jr., was born June 20, 1806, in Nicholas County, Ky., where he was trained to farming; he was studious and ambitious, and became a teacher after coming to this county, and as such a pioneer. In 1835, he located where he now resides, and created a home and farm from the wilds of nature. January 30, 1831, he married Miss Rachel Sanders, and to this union where bestowed nine children, only two of whom survived - Lafayette and Thomas, Jr.; Mrs. BYERS died June 21, 1874. Mr. BYERS’ second son, James K.P., was a soldier of the Fiftieth Indiana Regiment, and died in 1867. Mr. BYERS was a Democrat until the Kansas troubles, when he became a Republican. He was Representative to the Legislature in 1840-41, and in 1844-45, having led the “Seminary” and “State University Re-organization” bills. He served as Justice of the Peace eight years, and as county Commissioner from 1830 to 1840 - the only one living that served under the old law. Since 1842, he has been an active worker in the Church of Christ. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #5 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:11:35 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: G.W. BURKS, KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Richland Township, p. 623-624 G.W. BURKS is the eldest son of Floyd and Helen (THOMPSON) BURKS, the former a native of Kentucky, ant latter of Indiana, and respectively of Irish-English and German descent. Floyd BURKS was a house-carpenter and farmer, who came to this county in early manhood, married and reared a family of ten children. The larger portion of his life was spent in Greene County, and he there redeemed from nature’s wilds a home and farm, in doing which he experienced the trials of a pioneer. He was a notorious hunter, a Republican and a member of the Church of Christ. He died June 10, 1878, aged sixty-three years. G.W. BURKS was born November 16, 1836, and was reared a farmer, and from the common schools obtained a fair education. October 18, 1855, he married Miss Matilda H. MAYFIELD, of this county, a union cemented by the birth of seven children, five of whom are living - Lauretta, Joseph W., Ulyssus L., Walter W. and Isaac R. Mr. BURKS, soon after this event, commenced farming on the home place, and in 1857 located where he now is - a farm of much value and with many improvements, containing an area of fifty-seven acres. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican in politics. Mr. BURKS is a member of the Christian and Mrs. BURKS of the Baptist Church. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #6 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:14:35 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: Andrew W. REEVES born in Fleming Co., KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Bean Blossom Township, p. 619 Andrew W. REEVES, one of the county’s pioneers and enterprising farmers and stock raisers, was born on April 30, 1808, in Fleming County, Ky., and is the third of ten children born to Joseph and Susanna (WOODS) REEVES, natives of Virginia and South Carolina respectively. Our subject came to Indiana with his parents in 1818, and settled in Richland Township, Monroe County, where the father entered 160 acres of land, which he improved. This farm is in the southwest part of Ellettsville. Our subject was reared on he farm, his limited education having been acquired at the subscription school of that day. On March 22, 1832, he was married to Sallie Ann McDONALD, a native of Mason County, Ky., and daughter of William and Ruth (McFADDEN) McDONALD. Five children have been born to them, viz: Elizabeth A. (deceased), William McD., Joseph H. (died in the army), John A., Mattie E. (DEEM). Mr. Reeves was four years a Trustee of Ellettsville. He was elected Sheriff of Monroe County for two consecutive terms - from 1856 to 1860. In the autumn of 1872, he was elected a Representative to the Legislature from his county, attending the regular session during Gov. HENDRICKS’ administration, and a special session during Gov. BAKER’s. He also held the office of Justice of Peace while a resident of Owen, of which county he was formerly a resident twenty-one years. He owns 360 acres of good land, well improved; 120 acres of this land lie in Richland Township. He and his wife have been members of the Christian Church for over forty years, and are liberal givers to charitable enterprises. In politics, he is an active and uncompromising Republican. In his community, he is much respected and highly esteemed as an upright citizen. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #7 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:18:38 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: James S. GENTRY, Born in KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Bean Blossom Township, p. 615 James S. GENTRY, an old settler, as well as an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of this county, was born on January 9, 1813, in Kentucky, and is the second of three children given to Elijah and Elizabeth (WARE) GENTRY, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, and of English and Scotch origin, respectively. James S. was reared on a farm, attended school in Indiana about eleven months, and so learned to read and cipher. His parents brought him into Indiana in 1816, and settled in Harrison County. About 1817, his father died, and his mother moved, first to Lost River, Orange County, in 1822, and then to Morgan County, and, about 1838 or 1839, James S. entered eighty acres of land, where he now lives, and to which he has added, until the number of acres amounts to 253, all cultivated, with residence, out-buildings and orchard. On February 8, 1838, Mr. Gentry married Eliza, daughter of Joseph and Mary (GRAHAM) CAMPBELL, of Monroe County. Her parents ame here in 1818, and her mother drew a silver medal for being the oldest settler represented at the old settlers’ meeting, August 9, 1883.. By this union, Mr. GENTRY had the following children; William C., Lemuel K. (deceased), Norman J., Mary J. (COSNER), Joseph P., James M., David D. and Thomas H. Two of Mr. GENTRY’s sons, William C. and Lemuel K. were in the late war. Mr. GENTRY was a member, formerly, of the I.O.O.F. and of the Grange. He and wife are members of the M.P. Church, and are very benevolent in disposition. He served on the Board of Trustees five years, and in 1859, was elected, when the law was changed, and served until 1873. In the spring of 1878, he was again elected for a term of two years. He is a Democrat. In forty years, Mr. GENTRY has not lost three days of time on account of illness. he lives in a house, a part of the lumber in the building of which was made by his hands in 1837, being sawed out with a whip-saw, and he has worked with a whip-saw for a month at a time, for 50 cents per day, thinking this large pay. In using this saw, two men could saw 400 feet of lumber per day. Mr. GENTRY built rafts at Mt. Tabor at an early day, and labored thus, until the construction of the New Albany Railroad, at which time rafting ceased. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel ______________________________X-Message: #8 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 20:16:26 -0700 From: "Linda Katherine Jenkins-Wensel" Subject: BIO: John W. HOUSTON, KY Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Monroe County Biographical Sketches, Bean Blossom Township, p. 617 John W. HOUSTON, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, was born October 18, 1848, in this township, and is the youngest of the eight children of Joseph and Lucinda (PUTNAM) HOUSTON, natives of Kentucky and of English decent. John W. was reared upon a farm, and educated during the winter months, when farm work was dull. On December 21, 1871, Mr. HOUSTON married Martha, daughter of John and Eliza (JOHNSON) GILMAN, natives of Kentucky, and of German and English descent. By this marriage there were six children - Amanda, Lewis W., Cassandra M., Florence Ida, Walter T., and Purnel J. Mr. HOUSTON owns ninety-nine acres of land, well cultivated, with a comfortable frame dwelling, barn and out-buildings, supplemented by a thrifty orchard. Mrs. HOUSTON belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. HOUSTON’s parents came to Monroe County in 1834, and settled on the farm where he now lives, and which his father had improved. Lucinda PUTNAM and her parents came to Monroe County from Kentucky in 1823. Mr. Joseph PUTNAM bought the farm which our subject now owns, in about the year 1822. Thus Mr. HOUSTON’s grandparents were among the earliest settlers in the county. He is a Democrat. Data Entry Volunteer - Linda Jenkins Wensel End of ky-footsteps-digest V00 #02 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. 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