Sullivan County Biography Ref. Page

JUDGE GEORGE W. BUFF is a native of Darke County, Ohio, where he was born August 31,1843, his parents being John and Jane Curlett (Pigman) Buff, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Kentucky. The family moved to Sullivan County in 1862, locating near Merom on a farm, where the father yet lives, the mother having died February 23, 1875. George W. Buff was educated mainly at Merom and at an academy in Jay County, teaching, when old enough, to get means to continue his schooling. Thus he was engaged until 1868, when he began the study of law in the office of his brother, N.G. Buff, at Sullivan, and continued his readings until September, 1869, when he entered the law school at Lexington, Ky., and in February graduated with high honors. He then returned to Sullivan and entered into partnership with his brother in the practice of law, and continued thus with gratifying success until 1875, when his brother left, and soon afterward he formed a partnership in law with John T. Hays. This business relation was dissolved in 1878, and another formed for the practice of law with James B. Patten; but in 1882, Mr. Buff was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, a merited recognition of his ability, honor and acquirements, and he is yet serving in that responsible position. As a practitioner, Judge Buff has no superior at the Sullivan bar, and on the bench his decisions are accurate, logical and just. He has been counsel in many of the most important cases of late years. April 6, 1871, he married Miss Maria, daughter of David and Catharine Cushman, and is the father of three children--Mary Josephine, Catharine and Ruth. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. In May, 1864, Judge Buff enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged with his regiment in October, 1864, when he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until October, 1865, and was then discharged. The county has no better citizen.

"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.SULLIVAN CO., IN
HAMILTON TWP.
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Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

J. L. BERRY, Sheriff of Sullivan County, was born in Jefferson County, Ky., October 30, 1837, and is the sixth in a family of ten children, born to William A. and Lucinda (Millison) Berry, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but when about twenty-three years of age went to Kentucky and ever after followed farming. In December, 1840, he moved to Knox County, Ind., where he and wife lived until their deaths. Of the ten children, all are living in Knox and Sullivan Counties. Subject, when sixteen years old, began doing for himself. He occupied his time on the farm until 1868, when he embarked in the drug trade at Carlisle, and continued about ten years, when he accepted a situation as travelor for a wholesale implement house, but a year later returned to Sullivan County and soon afterward was elected County Sheriff, and two years later was re-elected to the same office, which he is now filling to his own credit and to the benefit of his constituents. Mr. Berry is a Democart, and has ascended to the Royal Arch degree in Masonry. For eight years he served as Notary Public. In 1858, he was married to Nancy J. Corbin, who died without issue March 19, 1865. On the 26th of January, 1872, he married Mattie A. Jenkins, by whom he is the father of five children: Winnie L., deceased, Lola, Earl, Maggie and Guy. Mrs. Berry is a member of the Methodist Church.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

WILLIAM H. BOLINGER, a native of Kentucky, was born in Maysville, July 21, 1821, son of Henry and Susanna Bolinger, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents married in Pennsylvania and settled in Kentucky, about the year 1812. The father was a glass mixer and worked in the shops of Maysville until operations were suspended. Our subject, at the age of one year, was taken by his parents to a farm in the country near Maysville, where he was reared and educated. At the age of twenty-three he left home to do for himself, rented a farm and continued to occupy it until 1854, when he purchased 106 acres two miles from Maysville, where he remained until 1865, when he sold out and purchased 137 acres of his present farm of 292 acres. June 2, 1844, he married Miss Victoria, daughter of Bartholomew Clause. This lady was born September 22, 1825, within eight miles of the city of Paris, France, but was reared and educated in Kentucky. She has borne her husband children as follows: Caroline, John H., Charles B., William T., James S., Annettie, Frederick J. and one deceased, Edward S. Mr. Bolinger is a Republican, and a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

RICHARD A. BLAND was born and reared a farmer's boy. His native State was Kentucky, where he was born January 6, 1815, and was educated in Jennings County, Ind, where his parents moved in about 1823. When of age, he engaged in cabinet making at Carlisle, Sullivan County, and two years afterwrd opened a shop of his own at New Lebanon, which he conducted until 1845, when he located in Sullivan, but the following year returned to New Lebanon, and about a year later began building flatboats, for which there was great demand. Three years later he engaged in saw-milling, and in 1855, bought a farm of ninety-one acres three miles from New Lebanon. After occupying this three years, he sold out and bought another of 110 acres east of New Lebanon, upon which he lived and labored until 1877, when he moved to the county seat, and is now retired. In 1835, he married Eusebia Mason, who died April 5, 1875, leaving four children--Nancy, William H., Thomas F. and Samantha. The deceased are James M., Marion, Sarah M., Richard A. and Justus D. December 19, 1877, he married his present wife, Mrs. Millie A. Allen. His four children are pleasantly located near him. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1837; is a Republican. His parents were Moses and Nancy (Boze) Bland, natives of Virginia.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

WILLIAM H. BLAND was born in New Lebanon, this county, February 13, 1840, the third of nine children born to Richard A. and Eusebia (Mason) Bland. He was reared in Sullivan County, receiving a liberal education at the graded school of his native town, finishing in 1857. He then worked on his father's farm until September, 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, Second Indiana Cavalry (Forty-first Regiment), becoming Sergeant. He particitpated in the engagements at Munfordville, New Haven, where his regiment captured the third Georgia Regiment, Perryville and Hartsville, where he was captured. He was held prisoner three days and nights, receiving nothing to eat during two-thirds of that time. After being paroled, he was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, later to Indianapolis, and after being exchanged rejoined his regiment and participated in the actions at Triune, Tenn., Chickamauga, Resaca, Dallas, Ga., near Atlanta, and others of lesser importance. He was a brave soldier, and was mustered out at Indianapolis, October 4, 1864. He returned home and remained with his father four years, and then bought sixty acres of land near New Lebanon, but a year later returned to this father's farm, and in 1872 purchased his present farm of 120 acres, which is now neatly improved. August 24, 1868, he married Miss Clara A. Wilson, who died August 20, 1869. March 25, 1873, he married Miss Mary E. Hughes. By this union he has the following children: Harry E., Hudson A., Clarence E., living, and Nora Bell, deceased. Mr. Bland is a Republican, and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

JOHN F. CURRY was born near Terre Haute, Ind., February 28, 1824, son of James and Isabella (Hogg) Curry, natives of Kentucky, who came to Indiana among the earliest settlers near Vincennes, and engaged in farming, dying in Knox County. Our subject, at the age of fourteen years, served as apprentice in the tailor ship of Peter Hawk, at Carlisle, where he remained five years, when he started in business for himself. In 1846, he quit the tailoring business, and began clerking for J. M. Parvin at Carlisle in the dry goods, staying with him until 1863, when he went to Illinois, remaining six years, and in 1869 returned to Carlisle. In 1872, he was elected Sheriff of Sullivan County, and moved to Sullivan. In 1875, he went into the grocery business, being still engaged in the same. Mr. Curry belongs to one of the oldest families of the county. He was married, February 18, 1847, to Miss Isabell Colshear, who bore him three children--Samuel and James (deceased), and Laura, wife of Thomas W. Anderson, who resides at Fort Worth, Texas. Mrs. Curry died May 28, 1851, and October 8, 1853, Mr. Curry was married to Mary McClanahan, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (McCrary) McClanahan, natives of Kentucky, and to this union were born two children--Hosea Coleman, and John Rush (deceased). He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is an Odd Fellow, Sullivan Lodge, No. 147. Politically, Mr. Curry is a Republican, and is the only Sheriff elected by that party.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

MICHAEL FORD is the eldest of seven children born to David O. and Catharine (Borders) Ford, natives of Kentucky. He was born in Clarke County, Ind., February 9, 1830, and was there reared until nineteen years of age, when he came to Sullivan County, raised two crops, then went to Johnson County, where he farmed about four years. In the fall of 1855, he located on his present farm--then forty acres of unimproved land, but since increased to 139 acres. His wife, to whom he was married in Sullivan County, October 29, 1850, was Miss Mary A., daughter of Isaac and Mary (Parker) Voorhees, natives of Kentucky. Her birth occurred in Sullivan County, August 31, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have this family: John H., Walter and Daniel W. V., living; and Mary C., William, Isaac D. and Arrena. Mr. Ford started in life with nothing, but has now a comfortable home. He is a Democrat, and a prominent citizen.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

JOHN GILKISON, son of Robert A. and Annie (Hunt) Gilkison, natives of Kentucky, was born in Fleming County, of that State, July 22, 1815. The parents came to Sullivan County in 1816, and located on the Prairie near Carlisle, where they remained, hard at work, for about fifteen years. They then purchased a farm a mile and a half west of Sullivan, where they lived until their deaths. They lie at rest in the old Timmons Graveyard. John remained with his parents until his majority, and then began farming for himself. In 1837, he purchased 160 acres of land within a mile and a half of Sullivan, and, during the long succeeding years, cleared it, fenced it, and made it one of the best in the county. His first cabin was of logs, with puncheon floor and stick-and-clay chinmey, but in later years his economy, industry and prudence enabled him to erect a fine two-story frame structure. In 1878, well advanced in years, he retired from active labor, and moved to Sullivan, where he now resides. In March, 1839, he married Mary H. Canary, who bore him three children--Robert A., Lydia Jane and Christian C. Robert alone is now living. Mrs. Gilkison died, August 29, 1879, and Mr. Gilkison married Mrs. Sarah Ann (Cox) Freeman, widow of Fletcher Freeman, January 8, 1882. He is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

JOHN W. HILL was reared and educated in Sullivan, his native county, his birth occurring January 9, 1822, the third in a family of twelve. He located on his present farm of 220 acres in the fall of 1845, and here has since lived and farmed. He made his first money by working at the carpenter trade, which occupation he followed more or less for eight years. In 1856, he owned and operated a saw mill. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is politically a Republican. March 30, 1843, he married Miss Jane, daughter of James and Mary (McKinley) Russell, natives of Kentucky. This lady was born in Spencer County, that State, July 17, 1821. They have had eight children--James H., Mary J., Nancy A., Sarah M., Joseph R., Albert P. and Narcissus and Rebecca T., deceased. The parents of Mr. Hill were Hardy and Mary Hill, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. The father was born February 16, 1794, and died March 28, 1876; the mother died November 19, 1858, in her sixty-fourth year. They were married in Kentucky in 1818. The father enlisted in the war of 1812, and was captured on the River Raisin and imprisoned for six weeks. He was a pioneer of this county and a farmer by occupation.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

JAMES W. HINKLE. Grandson of Wendell and Elizabeth Hinkle (Fox), and James and Jane Reid (Black), and son of Philip and Martha Hinkle (Reid), was born in Jefferson County, Ky., February 7, 1818, and was brought by his parents to Sullivan County, Ind., in 1819. He has one brother and two sisters living--Jackson Hinkle, of Farmersburg; Mrs. Butler, of Greene County; and Mrs. A. P. Forsyth, of Kansas. Philip Hinkle, with his family, settled in the southeast corner of this county, at the early date named, and shared in the toils, and hardships and privations of a pioneer life. His only resource for bread, outside of his grater or pestle and mortar being to take his sack of corn upon his horse, and follow the trace-way to Shaker Town, about fifteen miles distant, to have it ground. The youthful days of J. W. Hinkle were spent, as was usual in those times, about nine months of the year upon the farm, about three months in the country school. Some of these schools, although lacking many of the appliances of the present day, were very superior for this primitive period, taught by such men as Hugh G. Ross and James F. Harvey. After his majority, he worked upon the farm during the summer and taught school during the winter, until his twenty-sixth year, when he entered Asbury University, and remained two years, going through the most of the course, the mathematical entire. From the fall of 1846, he taught most successfully and pleasantly in that grand old school district near Vincennes. During the time of his employment in this district, he formed the acquaintance of the one who has shared to the fullest extent all his joys and sorrows to the present day--Miss Helen Langton, daughter of Squire Samuel Langton. After he had taught a very full and very successful school in Carlisle, during the summer of 1848, on the 12th of October, they were married, and came immediately to Sullivan. Here he taught three years; then engaged in merchandising, which he has followed the most of the time since, having been Clerk of the courts of Sullivan County from 1860 to 1864. This couple, as parents, have raised five children--Mrs. Dr. C. F. Briggs, Mrs. W. S. Maple and Mrs. G. W. Langworthy, Jr., and Carl R. and Helen L. Hinkle.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

JACOB F. HOKE was born near Carlisle, Sullivan County, August 15, 1839; son of Jacob and Rosa (Brentlinger) Hoke, natives of Kentucky, but of German descent, settling on a farm near Carlisle about 1830, where they resided till their deaths, his occurring January 25, 1876, and hers December 15, 1876. Subject remained with his parents until 1859, when he entered the dry goods business with James A. Walls, having purchased the interest of J. W. Hinkle. In 1862, he enlisted in the service, where he remained until the fall of 1864, when he was discharged, having risen from a private to First Lieutenant. After returning home, he entered the hardware business with W. H. Crowder, continuing till 1872, when they dissolved partnership, but Mr. Hoke has continued the same business alone since. March 9, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Kizzie Ann Maxwell, daughter of Levi and Lydia Gobin (Harper) Maxwell, and to this union have been born three children--Cora, Estella, Nellie Maxwell and Hallie. Kizzie Ann died July 11, 1882, and is buried in the cemetery at Sullivan. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been successful in business, and is looked upon as one of the most careful and energetic business men of the county. He takes an active interest in all public matters, and is a Republican.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

WILLIAM F. KNOTTS was born in Sullivan County June 14, 1838, and is the fifth in a family of eight born to Ambrose and Mary E. (Bland) Knotts, natives of Kentucky. The father was born in 1802, and the mother in 1804. The father died August 25, 1882, and the mother January 28, 1846. The father's second wife was Letitia, daughter of Thomas Criger. The subject of this memoir finished his education in his native county in 1860, and then followed farming until October,1863, when he enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment as Third Sergeant, and served faithfully until his muster-out at Leavenworth, Kan., in 1865. He then bought eighty acres of land near New Labanon, upon which he lived until September 6, 1869, when he bought his present farm of 160 acres. Here he has since resided. His wife was Miss Mary A., daughter of William and Sarah (Ledgerwood) Cartwright, the latter, it is said, being the first white child born in Sullivan County. Mrs. Knotts was born February 22, 1846, and has presented her husband with two children--Lucian C. and Ida. The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Knotts is a Republican.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

THOMAS J. MANN was born in Turman Township, Sullivan County, March 12, 1848, son of James B. and Fidelia A. (Turman) Mann, the former a native of Kentucky, who came to Indiana in 1819 with his parents, settling on a piece of land near Merom; the latter of Indiana. They resided at Merom till 1844, when they moved to where they now live, four miles north of Merom. Subject remained with his parents till 1879, working on the farm and attending school. In 1865, he entered the university at Vincennes, where he remained one year, and then taught school for some time. In 1878, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Sullivan County, and was re-elected in 1882. Mr. Mann has been very successful in all his undertakings, and his re-election gives evidence of the confidence of his fellow citizens. He is an A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 289, at Merom; also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter at Merom.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

WILLIAM MCCAMMON, of the firm of McCammon & Wolfe, merchants, was born in Sullivan County, Ind., March 1, 1844, the thirteenth in a family of fourteen children of William and Jeremiah (Sinclair) McCammon, who were natives of Kentucky, and among the early pioneers of Sullivan County, farming in the latter place until their respective deaths. William McCammon, subject of this sketch, lived with his parents until twenty-one years old, farming summers and attending school winters, until 1864, when he began for himself. Embarking in the grocery trade in Sullivan in 1868, he continued this two years, when he sold out, and with J. B. Able opened and conducted a clothing store till 1874, when the partnership was dissolved. This same year he opened another clothing store, but in 1880 sold out to Wolfe & Wolfe, and in 1882 he purchased the interest of one of the firm. In 1883, this firm consolidated with Mr. Able, under the firm name of McCammon, Able & Co., but the dissolution of the firm in February, 1884, resulted in McCammon & Wolfe still continuing the business. They carry a clean stock of goods, to the value of about $8,000, and are doing a good business. Mr. McCammon began doing for himself a poor boy, but his business qualifications have enabled him to secure a comfortable fortune. In 1881, he erected the McCammon House, one of the best hotels in Southwestern Indiana. To his marriage with Miss Rosa D., daughter of Allen and Susan Ann (McClure) Pierce, which occurred October 6, 1864, three children have been born, named: Cora M., Harry (deceased) and one that died in infancy unnamed. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

THOMAS OSBURN is the ninth child born to John and Sallie (Gardner) Osburn, natives of Kentucky, his birth occurring in Nelson County November 20,1825. The father was born March 19, 1789, and the mother July 11, 1792; they were married in Kentucky, October 10, 1811, and to them were born ten children. They settled in Sullivan County in 1826, and here passed the remainder of their days, the father dying September 7, 1851, and the mother June 29,1830. Thomas acquired a fair education in youth by making the most of his opportunities, and in June, 1851, located on eighty acres near where he now lives. This land was bought on time. Two years later he sold out and located on his father's estate, which he purchased of the heirs. He has made this farm 280 acres, and owns another tract of eighty-two acres. He married Miss Martha Pinkstun June 12,1851, and has by her this family: Sarah F., Mary F., Simon D., Annie F., Ziba, Eliza and Eva living, and Oscar E. and three infants deceased. Mrs. Osburn is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady of much worth. She was born near Graysville September 14, 1832, her parents being Dunohu and Rachel Pinkstun. Mr.Osburn is a Republican, and has taken much pains to educate his children. His son, S.D., is practicing medicine at Shelburn.

Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

Deb Murray