Category Archives: Parke County

James Isaac Ghormley

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James Isaac Ghormley
birth: 19 April 1772 in Cumberland, Pennsylvania to Hugh Ghormley & Mary Catherine Covington
death: 11 December 1850 in Wabash Twp, Parke, Indiana
burial: Hixon Cemetrry, Wabash Twp, Parke, Indiana

marriage: 1 November 1791 in Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Cunningham
birth: 9 June 1769 Cumberland in Pennsylvania to Charles Cunningham & Margaret Evans
death: 7 January 1856 in Mecca, Wabash Twp, Parke, Indiana
burial: Hixon Cemetery, Wabash Twp, Parke, Indiana

Children of Elizabeth Cunningham and James Isaac Ghormley:

  • Margaret Ghormley 1792-1850 m. John Brown
  • Jane Ghormley 1794-1879 m. Henry Brown
  • Michael Ghormley 1795-1875 m. Margaret Laverty
  • Elizabeth Ghormley 1798-1883 m. Samuel Laverty
  • Hugh Ghormley 1800-1808
  • Hannah Ghormley 1802-1858 m. Samuel Miles
  • Thomas C Ghormley 1804-1808
  • Mary “Polly” Ghormley 1806-1865 m. Aquilla Justice, Jr
  • Sarah Ghormley 1808-1835 m. William Hixon

Ancestor here lived in:

1830 New Albany, New Albany Twp, Floyd, Indiana
1840 Parke, Indiana
1850, Mecca, Parke, Indiana

Ancestor also lived in:

19 April 1772-1802 in Mifflin, Cumberland, Pennsylvania
1804-1808 Ohio

Submitted by:
Sharon Rice Barnes
Email: barnes@lclark.edu

Samuel Miles

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Samuel Miles
birth: 17 March 1796 in Versailles, Woodford, Kentucky to Enos Miles and Anna Buchanan
death: 9 June 1876 in Bowling Green, Washington Twp, Clay, Indiana
burial: Bowling Green Cemetery, Bowling Green, Washington Twp, Clay, Indiana

marriage: 9 December 1824 in Parke, Indiana
Hannah Ghormley
birth: 23 March 1802 in Mifflin, Pennsylvania to James Isaac Ghormley and Elizabeth Cunningham
death: 18 August 1858 in Bowling Green, Washington Twp, Clay, Indiana
burial: Bowling Green Cemetery, Bowling Green, Washington Twp, Clay, Indiana

Children of Hannah Ghormley and Samuel Miles:

  • Jesse Miles 1825-?
  • Ann Miles 1826-1891 m. Lewis Rice
  • James Ghormley Miles 1827-1898 m. Susanna Wade
  • Enos C Miles 1829-1911 m. Caroline Baylis Osborn
  • Mary Ann Miles 1830-1900 m1 James Harvey McCoskey m2 Elijah Lindsey Ferguson m3 Hiram Braddy
  • Jane Miles 1831-1862 m. William Kelly Houston
  • William Hickson Miles 1833-1908 m. Melissa Moss
  • Henry Harrison Brown Miles 1835-1904 m. Parintha Clemons
  • Samuel Thompson Laverty Miles 1835-1904 m. Lucinda Buell

Ancestor here lived in:

  • 9 Dec 1824-1827, Parke, Indiana
  • 1829-1830 Vigo, Indiana
  • 1831-June 1876 Bowling Green, Washington Twp, Clay, Indiana

Ancestor also lived in: 

17 March 1796, in Versailles, Woodford, Kentucky

Other Information:

Farmer

Submitted by:
Sharon Rice Barnes
Email: barnes@lclark.edu

George “Pete” Jefferson Brown

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George “Pete” Jefferson Brown
birth: 20 September 1876 in Parke County IN
death: 6 July 1946 in Terre Haute IN
burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN

marriage: 17 November 1896
Elizabeth Ann “Bessie” Isaac
birth: 1878 in Pontypridd, Wales Daniel Isaac, Elizabeth Jones Isaac
death: 30 August 1959 in Terre Haute IN
burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN

Children of Elizabeth Ann “Bessie” Isaac and George “Pete” Jefferson Brown:

  • Drusilla Edith Brown Weiss 1898-1958
  • Mary K “Mayme” Brown Hawke 1899-1975
  • Georgina Brown Creekbaum 1902-1922
  • Daniel Brown 1908-1991

Ancestor here lived in:

  • Parke County, IN
  • Terre Haute, Vigo County, IN

Submitted by:
Vicki Schell
Email: disheveledprofessor@yahoo.com

Alfred Paul Visquesney

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Alfred Paul Visquesney
birth: 12 May 1828, France
death: 15 Jan 1899, Spencer, Owen Co., IN
burial: Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Owen Co., IN

marriage: Before 1854
Sarah E. Bell
birth: 5 Nov 1834, Virginia
death: 2 Mar 1866, probably Parke Co., IN
burial: Rockville Cemetery, Parke Co., IN

Children of Alfred Paul Visquesney and Sarah E. Bell:

  • Ella R. Viquesney, b. c.1854, m. James A. Strouse
  • Anna C. Viquesney, b. c.1856,
  • Charles W. B. Viquesney, b. c.1859
  • James Viquesney, b. c.1859, d. after 1899
  • Edward Viquesney, b. c.1860, d. after 1899

Alfred Paul Visquesney Lived In:

  • Hendricks County, Indiana
  • Parke County, Indiana
  • Owen County, Indiana
  • France
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Arbor Hill, Virginia
  • Augusta County, Virginia

Other Information:

After the death of his first wife, Alfred remarried twice; one child was born to each of the subsequent marriages. According to his obituary, published in the Danville (IN) Republican on January 26, 1899, “Paul A. Viquesney” died Jan. 15th at Spencer. The Spencer Journal says:

“Paul A. Viquesney died Jan. 15th at Spencer. Concerning him the Spencer Journal says: He was born May 12, 1828, near Paris, France, where he lived until about three years old when his parents came to this country and settled in Philadelphia and afterwards moved to Washington, D. C., from there to Arbor Hill, Va., where he was married to Sarah E. Bell, December 29,1852. To this union were born six children. He moved some time in the year 1860 to Danville, Hendricks County, Ind., where he lost one child, Anna C. Sometime in the fall of ’65 he moved to Rockville, Parke County, Indiana, where he lost his wife and three children. There are only two living of this marriage, James A. and George E. He afterward married Marie Tenbrook who had one child, Bert. He came to Spencer in 1872 and Dec. 24, 1894, married Jane Lehman. To this union was born one child, Ernest M.; who is at Ft. Barancas, Fla. Mr. Viquesney was in his 70th year. He was a member of Hobahlodge, I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum. His funeral took place Tuesday at 3 PM under their auspices.”

Submitted by:
Randi Richardson
Email: GFTL@bluemarble.net

William Edward Bryant

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William Edward Bryant
b. 25 June 1880, Rosedale, Parke County, Indiana, to William Cleaster and Julia Louise (Grindle) Bryant
d. 29 May 1934, Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota

m/1. 16 May 1904, Vigo County, Indiana
Margaret “Maggie” Sarah Devonald
b. 25 January 1885, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, to James Lewis and Margaret Sarah (Lewis) Devonald
d. 13 November 1973, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana

m/2. 1 June 1912, Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota
Dora Lillian Williams
b. about 1890

Children with Margaret Sarah Devonald:
• Gladys Marie (1905-1993) married (1) Clarence Albert Cornell, (2) Glenn Winter Jones

William remained in the Rosedale area of Parke County, Indiana, until late 1904, when he left for North Dakota to take up homestead near Ryder. He later worked for the McClure Coal Company at Minot and in 1911 went to Devils Lake to be employed at the Stevens Grain and Fuel Co.

A prominent member of the Masonic bodies, William served as Master Mason of West Lodge in Minot and later transferred to the Minnewaukan chapter in Devils Lake. He served as commander of the Cyrene Commandery of the Knights Templar during 1932 and 1933, was a member of Doric chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of the Scottish Rite bodies, and of Kent Temple Knights of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Forks. William was also a member of the Elks, serving as past noble grand of the I.O.O.F. lodge and an active member of the B.P.O.E. He held the first three stations of the Elks until moving to the west and figured prominently in the activities of that group. He was secretary of the Devils Lake Rotary club for several years.

At the time of his death he owned the Lake Fuel Company, which he had purchased from the Stevens Grain and Fuel Company several years before.

Submitted by:
Jennifer Cruse
Terre Haute IN
E-mail: jencruse@msn.com

Davis Stever

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Davis Stever
b. 2 February 1833, Parke County, Indiana, to Matthew and Agnes (Banks) Stever
d. 25 October 1919, Fitzgerald, Benhill County, Georgia

m. 19 October 1858, Parke County, Indiana
Susan Conner
b. 18 September 1841, Sugar Creek Township, Parke County, Indiana, to Samuel and Elizabeth (Deer) Conner
d. 25 January 1920, Fitzgerald, Benhill County, Georgia

Children with Susan Conner:
• Samuel Matthew
• Elizabeth Agnes married Luna Bayless
• Sarah Ann married William Sherrill
• Davis Elmer
• Joseph Allen
• Susan Isabelle married Otho Coats
• Caleb Rutherford

After his father died in about 1840, Davis was bound out. On receiving his freedom at age 21, he continued to work for others. After his marriage, he began to farm for himself. He participated in 32 engagements during the Civil War as a member of the 9th Indiana Battery and the 3rd Indiana Artillery. He was on the boat “Ellipse” when it exploded, after which he was in the Marine Hospital in Evansville for two months. His service lasted from February 1862 until March 1865, and he lost sight in one eye during the war. After returning home, he bought his first farm of 60 acres. He eventually had 170 acres of well-cultivated land with a substantial set of farm buildings in Parke County. They left Tangier, Parke County, Indiana, in 1896 for Fitzgerald, Georgia. They celebrated their 50th anniversary at a dinner held by the Grand Army of the Republic and Women’s Relief Corp in Fitzgerald, Georgia.

Submitted by:
Tom Robison
Lodi CA
E-mail: robisont@pacbell.net

Sophia Esther Stevens

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Sophia Esther Stevens
b. 9 February 1896, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, to Leonard and Ida J. (Hatt) Stevens
d. 30 August 1916, Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois

m. 10 January 1914, Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
John Ruben Scott
b. 3 January 1894, McLeansboro, Hamilton County, Illinois
d. 8 August 1969, Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas

Children with John Ruben Scott:
• Earl Sylvester

Sophia lived in Tangier, Parke County, and Tab, Warren County, before emigrating in 1909.

Submitted by:
Darlene Jeannette Scott Shawn
Norman OK

Leonard C. Stevens

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Leonard C. Stevens
b. January 1869, Parke County, Indiana, to John Walter and Julia Ann (Life) Stevens
d. 13 October 1925, Normal, McLean County, Illinois

m. 21 July 1889, Parke County, Indiana
Ida Jane Hatt
b. July 1871, Parke County, Indiana

Children with Ida Jane Hatt:
• Joseph Earl
• Cecil Coyer
• Cynitha B. (?)
• Sophia Esther
• Clyde
• Orval L.

The family lived in Parke County; Terre Haute, Vigo County; and Tab, Warren County, Indiana, before leaving the state in 1909.

Submitted by:
Darlene Jeannette Scott Shawn
Norman OK

Archibald Ambrose Ramsay

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Archibald Ambrose Ramsay
b. 8 January 1823, Fleming County, Kentucky, to William and Elizabeth (McAnulty) Ramsay
d. 7 February 1905, Buffalo, Dallas County, Missouri

m. 12 January 1854, Georgetown, Vermillion County, Indiana
Mariah Etna Triplett
b. 1 January 1831, Parke County, Indiana
d. 20 December 1918, Buffalo, Dallas County, Missouri

Children with Mariah Etna Triplett:
• William Clarendon
• Mary Elizabeth
• Alice Jane
• Charles Hamlin
• Walker Morton
• Robert Allen
• Levena E.
• Walter Clinton

Archibald came to Indiana about 1826 and left in 1865. He lived in Portland Mills, Putnam County, Indiana, the entire time he was in the state.

Submitted by:
Alice Ramsay
Lombard IL
E-mail: ajramsay@yahoo.com

Rachel Gertrude Nichols

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Rachel Gertrude Nichols
b. 11 February 1856, Rush County, Indiana, to Thomas and Jane (Brown) Nichols
d. 22 June 1910, Valley Junction, Polk County, Iowa

m. 31 March 1875, Rockville, Parke County, Indiana
William Francis Bigwood
b. 27 March 1853, Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio
d. 14 January 1906, Earlham, Madison County, Iowa

Children with William Francis Bigwood:
• Effie Jane (1876-1961) married Frank Libby
• Zena Eliza (1878-1945)
• Marjorie Frances (1881-1963) married Joe Ficklin
• James Thomas (1884-1886)
• Maggie May (1887-1931) married Henry Little
• Ellia Nichols (1891-1909)
• Maryanna Elizabeth (1897-1980) married Lyman Lyle Libby

Rachel lived in Danville, Hendricks County, and Rockville, Parke County, Indiana, before leaving the state in 1900.

Submitted by:
Robert J. Libby
Iowa City IA