Category Archives: Parke County

John Brown

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JOHN BROWN
b. 17 November 1791, Pennsylvania
d. 20 December 1873, Nora Springs, Floyd County, Iowa

m. 16 November 1815, Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio
Margaret Ghormley
b. 28 October 1792, Rye, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
d. 1870, Iowa

Children with Margaret Ghormley:

  • James (b. 1816)
  • Mikal (b. 1818)
  • William (b. 1820)
  • Mary (b. 1821)
  • Jane (b. 1823)
  • Elizabeth (b. 1826)
  • Joseph Hayes (b. 1829)
  • Charles Cunningham (b. 1831)
  • Henry (b. 1833)

John was a veteran of the War of 1812, having enlisted from Delaware County, Ohio, in Joab Norton’s Ohio Militia on 2 June 1812.

John came to Indiana in 1828 from Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio. He lived briefly in Wayne County, Indiana, before moving to the Wabash in Parke County. He left Indiana in the 1840’s for Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. He later moved to Wayne, LaFayette County, Wisconsin, and Union, Floyd County, Iowa.

Submitted by:
Julie Scheuermann
Ontario CA

Charles Cunningham Brown

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CHARLES CUNNINGHAM BROWN
b. 6 October 1831, Parke County, Indiana, to John and Margaret (Ghormley) Brown
d. 20 March 1914, Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas

m. 13 December 1855, Gratiot, LaFayette County, Wisconsin
Julia Emerine Stevens
b. 7 August 1840, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana
d. 31 December 1932, Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas

Children with Julia Emerine Stevens:

  • Alma Amanda
  • John Franklin
  • William Henry
  • Fred Arthur

Charles resided in Indiana in Wabash, Parke County, before leaving the state in the 1840’s for Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. He then moved on to Wayne, LaFayette County, Wisconsin; Union, Floyd County, Iowa; Abilene, Kansas; and Louisburg, Miami County, Kansas; before finally ending up in Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas.

Charles was a Civil War veteran.

Submitted by:
Julie Scheuermann
Ontario CA

William Francis Bigwood

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WILLIAM FRANCIS BIGWOOD
b. 27 March 1853, Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio, to James Henry and Eliza A. (Young) Bigwood
d. 14 January 1906, Earlham, Madison County, Iowa

m. 31 March 1875, Rockville, Parke County, Indiana
Rachel Gertrude Nichols
b. 11 February 1856, Danville, Hendricks County, Indiana or Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana, to Thomas and Jane (Brown) Nichols
d. 22 June 1910, Valley Junction, Polk County, Iowa

Children with Rachel Gertrude Nichols:

  • Effie Jane (1876-1961) married Frank R. Libby
  • Zena Eliza (1878-1945)
  • Marjorie Frances “Madge” (1881-1963) married (1) Joseph Ficklin, (2) Doc Woolfrom
  • James Thomas (1884-1886)
  • Maggie May (1887-1931) married Henry Little
  • Ellis Nichols (1891-1909)
  • Maryanna Elizabeth (1897-1980) married Lyman Lyle Libby

It is unknown when William came to Indiana, but they moved from Parke County between 1900 and 1905. William was a stonemason. He was a member of the Silliman Lodge #66 and Knights of Pythias. He and his brother John were in White’s Band, which played for the laying of the cornerstone of the courthouse. Rachel Bigwood and daughters were admitted into membership at the Earlham Monthly Meeting in 1905. The Nichols family was Quaker.

Submitted by:
Robert J. Libby
Iowa City IA

George W Thompson

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George W Thompson
b. 14 February 1850, Parke County, Indiana, to Alfred and Martha (Nevins) Thompson
d. 12 May 1902, Vernon County, Missouri

m/1. 13 February 1870, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana
Martha Ann Rukes
b. 16 May 1850, Parke County, Indiana, to William and Mary Jane (Adams) Rukes/Rooks
d. 24 August 1885, Vernon County, Missouri

m/2. November 1885, Vernon County, Missouri
Julia Etta Rukes
b. 30 January 1866, Vigo County, Indiana, to William and Sarah (Ellensworth) Rukes
d. 13 January 1952, Cedar County, Missouri

Children with Martha Ann Rukes:

  • Clara Etta (1871-1959)
  • Franklin Charles (1872-1938) married Emma Matilda Weide
  • William (1875-1906)
  • Benjamin Perry (1882-1958)
  • Lulu (b. 1883/4)
  • Edna May (1885-1885)

Children with Julia Etta Rukes:

  • Wilbur Ernest (1866-1942)

George emigrated from Vigo County, Indiana, to Walker, Vernon County, Missouri, in 1872. When Martha and baby Edna died in 1885, George married Julia, who raised Martha’s children. Julia was Martha’s half-sister.

Submitted by:
Betty Jane Lagerquist
Loves Park IL

Cornelius Mansfield Sweem

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Cornelius Mansfield Sweem
b. 26 February 1813, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio
d. about 1892, Parke or Montgomery County, Indiana

m. 23 November 1834, Butler County, Ohio
Penthacilla “Priscilla” Welch
b. 26 August 1813, Ohio
d. 13 March 1884 or 1885, Parke County, Indiana

Children with Penthacilla Welch:

  • Oscar D. (1838-1912) married Eliza C. Prior
  • Tilghman A. H.
  • Nancy
  • Eliza
  • Mary
  • Amanda
  • John Calvin

Submitted by:
Helen Magee
Hot Springs SD

Julia Etta Rukes

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Julia Etta Rukes
b. 30 January 1866, Vigo County, Indiana, to William and Sarah (Ellensworth) Rukes
d. 13 January 1952, Cedar County, Missouri

m. 14 November 1885, Vernon County, Missouri
George W. Thompson
b. 14 February 1850, Parke County, Indiana
d. 12 May 1902, Vernon County, Missouri

Children with George W. Thompson:

  • Wilbur Ernest (1866-1942)

Julia emigrated from Indiana about 1885 to Osage River, Vernon County, Missouri.

After George Thompson’s first wife Martha and baby Edna died, George married Martha’s half-sister Julia. Julia raised Martha’s children, as well as her own son Wilbur.

Submitted by:
Betty Jane Thompson Lagerquist
Loves Park IL

Laura Phillips

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Laura Phillips
b. 9 September 1879, Shelburn, Sullivan County, Indiana, to Thomas Walter and Alice Ann (Coker) Phillips
d. 24 August 1956, Salem, Polk County, Oregon

m/1. 30 September 1899, Sullivan County, Indiana
Joseph Davison

m/2. 12 December 1901, Lyford, Parke County, Indiana
Preston Calvert Bugher
b. 4 July 1871, Delphi, Carroll County, Indiana, to Daniel P. and Mercy Monba (Lewis) Bugher
d. 21 August 1911, Salem, Marion County, Oregon

m/3. 1 December 1915, Salem, Marion County, Oregon
J. M. Martin

Children with Preston Calvert Bugher:

  • Hazel (1902-1986) married Marion Charles Andresen
  • Walter C. (b. 1908) married Pearl M. Patterson

Laura resided in Sullivan and Parke counties, Indiana. She emigrated from Indiana in 1907 to Keltner, Texas County, Oklahoma, and then, moved about 1909 to Salem, Marion County, Oregon.

Both her first and third marriages were dissolved.

Submitted by:
Mary Alice Janis
Tampa FL
E-mail: maj1932@yahoo.com

Joshua Morris

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Joshua Morris
b. about 1827, Ohio or Virginia
d. about 1870, probably Wayne County, Illinois

m. before 1847
Barbary Ann Huffman
b. 1829, Indiana
d. 24 May 1865, Wabash, Pike County, Indiana

Children with Barbary Ann Huffman:

  • William Riley married Melvina Potter
  • Sarah Elizabeth married Scott Christy
  • Martha J.
  • Aaron Wesley married Susan Frances Conaway
  • Margaret E.
  • Francis M.
  • Emma or Emily M.
  • Mary J.
  • Clara Belle
  • Barbara Ann

According to Joshua’s son William Riley Morris, Joshua was a direct descendant of Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence. The only clue to his parentage is found in Hixon Cemetery, Wabash Township, Parke County, Indiana, where, in the grave next to that of Joshua’s wife Barbary, lies Elizabeth Morris, wife of William Morris, who died at age 73 on 13 March 1854.

After Barbary’s death in 1865, Joshua moved his family to Wayne County, Illinois. However, due to a Wayne County courthouse fire in the 1880’s, information concerning Joshua and his children has been difficult to obtain.

Submitted by:
Sharon Hohimer
Chatham IL

George Joseph Byerly

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George Joseph Byerly
b. 1799, Rowan County, North Carolina, to John David and Louisa (Lukenbill) Byerly
d. 24 March 1867, Albia, Monroe County, Iowa

m/1. 1818, North Carolina
Lydia Sappenfield
b. 1804, to Mattias and Secrist Sappenfield
d. about 1821

Children with Lydia Sappenfield:

  • David (1819-1870) married Susannah Myers
  • John Riley (1820-1904) married (1) Lydia Brock, (2) Josephine Dye

m/2. about 1822, Rowan County, North Carolina
Leah Sappenfield (twin sister of his first wife)
b. 1804, Rowan County, North Carolina
d. 12 February 1878, Albia, Monroe County, Iowa

Children with Leah Sappenfield:

  • Catherine (1824-1902) married (1) James Mottern, (2) Nicholas Mottern
  • Rachel (1826-1900) married Jesse Koonz
  • George Washington (1829-aft. 1909) married (1) Margaret H. Miller, (2) Mary J. [–?–]
  • William Mathias (1831-bef. 1909) married Elizabeth Amy [–?–]
  • Andrew J. (1833-1916) married (1) Sus. S. [–?–], (2) Mary Jane Burnside
  • Francis Marion (1835-1907) married Mary J. [–?–]
  • Mary Ann Lucy (1837-1873) married David Lanning
  • Jacob Mathias (1841-1930) married Arrilla Catherine Fall
  • Leah A. (1844-aft. 1909) married (1) Joel Peppin Fall, (2) John E. Bissell
  • Lydia L. (1844-aft. 1909) married Joshua A. Moss
  • Ephriam Melanchthon (1847-1935) married Minnie E. [–?–]

The family came to Greene Township, Parke County, Indiana, in 1828 and left in 1858. Members of this family have used various spellings: Byerly, Byerlee, Bierly, Birely, Byarley, Byerley, Byerly, Sappenfield,Zappenfeldt, Lukenbill, Lookabill, and Luckenbill.

Submitted by:
Lucy F. Katz
Long Beach CA

Joseph C Lewis

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Joseph C Lewis
b. 1810, Canada

m. 3 March 1833, Carroll County, Indiana
Azzuba Munn
b. 1811, Ohio, probably to David and Tabitha (Frizell) Munn
d. before 1870

Children with Azzuba Munn:

  • Mercy Monba (b. 1833) married Daniel P. Bugher
  • Augusta (b. ca. 1834)
  • Emily (b. ca. 1840) married [–?–] Anderson
  • William (b. 1842)
  • JoAnn (b. ca. 1844)
  • Miron/Morris (b. ca. 1846)
  • Samuel E. (b. ca. 1848) married Isabel Davis
  • Juliann (b. 1850)
  • David (b. ca. 1853) married Isabel David
  • Alice (b. ca. 1857) married Francis M. Barron

Joseph lived in two Indiana counties, Carroll and Parke. He emigrated from Indiana in 1833 to Michigan, and moved by 1840 to the area that became Kendall County, Illinois, in 1841.

Joseph was a cooper while living at Oswego Township, Kendall County, Illinois. After her husband’s death, Azzuba returned to Indiana, where she is found in Parke County in the 1870 and 1880 censuses along with some of their children.

Submitted by:
Mary Alice Janis
Tampa FL
E-mail: maj1932@yahoo.com