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    JOHN MATHIS   

John Mathis (deceased) was a farmer of Shelby township. He was born in Trimble county, Ky., in 1808. He came to Indiana at an early date, with his mother, who was Miss Mary Warden previous to her marriage to Mr. William Mathis, father of the subject of this sketch. His father died some time before his widow; and she, with a family of young children, came to this State, and mad a new home for them, and raised them to be good citizens.

Mr. Mathis was married March 24, 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Lee, daughter of Nathan Lee, who came to Indiana from Kentucky about 1815. Mr. Mathis and wife were the parents of twelve living children: William W., Nancy A., Mary J., Nathan L., Elijah, Susan, Rachel, Cytha, Elizabeth, Warner H., Malinda, Ealy and Richard. They are all married who are living, but two, Ealy and Richard, who are still at home with their mother, their father having died in 1876.

Mr. Mathis was one of the pioneers of this county, and one of its best men. He was a prominent member and earnest supporter of the Baptist Church for forty years before he died. He was liberal and honest with his neighbors, and is much missed by his large circle of friends and relatives.

He voted for Mr. William H. Harrison for President in 1840, and was a Whig in politics, and an ardent support of Henry Clay. When the old Whig party ceased, he voted the Republican ticket. He owned 115 acres of well-improved land, which is now owned by his youngest son, Richard, who cares for his widowed mother and youngest sister.

Three of the sons, William W., Nathan L. and Elijah, served through the whole of the war. William was a Sergeant, and served for five years--he lives in Nebraska; Elijah lives in Jefferson county, and Nathan L. is a farmer in Kansas.

Richard Mathis, the youngest son, was born Jan. 1, 1854, is not married, and is one of the best and foremost farmers of Jefferson county.

    WM. H. MATTHEWS   

Wm. H. Matthews, county clerk, is a native of Hanover township, Jefferson county, and was born June 16, 1849. The names of his parents are William and Martha (Pogue) Matthews, both natives of Pennsylvania. His mother was raised in Madison, was a member of one of the old families in Madison, and is now dead. His father is still living at the age of 85.

Mr. Matthews was raised on a farm and was educated at Hanover College. On leaving the farm he was engaged as a drug clerk. In 1876 he went into the county clerk's office, with Mr. A. L. Shannon, and remained there as deputy clerk for eight years, with Mr. Shannon and Mr. W. E. Jackman. In 1884 he was elected county clerk. In November, 1882, was married to Miss Mollie DeLaste, of Madison.

Mr. Matthews was recently a candidate for re-election to the clerk's office as the nominee of the Republican party, and was elected.

    ROBERT MATHEWS   

Robert Mathews is a native of Jefferson county, Ind. Was born November 15, 1837. Is a son of Richard and Nancy (Jackman) Mathews, who were natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. His father settled in Shelby township, this county, in 1818, on a farm. He died in 1869.

The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm. In 1862 he joined the Fifty-fifth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Co. A., which fought in Kentucky.

In 1864 he was married to Miss Nancy A. Demaree, daughter of William U. Demaree. Two children blesses this union,--Ida and W. R.

Mr. Mathews owns 317 acres of land. Has been secretary of the Madison and Canaan Turnpike Company since 1874. This pays about six per cent on capital stock. He is one of Jefferson county's most thrifty and successful farmers.

    WILLIAM MATTHEWS   

William Matthews, farmer, Hanover township, was born in Indiana county, Pa., January 23, 1803. In 1812 came to Butler county, Ohio with his parents, where his father farmed for eighteen months, and then moved to this county.

The subject of this sketch was then only twelve years of age, when his father settled on a farm in what is now Hanover township, and is consequently one of the earliest settlers of this county. He attended the schools, such as they were, log cabins and puncheon seats. There were no public schools in those days.

Mr. Matthews has been on the same farm that his father settled on at that time ever since, except one summer spent in Pennsylvania. He made three trips to New Orleans on a flatboat--the first in 1820, the second in 1825, and the third in 1833. This county was very wild when he made the first trip. He is perhaps the oldest citizen of the county who flatboated to New Orleans; and one of the oldest citizens, as he came here before Indiana was a State, and settled in the woods.

He was married in 1832 to Miss Martha Pogue, daughter of John Pogue, who came here from Kentucky, but was a native of Virginia.

Mr. Matthews was one of the pioneer school-teachers of the county. They raised six children, three boys and three girls: Elizabeth, Ellen C., John P., Salome J., Harrison H. and William H. Ellen C. died in the 19th year of her age, May 27, 1855. Mr. Matthews has served for two years as supervisor of roads.

Mr. Matthews is a member of Carmel U.P. Church. He owns 110 acres of land, one and one-half miles west of Hanover, and adjoining Carmel Church, and three-quarters of a mile south of the Lexington and Hanover Pike.

He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Coleman) Matthews, both natives of Pennsylvania.

His father died in his 84th year, and his mother in her 76th year.

    WILLIAM E. McLELAND   

William E. McLeland was born September 21, 1814, in Clark county, Ky., and on the 5th of November of the same year landed with his parents at Buchanan’s Station, in the northeast corner of this county. This State was then a Territory. This would make Mr. McLeland one of the oldest living inhabitants of this county. He was brought up on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he engaged as a clerk in a country store at Canaan, for Mr. John Cain, with whom he remained for about one year. He then engaged as a clerk for Mr. E. S. Ayres, who was a merchant in Canaan.

In 1837 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Wesley McCoy, and bought Mr. Ayres out, and continued in business with Mr. McCoy for several years, when Mr. McCoy withdrew from the firm. Capt. McLeland then formed a partnership with Mr. R. M. Salyers, and they continued in business until August, 1855, when they closed out their business and came to Madison, Mr. R. M. Salyers as Sheriff of the county and McLeland as his deputy. In 1847 Capt. McLeland was elected Justice of the Peace at Canaan, and held the office for eight years.

December 24, 1835, he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. R. L. Wilkinson, a Virginian, living at Canaan, and has seven living children, four boys and three girls: Matilda J., who married John D. Schmidlapp, and lives in Denver, Col.: Thomas E., living in Shoshone county, Idaho, County Auditor and Recorder; Louisa E. died in 1843, two years old; Lizzie E. married Dr. W. A. McCoy, of Madison, Ind. Charles R., druggist; Hosier Durbin, insurance and real estate business in Denver, Colorado, married Cara, daughter of A. S. Partridge, St. Louis Mo.; William O., secretary F. and M. Insurance Co., Madison, Ind., married Eva S., daughter of D. G. Phillips, Madison, Ind.; Harriet N., living at home.

In 1858 the subject of this sketch was elected Sheriff of Jefferson county, on the Republican ticket, and served until 1861. He then went into the army as Quartermaster of the Sixth Indiana Vol. Infantry. One year later was promoted to rank of Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, and served on the staff of Gen. R. W. Johnson, of the regular army. At the close of the war was appointed postmaster at Madison. After serving nearly two years was removed by President Johnson, because the Captain did not approve of his politics. Afterward was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, and served five years, when the office was abolished.

In 1871 he engaged in the manufacture of harness and saddles, in this city, and continued at it until his health gave way and he was not able to work any longer, when he sold out the business in 1880.

Capt. McLeland has held the office and commission of notary public for twenty-one years, and still holds the commission.

In 1884 he was taken with something like paralysis, from which he has not been able since to walk without crutches; two years of the time was confined to his bed.

Capt. McLeland has been a member of the M.E. Church since 1836, and was one of the trustees and a member of the building committee of Trinity Church of this city. Has been a member of Monroe Lodge, I.O.O.F., since 1839, and a member of the Encampment for thirty years; also a member of the G.A.R. His parents were Robert and Esther C. (Benefiel) McLeland, both natives of Montgomery county, Ky.

His father died in 1853, aged 62 years. His mother died in 1873, at the age of 78 or 79 years.

    JOHN G. MOORE   

John G. Moore, Recorder of Jefferson county, is a native of Madison, and was born October 9, 1834. His father was a Quaker; he was an early settler in Madison, and married Miss Sarah A. McIntyre, daughter of John McIntyre, who came to Madison in 1814, and was long a merchant of this city. Mr. Moore, the father, was a merchant here, but has been dead many years past. Mr. Moore, the subject of this sketch, was raised in Madison and educated at the school of Rev. Mr. Adams. In 1862, joined the Fourth Indiana Cavalry as a private. On June 11, 1863, was promoted to first lieutenant in Commissary Department of the regiment; he resigned in June, 1864, on account of sickness. He was in many battles of the regiment. Prior to the war was engaged in the drug business in 1855 or ‘56, and resumed that business after the war. He was elected to the City Council from the First Ward twice, it being a strong Democratic ward, and he a Republican. Was subsequently elected Commissioner of Water Works for the city; also served as City Clerk for one term. In November, 1886, was elected as Recorder of Jefferson county, and is now holding that office. He was married in 1861 to Miss Adelaide Hill, of Madison. He has no children, having lost five. His wife was a daughter of Dr. Parley Hill. He is a member of G.A.R. and I.O.O.F. He was a delegate from his district to the National Encampment G.A.R., at Columbus, Ohio, September, 1888.

    ROBERT MORTON   

Robert Morton, farmer, Hanover township, is the son of John and Jeanette (Weir) Morton, who were natives of Scotland, and came to the United States in 1819. Mr. Morton was born March 7, 1845, in Switzerland county, Ind., and was brought up in that county until he was eleven years of age, when he came to Jefferson county with his parents, and located in Hanover township. He is unmarried and lives on his farm of 89 acres on the Hanover and Lexington Pike, three miles west of Hanover. His farm is well improved and well stocked. He is a great admirer of blooded stock, and is trying to get the best for his farm. He also owns a farm of 86 acres, two miles south of this one. He is a member of Carmel (U.P.) Church, and is one of the trustees of that church.

    JOHN W. MORTON   

John W. Morton is the son of John and Jeanette (Weir) Morton, who were natives of Scotland.

He was born in Switzerland county, Ind., April 3, 1835. Was raised on a farm and has been a farmer all his life. In 1864 he joined the 137th Reg. Ind. Vols.; was a private, and was out until near the close of the war.

He owns 93 acres of land.

He was married in 1860 to Miss Rhoda Swann, a native of Jefferson county. She died, and he married Miss Nancy Hastie, of Scott county. He has four children: James, Harry, Robert and Frank.

His father located in Jefferson county, in 1857, and died the same year. His mother died in 1875. He has two brothers and five sisters.

    LOUIS MUTH   

Louis Muth, farmer, Monroe township, was a native of Bavaria, Germany; came to this country with his father, John Muth, who settled in New Marion, Ripley county, Ind. Louis learned the tailor’s trade, but preferred farming.

He married, in 1872, Miss Margaret Friedersdorff, of Jefferson county, a daughter of Peter Friedersdorff, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany.

The result of this marriage was four children: George, aged 17; William Bright, aged 14; Minnie, aged 11; and Maggie, aged 8. Mr. Muth belongs to the Lutheran Church, and is opposed to secret orders.

He owns 150 acres of land, and is a good farmer and a contented man.

    FRANCIS FRESH MAYFIELD   

Francis Fresh Mayfield, farmer, Wirt, was born in Trimble county, Ky., April 29, 1819, is a son of Joshua and Lucinda (Ouseley) Mayfield, who were natives of Kentucky, his mother being a cousin of Governor Ouseley, a former Governor of Kentucky. She died in 1876. His father came to this county and settled in what is now Monroe township, in 1831; was a farmer and held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was in good circumstances and a prominent member of the Baptist Church. He died in 1876. He raised eight children, Francis F. being the oldest.

Mr. Francis F. Mayfield sold goods and packed pork in Dupont, from 1845 till in 1868. He married, in October, 1850, Miss Adelaide, daughter of Capt. Samuel Wilson, an Englishman by birth, who was an old citizen of Madison. In 1851 and ‘52 Mr. Mayfield was a member of the State Legislature, and assisted in the revision of the Statutes of Indiana. In 1868 he went to Columbus, and there engaged extensively in the pork-packing business, but finally lost heavily. From Columbus he returned to Dupont, in this county, where he lived several years; during this time he was justice of the peace for that township, for three years. In 1884 he moved to a farm near Wirt. He was provost marshal during the war. He has three sons and five daughters. His oldest son is cashier in bank at Edinburgh; the youngest son also there. Is a Freemason.

    GEORGE T. MAYFIELD   

George T. Mayfield is a native of this county, and was born October 17, 1856. His parents were Jeptha and Emilie J. (Dailey) Mayfield, natives of Kentucky and of Jefferson county, Ind.

His Grandfather Dailey was an early settler of this county, from Kentucky. His father was also an early settler here. Mr. G. T. Mayfield received an academic education. He has been deputy assessor of the township, under D. J. Ryker, in 1880. In 1879 was deputy U. S. Marshal of Nebraska, under his uncle Wm. Dailey, who was marshal of that State.

In 1880 he started in business in Rising Sun, Ind., and in October, 1883, commenced business in Wirt--dry goods. He does a business of about $10,000.

He was married to Miss Addie W. Mayfield, of Wirt, in 1888. Mr. Mayfield is a prominent member of the I.O.O.F., and a successful business man.

    BURDITT’ MAYFIELD   

Burditt’ Mayfield, farmer, is a native of Jefferson county; was born Aug. 16, 1835; is the son of Joshua Mayfield and Lucinda Mayfield, both of whom were natives of Kentucky; both are now dead. Joshua Mayfield was born in Kentucky, and removed to Indiana at an early date. His mother’s father, Willis Ouseley, was a Revolutionary soldier.

Mr. Burditt Mayfield was raised on a farm and received an ordinary education of the time of his youth.

He was married, at the age of 23, November 4, 1858, to Mehitabel Chambers, daughter of Isaac Chambers, of Jefferson county, who was a native of Kentucky, and a pioneer in the settlement of Indiana. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans.

Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield were the parents of only one child, who was born August 25, 1859, and died October 13, 1864.

He was elected township assessor in 1886, and now fills that office. He owns forty acres of good land, well improved. He is a good farmer and citizen.

    JAMES A. McGEE   

James A. McGee, farmer, Monroe tp. The grandfather of Mr. McGee, whose name was James McGee, was a native of Ireland, a linen weaver by trade. He emigrated from there about 1800, and came to the State of Virginia, where he resided until 1822, when he came to Jefferson county, Ind., where he died.

His wife’s name was Mary Hook, and she was also a native of the Emerald Isle. Mr. McGee was a soldier in the war of 1812-15, taking the Irishman’s side of the fight where England is engaged--that is, against her. There is a relic of his service still preserved in the family of his descendant, James A. McGee, in the shape of a bayonet which the old Irishman carried during his service.

In Virginia, in April, 1802, was born to this pair a son, whom they called William. William came to Indiana, with his parents, and here raised a family.

Mr. James McGee was one of their sons, and was born December 21, 1830, in Jefferson county, and has made it his home ever since. Mr. McGee was born on a farm, and has been a farmer all his life except while he was engaged in the army. He was educated in the schools of his youth time.

In 1855 he married Mehitabel Smith, and they had six children: John W., Albert T., George F., Jennie, Howard H., and Harry S. His wife died in 1871, and he married again in 1877, Sarah C. Mower, who was Henry Smith’s widow, daughter of Jacob F. Mower, a native of Wirtemberg, Germany. From this union there are three children: Arthur B., Effie E. and Robert R.

Mr McGee enlisted in Co. H, 40th Ind. Vols., in 1864, and was in the following battles: Spring Hill, Columbia, Overton’s Hill, Franklin and Nashville, besides a number of minor engagements. He was in the front rank at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., where the regiment went in with seven hundred men, and could muster only one hundred and fifty after coming out.

After the war he settled down to the quiet life of the farmer. He owns 154 acres of well-improved land in this county. He is a prominent member of the G.A.R., and is a prematurely old man by reason of his life in the army.

He has never been an office seeker, but has held some positions of profit and trust with credit to himself.

    JOHN F. MCKAY   

John F. McKay, farmer, Smyrna township, was born in the house in which he now resides, May 10, 1831. He was brought up on a farm, and attended the district schools of this county, and commenced a course of study at College Hill College, but was prevented from completing it by sickness. His parents were George and Elizabeth (Francis) McKay.

His father was a native of Barren county, Ky., and came to Indiana with his parents in 1816, and located at this place, where he continued to reside until his death in 1835. His mother was a native of Ohio; died May 12, 1849.

His Grandfather Alexander McKay was a native of Scotland, and was married in Scotland, died in Jefferson county, Ind., 1819. His Grandfather Francis came to the United States from Ireland, and settled first in Ohio; afterward came to Jefferson county, and settled two miles east of Dupont, about 1820, where he continued to reside until his death in 1838. He was a weaver by trade, and worked some at his trade in this country.

Mr. McKay owns 165 acres of land, 40 timbered, one and one-half miles west of home place. He raises a number of cattle every year. Mr. McKay was never married. Mr. KcKay is a man always ready to help in a good cause, and is well liked by all who know him. He has the esteem of his neighbors, as is shown by the fact that he was elected five years successively as constable from 1855 to 1859 inclusive; afterward, in 1870, he was elected for two years, but resigned before his term expired.

He was appointed County Commissioner the last day of January, 1887, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Wm. L. Cosby; the term of office expires this month. Mr. McKay is one of our best citizens.