The Arnold and Moberly Family Genealogy

Census Data: 1910 Ward 2, Dist. 6, Enumeration Dist. 130, Sheet No. 9A (#52) Shelbyville, Addison Twp, Shelby Co, IN Ln 41-45 William A. Major, Head M, W, 62 Widowed (POB-Ind/F/M) IN, IN, OH Eng, Farmer, Farm, Arthur Major, Son M, W, 20 Single IN, IN, IN Eng, Pharmacy, Pharmacy School, Wallace Major, Son M, W, 22 Single IN, IN, IN Eng, Reporter News Paper, Ethel Major, Dau. F, W, 10 Single IN, IN, IN Eng, None, -, Minnie Stewart, Servant F, W, 23, S IN, IN, IN Eng, Servant, Periodical Title: HOOSIER GENEALOGIST Persi Code: INHG Topics: IN Issues Per Year: 4x ISSN Number: 1054-2175 ACPL Holdings: v.1- 1961- ACPL Call Number: OPEN Repositories: Allen County Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, Dallas Public Library, New York Public Library, Newberry Library, New England Historic Genealogical Society Library, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton Co., State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library, Family History Library (partial holdings), Library of Congress (partial holdings), Atlanta-Fulton Public Library (partial holdings) Publisher: Indiana Historical Society Address: 450 West Ohio Street : Indianapolis , IN 46202-3269 Father ?: William Major of Shelby County. Mustered in 1 OCT 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 JUL 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff. Last Will and Testament of John Vanarsdall KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, John Vanarsdall, of Shelbyville Indiana, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make and declare the following to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking any and all former wills at any time heretofore made by me. Item 1. I will and direct that all my just debts including expenses of my last sickness and funeral and the expenses of the administration of my estate under this will be paid by my executrix hereinafter named (can't read) of any money that may come into her hands from my estate. I further will and direct that my said Executrix shall purchase and have erected at my grave a monument at a cost of not to exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, to be paid for from my estate. Item 2. I will, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Clara B. Vanarsdall, in lieu of any rights or interest she may have or claim in my estate, as my widow, under the laws of the State of Indiana, all the residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, for and during the term of her natural life only; and I further will and direct that at the death of my said wife, all proper and necessary expenses incurred, and not paid, during her last sickness for her, including all proper and necessary medical services for her and the expenses of her funeral and burial, shall be paid out of such residue of my estate so devised and bequeath to her by this Item. Item 3. At the death of my said wife, I will, devise and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my estate, remaining after the payment therefrom of the debts, charges and expenses name and provided for in the two foregoing items of this will, to my beloved children and step-daughter, to wit: Orpha Fleming, Ruth Stewart, Dolph Vanarsdall and Glen Allen Powell, in fee simple and absolutely, share and share alike. Item 4. I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife, Clara B. Vanarsdall, as the Executrix of this my last will and testament and expressly will and direct that she shall serve as such Executrix without giving or being required by any Court to give any Bond in connection with the administration and settlement of my estate. And I further will and direct that my friend Albert F. Wray, if then living, shall be employed by and not for her as her Attorney in the Settlement of my estate under this will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 15th day of June 1918 John W. Vanarsdall [ seal ] The foregoing instrument is this day signed, acknowledged and declared by the above named John W. Vanarsdall, as his last will and testament in our resence together and is hereby signed by each of us in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request as attesting witnesses thereto. This 15th day of June 1918 Geo. W. Vanlue Wm. A. Major State of Indiana, Shelby County, SS: Be it remembered that on the 20th day of December A.D. 1919 the 66th judicial day of the October Term of the Shelby Circuit in said year, came into open court Albert F. Wray, Attorney and produces in Court an instrument in writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John W. Vanarsdall, deceased, and now moves the admittance thereof to probate and record, and in proof of said will introduces George W. Vanlue one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, who being duly sworn by the Clerk of said Court, on oath, declare and testify as follows, that is to say: That on the 15th day of June 1918 he saw the said John W. Vanarsdall sign his name to said instrument in writing as and for his last will and testament, and that this deponent, at the same time, heard the said John W. Vanarsdall declare the said instrument in writing to be his last will and testament, and that the said instrument in writing was, at the same time, at the request of the said John W. Vanarsdall and with his consent attested and subscribed by the said George W. Vanlue and William A. Major in the presence of said testator, and in the presence of eacvh other, as subscribing witness thereto, and that the said John W. Vanarsdall being at the same taime of the signing and subscribing of said instrument in writing, as aforesaid, of full age (that is, more than twenty-one years of age) and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not under any coercion or restraint, as the said deponent verily, and further deponent says not. Geo. W. Vanlue Sworn to and subscribed by the said George W. Vanlue before me Gordon Thurston Clerk of said Court, at Shelbyville Indiana the 20th day of December 1919 Gordon Thurston, Clerk Whereupon it is ordered, and adjudged and decreed by the Court that said instrument in writing purporting to be the last will of John W. Vanarsdall deceased, is the last will and testament of John W. Vanarsdall deceased, and is hereby admitted to probate and record in this Court. Gordon Thurston, Clerk State of Indiana, Shelby County, SS: I, Gordon Thurston Clerk of the Circuit of Shelby County, do hereby certify that the within annexed will and testament of John W. Vanarsdall has been duly admitted to probate, and duly proved by the testimony of George W. Vanlue one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, that a complete record of said will, and of the testimony of the said George W. Vanlue, in proof thereof, has been by me duly made and recorded in Book 7 page 454 of the record of wills of said County. In attestation whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of said Court, at Shelbyville, Indiana, this 20th day of December, 1919. Gordon Thurston, Clerk Circuit Court, Shelby County Transcribed by Jann Rapp DeMeire For more information on this family, please contact Phyllis Miller Fleming History of Noble Township Noble Twp, Shelby Co, IN: Township 11 North - Range 7, 8 East This is Indian Rock, subject of Ron Hamilton's article in The Shelbyville News. It is located on county road 200 East in Noble Township. Picture contributed by David Craig THE SHELBY DEMOCRAT December 31, 1903 -------oOo------- The Sulphur Hill Knights of Pythias lodge will give a banquet in the lodge room Thursday evening. Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming Bert McDonald, Deputy Treasurer, c 1910 THE SHELBYVILLE DEMOCRAT Tuesday, September 2, 1913, page 2 -------oOo------- NO BIDS FOR BONDS. County Treasurer Bert McDonald was offering $6,400 worth of Noble township bonds for sale today, but not a single bid was submitted. The money is needed for the improvement of the Norvell road ordered recently by the county commissioners. Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming, Jan 2001 Image (left) scanned from Boetcker's Picturesque Shelbyville. ~~~~~~~~~~ Early Settlements - Southeast Shelby Co. It is probable that there were no squatters in the southeastern portion of the county, but soon after the land was surveyed Alexander Van Pelt came with his family and settled at the mouth of Conn's Creek, in what is now Noble Township. Others who came about the same time were Arthur Major Isaac Avery Josiah and Daniel Williams William Major Mathias Floyd John and Anderson Winterrowd Peter Bailey Jonathan Paul The last named was a conspicuous figure in the settlement of both Shelby and Decatur counties. History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago, Brant and Fuller, 1887, page 303. Copied by Judith Lucero ~~~~~~~~~~ Noble Township is bounded on the north by Addison and Liberty Townships, on the east by Decatur County, on the shouth by Bartholomew and Decatur Counties, and on the west by Washington Township. It is the extreme southeast corner of Shelby County. The face of the country is rolling and undulating, and the land is well watered by numerous streams. Flat Rock, Conn's Creek, Lewis Creek, Tough Creek, and Duck Creek are the principal. All varieties of soil found in the county are found here, and all of the best quality. Much ditching and tilling has been done, and the land is everywhere rich and productive. The houses, barns and fencing are equal to any in this part of the State. Those of Benjamin Buxton Thomas Moore Edmund Cooper Andrew Winterowd Halleck VanPelt George Cuskaden and the estates of Mr. Alfred Major deserve especial mention. There are seven churches in Noble Township, and twelve schools. Eight of the latter have handsome brick buildings. The first settlers were Arthur Major Alexander VanPelt Isaac Avery Josiah and Daniel Williams William Major Mathias Floyd John and Anderson Winterowd Peter Bailey In 1835, came the brothers William and George Reid, both men of energy and worth. Alexander VanPelt entered his land at the first sales in Brookville in October, 1820. The following spring, he brought his family from Warren Co, Ohio, and settled at the mouth of Cam's Creek [Conn's Ck-plf]. He was from the start, and for many years, a prominent man. His father had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and lost his life in the battle of Long Island. He himself had been in the Indian wars of 1812, under Gen. William Henry Harrison. His first wife was the oldest sister of the celebrated statesman, Thomas Corwin, of Ohio. He always took a deep interest in public affairs, and was one of the first County Commissioners and Justices of the Peace. He was born April 24, 1773, and died in 1849. His sons, Matthias, Sutton, Halleck, Harvey and Squier L., became leading citizens. The late William Major, father of Squier Major, our present County Superintendent of Public Instruction, settled here in 1830, and was to the day of his death, in 1877, a man that commanded univeral respect and confidence. he was born December 24, 1807, in County Longford, Ireland; was married to Eliza, daughter of Alexander VanPelt, July 8, 1836; elected Justice of the Peace in 1837; served in that office sixteen years, was Township Trustee a number of times, and was a member of the State Legislature three times --- in 1847, 1852 and in 1856. The first store in the township was on the place now owned by Mr. Alfred Major, and occupied by Mr. William Reid. This was the second store in the county, Mr. James Wilson's, at Marion, being the first. This was the settlement and home of Arthur Major, an Irish gentleman. Here was the post office, called Morwen, and this for many years was the center of deep interest for a large section of the surrounding country. The town of Geneva, in the western part of the township, was laid off by Louis Kline, October 28, 1853. It is situated on Flat Rock River, one mile from the western township line. It contains two stores, a Methodist Episcopal Church, an excellent school building and a post office. The town of St. Paul was originally laid out by Jonathan Paul, in Decatur County. Mr. Paul was one of the pioneers of this region, and a man of remarkable wit and popularity. He built the first mill in the early days, and from many miles around, the people came to it. The part of St. Paul in Shelby County was organized April 24, 1856, by Stephens. It has become a flourishing place. It is advantageously situated on the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroads; is seventy-eight miles from Cincinnati, thirty-seven from Indianapolis, and is the half-way station between Greensburg and Shelbyville. It is on the west bank of the Flat Rock River. At this point are located the famous limestone quarries, from which stone is being shipped all over the country. The stone for the new State House of Indiana and for the United States Custom House at Cincinnati, is from this quarry. The graded school, an excellent two-story building, having a corps of five teachers, is pronounced one of the best schools in the county. There are three churches --- Methodist Episcopal, Catholic and Christian. All the usual branches of mercantile business are represented in its thirty-two stores and shops. Drs. F. M. Howard, R. J. DePew and D.J. Ballard, represent the medical, and I. W. Fugit and A. L. Sweet, the legal profession. In 1861 (April 18), an interesting local paper was started here by J.W. Haymond & Co., which continued for a number of years. J.W. Hankins is now publishing the St. Paul Register, a bright, entertaining little paper, in the interests of this place. From the Atlas of Shelby Co, Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880, page 14. Submitted by Phyllis Miller Fleming. THE SHELBY UNION BANNER June 16, 1864 Page 3 OFFICE INDIANA SANITARY COMMISSION, ] Indianapolis, June 7, 1864. ] Mr. S. A. Gorgas --- Sir: We have received from Noble Township, Shelby county, the following lot of goods: 20 lbs rags, 8 shirts, 175 yds bandages, 14 towels, 4 pillow-cases, 5 handkerchiefs, 1 pillow, 69 pads, and 12 cans fruit -- - all in good order and very acceptable. We did not know who to address, but tho't you would know the donors. If so, please notify them of the receipt of their shipment, and thank them kindly in the name of the soldiers for it. The demand for stores of every kind is very urgent. Yours truly, Wm. Hannaman, Pres't Ind. San. Com Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming, Jan 2001 SHELBY UNION BANNER April 14, 1864 Page 3, col 2 Township Elections -- Official. ------ NOBLE. Trustee. Union Copperhead Michael Theobalt....52 ..................... Constable. John H. Kuhn........92 ..................... B. F. Vance.........96 ..................... Henry Neeb..........51 ..................... Albert J. Vance......3 ..................... Wm. Hester...........1 ..................... Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming Transcription of an early document about a church building in Noble Twp, Shelby Co., copy sent to me by Annabelle Kelly of Waldron. [Don T. Mitchell] "We the undersigned subscribers do here subscribe our Names and the following amounts for the purpose of building a meeting house on the South West corner of John Wrights Land this the 21st February 1852. Said Meeting House to be free for the use of all the Religious Denominations William Buxton $50.00 Mulford Corwin $2.00 Benjamin Buxton $25.00 Stephen Major 25.00 John Briggs 30.00 Johnathan Ogden 2.00 Wm. Wright 20.00 Sophia Avery 5.00 Joel Barns 2.00 James McCarty 5.00 Elijah Barnes 20.00 Washington Mitchell 5.00 John Reed XXXX John W. Benson 2.00 Joel Gregory XXXX R. H. Bentley 15.00 Charles Gregory XXXX John F. Lewis XXXX Peter Monfort 20.00 Wm. S. Kelley 3.00 Elisha Crosby 2.00 A. L. Ross 2.00 Asa Lake 5.00 Jos. L. Martin 2.00 John Weidner 35.00 Evan Lewis 10.00 Wm. Reed 5.00 Jos. R. Means Green B. McCarty 5.00 half the lime for said meeting house Wm. S. Briggs 25.00 Mrs. Briggs 5.00 Stephen Ridlen Jos. Pierson 2.00 to give the privalege of rock in the James Brinston 5.00 Pierson quarry so far as his Interest John Wright 25.00 in the same Wyette Barnes 5.00 Misses Major 5.00 Squire L. VanPelt 5.00 William H. Downy 8.00 " Notes: 1. There are notations indicating which pledges were paid. XXXX means the amount was marked over making it unreadable, but "Paid" was written by each of these names. 2. The location of John Wright's land would make this document for useful. 3. George Washington Mitchell (1827-1855), Noble Twp farmer and Geneva storekeeper, was my great great grandfather. Submitted by Don T. Mitchell htt p://www.rootsweb.com/~inshelby/historical_articles/history_nobl.htm