INGenWeb

Vermillion County Genealogy

Biographical and Historical Record of Vermillion County, Indiana


430 - History of Vermillion County

dren, but one, William F., now living. The eldest child, an infant son, is deceased. Minnie is the wife of Alexander Harrison, of Hamilton, Ohio, and has four children -- Lew F., Harry and Nellie (deceased), and Fannie. Fannie married Stephen Mears, of Detroit, Michigan, and has four children -- Willie G. and Tomie G. (twins), Mabel and Dollie. Mr. Combes is in politics a staunch Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

LEONARD SHEW, a son of John P. and Sarah (York) Shew, was born on the homestead of his parents in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, May 24, 1834. The parents came here from Wilkes County, North Carolina, as early as 1826. Of the children born to them in North Carolina three are yet living -- Mrs. Hila Funkhouser, a widow, residing in Vigo County, Indiana; Mrs. Zilpha Freeman, also a widow, residing in Arkansas, and Mrs. Dorothea Hay, living in Jones County, Iowa. The children born to the parents of our subject, after settling in Vermillion County, are -- Daniel, now a resident of Pawnee County, Nebraska; Mrs. Elizabeth Starks, living in Edgar County, Illinois; Mrs. Emeline Knight, living in Clinton Township, this county; Mrs. Mary Byerly, living in Jones County, Iowa, and Leonard, our subject, the youngest of the family. Boston, their eldest son, was a soldier in the Eighteenth Indiana Infantry in the war of the Rebellion, and died from wounds received in battle. A daughter, Lucy, became the wife of Sylvester Seeds, and after marriage they moved to Kansas, where she died. Leonard Shew was but seven weeks old when his mother died. His father survived her many years, dying October 15, 1873, when over eighty years of age. He was always a hard-working man, but he never became rich. He was a consistent Christian, and one of the earliest and most active workers in the United Brethren church, of which he was a member at the time of his death. He was kind-hearted and generous, always giving to the poor and needy. Leonard Shew, whose name heads this sketch, is a man who attends strictly to his own affairs, and is much respected throughout the community where he has made his home for so many years. He commenced life for himself without capital, and by his own efforts he has acquired a comfortable home. Before and after his marriage he worked at the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1875, and is now devoting his entire attention to his farm. His homestead consists of eight-nine acres of choice land, and is a part of the property once owned by William Hedges, one of the earliest settlers of Clinton Township. Mr. Shew was united in marriage in 1860, to Miss Alma C. Hedges, a daughter of William Hedges, and they are the parents of four children -- Mrs. Arletta E. Kehoe, of Clinton; Mrs. Ida Etta Bumgardner, of Clinton Township, and Elza Eschol and Everett C., still at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Shew votes the Democratic ticket at general elections, but in local elections he votes independent of party ties.

DR. CUTHBERT F. KEYES, deceased, was born near Dugee Ferry, in Indiana, in the year 1822, and in 1826 was brought by his parents to Vermillion County, where he was reared to manhood. His father was a gunsmith and wagon-maker, and while he kept his slaves at work in the gun factory the white men worked at the wagon yard, and

Biographical Sketches - 431

he himself ran boats on the Potomac River. After his father's death he lived with his mother and uncle, attending school at Clinton, riding to and from every night and morning. He spent a portion of his younger life clerking in a store for his uncle, and passed from this to the study of medicine with Drs. Kile and Palmer at Clinton. He studied medicine some time and during this time he had to work for his board, doing any little odd jobs he could find, but his only helped to make the man he afterward became. He then went to St. Louis, where he attended one term of lectures. June 30, 1846, he married Miss Jane Bales, they beginning their married life on the farm. Here he began the practice of his profession, which he followed until he went to St. Louis to attend a second term of lectures. In this term his eyes began to fail and he became blind. He still continued the lectures, Prof. Van Zandt giving him the privilege of this term free, and at the close commended him for his close attention and industry, although he was stone blind. His eyes were treated in the city at the same time. At the time of the birth of his son, Dr. O. M. Keyes, he was blind. When he returned to his home from St. Louis he found by the care and industry of his wife that his affairs had been kept in good order. He subsequently moved to Clinton, but becoming dissatisfied he returned to his farm, where he practiced medicine until his death. On the morning of that event he arose, ate a hearty breakfast and started for Bono about three miles south of Dana, to see a patient. On his way he suffere a sudden and severe attack of congestion of the stomach and bowels. He succeeded in reaching Bono, and leaving his team unhitched, staggered into Frank Austin's store, where he fell on the floor exclaiming as he fell that he had come there to die. He was taken to the house of Mr. Austin, where everything possible was done to alleviate his intense agony. Dr. Hall was sent for, but one hour before he arrived, and at ten o'clock that same evening the restless spirit of the old veteran took its flight to that bourne whence no traveler returns. No man in the county was more successful in his methods of treatment than Dr. Keyes, and none had a more extensive professional experience. He never refused a call because the patients were poor. He was one of the few who followed his profession not for the purpose of amassing a great fortune, but because he took delight in alleviating the sufferings of his fellow mortals. he was a man of kind disposition, and noble and generous impulses, and was ready to make any sacrifices for the accommodation of a friend and neighbor. Though somewhat eccentric in his style, his warm and sympathetic nature, his kind and generous disposition made him a host of friends. Dr. Keyes left a wife, three sons and two daughters in sad bereavement by his death. Thus one by one the old pioneers pass away leaving the world and the duties incumbent upon life to the rising generation.

ELI SHEW, deceased, late of Clinton Township, was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, July 11, 1819, and died October 24, 1887. He was a son of Daniel and Eve D. (York) Shew, honored pioneers of Vermillion County, they having settled in the forest on section 31, Clinton Township, as early as 1826. Our subject had but a faint remembrance of the long wagon journey from North Carolina, but he distinctly remembered his early life in Clinton Township, the abundance of game, and