aged about twelve years; Leonard M., living in San Francisco, California; Washington, living in Clinton Township, and Mrs. Matilda Vergen, deceased. Henry Shew, whose name heads this sketch, was reared to a farm life, but after reaching manhood he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed some fifteen years, since which he has devoted his time almost exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He was united in marriage July 2, 1840, to Miss Irene Hedges, a daughter of William Hedges, one of the early settlers of the county. She was born in Clinton Township, at the pioneer home of her parents, December 3, 1823. To Mr. and Mrs. Shew have been born five children as follows -- Lysander, residing in Clinton Township, near his parents; Lura Ann, widow of John Hay, resides in Kansas where her husband died; Levi L., living near the parental home, served three years in the war of the Rebelliion, in the Seventy-first Indiana Infantry, and Sixth Indiana Cavalry; Direxa, is the wife of Thomas P. Pinson, of Clinton Township; Alma C. is the wife of James Boatman, of Clinton Township. Mr. Shew commenced life with no capital, but strong hands, and a determination to make life a success, and his energy combined with integrity and good business habits, has enabled him to obtain a competence for his declining years. When he settled on his homestead in Clinton Township it was covered with a heavy growth of timber. He now owns over 400 acres, the greater part of which is well improved. In politics Mr. Shew is a Republican of Whig antecedents. He served almost three terms as magistrate of Clinton Township, being appointed to the office during the war to fill a vacancy, and elected the two succeeding terms. He is liberal in his religious views, believing in the goodness of God toward all his children. Mr. Shew is widely known throughout the township where he resides, and few local men possess the confidence and respect of the public to a greater extent than he, being trusted by all who know him.
JOSEPH A. SANDERS, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 5, Vermillion Township, where he owns 170 acres of choice land all under cultivation. He was born in Marion County, Indiana, March 17, 1856, a son of Joseph and Clarissa (McVey) Sanders, natives of Ohio, his father of English and his mother of Irish descent. Of a family of ten children eight are living. Joseph A. Sanders was reared on his father's farm and has always followed farming with the exception of a short time spent in Tennessee and Kentucky in the lumber business, in 1877 he located in Vermillion County, and is now one of the prosperous young men of the county. Mr. Sanders was married in 1879 to Margaret, daughter of James and Mary Lindsey, pioneers of Vermillion County, now living in Eugene Township. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have two children -- Lindsey and Ferris. They are members of the society of Friends. In politics Mr. Sanders casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
EHUD HUGHES, one of the representative citizens of Highland Township, resides on section 18, and is the oldest surviving son of Constantine Hughes, one of the old and honored pioneers of Vermillion County, who settled here in the year 1828. Our subject was born in Harrison County, Virginia, February 14, 1817, being in his eleventh year when he came with his father
to this county. He well remembers the appearance of the surrounding country when he first came here, nearly sixty years ago, at which time Indians were the principal inhabitants, white settlers being scarce. Deer were then abundant, and some bears were still found in the county, and hunting parties of Indians were frequently seen about the cabins of the early settlers. Mr. Hughes has lived on his present place since his marriage, which occurred December 19, 1844, to Miss Cassie Ellen Bowman. Mrs. Hughes was born September 11, 1828, a daughter of Charles Bowman, who came from Virginia to Vermillion County, Indiana, in an early day. She died April 1, 1879, after a happy married life of nearly thirty-five years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, six of whom are yet living -- Elmond, Owen, David, Catherine, Nancy Ann and Almira. Their daughter Mary was the wife of George Y. Stipp, and died in her twenty-sixth year. Two sons, named Franklin E. and Charles W., died in infancy. In his political views Mr. Hughes affiliates with the Democratic party. He has long been a consistent member of the Baptist church, as was also his wife, and by his fair and honorable dealing he has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him.
JOSIAH HENDERSON, who has been identified with the history of Vermillion County for many years, is a native of Rock Castle County, Kentucky, born March 7, 1823, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Vance) Henderson, the father born in Augusta County, Virginia, and the mother born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Kentucky, and when the subject of this sketch was a child they settled in Shelby County, that State, living there until 1839. In the fall of that year they removed to Edgar County, Illinois, and in the spring of 1840 the father purchased 200 acres of timber land on section 9, Clinton Township, Vermillion County, and immediately brought his family to their new home. He was an active, energetic man, and by his persevering industry he cleared and improved land, and made a good home for his family. He lived to attain the age of ninety-six years, spending his last years at the home of our subject. He died in 1869. His wife died in 1840, the year of their settlement in the county, being in her fifty-third year at the time of her death. To the parents of our subject were born nine children -- George, who is supposed to be dead, left his parents in Kentucky twenty-five years before the late war, and later lived ini New Orleans; Seneca died after reaching manhood, in Vermillion County; Milton died in Jasper County, Illinois; Mrs. Sarah Sparks living in Clinton; Mrs. Nancy Taylor, living in Dana; Josiah, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary J. Myers, deceased, and Samuel, the fifth child, died in Tennessee in 1840, Josiah Henderson was reared to the life of a farmer remaining on the home farm until twenty-four years of age, assisting his father to pay for his land. On leaving home he received $20, this being all he had to commence life for himself. He purchased a tract of forty acres on section 10, Clinton Township, where he still resides, having lived in this neighborhood since seventeen years of age. He has met with success in his agricultural pursuits, and has added to his original purchase until his homestead contains 167 acres, his place being well improved and under good cultivation. Mr. Henderson was married in 1856 to Miss Susan Hunter, a daughter of George and Sarah Hunter, and to this union six children were born, three of whom died in early childhood.