730 History of Vigo County

730 HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. native of Otter Creek township, where he was born in 1825, be- coming one of the leading successful farmers of the county; he died in 1888. William Denny, grandfather of Walter H., was a soldier in the War of 1812, thus learning something of the Wabash Valley, an immediately after the close of the war he came to Vigo county, where he purchased of the Government a large tract of land. The father of Walter H. owned at the time of his death 600 acres of land, which was a part of the original purchase by the grandfather. This family has a long line of ancestors, both farmers, and profes- sional men. Walter H. grew up as a farmer's boy, attending the public schools, has followed agricultural pursiiits, and now owns 240 acres of land in Otter Creek township, on which he resides. He was married, in 1879, to Alice, daughter of Milton and Mary (Sim- mons) Rogers, farmers, and she is also a native of Vigo county. Of this union there are the following named children: Walter Har- rison, Clifford R., Roy V. and Gertrude. Mrs. Denny is of Ger- man and English descent, while Mr. Denny is of Irish and French. Politically he is a Republican. THOMAS DERMODY, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, P. O. St. Mary's, is a descendant of one of the earli- est settlers of Vigo county, where he was born September 17, 1866, a son of Peter and Kate (Shearn) Dermody, latter of Irish descent. The father was born in Ireland, and became an early settler of Sugar Creek township. He was an energetic and successful farmer, stock-grower and dealer, and owned over 800 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred in 1880. His widow still resides on the homestead in Sugar Creek township. Their family consisted of nine children, six of whom grew to ma- turity. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, the youngest of the family, attended school at St. Mary's and Terre Haute, and became a farmer, having now charge of 400 acres of land. He was united in marriage, October 16, 1888, with Miss Anna, daughter of John and Jane (Cambron) Delahaye, and a lady of French origin, her father having been born in France. Mr. and Mrs. Dermody are members of the Catholic Church, as were also their parents. He is in sympathy with the Democratic party. LABAN H. DICKERSON, P. O. Seelyville. This gentleman is trustee of Lost Creek township. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 12, 1828, and is a sou of John and Rhoda( Holland) Dickerson, former a native of Pennsylvania, latter of Georgia, and of English and French descent. They came to Vigo county, Octo- ber 7, 1839, and settled on the farm* where their daughter Mary now resides, in Lost Creek township. Of their family of eleven children Laban H. is the fifth. He received his education in the dis- HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. 731 trict schools in Lost Creek township, also at the seminary in Terre Haute, and the academy at Liberty, Union county, Ind. He was engaged for several years in teaching in the common schools of the State. He has made farming and stock-growing the main business of his life, being the owner of a well-improved farm consisting of 200 acres, where he now resides. Mr. Dickerson has held many offices of honor and trust, and has many friends especially among those who were soldiers in the Civil war. He volunteered, August 7, 1862, in Company M, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, Ex-Gov. Isaac P. Gray having been the first colonel of the regiment. After the company was organized he was appointed a non-commissioned officer, and was also company clerk; he was mustered out as quar- termaster-sergeant, June 29, 1865, at Edgefield, Tenn. He was in many engagements while in the army, and, excepting one month while in the hospital at Nashville, was in the saddle at the front. He was in the long campaign with Gen.. Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta; was on the McCook raid with Rosecrans at Chicka- mauga with cavalry sent to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, and finally was with the cavalry corps under Maj.-Gen. Wilson from East Port, on the Tennessee, to Macon, Ga. He was present when Jeff Davis was brought into the Union line as a prisoner of war at Macon, Ga. Mr. Dickerson's career as a farmer, soldier, teacher and business man, has been an honorable one. He was married in Union county, Ind., September 3, 1852, to Isabella F., daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Shannon) Hayward. Her " mother was cousin of Ex-Gov. Shannon of Ohio. She is of Irish and English descent, and was born in Union county, Ind, Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have five children living: Josephine A., wife of Ben F. Yanvactor; James, who is a farmer; Mollie E., wife of William Collins; Hattie C, wife of S. H. Lowish [see his bio- graphical sketch], and William W., who is at home. In politics Mr. Dickerson is a Republican, and has been a member of the Re- publican County Committee. He helped to organize Leslie Post No. 410, G. A. R. and served two terms as commander of the same. He is a prominent member of Lodge No. 51, I. O. O. F., Terre Haute. He is wide awake to everything that may forward the in- terests of the citizens of Lost Creek township, or Vigo county, and to better the condition of public morality and humanity He has proved himself both honest and successful in business life—a kind husband and an indulgent father. J. M. DISHON, city bill poster, Terre Haute, was born in Owen county, Ind., May 23, 1843, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Paine) Dishon, natives of North Carolina, former of French and latter of English descent. J. M., who is third in a family of nine 732 HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. children, was married in Paola, Ind., August 25, 1864, to Sarah E., daughter of Squire Kemly, a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Dishon was third in a family of four children, and was born in Pulaski county, Kv., March 16, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Dishon have had two children: William R, and Estelle, who died October 30, 1890. Mr. Dishon was reared in Paola, Orange county, Ind., and received his education in the common schools. He started out as city bill poster in Indianapolis about the year 1860, and followed that business there until 1871, when he sold and removed to Terre Haute, where he has since been engaged in the same line. Mrs. Dishon died June 23, 1881, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Di- shon was married, the second time, in Terre Haute, February 27, 1883, to Sarah Wilson, daughter of John Wilson. WILLIAM D. DOBBS, farmer and stock-grower, Linton township, P. O. Youngstown, was born in Beaver county, Penn., August 31, 1839, and is a son of Anger and Hannah (Davis) Dobbs, natives of Pennsylvania, and English and Irish descent. The father, who was a farmer, died in February, 1844, the mother in Terre Haute, September 8, 1884. They had a family of five children, of whom William D. is the third in order of birth. Our subject was married in Terre Haute, July 4, 1867, to Mary A, daughter of John and Sarah (Clink) Sink, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Ger- man descent. Her father was a farmer, but worked during his early life at cabinet-making and carpentering. They moved first to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and then to Owen county, Ind., in 1851. The father died in February, 1866, and the mother in March, 1880. Mrs. Dobbs is the seventh in a family of twelve children, and was born in Ohio, October 9, 1838, coming to Terre Haute in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs had born to them seven children, as follows: Charles, deceased; Harry C. ; Spencer L. ; Elmer, deceased; Grace; Guy A., and John S., who died in infancy. Mr. Dobbs received his education in the common schools in Beaver county, Penn. and in Summit county, Ohio. He learned the tanner's and currier's trade. In 1858 he moved to Summit county, Ohio, where in Hudson he learned his trade with his uncle, William Dobbs, at which he worked there for about four years. On June 22, 1863, he enlisted as a government employe for six months, and was sent to Nashville, Tenn., where he worked in the government repair shops until the close of the war, being mustered out Jun^ 22, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. August 7, 1865, he came to Terre Haute, and worked at his trade and in the hominy -mills for about eleven years ; then moved to Linton township April 16, 1876, settling on the farm on which he now resides. His farm contains 108 acres, in a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs are members of the First Baptist HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY. 733 Church at Terre Haute, and he has served as superintendent of the Sabbath-school near where he resides. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 51, Terre Haute, and in politics is a Republican. J. G. D0BB8, grocer, Nos. 201 and 206 South Fourth street, Terre Haute, is a native of Beaver county, Penn., born March 10, 1841, and is a son of Anger and Hannah (Davis) Dobbs, natives of Pennsylvania, the father being of Irish and the mother of Irish and Welsh origin.

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