Tewksburys in Indiana  

Biographies

Benjamin G. Shinn, comp., Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana, A Chronicle of their People Past and Present Lineage and Personal Memoirs, Volume 1, (Chicago and New York:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1914)

    Hiram Tewksbury.  Among the men of Blackford county who have contributed materially to the advancement and development of this section of the great state of Indiana, the late Hiram Tewksbury held an important place.  For many years associated with the agricultural interests of his community, he accumulated a large property and so spent his life that he held the highest respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, and when he died, June 4, 1905, the locality in which he had lived so long suffered a severe loss. Mr. Tewksbury was born in Ohio, December 16, 1840, the son of Nathaniel and Betsy (Tewksbury) Tewksbury, natives of New Hampshire and members of old and honored New England families.

    Nathaniel Tewksbury was born August 6, 1799, and was married in New Hampshire, February 24, 1835 to Betsy Tewksbury, who was born November 7, 1807.   After their marriage they removed to Summit county, Ohio, and in 1841 the little family came to Wells county, Indiana, by way of ox-teams, purchasing new government land, where they settled down to pioneer life.  For many years they were engaged in agricultural pursuits, becoming widely and favorably known among the early settlers, and at all times exerted an influence for good. Mr. Tewksbury died February 11, 1878, and his wife March 17, 1877, both in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of two children:  Hiram and Henrietta, who died in infancy, July 12, 1842.

    Hiram Tewksbury grew to manhood on his father's farm in Wells county, and received good educational advantages, completing his studies at Liber College.   For a number of years he was engaged in educational work in Wells and Blackford counties, but eventually turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and so well managed his operations that he accumulated 1,000 acres on the line between the two counties mentioned. His land was under a high state of cultivation, equipped with a high grade of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep.  Throughout his life he was industrious and enterprising, and among those who had business dealings with him was known as a man of the strictest integrity and high business principles.  At one time he was a candidate for office on the People's ticket, in Wells county, but failed of election.

    Hiram Tewksbury was married first, on April 30, 1863, to Mary Jane Harris, of Jay county, Indiana, and to them two sons were born, John Marion, born August 24, 1864 and Elmer, born January 31, 1866.  His wife died September 10, 1877.   He was married at Battle Creek, Michigan, January 22, 1880, to Mrs. Cecelia (Nowlin) Conley, who was born at Rochester, New York, January 23, 1845, and was reared and well educated at Dearborn, Michigan, to which place she had been taken as a child by her parents, Addison and Mary (McConaghy) Nowlin.  Her father was born in Dutchess county, New York, May 8, 1814, and was a son of John and Dorothy (Hoyt) Nowlin, natives of New York, where the former was born December 25, 1763 and the latter November 14, 1794.   The grandfather passed away December 19, 1852, while the grandmother attained advanced years.  The family has always been associated with the Presbyterian church, and the chief occupation of its members has been that of farming.  Addison Nowlin was married October 6, 1840, passed his life in farming pursuits, and died November 25, 1892, at Misaukee county, Michigan, his widow now being a residence of Jackson, Michigan.   Mrs. Tewksbury was married to George E. Conley, who died in the prime of life in Michigan leaving two children:  George, who died at the age of two and one-half years; and Mary C., who is the wife of Andrew Johnston, proprietor of the Big Store, at Montpelier, and has three children - Hilda, aged twenty-two years, James C., who is fourteen years of age, and Edward J., aged six.  To Mr. and Mrs. Tewksbury there were born the following children:  May Eva, who received a good education in the schools of Montpelier and Bluffton, is the wife of Harold Hungerford, of Concord, Michigan, and has one son - Richard Hopkins; Joy E., born in 1884, educated at Indianapolis and Montpelier and now connected with the Big Store, married Dean Lacy, and has one son - Robert E.; and Helen H., a graduate of Montpelier high school and Knickerbocker Hall (1906), a young lady of much talent and a teacher of music, who is single and resides at home with her mother.

    Mrs. Tewksbury is a member of the Episcopal church, and has been active in its work and charities.  Her fine farms cover a half-section of land, and on them are to be found the latest improvements.  Her comfortable home at Montpelier is situated on West Green street, in the vicinity of which she has a wide acquaintance and numerous sincere and admiring friends.