COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Of Henry County Indiana B.F. Bowen 1920 Page 341,342,343 Surnames mentioned in this biography are: Miller, Brookshire, Shelley, Kiriley, Darling, Rix, Pearson, Armstrong, Coon, McCormick WILLIAM BROOKSHIRE Among the many gallant and brave soldiers who volunteered from the state of Indiana to save the American union from disruption by the South in the blood thirsty rebellion of 1861-5 was the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biographical sketch, but who is now one of the most respected and thrifty agriculturists of Harrison Township, Henry County, Indiana. Although he was of southern extraction, like many others whose parents came from that section of the country, he was possessed of true patriotism and was but too glad to avail himself of the opportunity to volunteer his services in the cause of the Union when the proper time came to manifest his love of the cause of liberty and the Union. William Brookshire was born in New Castle this County, on the 6th of August 1835, and is the son of Endsley and Elizabeth (Shelley) Brookshire. The ancestors of the subject were Scotch-English. His paternal grandfather was a native of England, but came to this country before the Revolution and with the true spirit of loyalty to his adopted country assisted the colonists in obtaining their independence. In the second war with England, in 1812, he was also in the military service of his country and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the close of this struggle he located in North Carolina, where he lived during the remainder of his life. His son, the father of the subject, was born in the latter state, but emigrated to Indiana and settled on the site where the city of New Castle now stands. That was in 1813 and at the time he came to this state he was but a penniless boy. At the age of fifteen years he went to work for Wilson Clift and was in his employ one Year, receiving for his work the sum of fifty dollars. Out of this he boarded himself and managed to save twenty-five dollars. About this time his uncle arrived in this state from North Carolina and entered a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land and by him the subject was employed for four years, receiving fifty dollars per year. From his salary and money earned by extra work he saved two hundred and fifty dollars and this he invested in forty acres of land situated west of New Castle, which he had entered from the government. He at once entered actively upon the work of improving this property, clearing the land, planting an orchard, building a house. Etc. He subsequently sold that place for four hundred dollars and bought another place of eighty acres, upon which he resided until the time of his death, May 30, 1898, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. At the age of twenty-five years he united with the Wesleyan Methodist church, in which he became a minister and continued as such until his death. In politics he was a Republican and for many years held the office of justice of the peace. In New Castle, this County, Mr. Brookshire was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Shelley, the daughter of Eli and Abagail Shelley. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, moving from that state to Tennessee, and thence in 1840, to Indiana. To them were born a family of nine children, five boys and four girls, William, the immediate subject, being the oldest in the family. William Brookshire experienced all the hardships and privations incident to the lives of the early pioneers and early, developed a sturdy manhood, both physically and morally. He assisted his father in the arduous task of creating a home in the new country, splitting rails, pulling stumps, building fences, plowing the land, and the many other arduous duties of the early farm. He learned the trade of a carpenter, in the meantime also giving keen attention to the mastery of the common English branches. He thus became sufficiently equipped to teach school, which pursuit he folio Wed during the winter months, working at the carpenter's trade during the summers. While he was thus engaged the dark cloud of civil strife rose in the southern horizon and, feeling that his services were needed by his Country, he volunteered to go to the front as a defender of his Country's flag. He enlisted at Richmond, Indiana, in Company D, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Capt. Isaac Kiriley, and were sent to Indianapolis for equipment. From there they were sent to Camp Wickliffe on guard duty and on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, were engaged in the battle at Shiloh, and afterward at Crab Orchard, Whitesides, Buzzard Roost and Huntsville, being under fire for thirty days. They retreated to Nashville and to Louisville, and later engaged the enemy at Stone River. The subject's term of service having expired, he returned home in September 1864, holding the rank of corporal at the time of his discharge. Upon returning to his home he resumed the occupations of carpentering and school teaching. He had prior to the outbreak of the war bought a sixty-acre tract in Harrison Township, this County, going in debt on the account, but by the time of his marriage, in 1866, he had, by hard work and rigid economy, liquidated this indebtedness and had seven hundred dollars in cash. He worked at his trade and lived on his father's farm for a while, but in September 1867, he moved onto his own land, which he has since cultivated. He has prospered and has added to his possession from time to time until he now owns one hundred and twenty acres here and eighty acres in Greensboro Township. In addition to the tilling of the soil, Mr. Brookshire has given considerable attention to the breeding, raising and selling of livestock and has found this a profitable source of income. Since 1848 he has been largely engaged in the capacity of an auctioneer, in which he has been signally successful, as he is in all his undertakings. He has now amassed a very comfortable competence, all acquired by his own strenuous endeavors. On the 10th of May 1866, William Brookshire was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Elizabeth Miller, a native of Henry County, born January 31, 1848. This union has been a most congenial and happy one and has resulted in the birth of the following children: John XV married Effie Darling, and resides in California: Emma J. is the wife of Charles Rix; Ella is the wife of Charles Pearson; Perry H married Etta Armstrong; Charles E. married Pearl Coon; Minnie is the wife of Luther McCormick; Thomas is unmarried and lives in Hollister, California; Weaver, a practical farmer, is unmarried and is at home. All of these children have been given the benefit of a good, practical common school education. In politics the subject is a pronounced Republican and takes a keen interest in the success of his party at the polls. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 375 at Kennard, and has twice passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge and twice represented the lodge in the grand lodge. He is not affiliated with any religious denomination, but is obedient to the principle laid down in the Golden Rule and is a liberal contributor to churches and other worthy objects. He has taken an interest in public affairs generally, and has several times acted in the capacity of administrator of estates. He also holds the responsible position of treasurer of the Ashland Gas Company in his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Brookshire have lived strictly upright lives and have thus gained the respect of their neighbors and won from many of them the warmest sentiments of personal friendship. The early defense of his native country and his excellent management of his affairs since peace finally spread her mantle over the fair face of the land, have been the means of exciting in the rising generation a spirit of emulation and imitation that must redound in the future welfare of the township and the ultimate advancement of public improvements within all its bounds.