VANDIVIER, William Terrill)

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DEATH OF TERRILL VANDIVIER.

William Terrill Vandivier, aged eighty-four years, died Sunday at his home near Bud. He had been a resident of the county since 1826, coming when but ten years old, with his parents, Peter Vandivier and wife, from Mercer County, Kentucky. He had thus spent about three-quarters of a century in Johnson County. But four citizens now live in this county who have been so long a continuous residence here. His wife died several years ago.

The immediate cause of Mr. Van­divier’s death was dropsy. However, the injury he received several years ago from a fall had hastened the natural infirmities of old age. He leaves seven children living, three sons and four daughters. These are Abe, Henry and Harvey Vandivier, and Mrs. Abe Bar­ton, Mrs. T. J. Beadles, Mrs. S. A. Low and Mrs. Julius Sledges, all residing in Johnson County. Deceased was a bro­ther of James H., Isaac and Jeff Vandivier, also Mrs. Susan Byers, Mrs. Polly Deer and Mrs. Willis Dollins, all of whom are still living and reside in this county.

Mr. Vandivier was a man of kind and charitable nature. Many a deserving person had received aid and encour­agement from his hand.

Funeral services were held Tuesday forenoon at First Mt. Pleasant church, R. V. Ditmars, of this city, conducted the services. A large number of rela­tives and friends attended.

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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, September 28, 1900,
Volume XLI Number 13, page 2 column 3–6

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OBITUARY.

William T. Vandivier was born Jan. 29, 1816; died Sept. 16, 1900, at the age of 84 years, 7 months and 17 days. Was married to Miss Polly Ann Canary in December 1836. To this union were added ten children, 7 of whom survive him. His wife died Aug. 17, 1895, after which Mr. Vandivier lived on the old homestead with children and grand­children until his death.

By the record Mr. and Mrs. Vandivier lived together over sixty years before separated by death and during that long and successful union they raised the large family and added to the home many broad acres until at his death he owned many hundred acres and was one of the largest land owners in the county. He was born in Mercer County, Ky., and at the age of ten years his parents, Peter and Sarah Vandivier, sold the Kentucky home and moved to Indiana. In Union township among the first who entered Mr. Vandivier and wife were prominent citizens. To them were added a large family of boys and girls, who for over an age have been noted for their enterprise and success in Johnson County. And their grand­children, who are numerous, are iden­tified with our great and enterprising citizenship extending from the Morgan county line to Franklin on either side of the Martinsville and Franklin pike.

But to return to our subject, after marriage, the young couple entered where they have lived ever since and have built up the home. In the deep, dark forest they built the little log cabin, stable and corn crib. Clearing, log rolling, burning brush and logs, they soon had little corn fields and garden patches. The wheat, corn and other products were raised. Side by side, year by year, till the thrifty, in­dustrious family began to add much to their home. They rolled the logs, made the rails, built the little bar and made additions as they grew in prosperity by their enterprise and hard work. Mr. and Mrs. Vandivier’s work was arduous. He clearing the building; she spinning, warping, hackling, weaving—in fact everything was home made in those days. The heavy jeans and flannel wear for winter, the linen and tow linen for summer wear, the wife made the clothes while the husband done the farming work. All this work was being done while the strong muscular boys and the bright lively girls were rapidly growing to man and womanhood. So the homestead put in the appearance of a little colony. During all these years, Mr. Vandivier was leading his family on to success. Never too cold, never too hot for business, was Mr. Vandivier’s motto always. To Madison with the wagon load of wheat, to Madison with the well-fed lot of hogs, these over the rooty roads and through the marshy roads and over the streams for days till his destination was reached and the property changed for money. Frequently the wheat would be sold for 37 ½ cents a bushel and then with his little pile of money, Mr. Vandivier would start home, the long journey with team. After driving the hogs for days over those bad roads and disposing of same Mr. Vandivier would walk home and on arriving worn and tired, with feet swol­len and blistered, he would enjoy the comforts of his cabin with the dear companion and children. So, little by little, the enterprising man built the home and added to it piece by piece of land till the farm counted by the hundred acres. It is needful to abridge this history, so let us pass on. As heretofore noted, the family was rapidly being enlarged; the boys and girls were rapidly growing to man and woman­hood. They began to marry and settle around the old home. Here is where the big-hearted man by his works can be noted. Every son and son-in-law was settled on a farm and by noting their families after marriage it is known that every one of his children has taken the example of the father and has prospered in life. So every interest under his care was a success. Not only his family was provided for, but his magnanimity ex­tended far and wide. The poor, the beginner, all received of him aid. So it is a common saying that Uncle Terrill has more residences on his farm than any other man in the county, and truthfully too. Why was this? Solution: Mr. Vandivier during his life took much interest in helping those who needed help. So he built many homes on his farm and put into these homes the poor man with a family and gave him the aid and encouragement so that he could maintain his family. The good, noble work was carried on during his life. As a citizen he will be missed; as a friend the poor in the township will not find another such. In the success of good morals and religious duties, he was a true and valuable friend.

An old and honored pioneer has gone but his good and noble deeds will last for ages. He has gone, but he had finished the work that the Allwise intended for him to do, i.e. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” All this has been faithfully done and on the trestle board is left an outline which if followed will carry all through life successfully and assure for them the great reward after life that is promised the faithful servant. He has left behind a few veteran brothers and sisters who have been in the great battle of life with him, and like him they have lived honored and worthy lives, and are now almost at the river’s brink, ready to be wafted on to the home of many mansions. They know that they can follow and ere long there will be a reunion of these old veterans for their reward by the Allwise has been assured and they will be together where parting is not known.

B.F.K.    

Link to William Terrill Vandivier’s grave

Note: Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899–2011, Clark Township, Johnson County, Certificate and Record of Death, page 148 records that William Terill Vandiver [sic] died at about 4 o’clock p. m. on 16 Sep 1900 in Union Township from heart failure, caused by chronic nephritis, aged eighty-five years, seven months and eighteen days. He was male, white, widowed and a farmer, born in Kentucky. His parents' names were Peter Vandiver [sic] (born in Kentucky) and Sarah Garswiler [sic] (birthplace not recorded). The informant was Harvey Vandiver [sic]. William was buried in First Mount Pleasant on 18 Sep 1900, Dudley Peek, undertaker.

Submitted by Mark McCrady, Cathea Curry and Lois Johnson