Shelby  County,  Indiana
Biographies

Alonzo  N.  Trees

                The family of this name has been identified with Shelby County almost from the time of it's organization.  Jacob Trees,  a native of Pennsylvania, entered land in Noble Twp. at a very early day, prospered, reared a family and his numerous descendants have always been included in the county's best citizenship.  Davis Trees,  one of the sons of the pioneer founder, was born Feb. 14, 1832, and was engaged during his whole adult life in farming, his death occurred March 15, 1902.  He married May 25, 1853 to Sarah Stafford, daughter of an old pioneer family, whose children became prosperous and influential in the eastern section of the county. She was born in what is now Shelby Twp. on May 26, 1838 and is still living.  They had three children, Angeline, the eldest married  Dudley M. Brooks,  now desceased, has five children, and resides on a farm in Noble Twp.  Pleasant G. the youngest son, married Narcissus Bone, has one son, and is farming the old home place.  Alonzo N. Trees,  the eldest son of the family was born in Noble Twp., Shelby Co., Indiana, October 7, 1849.  The schools were poor in those days, and he had to pick up his learning at odd times during the short winter terms, helping on the farm in summers as all sons of pioneer farmers were accustomed to do. After he grew up, he became a farmer, like his ancestors, and achieved success in his chosen line, though it took much hard work and good management.
          September 12, 1880, Mr. Trees was married to  Katie A. Floyd,  a member of a family deserving of especial mention in any history of Shelby County.  Her parents were  Arthur W. and  Cynthia A. Bone Floyd, natives of Shelby county.  The father of Arthur W. Floyd was a native of Pennsylvania and was one of the earliest settlers of Noble Twp., and left descendants who achieved influence in various lines of business, chiefly agriculture.  Arthur W. Floyd had several children of whom four are living.  William E., the eldest, became the father of a daughter, at present  Mrs. Daisy Auburn,  of Newcastle, Pennsylvania.  Mathias, the second son, is dead leaving a wife, Elizabeth, who is the mother of three children:  Carrie,  Jennie and  Arthur.  Eugene Floyd and Mrs. Trees complete the family.
          Cynthia Bone Floyd, the mother of Mrs. Trees, who is a resident of Shelbyville, was born December 10, 1831, and has two brothers and two sisters living.  The grandmother of Cynthia A. Bone Floyd was  Margaret Abbot, who was born in Clark County, Indiana.  She was married to Josiah Williams about 1807.  To this union were born seven children.  Sally the second daugher was born in Clark County, Indiana, March 17, 1810.  This family moved to what is now known as the Floyd farm when she was ten years old.  Sally Williams married to  William E. Bone when nineteen years old, the ceremony having been performed upon this farm, January 28, 1829; and to this union were born the following children:  Caroline,  Cynthia Ann,  Anderson,  Alfred, Margaret,  Mary Janett,  Thomas,  Matilda  and  Prudence. Cynthia, the second daughter in order of birth, was born December 10, 1831 in Shelby County.  She was married to Arthur W. Floyd, January 14, 1849, in Shelby County near Cave Mills, on Sunday morning before breakfast.  The weather was very cold and the ground was so slick that the horses could not stand on the ice.  To this union were born five children. William E. was born in Shelby County, December 2, 1849; Mathias, November 9, 1852; Hester, born August 5, 1857; Katie A. born March 2, 1862; and Eugene, January 8, 1869. Cynthia Bone's grandfather was William Bone, born in Virginia, October 17, 1769, and he died September 27, 1830. Cynthia Bone's grandmother was Agnes McGuire, who was born November 17, 1772; married William Bone, and died March 5, 1848. To this union were born ten children. William E. Bone was born September 2, 1810 in Warren County, Ohio and he married Sally Williams, January 28, 1829. Arthur Floyd's grandmother on his father's side was named House. His grandmother on the maternal sided was named Crisler. Betsy House married John Floyd. Mathias Floyd was born January 8, 1796, in Pennsyl- vania. He was married to Jemima Crisler, and they moved to Indiana from Kentucy. To this union eleven children were born. Arthur was born March 15, 1829, in Shelby County, just south of Middletown. The farm now owned by Mr. Trees has quite an ancestral history, having descended from father to son for several generations.  The original owner was Josiah Williams, Mrs. Trees' great grand-father, who transferred it to Mr. Johnson, then to Mathias Floyd, her grandfather, and from him to his son Arthur W., and finally to Alonzo N. Trees and wife.  Here their first son, Forest E., was born and still lives.  Floyd, the second son, is now in the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music.  Forest was graduated in the Shelbyville high school, and is now a successful farmer. He married  Ethel Mittendorf June 10, 1908, and they are the parents of a son born on the old homestead May 15, 1909.  Mrs Trees was educated in the common schools of the county, and at the St. Paul and Shelbyville high schools.  The family are now members of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Trees has been deacon and Mrs. Trees treasurer of the Mission Society for two years.  Mr. Trees took an active part in the erection of the new church, and has long been regarded as one of it's pillars.  For fourteen years, Mrs Trees was organist at the Floyd Church, and also acted as janitress during that time.  There is no better family connection in Shelby county than that of the Trees', who have filled worthily all the places to which they have been called and enjoy the reputation of being good citizens. Mostly farmers, they have done their full share in building up the agricultural reputation of "Old Shelby" .
Unidentified source, thought to be Chadwick's.
Text contributed by Lora Radiches

Biography Index       Main Page

For current email addresses of researchers listed above, use the Surname Index