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Hendricks
County, Indiana
Biographies
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Samuel
C. McCoun
The subject
of this sketch is
one of those strong, self-reliant and determined characters who are
occasionally met with and who are of such a distinct type as to seem to
be born leaders of their fellow men. Not that Mr. McCoun courts that
distinction, for he is entirely unassuming, but his great force of
character and his zeal and energy in whatever he undertakes naturally
place him at the head of the crowd, and he has been a potent factor in
later years in the development of his community. While still a young
man, Mr. McCoun has attained a degree of success which might well be
the pride of one of a far greater number of years, and which promises
great things for a wider field of influence as the years go on. He is
well known to all classes for his honest and industrious life, both in
private and public.
Samuel C. McCoun was born
on March
25, 1884, on the old homestead farm, northwest of Danville,
Hendricks county, Indiana, and he is the son of John W. and Elizabeth
(Carrington) McCoun. John W. McCoun was a native of the state of
Kentucky, born in 1821 at Winchester, that state. When but
five years of age he was brought to Indiana by his parents, James and Eliza McCoun. They
first settled in Marion township, this county, where they farmed for
about fifteen years. They were among the large land owners of the
county and it is believed that they had entered from the government the
land which they possessed. They went to Putnam county, this state,
accompanied by their son, John W., and about the year 1856 moved to
Missouri. There John W. remained for about a year, when he returned to
Center township, this county, and farmed here until his death, in 1900,
on the homestead farm. John W. McCoun was considered one of the
successful farmers of his community, being very methodical and thorough
in his work. Beside the attention he gave to general farming, he took
great interest in his herd of Shorthorn cattle, which was truly a
pride. He raised considerable stock at all times. John W. McCoun had no
fraternal affiliations whatever, and in his early life had been aligned
with the Whig party, later endorsing the platform of the Democratic
party. He always took a keen interest in politics, but never aspired to
office of any sort. For many years he was a faithful member of the
Christian church and ordered his life according to the tenets of that
faith. He was twice married, his first wife being Melvina Talbott, of
Putnam county, by whom he had a family of seven children, namely: John
T., deceased; James L., deceased; Eliza, Mrs. Daugherty; Amelia, Mrs.
Williams; Robert; Anne, Mrs. Johnson; and Boone. The first Mrs. McCoun
died in 1880 and his second wife was Elizabeth Carrington, by whom he
had one child, the subject of this sketch. She is a native of
Hendricks county, born in 1839, and makes her home on the old homestead
with her son, the subject.
Samuel C. McCoun spent
his boyhood
days on the home farm in Center township, this county, attending the
township schools, and later took a two-year agricultural course at
Purdue University, at Lafayette, this state. In addition to general
farming, he makes a specialty of raising and breeding Berkshire hogs,
and has raised and sold many animals of value. His farm is known as the
Locust Grove farm and consists of two hundred and eighty-eight acres of
excellent land, having the advantage of being located close to the city
of Danville. Every bit of this land is under careful cultivation and
observation and in addition there are many large and substantial
buildings, one large building being devoted exclusively to the raising
of hogs. The farm residence is a handsome brick structure of modern
design, considered one of the finest homes in the county. Mr. McCoun is
a most progressive farmer and an indefatigable worker. He is
considerable of a student along the line of his vocation and uses his
technical knowledge to the best possible
advantage. He is generous
in this
respect, not retaining the results of his studies for his own use
alone, but being glad to be of assistance to others, and in that way he
is making for himself an enviable name throughout the county.
On November 15, 1905, Mr.
McCoun was
united in marriage with Mabel McCoun, a native of Hendricks county, and
a daughter of Edward and Alice (Steward) McCoun. To their union has
been born one child, Alice.
Mr. McCoun's fraternal
affiliation is
with the ancient order of Free¬masonry, being identified with Lodge
No. 26 at Danville, and he is also a chapter member of the Order of the
Eastern Star. Since attaining his majority, Mr. McCoun has been
identified with the Democratic party and of later years takes the more
progressive view of the leaders of that party. While not a member of
any church, Mr. McCoun's religious sympathies are with the Christian
church, of which his wife is a member and to whose support he
contributes of his means. Mr. McCoun is a man of sterling
character, quiet and unassuming in his manner, with a kindly word
for his neighbors, of excellent personal habits and undoubted
veracity. Needless to say, such a broad-minded and helpful man stands
high in public estimation and has won to himself many who hold
him in
high regard.
Melville
C. Ensminger
A community is
judged largely
by the
lives of comparatively few of its members. Few residents of Hendricks
county were as widely and favorably known as the late Melville C.
Ensminger, whose life's record was finished November 11, 1901. No man
stood higher in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he
resided than he, and his whole life was of such a nature as to justify
the statements that he was man "whom to know was to love."
Melville C. Ensminger,
son of Samuel
J. and Mary (McGee) Ensminger, was born November 19, 1842, on what is
known as the old Ensminger homestead, northeast of Danville, Hendricks
county, Indiana, and died November 11, 1901, the result of
injuries received in a railroad accident, which occurred between
Danville and his home. He was descended from one of the pioneer
families of the county, a history of which is given in the sketch of his brother, Samuel B. Ensminger,
elsewhere in this volume. He grew to manhood on the farm where he was
born and reared, receiving his education in the old Danville Academy.
After leaving school he taught for twelve years, and in the meantime
read law for three years with Col. Christian Nave, of Danville,
and was admitted to the bar, but never engaged in the active practice
of the profession, spending his entire life upon the farm.
Mr. Ensminger was married
December
31, 1874, to Samantha A. Lineinger, the daughter of Aaron and Margaret
(Duzan) Lineinger. A sketch of the Lineinger family is given in the
biographical mention of Alfred S. Lineinger, elsewhere in this work.
Mrs. Ensminger was born and reared a short distance east of Danville
and has lived in that neighborhood all her life. To this marriage have
been born four children, three sons and one daughter, Mary, who died at
the age of three months. The three sons are Julian, Aaron M. and
Chesley Bailey. Julian married Esta May Smith, the daughter of William
and Viola Smith, and they live four miles northeast of Danville on one
of the farms which was owned by his father. The other two sons and Mrs.
Ensminger live on the old home farm east of Danville. For two years
after his marriage Mr. Ensminger continued to reside on the farm where
he was born, at which time he moved to a farm which he inherited from
his mother. From time to time he purchased more land and at the time of
his death he was owner of two hundred and eighty-five acres of fine
farming land. He built a fine, attractive home and had good barns and
other outbuildings and all his farms were in first class shape in every
particular. He carried on extensive farming and stock raising and
was considered one of the most substantial farmers of the county,
having farmed for many years about four hundred acres.
Mr. Ensminger was a
Republican in
politics all his life and actively interested in the welfare of his
party. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, his father
having been a Methodist minister, and he was reared in the faith of
that denomination and was a liberal contributor to its support. He was
a man of strong convictions, earnest, fearless and frank in his
denunciation of what he considered was wrong. He was a man of strong
domestic tastes, loving his family and home, and took great
enjoyment in providing for his family. He was a close student and
great reader, and a man whom it was a pleasure to meet. His life was
well spent and affords a good example for the coming generation of the
county. Aaron M. Ensminger, the son who remains on the home farm, is
actively engaged in the buying and raising of shorthorn cattle and
graded stock.
Charles
P. Duncan
Among the
younger
farmers of
Hendricks county, Indiana, who have built up a comfortable home by
their own efforts is Charles P. Duncan, of Liberty township, who was
born June 12, 1880, on the farm where he is now living. His parents
were William G. and Matilda (Barnes) Duncan. William Duncan was a
native of this county, his birth having occurred on June 21, 1843, and
ms death occurred June 17, 1911. William Duncan was the son of Charles
and Delilah (Blunk) Duncan, and he spent his entire life in this
county, with the exception of four years, when he was in the Civil'
War. He enlisted in 1861 in Company A, Thirty-third Regiment
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for the three-year service. His
regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and after serving two
and one-half years he re-enlisted and served until the end of the war,
being mustered out in July, 1865, at Indianapolis. He was with Sherman
on his famous march to the sea and took part in all those hard-fought
battles and skirmishes which characterized that campaign. He was
disabled and sent to the hospital on account of injuries, but recovered
sufficiently to rejoin his regiment and be with them when they were
mustered out. Immediately upon the close of the war William Duncan
returned to this county and resumed farming. He was a prominent citizen
of his township and served on the advisory board for some years. He was
a member of the Christian church and a deacon in that denomination on
all occasions. He was a strong believer in righteous living and upright
conduct in all business affairs.
The wife of William
Duncan, Matilda
Barnes, was a member of one of the pioneer families of this county. Her
family history appears elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of
W. D. Barnes, who is a brother of Mrs. Duncan. She is
still living in Hazelwood, this county.
Charles P. Duncan spent
his boyhood
days on the home farm southwest of Hazelwood and received his
education in the district schools of his township. He has spent his
whole life on the farm where he is now living with the exception of ten
years he spent on a rented farm of one hundred and eight acres in
Franklin township, this county. He now owns eighty acres, which
includes the old farm, and is bringing the farm to a high state of
cultivation by his skillful system of crop rotation. After leaving
Franklin township, this county, he bought sixteen acres north of his
present farm, but sold this in the fall of 1913 before moving to where
he now resides.
Mr. Duncan was married
March 31,
1902, to Nida Skaggs, a daughter
of Lee and Anna (Kavanus) Skaggs. Lee
Skaggs was born in Tennessee, and his wife was a native of Liberty
township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs are now living at
Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are the parents of five children,
Ollan, who died at the age of five years, Lloyd, Chrystine, Pauline and
Kathryn Dee.
Mr. Duncan is an active
Republican,
but has never been identified as an aspirant for any public office. He
and his wife are members of the Church of Christ at Hazelwood, and both
take an active part in the affairs of their church. Mr. Duncan is a
quiet, unassuming man, with a friendly disposition. Because of his high
character he is respected by every one with whom he has been
associated. He and his wife are the owners of a beautiful home, where
they entertain their many friends with genuine hospitality.
William
S. Elmore
Hendricks county
is widely
known for
its beautiful homes, rich, fertile farms, the high state of cultivation
to which its land has been brought, and, above all, for the very
active, progressive farmers who reside within her borders. These are
business men in the best sense of the word men who work with their
hands to produce sustenance for their fellow men, as well as their own
immediate families, yet guided by an active intelligence which lifts
their toil above drudgery and places them in the front rank of our
independent, prominent citizens. In this admirable class of
clean-cut, broad-minded men, few are better known throughout the county
than the subject of our present sketch. Born in Franklin township, he
has been ready to grasp the opportunities which lay nearest him, and by
his unremitting energy has given to the world a large family of useful
citizens and amassed for himself a competence.
William S. Elmore, son of
John and
Mary (Wood) Elmore, was born October 23, 1864, and received his
education in the schools of Franklin township. Here his youth was
spent, living near to nature and learning from his father many of the
principles of the science of agriculture; and that he has continued to
study and put into practice these principles and theories is evidenced
by his success as a farmer.
On the 20th day of March,
1887, he
was married to Ollie Tharp, a native of Center township, this county, a
daughter of Joshua Tharp and wife; and after seven years of residence
in the environment of his youth,
he brought his family to Middle
township and there purchased his present home, a beautiful, productive,
well-kept farm of eighty acres. Nine children have been born to
them, as follows: Mabel (Mrs. Sparks), Cecil (who died in infancy),
Roy, Gladys, Ova, Jesse, Byron, Charles and Robert.
The father of the
subject, John
Elmore, is also one of the well known citizens of the county. One of
the early pioneers, he has watched with pleasure the changes and
improvements which have come to the surrounding country, and now,
in his declining years, after a long and fruitful life, he is spending
his days ''beneath his own vine and fig tree," the homestead where his
family has been reared. Finding his greatest happiness in the
independent life of the farm, he has spent his days tilling the soil,
living near to the heart of Mother Nature and rearing a large family to
perpetuate his name and principles, and revere his memory in the future.
John Elmore was born
March n, 1832,
in Monroe county, coming to Hendricks county with his parents. Samuel
and Elizabeth Elmore, in 1834, while he was yet a child. They made
their permanent home in Franklin township, where they entered land from
the government. There John Elmore grew up amid pioneer
surroundings, later, however, purchasing a tract of land in Union
township, where he has since remained. In the year 1853 he was married
to Mary Wood, who was also a native of this state. Six children were
born to them, Jerry, Moses, William S., Martha (Warren), Minnie
(Montgomery) and Emaline (Foxworthy). In the year 1877 he faithful wife
and mother passed away. About two years later he was married to
Fanny Elmore, of Kentucky, and to them one child was born, a daughter,
Elizabeth, now Mrs. Woodward. Mrs. Elmore died in July, 1912. Mr.
Elmore has been a home-loving man, devoting his time to the family,
which has carried his influence abroad; but He has also been interested
in the various movements for the good of the community which have taken
place during his long residence. A stanch Democrat, he has adhered
strictly to the principles of his party, active in promulgating the
principles of true Democracy at all times, and now happy in its
supremacy. His son William, like his father, is a firm believer in the
teachings of Jefferson, and has consistently voted the Democratic
ticket. Fraternally, William is a member of the Independent' Order of
Odd Fellows at Pittsboro, and, with his wife and four of his children,
is a member of the Christian church of that place. Personally, the
subject of this sketch is genial, broad minded and well informed, a man
who holds the confidence of the community at large. Mrs. Elmore, who
has been his best friend and most helpful ally in all his undertakings, has a charming
personality and is widely known and greatly admired among the young
people of the community, many of whom have enjoyed her hospitality.
Taking a deep interest in the social, as well as the spiritual life of
the church to which she is devoted, she is indeed a worthy helpmate for
a prominent citizen.
Robert
E. Parker
Middle township, Hendricks county,
has been especially honored in the character and career of Robert E.
Parker, who, in the face of obstacles that would have discouraged and
defeated many another, has forged his way to the front by a strong
inherent force and well directed intelligence and judgment and who for
many years has ranked among the substantial and prominent men of this
locality, few having occupied a more honored place in the estimation of
his fellow citizens than he. He is a man of public spirit, who,
while laboring for his individual advancement, has never neglected his
broader duties to the public in general, and his character has been
exemplary in all the relations of life.
Robert E. Parker, the son
of William
G. and Martha (Wells) Parker, was born in Pittsboro, Indiana, in 1863.
William Parker was a native of Kentucky and when a small boy came to
this county with his parents. Upon reaching manhood he remained on the
farm for a time and later engaged in the mercantile business in
Pittsboro for a number of years. During the war he bought and shipped
mules for the government and throughout his whole life he was
interested in the buying and selling of stock. In 1872 William Parker
moved to Indianapolis, but four years later moved back to Pittsboro,
where he remained until his death, January 8, 1877. While he was
primarily interested in business ventures of one kind and another,
he was, nevertheless, greatly interested in politics and always took a
prominent part in the affairs of his community. He was trustee of his
township for eight years and was always active in Republican politics.
Mrs. William Parker was born in North Carolina and came in a wagon to
this county with her parents when she was a small girl. She is still
living in Pittsboro. Mr. and Mrs. William Parker reared a family of
nine children: Mrs. Mary E. Lewis; Loyd; Wilson; Jennie, deceased;
Robert E., whose history is herein presented; William; Ruth, deceased,
and two who died in infancy.
Robert E. Parker received
his
education in the school of Pittsboro and Indianapolis, a part of the
time in Indianapolis, while his parents were living there from 1872 to
1876, and later in Pittsboro. Upon the death of his father in 1877, he
went on to the home farm, where he has. resided since. In addition to
his general farming, he also raises hogs and good road horses, which he
finds a very successful and lucrative part of his farming.
Mr. Parker was married
August 21,
1890, to Mary E. Dillon, a native of Middle township, daughter of Luke
and Julia (Ashby) Dillon, and to this marriage were born three
children, Chester, Margaret, deceased, and Edgar. On January 22, 1905,
Mr. Parker was married to Cora Keeney, the daughter of Charles and
Elizabeth (Bursott) Keeney. Charles Keeney is a native of Montgomery
county, Indiana, and now lives with his son-in-law, Mr. Parker. He owns
a farm in Raintown. Mrs. Keeney was a native of Kentucky and died
in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Keeney had eight children: Mrs. Sarah J.
Money, David D., Mrs. Olive Ann Ellis, Cora (the wife of Mr. Parker),
Orin F., George, and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Parker takes a keen
interest in
politics and has been identified with the Republican party since he was
able to cast his first ballot. He has never been tempted to make the
race for any office, being content to devote his time to his
agricultural interests. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons
and is a devout member of the Christian church, in which he has been a
deacon for many years. Mrs. Parker is a member of the Baptist church.
His earnest labors and honest dealings with his fellow men have
resulted in a large measure of success in a material way, and at the
same time he has won the confidence and admiration of his neighbors and
fellow men.
Charles
Everett Kesler
The prosperity
of
a town
depends in
large measure upon the activity and aggressiveness of its business men,
and Pittsboro, in this respect, is to be congratulated upon the
progressive, energetic spirit shown by her merchants. Among these
few, if any, are more widely known throughout the district nor more
highly respected than the man who supplies the hardware, tools and
farming implements of various kinds used in the surrounding country.
Charles Everett Kesler,
the leading
hardware dealer of this place, was born April 7, 1881, on a farm near
Danville, Hendricks county. He is truly a son of the county, both
parents, John C. and Sarah (Pierson) Kesler, being also native to the place.
Here they both spent their childhood and youth, receiving their
schooling in the township schools; both trained to the free, natural
life of the farm, finding not only their work but their pleasure also
in compelling the good earth to yield her abundance for the sustenance
of themselves and their family. Congenial in their tastes, both were
content to remain in the home of their childhood and youth until, in
1908, they were separated by the death of the faithful wife. Five
children were born to them, as follows: Nettie (Dinsmore), deceased;
Myrtle (Woods) ; Novella; Ernest, deceased also; and Charles Everett,
the subject of this article.
Charles Everett Kesler
was married
October 11, 1900, to Lucena Dinsmore, daughter of William Frank and
Rachel (Holmes) Dinsmore. Two sons have come to them to brighten their
home, Floyd Eugene and Harrold Glenn. Mrs. Kesler was born and reared
in Boone county, as were also both her parents, who are still residing
in that place, being well known and generally respected. Mr.
Dinsmore is the holder of eighty acres of well cultivated,
productive land, and by his industry, thrift and intelligent
management of this farm, together with the never failing
assistance of his faithful helpmate, he reared a large family and laid
up for his declining years a competence. Fourteen children have been
born to them: Jacob, Eliza (Ragsdale), John, Charity (Bailiff), Mary
(Linton), Dora (Griggs), Marion, Delia (Wiley), Lucena (Kesler), Artie,
and four others whom death has claimed, two of them in infancy.
Mr. Kesler spent his
boyhood days
upon the farm with his father, receiving his elementary education in
the township school and later attending the high school of Pittsboro.
Here he remained until his marriage, when he left the farm and entered
the grocery business at New Ross. After two years in this place, he
sold the grocery and spent a year at Advance as proprietor of a livery
barn. Disposing of this, he returned to Pittsboro, continuing in the
livery business, however, for two years more. Following this, he
was owner of a restaurant for a year, after which he acquired his
present thriving establishment. His varied experiences in the business
world and his wide acquaintance throughout the county have proven
valuable assets in this field, and his genial manner and shrewd
business acumen have been large factors in its up building. Hence,
after
five years as an active, energetic dealer in hardware and implements,
we find him crowned with success in business, the possessor of hosts of
friends and enjoying to the fullest the confidence and respect of his
fellow men.
However, his activities
have not been
confined solely to the up building of his financial success, for he is
interested in several fraternal orders, being a member of the Knights
of Pythias at Brownsburg; the Red Men at Advance, and the Haymakers. He
is affiliated with the Republican party and is a strong advocate of its
doctrines, and,-while not a member of any church, is in sympathy with
the Baptist church of Pittsboro, where his wife is a member.
George
D. Junken
That life is the
most
commendable
that results in the greatest good to the greatest number, and of the
thousands of occupations which are open to the citizens of the United
States today, there is no.one in which there is a better chance to help
mankind than in the profession of teaching. It is not necessary that
one have a college education, a fine brick building and a well stocked
library in order to make a successful teacher. What is essential
is that natural sympathy and tact which always characterizes the most
successful teachers. In the record of George D. Junken, of Hendricks
county, we have the life history of a man who has spent thirty-five
years of the best part of his life instructing the youths of his
.county, and during all of those years he has tried to instill the
right principles, aim and ideals into his pupils. His actions have
always been the result of careful, conscientious thought, and,
once convinced that he is right, no suggestion of policy or personal
profit could swerve him from the course on which he had decided.
George D. Junken, who is
now living
retired at Pittsboro, this county, was born in Middle township November
8, 1850. His parents were David A. and Margaret (Danner) Junken. David
A. Junken was born December 24, 1825, in Wayne county, Indiana,
and lived there until his marriage. He and the girl whom he had
selected for his wife added to the gaiety of the country in 1847 by
being married on July 4th of that year, and immediately after the
ceremony mounted their horses and took their honeymoon trip through the
dense forests and along the blazed trails to this state, and after a
short time in Rush county, they settled in Middle township, this
county. David's father had been here before this time and had entered
about twelve hundred acres for his children near Pittsboro, so that the
young bridal
couple already
had a
farm to settle upon when they reached their destination. David was a
blacksmith and a mechanic of more than ordinary ability and followed
this trade in Pittsboro for the first fifteen years after coming to
this county. He then went onto the farm and continued to farm until
1883, when he went into the hardware and grocery business at Pittsboro.
Eight years later he sold out a successful business and retired from
active life. He built the fine brick business block where his store was
established. He had commenced in a rented brick building, which burned
down two years after he went in business, and then he built the brick
building which is still standing in Pittsboro. About two years
after he sold out the store he went blind, but suffered his terrible
affliction patiently until the end. He died March 18, 1907, and his
wife two years later. Both of them were consistent and devoted members
of the Christian church and he was a member of the Masonic order. Mr.
and Mrs. David Junken reared a family of seven children: James, who
died in infancy, George D., Joseph M., William N., Oliver P., Alonzo
Frank, and one who died in infancy.
George D. Junken spent
his boyhood
days in Middle township and received his education in the township
and high school at Brownsburg. Later he began teaching in 1870 and for
the next thirty-three years taught in Middle and Brown townships,
teaching his last year in 1905. During this long service in the school
room, he taught the children of some of the children who had gone
to him in his earlier years of teaching.
For the past eight years
he has done
the assessing and gathering of statistics of his township, and knows
his township most thoroughly. Probably he could describe every piece of
land from memory, and tell the owners thereof. His work was said
by the county board to be the most accurate, and his records kept
the best, of any assessment records in the county.
Mr. Junken is a member of
Pittsboro
Lodge No. 620, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Danville Chapter
No. 46, Royal Arch Masons, and has been a life-long Republican,
although, due to the nature of his profession, he has never taken
an active interest in politics. He and his wife are both members of the
Christian church at Pittsboro and he has been an elder in the church
for the past twenty years. He has often been called on to conduct the
services at funerals, knows the people thoroughly, and for years past
has written the obituaries of most of those who have died in his
community.
Mr. Junken was married
October 24;
1875, to Sallie J. Waters, and to this union have been born two
children, Mrs. Gertrude Goebel and Mrs. Lutie J. Worrell. Mr. Junken is a
quiet, unassuming man and no one in the township has a higher standing
in every way than he. His influence has always been cast in favor of
all worthy enterprises and measures, and everything which he has done
has been directed toward the betterment of his community.
James
Malrey Leak
A half century
ago, more than
two
hundred thousand of Indiana's young men, strong and active in body,
exulting in their young manhood, offered themselves for their country's
service, and of these many thousands who went from Indiana there are
today but few left and these few are old men who have long ago passed
their meridian and are now looking eagerly forward to the time when
they will answer the last roll call. The soldiers who fought so bravely
in the Civil War soon will all have passed to another world, but so
long as this nation shall endure, their memory will be revered
high above other men. Hendricks county sent many brave young men to the
front, but no man fought more valiantly than James M. Leak, who,
through four long years of hard service, participated in some of the
bloodiest battles of the war. Although he was twice wounded before his
four years' enlistment was up, yet such was his courage and patriotism
that he re-enlisted in February, 1865, as a substitute and served until
his final discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1865.
James Malrey Leak, a
distinguished
veteran of the Civil War and one of Hendricks county's best loved
citizens, was born October 20, 1841, in Bracken county, Kentucky. His
parents were Louis and Elizabeth Leak, who were both natives of
Kentucky. Louis Leak was born in Kentucky in 1808, grew to manhood and
was married there before coming to this county. Early in the history of
this county he and his family entered eighty acres in Union township,
north of Lizton, where he farmed until his death. He was a
public-spirited citizen and was township trustee for several terms. He
and his wife were both members of the Christian church. Mr. and Mrs.
Lewis Leak were the parents of nine children: Mrs. Susan Jane
Runnels, who died in 1859; David V., who married Julia Ann Waters
and died September 4, 1912; Belle, deceased, the wife of Allen Hayden;
John Robert, deceased; James Malrey, whose career is herein set
forth; Francis Marion, born January 15, 1843, and died in April,
1903; William M., of Missouri,
died in 1911; Nancy Ann, of
Danville, the wife of Allen Bell, and Minerva, who was the wife of
Woodson Bell, died in 1867.
James Malrey Leak grew to
manhood on
the old home farm and when twenty years of age enlisted for service
under his country's flag. He was mustered into Company H, Seventh
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years, in August, 1861,
and was first assigned to the Army of the West, but later transferred
to the East and his regiment was made a part of the Army of the
Potomac. While serving in Virginia he was twice wounded in battle,
first at Fairfax Gap and later at Spotsylvania Court House. At
Louisville, Kentucky, at the end of his three years' enlistment, he
re-enlisted in February, 1865, as a substitute for a man who was
drafted in this county. While acting as a substitute, he received five
hundred dollars in money and a deed for forty acres of land in
Union township. He was finally mustered out August 27, 1865, at
Louisville. Kentucky, after having seen four years of service in the
midst of the bloodiest civil war which has ever happened in the history
of the world.
Immediately after his
discharge, Mr.
Leak returned to this county and commenced farming in Union township.
He was married August 6, 1865, to Mary Dickey, who died November 9,
1872, leaving one daughter, Vada. Vada married John A. Leak, whose
history is delineated elsewhere in this volume. James M. Leak was
married a second time to Margaret (Davidson) Winters, who died
February 15, 1899. There were two children born to this second
marriage, Eva, who died December 24, 1887, and Omer, a farmer of this
township, who married Bessie Walter, having one daughter, Lurene. After
the death of his second wife, Mr. Leak was married to Mrs. Frances
(Gott) Hedge.
Mr. Leak continued in
active service
on the farm until December, 1905, when he retired from the farm and
moved to Lizton. Politically, Mr. Leak is a Republican of the
progressive type, and has been voting the Republican ticket ever
since the days of Abraham Lincoln. While he has always taken an
intelligent interest in politics, he has never been a seeker after
political preferments. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic
at Lizton. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and he
is a deacon in that denomination. He is a man who is always willing to
help those in distress and has lived a life of a quiet, unostentatious
farmer ever since the day he returned from the battle field of the
sixties. He is an ideal citizen in every respect and is highly honored
and respected by every one in the community.
Chester
Alvin Weaver
It is
generally considered by
those
in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called
great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists
among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the
cheers and the appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake was never
made. No man is great in all things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve
lasting fame who before that had no reputation beyond the limits of
their immediate neighborhoods. It is not a history of the lucky stroke
which benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which made
the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method, that
serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those in Monroe
county who have achieved success along steady lines of action is the
subject of this sketch.
Chester Alvin Weaver,
former merchant
of Pittsboro and now one of the leading farmers of Middle township, was
born in Pittsboro, Indiana, December 7, 1867. He is the son of Amos C.
and Marian (Wills) Weaver. Amos Weaver is also a native of this
township and is now living retired in Indianapolis. He formerly
operated a drug store at Pittsboro for five years, afterwards he built
a store building and engaged in the dry-goods business in 1872,
continuing this for the next thirty years. Mrs. Amos C. Weaver was also
a native of this county and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Amos Weaver
are the parents of five children, Hollis, Chester Alvin, Mrs. Grace
Wood, Urban and Mrs. Francis Kyle.
Chester Alvin Weaver
received his
early education in the Pittsboro schools. Upon reaching his maturity he
went into his father's store. In 1887 his father sold out to his sons
and they continued to operate the store for the next ten years. In 1897
Chester Alvin bought out the interest of his brothers and managed the
store himself until 1905, continued to live in Pittsboro three years
after selling the store and then bought a farm 01 one hundred and sixty
acres, one mile northeast of Pittsboro, where he is now residing. He
handles a great deal of stock, buying and selling all the time. •He
also makes a specialty of raising chickens and turkeys, and has his
farm improved in such a way as to net him the largest maximum income
annually. While he was prosperous as a business man, he is no less
successful in the agricultural field, and is rapidly forging to
the front as one of the leading farmers of the township.
Mr. Weaver was
married
September 16, 1897, to Nell Dillon, the daughter of Luke and Julia (Ashby)
Dillon. Luke Dillon, a native of Kentucky, and a Union soldier,
came to this county immediately after the war and settled in Middle
township about one and one-half miles west of Pittsboro. He dealt a
great deal in real estate. He returned to Hillsboro, Kentucky,
about 1900, where he is still living. Mrs. Dillon was also a native
of Kentucky, and died in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Dillon were the parents of
nine children: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Parker, deceased; Edwin; Nellie, the
wife of Mr. Weaver; Thomas L.; Mrs. Daise Buergelin; Mrs. Margaret
Leachman; Mrs. Emma Biggs; Mrs. Lora Duntington and Mrs. Ruth Pavey.
Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have a daughter, Frances, and a son, Marvin. Mr.
Weaver is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of
Pythias. Owing to the nature of his business he has never taken an
active part in politics, although he now takes more interest in public
affairs than ever before. He is a member of the new Progressive party
and believes in the principles which are advocated by the leaders of
this party. He and his family are members of the Christian church, to
which they give freely of their means. Mr. Weaver is a farmer who has
gone into this profession simply because he likes it and enjoys the
life which is the lot of the farmer. He is a man of excellent judgment,
good business discrimination and one who is thoroughly honest and
upright in all of his dealings. In his county he represents the Home,
Hartford and Phoenix fire insurance companies and does a large amount
of business throughout the county. Mr. Weaver is widely acquainted and
numbers his friends everywhere throughout the countv.
Calvin
Warrick
As a farmer, public official, soldier
or private citizen, Calvin Warrick was always true to himself and his
fellow men, and the tongue of calumny has never touched him. As a
soldier he proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well
on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situations, on
the tented field and amid the flame and smoke of battle, where the
rattle of the musketry, mingled with the terrible concussion of the
bursting shell and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar, made up the
awful chorus of death. To such as he the country is under a debt of
gratitude which it can not repay and in centuries yet to be
posterity will commemorate their chivalry in fitting eulogy and
tell their deeds in story and in song.
Calvin Warrick, a
distinguished
veteran of the Civil War and a prosperous farmer of Middle
township, was born in Rush county, Indiana, October 19, 1840. His
parents were Edward H. and Ruth (Whiteman) Warrick. Edward Warrick
was a native of Delaware and a school teacher in his young days, and
taught in Rush county before moving to Hendricks county. He came to
this county when Calvin was about four years of age and bought eighty
acres two miles north of Brownsburg, which he farmed until 1858. He
then sold it and made a prospecting trip through the West, but decided
that Indiana was good enough for him, and returned to Hendricks
county where he bought two hundred acres in Middle township. He lived
on this farm until his death, October 30, 1864. Mrs. Edward
Warrick was a native of Virginia and died in Nebraska in December,
1910. Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Warrick were the parents of eight
children: Samuel, who died in 1912, Mrs. Ann Crawford, Calvin, Amos,
Mrs. Esther E. Hale, Mrs. Mary Jane Job, Mrs. Harriet Talbott, and Mrs
Madora Towell.
Calvin Warrick was given
a good
education under the tutelage of his father and grew to manhood on the
farm in this county, with the exception of a year or so spent in the
West. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted, on September 14,
1861, in Company B, Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His
regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac and he
participated in all of the engagements in which his regiment
participated, and was mustered out December 20, 1864.
On December 14th of the
same year Mr.
Warrick was married to Evaline Smith, the daughter of Joel and Susan
Smith. Joel Smith was a native of Kentucky, as was his wife, and after
their marriage they came to this county and entered two hundred acres
near Brownsburg, where they lived until their deaths. He died in 1863
and she seven years later. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Smith were the parents of
eleven children: William Jackson; Benjamin Thomas; Mrs. Almanda Rupp;
Mrs. Nancy Susan Wells; Levi; Alfred, deceased; America; Lucinda,
deceased; Evaline, the wife of Mr. Warrick; Mrs. Henrietta Ward and
Mrs. Mary Ann Hughes. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick have five children, all of
whom are living, Shiles M., William E., Oliver C, Edward H. and Mary
May. Mary May married Fred Parker, who farmed a part of Mr. Warrick's
farm.
Mr. Warrick has farmed in
this county
since he was sixteen years of age, with the exception of the four years
which he spent in the war. When a boy he had to walk two miles to
school and incidentally had to perform all of those chores which the
boys of his day had to perform each day. In addition to his general farming he
has always handled a great deal of live stock, especially cattle. He
always kept a high-class grade of shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Warrick is a member
of the Grand
Army of the Republic and the Free and Accepted Masons at Pittsboro. He
has been a life-long Republican, and was old enough to cast his first
vote for the second election of Lincoln in 1864. At the close of the
war he served two years as assessor of Middle township and at one time
made a strong race for nomination for county auditor. As a rule,
however, he has never taken an active interest in politics
generally, preferring to devote his energies to his agricultural
affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick are both members of the Baptist church
and contribute generously to its support. He is a keen business man,
unassuming in manner and a good friend who is always glad to help
any one in distress.
Francis
H. Hall
The character of
a
community
is
determined largely by the lives of a comparatively few of its members.
If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is
a pleasant place in which to reside, if its reputation for the
integrity of its citizens has extended to other localities, it will be
found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and
their influence such as to mold their characters and shape the
lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing the subject of this
sketch in the front rank of such men, justice is rendered a
biographical fact universally recognized throughout Hendricks county by
those at all familiar with his history. Although a quiet and
unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he
has contributed much to the material advancement of the community,
while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the
straightforward, upright course of his daily life have tended
greatly to the moral standing of the circles in which he moves and
given him a reputation for integrity and correct conduct such as few
achieve.
Francis H. Hall was born
in Canfield,
Ohio, January 28, 1839. His parents were Solomon and Maria (Austin)
Hall, his father being a native of New York state and his mother of
Connecticut. Solomon Hall was a carder and fuller by trade and. when a
young man, came west and settled in Ohio, where he married. In 1849 he
went to Iowa with his family when Francis H. was about eleven
years of age. He remained in Iowa about three years, when he returned to the east,
settling in Wells county, Indiana. After a three years' residence in
that county, he removed to Danville in the spring of 1856, and
subsequently moved to Needmore, about five miles west of Danville. A
few years later he moved to Groveland, in Putnam county, Indiana, where
he engaged in the mercantile business, and there he spent the remainder
of his life, death occurring at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. and
Mrs. Solomon Hall were the parents of nine children, five of whom are
still living: Mrs. Ella Dooley, who is living in California; Mrs. Sarah
J. Blatchley, of Putnam county, Indiana; Chester R, of Danville;
Seldon, of Alexandria, Indiana, and Francis H., of whom this is written.
Francis H. Hall received
his
education in three different states, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana, and, being
a youth of observing mind, he acquired no inconsiderable education from
the extensive journeys made by his parents back and forth across the
Mississippi valley. At the opening of the Civil war in 1861 he enlisted
in Company H, Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
served three years and nineteen days with the Union army. He was with
General Grant at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Iuka and was in the
terrific siege of Vicksburg in 1863. He was a participant in the battle
of Champion's Hill, Mississippi, which history has recorded as the
bloodiest battle of the whole struggle. He was with General Banks on
his campaign in Arkansas and Oklahoma, being in the ordnance department
at that time. He proved a valiant and courageous soldier and served
faithfully in all the engagements in which his regiment was a
participant. After the close of the war he returned to Putnam county.
Indiana, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and began to make a
specialty of fine cattle to feed for the markets. He claims to be the
oldest cattle feeder in Hendricks county, having fed a bunch of cattle
each year for the market for the past forty-three years without missing
a single year. In 1897 he came to Danville to spend the remainder of
his days, but he still keeps in close touch with his farm in Putnam
county, on which his son is now residing. In addition to his
farming and stock raising interests, Mr. Hall is president of the
Danville State Bank, and is now serving his second term in that
capacity.
Mr. Hall was married in
1866 to
Rebecca Keith, and to this union has been born one son, Owen Hall, who
manages his father's farm in Putnam county and also has a farm of his
own adjoining his father's. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had one son, Homer S.,
who died at the age of thirty-four in Monrovia, California. He was a
brilliant and promising young man, a graduate of De-Pauw and Leland
Stanford Universities, and was building up a fine reputation as a civil
engineer.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall are
devoted and
consistent members, he of the Presbyterian and she of the
Methodist church at Danville and contribute generously of their means
to these societies. Mr. Hall has been voting the Republican ticket for
more than fifty years and, although he has been active in the councils
of his party, he has never been a candidate for public office. Mr. Hall
has always been a man of high civic ideals and a warm and sympathetic
supporter of all measures and enterprises tending to advance the
general welfare of the community. He was truly the architect of his own
fortune, and upon his entire career there rests no blemish, for he has
always been true to the highest ideals and principles in business,
moral and social life and has been one of the world's noble army of
workers, having lived and labored to worthy ends.
Joseph
Fleece Clay
One of the most
distinguished
families which has come to the United States from Scotland is the Clay
family. Their descendants are now found scattered throughout the United
States. Among the most distinguished members of this family may be
mentioned Henry and Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky, men who were
leaders in national life when they were in the height of their career.
One of the members of this family who was born in Hendricks county,
Indiana, and has brought honor on the county of his birth is Joseph
Fleece Clay, who was formerly a sheriff of Marion county, but now a
resident of Putnam county, Indiana.
Joseph F. Clay, the son
of James
Henry and Susan (Fleece) Clay, was born in Hendricks county September
1, 1865. His father was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 20,
1819, the son of Littleberry and Arabella (McCoun) Clay. James H. Clay
and Susan Fleece were married July 29, 1841, their marriage taking
place shortly after his parents arrived in this county. Littleberry
Clay and his family came to this county in 1840 and purchased a
section of land in Eel River township. After living in this county a
few years Littleberry Clay and part of his family went to Missouri, but
James H. remained in this county the remainder of his days. Susan
Fleece was born in Boyle county, Kentucky, near Danville, and came to
Hamilton county with her parents, Charles Fleece and wife, in the early
history of the county. Her parents entered land west
of North Salem, near Eel river.
James H. Clay followed
the vocation
of a farmer all his life. During the forty years of his residence in
this county he was one of the prominent and influential citizens. At one time
he owned nearly a section of land, but before his death he divided it
among his children, nine of whom grew to maturity: Mrs. Arabella
Waters; Mrs. Mary Catherine Rose; Samuel C.; Mrs. Sallie Rogers, of
Amo; James A., of Indianapolis; J. C, whose history is found elsewhere
in this volume; Nicholas, deceased: Arthur E., of Indianapolis;
Joseph F., whose history is here recorded, and one daughter. Lillie,
who died in infancy.
Joseph F. Clay was
educated in the
common schools of Eel River township and later attended the graded
school at North Salem. Early in life he decided to follow the vocation
which had brought such pronounced success to his father. After his
marriage he began to farm and at the same time devote a great deal of
attention to the raising of stock. In fact, he soon found that there
was more money in the raising of stock than in the raising of grain,
and within a few years left the farm and moved to Indianapolis, where
he engaged in the live stock business in connection with Messrs.
Stockton & Gillespie, the firm being known as Stockton,
Gillespie, Clay & Company. He was connected with this company for
the next thirteen years, and left it to take the office of sheriff of
Marion county, to which he was elected in the fall of 1906. He served
one term and then returned to his farm in Jackson township. Putnam
county, where he is the owner of four hundred and seventy acres of fine
farming land. He is now engaged in farming and stock breeding,
paying most of his attention to stock.
Mr. Clay was married
February 15,
1888, to Olive Thomas, daughter of John H. and Mary (Davidson) Thomas.
John H. Thomas was a life-long farmer of Putnam county, this state,
dying in that county at the age of seventy-three in 1903. To Mr. and
Mrs. Clay has been born one daughter, Eula, the wife of Armin Krutzsh,
who is now living on the farm of Mr. Clay. Mrs. Clay died March 11,
1911.
Mr. Clay has been an
active
Republican in politics and has been influential in the councils of his
party. His worth as a citizen and his ability as a man is shown by the
fact that he was nominated by the Republicans of Marion county for the
responsible position of county sheriff and subsequently elected to that
important position. In the discharge of his duties he was fearless and
honest and won the esteem of all with whom he was associated while in
the management of his office. He is a member of the Third Christian
church at Indianapolis. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and
Accepted Masons, belonging to Oriental Lodge at Indianapolis. He is
also a member of Raper Commandery, Knights Templar, Keystone Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons and the Mystic Shrine at
Indianapolis. He also holds his membership in the Columbia Club and Marion
Club, two of the most influential clubs of the capital city. Mr. Clay
has been remarkably successful in life, and in everything he has done
he has commanded the respect and confidence of all those with whom he
has been brought into contact. His life amply demonstrates what
may be accomplished by a man of energy and ambition who is not afraid
to work, his success being the result of his well directed efforts, his
capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment.
Ethor
V. Milhon
A business man of
Hazelwood, Indiana,
who has made a pronounced success in life is Ethor V. Milhon, who, by
the exercise of keen business ability and honest dealings, has built up
a trade in a small town which is little short of marvelous. There are
some men who are naturally gifted with the business instinct and
this fortunate characteristic is the secret of the success of Mr.
Milhon. Starting with a very small store, he has gradually worked up to
a position where he has a business which is out of all proportion to
the size of the town where he is located. In addition to his business
interests, he has not failed to take a prominent part in the body
politic, and every worthy enterprise which is for the good of the
public has found in him a sympathetic and ready helper. His life has
squared with right ideals, and for this reason he is highly esteemed by
a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
The postmaster, merchant
and banker
of Hazelwood was born in Liberty township, near Hazelwood, Hendricks
county, Indiana, on November 26, 1870, the son of George W. and Susan
Catherine (Richardson) Milhon, who were among the most highly esteemed
residents of this township. George W. Milhon was born January 3, 1843,
in Belmont county, Ohio, the son of George and Mary Ann (Hatbringer)
Milhon. George Milhon, Sr., was a native of Virginia, and was born near
Winchester, in that state, October 16, 1812. His wife was born in the
same state August 12. 1812, and after their marriage George Milhon and
wife left Virginia and settled in Belmont county, Ohio, where they
farmed for several years and then came to Indiana, settling in
Nashville, Brown county. In 1860 they came to Hendricks county and
settled in Liberty township. Here George Milhon, Sr., followed farming,
but after two years returned to Nashville in Brown county, this state,
where his death occurred December 30, 1879. while his wife died on the
first day of the year 1880. He and his wife were
loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and they reared a family of
eleven children: Sarah Elizabeth, deceased ; Mrs. Rebecca Jane Doan;
John Henry, deceased; Mrs. Rachel Anna Marshall; George W., the father
of the subject of this review; Martha Ann, deceased; Norris; Jane;
James; Mrs. Mary Catherine Purcell and Mrs. Luanda Davis. George W.
Milhon was married January 20, 1870, to Susan Catherine Richardson,
daughter of William B. and Mary E. (Hurd) Richardson. William
Richardson was a native of North Carolina and came to Hendricks
county, Indiana, with his parents, Daniel and Dorcas Richardson, in the
early history of the county. The Richardson's entered one hundred and
sixty acres of government land in the county and on this farm William
Richardson grew^ to manhood. He was born December 9, 1831, and died in
November, 1881, in this county. His wife was born near Frankfort,
Kentucky, October 30, 1831, and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. William
B. Richardson were married November 24, 1850, and to their union
were born seven children: Mrs. Milhon; Mrs. Martha Jane Oliphant; Mrs.
Elizabeth D. Barnes; Joshua Newton; William Alfred, deceased; Mrs. Mary
Elizabeth Hiatt, deceased, and Mrs, Emma Burzite. Mrs. Richardson has
twenty-nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs.
George William Milhon are the parents of seven children, five living
and two deceased; Ethor V., whose history is here presented; Mrs.
Effie May Cooper, deceased; Everett Newton; Mrs. Mary E. Stout; Maude
A., deceased; Mrs. Hattie B. Patterson and James W. Everett Newton
Milhon married Hattie Wrightman and lives in Mooresville, Indiana,
where he is chief engineer and superintendent of the telephone company
of that place, and has two children, Irvin and Roy; Mary E. Milhon
married Calvin Stout, of Hazelwood, a farmer and the president of the
Hazelwood Bank, and has one child, Lenore; Hattie D. Milhon
married Mark Patterson, a farmer living east of Hazelwood, and
they have two sons, Ralph and Maurice; James W. Milhon married Maude
Johnson and they live on a farm of this township, and have one child,
Sylvan J.
George William Milhon
enlisted in
June. 1862, in Company H, Fifty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, for the three-months service in the Union army in Kentucky
and served four months before he was discharged. He then returned
to Hendricks county and has lived the life of a farmer since. He is the
owner of a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres, most of which
lies in Hendricks county. He and his wife are zealous members of the
Regular Baptist church of Center Valley, and have rendered generous
assistance to the church in every way. Mr. Milhon came to this county
without a cent and has achieved success solely through his own determination and square business
dealings. He has bought and sold much stock and has shipped hundreds of
car loads from this county. He is a man well liked by every one and is
still in good health and enjoying life.
Ethor V. Milhon spent his
boyhood
days on the home farm and received a practical education in the schools
of Liberty township. After finishing the common school course he
graduated from a business college at Indianapolis, and the business
education which he there received has been of incalculable benefit to
him in his later career. Early in his life he started in the grocery
business at Hazelwood with a small stock of about three hundred dollars
worth of goods and went into debt for this. His store was only a small
box of a place, but by hard work and square dealings he has met with
wonderful success. He gradually built up his store, increased his
stock, secured better buildings and, later on, took in C. E. Shields as
a partner. The firm of Milhon & Shields continued for about
four years and then Mr. Milhon bought out his partner's interest and
continued to conduct the business alone. In 1898 Mr. Milhon erected a
modern two-story brick building, one hundred by thirty feet in size,
and moved his stock of goods into this. The second floor is used by the
Improved Order of Red Men.
In addition to his
mercantile
interests, Mr. Milhon is interested in the banking business in
Hazelwood. He was elected cashier of the Hazelwood Bank in 1905, an
institution which had been organized previous to that year under the
name of the E. Milhon Bank. It had been organized in 1898 by Mr. Milhon
and continued as a private bank until 1905, when it was reorganized as
the Farmers Bank of Hazelwood. The new bank occupies part of the new
building which was erected by Mr. Milhon and has commodious quarters
where it transacts a rapidly-increasing business. In addition to his
mercantile and financial interests, Mr. Milhon has also been the
postmaster of Hazel-wood for the past twenty years and still occupies
that responsible position. Mr. Milhon enjoys an immense trade from
Hazelwood and the surrounding community. The farmers from as far as ten
miles come to Hazelwood to do their trading. He is a clever advertiser
and appreciates the value of scientific advertising. In fact, such is
the excellence of his work along this line that he has received
numerous comments from dry goods magazines throughout the country on
the excellence of his advertising.
Mr. Milhon was married
July 4, 1893,
to Ida Hazlewood, daughter of Benjamin P. and Eunice A. (Thomas)
Hazlewood, and to this marriage there have been born two children,
Sylvan, who died in infancy, and Emery J. Fraternally, Mr. Milhon is a
member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Monrovia, Indiana, the Knights of
Pythias at Mooresville, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Monrovia and the Improved Order of Red Men at Hazel wood. Mrs. Milhon
is a loyal and faithful member of the Missionary Baptist church, and
also belongs to Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of
Pocahontas. Their son Emery is affiliated with the Red Men.
Politically, Mr. Milhon has always espoused the cause of the Democratic
party, but the business cares which have demanded all of his attention
have prevented him from taking any active part in politics. Enough has
been said of the life history of Mr. Milhon to show that he has been a.
man of keen business judgment, combined with that tact and personality
which render him a successful man of the world. Nevertheless, in spite
of the fact that he has been busy with his many interests, he has not
neglected to take an active part in the life of the community about
him, but has contributed his share to all worthy enterprises in his
locality. He has been in the milling business for the past twenty years
at Hazlewood, his trade extending twenty miles out.
William
H. Stevenson
It is both
pleasant and
profitable to
study the life record of such a worthy gentleman as he whose name forms
the caption of this review, for in it we find evidence of traits of
character that can not help making for success in the life of one who
directs his efforts, as Mr. Stevenson has done, along proper paths with
persistency and untiring zeal, toward worthy ends. Having had as his
close companion through life, upright principles, these worthy traits
of character have resulted, as we shall see, in blessing to
himself, his family and those with whom he has come into contact.
William H. Stevenson, the
son of
Morgan and Rhoda E. (West) Stevenson, was born February 2, 1862, in
Marion township, about four miles west of Danville. Morgan Stevenson
was a native of Kentucky and came with his parents, Payton and Sarah
Stevenson, to this county when a small boy. He became a farmer and
continued to follow that occupation until his death, February 14, 1888.
His wife died October 24, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Stevenson were the
parents of ten children: Mrs. Sarah E. Thompson; Harriet, deceased;
Mrs. Lottie Tinder; Evaline, deceased; William H., whose biography
is herein delineated; Mary Etta, deceased; Flora (Mrs. Hiram Gooch) is
deceased; Edgar, Isaac and Charles.
After receiving a good
common school
education, William H. Stevenson remained on the home farm until his
marriage and for the first eight years after his marriage he lived on a
rented farm. He was thrifty and, with the assistance of his wife, was
able to lay aside some money each year. In 1895 they purchased
sixty-seven acres from the old Stevenson homestead, but four years
later sold this and bought the one hundred and fifty-four acres in
Union township, three miles south of Lizton, where they now live. While
following general farming he has always raised some stock each year and
from the sale of this he has added not a little to his annual income.
He has improved his farm in many ways, until it now presents a very
attractive appearance.
Mr. Stevenson was married
December
11, 1887, to Mary C. Flynn, the daughter of John D. and Virginia W.
(Harris) Flynn. John D. Flynn was a native of this county, his father
having come to this county from Kentucky. He died January 24, 1888. His
wife also was a native of this state, and died April 12, 1899. Mr. and
Mrs. Flynn were the parents of four children: James, deceased; Mary C,
the wife of Mr. Stevenson; Nicodemus, deceased, and Mrs. Virginia Ann
Christey. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have one son living, Ray. He married
Beulah Harbison, and has one son, Loyd.
Mr. Stevenson has been a
life-long
Democrat and, while he is interested in the local candidates of his
party, he has never taken an active interest in the general
campaigns of his party. He and the members of his family are adherents
of the Missionary Baptist church and contribute generously of
their means to its support. Mr. Stevenson is a very pleasant man to
meet and he is in every sense of the word one of the sterling
representatives of the twentieth-century man of affairs of
Hendricks county.
Harry
E. Sanders
It is always
pleasant and
profitable
to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life,
whose career has been such as to commend him to the honor and
respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the record of the
well-known agriculturist whose name appears at the head of this brief
review, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be
difficult to find within the limits of Hendricks county, where he has
long maintained his home and where he has labored not only for his own
individual interests and that of his immediate family, but also
for the improvement and
welfare of the entire
community, whose interests he has ever had at heart.
Harry E. Sanders, the son
of Henry
and Julia A. (Gossett) Sanders, was born in Plainfield, Indiana,
October 10, 1870. His father was a native of Fayette county, Ohio, his
birth occurring there in July, 1826, while his mother was born in North
Carolina in January, 1828. Henry Sanders came to Indiana in 1836 with
his parents, settling in Washington township, this county, and here
Henry Sanders was reared, grew to manhood .and, in October, 1847,
was married to Julia A. Gossett, and to this union were born seven
children: Alva W., of Galveston, Texas, who is connected with the
shipping industry of that city; Mrs. Mary A. Zeller, who was born in
1850, was twice married, both of her husbands being now deceased, and
she has three children living; Mrs. Emma E. McGrew, whose husband is
deceased, has one child and is a resident of Indianapolis; Albert P.,
deceased, and who was married to Emma Inskip, had one child; William
E., of Chicago, who is a real estate dealer, married Ida Coffee; Dr.
Frank E., who is a practicing physician of Culver, Indiana, is married
and has one son. Henry Sanders died in 1896, and was survived by his
widow several years, her death occurring in 1905.
Harry E. Sanders, whose
history is
here briefly reviewed, was reared on the farm in Washington township,
and attended the public school of his home neighborhood, receiving a
good, practical education, and early in life decided that he wanted to
follow the agricultural profession, and with this end in view applied
himself to the acquisition of all the information which would assist
him in making a success of this calling.
Mr. Sanders was married
October 17,
1905, to Emma L. Saunders, whose father was a merchant of Zanesville,
Ohio. Mrs. Sanders is a woman of refinement and culture and adds grace
and charm to their elegant home. Mr. Sanders has, in addition to his
regular farming duties, taken an active interest in civic affairs and
as a member of the county board of commissioners has been one of
the prominent factors in the building of the new
two-hundred-and-seventy-five-thousand-dollar court house at Danville.
This building embodies all of the latest and most modern ideas in court
house architecture, and when completed will be one of the finest
of its kind in Indiana. He has also been on the advisory board of his
township, and in both capacities he has shown a capability and
adaptability for public work which renders him an efficient servant of
his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Sanders is now in the
prime of
life and usefulness and has many years of active service before him and
the work which he has done in the past speaks well for the future. His
native ability, business success, high character and sterling integrity
have won for him the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
Wilson
D. Barnes
It is with
pleasure the
biographer
presents the following sketch, that of a plain honest man of affairs,
who by correct methods and a strict regard for the interests of his
patrons has made his influence felt in Hazelwood and won for himself
distinctive prestige in the business circles of that community. Of
sterling German ancestry, Mr. Barnes is a man whose integrity and
strength of character commands the respect of his contemporaries and
who leaves the impress of his individuality upon the community honored
by his residence.
Wilson D. Barnes was born
in 1852
near Stilesville, Hendricks county, Indiana, the son of Stephen A.
Barnes and Lydia Ann Long, his wife. Stephen A. was born in
Pennsylvania in 1805, a son of William Barnes, who with his wife
emigrated to America about the year 1800. He located in Pennsylvania
and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring while,
his son Stephen A. was still a youth. Later on, Stephen A. Barnes and
his mother came westward into Indiana and located in Miami county. They
remained there a short time, when both came into Hendricks county,
where he secured a tract of government land about one mile south of
Stilesville and there he lived the balance of his life, farming the
tract of land he had secured in a wild state, but which he had with
much labor converted into a well-cultivated farm. In the early days he
was a bricklayer and helped build the first brick flues which were
erected in the then growing town of Indianapolis. The first
chimneys had been simply primitive affairs of mud and sticks. Lydia Ann
(Long) Barnes, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born
in Ohio probably about 1810 and came to Indiana with her parents while
she was still a girl, the family locating near Stilesville. Her death
occurred when the subject of this sketch was but seven years old, in
August, 1859. Stephen A., the subject's father, lived for many years
thereafter, his death occurring August 27, 1883.
After the death of his first wife, Stephen A. Barnes married the
second time, his bride being Mary Ann Davis, whose death occurred
several years after he passed away.
Wilson D. Barnes grew up
on the
homestead near Stilesville. and remained with his father until
eighteen years old, when for a few years he worked out as a farm hand.
On January in, 1877, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth D.
Richardson, who was born near Hazelwood, this county, a daughter of
William B. and Mary (Hurd) Richardson, the former of whom was a native
of North Carolina and a son of Daniel and Dorcas Hurd. When William B.
was a young man, he came to Indiana with his parents. They made the
long journey in a wagon, William B. walking about half the
distance. They settled near Hazelwood at an early date. Mary Hurd,
mother of Mrs. Barnes, was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Joshua Hurd,
who came to Indiana, settling in Montgomery county, when she was but a
small child. William B. Richardson and wife passed the remainder of
their lives on the farm near Hazelwood. where he carried on general
farming and in addition did considerable trading and selling of live
stock. He was one of the influential men of the community and a good
citizen in every respect, having served three years in the Union cause
during the dark days of the sixties. He was a man highly esteemed and
respected and because of the unbounded confidence which friends and
neighbors reposed in him, he was often appointed guardian for
minors and acted as administrator in settling up the business of many
an estate.
For two years after his
marriage,
subject carried on farming near Hazelwood, and then, in the spring of
1880, he engaged in the mercantile business at Hazelwood. In this
business he continued for about ten years, when he disposed of his
interest and purchased a farm south of Hazelwood. This farm contains
seventy-five acres, which he still owns. After about nine years spent
on the farm, he again engaged in business in Hazelwood and since that
time, with the exception of two years, he has been so engaged.
To Mr. and Mrs. Barnes
have been born
five children, two of whom have passed away. These are Arthur D., who
died when about twenty months old, and Lillie D.. who lived to be
eighteen years old, her death occurring in 1904. Those living are
Minnie, who is the wife of R. D. Stone, the proprietor of the telephone
system at Clayton. Myrtle E. remains at home and Conrad W., who was
born in 1887, married Emma Turner, of Indianapolis, and is in
partnership with his father in the store at Hazelwood. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Barnes are members of the Missionary Baptist church, being devoted
and consistent members of the same.
For most of
the last twenty years Mr. Barnes
has served the society as church
treasurer. The success attained by Mr. Barnes in his business affairs
has been greatly owing to his steady persistence, stern integrity and
excellent judgment, qualities which have also won for him the
confidence and esteem of the public to a marked degree. Personally., he
is a man of quiet and unassuming disposition though genial and friendly
in his relations with others, and he has for many years enjoyed a wide
acquaintance and large prestige throughout Hendricks county.
Charles E. Shields
Hendricks
county,
Indiana, is
known
as one of the best counties of the state and, as the reputation of a
locality is but a reflection of the quality of its citizenship, it
goes without saying that this county numbers among its citizens many
men who in one way or another have given of their time or ability to
further such enterprises as make for the advancement of any
community in its moral, educational or material life. Such a
citizen is Charles E. Shields, who by reason of unusual ability and
enterprise has taken his place among the foremost citizens of the
county, and while primarily considering the interests of himself
and those dearest to him, has at the same time accomplished much for
the public good.
Charles E. Shields,
present trustee
of Liberty township, Hendricks county, was born on July 28, 1872, near
Lake Valley, Morgan county, this state, the son of David and Frances
(Pruitt) Shields, both of whom also were born in the same county. David
shields was a son of David Shields, Sr., who was born and raised in
North Carolina, coming to "this state some time after his marriage,
bringing with them two or three children. They accomplished the journey
from their native state in the early days, coming overland in a wagon,
passing through the state of Kentucky. They located in Morgan county,
where they passed the remainder of their lives on the farm which they
had secured.
David Shields, Jr., grew
up in Morgan
county, receiving what education the early schools of the day
afforded and employing his time in agricultural labors. He was a
veteran of the Civil War and died in 1881, when the subject of this
sketch was but nine years old, his wife having died three years
previous. After the death of his father, the subject was taken into the
home of his uncle, Harrison Shields, near Eminence, Morgan county, and
there remained until he was fifteen years of age. At that
time he came to friends in
Liberty township, this
county, and attended Central Normal College at Danville, while also
engaged in farm work. However, this was not the chosen vocation of his
life, and about 1898 he formed a partnership with E. V. Milhon and
together they engaged in the mercantile business at Hazlewood,
which partnership remained in force about three and one-half years.
Prior to the dissolution of that partnership, these two gentlemen
had organized and constructed what is known as the Hazelwood Telephone
System, and in 1902 Mr. Shields disposed of his interest in the
mercantile business to Mr. Milhon and purchased Mr. Million's interest
in the telephone company. Also, in connection with their mercantile
business, the two partners had operated a private bank, and at their
dissolution Mr. Shields' interests in this went to Mr. Milhon, the
subject desiring to devote his entire time to the operation of the
telephone business. This business he retained until January 1, 1912, by
which time it had assumed considerable proportions and had proven of
untold value to the community.
Mr. Shields has always
been a strong
adherent of the Republican party and always took an active interest in
local affairs pertaining to same. In 1908 he was elected township
trustee and by reason of the legislative change made in the length of
term of office of township trustees, he holds his seat until January 1,
1915. Mr. Shields' fraternal affiliations are with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of
Red Men, and in the workings of these orders he takes a
commendable interest.
On July 9, 1899, Mr.
Shields was
united in marriage with Sylvia Burch, who was born near Bloomington,
Monroe county, this state, a daughter of William H. and Susie (Sparks)
Burch, both of whom were born and reared in the same county and were
throughout their lives very active in promoting the interests of
the Baptist church. Mr. Burch's vocation was that of farming, as was
also that of his father, Charles Burch, who with his wife, Jane, came
from their native state of North Carolina and settled in Monroe
county in the early thirties and there he passed the remainder of his
life, his death occurring December 23, 1905. His widow still resides in
Bloomington, at an advanced age. Susie Sparks Burch, mother of Mrs.
Shields, was a daughter of William and Nancy Sparks, who also came from
North Carolina, making the long journey overland in a wagon. They
arrived in Monroe county about 1835, where they spent their
remaining days. Mrs. Shields received her elementary education in the
district schools of Monroe county, later attending high school in
Bloomington and the Central
Normal College at Danville, from
which latter institution she obtained her certificate qualifying her to
teach school and for six years she followed this profession, teaching
four years in Monroe county and two in Hendricks county. To Mr. and
Mrs. Shields have been born three children, the eldest being Joy June,
who was born in June, 1900, and died in December, 1906. The two
remaining are Myrth and Jewel.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Shields
are active
members of the Church of Christ and have been largely instrumental in
bringing about the excellent conditions existing in the local body
at Hazelwood. Mr. Shields and two other members purchased and donated
the site for the new church building, which was completed and dedicated
to its high calling on October 30, 1910. The church society was
organized in March, 1909, and since the time of its organization
Mr. Shields has served as trustee and elder, being active in
bringing about the speedy erection of the church edifice, which is
a handsome structure, costing between nine and ten thousand dollars.
Prior to the completion of this structure, the society held its
meetings in Red Men's hall. Mrs. Shields is not behind her husband in
good works, for since the organization of the Ladies' Aid Society,
in connection with the church, she has been very active in the work
falling within its scope, and was the first president of the local
organization, which has the reputation of being one of the most
proficient and finely organized societies in the state. She is deeply
interested in the National Mother Congress. Mr. and Mrs. Shields are
among the very best people of the community, both being full of
interest in the lives of others and sincerely desirous of
accomplishing all the good possible for their community. In view of Mr.
Shields' public activities, it is especially fitting that a
biographical sketch of his career be incorporated in a work of the
scope intended in the present volume.
Francis M. Harrison
It was once
remarked by a
celebrated
moralist and biographer that "there has scarcely passed a life of which
a judicious and faithful narrative would not have been useful"
Believing in the truth of this opinion, expressed by one of the
greatest and best of men, the writer of this review takes pleasure in
presenting a few facts in the career of a gentleman who, by industry,
perseverance, temperance and integrity, has worked himself from an
humble station to a successful
place in life and won
an honorable position among the well known and highly esteemed men of
the locality in which he resides.
Francis Marion Harrison,
the son of
Benjamin and Rachael (Hendricks) Harrison, was born in Eel River
township, Hendricks county, March n, 1873. Benjamin Harrison was a
native of Boone county and reared to manhood and married in that
county. His father was a cooper at Lafayette and followed that trade
until his death. Benjamin Harrison came to Hendricks county about 1870
and operated a saw-mill northeast of North Salem for a number of years.
He sold his mill and then ran one in Boone county for a number of
years. He then returned to Hendricks county, Union township, and
operated a saw-mill at Montclair until his death at that place in
1881. The wife of Benjamin Harrison was also a native of Boone county
and is still living at Brownsburg. After the death of her husband in
1881, she married Joshua Tharp, a farmer and banker at Brownsburg.
Benjamin Harrison and wife were the parents of eight children: George,
deceased; Frank, deceased; John, deceased; Ora; William; Oliver,
deceased; Francis Marion and Edgar.
Francis M. Harrison was
reared to
manhood in Hendricks county and has lived north of Danville since he
was fifteen years of age. He began operating his present farm in
1910, having formerly operated a farm of eighty-three acres in Marion
township for ten years. He sold his Marion township farm and bought his
present farm of ninety acres in Center township. He carries on general
farming and also raises considerable live stock for the market. He is a
man with excellent ideas concerning agriculture and takes an interest
in farming institutes and all other organizations that are of benefit
to the farmer.
Mr. Harrison was married
in August,
1895, t0 Hattie May Thomas, the daughter of Lewis and Louisa (Talbott)
Thomas. Lewis Thomas was a native of Fayette county, Indiana, and came
with his parents to this county when he was ten years of age. His
father, Erasmus Thomas, was born in Fayette county November 13, 1821,
and moved to Hendricks county in 1864. Erasmus Thomas was the first
auditor of Tipton county, Indiana, and helped to lay out the present
town of Tipton. He held the office of auditor for one year, then
refused to hold it any longer because of the meager salary which was
attached to the office. He never held any offices in Hendricks county,
but farmed and served as a regular Baptist preacher for over forty
years, preaching in the Danville church for a long time. He died in
1897 on the homestead farm. His son, Lewis, the father of Mrs.
Harrison, was reared to manhood in this county and qualified for the
Regular Baptist ministry.
He is still active as a
Baptist minister
at Ashley, Ohio, where he has been for the past thirty years. Mrs:
Lewis Thomas is a native of Center township, this county, and died
February 7, 1877, on the old homestead farm, four and one-half miles
north of Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are the parents of four
children, all of whom are still under the parental roof, Benjamin,
Mildred, Aria and Mary.
Mr. Harrison is a member
of the
Republican party, but has never taken any further part in politics than
to cast his vote for his candidate at the regular election. However, he
takes a deep interest in the main questions of the day and keeps
himself well informed as to the progress of events of the nation by
reading the newspapers and magazines. He is a member of the Knights of
Pythias at Danville. He and his wife are faithful members of the
Regular Baptist church. Mr. Harrison is a man who has always been
interested in the various public-spirited enterprises of his community
and only lends his assistance to such as he deemed worthy. He is
congenial by nature and has a personality which attracts friends, whom
he easily retains because of his fine qualities of character.
William
W. Quinn
William W.
Quinn,
of
Cartersburg,
Hendricks county, now living in comfortable retirement after many years
of unceasing activity in connection with agricultural pursuits, is
one of the best known citizens of the county. His well directed efforts
in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his
business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him
prosperity and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by any
man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the
perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any disaster or
discouragement that may arise. In all the relations of life Mr.
Quinn has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he
has been brought into contact and a biographical history of this
locality would not be complete without a record of his career.
William W. Quinn was born
on April 1,
1837, in Union county, Indiana, the son of John and Sarah (Bright)
Quinn, both of whom were born and reared in Fleming county, Kentucky.
They were married there prior to coming to this state about 1820. They
located in Union county immediately upon coming to Indiana, and there
passed the remainder of their lives. John Quinn was a
life-long farmer and when he first took up his residence in Union county it was then
not much more than a wilderness. One man filled all the county offices.
John Quinn's death occurred when the subject of this sketch was a lad
of but fourteen years. He left a family of thirteen children, the
youngest being the subject, who is now the only surviving member of the
family.
The subject passed his
boyhood on the
home farm in Union county, obtaining such education as the early
subscription schools of the time afforded and receiving early
instruction in the secrets of successful farming from his father, who
was quite skilled in his chosen vocation. Mr. Quinn has been twice
married. On March 8, 1877, Mr. Quinn for the second time stood before
the alter of Hymen, his bride being Nancy L. Clevenger, of Wayne
county, this state, a daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Sparh)
Clevenger, the former a well-known farmer of Abbington township,
Wayne county, where he resided for many years. Immediately after
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Quinn established their home in Jackson
township, Decatur county, this state, where he engaged in farming for
ten years. Then in 1887 they came to this county, arriving at
Cartersburg on March 3d of that year. In this county Mr. Quinn
purchased a fine farm of two hundred and sixteen acres a short distance
northwest of Cartersburg and there he resided until March 12, 1902,
when he moved into Cartersburg, and on December 2, 1902, he moved into
his present home, which he had erected. Mr. Quinn also owns two hundred
and ten acres of farm lands in Marion county, this state; in all, his
holdings now amount to considerably over four hundred acres. In
addition to general farming, Mr. Quinn pays particular attention to the
raising and selling of live stock, and in this branch of his business
especially he has made an unqualified success. All this has been
brought about through his untiring energy and ambition, coupled with
unusual executive ability and the fact that he has ever sought to keep
abreast of the times in his chosen work.
To Mr. and Mrs. Quinn was
born one
son, Harlan Everett, who first saw the light of day on September 29,
1888.. He married Maude Holderman and is the father of two sons,
William Lee and James Harry. Everett now has charge of affairs on the
farm which the subject left upon taking up his residence in Cartersburg.
Mr. Quinn's fraternal
affiliation is
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of the local
lodge at Danville. Politically, he is independent. Mrs. Quinn is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Quinn is a man of
positive temperament, strong in his convictions, and when once having thought out. a
course of action, he is determined in its execution. With these
stronger characteristics, he is genial and friendly and is highly
esteemed by friends and neighbors who know him for his sterling worth
and unvarying uprightness of character.
Albert Johnson
Hendricks
county,
Indiana,
enjoys an
enviable reputation because of the high order of her citizenship and
none of her citizens occupy a more favorable position in the estimation
of his fellows than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of
this sketch. The son of an unusually strong and progressive man, to
whom the early development of this county is highly indebted, Albert
Johnson is himself numbered among the leading citizens of his native
county. . His continued residence here has but strengthened his
hold on the hearts of the people with whom he has been associated and
no one today enjoys a larger circle of friends and acquaintances, who
esteem him because of his sterling qualities of character and his
business ability. He is, therefore, eminently entitled to
representation in a work of this character.
Albert Johnson was born
on September
19, 1843, about one and one-half miles northwest of Bridgeport and near
the eastern line of Hendricks county, being the son of Jeremiah and
Susanna (Johnson) Johnson. Jeremiah Johnson was a son of Aholiab
and Hannah Johnson, and was born at Killingly, Windham county,
Connecticut, on August 23, 1792, and when three or four years old
removed with his parents to Stafford, in Tolland county, Connecticut.
With the exception of about three years passed at the home of his
mother's father, Jeremiah Bacon, at Middletown, Connecticut, he
continued to live with his father and work at farming and getting such
education as the opportunities of that day afforded him. He taught
several schools in the winter time before he was twenty-one years of
age. In 1813, during the war with Great Britain, he served as a
volunteer in the state militia of Connecticut for about seventy
days, being placed on duty to guard the fort Mt New London and
vicinity, for which service he, long afterwards, obtained a bounty of
land from the government. After the close of his military service, he
went as far south as Washington, D. C, seeking his fortune, and for a
short time was employed in the reconstruction of the capitol building,
it having been burned by the British.
However, he soon tired of this
class of labor and,
believing there was in store for him an easier way of gaining a
livelihood, he journeyed to Baltimore, where he shipped on a private
armed sloop bound for a cruise. He took an immediate dislike to that
sort of life and was discharged at one of the West Indian islands
called Virgin Gorda, from whence he returned to his father's home in
Stafford. There for one term he taught the district school,
numbering not less than one hundred pupils, and early in the spring of
1815 he started with a small trunk, containing a few articles of
wearing apparel and about fifty dollars in money, leaving the balance
of his savings placed on interest. He was bound for the great new West
and traveled by stage to Philadelphia. There he placed his trunk on
one of the large wagons constantly passing between Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh and betook himself on foot to the latter place. There he
fell in company with another Eastern man of like ambition as himself,
and the two constructed a flat boat which they loaded with coal and
floated down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, where boat and cargo were
both sold for whatever they would bring. From Cincinnati he soon went
to a German village about twenty miles northwest of that city and there
he was soon engaged in teaching the Germans the English language and
such other rudiments of education as circumstances permitted. There he
continued until such time as the authorities of the new state of
Indiana fixed the place for the site of the new state capitol, the
present Indianapolis. He soon learned of the fact and, seeing for
himself an opportunity in connection with that circumstance, he hired a
couple of men, each having a four-horse team, and loaded them with
provisions and such other articles as were necessary in a new
settlement. Leaving his German friends, he started through the then
unbroken forest for the future city, fording streams and cutting the
way through the woods, guided only by a small compass. After much time
and endeavor and enduring many hardships, he at length reached the
place of his destination. Here he detained the two teamsters until
they, together with such assistance as those already there could
afford, had built for him a log cabin, being the third house in the new
capitol of Indiana. His first dining table was the head of a flour
barrel, his first plate a clean maple chip and his first bedstead was
framed into the corner of his cabin. He at once opened .up and began
disposing of his stock of provisions, powder, lead, etc., and
became one of the earliest promoters of the place. When the first brick
court house was built (which was also used as a state house for several
years) he took the contract for the brick work and, in company with
John Johnson (one of whose daughters afterward became his wife), made the brick and completed the
contract to the satisfaction of the authorities. At that time
money was a very scarce article and the state obligations with
which he was paid for his work were heavily discounted and had it not
been for the money which was due him in Cincinnati, which was collected
by friends and sent him as fast as possible, he would probably have
become bankrupt. However, he remained in the growing village of
Indianapolis for a number of years, doing all within his power to
foster its dignity and growth. He was generally reasonably
successful in business, though sometimes he suffered heavy losses, as
once when bringing a boat load of salt up the Wabash river, the boat
suddenly sank and boat, cargo and wearing apparel of himself and
associates was lost. They were thankful to escape with their lives and
had to beg and walk their way home, a distance of over one hundred
miles. He invested his savings in land at government prices, which
of course advanced in value as the county became settled. When the
National road was built west from Indianapolis, he laid out the village
of Bridgeport on land which he owned, and built a hotel, steam mill and
a store. When the plank road was built he took an active interest in it
and gave right of way through all his land. He later gave ground for a
depot at Bridgeport and did much otherwise to encourage the building of
the railroad. He was active and energetic in business and did much to
promote the cause of education and scientific agriculture in the state.
On his own farm he kept abreast of his times and did much to improve
the breed of cattle throughout his community by importing improved
breeds from other states.
Jeremiah Johnson came
from pure
English ancestry and, according to family tradition, some of them left
England and settled in Massachusetts on the restoration of Charles II,
finding it expedient to do this on account of their participation in
the Civil War as soldiers and partisans of Cromwell. Jeremiah Johnson
reared a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. He
survived his wife and both daughters several years and departed
this life at Clayton, this county, on March 20, 1876, having passed a
life of unusual activity and usefulness. His influence over the moral
life alone of this section of the state can not be estimated and his
generous contributions to the material advancement of the
community certainly can be surpassed by none. Such men as he are the
heart and bone and sinew of a new community. When Albert Johnson was a boy he
lived on the home farm and at Bridgeport for a short
time.
About 1850 the family moved about three miles east of Bridgeport, near where
Ben Davis now is, and resided there until 1855 and then moved to
Liberty township, this county, when the immediate subject of this
sketch was about twelve years old. Here he grew to manhood on his
father's farm, attending the early schools of the district and later
attending the academy at Danville in the winter of 1859-1860. He
returned home after one year spent in Danville, in a very poor state of
health and for four years was almost an invalid. In 1876 he left the
farm and removed to Clayton, but continued to operate the farm until in
1880, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Clayton in
partnership with his brother and Edwin Johnson, L. D. Johnson also
being a partner, under the firm name of Johnson Brothers & Company.
In connection with that business, he and his brother did a little
private banking business. In 1886 the brother died, but the mercantile
business was continued under the same name, the banking business,
however, having the name changed from Johnson Brothers to Albert
Johnson & Company, the widow having retained her interest in the
firm and the business being conducted along the lines of a private
bank. In 1896 the mercantile business was disposed of and the banking
business continued as before. In 1905 the banking business was
reorganized under the private banking law, retaining the same firm
name. On January 28, 1907, Lorenzo D. Johnson, former partner with
Johnson Brothers in the mercantile business, became a member of the
banking firm in company with the subject, his daughter and brother's
widow, the bank at that time being capitalized at twenty thousand
dollars. They continued under the old firm name until May 1, 1912, when
they reorganized under the state banking law and converted the
institution into a state bank with a capital stock of twenty-five
thousand dollars, fully paid up, and with a surplus of twelve hundred
and fifty dollars. They were officered as follows: Albert Johnson,
president; J. C. Walker, vice-president, and L. D. Johnson, cashier,
with those three also acting as directors. The present directors are
Eugene Edmundson, Milton A. West, L. D. Johnson and Albert Johnson. Mr.
Walker has recently died.
On October 20, 1867, Mr-
Johnson was
united in marriage with Mary E. Snoddy, daughter of George W. and Nancy
(Fitzgerald) Snoddy, of Morgan county, this state. Mr. Snoddy was a
farmer and stock raiser and was also a minister ordained in the
Christian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born four children.
One daughter, Annie, died when ten years old. Their daughter Gertrude
is the wife of O. W. Greene and lives in Kansas City,
Missouri. She is the mother of two children, Marian
and Emily. Emma C. is the
wife of B.
M. Davis and resides at Oxford, Ohio, Mr. Davis being a professor in
Miami University. Arthur A. is a civil engineer located in
Indianapolis. His wife was May Brayton, daughter of Dr. A. W.
Brayton, of Indianapolis.
In 1890 Mr. Johnson moved
to
Indianapolis, taking up his residence in Irvington, so as to be near
Butler College, where he wished to educate his children. He, however,
retains his interests in Clayton and considers this his permanent home.
Mr. Johnson is a man of sound and practical intelligence, keenly alert
to everything relating to his interests, and, in fact, with all that
concerns the advancement and prosperity of his community. Because
of his splendid personal characteristics and his genuine worth, he
enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him and he has an
unusually wide and varied acquaintance.
Lorenzo D. Johnson
In past ages the
history of a
country
was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquests.
Today history is largely a record of commercial activity, and those who
are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become
leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind
over matter, and the victor is he who can most successfully establish,
control and operate business interests. Mr. Johnson is
unquestionably one of the strongest and most influential of the men
whose lives have been an essential part of the history of Hendricks
county. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius
for devising and executing the right thing in the right place and time
are the chief characteristics of the man. These, combined with
everyday common sense and guided by strong will power, are concomitants
which will insure success in any undertaking.
Lorenzo D. Johnson,
cashier of the
State Bank of Clayton, is a Hoosier by birth, having first seen the
light of day in Morgan county on May 14, 1851, the son of Hezekiah K.
and Eliza (Greene) Johnson. Hezekiah K. Johnson was born in North
Carolina in 1809 and married Miss Greene there before he came to
Indiana, where they located in Morgan county. In 1865 he removed to
Clayton and at that time he gave up the vocation of farming, which
he had followed all his life, and engaged in the general
merchandise business. He opened up his business in
1868 on the spot where the
traction station now stands. He
continued in this business until his death, in 1870. His widow followed
him into the great beyond one year later. In addition to his business
as an agriculturist and merchant, he was also a minister of the Gospel
and an earnest and sincere man in all the relations of life.
Lorenzo D. Johnson
received a good
schooling in his youth and after completing his studies he went into
his father's store and at the time of his father's death took charge of
it and operated it until 1873. At that time he disposed of it to
Howland & Spotts, of Danville, but continued with them until they
sold it to Mr. Field, of the old publishing firm of Merrill, Field
& Company of Indianapolis. After Mr. Field purchased the store, Mr.
Johnson continued in his employ with full charge of the store and did
not see the new proprietor until six weeks after the purchase was made,
the former owners having simply turned keys, books, etc., over to Mr.
Johnson. After leaving Mr. Field, Mr. Johnson took a position with
Clark & Harris and was with them until 1880, when he became a
partner with Albert and Edwin Johnson in their mercantile business,
under the firm name of Johnson Brothers & Company. He was with them
until 1896, and was then employed in the private bank of Albert Johnson
& Company and in the year 1907 became a partner in that bank with
the position of cashier. In this capacity he continued with the bank
through its reorganization into the State Bank of Clayton in 1912 under
the state banking laws. He was elected cashier of the new organization
and continues in that capacity at the present time.
On June 18, 1873, Mr.
Johnson was
united in marriage with Frances V. Garrison, daughter of John and Sarah
(Nichols) Garrison, the former being the son of Josiah Garrison, an
early settler here who came from New Jersey. John Garrison was engaged
in farming here throughout his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been
born two children, Mary and Dee. Mary is the wife of J. Mark Black, of
Indianapolis. She is the mother of three children, Dorothy, Frances and
Robert L. Their daughter Dee is the wife of Dr. B. R. Quinn, of
Indianapolis. She is the mother of two children, Maxine and
Russell.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are
both members
of the Methodist Episcopal church at Clayton and contribute liberally
of time and means to further the cause of that society. They are
considered among the very best people of the town and in their
comfortable and commodious home there is ever found a cordial welcome
for friend and stranger. Mr. Johnson is a man of quiet manner, unassuming in every
particular and a man who wins and holds a large number of friends
through his innate kindliness and obliging manner. He is a busy man,
but he finds time and opportunity to take in matters pertaining to the
progress and growth of his community and county, keeping abreast of.
the times on all questions of vital interest and being regarded as a
leading citizen in the locality long honored by his residence.
James Thomas Leak
The valuable man
to any
community is
the man who does things; and, with this criterion, it is safe to say
that James T. Leak is one of the most important men in Union
township, this county. He is a splendid example of the progressive,
self-made man who believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at
all. He is a man of discernment and sound judgment,, broad-minded and
at the same time a follower of the principles embodied in the Golden
Rule in all his relations with his fellow men. Daily contact with our
fellow citizens so familiarizes us with their many virtues that we
ordinarily overlook them, and commonly underestimate their possessor.
Nevertheless, though the man may pass away, his deeds of virtue live
on, and will, in time, do him the justice which he failed to receive
during his life time. However, the many good qualities of Mr. Leak are
fully recognized and appreciated by his fellow citizens, who long ago
placed their stamp of approval upon his lite.
James Thomas Leak, a
prosperous
farmer and banker of Lizton, this county, was born February 14, 1857, m
Union township. His parents were George W. and Sarah G. (Leach) Leak.
George W. Leak was born October 17, 1828, in Bracken county, Kentucky,
and came with his parents, William and Eliza (Kitch) Leak, to this
county when he was about eight years of age. William Leak settled in
Union township on a farm adjoining the present town of Lizton and
farmed there until his death, September 11, 1845. George W. Leak grew
to manhood in this county and was first married January 10, 1850, to
Sarah Leach, who died February 30, 1868. To this first marriage were
born six children: Matilda Jane, deceased; Mrs. Lucinda M. Hickman ;
James Thomas, whose career is portrayed in this connection; Elizabeth
Ann, deceased; William E., deceased, and Enos Alonzo. After the death
of his first wife, George W. Leak was married to Ann Burnett and to
this second marriage were born five children: Mary E., deceased;
Mrs. Hattie M. Dowden; Mrs. Georgia Lillian McHenry; Myrtle, deceased,
and Bertha O. James T. Leak received his education in the schools of
Union township and remained at home until his marriage, at the age of
twenty-one, when he went to farming for himself. He devoted his
attention to this vocation until 1902, when he retired from active
farming and moved to Lizton, As an agriculturist he carried on general
farming, raised all the crops common to this locality and gave a
considerable share of his attention to the breeding and raising of live
stock. His farm is well improved, he has a comfortable and attractive
residence, well arranged barns and other features which show him to be
a man of wise discrimination and good judgment. In 1900 Mr. Leak became
interested in banking and when the Citizens Bank at Jamestown was
organized in that year he became a stockholder and director in the same
and has been officially connected with that financial institution,
since its organization. In 1902 he moved to Lizton and became the
cashier of the Lizton Bank upon its organization December 1, 1910, and
is still filling that responsible position to the entire satisfaction
of the board of directors of the bank.
Mr. Leak was married
October 17,
1878, to Susan D. Young, the daughter of Melton and Susan
(Parrish) Young. Melton Young was born in Kentucky, his wife in South
Carolina and they were married in Putnam county, Indiana. Upon their
marriage they moved to Montgomery county, near Ladoga, and later to New
Ross, in the same county. Some years before his death Mr. and Mrs.
Young moved to Lebanon in Boone county, where Mrs. Young died August 9,
1890, and Mr. Young June 20, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Young were the parents
of fifteen children: Mrs. Lucretia Dale, deceased; Thomas F.; Reuben
E., deceased; James D.; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Scott; Mrs. Rachel C.
Bailey; Susan D., the wife of Mr. Leak; John; George; Mrs. Lucinda
Apple, deceased; Ora E.; Mrs. Emma Frame; Mrs. Estella Scott; Mrs. Ella
Myer, and Mrs. Sarah Ann Harrison, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Leak are the
parents of
two children, Sarah Essie, the wife of Ira O. Dale, a farmer of Middle
township in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dale have one daughter, Susan
Fern. The other child of Mr. and Mrs. Leak is Milton Edward, a farmer
in Union township, this county. He married Edna Wright and has two
daughters, Mary Blanche and Susan Helen. Mr. Leak is a charter member
of the Knights of Pythias at Lizton, having had his membership
transferred from the Danville lodge to the lodge at Lizton upon its
organization at the latter place. He has been a life-long
Re¬publican, but has never taken an active interest in politics.
Mr. Leak is a plain-spoken man in his manner and yet with that honesty
of speech and
straightforwardness which
indicates
the man of solid worth; is quick to grasp the situation, alert to carry
it out and persistent in following it to his final conclusion. He is a
man who has won a host of friends because of his clean, open life, and
the interest which he has always taken in all good movements in the
community.
Henry Hunt
The United
States has
drawn its
people from every corner of the globe and, while we have citizens in
Indiana representing scores of different countries, it is nevertheless
true that the bulk of our citizenship are of English descent. We always
refer to England as our mother country, and it is true that she has
furnished the great majority of our citizens of today. The Hunt family
of Hendricks county are fortunate in having traced their family history
through past generations, and in the history of Henry Hunt, who is here
presented, his ancestry can be traced back to the middle of the
eighteenth century directly. To state in biblical fashion, the first
descendant whose history is accurately recorded is Eleazer, whose
son was Asher, whose son was Ithamar, whose son was Henry, whose son
was Olsen. The Hunt family trace their ancestry back to England, where
they were an honorable and distinguished family in the colonial
period. Eleazer Hunt was a farmer of North Carolina in the latter part
of the eighteenth century and died in that state at the age of eighty.
His son Asher was born in Guilford county, that state, and was reared a
Quaker, marrying Jane Hunt, the daughter of Abner and Mary (Starley)
Hunt, who was a very distant relative. Asher Hunt came to Sullivan
county, Indiana, from North Carolina and entered two hundred acres of
land on which he lived for the next sixteen years. He then came to
Hendricks county where he bought a farm in the eastern part of Marion
township, dying there in his eighty-fourth year. He and his wife, as
well as the children, were Quakers.
Asher Hunt was twice
married; his
first wife died and he then married Abigail Foster. He was a man of
unimpeachable character, industrious, honorable and one who was
universally respected by all who knew him. Ithamar Hunt, the son of
Asher, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, March 17, 1822, and came
with his parents to Hendricks county when he was fourteen years of age.
At the age of twenty-five he married Frances J. Bush, the daughter of
John and Elizabeth (Norton) Bush. John Bush was a native of Kentucky,
who came to Hendricks county and was one of
the early pioneers of the
county,
dying at the age of fifty-three. Ithamar Hunt was a farmer all of his
life and at his death, on May 14, 1903, in New Winchester, he had over
six hundred acres of fine farming land in the county. He was a
birthright member of the Friends church for twenty-one years and then
joined the Baptist church. He was a consistent and faithful member and
a liberal contributor, not only to his own church, but to others and to
all benevolent enterprises. He was a good man in every sense of the
word, an honest man with himself and with others. He was a devoted
husband, a loving and kind father, an accommodating and genial
neighbor, a manly and devoted Christian, one without ostentation or
hypocrisy. He was a man of peace, quiet and unobtrusive. He never
swore, never used liquor, was never sued, never paid a cent of
interest, all in all, he was one of nature's noblemen.
Henry Hunt is a worthy
son of a
worthy father. He received his education in the schools of his
neighborhood and remained under the parental roof until he was married
at the age of twenty-five, although he had been farming for himself
since he was twenty-one. After his marriage, he lived for the first
year on the Rockville road and then built his present home in 1878 and
has resided there continuously since that time. He is a farmer
exclusively and no one in the county raises better crops than does he.
He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and, as a
Republican, was elected trustee of Marion township in 1894, rendering
faithful and efficient service to his fellow citizens for nearly
five years in that capacity. His farm of two hundred and sixty acres,
together with his wife's farm of one hundred and sixty, is a fine
example of an up-to-date farm in every respect. He takes a great deal
of pride in keeping everything in good re¬pair and his buildings
are always neat and attractive in appearance. Mr. Hunt was married
April 1, 1877, to Cassandra R. Higgins, the daughter of Michael and
Elizabeth (Plaster) Higgins. She was born in Marion township and has
lived most of her life there, spending four years at Ladoga before her
marriage. They have one son, Olsen, who was born March 6, 1881. He
married Jesse Underwood, the daughter of Obed Underwood, and has one
daughter, Marvel. He lives on a farm in Marion township. Mr. and Mrs.
Hunt are both devout members of the Christian church of New Winchester,
and subscribe liberally to its support. Mr. Hunt is one of the best
known men in his township, a man of excellent character, a good
neighbor and one who has always stood for the best welfare of his
community.
Alexander Ramsey
The importance
that attaches to the
lives, character and work of the early settlers of Hendricks county and
the influence they have exerted upon the cause of humanity and
civilization is one of the most absorbing themes that can possibly
attract the attention of the local chronicler. The late Alexander
Ramsey was a man whose great influence upon the early history of this
county was an important factor in developing the part of the county in
which he settled.
Alexander Ramsey was born
in Clark
county, Kentucky, June 21, 1821, and died in Marion township, Hendricks
county, Indiana, January 21, 1891. He was the son of Andrew and Jennie
(Browning) Ramsey. Fate seems to play an important
part in the lives of some people and in the cause of Alexander Ramsey
it was the cause of his remaining in this county. When a young
man he came to this county to visit his two sisters who were living in
the county and while here he met a pretty little maid by the name of
Martha Jane Flynn. It was a case of love at first sight and
he who came merely to visit remained to marry and settle in this
county. His wife was born October 14, 1838, in Marion
township and on December 18, 1856, they were married, she
being only eighteen years of age at the time of her
marriage. This youthful bride of fifty-eight years ago is
still living and en¬joying good health. She is
the daughter of James and Lucy (Miller) Flynn, her father
being born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1807. He was first
married to Lucy Rigney and, after her death, to Lucy Miller in 1833.
His second wife was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1816, the
daughter of Michael and Mary Miller, who had come from Virginia to
Kentucky. James Flynn lived in Kentucky until 1840 and then came to
Marion township, this county. He and his wife made the
trip overland on horseback, passing through the little village of
Indianapolis and over the swamp which is now occupied by
Danville. He became one of the earliest settlers and
was one of the most prominent farmers of the county, having over five
hundred acres of land at the time of his death, August 11,
1885.
He paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre and the same land today could not be bought for one hundred and
twenty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Flynn was a progressive
farmer and owned the first threshing machine in this section of the
state.
After Mr. Ramsey and his
young bride
were first married they returned to Kentucky, where they lived on
a farm of Mrs. Ramsey's uncle for
two years. They then
returned to
Hendricks county and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty acres near
New Winchester for twenty-seven dollars per acre, and later they
purchased seventy acres more, making a total of two hundred acres which
is still owned by the family. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey reared a family of
six children: Mary Catherine, who married William J. Underwood; Samuel
A., born February 27, 1859, was never married, but has spent
his whole life on the home farm. He and his mother have lived together
on the old homestead since his father's death; John Allen, who lives in
Danville, Indiana; Obie L., who lives at New Winchester, where he
operates a saw-mill and runs a threshing machine in the summer;
Anna May died March 2, 1881, at the age of ten as the result of an
injury she received at school.
Mr. Ramsey was a member
of the
Missionary Baptist church and was a faithful attendant upon all the
services of the church. He was a man who was always very considerate of
the rights of others and absolutely honest and straightforward in all
of his dealings. He was held in high respect and esteem by everyone
with whom he was associated and his life in every particular was above
reproach. He was essentially a man of domestic tastes and lived for
those who were nearest and dearest to him.
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