VERMILLION COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
WILLIAM JEFFERSON
FLORER.
The mission of a great soul in this world is one that is calculated to inspire a multitude of others to better and grander things, and its subsequent influence can not be measured in metes and bounds, for it affects the lives of those with whom it comes in contact, broadening and enriching them for all time to come. Such thoughts are inspired by a contemplation of the eminently worthy career of-William Jefferson Florer, who, although long since a pilgrim to "the sunset land of souls," left such a record behind him as to influence for good the lives of many who remember him, for his efforts proved of the greatest value to his fellow citizens as well as to himself. He so shaped his career along worthy lines and directed them along well defined channels of endeavor as to stamp him as a man of distinct force and individuality, of marked sagacity, of undaunted enterprise, yet a man who was genial, courteous and easily approached; consequently his career was such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world and his activity in industrial, commercial and financial circles forms no unimportant chapter in the history of the state honored by his citizenship.
Mr. Florer was born in Newport, Indiana. February 12, 1834, the scion of a fine old pioneer family, noted for their piety and hospitality, qualities that characterized his entire life. He was reared to manhood in Vermillion county, Indiana, where he attended the graded schools and afterward the seminary at Newport. He made the. best possible use of every opportunity and received a very serviceable education which in later life was greatly augmented by home reading and by contact with the world. It was indeed interesting, in later life, to listen to his quaint and charmingly told reminiscences of the early days, of the vast changes he witnessed and took part in and of the marked difference in the modes and customs of a half century, the most interesting in the history of the state. He remained in Vermillion county until 1861, then moved to Coles county. Illinois, where he lived until the early seventies, successfully continuing his chosen vocation—banking.
Believing that an excellent opportunity existed in Wabasha, Minnesota, to engage in the banking business, he moved to that place and established such an institution, which was so sanely and conservatively managed by him that it was well patronized and won a reputation for being one of the soundest and safest banks in that country, Mr. Florer soon becoming one of the most influential men in financial and other circles of that place, being consulted on matters of financial import by people of all classes and religions.
He remained in Wabasha until the final summons came to close his earthly accounts, on July 21, 1881, the community losing one of its most highly respected and valued citizens.
Mr. Florer was married at Newport, Indiana, on July 19, 1857, to Mary Ann Louise Washburn, daughter of James Elliott and Mary Ann (Cain) Washburn, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively, each representatives of sterling New England families. Mrs. Florer was educated in the Vermillion County Seminary and developed into a woman of rare charm of character and a fit companion for her worthy husband, with whom she sympathized and encouraged in his undertakings. She moved to Green- castle, Indiana, soon after his death in order to get the benefit of the schools for her children, and she has resided here continuously since 1882. She has long been a favorite with a host of warm personal friends here who delight in the genial sunshine of her declining years which are replete with good and permeated by a wholesome atmosphere.
To Mr. and Mrs. William J. Florer four children were born, named as follows: Clara Collett married Dr. Frank H. Lammers, late a well known physician of Greencastle, now deceased. Mrs. Lammers still making her home here, a full sketch of the Doctor appearing on another page of this work. Dana Washburn is deceased. Warren Washburn, A. B., graduated from DePauw University in 1890, receiving the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy: he then became assistant professor of German in the University of Michigan. Of him, "Who's Who in America" has the following sketch: "Member of Modern Languages Association of America; Das Konigliche Deutsche Seminar, Leipzig University; Der Acadamie Neuphil Verein of Germany; Delta Tan Delta; Sons of American Revolution; Free and Accepted Masons; contributor to 'Poet Lore' and educational magazines; author of various text books and studies in German literature." Laura Lelia, a teacher in the Greencastle public schools, graduated from DePauw University in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Mr. Florer was a Methodist and a liberal supporter of the church, and Mrs. Florer has also been a faithful member of this denomination since her youth. Mr. Florer was a Republican in politics, and fraternally he was a Mason, having attained the Royal Arch degree. He was a truly good and useful man. successful, and worthy of the high esteem in which he was universally held. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. John W. Ray and he was laid to rest in beautiful Riverview cemetery, as he desired, "with stately bluffs standing untiring sentinels and the mighty Mississippi singing an eternal requiem.'' The Sabbath following Mr. Florer's demise, his good friend. Father Trobec, later Bishop Trobec, pronounced a eulogy in St. Felix's church—a wonderful tribute.
Source: Weik's history of Putnam County, Indiana By Jesse William Weik
CLAY
E. THOMAS
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not
those who are unstable and unsettled; who fly from this occupation to
that; who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no
active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting schools, churches
and property of the public. The family of which Clay E. Thomas,
progressive farmer of Vermillion township, is a most worthy
representative is one of the old and highly honored ones of Vermillion
county, who have been content to spend their lives in this locality,
which they have seen develop from the wilderness to the high
advancement which it claims today, and they have not only taken a
leading part in this work of progress, but they have lived honest and
intelligent lives, lending their support to all measures looking to the
general good.Mr. Thomas was born on the old Thomas homestead in this township and county on May 20, 1867, and he is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Bates) Thomas. The father was born in Vermillion county, on the same farm as was the subject, in 1838. The paternal grandfather of the subject was Eli Thomas, who was born in southern Indiana and who devoted his life to farming, coming to the county in a very early day and here he died. The father, Jacob Thomas, spent his life here and followed farming, and here his death occurred in 1896, his wife having preceded him to the grave in September, 1874. They were the parents of two children, Clay E., of this sketch, and Omar T., who died in early life.
Ten children were born to grandfather Eli Thomas and wife, five of whom are still living, namely: Louise J., who married J. S. Lonberger; Jerome B. lives in Cayvga; Winfield P. lives in Newport; Wesley D. a graduate of Wabash College, lives in Chicago; Harris P. also a graduate of Wabash, lives in Boston.
The father of the subject was a Republican, and he served as trustee of Vermillion township and was also county commissioner for six years. Fraternally, he was a member of the Masonic lodge at Newport.
Clay E. Thomas grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a common school education. In 1892 he was married to Alta Jones, who died in 1901. To this union one child was born, Lawrence D. Thomas. The subject was married a second time; in 1903 he was united to Almedia Walthall, daughter of William and Lydia (Branson) Walthall, old settlers of Vermillion county, farmers in Vermillion township, but they are both now deceased. Two children were born to this second union, Edgar W. Thomas and Lewis William Thomas.
Mr. Thomas has always followed farming and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, being now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-eight acres, well improved and well cultivated. He raises graded hogs, feeds and sells cattle, and is regarded as an excellent judge of all kinds of live stock. He has made all the modern improvements on his place himself, and he has a cozy home and substantial outbuildings. He belongs to the Friends Church. His aunt, Mrs. Lonberger, is a member of the Eastern Star of Newport. Her husband was a Mason.
Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana Biographical Sketches p. 785- 786
Contributed by Dale White
JACOB ILES
Jacob Iles, one of the old and respected pioneers of Vermillion
County, who is now deceased, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia,
May 10, 1791, a son of Henry Iles, who was a native of Germany.
His father was a soldier in the United States service during the war of
the Revolution. Jacob Iles was a tailor by trade. He left his
native State for Ohio, when a young man, and in the winter of 1820-21,
he located at Terre Haute, Indiana. He was married January1,
1822, to Miss Hannah Stevenson, and to them were born six children,
three of whom died in childhood. Those yet leving are--Mrs.
Martha J. Naylor, James B., and Jacob H. Mr. Iles entered land in
Vermillion County, Indiana, one mile north of Eugene at the first
Government land sale here, and later he entered much land in
Illinois. He removed with his family to his land near Eugene in
1829, when Indians and wild animals were numerous, and here they
experienced many of the vicissitudes of pioneer life. Mr. Iles
died July 29, 1863, and his widow surviving until March 23, 1886.
They were honored and respected and beloved by all who knew them.
History of Vermillion County
Biographical Sketches p. 333.
Contributed by Dale White
Contributed by Dale White
JACOB L. THOMAS
Jacob L. Thomas, an active farmer and stock-raiser of Vermillion
Township, resides on section 6, where he has 520 acres of as good land
as can be found in the county, being a part of the stock farm of the
late Dr. Joseph Cook. Mr. Thomas was born in Vermillion County,
Indiana, April 12, 1838, a son of Philemon and Catherine (Custer)
Thomas. They were among the pioneers of the county, the father
having come here in 1822, and the mother in 1828. The father died
in January, 1860, and the mother is still living on the old homestead,
where she has resided for sixty-five years. The father being a
farmer, Jacob L. was reared to the same occupation, which he has made
his life work. He was first married in Vermillion County,
Illinois, in 1866, to Miss Eliza Bates, who was born in Licking County,
Ohio, in 1844, and to them were born two children-- Clay and Torrence
(deceased). Mrs. Thomas died in 1874, and for his second wife, he
married Margaret J. (Dallas) Cook, a native of Wheeling, Virginia, born
in 1835, and the widow of Joseph C. Cook, late of Vermillion
County. Mr. Thomas devotes considerable attention to
stock-raising, making a specialty of thoroughbred Jersey cattle, of
which he has a fine herd of six. Politically he affiliates with
the Republican party. He is a member of Newport Lodge, No. 209,
A.F. & M. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
History of Vermillion County, p. 480
Contributed by Dale White
William Frank Carson, who has been a resident of Oklahoma since 1900, was born on his father's farm in Champaign County, Illinois, on the 23d of June, 1874, and is a son of William G. and Martha Jane (Bales) Carson. His father was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, in which state he was reared and educated and when, in 1855, he removed to Illinois and became one of the pioneer settlers of Champaign County, where he settled on a preemption claim which he obtained from the Government. His entire active career, marked by consecutive industry and unpretentious worth of character, was one of close identification with the great and fundamental industry of agriculture, and through his well-directed endeavors he achieved independence and definite prosperity. He was a staunch democrat of the old school and though he was ever loyal and public-spirited as a citizen he never desired or held political office. Both he and his wife early became zealous members of the Universalist Church, and he exemplified his faith in his daily life, his death having occurred in the City of Champaign, Illinois, on the 10th of November, 1906, after he had been a resident of Champaign County for a full half century.
On the 22d of February, 1854, was solemnized the marriage of William G. Carson to Miss Martha Jane Bales, who likewise was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, the date of her nativity having been August 27, 1834, his birth having occurred in that county on the 29th of June, 1829,—dates that clearly denote that the respective families were founded in that section of the Hoosier State in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Carson, who still retains her home at Champaign, Illinois, is a daughter of Caleb and Emily (Spangler) Bales, natives of Virginia, and of her ten children—two sons and eight daughters—four daughters died in infancy,—Maria, Ella, Elizabeth and Laura. Emily Josephine, who was born December 20, 1858, became, in 1881, the wife of Eugene A. Ford, and they have four children,—Amos Carson, William Van Pelt, Martha Belle, and Eugene Bartholomew. Caleb W., who was born December 10, 1860, was reared and educated in Champaign County, Illinois, and in his native state he continued his residence until July 5, 1885, when he removed to Ashland, Kansas, where he accumulated a very large estate and where he was the largest individual taxpayer in Clark County at the time of his death, which occurred August 13, 1915. He served eight years as postmaster at Ashland, during both administrations of President Cleveland, and was a leader in the ranks of the democratic party in that section of the Sunflower State. He attained to the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.of the Masonic fraternity, besides being affiliated with the. Mystic Shrine. In March, 1886, he wedded Miss Martha Congeleton, who survives him, as do also their four sons and one daughter,—Paul C., William G., Frank Lee, Caleb W., Jr., and Hazel Ellene. Ellen A. Carson was born August 11, 1864, was united in marriage on the 27th of February, 1890, to Hon. John I. Lee. Their only child, Irving Allen, died in infancy. Mr. Lee, who died at Cordell, Washita County, Oklahoma, on the 25th of December, 1914, was editor and publisher of the Clark County Clipper,, at Ashland, Kansas, from 1885 to 1890, and thereafter served until 1892 as clerk of the District Court of that county. From 1894 to 1898 he was register of the United States Land Office at Dodge City, Kansas, and in 1901 he came to Oklahoma Territory and engaged in the lumber and coal business at Cordell, where he passed the residue of his life. He was influential in democratic political activities in Kansas and likewise after his removal to Oklahoma. Mary Marc Carson was born August 9, 1867, and on the 20th of August, 1886, she became the wife of Dr. David P. Sims, their only child being a son, Carson, and the family home being maintained at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Miss Luvilla B. Carson, who was born January 22, 1870, remains with her widowed mother.
William Frank Carson, the second son and youngest child in the above mentioned family, passed the period of his childhood and early youth upon the homestead farm which was the place of his birth, and after duly availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of Champaign County, Illinois, he pursued a higher course in what is now the great Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana. He continued to be associated with the work and the management of his father's farm until 1899, when he removed to Ashland, Kansas, where he served as deputy clerk of Clark County. In that city he was thereafter associated with his only brother in the mercantile business for a period of two years, and upon coming to Oklahoma, in 1900, he established his home at Curtis, Woodward County, where he continued in the same line of enterprise four years. He had entered claim to a tract of Government land in that county and in 1904 he perfected his title to the property. In 1910-11 Mr. Carson held a clerical position in a mercantile establishment in the City of Woodward, and in 1912 he there assumed the position of bookkeeper in the head office of the Renfrew investment Company. In October of the same year he was assigned to the management of the company's office at Beaver, where he has since continued the alert and efficient incumbent of this position, in which he has done much to extend the business controlled from this office.
Mr. Carson is found aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are specially zealous and valued members of the Presbyterian Church at Beaver, in the Sunday School of which he has served three years as superintendent. It is worthy of incidental note that this is the oldest exclusively Presbyterian Church in the state, its organization having been effected in 1886, when Beaver County was still a part of the region commonly designated as No Man's Land,—prior to the creation of Oklahoma Territory. Mr. Carson is secretary of the Beaver Gospel Team, and also secretary of the Beaver County Sunday School Association.
At Reinbeek, Grundy County, Iowa, on the 14th of April, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carson to Miss Grace B. Klein, daughter of Herman E. and Katherine (Kline) Klein, both natives of Iowa, where their respective parents settled in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Carson was born on her father's homestead farm in Grundy County, Iowa, on the 4th of September, 1876, and in her youth she received excellent educational advantages, through the medium of which she prepared herself for service in the pedagogic profession. For eight years prior to her marriage she was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of her native state and in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have five children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here noted: Francis Klein, March 26, 1902; Ellen Belva, June 1, 1905; Ernest Lee, September 1, 1906; Willis Spangler, July 26, 1910; and Luvilla Grace, July 22, 1912.
[Source: “A Standard History of Oklahoma” Volume V; by Joseph B. Thoburn; copyright 1916; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
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Contributed by Dale White
WILLIAM F CARSON
William F. Carson. A prominent and
successful representative of real estate and loan business in western
Oklahoma is Mr. Carson, who maintains his residence at Beaver, judicial
center of the county of the same name, where he is in charge of the
office and business of the Renfrew Investment Company, the headquarters
of which are in the City of Woodward. On other pages of this work is
given a review of the career of the president of this important
company, Rufus O. Renfrew, and to that article reference may be made
for further information concerning the company and its extensive
operations.William Frank Carson, who has been a resident of Oklahoma since 1900, was born on his father's farm in Champaign County, Illinois, on the 23d of June, 1874, and is a son of William G. and Martha Jane (Bales) Carson. His father was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, in which state he was reared and educated and when, in 1855, he removed to Illinois and became one of the pioneer settlers of Champaign County, where he settled on a preemption claim which he obtained from the Government. His entire active career, marked by consecutive industry and unpretentious worth of character, was one of close identification with the great and fundamental industry of agriculture, and through his well-directed endeavors he achieved independence and definite prosperity. He was a staunch democrat of the old school and though he was ever loyal and public-spirited as a citizen he never desired or held political office. Both he and his wife early became zealous members of the Universalist Church, and he exemplified his faith in his daily life, his death having occurred in the City of Champaign, Illinois, on the 10th of November, 1906, after he had been a resident of Champaign County for a full half century.
On the 22d of February, 1854, was solemnized the marriage of William G. Carson to Miss Martha Jane Bales, who likewise was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, the date of her nativity having been August 27, 1834, his birth having occurred in that county on the 29th of June, 1829,—dates that clearly denote that the respective families were founded in that section of the Hoosier State in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Carson, who still retains her home at Champaign, Illinois, is a daughter of Caleb and Emily (Spangler) Bales, natives of Virginia, and of her ten children—two sons and eight daughters—four daughters died in infancy,—Maria, Ella, Elizabeth and Laura. Emily Josephine, who was born December 20, 1858, became, in 1881, the wife of Eugene A. Ford, and they have four children,—Amos Carson, William Van Pelt, Martha Belle, and Eugene Bartholomew. Caleb W., who was born December 10, 1860, was reared and educated in Champaign County, Illinois, and in his native state he continued his residence until July 5, 1885, when he removed to Ashland, Kansas, where he accumulated a very large estate and where he was the largest individual taxpayer in Clark County at the time of his death, which occurred August 13, 1915. He served eight years as postmaster at Ashland, during both administrations of President Cleveland, and was a leader in the ranks of the democratic party in that section of the Sunflower State. He attained to the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.of the Masonic fraternity, besides being affiliated with the. Mystic Shrine. In March, 1886, he wedded Miss Martha Congeleton, who survives him, as do also their four sons and one daughter,—Paul C., William G., Frank Lee, Caleb W., Jr., and Hazel Ellene. Ellen A. Carson was born August 11, 1864, was united in marriage on the 27th of February, 1890, to Hon. John I. Lee. Their only child, Irving Allen, died in infancy. Mr. Lee, who died at Cordell, Washita County, Oklahoma, on the 25th of December, 1914, was editor and publisher of the Clark County Clipper,, at Ashland, Kansas, from 1885 to 1890, and thereafter served until 1892 as clerk of the District Court of that county. From 1894 to 1898 he was register of the United States Land Office at Dodge City, Kansas, and in 1901 he came to Oklahoma Territory and engaged in the lumber and coal business at Cordell, where he passed the residue of his life. He was influential in democratic political activities in Kansas and likewise after his removal to Oklahoma. Mary Marc Carson was born August 9, 1867, and on the 20th of August, 1886, she became the wife of Dr. David P. Sims, their only child being a son, Carson, and the family home being maintained at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Miss Luvilla B. Carson, who was born January 22, 1870, remains with her widowed mother.
William Frank Carson, the second son and youngest child in the above mentioned family, passed the period of his childhood and early youth upon the homestead farm which was the place of his birth, and after duly availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of Champaign County, Illinois, he pursued a higher course in what is now the great Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana. He continued to be associated with the work and the management of his father's farm until 1899, when he removed to Ashland, Kansas, where he served as deputy clerk of Clark County. In that city he was thereafter associated with his only brother in the mercantile business for a period of two years, and upon coming to Oklahoma, in 1900, he established his home at Curtis, Woodward County, where he continued in the same line of enterprise four years. He had entered claim to a tract of Government land in that county and in 1904 he perfected his title to the property. In 1910-11 Mr. Carson held a clerical position in a mercantile establishment in the City of Woodward, and in 1912 he there assumed the position of bookkeeper in the head office of the Renfrew investment Company. In October of the same year he was assigned to the management of the company's office at Beaver, where he has since continued the alert and efficient incumbent of this position, in which he has done much to extend the business controlled from this office.
Mr. Carson is found aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are specially zealous and valued members of the Presbyterian Church at Beaver, in the Sunday School of which he has served three years as superintendent. It is worthy of incidental note that this is the oldest exclusively Presbyterian Church in the state, its organization having been effected in 1886, when Beaver County was still a part of the region commonly designated as No Man's Land,—prior to the creation of Oklahoma Territory. Mr. Carson is secretary of the Beaver Gospel Team, and also secretary of the Beaver County Sunday School Association.
At Reinbeek, Grundy County, Iowa, on the 14th of April, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carson to Miss Grace B. Klein, daughter of Herman E. and Katherine (Kline) Klein, both natives of Iowa, where their respective parents settled in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Carson was born on her father's homestead farm in Grundy County, Iowa, on the 4th of September, 1876, and in her youth she received excellent educational advantages, through the medium of which she prepared herself for service in the pedagogic profession. For eight years prior to her marriage she was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of her native state and in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have five children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here noted: Francis Klein, March 26, 1902; Ellen Belva, June 1, 1905; Ernest Lee, September 1, 1906; Willis Spangler, July 26, 1910; and Luvilla Grace, July 22, 1912.
[Source: “A Standard History of Oklahoma” Volume V; by Joseph B. Thoburn; copyright 1916; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
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