USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
PUTNAM EWING.
The Ewing family is one of the oldest and most prominent in Decatur county, and a brief history of its origin in this country is worthy of presentation in a volume of this nature. Some time during the Revolu- tionary war, Patrick Ewing, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage, emigrated with his family to America. On the voyage a son was born to him who, in remembrance of a kindness shown to the father by General Putnam, of Continental fame, was afterward
252
DECATUR COUNTY.
named for that distinguished patriot. Pat- rick settled at Baltimore, Maryland, where he died, leaving four sons,-Samuel, Josh- ua, Nat and Putnam. The last mentioned remained in Maryland until some time after his marriage with Miss Jennie McLelland, and in 1806 removed to Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he died, in 1848, at the age of seventy-one years.
A son of this Putnam Ewing was Patrick, who was the father of the Decatur county Ewings. He was born in Cecil county, Maryland, July 28, 1803, and was only three years old when his parents removed to Ken- tucky. He remained on his father's farm there until his marriage, September 5, 1826, to Miss Lydia Morgan, a daughter of Abel Morgan, a pioneer of Montgomery county. In October, 1828, he removed to Decatur county and settled in Clay township, four and one-half miles from Greensburg. where he entered a farm of eighty acres. He was very successful in his operations, became an extensive stock-raiser and at the time of his death was the owner of a section of land. His family numbered fifteen children. in- cluding triplets, of whom the subject of our sketch is one. All grew to manhood and womanhood and have been influential and worthy citizens.
1
-
Patrick Ewing was a man of iron consti- tution and indomitable will, and was well fitted to become a pioneer. He had good judgment in business affairs, and this, com- bined with his great energy and untiring in- dustry, won him not only a handsome for- tune but a standing among his neighbors. He was a stanch Democrat and very de- cided in his political views, but never as- pired to office. He played an active part in the settlement of Decatur county and will
long be remembered, with his estimable wife, as among the most worthy of its pio- neers. Mr. Ewing died June 17, 1884, his wife surviving him until December 24, 1889. Putnam Ewing, son of Patrick, was one of triplets, born near Greensburg, Septeniber 8, 1833. Of the other two Joshua is de- ceased and Abel lives in Greensburg. Put- nam was reared on his father's farm and attended the common school of his district. He was unusually bright and intelligent. and was so popular in his community that he was elected recorder of the county be- fore he was twenty-one years old and was obliged to wait until he had attained his majority before he could qualify for the of- fice. He was the first recorder under the new court rules, the two offices of clerk and recorder being previously combined in one. He served for four years, from March, 1855, to March. 1859. In November of the lat- ter year, in conjunction with Squire Joslin. the sheriff of the county, he bought prop- erty on Railroad street, in Greensburg, and engaged in the grain business. Later he added a grocery, and in 1861 the firm of Ewing & Foley was established, which for thirty years ranked as one of the most sub- stantia! and reliable business houses in Greensburg. They had a large trade and were well and favorably known throughout the county. In 1891 the firm was dis- solved, Messrs. Hart and Froman buying out the interests of the two partners.
In addition to his other business Mr. Ew- ing was from 1871 to 1892 agent for the railroad company at Greensburg. In the latter year he was made assistant cashier in the Third National Bank of that city, which position he is now occupying. He also su- perintends a fine farm of three hundred and
253
1
DECATUR COUNTY.
twenty acres, which includes the old home- stead of eiglity acres on which he was born. Mr. Ewing has held many positions of honor and trust, and in every relation in life has shown himself a man of strong character and unimpeachable integrity. He served in the city council for nine or ten years and on the school board for three or four years. In 1899 he was appointed by the judge of the circuit court as one of the members of the county council, a new office created by the legislature. He is a mem- ber of the Christian church, to which his wife and mother also belonged, and takes an active interest in its affairs.
Mr. Ewing was married in 1860 to Mary De Ormond, of Decatur county, by whom he had one son, Patrick, who carries on farming on the old homestead. Mrs. Ew- ing died in February, 1861, and in the fall of 1863 Mr. Ewing again married, his sec- ond wife being Sarah A. Hackleman, of Rushville. Indiana, and a niece of General Foley of Greensburg. They have had two children, Mary who died when seventeen years old, and Charles H. The latter grad- uated from high school and entered the law department of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, graduating from there in 1897. Since that time he has been practicing his profession as a member of the firm of Ewing & Ewing, of which his uncle J. K. Ewing is the senior partner. He is a young man of much promise and bids fair to maintain the high standing of the Ewing family.
GEORGE L. ROBERTS.
George L. Roberts, who is an esteemed citizen of Greensburg, is also a popular and able educator, and enjoys more than a state
reputation in his profession. He is of Scotch-Welsh descent and is the son of William and Sarah (Christie) Roberts, born November 19, 1860, near Adams, Decatur county. His grandfather. John Roberts, came with two brothers from Wales to this country when children, and the family finally settled near Madison, Jefferson county, Indiana, at a very early day, before the territory had been formed into a state. He was one of the pioneer Baptists of that section, and followed farming for many years. He spent a busy and useful life. passing away in 1874, at an advanced age. He married Jane Salyers and reared a fan- ily of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters.
The father of Professor Roberts was born February 2, 1827. near Madison, and made his home in Jefferson county until 1850. when he removed to Decatur county and set- tled near Adams, where he carried on farm- ing the remainder of his life. He died Sep- tember 5. 1891. In his early days he taught school for several years. He was a man of quiet disposition. and although positive in his political and religious views never in- truded his opinions in an offensive manner. He was originally a member of the Baptist denomination, but in his later years became connected with the Christian church. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, to whom he was married in 1848, is still living. She is the mother of four children, the only daughter dying in childhood. The sons are: John W., engaged in the insurance business in Greensburg; George L .; and Isaac H., a farmer and stock-raiser in Kan- sas.
The boyhood of Professor Roberts was spent on his father's farm, and after several
254
DECATUR COUNTY.
years of study in common and private schools he became a teacher, at the age of eighteen years. He followed that occupa- tion for fourteen years, and then entered the State University, at Bloomington, from which he was graduated in 1894, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was prin- cipal of the high school in Greensburg for ten years, and on the death of the former superintendent, W. P. Shannon, he was made superintendent of the city schools, on January 1, 1898. Mr. Roberts has done a great deal of institute work in the several counties of the state, and for years has at- tended all the sessions of the State Teach- ers' Association, of which organization he is a member. He has also been a member of the executive committee, and at this writ- ing is president of the mathematical section of the association. During the prosecution of his course at the university he was in- structor in botany. He is a leading mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been superintendent of the Sabbath- school and is now a member of the board of stewards.
- For the past five years Professor Rob- erts has, in conjunction with Charles T. Powner, conducted a summer normal school for the training of teachers, review work and methods of teaching. he having special charge of the science work. The school has been well attended, and has ac- complished much good in its various lines. Socially he is a charter member of Greens- burg Lodge, No. 148, Knights of Pythias, in which he has filled all the chairs. He served for two years as district deputy grand chancellor, and for the past two years has been chairman of the committee on foreign correspondence in the grand lodge.
On November 19, 1884, Professor Rob- erts was married to Miss Olive Linch, of Adams, and two children, Paul and Miriam, have been born to them. The family is held in high esteem in the community. Personally Professor Roberts is a highly cultured, scholarly man, genial in his man- ners and a fine conversationalist. He is in the prime of life, and has a bright future before him.
HON. WILLIAM CUMBACK, A. M.
In the life history of the Hon. William Cumback, a prominent and loved citizen of Greensburg, there is much of interest and inspiration, both to the old and young. Temperance and sound common-sense hav- ing guided him in his- daily habits since his boyhood, he now finds himself, though just across the border line of "three-score and ten," in the enjoyment of unimpaired vigor of mind and body, and with promise of many years of usefulness. Probably no citizen of the great state of Indiana has been more widely known for the past forty years or more, and certain it is that there are few of her native-born sons of whom she has more reason to be proud.
His parents, John and Elsie Cumback. who came to this state from New Jersey. about 1820, were among the pioneers of Franklin county, where they cleared and improved a small farm. They were up- right, industrious people, respected by every one, but their means were small and they could do but little in the way of giv- ing their children educational opportuni- ties or financial assistance. William Cum- back was born in this humble though happy home, March 24, 1829, and as soon as he
255-256
257
DECATUR COUNTY.
was old enough he aided his father in the laborious task of preparing the land for cultivation. As may be inferred, the pub- lic schools at that early day in this region were nothing of which to boast, but young Cumback was ambitious, and determined to have an education. One season he rented some land, raised a crop, and hauled it thirty miles in wagons, to Cincinnati. The money he thus obtained he then invested in books. tuition and living expenses, while he attended Miami University, at Oxford. Ohio, twelve miles distant from his father's homestead. During the six months spent in this institution he cooked his own meals in his own room, rang the college bell and performed other services to eke out his slender capital, and actually expended only fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents! How many of the youth of to-day can point to a similar record? It needs no prophetic gift to predict ultimate success to a young man of such pluck and perseverance, and the lessons of economy, industry and patience then mastered by him must have had a last- ing influence for good upon his character. Subsequently he taught school. after which he returned to the university and spent sev- eral terms there, standing at the head of his classes.
In 1853 Mr. Cumback started upon the work to which he has since given his chief energy,-the law. After some preparation, he entered the Cincinnati Law School. where he remained for a term, then coming to Greensburg, where, in 1853. he estab- lished an office and entered upon a practice which was. large and remunerative almost from the first. Summing up his legal ca- reer in a few words, it may be justly said that there has hardly been a case of any
importance tried before either the civil or criminal courts of this county (save when he was employed in the service of the gov- ernment) during the past forty or forty-five years, that he lias not been retained as coun- sel upon one side or the other. He spares himself no pains in the thorough prepara- tion of a case, and, having outlined his plan of procedure, is alert and keen in the pre- sentment of his arguments, and generally carries conviction to the minds of judge and jury. His great talent as a speaker. amounting ofttimes to wonderful elo- quence, is used in the defense of the poor and oppressed, and from his youth he has been noted for his absolute integrity and fairness.
As early as 1854 Mr. Cumback was hon- ored by being nominated and elected as a representative of the Fourth congressional district of Indiana in congress, his opponent being the well known Hon. William S. Hol- man, later called the "watch-dog of the treasury." Having barely attained the requisite age to admit him to serve as a member of the house of representatives. our subject had the further distinction of being the youngest member of the thirty-fourth congress. Nevertheless, he was so faithful to the interests of his constituents, and made so excellent a record in every respect. several of his speeches in congress attract- ing widespread attention, that his constitu- ents felt entirely satisfied as to the wisdom of their choice.
Many and substantial have been the hon- ors bestowed upon Mr. Cumback, but above them all, in his estimation, was that of being elected on the Republican ticket. in 1860, as elector-at-large, whereby he was in a position to cast the first Republican
-
- 258
DECATUR COUNTY.
-
electoral vote of this state for Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States. His special adaptation as a stump speaker led to his being in great demand in all political campaigns for years, his fine pres- ence, strong and well modulated voice, and stirring oratory and sound argument car- rying immense weight with the people. During the campaign of 1860, above men- tioned, he stumped the entire state of Indi- ana, and thus came into direct contact with the masses, who gave him an enthusiastic . welcome wherever he went.
As might have been expected of so ard- ent a patriot, so strong an advocate of anti- slavery, Mr. Cumback enlisted at the first tap of the drum, after Fort Sumter was fired upon, becoming a private of the Seventh Indiana Volunteers. To his surprise. he was soon called to the post of paymaster, by appointment of the president, and so efficiently discharged his duties that he was assigned as superintendent of one of the largest divisions of the army. At the close of the war, he was brevetted for faithful ser- vice, and Edwin M. Stanton, on behalf of the war department, offered him a position for life in the regular army. This was de- clined by Mr. Cumback, who was mustered out of the service at his urgent request, in order to once more devote himself to his loved profession. As an unanswerable proof of his accuracy and general ability, it may be stated that, though over sixty mil- lion dollars were disbursed by him during the stormy war period, he made all of his final settlement with the government within three days, a thing that no other official in like position has even been able to do.
Though he resumed his accustomed practice in Greensburg in 1865, Mr. Cum-
back was not long permitted to lead a pri- vate life, for the ensuing year he was nomi- nated and elected to the Indiana senate. During the first session thereafter, Gov- ernor Morton being elected to the United States senate and the lieutenant governor becoming governor, Mr. Cumback was chosen to preside as president of the senate, which he did with dignity. While in the senate he drew up the bill for the establish- ment of a reform school for boys, and as a result of this wise measure the Plainfield school, now one of the finest and most suc- cessful institutions of the state, came into existence. In 1868, after a hotly contested election, he was installed as lieutenant gov- ernor of Indiana. He had made a vigorous campaign and received the highest vote of any one on his ticket. The popularity of Mr. Cumback was steadily in the ascendant. and it was no surprise to anybody when he was the overwhelming choice for the United States senatorship in 1869, being the "caucus" nominee on the first ballot (having fifty-two out of seventy-six votes). but a few chagrined politicians organized a "bolt," the result of which was that he was defeated by only two votes. His Repub- lican friends were so justly indignant at this underhand measure, that they ostracized from the party every man who had partici- pated in it.
Without any solicitation on the part of Mr. Cumback, President Grant appointed him minister to Portugal, in 1870; the sen- ate promptly confirmed the choice, and the commission was sent to him, but it was declined. The following year, the president offered him an office as collector of internal revenue, which he concluded to accept, and during the twelve years of his service in
259
DECATUR COUNTY.
this important place he collected over thirty-seven million dollars, without having one dollar lost to the government by mis- take or fraud. During the administration of President Harrison he was chosen to serve as one of the commissioners having in charge the treaty with the Puyallup In- dians, but he was obliged to decline to act, on account of private business affairs. Re- cently, ex-Secretary John Sherman wished to appoint him as an arbitrator in the trouble between this country and the United States of Colombia, South America, but Mr. Cumback deemed it best to refuse the honor, owing to the fact that all of the evidence submitted to the commission must necessarily be in Spanish, and he did not think it wise to trust to an interpreter in an affair of such importance.
Quite naturally, as the outcome of his long years of experience,-as a servant of the people, as a professional man, and as a keen observer of men and events .- Mr. Cumback has drifted into the lecture field of late years. He has delivered lectures on a variety of subjects, in nearly every state in the Union, and he as well as the large audiences which always assembled to hear him thoroughly enjoyed the open discus- sion of the topics engaging their attention. A true friend to humanity. he has had as his chief aim in life a genuine desire to amelior- ate the wrongs and evils that oppress us as a race, and to make war upon the factors that destroy the happiness of multitudes. Many of his lectures have been of an ethical nature, and he has published a book on "Society and Life," which has met with much favor. His interest in education for the masses has been unwavering, and for a long period he has been one of the trus-
tees of DePauw University. The Miami University conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, and subsequently De- Pauw University bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. More than two-score years have rolled away since he became connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he served as grand master of the state, and for three years was a representative in the sovereign grand lodge of Indiana.
Religiously, Mr. Cumback is a Methodist, and on three occasions has been a lay dele- gate to the general Methodist Episcopal conference. In 1878 he was appointed as a fraternal delegate to the general confer- ence of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and made an address to that assem- blage. at Atlanta, Georgia. To him more than to almost anyone else is attributed the fact that, in 1898, equal representation from the laity of the church was conceded by the general conference of Methodist bodies. In this, as in all avenues of usefulness, he believes that the mass of the people should be actively represented, and that distinc- tions of class and capital should not be made.
In 1852 the marriage of Mr. Cumback and Martha Hurlbut was solemnized. She was a lady of excellent attainments, her higher studies having been pursued in the Western Female College, where she was graduated. The only daughter born to this worthy couple is Ella, wife of John W. Lovett, one of the leading members of the Anderson (Indiana) bar. Louis and Clar- ence died many years ago, and William is a member of the wholesale hardware firm of H. T. Conde & Company, of Indianapolis. Mrs. Cumback, who was a lady beloved by
-
1
260
DECATUR COUNTY.
all who knew her, died February 9, 1899, leaving a multitude of sincere friends who deeply mourn her loss.
MRS. MARY E. McMILLEN HARPER.
Among the honored citizens of Sardinia none holds a higher place in the esteem of the people than the lady whose name heads this sketch, and whose husband, the late James S. Harper, was so closely allied with all the interests of Decatur county. Death loves a shining mark, and in this instance his victim was one whose loss was irrepara- ble in his home, in the social circles, and in the community in whose business affairs he had played such a prominent part. A brief sketch of his career in connection with that of his wife will prove of value in an histori- cal work of this description.
James S. Harper was born April 24, 1830, near Riley, Butler county, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm. He learned the trade of shoemaker, but, making a visit to Decatur county, Indiana, in 1854, his at- tention was called to the opportunities for a good investment, and before his return home he purchased an interest with John McCormick in the dry-goods and general merchandising business at Sardinia. Two years later he bought out his partner, and also established a branch store at Burns- ville, in connection with John Cunningham. which he carried on for over two years. He then enlarged his building and increased his stock at Sardinia, at the same time opening a store at Sardinia Crossing, where he be- came interested in a stone quarry. These ventures were all successful, and he became the most extensive merchant and prominent
business man in that section of the state. In 1861 he remodeled his store in order to accommodate the largely increasing pro- portions of his trade, making of it a con- venient and commodious building, two stories in height and fifty by one hundred feet in size. In addition to the interests already mentioned he owned a number of farms in Decatur county, as well as in Kan- sas and other states, and a large amount of property in Sardinia.
Mr. Harper was a man of unusual execu- tive ability, farseeing and almost unfailing in his judgment of men and things, fearless in the magnitude and scope of his opera- tions, and, indeed, a prince of financiers. Perhaps the greatest enterprise of his life was when, in 1888, he joined a syndicate composed of seven other men besides him- self, from New York, Boston and Chicago. for the purpose of awakening interest in southern property. They purchased three thousand acres of land in northern Georgia. on which they selected a beautiful site for a town, over one thousand feet above sea level. There they platted the ground, made an artificial lake fed from a creek and mountain springs, and founded the well- known health resort of Demorest, so called in honor of J. Demorest, the publisher of the popular Democratic magazine in New York city. In less than two years it was a thriving place of five hundred inhabitants. with hotels, banks, three or four factories. foundries, machine works,-the Southern Novelty Works,-and is now a flourishing city and an important station on the Rich- mond & Danville Railroad. Doubtless one cause of its prosperity, aside from its de- lightful climate and invigorating air, is the fact that no saloon has ever been allowed
261
DECATUR COUNTY.
within its limits. Mr. Harper invested . over twenty thousand dollars in this project, and lived to see his hopes regarding it realized.
In 1855, a year after settling in business in. Decatur county, Mr. Harper returned to Ohio, and was there married to Miss Maria Munson, bringing his bride to his new home in Indiana. Their wedded happiness was of short duration, for less than a year later she was laid to rest in the cemetery. On July 10, 1856, Mr. Harper was married to Mary E. McMillen, who was his loving and faithful companion until they were sepa- rated by his death, May 12, 1896.
In 1876 Mr. Harper built an elegant and commodious residence at Sardinia, costing over eighteen thousand dollars, and here he spent his last years in happy leisure, surrounded by every comfort and luxury, and the recipient of such universal honor and friendship as seldom falls to the lot of man. In his personal attributes he had many .commendable traits. He was a man of most genial disposition, full of humor, fond of social intercourse, a great lover of children, and was never so happy as when surrounded in his home by those he loved. Although so deeply immersed in business he never forgot the claims of religion, and faithfully performed his duties as a Chris- tian, not the least of which is to visit the fatherless and the widow. His heart and hand were ever open to the needy and suf- fering, and when a certain sum of money was needed for church or benevolent pur- poses it was his custom to tell those in charge of the matter to raise what they could and he would supply the deficiency .- this in many cases being almost the entire amount .. A devoted member of the Pres-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.