USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 36
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Luther D. Braden, the subject of this review, is the youngest child of the family and spent his boyhood days in Clay town-
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ship, where he attended the public schools. In 1878 he entered Hartsville College, in which he spent his time, with some inter- vals, until 1882, leaving the school when he was in his junior year. In 1883 he began teaching, continuing in that occupation for seven years. During this time he was a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, for a short period. He was county superintendent from 1889 until 1891, and was principal of the schools of St. Paul, this county, from 1891 until 1893. In the latter year Mr. Braden came to Greensburg, and for one year was a mem- ber of the firm of J. C. Pulse & Company, wholesale grocers. His taste and inclina- · tion, however, were more literary than com- mercial, and he decided upon a wider and more congenial field of labor. On the Ist of October, 1894, he purchased the Greens- burg Standard, the oldest paper in the county, it having been established in 1835, by John Thompson, grandfather of Mrs. Bra- den, and during its long career it has near- ly all of the time been in the possession of some of the family. It advocates the prin- ciples of the Republican party and is always on the side of religion and morality. The Standard is emphatically a family news- paper, and finds its way into a majority of the homes of the country people, where it is always a welcome visitor.
Mr. Braden is somewhat of a politician, so far, at least, as taking an active interest in the success of his party is concerned, and he does all in his power to secure the selec- tion of the best men as candidates for the offices. In church work he is equally effi- cient; being an elder and member of the official board of the Christian church, and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He
also belongs to Greensburg Lodge, No. 36, F. and A. M., and to Greensburg Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M, He was married Decem- ber 17, 1890, to Miss Ella, daughter of Orral Thompson, of Greensburg, and they have one child, Marie.
DAVID A. ARDERY.
This gentleman is a representative of the farming interests of Decatur county. He was born in Fugit township, in this coun- ty, July 8. 1837, and is a son of Thomas and Martha (McKee) Ardery. His father was a son of John Ardery, a native of Ire- land. who crossing the Atlantic to America took up his abode in Kentucky, where he became a farmer and slave owner, spending his remaining days on the old homestead there. His children were John, Andrew, James, and Thomas, the last two becoming residents of Indiana. It was in the year 1833 that Thomas Ardery took up his abode in Fugit township. Decatur county, where he purchased a farm upon which he made many substantial improvements. He carried on agricultural pursuits for many years, becoming the owner of four hundred acres of land. In his business enterprises he prospered and his property became very valuable. His political support was given to the Whig party, but he never sought or desired official preferment. In his relig- ious belief he was a Presbyterian. He pos- sessed a genial, jovial disposition, was of a social nature and was always welcome in any assemblage. His standard of integrity and honor was very high and he had the respect of all who knew him. He died in 1846, at the age of forty-seven years, and
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his wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1869, at the age of seventy-one years. She was a daughter of David McKee, of Scotland, a farmer, whose family numbered eight children: David, Wallace, Mrs. Eliza Vanderien, Mrs. Nancy McClintock, Mrs. Ardery, Mrs. Cynthia Reynolds, who is yet living, at the age of ninety-one years, Margaret, and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hamil- ton. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ardery had . seven children, as follows: Mrs. Jane Smith, Mrs. Mary Walters, Mrs. Martha Thomp- son, Mrs. Eliza Speer, Mrs. Nancy Throop, David A., and John, who died at the age of twenty-seven years.
David A. Ardery was reared on the old home farm and acquired his education in the district schools. He was only eight years of age at the time of his father's death, but the mother carefully reared her children. Before he had attained his ma- jority he began trading in stock and also invested his money by purchasing the in- terests of the other heirs in the old home- stead. He remained with his mother until after her death, and was then married. be- ginning his domestic life on the old home farm. Subsequently he sold that property and purchased one hundred and eighty acres, to which he has since added until his landed possessions now aggregate four hundred and forty acres, all of which are under a high state of cultivation. The fields are well tilled and are divided by fences that are kept in good repair. Substantial improvements on the place indicate the en- terprisè of the owner and none of the ac- cessories of the model farm are there lack- ing. . He raises, buys and feeds stock, which he himself markets, and in this way he adds materially to his income.
In 1871 Mr. Ardery was united in mar- riage to Miss Teressa Lowe, who was born in Decatur county, October 5, 1852, a daughter of Alfred and Isabel (Gingley) Lowe, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Decatur county and the father carried on farming as a life work. He was a prominent citizen, gave his political sup- port to the Whig party and served as county commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe were Presbyterians in their religious faith and in that belief they reared their children. They had eight children, namely: Mrs. Ardery, Seth, Charles, William, Edward, Mrs. Kate Hamilton, William and Arthur. Our sub- ject and his wife now have five children- Mary, Martha, Clara, Samuel and Hellen, and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church and in his political views Mr. Ardery is a Repub- lican, but has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office. His time and energy he devotes to his business interests, in which he has met with cred- itable success, and throughout the com- munity he is recognized as a valued citizen.
DAVID L. MORGAN.
David L. Morgan, of Fugit township, Decatur county, is a representative of one of the early and well known families of this part of Indiana. His father, John Morgan. was born near Penn Yan. Yates county. New York. April 26, 1801, and was a son of Thomas Morgan, a native of county Down. Ireland, who came to America when a young man. His brother. Torrence Mor-
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gan, started about the same time as passen- ger on another vessel, but was never heard from afterward and his fate remained un- known. Thomas Morgan became a resident of Yates county, New York, and when his son John was about sixteen years of age removed with his family to Indiana. This was soon after the close of the second war with England and but a short time after Indiana was admitted into the Union. The present generation have but little concep- tion of the slow, and what would now seem tedious, methods of travel eighty or eighty- five years ago. Overland by wagon, often through a pathless forest or following a sim- ple Indian trail or taking advantage of the current of some stream down which they would float on a flat-boat,-these were the means by which the emigrants of long ago reached their destinations in the wilds of Indiana.
The family of Thomas Morgan came from their home in the Empire state by way of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and thence on a flat-boat down the Ohio river to North Bend, Indiana, which was then the home of General William Henry Harrison. They resided on the Harrison place for a short time, but soon removed to Dearborn coun- ty. This was in the year 1817. The family consisted of Thomas Morgan, his wife and their children, namely: John, Mrs. Mary Gifford, Griswold, Mrs. Ruth Alden, Mrs. Baldredge and Hannah. All of that genera- · tion have now passed away. Thomas Mor- gan did not long survive his arrival in this state, Deing accidentally drowned in Tan- ner's creek at the age of fifty years.
John Morgan, the father of our subject. attained his majority in Indiana, and was married, in Dearborn county. this state,
when about twenty-one years of age, to Miss Clarissa Stewart, and they had six children, namely: Torrence G., Daniel, John H. and Ruth A., all deceased, and Benjamin F. and Sarah, still living. Tor- rence G. at his death left a son, Atwell Mor- gan, who is now living in Andersonville, Indiana, where he is a successful and highly respected merchant. Ruth A. married Jesse Lawson, a prosperous farmer and stock-dealer, and she died December 28, 1873. For his second wife Mr. Morgan married Hulda (Lewis) Wilson, then a widow. She was a daughter of John Lewis, who was born in Sullivan county, Tennes- see, October 17, 1793, and came to this state when a boy with his father at about the time or before the war of 1812. He took part in the Indian wars of that period and took a prominent part also in the events which form the early history of the state. The family settled on Salt creek, in Frank- lin county, and later John Lewis removed to Rush county, but subsequently returned to Franklin county, making his home at Andersonville until his death, which oc- curred April 7, 1861. He became quite noted for his successful treatment of dis- eases by mesmeric or magnetic influence, and possessed a good general knowledge of medicine. He was one of the noted men of his day, his house was celebrated for its hospitality and he was both widely known and highly respected. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susannah Barber, was also a native of Tennessee. They became the parents of nine children, seven of whom were sons. Several of them are still living and are prominent citizens of the various communities in which they reside.
By his second marriage, John Morgan
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had four . children,-Thomas G., George W., Mary Angeline and David L., but the last named is the only one now living. The father removed from Dearborn county to Andersonville, Franklin county, becoming one of the pioneers of the latter place. He was also one of the early merchants there and was long a prominent citizen of that county. In 1849 he removed to the farm in Fugit township which his son David now owns, and there resided until 1874, when he returned to Andersonville, where his death occurred August 1, 1888. His wife died March 5, 1899, at the age of eighty- one years, her birth having occurred Jan- uary 16, 1818.
During his active business career John Morgan was one of the best known citizens of his section of Indiana. His greatest ac- quaintance probably came through his work as a local preacher of the United Brethren church, in which capacity he served for sixty years. It has been said of him that he preached more funeral sermons and united more couples in marriage during his long career as a minister than any other preacher of his time in Indiana. He was ever active in promoting the moral and religious growth of the community in which he lived and his influence was widely felt on the side of right. He was a strong advo- cate of temperance and organized a Wash- ington society at Andersonville in the early days of that order. He also organized the United Brethren church at Andersonville and likewise formed a class at his home in Fugit township. He was a remarkably useful man in the community in various ways, was actively connected with civil af- fairs, was justice of the peace for many years, and did a great amount of writing in
the way of making deeds and drawing up other legal documents. He was an honor- able and esteemed citizen, and his long life was rich in service to his God and to his fellow men. His surviving children in 1899 are Rev. Benjamin Morgan, of Ben Davis, Marion county, Indiana, a retired Meth- odist minister; Mrs. Sarah Smith, who is also living at that place; and David L.
The last named was born at Anderson- ville, Franklin county, Indiana, June 24, 1848, and was but little more than a year old when the family removed to the place where he now resides. Here he has made his home through the long period of fifty years, and the place. is endeared to him through the associations of his boyhood as well as those of mature years. Mr. Morgan has been twice married. His first wife bore the maiden name of Nancy A. Evans and was born in Franklin county, as were her parents. Her grandparents, however, were natives of Virginia and became pioneer set- tlers of Franklin county. Mrs. Morgan died October 16, 1887, and Mr. Morgan has since wedded Minerva L. Mullin, a daughter of Daniel Mullin. She was a na- tive of Marion county, Indiana, while her father was born in Ohio, and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Crone, was born in Virginia. By his first marriage Mr. Morgan has three sons: John A., David and Cassius. A daughter, Ada, died Sep- tember 27, 1893, at the age of nineteen years, and another daughter, Grace, passed away June 22, 1889, at the age of thirteen years. Three children have been born of the second marriage: Frank L., born April 23, 1890; Belva May, born June 25, 1891; and Cora Myrtle, born October 1. 1895.
Mr. Morgan is both widely and favor-
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ably known in the community in which he has so long made his home, and is account- ed a valued citizen. He owns and occupies the old homestead, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place well indicates his careful supervision. Diligence and deter- mination are among his most marked char- acteristics and have contributed in a large degree to his success. Since 1886 he has devoted much time and attention to the prosecution of pension claims, and has been remarkably successful in that line of work. In his political affiliations he is a Repub- lican, but has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his en- ergies to his business interests, in which he has met with creditable success.
REV. JAMES B. LATHROP.
The descendant of a long line of preach- ers of the gospel, this venerable man has followed in their footsteps and has devoted much of his life to the welfare and spirit- ual advancement of his fellow men. Of late years, however, in consequence of throat trouble, he has been obliged to give up his ministerial work and has been engaged in other business, in Greensburg. where he was born November 24. 1825.
The Lathrop family is of English ances- try, and traces its descent in this country from the Rev. John Lathrop, D. D., who came to America thirteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock. He was an independent preacher, and just before the sailing of the Pilgrims from the old country he and his congregation were thrown into jail, and so prevented from joining the expedition. The great-grand-
father of our subject, the Rev. Elkanah Lathrop, was born and reared at Norwich, Connecticut, and for many years lived on a farm in Vermont, and was also a minister. He afterward removed to Canada, where he owned a large farm, which, during the trouble between England and the United States, was confiscated by the British gov- ernment. He then returned to Vermont, there spending the remainder of his life.
The Rev. Erastus Lathrop, grandfather of James B., was a minister of the Baptist denomination. He came from Vermont to Indiana in 1817, and settled in Dearborn county, remaining there until 1821, when he sold his farm and entered land in De- catur county, a part of which is now em- braced in the city of Greensburg. Return- ing home to remove his family to his new purchase, he was prostrated by an attack of typhoid fever and died, at the age of forty-five years. He was a prominent man in his church, and well known as an earnest worker in his Master's vineyard. He mar- ried Delia Ingalls, and they had a family of three daughters and five sons.
The father of our subject, Ezra Lathrop, was born in Canada, in 1803, and was seven years old when his family returned to Franklin county, Vermont. In 1817 he came with his parents to Dearborn county, Indiana, and in 1822 settled in Greensburg. on the land entered by his father. On this place he spent the remainder of his life. For some years he followed the trade of a con- tractor. Subsequently he engaged in the mercantile business, and on retiring from the latter became a money-broker. He served as magistrate for over twenty years, and was prominent in his community. Mr. Lathrop was an active member of the Bap-
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tist church, in which he held the office of deacon for forty years, and up to the time of his death was a teacher in the Sunday- school. In politics he was originally an old- line Whig, becoming a Republican on the formation of that party. He was deeply in sympathy with the principles which form the foundation of that organization, and gave his hearty co-operation to all meas- ures proposed by its leaders.
Ezra Lathrop was married, in 1824, to Abi, daughter of Nathaniel Potter. The father was a native of North Carolina, and was of a patriotic family, four of his broth- ers being soldiers in the Revolutionary war. He came from Kentucky to Indiana in 1821, and located near Greensburg, where he followed farming, and there died at an advanced age. Eight children were born to Ezra Lathrop and his wife, but of these six died in infancy. The two sons, James B. and Levi, grew to manhood. Levi died in 1874. He was a merchant and banker, and a successful business man. The father accumulated a large property, and at his death, in 1885, was worth one hundred thousand dollars.
James B. Lathrop. the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of his native place and at the State University, at Bloomington, Indiana, at the latter insti- tution taking the scientific course, and he also graduated in the law department, in 1847. In March of that year he was licensed as a preacher of the Methodist church, and traveled on the Martinville circuit. He was admitted to the Indiana conference in the latter part of 1847, and from that time until 1861 filled eleven pulpits, namely: Greenville: Vincennes, Point Commerce. Franklin, Connersville, Vevay, Madison,
Brookville, Columbus, Rushville and Au- rora. In 1861 he removed to Greensburg, and that year organized a church at Adams, where he preached for two years. In the fall of 1864 he returned to Connersville. remaining there one year, when he was ap- pointed presiding elder of the Indianapolis district. This office he filled until 1867, when he was changed to the Lawrenceburg district, where he has served for six years. In 1873 Mr. Lathrop was appointed to the charge of Grace church, Indianapolis, resid- ing in that city until 1874. when he was called back to Greensburg on account of the death of his brother, and his appointment as guardian of his brother Levi's estate. During the following five years he filled the pulpits of two churches near Greensburg and also that of Mitroy, Rush county, for three years. In 1877 he retired from the ministry and settled in Greensburg, and for the following five years was associated with the Greensburg Woolen Mill Company. as business manager. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and banking. Mr. Lathrop has been vice-president of the Cit- izens' National Bank for six years, and a director in the same institution for a much longer time. He owns seven hundred and seventy-two acres of land in Decatur and Rush counties, and carries on farming quite extensively. He also owns some valuable real estate in the city of Greensburg.
Socially our subject is a member of Greensburg Lodge, No. 36, F. & A. M .. Shelbyville Commandery. K. T., and of the chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Conners- ville.
Mr. Lathrop was married November 30. 1848, to Miss Mary Butler. of Blooming- ton, Indiana, who died December 2, 1897.
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Of their six children, four are living: Ella, wife of Judge F. E. Gavin, of Indianapolis: Lizzie Butler, who resides with her father; Maggie, wife of John S. Shannon, a law- yer and the present mayor of Alexandria, Indiana; and Harry, who resides in Greens- burg, and who married Drusilla, daughter of John Browning, of Indianapolis.
PASCHAL T. LAMBERT.
Paschal T. Lambert, who stands alone in his special line of business in Greensburg and Decatur county, has continuously re- sided in this place ever since the centennial year, but was well known in this locality many years prior to the date of his becom- ing a permanent citizen here.
On both sides of his family Mr. Lambert is of English extraction. His grandfather, Daniel Lambert, a native of New Jersey. settled in Kentucky at an early day. becom- ing one of the pioneers of that now flour- ishing state. He carried on a large farm and continued to dwell there until his death. To himself and wife, formerly a Miss Bourne, two daughters and a son were born. The latter. John Lambert. father of our subject, was born in Scott county, Ken- tucky, whence he removed to Marion coun- ty, Indiana, in 1830. He died at his home- stead in that county some twelve years later, when but thirty-seven years of age. His wife, whose maiden name had been Lucinda Turpin, departed this life the same year, 1842, aged thirty-five years, and two sons and two daughters were left to mourn their loss.
Paschal T. Lambert, the eldest of his par- ents' children, was born in Marion county,
just west of the state capital, May 24, 1831. Orphaned at less than twelve years of age, the boy went to live with his mother's brother, Robinson Turpin, in the neighbor- hood of his birthplace, but at the end of three years he entered the home of William Myres, a farmer of this county, remaining with him for some seven years. In the mean- time he attended the district schools, more or less, each year, and in 1853 obtained a position as a clerk in a dry-goods store, for John P. Hittle, of Greensburg. At the end of about nine months he went to Iowa, where he was engaged in the varied occu- pations of dry-goods merchant, grocer, and dealer in live stock. He also was book- keeper in a bank for some time, and filled a few offices in Monroe county. He served as a justice of the peace and as county com- missioner, overseeing some notable im- provements and at all times standing as a champion of progress. At length, after twenty-two years passed in active enter- prises in the great western state, he re- turned to Indiana, and for three or four years made his home upon a farm situated two miles west of Greensburg. Later he moved into the town, and devoted his earn- est attention to the making of a complete set of abstracts of titles to real estate. His long, arduous labors resulted in his being the present possessor of the only complete set of abstract books in this coun- ty, this having cost him over three thou- sand dollars. to say nothing of the great strain there was upon his physical endur- ance. Because of his superior knowledge and facilities for obtaining the necessary facts in regard to the transfer of real estate. as well as for many other reasons, not the least of which are his sterling integrity and
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justice, he transacts a very extensive busi- ness in real estate.
Now, having arrived at an age when the shadows of life begin to lengthen. Mr. Lam- bert is in possession of a competence, which he has earned in the strictly legitimate channels of business, and, looking back- ward, he has no just reason to feel that a high degree of success has not attended the major portion of his enterprises. As long ago as 1855 he became a member of the Masonic order, and has passed all the chairs in both the lodge and chapter. His mar- riage to Eliza H. Saunders, of Iowa, was celebrated in 1857, and three daughters were born to the worthy couple, namely: Susan, Lazena, and Clara. Lazena became the wife of Edward M. White, now the prosecuting attorney at Muncie, Indiana; Clara is the wife of O. G. Miller, a success- ful attorney and real-estate dealer of Greens- burg; and Susan is now associated with her father in the abstract and real-estate busi- ness.
HARRY O. MATTHEWS.
Few men are more widely known in Decatur county than Harry O. Matthews, who is one of the young representatives of the journalistic profession. but his years are no measure as to his ability. for he has attained a position that might well be en- vied by those whose connection . with the "art preservative of all arts" greatly ante- dated his. He is now editor and proprietor of the Greensburg Daily and Weekly News. and in the conduct of these papers is meet- ing with excellent success.
Mr. Matthews is a native of Greensburg. his birth having occurred on the 21st of
October, 1875. His parents are James H. and Phoebe W. (Garver) Matthews. The paternal grandfather, James Dunlop Mat- thews, was of Irish descent, and was born May 10, 1823, near Greenfield. Ross coun- ty, Ohio, his parents being John and Han- nah Matthews. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his ma- jority, and then removed to Indiana. He was married November 14, 1844, to Mary Ann Wilson, daughter of John H. Wilson, of South Salem, Ohio. They became the parents of four children, including James H., the father of our subject. As a means of livelihood, the grandfather engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a spe- cialty of the breeding of Clydesdale horses. He carried on business on an extensive scale, and in connection with agricultural pursuits he engaged in merchandising About 1844 he united with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, in Hebron, Indiana, and in December, 1865, was elect- ed one of its ruling elders, continuing his connection with the denomination until his death, which occurred in Greenfield, Ohio. March 18, 1895, in the seventy-second year of his age.
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