USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > A history of Sullivan County, Indiana, closing of the first century's history of the county, and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth, Volume II > Part 35
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John B. Mullane attended the public schools until eighteen years of age, after which he went to college at Bedford, Indiana. He was reared in Lawrence county, and came to Indiana when aged eight years. He made his home with Charles Trueblood, with whom he remained ten years. He farmed and worked for his board winters, going to school, thus showing that he appreciated a good education. Later he taught school two terms in Lawrence county, and then began clerking in a general merchandise store. Coming to Sullivan in 1879 he was employed by the firm of Hostetler & Williams, general dealers, with whom he con- tinued for two years. After leaving this store he, having become ac- quainted with such work, found employment with other business houses there until about 1895, when he embarked in the real estate business and also farmed. In 1900 he opened his present store, consisting of hardware, implements and vehicles. He operated independently for three years, when he induced his father-in-law, George Price, to become his partner, and then added furniture to his stock of goods. The firm name is now J. B. Mullane & Company. Besides his mercantile interests he is a stock- holder and director of the Citizens' Trust Company of Sullivan. On the 3d of February of the present year his store with its contents burned and entailed a loss of twenty-five thousand dollars, with but forty-five per cent insurance.
In his political views Mr. Mullane is a pronounced Republican. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows order.
In the month of March, 1884, he was united in marriage to Teresa
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Price, born in Sullivan July 4, 1862, and educated in the public schools and at Eminence College, Kentucky. She is the daughter of George and Mollie (Wolf) Price. They have three children living and one deceased : Beulah (deceased), Joseph W., Daniel F. and Price. Joseph graduated in the class of 1908 at the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Mullane are mem- bers of the Christian church, he having been identified with this body since 1872 and has been an officer since about 1885. He has been Sunday School superintendent and is now one of the trustees.
JOHN F. DOUTHITT, one of the enterprising dealers in clothing and gentlemen's furnishings at Sullivan, was born in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, Indiana, March 28, 1865, a son of John M. and Mary A. ( Howard) Douthitt. The father was born and reared on the same farm on which the son was born. The date of his birth was March 17, 1836, and that of his death May 2, 1904. The mother was also a native of the same township, born September 19, 1841, and she still survives and is residing on the old farmstead. The grandfather, Ira Douthitt, was a native of North Carolina, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Sullivan county, Indiana. They were of Swedish descent. The grandmother Howard was born in Ireland.
John M. Douthitt, the father, followed agricultural pursuits, owning at the time of his death one hundred and eighty-five acres of land, all finely improved. He was in politics a Democrat. During the Civil war he served his country six months in the Union army. He was, and his widow is, a member of the First Baptist church at Indian Prairie. This worthy couple were the parents of the following children: Victoria, wife of George Lucas, residing in Knox county, Indiana ; James E., of Sulli- van ; John F., of this sketch; Grace, wife of William P. Medley, of Sulli- van ; William R., unmarried and living on the old homestead with his mother ; Mary, wife of George Robins, of Knox county, Indiana ; Estella, wife of Frank Robins, fruit grower near Paxton, Indiana ; Lee, residing on a farm in Knox county, Indiana, and is married ; Lucy Edith, wife of Alonzo C. Owens, of Sullivan; Glenn, now teaching at Pleasantville, Indiana ; and Nellie, who died in infancy.
John F. Douthitt, of this narrative, spent his youthful days on his father's farm and attended the public schools, remaining, under the pater- nal roof until he was twenty-three years of age, when he commenced to farm on his own account in Haddon township. After three years he sold out and moved to Pleasantville, engaging in the general mercantile busi- ness, which he prosecuted about five years, with much energy. He next embarked in the milling business at Pleasantville, and made flour for four years, after which he returned to the store and there remained until the autumn of 1899, when he was chosen deputy treasurer of Sullivan county. He served for fourteen months and then was employed by J. W. Wolfe & Son in the clothing business, remaining until May, 1906. At the date last named he with Ira Glidden formed a partnership under the firm name of Glidden & Douthitt, and they engaged in the clothing and gentle-
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men's furnishing goods business at Sullivan. This business is carried on by them at this time in a most successful manner.
In his political choice Mr. Douthitt is a Democrat. In fraternal society relations he is a member of the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, and Ben Hur societies. He was united in marriage, March 15, 1888, to Dora E. Shake, born in Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, August 9, 1870, a daughter of David and Eliza (Corbin) Shake. natives of Sullivan county. The father is still living, but the mother died January 20, 1905. Mr. and Mrs, Douthitt are the parents of four chil- dren : Effie, who graduated with the class of 1908 from the Sullivan high school ; Zadie ; Ella ; and Raymond. The family are all members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Douthitt is its treasurer and deacon.
EDGAR STEWART CROWDER, now operating an automobile garage in Sullivan, is a native of Sullivan, Indiana, born May 12, 1864, a son of William H. and Rebecca C. (Stewart) Crowder. (See sketch of William H. Crowder, Sr.) Edgar Stewart was educated in Sullivan and at Purdue University, graduating with the class of 1887 in the mechanical engineer- ing course of that institution. After leaving the university he engaged in the milling business at Shelburn, Indiana, operating a flour mill some three years, after which time he went to Payne, Alabama, and was engaged in the grain and feed business for two years. He then returned to Sullivan, Indiana, in 1891, since which date he has resided there. He was engaged in the milling industry there and in the mills of the county. the main offices of the company being at Sullivan, while branches were maintained at Marion and New Lebanon. In July, 1907, Mr. Crowder sold out the milling interests he held and operated a general store at New Lebanon, beginning December, 1906. In the month of August, 1907, he opened an automobile garage in Sullivan, and still carries on the same with much success. He handles the Mitchell, Rambler and Maxwell cars, and also does all kinds of repair work, having a fully equipped and thoroughly up-to-date garage.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Crowder is affiliated with the Blue lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, and with the Odd Fellows to the Encampment degree, having filled all the chairs in the last named order and been its representative at the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He also holds a membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, all of Sullivan. Politically he is a staunch Democrat, and has served on the town council, and takes much interest in public affairs in the community in which he resides. In the years 1893 and 1894 he was the county sur- veyor of Sullivan county.
On October 22, 1888, he married Amelia Frank, born in; Quincy, Illinois, December 10, 1868. She was educated primarily at Fort Worth. Texas, and also attended the Sullivan schools in Indiana. She is the daughter of William and Amelia Frank. The former is deceasedl, and the latter resides at Fort Payne, Alabama. The children born to Mr. and
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Mrs. Crowder are as follows: Max Frank, born November 22, 1889, now reading law in Chicago with Castle, Williams & Castle. He graduated from the Sullivan high schools with the class of 1906 and attended the university at Bloomington, Indiana, one year. Mary, born August 17, 1891, now in the Sullivan high school; Helen, born June II, 1896; and Edgar S., Jr., born June 22, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Crowder are both mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM H. BRIDWELL .- The efficient county attorney of Sullivan county, Indiana, William H. Bridwell, was born October 14, 1872, in Owensburg, Indiana, son of Lafayette and Katherine (Keenan) Brid- well. The father was a native of Springville, Indiana, and was born in 1850, dying in 1901. He was of French and English ancestry. Grand- father Noah Bridwell was a pioneer in Lawrence county, Indiana, and died near Springville before the birth of William H. The mother was born in New York City, April 30, 1852, and now resides with her son William H. Her mother was a Kern and a native of Ireland, and she died in the early nineties. Mr. Bridwell's grandfather Keenan died dur- ing the Civil war. Lafayette Bridwell was a physician and surgeon who practiced at Owensburg, Indiana. being graduated from some one of the medical colleges of Cincinnati, Ohio. In politics he was a stanch Demo- crat and was postmaster at Owensburg under President Cleveland's administration. He was a member of the Blue lodge of the Masonic order, and also belonged to the Independent Order of Red Men. Having served in the Union army during the Civil war as a member of the Forty- fifth Indiana Regiment, he naturally found a place in the Grand Army of the Republic. The children born to Lafayette Bridwell and wife were as follows : Minnie, deceased; Frank, of Bedford, Indiana ; John, deceased ; William H., of this notice ; Samuel, residing in Sullivan, Indiana ; Nina, unmarried and lives with William H .; and Curtis, attending the law department of the Indiana University. The mother of these children was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William H. Bridwell received his early education at the public schools of Owensburg, and taught school from the time he was sixteen until he was twenty-one years of age, in Greene county. He then matriculated in the Indiana State University, being in the law department of that insti- tution. He was graduated with the class of 1898, having been admitted to the bar three years prior to his graduation. He was in partnership with C. D. Hunt, of Sullivan, from October, 1895, until 1897, during this time acting as deputy prosecuting attorney. He re-entered the university in February, 1898, being graduated the same year. Upon his return to Sullivan in February, 1899, he opened his present law office on the corner of Court and Jackson streets. He was reappointed deputy prosecuting attorney' in October, 1899, and served two years under E. W. McIntosh. In June, 1900, he was elected county attorney by the county commis- sioners and has served continuously ever since.
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Mr. Bridwell is a member of the Odd Fellows order; he is in the Encampment and has held the office of noble grand and is past chief patri- arch of the Encampment; he belongs to the Rebekahs and the Canton. In Masonry he is advanced, being a member of the Blue lodge, Chapter, Council and Eastern Star. He is also counted among the worthy members of the orders of Elks and Eagles at Sullivan. Politically he is an active Democrat and has served as secretary and treasurer of the central com- mittee, and is now its chairman. He was honored by being. the president of the Sullivan County Bar Association from Thanksgiving, 1906, to Thanksgiving, 1907.
SAMUEL A. WHITE .- Formerly a merchant, but now a capitalist and operator in various financial institutions, Samuel A. White is widely known in Sullivan county. He was born in Prairieton, Vigo county, Indiana, February 12, 1850, a son of George E. and Naomi (Gunn) White. The father, who was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, died when Samuel A. was but two years of age. Samuel White, the grand- father, was born in Germany. The mother was born in Kentucky in 1829, and died in 1904. She was twice married.
Samuel A. White left home at the age of ten years and worked on a farm in Otter Creek township, Vigo county, Indiana, for Warren Genung, with whom he remained one year. The following summer he was employed in the same neighborhood. When he became thirteen years of age he went to Terre Haute, living with his uncle, William Pattock, and entered the public schools, first attending the White Rose school. When four- teen years old he commenced as a newsboy on the Indiana & St. Louis Railroad, but soon abandoned that project. He next entered a confec- tionery store at Terre Haute, with a Mr. Sage, with whom he remained between five and six years. He then went to Fort Scott, Kansas, where he established a confectionery store, which after three months he sold. He returned to Terre Haute and found employment in a grocery store on the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, where he made candy at night for another dealer. After a short time there, in February, 1872, he went to Sullivan and purchased a candy store, which he operated for four years, selling it in 1876 and going back to Terre Haute and entering into partnership with his cousin, Moses C. Carr, in the grocery trade. After one year there he sold his interest and went to Carlisle, Indiana, opening a new grocery store in November, 1878, which was burned in the following February ; but within one week he was in business again across the street.
The Masonic order of Carlisle, jointly with him, erected a two-story brick building in which he opened a store, handling general merchandise. Besides this store building he also erected a residence. Although having built up a good trade, in four and a half years he sold out and went into the drug business at Petersburg, Pike county, Indiana, where he remained two years. He then sold his stock and went to Clay City, Clay county, and bought the only drug store of that place. After six months he sold
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this and went to Sullivan and there engaged in the drug trade, con- ducting it for five or six years, when he again sold out, after which he directed his attention to his farm for nearly five years. In 1895 he bought the drug business of Paul S. Ried, which stock he sold in 1898. Since the late date he has been busily engaged in looking after his sundry financial interests. When the National Bank of Sullivan was organized in June, 1900, he was one of the charter members, and is now a director and stockholder. He is also a charter member and director of the Sullivan County Loan & Trust Company. Mr. White is also interested as stock- holder and is secretary and treasurer of the Hamilton Gas & Oil Com- pany, and is the owner of an excellent farm within Sullivan county.
Politically Mr. White supports the Republican party, locally and nationally. He is connected with the Odd Fellows order, having ad- vanced to the Encampment degree. He is alive to every interest of his home town and county. In 1875 he was married to Rebecca M. Pearce, a native of Haddon township, Sullivan county. Two children bless this union : Robert P., editor of the Sullivan Union, and who married Bertha B. Briggs ; Gertrude A., wife of W. E. Parrott, a solicitor for the Van- dalia Railroad Company, residing in Kansas City, Missouri. Both of Mr. White's children received good educations at the public schools of Sulli- van county. Mrs. White is a member of the Presbyterian church. Her mother, Virginia Pearce, now ninety-three years of age and living at Carlisle, was there during the Indian raids, and Haddon township was named in honor of her father.
ELIJAH E. RUSSELL, deputy county auditor of Sullivan county, Indiana, born April 8, 1867, is a native of Curry township, Sullivan county. He is the son of Spencer and Elizabeth (Gaskins) Russell. The Russells are of Irish ancestry. In the various generations there are many farmers, including the father of Elijah E. Spencer Russell was born in Kentucky and came to Indiana with his parents when a mere lad. Politi- cally he was a Democrat, and in church relations both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. She died late in the nineties, and he in 1906. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Mar- garet, deceased ; Mary Ann, wife of James H. Reed, a resident of Curry township; Serena, wife of Robert Taylor, residing in Sullivan; James Milburne, deceased; Elijah Edward, of this sketch; Manna, wife of John H. Allen, residing at Farmersburg, Indiana ; and Joseph W., resid- ing in Sullivan.
Being reared on a farm, Elijah E. Russell attended the county dis- trict schools. He remained on the home place and was its manager for eight years, from the time he was twenty-one up to his twenty-ninth year. He also during this period learned and worked at the carpenter's trade. About 1897 he purchased an eighty acre farm in Curry township, upon which he lived until 1904, when he took his seat as county auditor of Sullivan county, to which office he was elected on the Democratic ticket
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in 1902. Besides his farm in Curry township he owns his residence in Sullivan. He is a director of the Verdegris River Land & Oil Company of Oklahoma; also director of the Tri-State Oil Company of Illinois. While Mr. Russell was on the farm he did much carpentering and con- tracting in partnership with J. H. Collins, working for nineteen consecu- tive years and taking contracts for school buildings, etc. When he came to Sullivan to take the auditorship they had contracts amounting to twenty thousand dollars on hand. He was defeated for the office of township trustee, and at one time was secretary of the township advisory board. Mr. Russell is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has held the office of noble grand in his lodge.
He was married in December, 1894, to Mary E. Jones, born in Indi- ana, and who came to Vigo county when an infant with her parents, Daniel H. and Mary (Adair) Jones, who are still residing in Linton township, Vigo county. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are the parents of two children : Hazel, born November 23, 1896, and Max, born April 18, 1898.
TILGHMAN OGLE, present county clerk of Sullivan county, Indiana, is a native of this county, born March 26, 1861, the son of William B. and Anna Eliza (Anderson) Ogle. The father died in 1868. Grand- father Ogle came to Indiana from Ohio at a very early day and settled at Prairieton, Vigo county, where he lived for a short time, and then went back to Ohio to afford his daughters a better opportunity to finish their education. Later he again came to Vigo county, Indiana, where he owned fifteen hundred acres of land. William B. Ogle, father of Tilghman Ogle, was a merchant in Vigo county for a time, and also carried on merchandising in Sullivan county. He was elected as treasurer on the Democratic ticket, serving two terms. The mother was born in January, 1823, and still resides in Sullivan. Her mother died in Sullivan at the extreme old age of ninety-four years. Mr. and Mrs. William B. Ogle were the parents of eight children : Belle; Jacob, now residing in Mem- phis ; Charles, Katie and Frank, deceased ; William Baty, Jr., a resident of Ohio ; Tilghman, of this memoir ; and Elizabeth.
Tilghman Ogle attended the public schools of Sullivan and began clerking in a grocery store in 1874, when but thirteen years old. Two years later he went to Terre Haute and there engaged with Car & White, grocers, remaining there until February, 1878. Subsequently he accom- panied Mr. White to Carlisle, Indiana, where he was connected with the same line of business. For the next twenty years he was employed as a clerk in the general store of R. W. Akin, at the end of which long period of service he was elected county clerk of Sullivan county. He was elected on the Democratic ticket, being nominated in the convention against two opponents, and he took his seat in office in 1904. Mr. Ogle is a member of the Odd Fellows order at Carlisle, Lodge No. 50, and has been the noble grand; and also of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Sullivan.
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He was united in marriage, June 2, 1886, to Mary Ella Speak, who was born at Carlisle, Indiana, June 26, 1869, daughter of James E. and Eliza Speak. The latter was a native of Sullivan county, and both she and her husband are still living at Carlisle. Mrs. Ogle was educated at the public schools of her native place. To Mr. and Mrs. Ogle were born two children, Cornelia, attending high school, and Fred. Mr. Ogle belongs to the Christian church, while his wife. is connected with the Methodist Episcopal.
WILLIAM R. NESBIT, an attorney practicing at Sullivan, Indiana, is a native of Hamilton township, Sullivan county, Indiana, born Septem- ber 2, 1861, a son of William O. and Nancy J. (Eaton) Nesbit. The father was born in Sullivan county and died in 1895. The grandfather on the paternal side was born in Kentucky. William O. Nesbit always followed agricultural pursuits. He was a stanch Republican, and served three years in the Union army during the Civil war under Captain Craw- ford, who now lives at Sullivan, Indiana. The mother of William R. was also a native of Sullivan county. She was born in 1831 and died in 1876. Her parents were among the early pioneer band who settled in Sullivan county. William O. Nesbit and wife were united in marriage in Sullivan county and were the parents of six children: John, residing near Paxton, Indiana; Euphrates H., living near the old homestead ; Ira A., residing in Sullivan ; Sara E., wife of Albert K. Boyl, of Sulli- van ; William R., of this sketch ; Armina E., wife of Hardy Raines, resid- ing in Hamilton township, Sullivan county. William O. Nesbit was married the second time, the last wife being Lucy A. Mckinley, now residing at Fairbury, Nebraska. Two children were born of this union : Oran, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Ora, with her mother in Nebraska.
William R. Nesbit was reared on his father's farm and received the common school education which most Indiana boys of his time did. He attended the State Normal School at Terre Haute, graduating with the class of 1885. He returned to his native county and began teaching school in the sixth grade in the autumn of the year of his graduation. In March, 1886, he was promoted to superintendency of the Sullivan public schools, serving until 1891, when he tendered his resignation. He had also taught during his term at the Normal, one year at Burnetts Creek, White county, and one year in the city schools of Logansport. After his resignation from the superintendency of the Sullivan schools he entered the law office of W. C. Hultz, of Sullivan, with whom he read law about one year. In October, 1891, he was admitted to the bar and soon after formed a partnership with W. C. Hultz, his tutor. He re- mained in this partnership until 1893, and then formed a partnership with Judge George W. Buff, of Sullivan, which partnership existed until 1899, after which he practiced independently until July, 1902, when he became the partner of A. G. McNabb. In August, 1902, he received the appoint- ment of postmaster and served as such until February 1, 1907, since which date he has practiced law in Sullivan. Mr. Nesbit owned and edited the
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Sullivan Union in 1902-3. He is a supporter of Republican party prin- ciples and in his society connections is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed all the chairs in that lodge. He was married July 12, 1888, to Effie I. Coulson, daughter of Uriah and Jane A. Coulson. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of Brown county, Indiana. Her father served as postmaster at Sullivan on two· occasions, and is now leading a retired life in Sullivan. Mrs. Nesbit graduated at the Sullivan high school, and was a teacher in the Sullivan public schools for about three years. She was born July 12, 1868, and died April 6, 1907. She was a prominent woman in the society of Sullivan, being president of the Woman's Club. She made the address at the dedication of the Carnegie Public Library. She was not unfre- quently called upon to deliver public addresses, in which she never dis- appointed the people. She was enthusiastic and public-spirited, ever seek- ing to bring about progress and higher thought and action in her county and state. She left two children to mourn her death: Maurice, born August 10, 1889, a graduate of the high school with the class of 1907, unmarried and at home; Mildred, born November 30, 1893, also in the high school. Mr. Nesbit is a member of the Christian church, while his wife was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM T. DOUTHITT, senior member of the law firm of Douthitt & Haddon, of Sullivan, has long, been a leader of the county bar, both in official and private practice. He was born in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, on the 18th of December, 1868, and is a son of Thomas M. and Lydia (Wells) Douthitt. His parents are also natives of the township named, were married therein during the fall of 1867, and are still resi- dents of that section of Sullivan county. Both the Douthitt and Wells families have been identified with the progress of agriculture and the general advancement of this region since the early pioneer period. The paternal grandfather, James Madison Douthitt, was a native of Virginia, married a Miss Good, and entered government land as among the first settlers of Jefferson township. His old-world descent was English. John Wells, the grandfather on the maternal side, also of English ancestry, is believed to have been born in Pennsylvania. It is known that he was one of the Jefferson township pioneers, and that he died therein during the eighties. The members of these families were all farmers, and most of them members of the Baptist church, as were the parents of William T. Douthitt. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Douthitt were as follows: William T., of this sketch; George E., who resides in Car- lisle ; Frank M., a resident of Sullivan county, whose biography is else- where published ; Luretta, who died February 22, 1906; and Elliott, who is married and lives on the paternal homestead.
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