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 36
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After receiving a district school education Mr. Douthitt taught for four years in Sullivan county, in 1887 entered the Valparaiso normal school for a year, taught for several years, and was then chosen deputy county clerk under William M. Denney. He held the office named for
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about a year, in 1892-3, and as he had been studying law for a number of years during the time he could snatch from his educational and official duties, he had been admitted to the Indiana bar in June, 1890. In 1893. after resigning his position of deputy county clerk, Mr. Douthitt began the continuous practice of his profession in partnership with Judge O. B. Harris (mentioned biographically in this work), and the firm of Harris & Douthitt continued until 1896. The junior member then practiced alone until 1905. when he associated himself with Milton A. Haddon. under the present firm name of Douthitt & Haddon. His practice of fifteen years in Sullivan county had brought Mr. Douthitt in connection with nearly all the important cases of that period, either in his private capacity as a lead- ing attorney or as county attorncy, city attorney and deputy prosecuting attorney. He ably discharged the duties of the last named office for two years. Besides carrying a large general practice, Mr. Douthitt is the attorney for the National Bank and the Sullivan County Loan & Trust Company, and has long been classed as among the strong corporation lawyers of his section of Indiana. He owns a fine residence on the corner of North Court and Beach streets, and has been recognized for so many years as one of the steadfast forces operating for the advancement of the city and county that his contemplated removal to Terre Haute is con- sidered a most serious loss to the entire community. He has already purchased property and made office arrangements in that city, and plans to remove his residence thither in September, 1908. There the field of his activities will be larger, and his many friends and admirers therefore anticipate for him even a broader and brighter career than he has enjoyed in the past.
Mr. Douthitt has always been a firm Democrat, but has had no politi- cal ambitions. He is a Mason of long and high standing, having filled all the offices of the Blue lodge of Sullivan, No. 263, A. F. and A. M., and served as high priest of the Jerusalem Chapter, No. 81, R. A. M., of Sullivan. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, and is also an active member of the order of Elks. Both Mr. and Mrs. Douthitt are identi- fied with the Masonic auxiliary, Order of the Eastern Star. In November, 1890, Mr. Douthitt was united in marriage with Miss Ella Mayfield, who was born in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, in April, 1871, a daugh- ter of William C. and a Miss (Bowen) Mayfield. The mother died when Mrs. Douthitt was a young girl, and her father, who served in the Civil war, passed away in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Douthitt have two sons-Arista B., born November II, 1891, and Earl, born April 9, 1897-both of whom are pupils in the Sullivan high school. The parents are earnest members of the Baptist church, Mr. Douthitt having been on its board of trustees since the erection of the house of worship in Sullivan.
S. PAUL POYNTER, a well-known figure in the newspaper field of Sullivan for more than a decade, was born at Eminence, Morgan county. Indiana, on the 29th of March, 1875, a son of Jesse A. and Martha Lutitia
Vol. II-19
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Poynter. The father was a blacksmith and wagonmaker by trade, and for several years prior to the age of fifteen the son was employed in these lines. At that period of his life he added carriage-painting to his other handicrafts, and was thus enabled to earn enough money to complete his education. He was first educated in the graded schools at Cloverdale, and afterward took a course at DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, from' which he graduated in 1897 with the degree of Ph. B.
In July of the above year, soon after his graduation, Mr. Poynter entered newspaper work in Sullivan, and has been in the business con- tinuously since that time. He bought the Democrat when the business was at a low ebb, and developed it to a profitable establishment. In 1904 he absorbed the Times, his Democratic competitor, and in the following year started the Daily Times, through these agencies being one of the most influential Democrats in the county. Outside of his newspaper business he is most interested in real estate. He is vice president of the State Democratic Editorial Association, and is also a Methodist, having been a member of the official board of the church since 1900. He is identified with three branches of the Masonic order-Free and Accepted Masons, Roval Arch Masons, and Order of the Eastern Star-and also is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and the Elks.
Mr. Poynter was married, April 11, 1900, to Miss Alice Ilma Wilkey, daughter of the late Nelson Wilkey and Ann B. Wilkev, and the two chil- dren born to them are Eleanor Allen, February 24, 1901, and Nelson Paul Poynter; December 15, 1903. Both of Mr. Poynter's parents are living. His father was a soldier in the Civil war, his service covering more than three years. He was a musician, serving with Company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and with Company B, Thirty- first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participated, among other great engagements, in the battle of Shiloh.
CHARLES WILLIAM WELMAN .- Prominent among the citizens of Sullivan, Indiana, is Charles William Welman, an attorney-at-law and real estate dealer. He is a native of Crawford county, Indiana, where he was born September 18, 1858, his parents being John and Martha J. (Chamberlain) Welman. John Welman was born in Orange county, Indiana, January 19, 1826, and now resides in the town of Fort Branch, Gibson county. The paternal grandfather was born in Kentucky in 1801," and the paternal great-grandfather, Samuel Welman, was born about 1760 in Maryland, and went to Kentucky about 1790. In 1819 he and his family moved to Harrison county, Indiana. He resided in Harrison, Crawford and Orange counties until his death, which occurred about 1850. The grandfather. Samuel Cignor Welman, moved to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1863, and died there in 1870. The Welmans were all farmers. John Welman, the father of Charles W., now lives retired at Fort Branch, Indiana. He is a Democrat and a regular Baptist. Martha J. (Chamber-
CHARLES W. WELMAN
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lain ) Welman, the mother, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, November 24, 1830, and died December 7, 1905. Her mother died of the cholera in 1837, at about the same time that her father was drowned in the waters of the Mississippi river as he was on his way with a shipload of pork. Mrs. Welman then crossed the Ohio river and was reared by her grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elias Hedden, of southern Indiana, with whom she lived until her marriage, at the age of eighteen years. Although she had few educational opportunities, yet she became a well-posted and cultured woman. By her marriage to Mr. Welman ten children were born, five of whom died in infancy, and the others were as follows : Samuel B., residing in Evansville, was born in 1850 and has been a rail- way contractor many years ; Mary E., widow of Charles Ripley, formerly of Chicago; Susan, who died in 1895, married Thomas W. Redman ; Charles W., of this memoir ; and Joel H., who died in 1875.
Charles W. Welman was born on his father's farm in Crawford county. The father moved to Fort Branch, Gibson county, when the son was about five years of age. The son's early education was received at the public schools, and later, in 1879-80, he attended the college at Val- paraiso. He was a teacher in the public schools of Gibson and Vander- burg counties a number of years. In 1888, Mr. Welman went to Sulli- van and was editor and manager of the Sullivan Times until 1896. In 1891 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Sullivan county, serving four years and three months. He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and has been an expert accountant in Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana at various times and in various counties. In the meantime he practices law and deals in realty. In 1905, Mr. Welman platted forty- eight acres of land, the same being recorded and now known as "Wel- man's First Addition to Sullivan." It lies adjoining the corporation of Sullivan on the north. On this addition Mr. Welman has erected a beauti- ful and modern residence. He also platted fifty acres to the north of the first addition, and this is known as "Highland Park."
Politically Mr. Welman is a Democrat of no uncertain type. He was nominated on this ticket in 1894 for clerk of the supreme court of Indiana, but was defeated. Again, he was defeated for county treasurer in a field of five candidates by only thirty-nine votes. In 1902, 1906 and 1908 he was a candidate for Congress, but was not nominated in . either campaign. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been identified with that order since 1889, and belongs to the Blue lodge and chapter. He is also a member of the Elks, Eagles and Knights of Pythias, all of Sullivan.
Mr. Welman was united in marriage in 1884 to Frances R. McCleary, a native of Gibson county, Indiana, who was born in 1868. This union resulted in the birth of one son, Victor A., born in December, 1884. He was graduated in the scientific, classic and law courses at Valparaiso, and is located in Seattle, Washington. For his second wife Mr. Welman married in 1903 Miss Nelle Farley, a native of Sullivan, Indiana, and by this union two children were born, Agnes, born March 20, 1905, and Charles Warren, born January 27, 1907.
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WILLIAM H. CROWDER, SR., a retired banker residing at Sullivan, Indiana, was born November 18, 1838, in Putnam county, Indiana, a son of William Milton and Hannah C. (Cox) Crowder. His father was born in North Carolina in 1816 and died in July, 1851, at Sullivan, Indiana. He was an only son and was a practicing physician who graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1850. The mother was born in Day- ton, Ohio, in 1819, and died in Sullivan, August 23, 1903. They were married in Putnam county, Indiana, in 1837, and eight children were born to them, as follows: William H., of this notice; Robert H .; James H., deceased; Oscar H., residing in Sullivan ; John H., residing at Gor- con, Nebraska ; Milton H., a resident of Sullivan; and two who died in infancy.
William H., of this sketch, was born and was reared on a farm until 1847, since which date he has lived at Sullivan. When but fifteen years of age he opened a general store in Sullivan and was connected with this business until 1885. On July 4, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Regiment, serving in the Union cause until the spring of 1863. All of his brothers except Milton served in the army, and none were ever wounded and none ever claimed a pension until the act allowing pension for age was granted. In 1875, Mr. Crowder became president of the bank at Sullivan, and retained such office until July, 1900, when he of choice retired from active business pursuits. He is still a director of the Sulli- van State Bank and vice president of the Citizens' Trust Company and one of its directors. Politically he is an ardent supporter of the Prohi- bition party. He belongs to the Odd Fellows order and is also numbered among the members of the Grand Army of the Republic. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Crowder was married in August, 1863, to Sarah R. Stewart, a native of Sullivan county, Indiana, born May 23, 1842, and who died May 31, 1902. Ten children blessed this union, and they are as follows : Edgar S., resides in Sullivan ; Mary, deceased ; William H., Jr., also resid- ing at Sullivan ; Hirell, a resident of Indianapolis ; Katherine ; Benjamin C .; James Hanry ; Jessie; Dorothy ; and Isaac Milton. The last six are all residents of Sullivan. All this family received good educations within Sullivan. Mary attended school at New Albany and at DePauw Univer- sity ; Katherine, at DePauw; Milton and Benjamin also attended De- Pauw ; Dorothy was graduated at St. Mary of the Woods; Edgar and Harvey attended school at Purdue ; and Jessie at Oxford.
JOHN SISSON, a farmer residing in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, was born March 10, 1846, in Jefferson township, a son of Ben- jamin W. and Miranda (Davidson) Sisson. The father was born March 15. 1815, in Jessamine county, Kentucky, and died February 10, 1897; he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Pleasantville. The mother was born February 3, 1814, and died August 18, 1882. Benjamin W. came from Kentucky to Sullivan county before his marriage, and was united in
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marriage in this county. He entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Jefferson township and followed farm pursuits all of his life. Politically he voted the Democratic ticket, and was a member of the Methodist church, as was his wife. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, two of whom died in their infancy. The others are as follows: Judea, unmarried and residing on the old home farm in Sulli- van county ; Mary, on the home place, the widow of Austin Graham; Paulina, who married James Anderson and resides in Pleasantville ; Miranda, who resides in Jefferson township, the wife of James Wells; Daniel W., who married Lizzie Maddox and resides in Oklahoma ; and John, of this sketch.
John Sisson, subject, received his education at the common school, but spent most of his youthful days on the farm, assisting his father to clear and improve his land. He continued to reside at home until in 1874, when he purchased a farm containing one hundred and twenty-five acres, where he now resides, the same being situated one mile west of Pleasant- ville. After buying this place, which was mostly in a wild and unim- proved state, he set about to clear it and fit it for cultivation, which task he accomplished almost without help. He farmed at home until his marriage, and was engaged in buying and shipping stock for about fifteen years. His present farm contains one hundred and eighty-nine acres of choice, well improved land. Mr. Sisson is now quite extensively engaged in sheep-raising. He rents out a portion of his farm and looks after the remainder himself. He is very fond of hunting, and was at one time con- sidered a good marksman, and still enjoys the chase.
Politically Mr. Sisson is a Democrat, believing this party best serves the interest of the masses of American citizens. He belongs to the Meth- odist Episcopal church, as does his wife, and is a trustee in this church. He is also affiliated with the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 408 at Pleas- antville, and also with Black Creek Encampment No. 177 at Sanborn, Knox county, Illinois. Mr. Sisson was initiated in Pleasantville Lodge No. 408, located at Pleasantville, Indiana, on the 29th of April, 1873, and received the pink degree April 29, 1873 ; the second, or blue degree, April 1, 1874, and the third, or scarlet degree, April 1, 1874. He was made vice grand July 1, 1875 ; noble grand, January 1, 1876 ; and was made a member of the Grand Lodge in October, 1876.
He was married, November 17, 1887, to Ella J. Shake, born Sep- tember 1, 1865, in Haddon township, this county. She is the daughter of David and Eliza (Corbin) Shake, the former still living in Haddon township, but the latter is deceased. The following paragraphs appeared in a local newspaper commemorating the death of Mrs. Shake:
"Mrs. David Shake died Sunday morning about four o'clock at her home three and a half miles east of Carlisle, after a long illness. Funeral services were held at eleven o'clock Monday morning at the Indian Prairie Baptist church, the pastor, Rev. C. L. Merriman, officiating. Interment in the Indian Prairie cemetery.
"Eliza Corbin Shake was born in Sullivan county, January 8, 1836. She was united in marriage to David Shake, September 25, 1859, and to
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this union have been born four children-Charles E .: Vincent, who died in 1877; Ella J., Mrs. John Sisson ; and Dora E., Mrs. J. F. Douthitt. Mrs. Shake became a member of Indian Prairie Baptist church, Septem- ber 16, 1871, and since that time has tried to live a faithful Christian life. She has been an invalid for thirty years, thirteen and one-half of which she was confined to her bed. The 8th of last September she fell and broke her arm, since which time she has been a constant sufferer. She was promoted to the heavenly life January 22, 1905, aged sixty-nine years and fourteen days. She leaves a husband, three children, a sister and many friends to mourn her departure. She was a true and affectionate com- panion, a loving and devoted mother, a good neighbor, and worthy citi- zen, bearing all of her afflictions patiently.
Mr. Shake always followed farm life for his livelihood. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson are the parents of one child, Mary D., born January 3, 1889, and now the wife of Charles Yates, a resident of Linton, Indiana, and a teacher. Mrs. Sisson is a member of the Rebekahs at Pleasantville, Indiana, Lodge No. 605, and she has passed all the chairs in her order.
Mr. and Mrs. Sisson have one of the old parchment deeds executed August 1, 1843, and signed by President John Tyler, a valuable heirloom in the county.
JAMES H. NEAR, who has been a farmer of Sullivan county, Indiana, since 1870, is a native of Clark county, Ohio, where he was born February 18, 1849, a son of H. J. Near and Elizabeth, his wife, whose maiden name was Applegate. The parents were both born in Clark county, Ohio. The mother died in 1853. in her native county, and the father died about 1879. in Clark county, Illinois. The father was married three times. For his second wife he married Mrs. Ann (Lockhart) Chance, a native of Clark county, Ohio, who died in Knox county, Indiana. For his third wife he married Mrs. Mariah (Coffee) Munk, who now resides in Jasper county, Illinois.
By H. J. Near's first marriage the children born were: a daughter, who died in infancy ; William A., deceased; James H., of this review ; and Joseph M., a resident of Union county, Ohio. To the second mar- riage there were born five children: Azilla Jane, wife of Jacob Laferty, of Champaign county, Ohio ; Charles, deceased ; Frank, residing near Casey, Illinois; Clara, deceased; and Lizzie, deceased. The issue by the last marriage was: James, George and Eliza, all residing in Illinois. William A. Near, the eldest son of H. J. Near by his first marriage, was a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Infantry. He served three years during the Civil war and received a wound in the shoulder- blade. He died in the seventies. Politically the father was a Democrat, and he and his first wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
James H. Near was reared midst the scenes of rural life, and early began working out on a farm, for which services he received but twenty- five cents a day. In 1871 he commenced to farm for himself, and has fol- lowed this occupation ever since. In 1867 he went to Greene county,
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Indiana, and in March of the same year came to Haddon township, Sulli- van county, first locating a half mile from where he now resides. He carries on a seventy acre farm, which he owns, raising cereals and paying much attention to stock-raising. In the late seventies and early eighties Mr. Near operated a wheat separator and did threshing, with a horse- power engine. He has always been a very busy man, and has prospered through his industrious habits. Politically he votes with the Democratic party.
He was married February 28, 1870, to Elizabeth Deveors, born on the opposite side of the highway from where she now resides, April 15, 1855, a daughter of James and Eliza (Carrico) Deveors, both of whom are now deceased. The mother was born in Sullivan county, a daughter of Reason and Elizabeth (Trimble) Carrico. They were among the earliest settlers in Haddon township. Father Deveors was born in Marion county, Indiana. Mrs. Near is a member of the Christian church at Bethany, Jefferson township. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Near are as follows: Florence, born October 26, 1871, is now the wife of O. Padgett, of Terre Haute ; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of John Roox- bery, and they had an infant child, deceased; William A., residing in Jefferson township ; Charles L., also residing in Jefferson township, mar- ried Nellie McCammon, and they have one son and one daughter, Ralph and Lela ; Zelma, deceased, married Scott Willis and left one son, Harold E. Willis, who is also now deceased ; Iva, unmarried, at home ; and Nora. who died in infancy. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. O. Padgett, of Terre Haute, are: Flossie, Lourice R., Elwon A., Doris, Tressa L. and two infants, deceased. Paul Y. Near, a son of William A., is living with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Near. They have had twelve grand- children, and eight are living, two boys and two girls being deceased.
JAMES MAHAN, who is farming. in Jackson township, was born in Mason county, Kentucky, December 20, 1830, a son of Jerry and Jemima (Browning) Mahan, both of whom were also born in the Blue Grass state and were of Scotch-Irish descent. They came to Sullivan county during the early boyhood of their son James and purchased a farm in Jackson township, but the mother only lived a short time after coming north, and the father died in the early seventies.
When James Mahan attained the age of twenty-two years he left the parental home and bought seventy-eight acres of land in Hamilton town- ship. He at once began the arduous and difficult work of clearing his land and preparing it for purposes of cultivation, and that farm was his home from 1853 until 1896, since which time he has lived retired at Hymera. He sold his farm in 1904, but he owns four lots in this city, on which his pleasant and comfortable home is located. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Democratic party.
On the 4th of June, 1865, Mr. Mahan married Caroline M. Zink, a sister of Albert Zink, who is represented elsewhere in this history. She
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is his second wife, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children. Mr. Mahan has six children, namely: James Monroe, a grain and coal dealer in Mansfield, Illinois; Evelyn, now Mrs. Brecount, a widow residing in Indianapolis; John P., who is farming in Michigan; Walter, a telegraph operator at Bethany, Illinois ; Manson M., a miner in Hymera ; and Clara, who became the wife of Mr. Railsback, a traveling salesman whose home is in Hymera, and she is deceased. Mr. Mahan has made many friends throughout the years of his residence here, and is honored and revered for his many sterling characteristics. Mrs. Mahan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hymera.
DR. JAMES H. NEFF, of Sullivan, is of true German descent. Three brothers left Virginia, where they had settled, and one of the number went to Pennsylvania, one to Ohio, and the other to Kentucky. The paternal grandparents came from Kentucky and settled in Hendricks county, Indiana, where they located on a farm. Years later they sold and went to Montgomery county, Indiana, where the grandfather purchased more land and there passed the remainder of his life. The maternal grandfather (McGrew) was an early settler in Sullivan county, and he died when the subject's mother was a small girl. The Doctor's parents were Willis G. and Mary A. (McGrew) Neff. The father was born in Boyle county, Kentucky, and the mother in Sullivan, Indiana. The paternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Kenton) Neff, he of Virginia and she of Kentucky, and the maternal grandparents were Burr and Elizabeth (Maxwell) McGrew, natives of Indiana. Simon Kenton, an uncle of the subject's mother, was associated with Daniel Boone. It may be related in this connection that the grandfather McGrew was an early settler in Sullivan, and was very highly esteemed among the pioneer band. The Doctor's father was county recorder of Sullivan county, and also its prosecuting attorney at one time. He moved to Greencastle in 1866, and was postmaster there under President Grover Cleveland. He also represented Putnam county in the state legislature four terms, and continued to live at Greencastle until overtaken by death. His wife now resides at Terre Haute. There were six children in the family of Willis G. Neff and wife: Elizabeth, who died aged six years; Catherine, who died aged four years ; Frank, who died in infancy ; Dr. James H., of this memoir ; Jessie, Mrs. George G. Morris, of Terre Haute ; and W. Duff, of Terre Haute.
Dr. Neff was born in Sullivan, Indiana, October 18, 1863, and was educated at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, at the Belleview Hospital, New York City, and attended DePauw University four years. Having chosen medicine for his life's profession, he commenced his prac- tice at Hudsonville, Illinois, where he continued in practice four and a half years. He then moved to Fairbanks, Indiana, September 14, 1894, and there resumed his medical practice, in which he was highly successful. He continued there until January 1, 1909, when he removed to Sullivan to give his children the benefit of the schools.
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