A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 64

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

USA > Indiana > Boone County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 64
USA > Indiana > Clinton County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 64
USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 64

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

which, supplemented by close observation and business contact with his fellows in after years, has made him an intelligent and well-informed man. Mr. Coyner was married in Montgom- ery county, Ind., October 18, 1842, to Han- nah Little, daughter of Ezra and Elizabeth (Martin) Little, early settlers in this county, and began housekeeping on a forty-acre tract of land, which he purchased from the govern- ment. This land was wholly unimproved at the time, and he was compelled to work hard for one year in order to obtain sufficient money to pay the entry price of the same. His first residence was a diminutive log cabin, in which some of the happiest days of his life were passed, and with the assistance of his good wife, who was indeed a true helpmate, he soon succeeded in improving his condition and in due season had a good farm in cultivation with an additional number of acres. Mr. Coyner proved a successful manager, and by judicious investments became the possessor of a large amount of land, aggregating 500 acres, the greater part of which he has since generously divided among his children, giving to each of them forty acres. The names of his children are as follows: William, Joseph, Phoebe, Al- pheus, John, Etta, Minnie, Orlando, and Mor- ton. Of the above, Alpheus is deceased, dy- ing at the age of twenty-one; he was an ex- emplary young man and consistent member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Coyner has a beautiful home, his farm being supplied with a fine modern residence and other buildings in keeping, and for years he had been looked upon as one of the success- ful agriculturists of Perry township. In the growth and development of the county he has been no unimportant factor, and although not a seeker after official honors, he has frequently been solicited by his fellow-citizens to accept positions of trust which, with the exception of trustee, he has steadily refused. He is a mem-

ber of the Methodist church, to which he con- tributes liberally of his means, and in political matters is an earnest and outspoken supporter of the republican party.

ANIEL E. CRIPE, M. D., is a native of Indiana, born in the county of Howard on the fifth day of May, 1850. His grandfather, Joseph Cripe, a na- tive of Ohio, was one of the earliest pioneers of Clinton county, Ind., moving here as long ago as 1824, and locating near the present site of Rossville, where he entered a large tract of land and became a farmer of much means. In early life he learned the cooper's trade, and worked at the same in connection with agri- cultural pursuits after becoming a resident of Clinton. He was a man of character and true worth, and died on the home place a number of years ago. His son, Isaac Cripe, the doc- tor's father, was born in Darke county, Ohio, January 6, 1815, and at the age of nine years was brought by his parents to Clinton county, Ind., where he grew to manhood on a farm. He was married, in 1839, to Sarah M. Daniels, after which he moved to Howard county, where, until 1876, he worked at his trade, that of stone-mason. He was a member of the German Baptist church, and from the above year until his death, which occurred April 17, 1893,- was an acceptable minister of the same, making his residence during that period in the county of Carroll. Isaac Cripe was a man of much more than mental endowments, and he was quite successful as a farmer, while his work in the ministry bore good results in the strengthening of his church and in leading many people to the higher and better life. Isaac and Elizabeth Cripe were the parents of the following children: Jonathan, who was a mem- ber of company E, One Hundred and Ninth Indiana volunteer infantry; George B., a resi-

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D. E. CRIPE, M. D.

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

dent of Carroll county, Ind. ; Lucy E., wife of J. Wagoner, of Carroll county; and Daniel E., whose name introduces this notice.

Daniel E. Cripe remained with his parents until his tenth year, after which he made his home with Dr. Crider, of Pyrmont, Ind., until nineteen years of age, and for some time thereafter lived at the same place with Dr. Hall, studying medicine in the meanwhile. He pursued his studies diligently until nearly twenty years of age, when he began the prac- tice at Pyrmont. Carroll county, Ind., where he remained until 1872, moving to the town of Lexington in that year. Subsequently he practiced at Kilmore, same county, until 1877, at which time he located at Hillisburg, Clin- ton county; thence, in 1884, he moved to Frankfort, in which city he has since resided. The doctor traveled for two years in special work connected with his profession, and his success in the general practice and in surgery has been most gratifying. He was graduated from the Indiana Medical college in 1893, and the same year received his diploma from the Orificial college, Chicago, in both of which in- stitutions he made a creditable record as a student. Since locating in Frankfort, he has built up a large and lucrative practice through- out Clinton county, and his services are fre- quently sought in obstinate and critical cases at remote distances from where he is located. As a physician. he is careful, conscientious and capable, and he is characterized by integ- rity of purpose and kindness of heart, which, with his well known ability in his profession, have won a permanent place in the regard of his fellow-citizens. In August, 1894, he was elected dean of faculty of the American Med- ical college of Indianapolis, and also has two chairs, viz : professor of general and clinical surgery and professor of orificial surgery. He is also vice-president of the board of trustees. The doctor was married April 7, 1872, to Sa-

rah E. Mitchell of Tippecanoe county, daugh- ter of Joseph and Melinda Mitchell. Dr. Cripe is a Mason, a member of the I. O. R. M., and belongs to the Knights of Maccabees.

ILLIAM ROSSER CUNNINGHAM -The success that has accompanied the career of the subject of this sketch is such as should encourage the youth whose outset in life may not be under the most favorable circumstances. Though of excellent parentage, Mr. Cunning- ham was not born nor reared in the luxuries of wealth. He was compelled to leave school at the age of ten years, to become the source of his own support, and in March of 1869, when just past the age of fifteen years, he began to serve an apprenticeship as a machinist, at La Fayette, Ind., his home and birth place. His birth took place January 4, 1854. His parents were William Rufus and Mary Ann (Rosser) Cunningham. The father was a native of Augusta county. Va., having been born there October 8, 1818. He died in La Fayette, Ind., July 24. 1880. He was a son of William Cunningham, whose wife was Mary Doak. The Cunninghams are of Scotch- Irish lineage, and belong to one of the oldest families of Virginia. The mother of William R. was born at Springfield, Ohio, in the year 1822, and died at LaFayette, Ind., in 1855. She was of Welch origin. Of the five children she bore her husband two died in early life; those living are-William R., Ella J .. and Fanny D. The father married the second time, wedding Elizabeth Jordan, who had by him four children, namely-Edward, Annie, Emma and Alice; she died in 1882. The sub- ject's father, with his parents and family, emigrated to Ohio from Virginia at an early date; they were opposed to slavery, though Virginians, and aided in operating an under-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ground railroad in Ohio, from which trouble arose, and because of this trouble William R. Cunningham, Sen., left Ohio Ior Indiana in 1833. He traveled on horseback from Cincin- nati to Logansport, and thence to LaFayette, where he married in 1842 and settled down in life to his occupation of carpentering. He was a republican in politics, but but never sought office.

After serving an apprenticeship of three and a half years in the Union Machine shops, at La Fayette, the subject of this sketch spent about one year in machine shops at Lima and Dayton, Ohio, and thereafter was employed at. La Fayette, till the year 1875, when he be- came an engineer in the fire department of the latter city, a position he held two years, and then for one year was engineer at the water- works of La Fayette. Thereafter he was foreman at the Union Machine shops at La Fayette till 1882. During the next four years he was a member of the firm of Cunningham & Temple in the general foundry and machine business in the same city. In July, 1886, Mr. Cunningham came to Frankfort and be- came superintendent for the Wallace Manu- facturing company. The Wallace Manufac- turing company manufactures a full line of brick and tile machinery, including the "Lit- tle Wonder," the " Big Wonder," also " Cun- ningham's Automatic Cutting Table." The machinery manufactured by this company has won a large patronage, and is shipped all over the world. The business of the company is under the sole supervision and management of Mr. Cunningham, the secretary and superin- tendent of the company, which was organized and incorporated as a stock company in 1883. The other officers are R. P. Shanklin, presi- dent; D. A. Coulter, vice-president; and Robert McClamrock, treasurer. Mr. Cunning- ham is a mechanical genius, and has invented much of the machinery manufactured by the

company. He is very deservedly classed among the self-made men and representative citizens of the state. In politics he has always been a stanch republican, and fraternally a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. ; of the National Union; and of the Masonic order, being a knight templar Mason. His first marriage occurred in 1874, July 25, in La Fayette, Ind., to Mollie Grifton, a native of La Fayette, by whom he had one child, Arthur Steele Cunningham; the mother died in August, 1876, then, in 1878 he married Miss Priscilla E. Moore of La Fayette. Two children, Mary E. and Auburn Smith, have been born unto the second marriage.

3 OHN W. DAILY is one of the best known railroad men in the employ of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City company, and is equally as well known as a citizen and highly esteemed resident of the city of Frankfort. Mr. Daily was born in Tippecanoe county, Ind., April 19, 1850. His parents were farmers and their home was on the old battle ground of Tippecanoe, near the city of La Fayette. Their names were Peter and Mary (Kenny) Daily, and both were natives of Massachusetts, where they were reared and married. Peter Daily was a son of John Daily, a native of Ireland, who emi- grated to America in an early day and settled in the old Bay state. Peter was an early pi- oneer of Tippecanoe county, his settlement there being the result of an investigation of that fertile section of Indiana while engaged as a contractor in the construction of the old Wabash & Erie canal. He became a resident of Indiana about the time of the completion of the canal, and located upon the farm near the old battle ground, upon which his remaining years were passed, dying in 1866, aged fifty- five. His widow is now seventy-six years old, and makes her home with her son and

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

daughter in Chicago. She bore her husband four children, whose names are as follows : John W., Mary E., Edward and Catherine- the last named deceased.

Up to the age of seventeen, the subject of this sketch assisted his father on the farm and then began his career of railroading, which he has since so successfully continued. His early education, obtained in the schools of La Fayette, was supplement by a course in the Battle Ground collegiate institute, and his first work in railroading was in construct- ing telegraph lines. After a short time in that capacity, he accepted the position of brakeman, and, for efficiency in that line of service, was soon promoted and given charge of a train. From 1868 to 1870 he served as brakeman, and from the latter year till 1875 was a conductor in the employ of the Wabash company. In 1875 the Wabash railroad ceas- ed to control the Lake Erie & Western, and at that date Mr. Daily entered the employ of the latter company in the construction de- partment. Later, he became conductor for this road, but in 1882 changed his employ- ment to the construction department of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City railroad, continuing in that position about one year. He then engaged with the Wheeling & Lake Erie company, with which he remained un- til 1883, in August of which year he ac- cepted the position as conductor on the "Clover Leaf," and has since held the same. Upon accepting the above place Mr. Daily moved to Frankfort, and has since made this city his home. Mr. Daily has been an active worker in the interest of his fellow- railroad men, being a prominent member of the order of Railway Conductors, in the de- liberations of which he takes an active part. He is also a knight templar Mason, and stands high in that fraternity. Politically Mr. Daily is a stanch democrat, and in June,

1894, was honored by his party with the nomi- nation for the office of sheriff of Clinton county. Mr. Daily enjoys great popularity in railroad circles and among the people generally, and a list of the representative citizens of Frankfort would be incomplete without an appropriate mention of his name. In 1872 Mr. Daily and Miss Elizabeth Company, of Detroit, Mich., were made man and wife, and the result of the union is three children: Edward Bartholomew, Ella M. and Homer F.

HOMAS C. DALBEY, ex-postmaster of Frankfort, is a native of Greene county, Ohio, and dates his birth from the twenty-second day of Au- gust, 1837. The founder of the Dalbey family in America appears to have been one Richard Dalbey, a native of France, who emigrated to the United States sometime prior to the Rev- olutionary war, and settled in Frederick county, Va. Among his children was Joel Dalbey, father of Thomas C., who went in an early day to Greene county, Ohio, and there married Nancy Curry, daughter of John Curry, a Virginian and a pioneer of the county of Greene. John Curry was a son of Thomas Curry, who emigrated from his native country Ireland, to the United States many years ago and settled in Virginia. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and did yeoman service for his adopted country during that struggle. The following children were born to Joel and Nancy Dalbey: Ellen, deceased; Jane, de- ceased: Thomas C., John R., Daniel M. and Joseph I. They removed to Clinton county about the year 1850, and settled on a farm a short distance northeast of Frankfort. Here the death of Joel Dalbey occurred in 1859 at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was a man of many excellent parts, a success-

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ful farmer, and for over half a century was a faithful minister of the gospel.

Thomas C. Dalbey, whose name introduces this sketch, was a youth of thirteen when his parents moved to Clinton county. His early years were spent in work on the farm and in attending brief terms of school in the winter seasons, and he remained under the parental roof until entering the army in 1862. Mr. Dalbey entered the service as a private in com- pany I, One Hundreth Indiana infantry, and upon the organization of the company was elected second lieutenant of the same. On the twenty-third of November, 1863, for duty efficiently performed, he was promoted to the captaincy of the company and served in that capacity until 1865, in March of which year he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Fiftieth regiment. He was the trusted leader of company I, One Hun- dreth regiment, on many a bloody battle field, among which may be enumerated-Black River, Jackson, Miss., Missionary Ridge, and the numerous engagements of the Atlanta cam- paign. He was with Gen. Sherman in the celebrated march to the sea, and from Golds- borough, N. C., was sent to Virginia to become lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundreth Indi- ana, serving in that capacity until honoroably discharged on the fifth day of August, 1865.

After the war Mr. Dalbey engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Clinton county and con- tinued the same until 1878, in which year he became a citizen of Frankfort. Since moving to the county seat MI. Dalbey has devoted his attention to business affairs of different kinds, and in October, 1889. was appointed post- master of Frankfort, the duties of which he discharged until June 1, 1894. As an official Mr. Dalbey was popular and efficient, and he retired from the office enjoying, in the highest degree, the esteem of his fellow-citizens of Frankfort and Clinton county, irrespective of

party affiliations. He has always been a pro- nounced republican in politics, taking an active interest in behalf of his party, in the councils of which his advice and influence have contributed no little to its success in a number of hotly contested elections. He served as member of the common council of Frankfort, and while belonging to that body proved a true guardian of the interests of the municipality by bringing about a number of important measures. At different times he has been called to fill other positions of trust, in all of which he acquited himself in a man- ner creditable to himself and satisfactory to all concerned. Dr. Dalbey is a member of the G. A. R. and belongs to the Masonic order, and the Methodist church embodies his reli- gious creed. He was married, in 1869, to Harriet J. Trowbridge, a union severed by the death of Mrs. Dalbey in 1887. She was a de- vout member of the Methodist church, a faith- ful wife, a loving mother and a most devoted friend Her death was a sad blow to her hus- band and family and was felt as a personal loss by a large circle of friends in Frankfort and Clinton county. To Mr. and Mrs. Dalbey five children were born : Lillie F. (deceased); Mary E .; Paul C .; Winifred (deceased); and Leonard (deceased).

APT. LEWIS H. DANIELS, of Frankfort, Clinton county, Ind., was born in Indianapolis, Ind., December 7, 1839, and is a son of Samuel P. and Barbara (Hinkle) Daniels. Samuel P. was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., born in ISII, and a son of William, who came from Ireland when a young man and located first in Philadelphia, and later in Indianapolis. Sam- uel P. Daniels was reared to manhood in Philadelphia, learned tailoring there, was mar- ried in 1834, and in 1836 removed to Indian-

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

apolis and opened a shop on the present site | in contracting until 1869; then passed two of the Bates House, and here died in 1885. - years as superintendent of bridge construction on the "Big Four" railroad between Indiana- polis and Lawrenceburg, and in 1871 came to Frankfort and resumed his former business of contracting, which he continued until 1890, when he was elected township trustee. In the meantime, however, in 1876, he went to Mich- igantown, Clinton courty, where he resided four years, and then returned to Frankfort and resumed contracting. Among the other edi- fices which he erected may be mentioned the Second Ward school-building, I. O. O. F. hall, the First Ward school-building, the present Masonic hall, a majority of the busi- ness blocks on the square, the residences of Alexander Given and James Coulter and others. His wife Barbara Hinkle, was born in Phila- delphia in 1807, and became the mother of three children, viz : Benton William, de- ceased; Lewis H., our subject, and Hannah H .; wife of Leonard Fatout, a contractor of Indianapolis. Samuel P. was a Methodist in his religion and in his politics was a strong democrat. He was a prodigy of learning, was for four years connected with the Indianapolis Sentinel, and was the first postal clerk ever appointed in Indiana, serving in this capacity during the administrations of Pierce and Buchanan; he was state librarian one term. and city assessor. He was prominent as an Odd Fellow and was trustee of lodge No. 44 for several years, and was also a member of the encampment. and was strictly a self-made man.

Lewis H. Daniels was educated in the schools of his native city, and there also learned the trade of carpenter, serving an ap- prenticeship of four years. He then worked as a journeyman until his enlistment, in April. 1861, in company H, Twelfth Indiana volun- teer infantry, but in June was transfered to company A, Thirteenth Indiana volunteer in- fantry, the first three-year regiment, with which he remained until July, 1864. In Octo- ber, 1861, he was promoted to be corporal; in December, 1861, he was made second duty sergeant; October 17, 1862, at Suffolk, Va., he was commissioned second lieutenant, and promoted to first lieutenant June 3, 1863, and at Cold Harbor was promoted to the cap- taincy, July, 1863, and held this position until his discharge, July 1, 1864, at Indianapolis. The captain has never applied for a pension. although in his long and brilliant career he, like thousands of others, contracted some chronic trouble, while escaping without a wound.

On his return to his home, the captain fol- lowed his trade two years, and then engaged

The marriage of Capt. Daniels took place in Indianapolis December 28, 1866, to Miss Mary A. Beam, a native of Indianapolis, born May 13, 1842, and a daughter of David and Anna (Hopkins) Beam, natives, respectively. of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. David Beam, father of Mrs. Daniels; was an enterprising business man; and was the proprietor of the first planing-mill operated in Indianapolis; in politics he was a democrat, and in religion a Presbyterian. Mrs. Daniels is a Baptist and her husband a Methodist. In politics the cap- tain is a democrat, and was elected township trustee by a majority of thirty-eight votes, overcoming a prior republican majority of 300. Fraternally, he is a Free Mason; a past-grand of the Odd Fellow lodge, and a member of the encampment; a charter member of the I. O. R. M. tribe of Frankfort, and a member of the G. A. R. post. He is also president of the association formed from the Thirteenth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, a social organization. He has accumulated much val- uable real estate in Frankfort and he and family are highly respected by the entire com- munity.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

EWTON C. DAVIS, M. D., a promi- nent physician of Frankfort and a man of national reputation as a man- nfacturer of proprietary medicines, was born October 20, 1856, in Knox county, Tenn. His father, William B. Davis, was born in South Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Hefflin, was born in the year 1839. After his marriage, William B. Davis located in Smith county, Tenn., and became a planter of large means, owning at one time- 330 acres of land and twenty-eight slaves. He resided in Smith county until 1855, thence moved to the county of Knox, and after a short residence there returned to his former home, where he lived until the emanci- pation of his slaves in 1861. In the latter year he emigrated to Fulton county, Ill., where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1866, at which date he moved to the city of Springfield,

that state, where he still lives. Mrs. Davis died in October, 1859, and subsequently Mr. Davis took unto himself another wife. Three children were born to William B. and Caroline Davis, namely: Amanda L., deceased, Louisa A., wife of E. W. Altland of South Bend, and Newton C., whose name appears at the begin- ning of this notice. William B. Davis served with distinction in the Mexican war as captain, and was wounded in one of the battles of that struggle. He is a man of marked intellectual- ity, a democrat in politics, and takes a promi- nent part in the affairs of the city where he resides.

When five years of age the subject of this sketch went to live with John Lancaster, Esq., of Fulton county, Ill., and remained under his roof until 1866, when he accompanied that gentleman to Kansas. While in the west Mr. Lancaster engaged in farming where the city of Lawrence now stands, and after two years spent there changed his location to Kansas City, where he died in the spring of 1871. His

widow then returned to Fulton county, Ill., throwing the subject of this sketch upon his own resources, and for the period of one year young Davis worked at any kind of honest em- ployment that his hands found to do. Deter- mined to adopt something definite as a means of support, the doctor learned the trade of car- riage painting at Astoria, Ill., and continued the same there and at other places until his twenty-third year. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. J. A. McGill, of South Bend, Ind., where he remained three years, and on the nineteenth day of March, 1884, was graduated from the Cleveland Homeopathic college. After completing his professional education, Dr. Davis located in the practice of medicine at Frankfort, Ind., and has since made this city his home. He did a general practice until 1890, at which time he embarked in the manufacture of proprietary medicines. which he has since carried on very successfully, with a constantly increasing reputation. The medicines bearing his label are known all over the United States and parts of Europe. So rapidly have his remedies grown in popular fa- vor that the doctor has established an agency in the city of New York, and gives steady em- ployment to four traveling salesmen. Dr. Davis was married in the city of Frankfort June 30, 1886, to Miss Emma L. McCurdy, who was born April 22, 1864, in the city of Indianapolis-the daughter of Hugh and Martha J. (Walker) McCurdy. They have one child- Martha. Politically the doctor is a republican, and fraternally, belongs to the Masonic and Pythian orders. The doctor's life is a com- mendable example of what may be accom- plished by perseverance, seconded by strong will power and marked intellectuality. That he has been successful is sufficiently attested by his present conspicuous standing, at which he has arrived without any assistance save the well formed determination to make the best of

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080