A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 21

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 21
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 21

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).

The marriage of the doctor occurred December 8, 1859, with Miss Emily Jane McVey, of West Virginia. Their married life was a short one, as she died April 5, 1863,

leaving one child, Delphina Louise, wife of Motley H. Flint, United States post office in- spector for the Pacific coast, residing in Los Angeles, Cal. In 1867 Dr Cottrell married again, his second wife being Miss Catherine Drennen, of Delaware county, Ind., by whom he has had two children-John Francis and Charles Orrin. Dr. Cottrell is a member of the County Medical society and the Delaware District Medical society. Politically he is a republican and supports the nominees of his party whenever occasion demands. Dr. Cottrell is an earnest and painstaking physi- cian and fully merits the trust reposed in him by the people of Muncie. During a twelve years' residence in the city he has built up a fine practice, which is steadily increasing.

RANVILLECOWING. -- Joseph Cow- ing, father of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, was born in the city of Carlisle, England, September 12th, 1800. He received a fair education in Dumfries, Scotland, came to America in 1819, landing in Alexandria, Va., where he worked at his trade as a tailor. Later he visited relatives in Washington, D. C., and after remaining there a short time went with Nathaniel Horner, who afterwards became his brother-in-law, to Weston, W. Va., where he married Miss Rachel Hor- ner and located. In 1830 he removed to Fair- field, Greene county, Ohio, where he pursued his trade and acquired some property. In 1840 he removed to Andersonville, Franklin county, Ind., at which place he served as post master for a period of twelve years. In 1853 he removed to the county of Delaware and bought a farm near Muncie, where he resided until 1860, at which time he removed to De- catur county. Six years later he retunred to

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Delaware county, where he made his home un- til the death of his wife, after which, until his own death on 6th of May, 1878, he lived with his children. His wife, Rachel Horner, was born in Hardy county, May 10, 1803, married in 1820 and died January 18, 1873, a consist- ent member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Cowing's great-grandfather, Richard Horner,

was a native of Scotland and came to America with Lord Baltimore. For services rendered the colony he obtained a patent for 10,000 acres of land lying between Annapolis and Baltimore. After his death his son, also named Richard, became sole heir, who, dying, left his estate to Benj. Horner, the grand- father of the subject of this mention. Benj. Horner was for three years a sailor and after- ward served as soldier in the army of Gen. St. Clair, from which he was honorably dis- charged September 14, 1800. To the union of Joseph and Rachel (Horner) Cowing were born nine children, three girls and six boys, two of the former dying in early childhood.

Granville Cowing was born March 1, 1824, near the town of Weston, Lewis county, Va. He learned to read, before six years old, by attending school taught by an old lady in her own house near his home. In 1830 he accom- panied his parents to Fairfield, Ohio, where he remained for nine years, in the meantime attending school in the winter and working on farms during the summer seasons. In August, 1839, he went to Rushville, Ind., to live with his brother-in-law, in whose establishment he learned the trade of a tailor. Soon finding this business distasteful, he abandoned it to become a printer in the office of the Rushville Whig, a newspaper started in 1840 by P. A. Hackleman, to aid the election of Gen. Harri- son to the presidency. After serving an ap- prenticeship of three years, he continued in the office until the year of 1845, at which time, in partnership with N. W. Cox, a life-long

friend, he purchased the paper and published it for about three years, when, on account of ill health, Mr. Cox retired from the business, disposing of his interest to another party. In the fall of 1849 Mr. Cowing also sold his inter- est in the paper and went to Washington, D. C., traveling over the Alleghanies by stage coach to Cumberland, Md., where, for the first time in his life, he saw a railroad, on which he traveled until reaching his destination.

He spent his first year at the capital in the office of the National Era, the great anti- slavery organ, which was then introducing Uncle Tom's Cabin to the public in its weekly issue. The paper was edited by Dr. Gamaliel Bailey and John G. Whittier, the poet, was printed by Buell & Blanchard, and its office was much frequented by the great anti- slavery leaders, Seward, Chase, Hale, Gid- dings, and others. Clay, Calhoun and Web- ster were engaged at the time in public affairs, and were familiar figures in the national capi- tal. In the fall of 1850 Mr. Cowing was ap- pointed to a place in the second auditor's office of the treasury department by Thomas Corwin, where, for six years, he settled all accounts of officers of the army for all com- pany arms and warlike stores required in active service. These duties often brought him in contact with many men who afterward became great leaders in the late civil war.

His health suddenly failed in the beginning of 1857, and, obtaining leave of absence for three months, he returned to Indiana in the hope that the change might benefit him, but it did not; consequently he resigned his posi- tion. Before leaving Washington city, D. C, J. T. Quisenberry, a friend with whom he had been associated in office for six years, fell heir to 2, 100 acres of land near San Antonio, Tex- as, and offered to give him 100 acres of it if he would go there with him, settle upon it and become his neighbor. This generous offer was

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declined with thanks, mainly because Mr. Cowing believed that civil war could not long be averted and he had no desire to be a citi- zen of a southern state when hostilities began. Since his return to Indiana in 1857, Mr. Cow- ing has resided on the same farm near Mun- cie-a period of thirty-five years-cultivating farm crops and small fruits, and during that time he has been a constant contributor to horticultural magazines and newspapers. The strawberry has been his favorite fruit, and he was the first, and, for many years, the only person in Delaware county, who cultivated it largely for market.

On September 2, 1851, Mr. Cowing was united in marriage to Miss Ann Fitzgerald, of Washington, who died February 16, 1853, leaving one child, Frances Alice, whose death occurred on the 16th day of December, 1854. On the 18th of February, 1855, Mr. Cowing married Mrs. Lucy O'Farrell, to which union have been born three sons and one daughter: Lewis G., George Edward, Hugh A. and Flor- ence. Lewis is one of the leading fruit grow- ers of Delaware county and an enthusiastic horticulturist; George Edward died at the age of six years, and Hugh is one of the promi- nent physicians of Muncie.

The following is a brief sketch of the re- maining children of Joseph and Rachel Cowing. John G. Cowing was born Septem- ber 25, 1825, became a painter, married and settled at Andersonville, Franklin county, where he still resides. He enlisted at the be- ginning of the civil war and was made a con- firmed invalid at the siege of Forts Henry and Donelson by reason of exposure to snow and ice while in the trenches. Cultivating fruits is his favorite employment. Joseph L. Cow- ing was born in Virginia in 1826, became a tailor, located in New Salem, Rush county, Ind., where he served as post master for many years and also several terms as township trus-

tee. He died in the autumn of 1880. Alvin M. Cowing was born in Virginia, acquired a limited education in the ordinary schools, and, when old enough, learned the tailor's trade, in which he became quite proficient. He married Miss Judith Kemper of Clarksburg, Ind., and, soon afterward, with Mr. Jefferson Kemper, purchased the Rushville Republican, which he published for several years. Subse- quently he disposed of his interest in the paper and removed to Montezuma, Iowa, where he founded another newspaper. He was elected clerk of the Iowa legislature, and afterwards became.one of its members, and in 1860 bought his father's farm near Muncie, Ind., to which he at once removed. August 1, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixty-ninth regiment Indiana volunteers, was made lieutenant in company B, and received his death wound at Richmond, Ky., on the 30th of the same month, while endeavoring to rally his men toward the close of the battle. William J. Cowing was born in Ohio and entered the printing office of his brother Granville in 1848. He owned and edited the Rushville Republican for several years, and in 1861 received an appointment in the treasury department of Washington city. He remained in the national capital until the breaking out of the war, when he resigned his place and established a daily paper in Alexandria city, Va., which he published until the war ended. He was secretary of state under the restored government of Vir- ginia, and afterwards received a place in the department of agriculture, which he retained until his death, in October. 1893. George W. Cowing was born in Ohio-became a printer, and was long employed in the govern- ment printing office in Washington city. During the war he was connected with the quartermaster's department. He died Janu- ary 16, 1873, and his body was laid to rest in Beech Grove cemetery at Muncie, Ind.

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0 SCAR W. CRABBS .- Conspicuous among the representative and suc- cessful business men of the city of Muncie is Oscar W. Crabbs, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 12, 1852. His parents, Benj. F. and Louise (Folcarth) Crabbs, are natives of the same county and state, where they now reside. Oscar W. Crabbs early manifested great aptitude for business, and at the age of seventeen embarked upon his commerical career by dealing in coal, wood, hay, grain, etc., in which lines his success was fully com- mensurate with his expectations. In 1885 he located in Muncie, Ind., and engaged in buy- ing, pressing and shipping hay, from which has been developed his present business-one of the most successful of the kind in the city. He deals extensively in wheat, corn, clover, seeds, etc., and from long practice and wide experience has so learned to manage his busi- ness that prosperity has attended his efforts. Mr. Crabbs is a member of the Co-operative Gas company of Muncie, and is now looking after the city's interest as a member of the common council from the First ward, in which body he is chairman of the important commit- tees on water works, cemetery and judiciary. Politically he is a republican and stoutly sup- ports the party with which he is identified, believing that its principles inure to the best interests of the country. Mr. Crabbs was married in 1872 to Miss Mary E. Hosier, daughter of Robert Hosier of Montgomery county, Ohio, to which union have been born three children, namely: Claudia Burdelia, Frank Dodds and Robert Benj. Mr. Crabbs holds to the creed of the Methodist church, and with his family belongs to the Muncie congregation, in which he holds the position of trustee. He was one of the members of the building committee, and to him is largely due the credit of pushing forward to completion

the present magnificent church edifice in which the congregation worships.

0 ZRO N. CRANOR, a leading mem- ber of the Delaware county bar and state senator for the counties of Del- aware and Randolph, was born in Wayne county, Ind., September 4, 1855, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Study) Cranor, both families pioneer settlers of Wayne coun- ty. John Cranor, however, was born in Ohio, July 6, 1828, but has passed his whole life, so to speak, in Wayne county, having been brought here by his parents in the fall of the year of his birth. He now has his resi- dence in Dublin, that county, and has been a minister in the United Brethren church for thirty-three years. Mrs. Elizabeth (Study) Cranor, also a native of Wayne county, Ind., was born April 7, 1830. The maternal grand- mother of Ozro N. Cranor bore the maiden name of Lomax, and her family settled in what is now Wayne county, Ind., as early as 1811.

Ozro N. Cranor is the second eldest in a family of five children. His preliminary edu- cation was obtained at the common schools of his native county, and this was supplemented by attendance at the Hartsville and Otterbein universities. In the spring of 1876 he went to Vermillion county, and for six years taught school, and while there, on the 4th day of September, 1878, was married to Miss Mattie J. Arrasmith, but insatiate Death stepped in ere little more than a year had passed, and claimed the bride as his own. Her death occurred September 28, 1879, but she left her husband a pledge of her love-Bertha-born June 23, 1879. In 1882, Mr. Cranor came to Delaware county, and November 23, 1883, chose for his second wife Miss Victoria L.,

O. N. CRANOR.

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daughter of Capt. John and Eliza B. Ross, and to this happy union have been born two chil- dren-John R., born August 27, 1884, and Gifford B., born May 21, 1893. Mr. Cranor having duly prepared himself, began the prac- tice of law in Muncie in 1889, and in this pro- fession he soon forged his way to the front. In politics he is a republican through and through, is a worker for his party, and is as popular in its ranks as he is before the general public. In 1888 he was elected to represent his fellow citizens of Del- aware county in the lower house of the state legislature, and so well did he take care of their interests during the term, that he was sent back to the state capital in 1892, as joint senator from the counties of Delaware and Randolph, of which office he is still the incumbent. Mr. Cranor is a member of Mun- cie lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., and of Muncie Encampment, No. 30, and he and wife ·are consistent and faithful members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. As a professional man his success has been most gratifying, and- as a member of society his gentlemanly de- portment has won him hosts of friends.

EORGE W. CROMER, one of the enterprising and successful members of the Delaware county bar, and a prominent politician of this part of the state of Indiana, was born in Columbus, Madison county, Ind., May 13, 1857, a son of Joshua and Mary (Shultz) Cromer, natives of Maryland, and Wayne county, Ind., respect- ively. These parents moved to Salem town- ship, Delaware county, in 1857, where they purchased a farm and where they now reside. George W. Cromer in early life attended the public schools in Salem township and supple- mented his elementary education by a full

course in the State university, at Bloomington, from which he graduated in 1882. Thus thoroughly equipped, he was ready to choose a profession, and, deciding upon the law, entered the office of Ellis & Walterhouse in 1883, and so great was his application and natural ability that one year later he was ad- mitted to the Delaware county bar. Since that time he has been kept busy practicing in the district, county and state courts, and has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative legal business, being one of the most success- ful lawyers of the city of Muncie, which has long been known for its men of high legal at- tainments.

Politically, Mr. Cromer is a republican, and has always been an active and energetic worker for his party. In 1892 he was chair- man of the county central committee and a member of the state republican committee for the Sixth congressional district. He was elected prosecuting attorney for the Forty- sixth judicial district in 1886, was re-elected in 1888, and discharged the duties of that po- sition in a manner highly creditable to himself and eminently satisfactory alike to his friends and to those opposed to him politically. Fraternally he is a member of the B. P. O. E., the I. O. R. M. and the I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He is considered one of the rising men of the city, and his career is watched with much interest by his friends, who predict for him a future of great promise.

J AMES N. CROPPER was born in Ran- dolph, county Ind., February 7, 1838, son of Bela W. and Elizabeth Cropper. Bela W. Cropper was a native of Woodford, county Ky., where he grew to man- hood on a farm, and later followed boating on

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the Ohio river, in which business he continued with a reasonable degree of success for some years. He married, in his native state, Eliza- beth Ashby, who was born in Henry county, Ky., and after a brief residence in Ohio and a return to Kentucky, moved to Indiana about 1833, settling in Randolph county, eight miles southwest of Winchester, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Bela W. and Eliza- beth Cropper represented a parentage of four- teen children, five of whom are living at this time, the youngest of the family being James N. He was for many years an active men- ber of the Regular Baptist church, being a deacon, and also serving as clerk of the asso- ciation. He was for many years a justice in the township of West River, and achieved considerable reputation in his community as a local politician, first as a whig and later as a republican. He was one of the pioneers of Randolph county, being among those who en- tered the county at a time when but little effort had been made to disturb the original possessors of the soil-the savage red man and the wild beast of the forest. He possessed many noble traits of mind and heart, which have been reproduced in his descendants, and died at his home in West River township, Randolph county; at a ripe old age deeply la- mented by all who knew him His widow sur- vived him a short time, and now rests by his side in the cemetery at Huntsville near his old home.

James N. Cropper was reared to agricul- tural pursuits on the homestead in Randolph county, and early became familiar with all the details of farm life. His primary education was acquired in the country schools, the train- ing thus received being afterwards supplement- ed by a course in what was known as the Farmers' academy, Jay county, in which insti- tute he made such commendable progress that within a short time he was sufficiently ad-

vanced in his studies to procure a license enabling him to teach in the public schools. He served as local correspondent for the coun- ty papers and contributed to them and other publications numerous articles on topics of public interest. He was engaged as teacher in the winter seasons until the breaking out of the war, at which time he deemed it his duty to assist in preserving the Union. According- ly, on the 19th of July, 1862, he enlisted as private, and was mustered into the service at Indianapolis, as a sergeant, August 19, same year, in which capacity he continued until his promotion to the lieutenancy a few months later. He discharged the duties of the latter position in a creditable manner until 1864, in July of which year, owing to the consolidat- ing of his regiment into a battalion, and death at home, and with the consent -of his com- manding officer, he resigned his commission, returned home and engaged in farm work and teaching. On the 16th day of November, 1865, Mr. Cropper and Sallie A. Mills, daugh- ter of Rufus K. and Elizabeth J. (McPherson) Mills, were united in the bonds of wedlock, remaining for one year thereafter on a farm in Randolph county. In 1866 Mr. Cropper embarked in the general mercantile trade at the town of Huntsville, where he remained for about four and one-half years, at the end of which time he disposed of his stock, the busi- ness not proving remunerative, and located in Muncie, where, for some months, he was var- iously employed, working for a livelihood at whatever he could find to do. This was a trying period in his life, but he encountered and successfully overcame obstacles which would have discouraged many a man of less determination and will power. Among the different occupations in which he was engaged after coming to this city were wood sawing, gathering corn for neighboring farmers, market gardening, and various other kinds of labor,

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and teaching school in the country in winter. He was appointed and accepted the position of deputy township appraiser and assessor, and served five terms. He also served as deputy sheriff cf Delaware county under Andrew J. Slinger, the duties of which position he dis- charged in an eminently satisfactory manner for a period of two years. He then clerked with different mercantile firms of the city until 1883, when he effected a co-partnership in the grocery trade with Jonathan P. Adamson, which relationship was severed two years later, Mr. Cropper purchasing the entire stock and continuing the business very successfully until June, 1892. He disposed of his stock in that year and retired from mercantile pursuits, since which date he has given his attention almost exclusively to his real estate interests in Muncie, being one of the principal movers in the Riverside addition, where his holdings are large and very valuable.

Mr. Cropper is a commendable example of what may be accomplished by perseverance and prudent management, and he has shown himself to be a man of discreet judgment, scrupulous integrity and gentlemanly de- meanor. That he has been successful in his various business enterprises is sufficiently at- tested by his present conspicuous standing in Muncie, where only a few years ago he arrived without any capital worthy of mention, save a well formed determination to make the best of very discouraging surroundings and to over- come obstacles which to the majority of men would have appeared practically insurmount- able. He is not identified with any church, but affiliates with the Society of Friends, as also does his wife. He served as superintend- ent of the Mission Sunday school of this society for several years, commencing with its organization. Since attaining his legal ma- jority, he has exercised his elective franchise in behalf of the republican party, the princi-

ples of which he believes to be for the best interest of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Cropper have one child, a daughter, Ina C., wife of F. B. Nickey, one of the leading business men of Muncie.

EORGE W. CROZIER, general man- ager of The Crozier Washing Machine company, is one of the progressive citizens who serve to build up and improve any community in which fortune has placed them. Mr. Crozier was born in Piqua, Ohio, July 21, 1847, a son of William. J. and Ann (Ross) Crozier, the former a native of Scotland, and an early settler of Piqua, and the latter a native of the same county. They now reside near Toledo, Ohio.

George W. Crozier was educated in the public schools of Defiance, Ohio, after which he learned the machinist's trade, displaying a natural aptitude for mechanical work. In 1873 he opened a foundry and machine shop at Napoleon, Henry county, Ohio, which he conducted until 1879, when he removed to Columbia City, Ind., and changed his business, becoming the proprietor of the Central house. In 1883 he came to Muncie, and soon after this invented a patent buggy top, and engaged in manufacturing the same for four years, also manufacturing the Crozier gas regulator, of which he was also the inventor.

In 1890 Mr. Crozier was so fortunate as to patent something which filled a long felt want, this being the now celebrated Crozier washing machine, and he at once began the manafac- ture of them, in January, 1892, organizing the Crozier Washing Machine company, and be- coming general manager of the same. This company does the largest business in their line of any firm in the city. He is a stockholder in several co-operative gas companies, and is a member of the Citizens' Enterprise company,

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and is socially connected with the I. O O. F. and the I. O. R. M. Politically he is a demo- crat, and stanchly upholds the principles of his party.

In 1872 Mr. Crozier was married to Miss Mary A. Rogers, daughter of Joseph Rogers, of Henry county, Ohio, but he was called upon to mourn her death in 1881. She left a family of five children, as follows: Cary, May, Elta, Leroy and Walter. In 1886, Mr. Cro- zier married Mrs. Jennie Ray, of Muncie, a lady of many fine qualities, and a member of the Baptist church.

ALTER L. DAVIS, the well known journalist and business man of Muncie, is a native of Warren county, Pa., born October 21, 1850, in the town of Youngsville. His father, Wil- lard J. Davis, also a native of the same county and state, was born May 17, 1828, the son of Abraham and Ruth (Mead) Davis, whose an- cestors came to the United States from Wales a great many years ago. Willard J. Davis still lives upon the farm where he was born, a part of which is embraced within the corporate. limits of Youngsville, and is perhaps the largest bee raisers in the state of Pennsylvania-his apiary consisting of over five hundred stands, the product of which finds sale in Philadelphia and other large eastern cities. He married, in 1849, Miss Laura Littlefield, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Mead) Littlefield, of Warren county, Pa., a union blessed with the birth of four children: Walter L., Homer F., James H., who died at the age of eleven years, and Mary Alice. Willard J. is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church in the town where he resides, and for a period of forty years has been leader of the choir in the

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 21

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474