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 22

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 22
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 22

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).

congregation of Youngsville. He has served as justice of the peace for a number of terms, has been a member of the school board for more than twenty years, and is a man of inuch more than ordinary mental endowments.

Walter L. Davis was reared on the home place at Youngsville, and received his early educational training in the schools of that town, which he attended until his nineteenth year. He finished his studies in the high school of Muncie, Indiana, to which city he came in 1869, and on quitting school accepted the position of salesman with his uncle, P. F. Davis, a dealer in agricultural implements. He was thus employed from 1870 to 1877, re- tiring from the business in the latter year and purchasing an interest, with Col. J. D. Will- iams, in the Muncie Courier-Democrat, with which paper. he was connected for two years. He then became city editor of the Muncie Daily News, and one year later, in partner- ship with Charles Alf Williams, purchased an interest in the Muncie Democrat, which paper he managed very successfully during the cam- paign of 1880. Disposing of his interest in the Democrat to L. A. Kirkwood, Mr. Davis resumed his former position on the News, and continued in that capacity until 1885, in December of which year he again purchased the Democrat, consolidating it with the Mun- cie Herald, forming a partnership in the news- paper business with Thomas Mckillip, editor of the latter, a relationship which continued until August, 1889, when he sold out and be- came manager of the paper which he had formerly owned. He filled the latter position two and one-half years, when he retired from journalism, and in May, 1892, accepted the position of assistant secretary of the Muncie Savings & Loan company, one of the most successful associations of the kind in the state of Indiana. Mr. Davis wasone of the original directors of this enterprise, and to his activity

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and judicious management is the association indebted for much of its present prosperity.

Mr. Davis was married October 8, 1879, to Isadore F. Morehouse, daughter of Henry and Mary (Hiatt) Morehouse, of Michigan. To this union one child has been born: Ethel, whose birth occurred March 17, 1882. Mr. Davis belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Maccabees and the National Frater- nal union. In politics he is a democrat, and at this time holds the position of deputy state supervisor of oil inspection in the state depart- ment of geology. Mr. Davis is a man of good business tact, and his knowledge of men, and his experience as a journalist and newspaper man, have enabled him to discharge with credit the duties of the various positions to which, at different times, he has been called. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens of Muncie, and is one of the city's most intelligent and progressive business men.

J OHN WORTHINGTON DRAGOO was born in Perry township, Delaware county, Ind., May 7, 1858, the son of William and Amelia (Gibson) Dragoo, old settlers of the county, and highly respected residents of their township. William Dragoo, the father of John W., was a native of West Virginia, as it is now known, but at the early age of seven years, was brought to Delaware county by his father, who entered eighty acres of land in Perry township, the patent being signed by Andrew Jackson, and this land never changed hands until the death of the patentee, when it was divided among his heirs. William Dragoo was a member of a family of seven children that reached maturity, and had the advantage of an excellent education that he acquired at the schools of Muncie and New- castle, having as classmates such young men

as Judge Shipley and C. Spilker, of Muncie, and others that became famous in later life. The early business life of William Dragoo was that of a general merchant at New Burlington, Delaware county, but later on he withdrew from mercantile trade and engaged in the pur- suit of agriculture, which he followed most successfully until his retirement from active labor to pass the remnant of his days at the residence of his son, John W., in Muncie. John W. also was reared a farmer, and was educated at the public schools. At fifteen years of age he relinquished his studies, and at twenty-one left the farm, and for five years was employed in school teaching and in at- tending schools of a higher grade. The next five years found him again on the farm, and from the expiration of that time until the present the school room has again been the field of his labor. He has in all tanght over fifty months, included in which period are a term of one year as superintendent of the Yorktown schools and his present superin- tendency of the schools of Congerville. He has reached a high position in the estimation of his fellow citizens, and by them was elected county assessor in the winter of 1892.

The marriage of Mr. Dragoo took place May 7, 1884, to Miss Frances R. Jump, the accomplished daughter of Dr. S. V. Jump, of New Burlington, and four children have been the fruit of this happy union, viz: Charles, Earl, Nina F., Mary L. and Charlene. In politics, Mr. Dragoo is a republican, and fra- ternally he is a Patriotic Son of America. He has led a studions and industrious life, has been faithful and energetic in the discharge of his professional and public duties, and has proven himself to be in every respect fully worthy of the responsible trusts reposed in him. The family hold a position in society of which they may well feel proud.

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J OSIAH W. DRAKE, an ex-soldier and well known citizen of Muncie, Ind., was born in Brown county, Ohio, June 3, 1841, a son of Robert and Melissa (Gardner) Drake. They were natives of Ohio, and after marriage followed farming. In 1851 they came to Hamilton county, Ind., where they now reside. Josiah W. Drake received a common school education, and engaged in business on his own account in 1865, begin- ning the harness making in Boxley, Hamilton county, Ind. He was appointed post master of the village by Andrew Johnson, serving in that capacity for one year. He then engaged in saw and flour milling, following these occu- pations for two years, and then spent one year in Orange county, at French Lick, for the benefit of his health. Becoming some- what better, he returned to Hamilton county and engaged for one year in selling Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines; then located at Berlin, Clinton county, Ind., where he fol- lowed the mercantile business for one year, but sold this and removed to Circleville, same county, where he engaged in painting for the four succeeding years. At the end of that time he took a contract for supplying the ties for the L. E. &. W. R. R. for one year, and then removed to Muncie, continuing in the employ of the same road in the bridge depart- ment. Mr. Drake's war record is an honor- able one, and his pension of six dollars a month was valiantly earned. In July, 1861, he en- listed in company B, Thirty-ninth Indiana volunteers, and at the expiration of his term of service re-enlisted at Ringgold, Ga., in Feb- ruary, 1863, serving in company B, Eighth Indiana cavalry. He participated in many hard skirmishes and took part in the battle of Chickamauga, being finally discharged at Wilmington, N. C. In 1885 Mr. Drake en- gaged in the restaurant business, and has since continued in the same line, becoming pro-

prietor of the LaClede, October 13, 1892. Mr. Drake was married in Hamilton county, Ind., October 6, 1866, to Miss Aman- da Phillips, who was born in Morgan county, Ind., daughter of Thomas Phillips, a native of North Carolina. Three children have been born of this marriage - Myrtle and two infants, all deceased. Politically Mr. Drake is a dem- ocrat, and is one of the sterling citizens of the flourishing city of Muncie.

ILLIAM EDGAR DRISCOLL, B. S., M. D., is one of the prominent professional men of Muncie, a native son of Indiana, born in Centre township, Delaware county, near where the Indiana Iron works now stand, on the 6th day of October, 1858. His parents were John and Maria (Gibson) Driscoll. The doctor received a liberal education, graduating from Purdue university, Lafayette, Ind., in June, 1882, fol- lowing which he entered upon the study of medicine under the guidance of Dr. S. V. Jump, of New Burlington. He further took a full course at the Medical college of Ohio, at Cincinnati, where he graduated March, 1886, after which he began the practice at Cowan, Delaware county, where he resided for two years. In June, 1888, Dr. Driscoll located permanently in Muncie, where he has since enjoyed a large share of the remunerative practice, and where his superior medical knowledge has won for him a conspicuous place among the successful medical men of central Indiana. In April, 1886, he was elected coroner of Delaware county, and filled the office by successsive re-elections for the six succeeding years.

Doctor Driscoll is well known among his professional associates, being a member of the Delaware County Medical society, of which he

yours truly NE Driscoll. B. S.M. A.

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was formerly president; belongs to the Dela- ware District Medical society, and the State Medical society of Indiana. In 1892, his ad- vice and good judgment were secured for the city by an election to the common council from the Third ward, and he is now serving in that body as a member of the police, street, and educational committees, and is also chair- man of the library board, in which organization he has taken a very active interest. Dr. Driscoll was appointed by Gov. Matthews to attend the first Pan-American medical con- gress, held at Washington, D. C , September 5 to 8, 1893, in which he represented his state in the lectures on hygiene, and quarantine and infectious diseases. Politically Dr. Dris- coll is a republican, and, fraternally, belongs to Muncie lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., and to Delaware lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M. He was one of the incorporators of the Muncie Silver Ash institute, and is physician in charge of the same at this time. He is a member of the Citizens' Enterprise company, and of various other projects having for their object the public good, and he is progressive and en- terprising in all those terms imply. Profes- sionally the doctor stands high in Muncie. His mental faculties, thoroughly disciplined by collegiate and professional training, enable him to keep pace with the advancement of medical science; his success is due as much to his original experiments and investigations, as to his extensive reading. On the 29th day of September, 1886, Dr. Driscoll and Maggie J., daughter of Samuel Chapman, of Oxford, Ind., were united in marriage, and one child has come to gladden their home, namely: John C. Driscoll. Mrs. Driscoll is a lady of cult- ure, refinement, and rare intelligence, having graduated in the same class with her husband at Purdue university. Dr. and Mrs. Driscoll are highly respected members of the High street Methodist church of Muncie, and they

move in the best social circles of the city. The attention of the reader is called to the fine portrait of the doctor on the opposite page.

J OSEPH F. DUCKWALL, eminent as an attorney at law of Muncie, was born near Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio, July 8, 1834. His father was a wealthy and prosperous farmer, and the early life of Joseph F. was spent upon the paternal farm. The pursuit of agriculture not being suited to his inclinations, at the age of nine- teen, he left the farm and engaged in teaching, having received his early education in the common schools and the academy. In 1853 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan university at Delaware, Ohio, where he remained nearly three years, defraying the principal portion of his expenses with his earnings as a teacher. He is liberally educated, and a gentleman of fine culture and extensive information. His maternal grandfather, Thomas Foster, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in Hull's infamous surrender, of which he could not speak except with deep indignation. His grandmother was the sister of the well known pioneer Methodist minister, Rev. Wm. H. Raper. His mother, Elizabeth (Foster) Duck- wall, was the cousin of Randolph S. Foster, D. D., now a bishop of the M. E. church.

In June, 1857, Joseph F. Duckwall came to Muncie and engaged in the publication of the Muncie Messenger, of which he was editor and proprietor. In August, 1858, he moved his press to Anderson, and started the Madi- son County Republican, which he continued to publish until March, 1859, when he was compelled to suspend its publication for want of patronage. In this unfortunate venture he lost all that he possessed. He returned to Mun- cie, and on June 1, 1859, was married to Miss

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Addie Jones, daughter of Wm. F. Jones, ex- mayor of Muncie, and soon after he was em- ployed as principal of the Muncie public schools, which position he held during the school year. In the summer of 1860, at the solicitation of the Hon. Walter March, who kindly gave him financial aid, he purchased the Eastern Indiana Courant, the name of which he changed to The Delaware County Free Press, which he continued to edit and publish until the fall of 1867, when he sold the Press to Hon. Alfred Kilgore. The Free Press was a republican journal of the radical type, and was an able advocate of republican principles. Its columns doubtless contributed largely to the creation of that sterling republi- can sentiment which has long been the boast and pride of the people of Delaware county. His paper was regarded as one of the ablest in the state, and its editor acknowledged to be an able and forcible writer by all. His paper was admired for its independence and fearless advocacy of the right, regardless of policy or pecuniary gain or personal advantage.

In the year 1869 Mr. Duckwall went to Greenfield, Mo., and engaged in the practice of law, and soon took position in the front ranks of his profession. His ability as a law- yer soon received public recognition. In 1874, without his knowledge or consent, his name was placed upon a ticket as a candidate for prosecuting attorney of the Twenty-fifth judi- cial circuit, and came very near being elected. In the campaign of 1876, his services were demanded on the stump, and he made a large number of speeches in the interests of the republican party. In the fall of that year the republican convention of Greene county, held at Springfield, placed him before the people as a candidate for attorney general of the state, and instructed its delegates to vote for him in the state convention. He received similar endorsements from several other county

conventions of southwestern Missouri. and when it is considered that he had not even thought of being a candidate for that office, this action is a high compliment to his ability and worth. The state was overwhelmingly democratic, and a place upon the republican ticket was solely one of honor, and he made no effort to secure the nomination. In the fall of the same year he was nominated, by acclamation, by the republican convention of Dade county, for prosecuting attorney, and the nomination so made was tendered to him with a request that he accept the same, which he did, and was elected. This office he held for two years, discharging its duties with sig- nal ability and fidelity. Immediately after the expiration of his term of office he returned to Muncie, where he resumed the practice of law. Soon after his return he was solicited to become the editor of The Daily Times, which position he accepted and occupied nearly two years.

Mr. Duckwall has been prominently identi- fied with the politics of Delaware county for many years, and has contributed with his pen and upon the rostrum to the advancement of the cause of republicanism and good govern- ment. He not only wields a trenchant pen, but is a forcible and entertaining public speaker. In addition to the positions of pub- lic trust held by him, above mentioned, he was the first city clerk of Muncie, and also city attorney, having been elected to the form- er and appointed to the latter. These offices he filled faithfully and acceptably to the peo- ple. As a lawyer, Mr. Duckwall is recognized as one of high rank and scholarly attainments, and well equipped in every branch of the pro- fession. Although he has never allowed the use of his name as a candidate, he has been favorably mentioned as a candidate for judge of the Delaware circuit court, and his eminent fitness and qualification for the position are,

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by those who know him, fully recognized. As a citizen, he is honest, upright and exem- plary, and universally respected. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is regarded as a conscientious christian gentleman. He has practically retired from the practice of his profession, and is living a peaceful and quiet life in his pleasant home in Riverside, resting from the labors of an active and busy life, and rationally enjoying the fruits of his toil and the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

J OHN W. DUNGAN, proprietor of the Glendale Jersey farm, and an old and honored resident of Delaware county, was born in Fayette county, Ind., June 2, 1824, a son of Benjamin and Margaret (Mitchell) Dungan. The former was born in Bucks county, Pa., and was the son of John Dungan, a native of Ireland, who had come to America many years prior and located in New York state, later removing to Pennsylvania. Benjamin Dungan married in Butler county, Ohio, and removed with his family to Fayette county, Ind., in quite an early day, where he engaged in farming (following the occupation all his life), and became the father of ten children the record of whom is as follows: Rebecca, Elias, William, Elizabeth, Esther and James, all deceased; John W., Joseph A., of Muncie; Isaac J., a farmer of Missouri, and Benjamin W., deceased. The mother died January 22, 1836, and the father September 15, 1855, both members of the Baptist church. Politi- ically, Mr. Dungan was a whig. After the death of his wife he removed to Delaware county, in 1836, and remained here until 1853.

John W. Dungan was reared to hard work on the farm and had very limited opportunities

of becoming educated. He remained with his father until 1842, at which time he came to Muncie and engaged with Thomas S. Neeley in the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1859, when he was elected sheriff of Delaware county, serving in this position un- til he enlisted, October 19, 1864, in the Union army for one year. Before the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged, May 8, 1865, at Indianapolis. After his re- turn from the war, Mr. Dungan engaged in working at his trade, which he continued until 1869, then sold implements for three years, and from 1873 to 1877 was employed as sales- man in a hardware store. At the end of that time he was re-elected to the office of sheriff and served from August, 1877, to August, 1881, when he retired to his farm adjoining the city. He had purchased eighty acres of land in 1879, and has forty acres now in Part- wico.

In Muncie, October 18, 1848, he married Miss Edith Dragoo, who was born in Preston county, W. Va., in 1827, a daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Prunty) Dragoo, natives of Virginia, of Irish ancestry, who came to this county in 1838, being among the pioneers. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Dungan bear the following names: George, a resident of Mun- cie; Leonidas, a blacksmith of this city; Cor- nelia A., deceased; Walter R., deceased; Caro- line, the wife of William Weeks, of Muncie; Jessie J., the wife of George Carmichael, a farmer of the county; Willie, deceased; Nettie, at home, and Harry F., a commission mer- chant, in company with D. T. Haines, Jr. The parents are members of the Methodist church and have brought up a fine, moral family. Politically, Mr. Dungan is a republi- can, and was assessor of his township three terms, street commissioner two years, and has taken a great interest in the progress of the county. He is a member of the Masonic

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order and of I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 74. Mr. Dungan is the proprietor of a fine farm which is known all over the county as the home of some of the finest thoroughbred Jersey cattle in this part of the state. He has made a success of, and takes great inter- est in, the breeding of these and other fine cattle.

OBERT DUNN, senior member of the firm of Dunn Lime & Sewer Pipe company, contractors for plastering, and wholesale and retail dealers in lime, hair, cement, plaster of paris, fire brick, fire clay, etc., is one of the representative business men of Muncie, and a highly respected citizen of Delaware county. He was born October 11, 1830, in Abbeville district, S. C., the son of James and Bethome (Evans) Dunn. The father was a farmer, which vocation he carried on in his native state in connection with shoemaking, and later in Fayette county, Ind., where he moved in 1832, settling near the town of Connersville. In 1833 he moved to Rush county, this state, where he resided for two years, and then became a resident of the county of Hancock, where he made his home until 1846, at which time he located in Marion county, where his wife's death oc- curred in 1847. Subsequently he removed to Indianapolis, where he resided for a limited period, and then returned to his farm in Mari- on county, but did not long remain there, moving, within about one year, to the southern part of the state, and eventually returning to the county of Fayette. In 1851 he went back to his native state, South Carolina, and after a few years' residence there, returned to Fay- ette county, in the year 1858. His second wife was Polly Simms. James Dunn was the father of eight children, namely: Elizabeth J.,

deceased; Robert, whose name introduces this sketch; James R., deceased; Nancy, who lives in Chicago; Martha G., deceased; Andrew J., of Indianapolis; William Thomas, deceased, and George, a citizen of Marion county, Ind.

Robert Dunn, the second of the above children, was reared on a farm until 1848, at which time he began learning the trade of plastering in Indianapolis, and with the ex- ception of two years spent in farming in Rush county, has followed that vocation ever since. He became a resident of Muncie in the year 1888, and now does a very extensive and lu- crative business as a plasterer, beside dealing very largely in the articles enumerated in the introduction of this sketch-his place on west Dumont street being one of the well known business houses of the city. Mr. Dunn has been twice married; the first time, in August 1850, to Miss Martha Day, who was born in Marion county, this state, in 1830, the daugh- ter of Mark and Elizabeth Day, of Ohio. To this union were born five children: William L., associated with his father; Mary A., Richard W., also his father's associate; Har- vey E. of Muncie, and George E., who works at the tailoring business. The mother of these children, a most excellent christian woman, and for many years a member of the Methodist church, died in the year 1869. In 1870 Mr. Dunn married his present wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Wolfe, of Rushville, Ind. Mr. Dunn is a republican in politics and fraternal- ly belongs to the I. O. O. F. Since his re- moval from Rushville to Muncie in the year above noted, he has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative business, and as a skilled workman he has been extensively employed in the city and throughout the country. He is one of the substantial citizens of Delaware county, and in a modest way has contributed his full share toward its development and prosperity.

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0 R. PETER B. DICK, one of the most prominent and most experienced medical practitioners of Muncie, Ind., is the youngest son of Hierony- mus and Mary Ann (Brunner) Dick, and was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 27, 1838. At the age of eight years he was brought to Indiana by his mother, who located in Jay county on a farm near North Salem, where she resided until Peter B. was about thirteen years old, when the family moved to a farm near Union City, Randolph county, where our embryo physician received his preparatory ed- ucation at the common schools, and in 1856 took a course at Liber college, paying his own way from his own earnings. At the age of sixteen, he entered the store of L. D. Lambert as clerk, and there passed five or six years in the capacity mentioned, but utilized the win- ters in teaching school in Randolph county. Finally he became a partner with Mr. Lambert for two years in a store on the Ohio side of Union City, reading medicine in the meantime with Dr. Noah Simmons of that place. He made most rapid progress, and in 1867 grad- nated from the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. His practice was begun at Daleville, Ind., whence he went to Union City, and thence to western Kansas, where he met with the most flattering success, but, after six years, ill health compelled him to re- linquish the profitable field and return to In- diana; accordingly, in 1878, he established himself in Muncie, where he has ever since en- joyed a high position in the esteem of the general public and in that of his fellow pro- fessionals. He is an active member of the State Medical society and keeps well abreast of the progress made in medical science.

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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 22

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