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 23

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 23
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 23

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 doctor was first married, in 1863, to Miss Martha Vale, who became the mother of two children, both of whom died in infancy, and in 1867 the doctor also suffered the afflic-

tion of the loss of the mother and wife. The second marriage of the doctor occurred at Daleville, Ind., in 1870, to Miss Sallie Shepp, who, in 1873, bore one son, Kenneth Dick, now an operator for the Western Union Tele- graph company, at Muncie. In politics, Dr. Dick is a republican, and while in Kansas was elected coroner of Kane county, by that party, an office which he held at the time of leaving. He is an Odd Fellow, and has passed all the chairs of his lodge. For twenty-five years he has been a member of the Disciples' church, and for many years has been very active in the Sunday school work of that denomination.

The father of Dr. Dick was a native of Ran- dolph county, Va., was a large land owner, and moved to Ohio about the year 1833 ; he settled near Hillsboro and died about 1840, leaving a widow and eight children -- three sons and five daughters-who subsequently moved to Jay county, where the widow kept her family together until her removal to Ran- dolph county. Her death took place in 1878, at the age of eighty-four, in Olmstead county, Minn., at the home of her son, John Dick. She was a woman of very strong character and a sincere Christian, adhering faithfully to the tenets of the Baptist church. There are five of her eight children still living; viz: Harriet, wife of William Stooksberry, a farmer of Ran- dolph county, Ind.,; Rhoda, married to Ben- jamin Curtis, farmer of Delaware county, Ind. ; John, farmer of Minnesota ; Elizabeth, wife of L. D. Lambert, attorney, and Dr. Peter B., whose name opens this sketch. The three deceased were Henry, the second son, who was a soldier in the Eighty-fourth Indiana in- fantry, and while on detail duty was killed by a sharpshooter just before the battle of Atlanta; Mary, wife of Hiram Grice, of Jay county, Ind., died about 1854; Rebecca, the wife of Tate Wright, a merchant of Illinois, died in 1874.

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3 AMES E. EBER, a successful agricul- turist of Centre township, Delaware county, of which he is a native, is the son of Henry and Susan Eber. Henry Eber was a native of Germany, came to Dela- ware county when twenty-eight years old, locat- ing in Muncie, where he married Susan Clark, who bore him the following children: John, de- ceased ; William H., deceased ; Mary, wife of A. Drumn, of California, and James E., whose name appears at the head of this sketch ; George, and Catharine, deceased. On locating in Muncie, Henry Eber engaged in the busi- ness of brewing, which he followed for two years, and then purchased a tract of land in Centre township, and began tilling the soil. Financially he was quite successful, owning at one time 462 acres of valuable land in Dela- ware county, besides other property, which entitled him to a prominent place in the ranks of those who were more than ordinarily wealthy. He accumulated a handsome estate, and left all of his children in very comfortable circumstances. His religious belief was em- bodied in the Presbyterian creed, and his first wife, a most excellent christian lady, was a member of the Catholic church. She died May 20, 1862, and Mr. Eber afterwards married Nancy Alban, who departed this life in 1879; Mr. Eber was called to his final re- ward on the 26th day of January, 1876.

James E. Eber was reared in Delaware county and assisted his father on the farm un- til the latter's death. His education was re- ceived in the common schools, and on the 22nd day of June, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Bitha Scott, who was born in Adams county, Ohio, August 8, 1852, daughter of David and Sarah (Ham) Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Scott were both natives of Ohio; the former of German parentage, and the mother descended from Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Eber have an interesting family of six children, namely:

Ida, Lee, Katie, Stella, Pearl and Earl. One child, Emma, died December 13, 1890. As already stated, Mr. Eber is a successful agri- culturist, and no one would question his high standing as a representative citizen of Centre township. His beautiful farm of 190 acres is well improved, and in addition to tilling the soil, he pays considerable attention to live stock, breeding and dealing in the same quite extensively He is a democrat in his political belief, fraternally belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men, and with his wife is a communicant of the Methodist church. Mr. Eber takes a father's pardonable pride in his family; his children are certainly very promis- ing, and bid fair to grow to manhood and womanhood, an honor to their parents and a blessing to the community.

J OHN C. EILER, a prominent business man and a justice of the peace, of Muncie, Ind., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 4, 1838, a son of Jacob and Bena (Fetzer) Eiler. The parents removed from New York to Ohio, and from there, in 1849, to Wabash county, Ind., and were pio- neers of that county. Mr. Eiler accompanied his parents to Ohio when four years of age, and when eleven years old came with them to Wabash county, Ind., where he grew to maturity, and received his education in the public schools. His first position of public trust was that of deputy clerk of Wabash county, which office he acceptably filled for several years. In 1858, he removed to LaGrange county, Ind., and was made depu- ty clerk of that county until 1859, at which time he came to Muncie. In 1861 he was appointed a clerk in the census department at Washington, D. C., but in 1862 he was trans- fered to the pension department, where he

John 6. Liter

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continued until 1865, when he was forced to resign his position on account of poor health; he then returned to Muncie and engaged in the horticultural business. This built up his shattered health, and, at a special session of the house of representatives, in 1872-3, he was appointed file clerk. In March, 1875, he was appointed post master at Muncie, under Pres. Grant, serving in this position for eight years. In June, 1883, he was appointed jus- tice of the peace, and was elected to the office in 1884, 1888 and 1890. In the last year he was made a member of the city coun- cil, in which he served one year and then resigned. Politically, he has been an ardent worker in the republican party from its organ- ization to the present time, and was chairman of the republican central committee of Dela- ware county in 1890 and 1891.

Mr. Eiler was admitted to the bar in 1859, but has never practiced his profession. He now conducts an insurance and loan business in connection with his duties as justice of the peace. His social instincts have caused him to connect himself with the Muncie lodge of I. O. O. F., and he is a charter member of the Citizens' Enterprise company. In the spring of 1891, Mr. Eiler received the nomination of his party for the office of mayor of Muncie, but owing to a defection in the party, the whole ticket-mayor, marshal and treasurer- was defeated. With the exception of one year, from 1877 to 1883, Mr. Eiler was the editor of the Muncie Times, and editor and proprie- tor from July 1881, to January, 1883.

On the first of January, 1862, he was married to Miss Margaret B. Cassady, of Delaware county, and is the father of two children, Annie and Erma. He and family are connected religiously with the Presbyter- ian church of Muncie, and are among the most esteemed residents of the city. Mr. Eiler has always been regarded as a conserva-

tive and profound thinker, guided by principles of strict justice and goodness of heart, and void of all evil intent.

EORGE L ELLIOTT, deceased, for many years a leading jeweler of Mun- cie, was born January 28, 1831, at the town of Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio. His parents, Edmund G. and Nancy (Taylor) Elliott, were natives of New England, born, reared and married in the state of Mass- achusetts. Shortly after their marriage they removed to Ohio, and for a number of years Edmund Elliott carried on the jewelry busi- ness at Chardon and Springfield, that state. Subsequently, he removed to Anderson, Ind., .where his death occurred after a long, active and successful business career; his wife follow- ing him to the grave a short time after. Ed- mund and Nancy Elliott reared a family of five children, all sons, namely: Jerome, Al- fred, George L., Ozias and Dallas K., of whom Jerome, Alfred and George L. are de- ceased.

George L. Elliott began learning the jeweler's trade at the age of thirteen with his father, and after acquiring great skill and pro- ficiency in his chosen calling worked at the same with his father until about 1854, at which time he went to Cincinnati, where he remained for a limited period, returning home the following year. In May, 1855, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Smith, daugh- ter of John and Ruth (Marshall) Smith of Greene county, Ohio, removing in August of the same year to Muncie. Ind., where he rent- ed a window and engaged in repairing watches, jewelry, etc., on a very moderate scale. Later he entered the employ of Armstead Klein, with whom he remained a short time,

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and then opened an establishment of his own on the corner of Main and Walnut streets, where he continued the trade for a period of nearly forty years, during which time he be- came one of the best known and most popular business men of Muncie. In all his relations with his fellow-men Mr. Elliott was the soul of honor, and his kindness of heart and uni- form courtesy were the subjects of remark by all, and became proverbial throughout Muncie and Delaware county. "Uncle George," as he was familiarly called, always had a cheer- ful word and pleasant greeting for every one, and he was one of those noble characters whose very presence exerted a genial influence throughout the community-one of nature's noblemen, whose honest impulses were mani- fested in every act of his life. In the home circle he was a model of gentleness, and his daughter, with whom he was ever on terms of the closest intimacy, cannot recall the memory of an unkind word or act. In his re- ligious belief Mr. Elliott was a Universalist, but he encouraged all churches, irrespective of doctrine or creed, and was ever in hearty sym- pathy with all movements of a benevolent or philanthropic nature. Politically he was an active supporter of the democratic party, and fraternally was indentified with Delaware lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M., and DeEmber tribe, No. 30, Improved Order of Red Men. He was noted as a friend of the poor and needy, was kindly disposed to all, and died, as he had lived, possessing the profound respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. His death occurred on the Ist day of April, 1892, and his remains were followed to their final place of repose by one of the largest funeral corteges ever seen on the streets of Muncie. Mr. Elliott was the father of one child, a daughter, Ida M., wife of John H. Ritter, an able opti- cian, who resides in the city at the present time.

RANK ELLIS was born in Delaware township, Delaware county, Ind., February 12, 1842, a son of John H. and Phebe (Kirkpatrick) Ellis, both natives of Ohio, who came to Delaware county at an early day, and were married in the county. By trade, the father was a carpen- ter, but finally engaged in the collection busi- ness and the practice of law, in Muncie. At the breaking out of the war he raised company B, of the Eighty-fourth Indiana, and served as captain of the same until he was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, on September 20, 1863. His wife survives him, and now resides in Muncie.

Frank Ellis is the eldest of ten children, and received but a limited education in the township and village schools of that period. He engaged in brick making for a short period, and then entered the office of the Delaware County Free Press, as office boy, where he re- mained, except one term of three months, dur- ing which he taught a country school, until 1862, when he enlisted in his father's company and served until the close of the war, being mustered out in June, 1865. After the death of his father he was made captain of company B, and he held that position all through the remainder of the war. He participated in the battles of Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and was with Thomas' army at Franklin and Nash- ville. In 1864 Mr. Ellis was nominated for the office of treasurer of Delaware county, and in the fall of that year was elected to the posi- tion, taking possession of the same in August, 1865. In 1866, he was unanimously renomi- nated and triumphantly re-elected, serving in all four years, after which he engaged in mer- cantile business for some years, in the mean- time reading law, for which profession he had a great predilection. He was admitted to the Delaware county bar in 1882, and immediately formed a co-partnership with Judge Lotz,

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which continued until the latter was called to the bench, when Mr. Ellis formed a co-part- nership with John T. Walterhouse.

Mr. Ellis is a prominent and active mem- ber of the republican party, and has been a member of the state central committee. He served as mayor of the city from 1883 to 1885, and had been a member of the city council from 1883 to 1891. On February 9, 1891, he was appointed postmaster of Muncie by Pres. Harrison, since which time he has efficiently served the people in that capacity. He is a member of Williams' Post, No. 78, G. A. R., and was one of the organizers of the Sons of Veterans. In early life he joined the Dela- ware lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was one of the organizers of the Muncie lodge, No. 433, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Muncie commandery, No. 18. Also, he is a member of Muncie lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., and the encampment and canton, and the grand lodge and grand encampment of that order. He is a charter member of the Red Men, and of the Elks; and is also a member of the Ancile club of Muncie.

Mr. Ellis was married, in 1870, to Miss Mary E. Martindale, daughter of Benjamin F. Martindale, of Muncie, a well known minister of the Christian church. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis: Elizabeth, Mary, deceased, and Ethel Joy.

S AMUEL M. ELLIS, of Muncie, Ind., was born in Albany, in the same state, November 25, 1850, and is a son of John E. and Phœbe (Kirkpat- rick) Ellis. When about three years of age he was brought by his parents to Muncie, and was here educated in the public schools until thirteen years old, when he quit, to enter the army, being then the youngest soldier from

Delaware county, and the only one of the nine children in his father's family that did not graduate from the high school. In 1864 he entered company B. One hundred and Forty- seventh I. V. I., and served with the army of the Cumberland until the close of the war, tak- ing part at Winchester, Va , and a number of minor engagements. When hostilities ceased he went on the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincin- nati railroad as brakeman; as baggage master from Fort Wayne to Connersville, as yard- master at Muncie for the same company; was also in the employ of the "Bee" line for some years; broke, fired, switched, and was yard mas- ter and conductor on the Lake Erie & Western main line, between Sandusky, Ohio, and Bloomington, Ills., for a long time-in all, railroaded over twenty years; and, having learned the trade of brick making prior to this time, worked at that trade at intervals about fifteen years, principally at Muncie. After relinquishing railroad work, Mr. Ellis, in 1890, began contracting for brick work in Muncie and followed that vocation until 1893, when he leased the Mckinley brick stable, at 110 Howard street, where he transacts a livery, feed and boarding business, and keeps a full line of double and single rigs.

Mr. Ellis is vice president of the Muncie Bricklayers' union, and still keeps a watchful eye over the interests of his former trade and craftsmen. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Catherine J. Hawk, of Muncie, and is the father of one son, Harry J. Ellis.

RANK A. ELROD, city clerk of Muncie, Ind., a prominent politician and very pleasant and agreeable gen- tlemen, was born in Wabash county, Ind., June 7, 1853, a son of James J. and Juliet M. (Hess) Elrod, natives of Lawren

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and Blackford counties, Ind., respectively. Mr. Elrod, Sr., was a farmer by occupation and also a minister of the Methodist Episco- pal church, being connected with the North Indiana conference. He was a prominent Mason, and at his death, in 1858, was buried with the appropriate ceremonies of the order.

Frank A. Elrod was reared in Cadiz, Hen- ry county, Ind., was educated in the public schools of that county, and afterward engaged in mercantile business. In 1881 he made a trip to Texas, and remained for six years, employed in the freight department of the Southern Pacific railroad, but, in 1887, he returned to Indiana, locating in Muncie, where he was employed as assistant shipping clerk for H. Roads & Co. In the spring of 1892 he was elected city clerk and entered upon the duties of that office in September of the same year. Politically he is a republican, and takes an active interest in the manage- ment of the affairs of his party. He is a mem- ber of Delaware lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M., Welcome lodge, No. 37, K. of P., and Twa- Twa tribe, No. 145, I. O. R. M.

Mr. Elrod was married February 21, 1876, to Miss Emma Personett, daughter of James Personett, of Henry county, Ind., and has a family of four children, James, Lizzie, Clara and Lloyd. He and wife are members of the High street Methodist church, and are among the most highly esteemed residents of the city of Muncie.

AJ. WARREN CHASE EMERSON (deceased) was born in New Hamp- shire, November 7, 1816, of Eng- lish ancestry, and graduated from Harvard university in 1835. For a year or so he followed teaching, and in 1836 removed to Preble county, Ohio, where he was engaged in clerical work for a time, but later resumed

teaching, and afterward became the first post- master at West Florence. His marriage took place January 30, 1840, to Eleanor McWhin- ney, a native of Preble county, Ohio, born June 6, 1821, and daughter of Matthew and Temperance McWhinney, of Scotch-Irish an- cestry. To this union, which was consum- mated in Preble county, Ohio, were born twelve children, of whom five boys and five girls still survive, viz: Joseph, a broker; Matthew, in the lumber trade; Thomas M., traffic manager of the Atlantic Coast Line rail- road; Charles, publisher of the Muncie City and Delaware County (Ind.) directory, and an extensive dealer in real estate; Horace M., general passenger agent of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad; Elizabeth, wife of J. D. Fudge; Temperance, wife of A. C. Morse; Emmaretta, wife of Albert H. Williams; Mary A. and Eleanor. The father remained in Preble county until February 23, 1864, when he re- ceived a commission as army paymaster of the late rebellion, and located his family at Yellow Springs, Ohio, to receive the benefit of the excellent schools at that point. He served as paymaster until November 1, 1866. He then located at Campbellstown, Ohio, where he was engaged in the mercantile business one year, and then moved to Marion, Ind., and was in the employ of the railroad company three years. In March, 1872, he came to Muncie and engaged in the manufacture of staves, heading and plow beams until 1885, when he retired from active business on ac- count of ill health. In politics he was a re- publican, and fraternally was a member of the A. F. & A. M .; in religion he was a Congre- gationalist, and died in that faith, November 3, 1890. He left his family in comfortable circumstances, and his sons all in prominent business positions, and his remains were fol- lowed by a large concourse of mourning rela- tives, friends and acquaintances to their last

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resting place from his late residence on east Jackson street, Muncie, Ind. , His widow, who is a devout adherent of the Presbyterian church, is still an honored member of Muncie's best society, respected and honored by all who know her.

Charles Emerson, real estate dealer and publisher of Muncie City and Delaware Coun- ty Directory, and son of Major Warren C. Emerson, whose sketch is given in detail above, was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 9, 1853. He attended school at Yellow Springs, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, when he was com- pelled to quit on account of ill health; he then engaged, as his first business venture, as assist- ant to his father in the railway office at Mari- on, Ind., until 1872, when, with his parents, he moved to Muncie and became the super- vising agent of the Singer Manufacturing com- pany, which position he held until the spring of 1873, when, by the advice of his physician, he went south, locating at Nashville, Tenn., where he was engaged by the Howe Sewing Machine company to travel and establish agencies throughout eastern Tennessee until the fall of 1873, when he went to Savannah, Ga., and engaged with the New York Publish - ing company in publishing city, county and state directories, remaining with the company for one year. He then engaged in the direc- tory publishing business for himself, and has published directories throughout eleven differ- ent states, gaining a national reputation as a competent and painstaking publisher. In 1886 he accepted a position with the Singer Manufacturing company as manager at Rich- mond, Va., which position he held until 1889, when he again engaged in the directory busi- ness and continued until February 1, 1892. He then came to Muncie, Ind., and under the firm name of Lyons & Emerson opened an office in the real estate and loan business which firm is now considered one of the lead-

ing real estate firms of the city. Mr. Emer- son was married November 14, 1881, to Miss Maggie M. Houston, of Greensboro, N. C., and this union has been blessed by the birth of one child, William C.

J AMES N. EVERS .- Among the valua- ble industries of the growing city of Muncie, that of the Cottage Steam laundry is deserving of worthy mention. James N. Evers, its proprietor, is a native of Indiana, born in the county of Wells on the 17th day of September, 1853, a son of Parry and Jane (Golliver) Evers. The parents were both natives of Ohio, but removed to Indiana shortly after their marriage, settling in Put- nam county, where Mr. Evers engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. Later the family re- moved to Wells county, where Mr. and Mrs. Evers live a retired life in the pleasant town of Bluffton. Parry Evers has been a prominent citizen of Wells county for a number of years, is public spirited, and a man of great liberality. He is a republican in his political preferences, and the father of nine children, whose names are as follows: Minerva R., James N., Darius A., David W., Anna E., Colonel E., Parry J., Cora and Hugh W. Evers.

James N. Evers was reared on the home farm, attending the country schools at intervals until sixteen years of age, when he began life for himself, choosing the useful vocation of agriculture for an occupation. He continued tilling the soil until his twenty-sixth year, at which time he came to the city of Muncie. and embarked in the mercantile business, making a specialty of the grocery line, which he car- ried on with success and financial profit for a period of six years. He severed his connection with merchandising in 1890, and established the Cottage Steam laundry, which he has suc-

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cessfully conducted ever since and which under his judicious management has become the largest and most profitable enterprise of the ; P. O. S. of A., Red Men, and Foresters. kind in' the city. He fitted up his laundry with all the modern conveniences and improve- ments at a liberal expenditure of money, and such has been the constant increase in his busi- ness that additional appliances have been added, from time to time, until now fifteen helpers are employed in order to meet the de- mands of his growing custom. Mr. Evers has fully met his expectations in his business ven- ture, and, as a result of good management and earnest desire to please his patrons, he has acquired a reputation much more than local, and is justly esteemed among the worthy and reliable business men of Muncie. Socially he is popular with a large circle of friends in both city and country, and his public spirit has won for him a prominent place in the estimation of his fellow citizens. In his political senti- ments Mr. Evers is an earnest supporter of the republican party, and takes an active in- terest, in its advancement, but prefers to be considered a worker in the ranks rather than a seeker after the emoluments of office. Re- cently he met with a heavy loss by reason of an accident in his laundry, but, with com- mendable energy, he has repaired the same, and greatly enlarged his business by the addi- tion of the latest and most improved appli- ances used in his line of work. On the 17th day of March, 1879, in Columbia City, Ind., Mr. Evers and Miss Lizzie A. Goodwin of Ohio, daughter of Smith and Sarah (Conway) Goodwin, were made man and wife. Mrs. Evers died December 30, 1887, and on the 15th day of January, 1889, Mr. Evers was united in marriage to his present wife, whose maiden name was Kate Stuckey, a native of Muncie, and daughter of Christian and Sarah (Grower) Stuckey. Mr. and Mrs. Evers are members of the Baptist church, in which they

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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 23

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