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 34

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 34
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 34

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).

two years of his service the new jail was in course of construction. For some time after the expiration of his second term he was employed by his successor and by the county commissioners in adjusting and arranging the records pertaining to the various county offices, and was also, for a term, deputy assessor for Centre township. For a year following, he was in the employ of C. Haines in the ice trade, and about 1890 became proprietor of the Muncie Lake Ice company. In May, 1893, he disposed of this lucrative branch of indus- try, and is now temporarily retired from active business. Mr. McKimmey has been a member of Delaware lodge, F. & A. M., since 1856, and of the I. O. O. F. since 1878.

The marriage of Mr. McKimmey took place in Delaware county, in 1855, to Miss Anna Modlin, who was born in Henry county, Ind., and who came to Delaware county, in 1850 or 1851, with her parents, John and Rachael (Parmer) Modlin, who were natives of North Carolina, had a family of four sons and one daughter, and died in Delaware county, Ind. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. McKimmey have been born five children- Linley W., who was for six years in the sher- iff's office and is now in the employ of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad company; Mary M., now the wife of L. A. Perdiue, of Muncie; Sarah C., was wife of W. A. William- son, of Muncie-died in February, 1892, at the age of thirty-four; William H .; and John, who died when about three years old.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. McKim- mey came from Ireland and settled in North Carolina, where the grandmother died. The father of Mr. McKimmey, also a native of Ireland, was but three years of age when brought to America. In 1816, the latter came to Indiana and located at Connersville; in 1817, he went to Indianapolis with old John McCormick, and there helped the latter to

MRS. O. J. MCLAUGHLIN.

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make a clearing before the city had been de- cided upon as the state capital, and was so employed about a year; then returned to the settlements in Henry and Wayne counties; was married, first, in Henry county, where New Lisbon now stands, and came to Dela- ware county in 1834, as has been stated. He had born to him, by his first marriage, nine children, of whom six only are now living. -He lost his wife about 1840, and his second marriage was to Mrs. Nancy Galion, who bore him five children. The father, who had been a justice of the peace for a number of years in Monroe township, died in 1875, in his eighty- second year, as highly honored and respected in his day as are his descendants in theirs.

A. MCLAIN, Dentist, 1173 East Jackson street,

Muncie, Ind.

EORGE N. MCLAUGHLIN. - The efficient trustee of Centre township, and one of the popular citizens of Muncie, was born in Delaware coun- ty, Ind., April 23, 1845. His father, John McLaughlin, was a native of Ohio, born near the city of Chillicothe, of Irish and German parentage. James McLaughlin, the grand- father of George N., came to the United States from Ireland many years ago, and was one of the early settlers of southern Ohio. John Mclaughlin was by occupation a farmer; he grew to manhood in his native county, where, in early life, he married Rachael Beeler and, in 1834, moved with his family to Delaware county, Ind., locating in the town- ship of Mount Pleasant, of which he was one

of the pioneers. He purchased 120 acres of government land, from the woods of which he redeemed a comfortable home, where he reared his family, and upon which the remain- der of his life was spent. He was a man of local importance in his community for a num- ber of years, was an earnest supporter of the old whig party, and, for some time, served the people of his township as a justice of the peace. He was a man noted for his integrity and high sense of honor; supported with energy all improvements of a public nature, and exemplified in his daily life and conduct the teachings of the Methodist church, in which he held the position of class-leader for a great many years; his wife survived him and continued to reside on the home farm, keeping the family together and looking after their in- terests. Of the five sons and three daughters born to John and Rachael Mclaughlin all grew to maturity except one, who died in in- fancy. The following are their names: Will- iam H., Orlando L., George N. and Thomas J., all of whom served with distinction in the late war from this. county. James S. was captured in Georgia while on picket duty, and shot to death by the enemy. The names of the sisters are, Maria, Priscilla and Sarah A., all living at this time.

George N. McLaughlin inherits in a marked degree many of the traits which distinguished his ancestors, and in his veins the blood of the Celt mingles with that of the Teuton. Like the majority of country lads, the years of his boyhood were comparatively uneventful, and amid the rugged experiences of farm life, he learned the lessons of industry and economy which served as a foundation for much of his success in subsequent years. Being but five years of age when his father died, he early did his share of farm work, contributing to the support of his widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters, and during his

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minority attended the common schools, in which he obtained a practical English educa- tion. In the dark days of the rebellion, when the ship of state was almost stranded on the rugged rocks of disunion, Mr. Mclaughlin, with commendable patriotism, responded to his country's call for volunteers, enlisting, at the age of eighteen, in company G, One Hun- dred and Thirty-fourth Indiana volunteer in- fantry, for the hundred days' service. He was mustered in, in March, 1862, and upon the expiration of his term of enlistment veteranized in company C, One Hundred and Fortieth regi- ment, Indiana infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged on the 1 1th of July, 1865, with the rank of corporal. His first engagement of any note was the bloody battle of Murfreesboro, and subsequently he partici- pated in a number of battles, including Ft. Anderson, Twin Creek, Goldsborough, Rolla and Greensborough, N. C., being at the last named place when Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox.

After his discharge Mr. McLaughlin re- turned home and resumed his studies, and in the fall of 1866 taught his first school in the Bethel neighborhood, Harrison township. He followed the profession very successfully for a period of twenty-two years, and earned the reputation of a very careful and painstaking instructor. With the exception of one year, 1883, when he was principal of the Strong City high school, Kansas, his work in the edu- cational field was principally confined to Dela- ware county, and such was his efficiency that his services were always in demand while he remained in the profession. While teaching in 1888, he was elected trustee of Centre town- ship, the duties of which position he dis- charged with such commendable fidelity that, in 1890, he was re-elected by a largely in- creased majority. Mr. Mclaughlin proved himself a trustful custodian of the township

property, and he built several school houses, which were among the best buildings of the kind in the county. In politics Mr. McLaugh- lin is a republican, and as such his counsels have contributed to his party's success in a number of general and local campaigns. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the chapter, commandery and Scottish rite branches, and has arisen to the thirty-second degree in his order. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., K. of P., the G. A. R. and Patri- otic Sons of America. He was first married April 18, 1867, to Eliza A. Thomason, but a few months later the marriage tie was severed by mutual consent. December 3, 1870, Mr. McLaughlin and Miss Orintha J. Kilgore, daughter of George W. and Tabitha (Van- Matre) Kilgore, were happily made man and wife and their superb portraits will be found on pages adjacent. Mrs. McLaughlin was born September 5, 1850, and is the mother of one child, a daughter, Minnie F., who died at the age of three years. Mr. McLauglin is an effi- cient and courteous official, an affable and popular gentleman, universally liked by all with whom he comes in contact. He feels de- servedly proud of his success in life, possesses excellent judgment of men and things, well balanced by knowledge and experience. He is a gentleman of good personal appearance and courteous address, and is certainly entitled to mention with the representative men of Dela- ware county.

ON. WALTER MARCH (deceased) was born August 5, 1814, at the town of Millbury, Mass., in Worcester county. His father, Samuel March, was a native of the same county, and a lineal descendant of Hugh March, who came to the colony of Massachusetts from England in the

JUDGE WALTER MARCH.

MRS. M. MARCH.

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year 1635; and his mother, whose maiden naine was Zoa Parks, was a native of Harvard, Mass. The parents were industrious and frugal, and, while the proceeds of their farm did not elevate them to opulence, they were very comfortably situated, and desired to afford their children better educational advantages than they had themselves enjoyed. The latter improved well their opportunities, and grew up to fill important and responsible positions. The eldest son is a manufacturer and farmer at Charlton, Mass., another is a farmer near Oshkosh, Wis .; another is a well known min- ister of the gospel at Woburn, Mass .; and Walter, the second son, is the subject of this sketch. His boyhood was passed in a manner quite uneventful, amid pastoral scenes at home. What time could be spared from farm work was devoted to the improvement of his mind and the acquisition of a primary educa- tion at the common schools and the academy at Millbury. He entered Amherst college and graduated in 1837, after a course of four years, during which time he taught two terms in the common schools, and, after graduating, again took up the vocation of school teaching, which he pursued two terms longer. During this time and subsequently he studied law with Judge Ira M. Barton, of Worcester, and after- wards attended lectures at Cambridge, Mass. In 1840, he was admitted to the bar at Wor- cester, and, in November of the same year, removed to Indianapolis, Ind. He engaged in the practice in that city, and remained until March of the following year, when he removed to Muncie. Here, in January, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret J., daughter of Benjamin and Ann Sayre. Her parents both died at the age of ninety-one years, and resided with Walter March until their death.

Although a young man when he began the practice at Muncie, in 1841, Mr. March

handled the most complicated cases success- fully, and, as confidence was established, he soon built up a large practice. One rule has marked his entire career: He would never undertake the cause of a client whom he thought was in the wrong; and under no cir- cumstances would he accept a case that he could not conscientiously defend. In 1850, he was elected a member of the constitutional convention from the district composed of the counties of Delaware and Grant. He was a democrat, and although this was a whig dis- trict, he was elected by a goodly majority over the candidate of that party. At heart he was an abolitionist, and, much against his convictions, fealty to party and public trust induced him to support measures not entirely in harmony with his will-especially those discriminating against the colored race. The open antago- nism of his party to his own principles finally culminated in his withdrawal from it, about the time of the Kansas and Nebraska troubles. He was intensely in earnest in his support of the party, and, as a public speaker, did more effectual work and accomplished more good in its behalf, perhaps, than any other man in the district; for he was an extraordinarily fine speaker, and a thorough scholar; and when he joined the ranks of the republican party, he brought with him the same energy and the same ability, and devoted himself as earnestly to the success of the newly espoused cause, and with results equally fruitful.

While a member of the state constitutional convention, he advocated a change in the sys- tem of law practice then prevalent, by which the old English system should be abolished. With the assistance of his associates, this measure was carried through, and the first legislature that assembled, after the adoption of the new constitution, appointed him one of the committee to draft a code of principles and practice which should obtain throughout

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the state. Among other things he incorpor- ated a clause investing circuit judges with the power to settle disputed points by arbitration, by which means a great deal of needless liti- gation could be avoided. It was tried in many of the counties -- Delaware among the number-with good results; and this private and friendly mode of settlement was almost uniformly productive of better fellowship be- tween the plaintiff and defendant than a suit at law. But attorneys' fees were diminished in consequence of this peaceful mode of litiga- tion, and it was antagonized by attorneys throughout the state. Finally such was the pressure brought to bear that it was repealed by the general assembly of 1865.

In 1852, he was elected judge of the court of common pleas, on the democratict ticket, and served four years. In 1856 he was elected state senator. He had then with- drawn from the democratic party, and was elected as an independent friend of the Union. He served four years, then became the candi- date of the republican party for the same position. He was returned for another term of four years, and served throughout that stormy period in the history of the Indiana senate embraced between the years 1860 and 1864. Within this period, the democrats, who were in the majority, attempted to de- prive the governer of his power over the state militia, and invest it in the four offices of the state. They were only prevented from ac- complishing their plan by the republican mem- bers absenting themselves from the senate, and thus breaking the quorum. Judge March was among the number, and was, in fact the leader of the "bolt." While in the senate he occupied many important positions, among which was that of chairman of the judiciary committee. He was a recognized leader of his party and in many ways proved himself the soldier's friend. His career in the senate

was characterized by dignity and ability, and the following tribute was paid him by the Cincinnati Gazette: "One of the clearest headed and coolest members of the Indiana senate is Walter March, senator from the district of Delaware, Blackford and Grant. He speaks not half so often as others on the floor, but always to the point, and with strength and force. He wastes no time by idle bombast, and has not the inordinate vanity possessed by some men, of loving to hear himself talk.

"When Mr. March rises to make a speech, every member expects to hear something that will strike the sense of every one, and com- mand the attention of all. Although he is a solid speaker, he is yet almost poetical, and uses better language and a choicer selection of words than any other man on the floor of the senate."

At the close of his senatorial service, in 1864, he resumed the practice of his profes- sion at Muncie, and in 1867. formed copart- nership relations with Maj. Jonathan W. Gor- don and Martin Ray, of Indianapolis, under the firm name of Gordon, Ray & March, re- taining at the same time his practice at Mun- cie. In the fall of 1878, he was elected by the republicans of this district as their repre- sentative in the general assembly of the state, by a majority of 1, 250 votes.

His was indeed a busy and a model life. He devoted himself assiduously to his profes- sion, and stood at the head of the bar of Dela- ware county. He was scrupulously conscien- tious in all his dealings with mankind, and has won the regard of all classes. He was firm in his judgment, and fearless in the advocacy of his convictions. He was a radical temperance man, and a friend to the deserving poor, but a relentless hater of impostors, or sham and hypocrisy in any guise. His private acts of charity were many, and will long live in the

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hearts of those who have been the recipients of his bounty. He was ever a friend to what- ever had a tendency to benefit and elevate mankind, and many of the public improve- ments of this county number him among their warmest coadjutors. He was ever a lover of sciences, and found his chief recreation in study and reflection upon this theme. He was elected first president of the Literary and Scientific society of Muncie in 1879, and was a director of the Library Association of Mun- cie from the time of its organization until his death. A man of strong individuality, a fin- ished scholar and a polished gentleman, he occupied a special niche in society that none other can fill. He died March 31, 1883. Mrs. March, a lady of many admirable. traits of character, contributed in no small degree to her husband's success in life. Mr. and Mrs. March had no children of their own, but in 1867 they adopted the motherless son of John Pyle, of Indianapolis, at that time ten years old and now grown to manhood. His father died in 1891, since which time he has known no parent except Mrs. March who so kindly reared him. The parents of Mrs. March, na- tives respectively of New Jersey and New York, came to Muncie in December, 1840, and engaged in the hotel business.

J OHN MARSH, late cashier of the Citi- zens' National bank of Muncie, was born in Preble county, Ohio, August 22, 1811. In his veins the blood of the Anglo-Saxon mingles with that of the Teutonic race. His father, Timothy Marsh, was the son of John Marsh, who came to this country from England, and settled in what is now Ger- mantown, Montgomery county, Ohio. He afterward served in the American army all through the Revolution. The mother was

Mary Clawson, who was born near the mouth of the Little Miami river, August 22, 1787, and is said to be the first white child born in the territory of Ohio. Cincinnati was not then laid out, and the country was the home of wild beasts and of the red man. She died at the age of ninety, at the residence of her son, Sear- ing Marsh, near Logansport, Ind., September 15, 1877. Her father was John Clawson, a German, who settled first in Kentucky and afterward in Ohio, and took part in the long struggle by which the colonies threw off the British yoke. John Marsh was not allowed to spend all his boyhood in school, but only the winter term of every year, the remaining time being employed in work on the farm. Yet the school he attended was the best in the county, and there he obtained a good education in the common English branches. At the age of seventeen he went to Eaton, and served an apprenticeship of five years at the hatter's trade. During this period his spare hours were not wasted in the society of the vicious or the frivolous, but were devoted to the acquisition of useful knowledge. At length Mr. Marsh commenced business as a hatter in Camden, and continued it successfully until 1847, when he entered upon the dry goods trade. After one year he was elected treasurer of Preble county, and held the office by re-election three terms. So faithfully and well did he discharge his duties that, at the last election, he re- ceived all the votes cast in the county except thirty-six. During this time he was a stock- holder and a director of the Preble county branch of the State bank of Ohio. In October, 1854. he removed to Wayne county, Ind., and was made president of the Cambridge City bank, one of those that withstood the crisis of 1857.

Mr. Marsh removed to Delaware county in 1856, and organized the Muncie branch of the State bank of Indiana, becoming its president.

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In 1865 it was converted into the Muncie National bank, and he remained its president until 1874. He then sold his interest, intend- ing to retire from business; but after a few weeks of recreation, at the earnest solicitation of a number of prominent men, he organized, with them, in November, 1874, the Citizens' bank, (converted into Citizens' National March 15, 1875), and being given his choice of positions, accepted that of cashier. Mr Marsh had always been an active politician. His first ballot was cast for Henry Clay; he aided in the organization of the republican · party, and ever after was in accord with the principles set forth. In 1838 he joined the Masonic fraternity and ten years later, at Day- ton, Ohic, took the commandery degrees. He was treasurer of Delaware lodge, of Mun- cie chapter, and of Muncie commandery, and helped organize the latter, of which he was treasurer until his death. After 1854 he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was trustee. Mr. Marsh was an able financier and secured a handsome competence. He had no small mental capac- ity, and might have achieved equal success in more important callings. Few were so en- dowed with qualities that inspire respect and friendship, and none lived in happier domestic relations than Mr. Marsh-his family being a model one, in which perfect harmony existed. He married, May 25, 1835, Miss Margaret, daughter of Nathan and Jane (Carr) Mitchell, both of Maryland, originally, but afterward pioneers of Ohio. Four children were born of this marriage, two of whom are living. Their mother died of cholera, July 29, 1849. Mr. Marsh was again united in marriage August 29, 1854, to Mrs. Mary Mutchner, by whom he had four children. The kindness of heart of Mr. Marsh was proverbial, and hundreds re- vere his memory on that account alone, if for nothing else.

a ILLIAM M. MARSH, son of John Marsh, was born in Cambridge City, Wayne county, Ind., on the 8th day of November, 1855. He spent his boyhood days in Muncie, where he en- joyed the advantages of a liberal education, graduating from the city schools in 1873, after which he began with the bank in the capacity of messenger, the dnties of which position he discharged with commendable fidelity for some time. Subsequently, he became book- keeper for the same institution, and was thus employed until the death of his father, having in the meantime, for a period of two years, acted in the capacity of assistant cashier. Upon the death of his father he became cashier. Mr. Marsh was married on the 10th day of October, 1883, to Miss Martha R. Wysor, daughter of Jacob H. Wysor, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Marsh's birth occurred in Muncie, Decem- ber 12, 1859, and she has borne her husband two children, namely: Henry Wysor and John Edwin. The reputation of Mr. Marsh for energy and business capacity marks him as among the foremost, and socially he is deserv- edly popular with his fellow citizens, both of the city of Muncie and throughout the county. He is, at this time, vice-president of the Citizen's Enterprise company, is connected with the Ball Glass works, of which he was a charter officer, and is prominently identified with the Indiana Iron company. Mr. Marsh has always manifested an active interest in the material development of Muncie, to which he has contributed liberally of his means, and in 1889-90, he erected on one of the principal thoroughfares of the city a large and imposing brick structure known as the New Southern hotel. Mr Marsh stands high in Masonry, belonging to the Blue lodge, Muncie chapter, Muncie council and commandery, and is also an active member of the Society of Elks.

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J OHN ROLLIN MARSH, chief engineer of the Indiana Bridge company, was born January 13, 1863, in the city of Muncie, Delaware county, Ind. He grew to manhood in his native city, in the schools of which he obtained his early educa- tional training, completing the prescribed course and graduating from the high school in 1879. On quitting school he accepted the position of deputy clerk, Delaware county cir- cuit court, later became duputy county record- er, in both of which capacities he served several terms under different officials, proving himself a very efficient and capable assistant. Actuated by a desire to complete his educa- tion in the special line of engineering, Mr. Marsh in the fall of 1883 entered the school of Mines, Columbia college, New York, where he pursued his technical studies for several years, graduating in 1887, after which he accepted the position of chief engineer of the Indiana Bridge company of Muncie. In his theoretical and practical knowledge of engi- neering Mr. Marsh has few equals in Indiana, and his name is well and favorably known among the experts of the profession through- out the state. He is a finished scholar, a polished gentleman, possesses the necessary traits of character which insure success and popularity, and enjoys the confidence of the large and well known company with which he is identified.

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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 34

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