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 40

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 40
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 40

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).

a HRISTOPHER RIBBLE, one of the farmers of Delaware county, Ind., now living a life retired from. active business in the pleasant city of Mun- cie, Ind., was born in Montgomery county, Va., November 16, 1817, son of David and Mary (Surfess) Ribble, natives of the same county, who removed to Delaware county in 1830 and settled in Perry township, where -they entered a tract of land in 1829. David Ribble was a man of more than ordinary edu- cation for that period, and was prominently identified with the business and political life of

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the county. He was a republican in politics and was the representative of the people of his district for one term. He died in March, 1839. The mother of Christopher Ribble was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, a good woman and a kind neighbor, and her death occurred in 1852. They reared a family of six children, as follows: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Ingraham Sissell, of Tennessee; Martin, a resident of Muncie; Nancy, now Mrs. Joseph Thomas, of Iowa; Christopher, William, of Centre, and John of Iowa.

Christopher Ribble came to Delaware county when about thirteen years of age, and received his education in the early schools of the county. In 1839 he married Miss Martha VanArsdol, daughter of Cornelius and Jane (McClellan) VanArsdol, who settled in Perry township, Delaware county, in 1820. Mr. Van Arsdol was born in Kentucky and removed, when a child, with his parents, to Ohio, where he grew to maturity and married. After com- ing to Indiana he built a house upon his claim and cleared a farm. He served as justice of the peace and as county commissioner; was also a minister in the Christian church, being the first preacher of the county. His death occurred in 1869. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812.

After marriage, Mr. Ribble located in Perry township, where he cleared a farm, and here the family resided until 1873, when he retired from business and removed into Muncie. He is a stockholder in the Five Points Gas Well company. Politically he is a republican and takes much interest in public affairs. One son, Cornelius W., was born in 1842 and enlisted in 1861 in company K, Nineteenth Indiana volun- teer infantry, and died with typhoid fever, December 31,. 1861, at Washington, D. C. Another son, William T., is a carpenter and contractor in the city of Muncie. Mr. and Mrs. Ribble are members of the High street Metho-

dist Episcopal church, and always take great interest in religious affairs.

ILLIAM RIBBLE, a prominent farmer of Centre township, and one of the oldest and best known citi- zens of Delaware county, is a na- tive of Montgomery county, Va., born Octo- ber 10, 1819. He is of German descent and the son of David and Mary (Surfess) Ribble. His grandparents located in Miami county, Ohio, in 1828, and in 1830 his parents re- moved to Delaware county, Ind., locating near Smithfield, Perry township. David Rib- ble died in 1839 at the age of fifty-two, and his wife in 1852, when sixty-three years old. David Ribble followed farming his entire life, and was chosen representative of Delaware county, Ind., in the general assembly from 1835 to 1837. He reared a family of six chil- dren, viz: Elizabeth, Martin, Nancy, Christo- pher, William and John.

William Ribble received the most impor- tant part of his instruction in the common schools of Virginia, as the advantages afforded in the newly settled districts of Indiana were very meager, and much of his time was em- ployed in the work of the farm. After the death of his father, he assumed the manage- ment of the farm and at once began purchas- ing the shares owned by his brothers and sis- ters. He set to work clearing and improving the place, and from time to time purchased ' adjoining tracts until 1881, until he was the possessor of 344 acres of choice land. In 1858, he formed, with his brother-in-law, the firm of Hutchings & Ribble, at Selma, and engaged in the sale ·of general merchandise and in buying and selling grain and wool, carrying on the farm in the meantime. At the death of Mr. Hutchings, which occurred in

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1865, he sold his interest in the business and again turned his whole attention to agricult- ural pursuits.

In 1843, Mr. Ribble was elected justice of the peace on the whig ticket, and later by appointment of Gov. Whitcomb became major of the state militia. He assisted in the organ- ization of the republican party, and in 1874 was elected on that ticket to the general assembly. Mr. Ribble has been foremest in various public improvements, among which were the Smithfield & Burlington turnpike, of which he was secretary and a director, and the Muncie & Burlington pike, in which he also held an official position. In 1856 Mr. Ribble joined the Burlington lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, and, in 1867, took the chapter and commandery degrees. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over forty years, holding. during that period, the office of steward.

On the 19th of November, 1844, Mr. Rib- ble was united in marriage with Harriet Ribble, who was born in Montgomery county, Va., January 24, 1824, the daughter of George and Sarah (Surfess) Ribble. George Ribble, in company with David Ribble, located in Perry township, Delaware county, in 1830, and in 1831 took command of a company of state militia, which position he filled until promoted to the rank of colonel in 1847. Subsequently (1855) he removed to the state of Iowa, locat- ing at the town of Clarinda, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 27th day of February, 1887. His wife, Sarah Rib- ble, died in the same place May 25, 1879, and they have fifty-six surviving grandchildren, and fifty-one great-grandchildren. George and Sarah Ribble, were earnest members of the Methodist church. To the marriage of William and Harriet Ribble have been born ten children, namely: Charles O., a resident of Liberty township; Helen; Clara, wife of L.

T. Wilson, of Osage county, Kan .; David, who lives in Tennessee, George A., a resident of the township of Liberty; Sarah A., wife of T. W. Cornell; Harriet B .. wife of W. W. Brown, an attorney of New Castle, Ind. ; Eliza, deceased: Mary R., wife of W. L. Legg, Fort Scott, Kan .; Gertrude, deceased, and Lydia E., deceased.

EBSTER S. RICHEY .- Among the officials of Delaware county, Ind., who do her honor by their efficiency, the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch occupies a de- servedly conspicuous place. Since 1890 he has been the auditor of the county, and has most ably and faithfully performed the onerous duties of the position to the satisfaction of the people, irrespective of party affiliation.

Webster S. Richey was born in Preble county, Ohio, March 11, 1848, and is a son of Samuel W. and Sarah C. (Fleming) Richey, natives of the same state, of the counties of Preble and Butler, respectively. The father was a prominent business man of New Paris, Ohio, and died in 1881, at the advanced age of seventy-six. Webster S. is the youngest of a family of eight children and was reared in his native town until sixteen years of age, attending in the meantime the public schools, in which he laid the foundation of an educa- tion which, supplemented by a subsequent course of instruction, and a life of great busi- ness activity and close observation of events, has made him one of the best informed men in every community where his lot has been cast, On the first day of April, 1864, at the age of sixteen, he entered the service of his country, enlisting in the Eighth Ohio battery of light artillery, and served faithfully for fifteen months, at the end of which time,

W. S. RICHEY.

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owing to a serious injury received while mount- ing a cannon, and the war being over, he severed his connection with the army and re- turned to Ohio, and for some time thereafter was engaged in the drug business at the town of New Paris, and while thus employed at- tended school as occasion permitted. In 1867 Mr. Richey accepted a position as bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house at Richmond, Ind., in which capacity he continued until 1870, when he located in Muncie and engaged in the drug business in partnership with W. E. Richey, under the firm name of Richey & Richey. From 1871 to 1876 he was agent of the American Express company at Muncie and joint agent for the United States and Ameri- can companies from the latter year to 1880, also serving as freight clerk for the Bee Line railroad from 1880 to 1881. From the latter year to 1882 he was bookkeeper for James Boyce, and from 1882 to 1887 was the route agent through Ohio and Indiana for the United States Express company. From 1887 to 1889 he was again bookkeeper for James Boyce and served in that capacity until 1890, in which year he was elected to his present posi- tion, auditor of Delaware county.

Mr. Richey is a prominent member of the Williams post, No. 78, G. A. R., Muncie, and was mainly instrumental in the establishment of a similar organization at New Paris, Ohio, in 1886, of which he was made commander. He takes great interest in all matters pertain- ing to the Grand Army. He is also promi- nently identified with the A. F. & A. M. fraternity, belonging to lodge No. 433, of Muncie, also being a member of Muncie chap- ter and commandery .. He belongs to lodge No. 74, I. O. O. F., tribe No. 30, I. O. R. M., took an active part in the organization of the Ancile club and is one of the active members of the Citizens' Business club. It will thus be seen that the career of Mr. Richey has been

one of untiring activity, and the important trusts to which he has been called at different times, and the important office which he now so ably and acceptably fills, attest his popu- larity with the people of his county. A self made man, he has always been imbued with the spirit of self reliance, and every interest imposed in him has been managed with excel- lent tact and judgment. As an official, he enjoys in a full measure the confidence of his fellow citizens, and all who have had business relations with him bear testimony to his worth as an intelligent and most affable and courte- ous gentleman.

Mr. Richey was married October 15, 1872, to Miss Julia Thomas, daughter of J. Harvey Thomas, of Dayton, Ohio, and three children have been born to their union, namely: Albert S., a student at Purdue university, where he is taking the course of electrical engineering; Reba and Paul. Mr. Richey is himself liberal in his religious views, but his family are members of the Presbyterian de- nomination.

S AMUEL M. RIED .- Among the suc- cessful physicians of Delaware county, Ind., Samuel M. Ried takes a front rank, both as to skill and popularity. Dr. Ried was born in Shelby county, Ohio, August 27, 1843, and is a son of William R. and Susan (Young) Ried, natives of Virginia and Montgomery county, Ohio, respectively. William R. and Susan Ried were the parents of five children, of whom Samuel M. is the only one now living. Mrs. Susan Ried de- parted this life March 30, 1863, and the fol- lowing year Mr. Ried was united in marriage to Miss Jean Henry, who is still living on the old home farm in Ohio. William R. Ried died on the 10th day of February, 1893.

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Dr. Ried was reared to manhood in his native county, in the public schools of which he received his early educational training, and later he became a student in the Wesleyan university, Delaware, Ohio, which institution he left before completing the prescribed course, for the purpose of joining the army. Just at this juncture, however, he was stricken with typhoid fever, which prevented his doing mili- tary service, a most grievous disappointment to him at the time, as he was exceedingly desirous of going to the front. The six years following his recovery from sickness he spent teaching school, succeeding well in the profes- sion and earning the reputation of a capable and painstaking instructor. About this time he decided to gratify a taste, which had been developing for several years, of fitting himself for the medical profession; accordingly, he entered the office of Dr. William R. Venard, and began the study of medicine, in which he made most satisfactory progress. He added to the knowledge thus obtained by taking a full course in the college of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graudated in 1878, and thus, quite well for- tified for the duties of his chosen call- ing, he resumed the practice, which he had previously commenced in 1866 in Warren county, Ind. He remained in the county of Warren for a period of twenty-three years, doing a lucrative practice in the meantime, and in 1889 located in Muncie, where his thorough knowledge of the profession soon won for him a prominent place among the leading physicians and surgeons. Dr. Ried has much in his favor, possessing a pleasant personality,. with a manner which inspires confidence- attributes so necessary to the successful disci- ple of the healing art. He is upon the kindest terms with his brother practitioners, belongs to the Delaware County Medical society, and is also a member of the State Medical society.

In polititics he is a supporter of the republi- can party, taking an active interest in the cause which he espouses, and he has the courage of his convictions upon all questions of local and public moment. He is a member of the Mutual Loan & Savings association of Muncie, and testifies to his interest in fra- ternal orders by holding membership in three prominent organizations, namely: Masonic, I. O. O. F. and the I. O. R. M. In religion the doctor subscribes to the Methodist creed, and as a member of the High Street congrega- tion he has done much for his denomination in this city.

The doctor was married, in 1866, to Miss Jennie Johnson, daughter of Joseph Johnson of Shelby county, Ohio, and is the father of three children, namely: Francis A., died May 28, 1876; William J., died April 8, 1877; and B. Lee, living-his birth having occurred on the 4th day February, 1877.

ARDIN ROADS, president of the Merchants' National bank of Muncie, was born and reared on a farm in Highland county, Ohio. After mak- ing such preparations as the common schools afforded, he began teaching at the age of seven- teen, and during the years of his early man- hood followed this occupation, working on the farm during vacations. Subsequently, he en- gaged in merchandising at- Hillsboro, Ohio, where he remained actively engaged until 1887, when he came to Muncie and engaged in the wholesale grocery trade for a period of five years, when he disposed of his business to Mr. Goddard in 1892. February 4, 1893, Mr. Roads, with several other leading business men of Muncie, completed the organization of the Merchants' National bank, he being chosen president. The bank, located at the corner of

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Main and Mulberry streets, has a capital stock of $100,000, and is recognized as one of the solid and successful financial institutions of the city.

EORGE W. ROBINSON (deceased), for many years a popular citizen of Muncie, and one of its efficient officials, was born in Greene county, Pa., on the 13th day of February, 1836. He was the sixth in a family of ten children born to Allen and Jane (Birch) Robinson, the father a native of England, and the mother of Ireland. Allen Robinson came to the United States in early boyhood with an uncle, and became a prominent physician, which profession he fol- lowed during life. Mrs. Robinson was brought to the United States by her parents when but four years of age, and grew to womanhood in Washington county, Pa. In 1837, Allen Rob- inson removed with his family to Mercer county, Ohio, thence later to the city of Bellefontaine, where he resided until 1851, at which date he located in Muncie, Ind., and here practiced his profession. He died in 1865 at the age of sixty years, and his wife survived him until 1880, dying in that year at the advanced age of eighty-four.

George W. Robinson was but a lad when his parents located in Mercer county, Ohio, and a boy in his teens when he came to Muncie. He received a common school education, and in his fifteenth year entered upon an appren- ticeship with Calvin Everett, the pioneer shoe- maker of Muncie, to learn that useful trade. He followed the business of shoemaking for a number of years, and upon the death of his brother, John T. Robinson, became the latter's successor as town marshal in the fall of 1878, the duties of which office he discharged con- tinuously until Muncie was incorporated as

a city, when he was elected city marshal, which office he filled by successive re-elec- tions for a period of fifteen years. His effi- ciency as a guardian of the city's interests during . the period of his incumbency was greatly appreciated by his fellow citizens, and as an evidence of the high esteem in which he was held he was made chief of police, the duties of which position he discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner until his death, which occurred on the 15th day of May, 1893. It will thus be seen that the life of Mr. Robin- son was one of great activity, and his official career embraced a period of twenty-five years of the existence of the city of Muncie. As an official, he was uniformly kind and courte- ous, but possessed in. a marked degree that firmness of purpose so essential to an officer of justice, and which in his case proved a terror to violators of the law. Personally he enjoyed great popularity, his kindness of heart became proverbial, and all with whom he came in contact, whether in business, official or social relations, united in pronouncing him a true friend and an honorable, upright gentle- man. In politics he was ever a supporter of the republican party, and he was prominently identified with the I. O. O. F. and the frater- nity of Red Men. Mr. Robinson was twice married; the first time, on the 25th day of May, 1854, to Miss Mary Frances Gordon, who died in 1875, the mother of six children, three of whom are living, namely: Charles, Dell and Allen. Mr. Robinson's second mar- riage was solemnized October 28, 1877, with Miss Jenette A Langley, who was born in Madison county, Ind., in 1861, the daughter of John and Susan Langley, natives of Indiana and of German descent.

The moral character of Mr. Robinson was above reproach, and his constant observation of the evil effects of crime seemed but to strengthen his incorruptibility.

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HEODORE F. ROSE, prominent at- torney of Delaware county, and pres- ident of the Muncie Natural Gas company, was born in Fairfield, Franklin county, Ind., the son of Samuel and Jane (Harris) Rose. The father was one of the first white children born in the town of Fairfield and was by occupation a carriage maker, having carried on an extensive manu- facturing establishment for many years. He was a man of local prominence in his neighbor- hood, was an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and always manifested a great interest in the Sunday school work. His father, William S. Rose, removed to Union county in an early day, and there became a prominent man of affairs, and was called to fill various official positions. Mrs. Samuel Rose was a native of Lancaster, Pa., and a woman of many excellent traits of both mind and heart.

Theodore F. Rose is the second son in his father's family, and was reared in his native place until seventeen years of age. In his youth he enjoyed superior educational advan- tages, attending first the public schools and later becoming a student of Brookville college, and afterward graduating, in 1875, from the regular scientific course in the State university at Bloomington, Ind. His early inclinations led him to choose the legal profession for his life work, and in 1876 he began the study of the same in the office of Buckles & Ryan at Muncie, under whose instruction he continued until his admission to the bar in 1878. He then began the active practice of his profes- sion in partnership with Hon. Josiah E. Mel- lett, at that time prosecuting attorney of Del- aware county, and was made deputy prose- cutor, in which capacity he continued until the expiration of that gentleman's term of office. The partnership of Rose & Mellett was continued until 1882, since

which time Mr. Rose has not had any associ- ate in the practice. He served as city attor- ney for five years, and is now the attorney for a number of corporations, and his standing is a compliment to his ability as a painstaking and successful lawyer. He became president of the Muncie Natural Gas company in 1886, since which date he has been prominently identified with that organization. He was one of the chief movers and organizers of the Indi- ana Bridge company, from which he retired in 1891; is a stockholder in the Muncie Casket company, and has been connected with several important industries which have had their effect in promoting, in a very marked degree, the prosperity of the city of Muncie. In part- nership with George Kirby, he has for several years been extensively engaged in real estate transactions, and is a recognized authority on all matters pertaining to that line of business. Mr. Rose is a man of energy and spirit, pos- sesses financial ability of a high order, and bears the reputation of being a man of marked probity, and as exemplary in private life as well as before the public gaze. Fraternally he is a member of Muncie lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., belongs to the Muncie encampment and canton, is prominently identified with the A. F. & A. M., and was one of the charter mem- bers of the Ancile club. The marriage of Mr. Rose was solemnized in 1880 with Miss Mar- garet I. Dodds, daughter of Dr. James F. Dodds, of Bloomington, Ind., to which union one child, Frederick D. Rose, has been born.

J OHN C. ROSS, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Muncie, is a native of Randolph county, Ind., and son of John and Eliza (Hunt) Ross. John Ross was born in Fleming county, Ky., July 25, 1816, and came to Indiana with his

J. C. ROSS, M. D

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parents in 1825, locating with the family in the city of Fort Wayne. When a young man, he worked for some time on the old Wabash and Erie canal, and later removed to Randolph county and entered 160 acres of government land in what is now Nettle Creek township. In addition to agricultural pursuits, which he carried on for a number of years, he worked at the mill-wright trade, and was thus engaged until he entered the United States service at the breaking out of the late rebellion. He enlisted, in 1861, in company D, Sixty-ninth Indiana infantry, was soon promoted captain, and took part in the first battle at Richmond, Ky., where he received a severe wound which necessitated his retiring from the service for a time. In the battle of Richmond nearly all of the Sixty-ninth fell into the hands of the enemy, and the regiment was afterwards reorganized at Camp Wayne and assigned to Grant's com- mand, Mr. Ross leading his company in the Vicksburg and other campaigns. He saw much active service, participated in a mumber of bloody battles, and was wounded seven times, the effects of which compelled him to resign his commission and retire from the service. On leaving the army, he resumed farming for a time in Randolph county, later purchased a grist mill in the county of Wayne, which he operated for three years, disposing of it at the end of that time and building a similar struct- ure in the town of Huntsuille, where he was engaged in the manufacture of flour until he removed to Delaware county in the spring of 1869. Since the latter year he has been en- gaged in various enterprises, making his home at the time in the beautiful town of Selma, where his declining years are being passed. For a number of years John Ross has been a local minister of the Methodist church, as was his father before him, and his wife's people were also prominently identified with the same denomination, his father-in-law having been a

preacher of some note, in an early day, in southern Indiana. Politically he was originally a whig, later a republican, but at this time he is an earnest supporter of the prohibition party. Mrs. Eliza Ross was born March 30, 1823, in Wayne county, Ind., her people being among the pioneer settlers of that part of the state.

Dr. John C. Ross was born on the home farm in Nettle Creek township, Rrndolph county, May 10, 1844, and he received such mental culture as was attainable in the coun- try schools, which he attended at intervals during the years of his minority. He assisted an elder brother in farming the place while his father worked at millwrighting and carpen- tering, and remained under the parental roof until his twenty-fifth year. From his youth to nearly middle life the doctor's health was not very vigorous, having been greatly troubled with attacks of nervous prostration, the effects of which had a tendency to retard the devel- opment of his physical powers, consequently he grew up slim and somewhat dwarfed in bodily vigor. Owing to overwork in the har- vest field, while his father was in the army, he became an invalid, and for the greater part of the succeeding two years was unable to perform much physical labor. It was during this period that he turned his attention to the study of medicine, and after being sufficiently recovered he found employment at different occupations, pursuing his professional studies during his hours of leisure, generally at night, under the instruction of his physician, Dr. R. L. Eikenberry. Later, he attended a course of lectures at Cincinnati, after which he began the practice at the town of Bethel, where his success in the profession soon brought him into favorable notice throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. With a laudable desire to increase his professional knowledge, the doc- tor, subsequently, entered the Eclectic Medi- cal college at Indianapolis, completing 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 40

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