USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, 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 31
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much of the success of which is directly trace- able to his efforts. He is almost constantly conducting some enterprise that will inure to the city's advancement, and in him Muncie and Delaware county find one of their most substantial, energetic and highly respected representatives. As an official he displayed ability of a high order, and his dealings with his fellows in all relations of life have been marked by that high sense of honor which has made him deservedly popular with all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Kirby is a republican in politics, and fraternally belongs to the Masonic order, in which he occupies a prominent position, being a Knight Templar and a member of the Scottish rite branch. He was married January 14, 1866, to Miss Kate W. Whipple, who was born in Washing- ton county, N. Y., on the 19th day of March, 1846, the daughter of Joab T. and Maria (Wilson) Whipple, the latter a sister of the late Volney Wilson, of Muncie. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby have been born the following children: Wilson W., teller of the Citizens' National bank; Marion E., Louise, John M. and Julius T.
HOMAS P. KIRBY is the head of one of the leading plumbing and gas fit- ting establishments of Muncie and is entitled to mention as one of the city's representative young men. He is a son of John and Mary Kirby and was born in Mun- cie, Delaware county, Ind., on the 4th day of April, 1867. He was educated in the city schools, and on attaining his majority began clerking for his father, in whose employ he continued for a period of two years, and then entered upon an apprenticeship for three years with the Muncie Water company for the pur- pose of learning the plumbing trade, in which
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he acquired great proficiency. After becoming familiar with the details of the business, he established his present plumbing, gas, steam fit- ting and sewer work, which, as already stated, is one of the largest and most successful enter- prises of the kind in the city of Muncie. In his business Mr. Kirby has displayed commend- able energy and foresight, and he has met with success such as few attain in a much longer life. He retains, in a marked degree, the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens of Muncie, and by inheritance as well as by steady application, possesses those sterling qualities essential to the successful manage- ment of affairs, and which undoubtedly insure for him a future of much promise and useful- ness.
Mr. Kirby was married in Muncie on the 5th of July, 1888, to Miss Gertrude Maddy, whose birth occurred in the year 1867. Mrs. Kirby is the daughter of William R. Maddy, and she has borne her husband two children, namely: Frederick and Edgar. In his relig- ious views Mr. Kirby subscribes to the Episco- pal creed, of which church his wife is also a member, and in politics he supports the princi- ples of the republican party. He is prominent in the Masonic order, having taken a number of degrees, including that of Sir Knight, and he is also an active worker in the Pythian fraternity.
W. KIRBY, receiving and paying teller of the Citizens' National bank of Muncie, Ind., was born Septem- ber 13, 1867, in Muncie city, where he has since continued to reside. He attended the Muncie schools during the years of his minority, and at the age of seventeen obtained his first insight into the practical affairs of life as an assistant to his father in the stock
business, with all the details of which he soon became familiar. Subsequently he took a course of mechanical engineering in the Rose Polytechnic institute, Terre Haute, and upon the election of his father as treasurer of Dela- ware county, he left his studies and became deputy county treasurer, the duties of which he discharged with commendable fidelity; within a short time of the expiration of the term of office, however he accepted the posi- tion of receiving and paying teller in the Citi- zens' National bank of Muncie. Mr. Kirby is an accomplished accountant, understanding thoroughly the many details of banking, and has already made a creditable record as a safe and reliable business man. He is energetic in all he undertakes, enjoys great personal popularity in his city, and by his honorable and manly course has succeeded in winning for himself a prominent position in the estima- tion of the public. He was united in marriage January 1, 1890, with Miss Carrie Louise, the accomplished daughter of Dr. Robert and Elmira Winton, of Muncie. (See sketch of George Kirby, father of W. W. Kirby.)
a HARLES A. KITTS, of the firm of Kitts & Everet, real estate dealers, Muncie, Ind., is a son of Williard and Lottie (Adams) Kitts, and was born in Oswego, N. Y., March 8, 1861. He graduated from Union college, Schenectady, N Y., in 1884, and in 1885 began the manu- facture of knit underwear at Canastota, N. Y., on his own account, but two years later moved to Piqua, Ohio, where he formed a joint stock company, with $50,000 capital, which was incorporated as the Piqua Hosiery company, and of which he was made general manager and vice president, and was active in the manufacture for two years-the company
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being still in operation. While in Piqua he also laid out and developed two or three addi- tions to the city. At the end of six years he sold out his interests and organized a land syndicate, with a capital of $80, 000, and went to San Antonio, Tex., where he sub-divided Keystone Park, inaugurated street car service, sold a considerable portion of the tract, and still retains quite a number of the choice lots. He was also interested in developing Spring City, Tenn., and Kanawha, West Va., and his efforts resulted in substantial gains for both places. In 1891, he became asso- ciated with W. N. Whitely in his Indiana gas belt enterprise, Eaton, Ind., being the first town to enter into negotiation, and through the active exertion of Mr. Kitts, a subscription fund of $80,000 was raised and 1,000 acres of land optioned-the largest bonus ever raised by an equal population for the purpose; but, owing to the superior bank- ing and shipping facilities of Muncie, Mr. Whitely decided upon that city as his head- quarters. Mr. Kitts thereupon organized the Fort Wayne Land & Improvement company, which took up the Eaton properties, located the Paragon Paper company and other indus- tries, and established a bank. Mr. Kitts a'so actively assisted the Whitely Land company in developing its property. After Mr. Whitely's withdrawal, Mr. Kitts formed a syndicate at Pittsburg, Pa., with $125,000, which pur- chased the 140-acre tract known as the Wysor Heights, together with the interests of the original company, and in the spring of 1893 located the Whitely Malleable Iron works. Of this company Mr. Kitts is a director, and with his partner, E. E. Everet, has general charge of its large real estate interests. Kitts & Everet were also the prime movers in devel- oping Parker, Ind., where they formed a land syndicate, and in 1893 disposed of over 200 lots at public sale and located three factories.
Mr. Kitts was married in Chittenango, N. Y., in 1886, to Miss Hattie Walrath, a gradu- ate of Vassar college in the class of 1884, and the accomplished daughter of the late Frank- lin Walrath, wholesale grocer of Syracuse, N. Y. To this felicitous union has been born one daughter-Frances. Mr. Kitts is a chapter Mason, and as a business man enjoys a most enviable reputation, not only in Muncie, but wherever else known.
C. KLEIN is a son of Armstead M. and Sarah Klein, and was born in Delaware county, Ind., November 18, 1842. He was reared to manhood in Muncie, received a good education, and in 1855 entered as apprentice under his brother, John A. Klein, to learn the jewelry trade, in which he early acquired great proficiency. After serving three years he began, in 1858, to work at his chosen calling at Richmond, Ind., with Charles Dickenson, and one year later went south, locating at Vicksburg, where he carried on business until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he returned home and en- listed in company E, Nineteenth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, for three years. Owing to physical disability, he was discharged after a few months' service, but, after regaining his health, re-enlisted in the same company in October, 1861, and shared, with his comrades, all the vicissitudes of war, until his honorable discharge at the cessation of hostilities in 1865. During his period of service he participated in many of the leading battles of the Virginia campaign, including, among others, second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Fitz Hugh Crossing, Chancel- lorsville, and Gettysburg, in the last of which he received a severe wound in the hip, which necessitated his being sent to the United States
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hospital of Philadelphia. Later he was trans- ferred to the hospital at Indianapolis, and was absent from his command for a period of about four months. After having sufficiently recov- ered, he rejoined his regiment and took part in the bloody battles of Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Wel- don Railroad, Hatcher's Run, and a number of lesser engagements, in all of which his conduct was that of a brave soldier.
He has in his possession a beautiful record, in silk, containing the names of corps, brigade and regiment to which he belonged, and all the battles in which his command took part. On returning home he resumed the jewelry business, being at this time the leader in that line in Muncie. Since 1878 he has been sole proprietor of a large establishment which con- tains a magnificent stock, calculated to meet all the demands of the current trade. Mr. Klein is also interested in the manufacture of artificial ice in Muncie, beside which he has been a libe al promoter of the various enter- prises which have given Muncie its present high standing as the leading manufacturing city of Indiana. Mr. Klein is a republican, and fraternally belongs to the Masonic order, in which he stands high, having taken the Thirty-second degree. He also belongs to the society of Elks. Mr. Klein was married Feb- ruary 19, 1866, to Sarah C. Spilker, of Mun- cie, and sister of Geo. W. Spilker, mention of whom is found on another page of this volume. This marriage was blessed with the birth of five children, whose names are as follows: Effie, deceased; Geo. A., Edward M., Arm- stead M. and Fred A. Mrs. Klein died No- vember 17, 1887, and July 29, 1889, Mr. Klein was united in marriage with Flora Pat- terson, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Klein are members of the Presbyterian and Methodist Protestant churches, respectively.
Armstead Mason Klein, the pioneer jeweler
of Muncie, was born at the town of Water- ford, Loudoun county, Va., on the 26th day of June, 1817. His father kept a hotel at that town, and apprenticed his son for eight years to a jeweler at Leesburg, Va. Armstead reached Newark, Ohio, early in 1837, and, within a few months thereafter, married Sarah E. Ethell. In the fall of the same year he located at Evansville, Ind., and late in the fall of 1838 came to Muncie. There were a few clocks and watches to be repaired in the village and county, and he found sufficient work to do to provide a very good livelihood for his family. About 1846 he opened a shop, the first of its kind in Delaware county, and situated on west Main street in a little frame house. He kept abreast of the times, increas- ing his stock as occasion demanded, until he carried a fine line of goods valued at thousands of dollars. He worked at the bench sixteen and eighteen hours a day, for many years, and only gave up the laborious part of his business to his sons, five years ago.
His first wife died March 2, 1859, leaving him with the care of five children, one of whom has since followed her to the grave, leaving Henry C., Madison C., William C., and Sarah E. On the 26th day of June, 1859, he married Justina Hardy. This union was blessed with two children, both now deceased.
Mr. Klein was a well known citizen, and no words of eulogy from our pen could add to his popularity, or the high grade in which he was held by all who know him. He was a per- sistent worker, always honest and upright in his business transactions, and in his social rela- tions genial and hospitable. In the summer of 1853 he united with the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities at Muncie. He was a Knight Templar in the former, and in the lat- ter took all the degrees in the subordinate lodge and encampment, and was a member of the grand lodge of Indiana. He was an ardent
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republican in politics, and served four years as a member of the city council of Muncie.
J UDGE GEORGE H. KOONS was born April 2, 1848. His parents are Peter and Katharine (Rinard) Koons, both natives of Henry county, Ind., where they still live in the old homestead in Blue River township, respected by all, and loved most by those who know them best; they are honest, industrious, hospitable, unpretentious people. His ancestors were lovers of rural life, tillers of the soil, and were noted for industry, thrift and the prompt payment of debts. He is of German and Anglo-saxon descent. His grandparents on his father's side were George and Mary Koons, and on his mother's side were Nancy (Reddy) Rinard and George Rinard, who was a local preacher, and a very ardent abolitionist. His grandmother, Mary Koons, was a woman of remarkable memory, always keeping herself thoroughly posted in the doings of her ten children and her numerous grandchildren, being able, up to the time of her death, at the age of eighty- five years, to give in detail the condition of the affairs of each and all of them, which she took great delight in doing, taking to the last the keenest, liveliest interest in their welfare.
Judge Koons received his education in the common schools and at the New Castle acad- emy in Henry county, and at the State univer- sity at Bloomington. At the age of fourteen he began teaching in the common schools of Henry county. While a student at the New Castle academy, he taught in the country schools during the winter, and became well known as a successful common school teacher. After finishing his course of academic study, he served four years as superintendent of the schools of Middletown, Henry county, Ind.,
where he gained an enviable reputation as a thorough and capable instructor. Having pre- viously pursued his legal studies under Messrs. Brown & Polk, attorneys at New Castle, he entered the law department of the State uni- versity in 1869, where he graduated with honors in 1871, in a class of thirty-three, re- ceiving the degree of LL. B. After leaving the university he studied law during that sum- mer under the instruction and guidance of Hon. Jehu T. Elliot, of New Castle. In the of fall '71 he again accepted the position as su- perintendent of the Middletown schools for another year, at the close of which he began the practice of law in that town and remained there until June of 1874, when he removed to Muncie, where he has since remained in the enjoyment of a large portion of the legal busi- ness of the city and county. For a few years after coming to Muncie, he struggled along with apparently indifferent success, but by dint of industry, pluck, energy and perseverance, he gradually arose to the front rank among the lawyers of the Delaware county bar.
Politically, the judge has been a life-long republican, and at one time was a candidate for the nomination by his party for the state legislature, but was defeated in the contest by the Hon. John W. Ryan. In 1892 he defeat- ed the Hon. J. N. Templer for the nomina- tion for judge of the Forty-sixth judicial cir- cuit of Indiana, at the primary election held in Delaware county, receiving the nomination of his party by a large majority of all the votes cast, and in the fall of that year was elected by a majority of 2, 024 votes over his democrat- ic competitor, the Hon. Chas. W. Kilgore, Rev. E. Holdstock, candidate on the prohibi- tion ticket, receiving a vote of 214. After his election, upon receiving his commission he immediately assumed the duties of his office and has continued to discharge the same with the wisdom and dignity expected of him by the
L
Jours July George the Koons
Respectfully yours D. V. H Koons
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people. As a judge he is popular alike with the lawyers and the litigants. He possesses a clear, judicial mind and enunciates his rulings with clearness and impartiality, is strictly up- right and honest and commands the respect and confidence of the people. He is blessed in a high degree with those qualities which are so necessary to success in the profession of law, and has been recognized for many years as a sound advocate, an able, safe and wise counselor and adviser. He is a man of broad, humanitarian views, thoroughly democratic in feeling, and in close sympathy with his fellow men; a lover of all that is real, noble and good in humanity, and a steadfast friend of humble, lowly, well-meaning men in all the walks of life. Fraternally, the judge is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of the Im- proved Order of Red Men, and while at col- lege became a member of the Phi Kappi Psi Greek fraternity. He was a charter member of the Literary and Scientific association of Muncie, out of which grew the Literary Fire- side, the Literary Home Circle, and finally the Ethical society, with the last three of which societies he and his wife have been prominent- ly identified, both being charter members.
He was united in marriage September 6, 1871, to Josinah V. Hickman, daughter of William H. and Clarissa W. Hickman. They have four children, three of whom a e living. He is a kind husband and father, and his home life is a beautiful, quiet, and happy one.
RS. J. V. H. KOONS is number three in a family of nine children. Her father was William H. Hickman, whose mother was Josinah Van- matre Hickman and whose father was Joshua Lewis Hickman, a pioneer Baptist preacher,
and whose grandfather was Ezekiel Hickman, a captain in the Revolutionary war, who mortgaged a tract of land in Alleghany county, Pa., to one Isaac Mason and raised a company of seventy-five men and furnished them with horses at his own expense.
Her mother was Clarissa Williams, daugh- ter of Rachael (Ball) Williams and David Williams of Lebanon, Ohio, whose paternal grandfather was William Williams, who was also a soldier of the Revolution, and came from Wales and was of the family of Roger Williams. From her mother she inherits her taste and talent for poetry. Her childhood was spent in the old home where she was born near Springport, Henry county, Ind. She attended the district schools and availed her- self of the meager advantages they afforded, afterward teaching successfully in the country schools. Once she received fifteen dollars more than the sum she had agreed to teach for, because, in the language of one of the trustees "She has teached the school better than a man could teach it."
She early began to write original verses. The first to receive favorable mention ap- peared in the Lebanon (Ohio) Western Star, February 23, 1860, and since that time, as fancy has dictated or opportunity afforded, she has written stories, sketches and poems, some of which have gone the rounds of the papers, receiving their full meed of praise.
Little can be said of interest to biography lovers of a woman wholly devoted to her home and domestic duties, doing through all the best years of her life the lowly work that lay be- fore her. Only through her poems may glimpses here and there be had of the heart's struggle and the soul's great hope. She has shown us her creed in her peom entitled "White Days," in which she defines the word as follows: "The creeds are but notes in the world's hymn of praise. "
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The Muncie Times says of her:
MRS. J. V. H. KOONS.
In Indiana's annals,
"In the long
Hereafter of her speech and song,"
besides the names of her Wallace, her Eggles- ton and her Riley, many will stand forth as representatives of all that is best and purest in the literature of our state. Muncie can at least boast one truly inspirational poet in the person of Mrs. J. V. H. Koons. At her beau- tiful home in Riverside she creates without any study or effort those gems of melodious versification which glow with the "humanity of her sympathy," and which show a delight- ful familiarity with all that is artistic, tender and elevating in song. With a magnetic touch she charms the ear and shows the warm and tender heart of noble woman and the friend as well as the true poet. Whatever is best, purest and truest is voiced in her fervid and loving strains.
She is the wife of Judge George H. Koons, and the mother of four children, three of whom are, Clara, Reda, and George Koons, jr. Mary Maud, the eldest, died in babyhood.
The reader will view with pleasure, on the following pages, the life-like portrait of Mrs. J. V. H. Koons, and also that of her husband, Judge George H. Koons.
ILLIAM P. KOONS, a prominent member of the Delaware county bar and a rising lawyer of eastern Indiana, was born in the county of Henry, this state, on the 10th day of Decem- ber, 1862. He is the son of Peter Koons and brother of Hon. G. H. Koons, the present judge of the Delaware circuit court. Mr. Koons attended the country schools and re-
mained on the home farm in Henry county until his fourteenth year, at which early age he began to teach, and was thus employed four consecutive years at the same place. The school over which young Koons exercised super- vision had an unsavory reputation, and before he accepted the position four teachers had already been compelled to withdraw on ac- count of the insubordination of a class of young men who attended for the purpose of creating a disturbance. Mr. Koons' success as an instructor is attested by the fact that, during the four terms which he taught at that point, he was never compelled to resort to cor- poral punishment of any kind, a record unpre- cedented in that locality. Subsequently Mr. Koons attended three successive years the Muncie high school, after which he resumed educational work, teaching six terms in Henry county at the towns of Messick and Hillsboro, reading law in the meantime with his brother, Hon. George H. Koons, of Muncie. After becoming familiar with the principles of his profession he was admitted to the bar in 1889, and began the practice with his brother, with whom he remained until appointed, by Joseph Leffler, deputy prosecuting attorney. He dis- charged the duties of that position in a very able and satisfactory manner until the election of his brother to the judgeship, after which he resigned and took charge of the latter's exten- sive legal business, and has been one of the active practitioners at the Muncie bar ever since. Mr. Koons is ambitious and zealous in his chosen profession, and as a rising lawyer has undoubtedly a promising future. He is well grounded in the principles of the law, is a ready advocate, a wise and safe counselor, and his abilities are frequently recognized by his retention in many important and intricate cases. Mr. Koons was married June 28, 1892, to Miss Jennie, daughter of Samuel and Cath- erine (Allender) Downs, of Hillsboro, Ind.
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EORGE F. LEAGER, deceased, the famous restaurateur of Muncie, was born in Caroline county, Maryland, August 12, 1840. His parents, Ris- dom and Susan (Digging) Leager, were also natives of Maryland and were mar- ried in 1835. The father, however, died eleven years later, leaving his widow with two sons, George F. and Thomas, and a daughter, Mary. George F. Leager was reared on the old homestead and early inured to hard work on the farm before the war, he being the oldest male member of the family after his father's death. At the outbreak of hostilities he en- listed in company D, First regiment Maryland Eastern Shore volunteers, September 11, 1861, and served until honorably discharged, Novem- ber 2, 1864. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg and others, but was chiefly on duty in guarding the peninsula of Maryland and Virginia. While thus employed he there met, in 1861, Miss Sarah E. Melson, a daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Kelley) Melson, who reside at Accomac C. H., she being then but thirteen years of age. Mr. Leager was at that time suffering from some slight disability incurred in the performance of his duty as guard, and was in the habit of calling at the dwelling of the Melson family to obtain supplies of butter, milk, etc., and thus during his year's detail as guard, an acquaintanceship sprang up between himself and the young lady. Af- ter the war was over Mr. Leager entered a dry goods store at Greensboro, Md., where he was employed some time as clerk, and, in 1871, came to Muncie, where he engaged as dry-goods clerk for B. Smith for a year.
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