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 32
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
In 1872 he started a lunch room and con- fectionery in the Patterson block, opposite the Walnut street opera house, and at once be- came popular with the public. He began with a capital of $600 or $700, but his place became a favorite resort, and he kept the
same room seventeen years. In the mean- time, about 1874, a brother-in-law, Rev. R. C. Jones, who had been in the same regiment with Mr. Leager, had occasion to visit Virgin- ia, and while in that state called on the Mel- son family, met the young lady, who was but a mere child when Mr. Leager had been doing guard duty, and found her still single. Mr. Jones recalled to her mind the Yankee soldier (if, indeed, she needed any reminder) and sug- gested a correspondence. The suggestion was adopted and the result was the union, in 1878, of the southern belle with the northern war- rior.
Mr. Leager, however, had been in delicate health ever after leaving the army, and August 2, 1890, succumbed to the disorder therein incurred, at the age of fifty years, lacking ten days. He was an active member of the High street Methodist Episcopal church, was a class leader, and a member of the official board for many years. He was also a charter member of the Improved Order of Red Men of Muncie, and a member of the Royal Arca- num and the G. A. R. Mr. Leager had been the mainstay of his widowed mother from the time of his father's death, and the support of the other bereaved members of the family. He brought them all with him to Muncie in 1871, and here the mother passed away in April, 1888, at the age of seventy-three years, a devout Methodist.
J OSEPH G. LEFFLER, a prominent lawyer of Muncie and prosecuting at- torney of Delaware county, was born in Hamilton township, Delaware county, Ind., December 26, 1864, son of Philip and Mary (Girard) Leffler, natives of Ohio, both of whom were brought to this state by their par- ents in early childhood. The mother of Joseph
346
MUNCIE CITY
G. died when he was but four years of age. Philip Leffler has always been engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits in Hamilton township, where his father, also named Philip Leffler, settled many years ago, having been one of the pio- neers of that section. The latter purchased a large tract of land of the government in the township of Hamilton, developed a fine farm, and in connection with agriculture carried on the tanner's trade, in both of which he was very successful. The father of Joseph G. Leffler was a stanch republican in his political belief, and proved his loyalty to his country, in 1863, by enlisting and serving gallantly until the close of the rebellion. Two of his three children are still living, namely: James Harvey, a hardware merchant of Albany, and Joseph G. Joseph G. Leffler passed the years of his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, received his primary education in the public schools, with some further instruction at the Danville Normal, but he is chiefly self-educated. When eighteen years of age he was sufficiently advanced in his studies to secure a teacher's license, and was employed four consecutive terms as teacher of the Center school, Hamil- ton township, where he earned a reputation of a careful and painstaking instructor.
In 1884 he began reading law in the office of W. W. Orr and J. C. Mallette, was admit- ted to the Delaware county bar in 1888, and by diligent attention to his profession soon won for himself a conspicuous place among the successful attorneys of Muncie. Politically Mr. Leffler is, like his father before him, a re- publican, and takes an active interest in the welfare of the party, which, recognizing his efficient services, has rewarded him by an election to an important official position. In 1890 he was elected to the office of county prosecutor, and in November, 1892, was honored by a re-election to the same position, the duties of which he has discharged in a
manner highly creditable to himself and satis- factory to the people of the county. Mr. Leffler is an active political worker, an effect- ive and forcible speaker, and his ability in this direction has been very effectually employed in a number of campaigns. He is well informed in the principles of his profession, untiring in his efforts to mete out justice to violators of the law, and has before him a future fraught with much promise. Fraternally, Mr. Leffler is a member of Welcome lodge, Knights of Pythias, is identified with the Improved Order of Red Men, belongs to the Sons of Veterans, and is a charter member of the Ancile club. In 1890 Mr. Leffler and Miss Laura Emerson, daugh- ter of Joseph Emerson, were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, to which marriage one child, Mary Eugenia, has been born. Mrs. Leffler is a valued member of the First Baptist church and is one of the popular ladies of Muncie.
J OHN OSBORN LEWELLEN .- The county of Delaware, Ind., has within its borders many men of prominence in business circles, well known manufact- urers, skillful physicians and lawyers of state reputation; and she is not lacking in those who have obtained prominence on account of intellectual merit in other and just as impor- tant callings. Among the latter Prof. John Lewellen, the present efficient county superin- tendent of schools, occupies a conspicuous place. . Prof. Lewellen's birth occurred in the town of Smithfield, Liberty township, Dela- ware conty, Ind., on the 31st of July, 1852, a son of Z. M. and Sarah Ann (Truitt) Lewellen, natives of Virginia and Indiana, and of Welsh and English lineage respectively. These par- ents settled in Delaware county a number of years ago; the mother died June 3, 1893, but
JNO. O. LEWELLEN.
347
AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
the father is still living, being among the old and substantial residents of Selma, Liberty township. Prof. Lewellen is the eldest of a family of six children. He was reared in Liberty and Harrison townships, and enjoyed excellent educational advantages, attending first the schools of the township and subse- quently the Methodist college at Xenia, Ohio, the National Normal school of Lebanon, the same state, and the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, Ind., in the last named of which he finished the scientific course, graduating in 1877. Following this excellent preparation, Prof. Lewellen taught one term of school at the town of Eaton, and then accepted a simi- lar position at Albany, where he followed the profession successfully for a period of six years, conducting a normal school for teachers in the meantime. In 1883 he was elected county superintendent of Delaware county, and has since discharged the duties of that position in a highly satisfactory manner, hav- ing been unanimously re-elected each succeed- ing term, which fact is not only a compliment to his ability as an official, but attests his great personal popularity with the people.
Prof. Lewellen is a man of great force of character, possesses executive ability of a very high order, and under his able supervision the schools of the county have been brought to their present state of efficiency. The recent improvements in the grading of the country schools have been brought about altogether by his efforts, and through his influence, a class of teachers of exceptional professional ability has been secured, and the present high standard attained by the schools of Delaware county will compare favorably with that of any other part of the state. Mr. Lewellen is the originator of an outline course of study for district schools, which he has had copy- righted, and which is being extensively adopted in a number of counties of Indiana
and other states. As a school official, Prof. Lewellen is widely and favorably known throughout Indiana, and his suggestions per- taining to matters educational are respectfully listened to in all the conventions of county superintendents which he attends. Politically, he is a republican, and as such wields a potent influence for his party in Delaware county. He is a member of the Literary Fireside, and of the Pythian fraternity, in the latter of which he is past chancellor. He also belongs to Heart and Hand lodge, No. 361, of Albany, I. O. O. F., being past grand in the same, and is an active member of Muncie tribe, No. 144, of Red Men, also of F. &. A. M. Prof. Lewellen was united in marriage December 25, 1877, to Miss Huldah Eleanor Crampton, daughter of Mahlon Crampton, of Harrison township, to which union two chil- dren have been born, namely: Albert Ross and Harry Crampton Lewellen. Mr. and Mrs. Lewellen are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and for the past two years have been teachers in the Sunday school. While residing in Albany, Prof. Lewellen officiated as Sunday school superintendent, and did much in awakening and keeping alive the religious interest in that place.
3 OHN W. LITTLE, a prominent real estate dealer of Muncie, was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., March 13, 1844, the son of John L. and Mary A. (Wilson) Little. John L. Little was a native of New Jersey, born in the year 1818, and his ancestors for several generations lived in that state. His parents were John and Mercy (Herbert) Little, both natives o' New Jersey and the father a farmer by occupation. John L. Little also was reared on a farm, and when a young man learned the saddler's trade,
-
348
MUNCIE CITY
which he followed successfully in the city of Philadelphia. In after years he engaged in general merchandising for a coal company in the interior of the state, but subsequently re- turned to Philadelphia, where he engaged in business, and in the spring of 1858 came to Muncie, Ind., where until 1866 he dealt quite extensively in dry goods. In the latter year he began dealing in sewing machines, and was thus employed until 1870, at which time he began the manufacture of feather dusters, es- tablishing the first and only enterprise of the kind ever operated in the city of Muncie. He disposed of his interest in this concern in 1882, and opened an insurance office and did a very flourishing business in that line until 1892, on September 16 of which year his death oc- curred. He was married in the city of Phila- delphia, in 1840, to Mary Ann Wilson, who bore him five children, namely: William L., boot and shoe dealer of Muncie; John W., whose name introduces this sketch; H. W., deceased; Mary, wife of Dr. A. J. Finney ; and D. B. F., of Elwood, Ind. The mother of these children, at the age of sixty-eight years, died in Muncie. Mr. Little was a man of local prominence in Delaware county, took an active part in the material development of Muncie, and erected several buildings which are among the most substantial in the city. He was noted for his eminent social qualities, which made him popular with all, and his be- nevolence endeared him to a number of fami- lies of Muncie that received many tokens of his favor. He was the first man to introduce the use of coal oil in this city, and, in partner- ship with Thomas E. Neely, bonght the first sewing machine that was ever used in Dela- ware county. Following are the names of the brothers and sisters of John L. Little: Gilbert C., J. H., Maria, Catherine, Ann, Hannah L., Elizabeth and Jane, all deceased but Hannah, Elizabeth and Jane.
John W. Little spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native state, where he received his early educational training, and in 1858 accompanied his father to Muncie, in the schools of which city he pursned his studies until the breaking out of the late rebellion. In August, 1861, he responded to the country's call for volunteers, enlisting in company B, Thirty-sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, for the three years' service. He was with his com- mand until honorably discharged, September, 1864, at Indianapolis, a period of three years and one month, during which time he partici- pated in a number of bloody battles, including Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Chickamanga, and the various engagements of the Atlanta cam- paign. In 1864, at Resaca, Ga., he received a severe wound in the arm, which necessitated his remaining in the hospital for a period of three months. After his discharge, he returned to Muncie and embarked in the dry goods business, which he continned until 1866, when he went to Chicago, thence to Memphis, Tenn., where he clerked in a dry goods honse until 1868. From the latter year until 1871, he traveled for a sewing machine company, selling machines and attachments, and then became a partner with his father in the manufacture of feather dusters at Muncie, a relationship which continued until 1882, when the son became sole proprietor. After operating his factory until 1889, he sold out to Chicago parties, and engaged in real estate and loan business, to which he has since devoted his entire attention, and in which he has met with most gratifying success.
Mr. Little was married, in 1866, to Miss Flora Case, who died January 2, 1868. On the 11th day of June, 1871, Mr. Little was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Long- streth of Lebanon, Ohio, who departed this life on the 16th day of June, 1889. Mr.
349
AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
Little's third marriage was solemnized on the 28th day of December, 1891, in Muncie, with Miss Eva Hageman of Lebanon, Ohio, daugh- ter of Joseph and Amanda J. Hageman. Mr. Little has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty-five years, and is a member of the G. A. R. of Muncie, his name appearing on the charter of the post of this city. From 1885 to 1887 and from 1890 to 1892, he was a member of the common council of Muncie, and, during that time, looked after the city's interest by promoting some very important municipal legislation. A republican in politics, he has never sought official recognition, but his party has always found in him a wise coun- selor and earnest supporter. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian creed, and he and wife are active members of the congrega- tion worshiping in Muncie. Possessing an active mind and having been trained to habits of industry, Mr. Little has made a success of life, and in the city of Muncie, where so many of his years have been passed, few enjoy the confidence and esteem of the public in a more generous degree. He is always interested in everything that pertains to the welfare of the city and county, and his many sterling quali- ties of manhood have rendered him one of Muncie's most useful and respected citizens.
ON. ORLANDO JAY LOTZ, judge of the appellate court of Indiana, representing the Fourth judicial dis- trict, was born January 15, 1851, in Jay county, Ind., son of Jeremiah and Melissa A. Lotz. The father, whose birth occurred December, 1824, in Gallia county, Ohio, is a son of Abraham Lotz, who left the Buckeye state as early as the year 1830, immigrating to Indiana and locating in the county of Jay. For a number of years Jeremiah Lotz followed
the farmer's vocation, but subsequently, about 1863, entered the internal revenue service of the United States, with which he is still iden- tified, being the oldest living official in that department of the government. His wife, whom he married about the year 1845, and whose maiden name was Melissa A. Schutt, was born of German and French parentage and departed this life in the year 1877 in Ran- dolph county.
Orlando J. Lotz spent his youthful years amid the active duties of the farm, received his rudimentary education in the common schools, and later pursued the more advanced branches of learning in the high school of Fort Recovery, Ohio. Subsequently, he was engaged, for a limited period, as a teacher, but having early chosen the legal profession for his life work, he began the study of law in 1873. Having gained a knowledge of the principles of his profession, Mr. Lotz entered the National Law school of Washington, D. C., in which he completed his prescribed course, graduating in 1874, and the following year began the practice in Muncie, Ind. From the beginning of his professional life Mr. Lotz exhibited a high order of talent, and won for himself the reputation of an able and success- ful lawyer.
In March, 1885, upon the creation of the Forty-sixth judicial circuit, Mr. Lotz was ap- pointed judge of the same, and at the ensuing election, in 1886, was duly chosen his own successor by the direct vote of the people. He adorned the circuit bench for a period of seven years and eight months, at the end of which time he was called to a higher position of usefulness, being elected, in 1892, judge of the appellate court of Indiana from the Fourth judicial district .. As a lawyer, Judge Lotz is studious, careful and judicious in the prepara- tion of legal papers, and painstaking and thorough in their presentation to the court.
350
MUNCIE CITY
He was successful in the practice and came to the bench with the knowledge that fitted him for a good judge. Few judges of his age have acquired so high a reputation for soundness in the knowledge of the law, and for careful ap- plication of principles in the investigation and determination of questions sumitted for his disposal. Always ready in grasping facts per- tinent to the issues involved, and fortified by his convictions of right, he seldom committed errors of sufficient import to justify reversal at the hands of the supreme court. As the out- growth of his legal acumen and power of anal- ysis, he came upon the bench at a compara- tively early age, and, leaving that position with well earned judicial honors, it is but reasonable to predict for him a career of distinction as a member of the high tribunal to which he has so recently been called. Eminently popular in the profession, Judge Lotz is equally so as a man and citizen, and is held in great esteem by his fellow citizens. Politically, he is a democrat, and as such is recognized as a potent factor in the councils of his party in Indiana.
Judge Lotz was united in marriage May 16, 1878, in Muncie, to Miss Amanda Inlow, daughter of Walter and Rachael Inlow, resi- dents of Delaware county; one child has been born of this marriage, a son, Walter J. Lotz.
J AMES B. LUDLOW, the senior· part- ner of the firm of Ludlow & Glass, general contractors and builders, with office at 501 South Jefferson street, Muncie, Ind., is the son of Israel D. and Eliza (McMillen) Ludlow, and was born in Miami county, Ohio, December 4, 1832. He was reared on a farm, but received an education at the common schools, which was somewhat above the ordinary training of farm lads of
that day. In 1850 he entered upon an ap- prenticeship of three years with Lane & Buckles, carpenters, at Piqua, Ohio, and, after fully learning the trade, took a position as foreman in the door factory of Diltz & Sons, with whom he remained three years; then fol- lowed his trade in Troy, Ohio, for nine months; in April, 1856, he went to Galesburg, Ill., and assisted in the erection of Knox col- lege, and in the fall of 1856 went to Peoria, and for eight years was foreman for A. J. Hodges, one of the heaviest contractors of that city. In the spring of 1864 he came to Muncie, where he worked for P. H. D. Bandey and also for Martin Young; later had charge of the wood work and repairs of the bagging mill of James Boyce. After this he engaged for six years years in manufacturing and deal- ing in furniture, and later was pattern maker and millwright for the Wysor, Haines & Patter- son machine shop. About 1883 he went to Florida, and for five or six years was a con- tractor in St. Augustine, Chulooto and Oviedo, meeting with the most flattering success. About 1888 he returned to Muncie, and for a year did contracting on his sole account. In 1889 he formed a partnership with Mr. Lee M. Glass, and established the present thriving business. Among the edifices erected by this enterprising firm may be named those for J. W. Heath, M. E. Vandercook, Vernon Davis, Carl A. Spilker, P. S. Heath, Bowers Bros., Muncie Glass factory and Young & Kessler. The firm, which is a progressive one, pride themselves on the superior character of their work, and consider it their best recom- mendation, and this is verified by the fact that, in 1892, their contracts amounted to $150,000.00. They employ, in the busy season, from twenty to fifty hands, and all of them are first-class workmen. Much credit is due to both partners for their industry and intelligent management of their business, as
-
JAS. H. MCCLUNG.
353
AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
they had no outside financial aid at the start; and, as an illustration of Mr. Ludlow's indomi- table spirit, it may be mentioned that when he came to Muncie to remain he walked four miles to his work night and morning, receiving $1. 50 per day for his labor.
In 1855 Mr. Ludlow was happily united in . marriage with Harriet Merriweather, at Piqua, Ohio. To this union have been born four children, viz: Lizzie, who was born in Piqua, Ohio, but died at Peoria, Ill., at the age of seven years; Ida, born at Peoria, and now at home with her parents; George W., who was born at Peoria in 1862; he was a machinist in the Indiana Bridge works, but, sad to relate, was killed while performing his duty, leaving a bride whom he had married only six weeks previously. The youngest child of Mr. Lud- low is Lottie M., who was born in Muncie, and is the wife of Ed. B Tyler, bookkeeper for the Iron Bridge company. Mr. Ludlow is a member of Delaware lodge, A. F. & A. M .; and he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal congregation for forty-two years, is a trustee of the High street church, and a member of the building and loan improvement committee.
To refer to the proximate genealogy of Mr. Ludlow, it is proper to state that his par- ents were natives of Cincinnati, and that the paternal grandparents came from New Jersey at a very early date, with subject's great- grandfather, who erected the first frame dwell- ing in that then infant city. They were of Scotch-Irish stock, and by marriage Salmon P. Chase was connected with the family. The maternal ancestors bore the name of McMillen, and were of Irish Presbyterian descent. Grand- father McMillen was a magistrate in Cincin- nati, and at one time had the unbounded au- dacity to order William Henry Harrison, then a lieutenant, to be whipped for insubordina- tion, but the sentence was suspended. -
J AMES H. McCLUNG, of the firm of Wildman & McClung, publishers and proprietors of the Muncie Times, was born in New Albany, Ind., February 7, 1834. His father, also named James H., was a native of Rockbridge county, Va., born September 23, 1807; his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Collins, was born in 1810, in Madison county, Ky .. whither her parents had emigrated from Virginia. The father died at Fredericksburg, Ind. ; the mother, who, after her husband's death, had been married to W. H. Green, a prominent news- paper man of the state, died at Brookville, Ind., June 5, 1887. James H., Jr., led the uneventful life of a boy about a printing office, with intervals of attendance at school in win- ter, until sixteen years of age, when he was placed on the footing of a journeyman printer and was paid journeyman's wages, at that time eight dollars per week. With the excep- tion of an additional attendance at school in 1852, he worked as a journeyman until twenty- two years of age, and then purchased a half interest in the office of the Connersville Times, and in connection with Mr. Green, his step- father, conducted the paper until December, 1856, when he purchased the office of the Liberty Herald, then called the Union County Herald, which he owned and conducted for almost eleven years. In August, 1856, Mr. McClung was married to Miss Clarissa Good- lander at Connersville. To their happy union were born three children, two sons and a .daughter, all married and with families of their own. Mr. McClung enlisted in the early part of the war in company G, Thirty-sixth Indiana volunteers. He acted as orderly ser- geant of his company at Camp Wayne, but before leaving camp was commissioned as second lieutenant. He served in various ca- pacities in the field, being for a time A. A. A. G. 'on the staff of Gen. Jacob Ammen; adjut-
354
MUNCIE CITY
ant of his regiment, and captain of his original company-G. His company was with the first of Buell's troops to reach the battle field of Shiloh, and besides many skirmishes and small engagements was present at Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Chickamauga. On the 26th of January, 1864, Mr. McClung resigned his commission in the army, and returned to Liberty and assumed charge of his paper. He has, since selling the Liberty Herald office in 1867, been connected, as part owner, with the Connersville Times, Wabash Plain Dealer and the Muncie Daily and Weekly Times, purchasing in connection with his son, Charles, a half interest in the latter October 24, 1887.
William H. McClung, the eldest son of James H. McClung, was born in Liberty, Ind., in September, 1857, and was married at the same place to Miss Georgia Pierce, who is now the mother of four children. William H. is now the foreman of the composition room of the Muncie Times. Charles T. McClung was born in Liberty, Ind., September 28, 1864; was educated in the common schools in his native town, and spent his boyhood days in the office of his father. He was married in Muncie, Ind., March, 1890, to Miss~ Minnie Smith, born in Liberty, Ind., in June, 1864, daughter of E. P. Smith, a prominent manu- facturer of the city. May McClung, the only daughter of James H. and Clarissa McClung, is the wife of F. H. Barton, a bookkeeper of Champaign, Ill., and is the mother of six children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.