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 46
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He is a descendant of a long line of hardy, industrious christian ancestry. His father, John Moore, was married in Ohio, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He followed the vocation of a farmer, and as an illustration of this distinctive trait in his character, he never sued a person, neither was he ever sued in his life. His word was as good as his bond.
J AMES N. TEMPLER, lawyer, of Mun- cie, was born near Xenia, Ohio, Febru- ary 8, 1836, and is the eldest son in a family of eight children of George W. and Hannah S. (Medsker) Templer. His an-
cestors emigrated from England in 1685, set- tling in Loudoun and Prince William counties, Va., where, and in England, representatives of the family yet remain. The original name was Temple, and the final "r" was affixed about the year 1750, by the Virginian branch. They were industrious, enterprising people, at once became planters, and most of their de- scendants have engaged in agriculture. In 1838 George W. removed to Jay county, Ind., and pre-empted some wild land. The region was an unbroken wilderness, and the clearing of the farm continued until 1843. Then the father was elected to a county office, and re- moved to Portland, where he and most of his family yet reside. Mr. Templer acquired a fair education at Liber college, and at eighteen began the study of law, under the instruction of Judge Jacob M. Haynes, of Portland. By teaching school at intervals he was able to con- tinue his studies, and in April, 1857, was ad- mitted to the bar. He opened an office in Portland, but soon afterward formed an equal partnership with Hon. John P. C. Shanks, then a leading lawyer. He remained in that con- nection for ten years, enjoying an extensive and lucrative practice. In 1861 Mr. Templer was elected prosecuting attorney of the Thirteenth judicial circuit, and held the office three con- secutive terms of two years each, seldom fail- ing to sustain his cases, and never having a judgment reversed by the supreme court be- cause of errors or inefficiency on his part. His successes were usually the result of hotly con- tested trials, of which the opposing counsel were the ablest criminal lawyers of the state. In 1871 he removed to Muncie, and, with Ralph S. Gregory, formed the successful law firm of Templer & Gregory, which was long in the front rank of the bar. This law firm con- tinued until in November, 1880, at which time Mr. Templer removed, with his family, to Colorado, and the firm ceased to operate
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as such at that time. This removal was for the purpose of regaining his lost health. He resided in Colorado, actively practising his profession in the state and federal courts of that state until January, 1885, when he return- ed to Muncie again, becoming a partner of John F. Sanders, now deceased, the firm being Templer & Sanders. This firm continued until January 1, 1888, when it was dissolved on account of the failing health of Mr. Sand- ers. From that time Mr. Templer practiced his profession alone until the last of January, 1892, when he associated with him his son, Edward R. Templer, a young lawyer of promise, and the firm then became Jas. N. Templer & Son, and is still in existence. In 1868, Mr. Templer was nominated for contin- gent presidential elector the Eleventh district, in which he then lived, and made a canvass of the same that contributed not a little in giving the electoral vote of Indiana to Gen. Grant. In 1876 he was again put in nomination for presidential elector for the Sixth district, of which he also made a thorough canvass, and secured thereby a majority of about 2,000 in the district; but, as the result is determined by the entire vote of the state, his opponent was elected. Mr. Templer was a democrat until 1861, when, following the example of such democratic statesman as Stephen A. Douglas, he took strong grounds against the asserted right of a state to secede, and in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war for the sup- pression of the rebellion and the preservation of the Union. This course identified him with the republican party, with which he is still connected. He has taken an active part in every political campaign, in conventions, on the stump, and with the pen; though he has not sought office, nor held any, except that of prosecuting attorney, above mentioned. He has declined to be a candidate for congress, although often solicited to serve. Mr. Templer
fosters educational interests to the extent of his ability, and favors a system of compulsory instruction. He is not identified with any church, but is friendly to all churches; a firm believer in the orthodox doctrine of christianity as taught in the New Testament, and violently opposed to sectarianism, he desires the union of all the churches. A selfish indifference to the public good has no place in his nature, and schools, religious institutions, and all move- ments looking to the advancement of the city, county, or state, receive his cordial support. He has long been connected with the Masonic fraternity, has been high priest of the chapter, and now is a Knight Templar. In Odd Fel- lowship he is a member of the encampment. His name is also enrolled on the records of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, and the Murphy Temperance club. Mr. Templer married, October 4, 1857, Ann, eldest daughter of John J. and Mary A. Adair. They have had five children, three of whom are living: Edward Rutledge; Florence, wife of Lorenzo D. Thomas, United States express agent at Muncie; and Emma, wife of Thomas J. Slinger, of Muncie, a portrait painter of much ability. Mrs. Templer died in the spring of 1874, of consumption. Mr. Temp- ler was again married July 9, 1876, his second wife being Mrs. Susan Kilgore, widow of the late Hon. Alfred Kilgore. James N. Templer is the peer of his fellows as an advocate, and has few equals and no superiors in the prepar- ation and management of cases. As a writer he is terse, racy and fluent; and, as a speaker, clear and concise in statement, logical and convincing in argument, rising at times to im- passioned eloquence. He is all this from natural endowments and self culture, and has attained his present position solely through the impelling force of his own genius. He possesses not only those powers that render men efficient in the court and political arena, but
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also those gentler traits that mark refined so- cial intercourse. In all his daily affairs he manifests a generous regard for others, and a strict allegiance to principles of honesty and honor, and no man in Delaware county more fully merits and commands the hearty good will of the people.
Edward Rutledge Templer, son of James N. and Mary Ann (Adair) Templer, was born in Muncie, Ind., December 11, 1859. He began the study of the law under his father in 1886, was admitted to the bar in 1890, and became a partner with his father January 1, 1892. His marriage took place, in 1883, to Miss Addie Givens, a native of Muncie and daughter of Adison and Rose (Bonner) Givens, and the union has been blessed with the birth of one child-James N., Jr. Mrs. Addie Templer is a member of the First Christian church, and Mr. Templer is a Knight of Pythias and a re- publican.
a LAYTON B. TEMPLER is one of the prominent and rising members of the bar in Delaware county, Ind. He was born in Jay county, near Portland, June 10, 1850, and is a son of George W. and Harriet S. (Medsker) Templer, natives of Virginia and of Ohio, respectively. The parents were among the early pioneers of Jay county, where they entered a tract of land and where the father became a man of influ- ence and local prominence. He was a stanch democrat, was a recognized leader of his party, served his county as justice of the peace, county recorder, county treasurer, county com- missioner, and in other positions of confidence and trust. He was, also, a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and at hisdeath, in 1882, the Methodist church lost one of its most devoted and consistent members. Clay-
ton B. Templer is the seventh child in the family of eight born to his parents. His ele- mentary education was received in the town- ship schools, and at the age of sixteen he was sufficiently advanced to secure entrance to the Ridgeville college, in which institution he pur- sued the higher branches of learning with flat- tering success. His early ambition was to be- come a member of the legal profession, and, with this object in view, he early began the reading of Coke and Blackstone, with his brother, James N. Templer, in Portland, and on locating in Muncie, in 1872, he entered the office of Templer & Gregory, and the same year was admitted to the bar, since which time he has practiced in this city. He was asso- ciated with Thomas J. Blount, until the cloud- ing of the latter's mind made a dissolution necessary. Politically he is a republican, and uses his influence ever in favor of the princi- ples of that party. As above stated, Mr. Templer practices principally in the city, where his business is very extensive and lucra- tive. He has been identified with many im- portant cases, prominent among which was the prosecution of James A. Woods, the attendant of his former partner, Thomas J. Blount, Jan- uary 13, 1891, which lasted eleven days and ended in convicting him of murder and caus- ing him to be sent to the Northern Indiana penitentiary at Michigan City for twenty-one years. Mr. Templer was married in February, 1878, to Miss Clara J. Ireland, daughter of A. C. Ireland, of Delaware county. As a lawyer Mr. Templer is well grounded in the principles of his profession, and the high character he has sttained as a practitioner is sufficiently at- tested by the large business which has come to him and which under his skillful management is continually increasing He is one of the leading spirits of the Muncie bar, and his su- perior legal talents have gained for him much more than a local reputation, his services being
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in demand in important cases in different coun- ties of the state.
J OHN MILTON THOMAS, the popu- lar liveryman of Muncie, was born in Miami.county, Ohio, October 13, 1828, and is a son of Price and Ann (Bobo) Thomas, who were among the earliest pioneers of Delaware county, Ind., having come to the county when the son, John M., was but seven years of age. The parents, with their three children, settled ten miles north of Granville, and first lived in a log house without a floor, and with a stick-and-clay chimney that filled one end of the cabin, and for fuel they hauled back logs with an old blind horse. There was no school house in reach for the first three months, and when the old style log building, with puncheon seats and floor, was erected, it was of no avail to John, who loved horses bet- ter than books. At about twelve years of age, he began to "swap" horses, as his father had done, and eventually went to Carlisle, Ohio, and engaged to work in the stable of I. N. Cory, and while there he learned to read, write and cipher. He led and drove horses over the mountains and also to Detroit four times, and, after four years' service with Mr. Cory, came to Muncie, and went to work in a hotel kept by old Joe Davis, at the point where the Patterson block now is-blacking boots and making himself generally useful for about a year. He next drove stage from Muncie to Chesterfield, Pendleton and Indian- apolis, carrying the mail about a year-down one day and back the next-and then the railroad came through.
At the age of twenty-two, at Granville, he married Mary Ann Timmons, by whom he became the father of eight children, viz: Will- iam, a traveling agent for the flouring mill at Milton, Ind .; Lorenzo, agent of the United
States Express company at Muncie; Nellie, clerk in S. C. Cowan's Boston store, Muncie, and five deceased.
While at Granville, Mr. Thomas kept a general store, but continued to trade in horses until he came to remain in Muncie, just forty years ago. During the whole of this time, with the exception of eighteen months, he kept a livery stable on the sites of the present Heath building and the Odd Fellows' building. Twice he was burned out, but he never knew- the word "fail," and always recovered himself. For the past year and a half he has occupied his present stable, opposite the National hotel, where he is doing a prosperous business in liv- ery, selling and boarding, and keeping for hire some twelve to fifteen fine animals, and all kinds of vehicles. All these years he has dealt extensively in horseflesh, and during the war made a specialty of cavalry horses, and for many years shipped an average of a car load a week. Before, or during the war, he ran four mail routes between Muncie and other points, carrying the mail bags on hacks which he had been previously running on the same routes for several years.
After the death of his first wife, twenty years ago, Mr. Thomas married Louisa A. Batt- real, of Muncie, who has borne him two chil- dren, Katie, who died at the age of eleven, and Martha, who graduated at the high school of Muncie, in 1893. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for over twenty years, and has always been recognized as a man of energy and of business probity.
ILLIAM A. THOMPSON, a former prominent member of the Randolph county bar, now a leading attorney of Muncie, was born August 8, 1840, in Shelby county, Ind. The families of both
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his parents were among the pioneers of that county, and took an active part it the events of its early and later history. William A. Thompson is the eldest of a family of sixteen children. His early life was spent on the home farm and his early education was ac- quired in the district schools, and the high school of Shelbyville, the latter then known as one of the best in the state. Subsequently, in 1860, he spent one year in Moore's Hill college, leaving the same at the outbreak of the war, and at the age of eighteen became principal of the graded schools at St. Paul, Ind. Later he taught for some time in the district schools of Shelby county.
Mr. Thompson united with the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of seventeen, en- tered the ministry of that denomination in 1862, and joined the Southeastern Indiana conference, with which body he traveled for a seven years. In 1863 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. Wilkinson, who died in 1865, leaving one child. After the death of his wife, he again entered Moore's Hill col- lege, where he spent one year, and in 1868 was married to Miss Elizabeth S. Lamb, daughter of Judge Lamb, of Indianapolis, after which he resumed his ministerial relations. On account of failing health, Mr. Thompson withdrew from the conference and retired from the min- istry in 1870, and shortly thereafter began the study of law in the office of Judge Lamb, finish- ing his studies with Gordon, Browne & Lamb at Indianapolis. In, 1871, he located at Win- chester and began the practice of his profession. He was first associated with Gen. Thomas M. Browne from 1871 to 1873, forming partner- ship relations with Judge J. J. Cheney the latter year, which continued until 1874. From the latter year until 1879, he was associated in the practice with Judge L. J. Monks, after the dissolution of which relation he entered into partnership with Capt. A. O. Marsh,
which later became Thompson, Marsh & Thompson, his brother, J. W. Thompson, becoming a partner. Judge Thompson re- moved to Muncie December 25, 1889, where he formed a partnership with Judge Ryan, and has since enjoyed a large practice under the firm name of Ryan & Thompson. As a law- yer Mr. Thompson has achieved marked suc- cess, his legal attainments being of a high order, and he occupies a conspicious position at this time among the leading attorneys of Muncie. He is a safe and reliable counselor, and as an advocate before a jury has few equals in central Indiana. Although an active politician, Mr. Thompson has never been a partisan in the sense of seeking official prefer- ment, having steadily refused to be a candi- date for public position. He is a republican, and as such has contributed greatly to his party's success in a number of campaigns, be- ing very effective as a ready and eloquent speaker. He is a man of positive tempera- ment, firm in his convictions, forcible and fearless in his adhesion to principles, and is esteemed by all who know him as an honor- able man and a christian gentleman. He is an active worker and teacher in the Sabbath school.
3 OHN H. TOM was born September 20, 1838, in Wooster county, Ohio, and is a son of John and Amy (McCoy) Tom, both parents natives of the state of Maryland. John Tom and wife left their native state in an early day and located in Ohio, thence, in 1839, immigrated to Delaware county, Ind., locating on a farm in Centre township, where the mother's death occurred May 7, 1866; the father followed her to the grave April 12, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Tom were members of the Lutheran church, and of their ten children five are living at this
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time: Anna, wife of W. Smith, of Muncie; Mary, wife of H. C. Matthews of this city; John H .; Amos, a resident of Mount Pleasant township, and Willard who lives in Pulaski county, Ind.
John H. Tom was but an infant when his parents moved to Indiana, consequently the greater part of his life has been passed within the boundaries of Delaware county. His early life was uneventful, having been passed on the home farm until his twenty-third year, and his education was acquired in the district schools, which he attended during the winters of his minority. When the dark clouds of civil war gathered over the country, Mr. Tom was among the many patriotic young men who tendered their services to the national government, and he went forth to do battle for the Union cause in 1862, enlisting August 5th, of that year, in company B, Sixty-ninth volunteer infantry, for three years' service, or during the war. He shared the fortunes and vicissitudes of his command throughout the terrible struggle, and with the exception of the last six months was a member of the same company in which he enlisted; the period alluded to was spent in what was known as company A, of the Sixty- ninth battalion. During the period of serv- ice, Mr. Tom took a gallant part in the following bloody battle: Richmond, Ky., Chickasaw Bluffs, Miss., Arkansas Post, Ark .; Thompson Hill, Black River Bridge, Vicks- burg and Jackson, Miss., Blakely, Ala., and many other engagements of minor importance. He was captured at Richmond, Ky., but re- mained a prisoner for a short time only, hav- ing been paroled within a brief period after the battle at that point. While in the service Mr. Tom contracted malarial fever, which almost completely shattered his health, and from the effects of that dread disease he never expects to fully recover. In July, 1865, he was discharged at Mobiie, Ala., and immedi-
ately thereafter returned home, and has since resided in Muncie and vicinity, engaged in various occupations, Mr. Tom owns a beau- tiful home of three and one-half acres in the suburbs of the city, and is a highly respected citizen, having numerous friends in Muncie and throughout Delaware county.
Mr. Tom was married December 4, 1865, to Margaret VanMatre, who was born in Del- aware county, December 4, 1847. Mrs. Tom is the daughter of Joseph and Martha A. (Williamson) VanMatre, of New York, and she has borne her husband two children-Cora A, who lives at home, and Albert, deceased. Mr. Tom reared his sister, Elizabeth Everett Tom. Mr. Tom is a republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R., and he exemplifies the teachings of the christian religion, in his daily walk and conversation, as a member of the Disciples church of Muncie.
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SAAC NEWTON TRENT, M. D., of Muncie, Ind., is a native of Carroll county, in the same state, and was born December 18, 1854. His boy- hood days were passed on his father's farm, and as he advanced toward manhood he learned carpentering. In addition to attending the common schools, at the age of seventeen he attended the Battle Ground Collegiate insti- tute, at Battle Ground, Ind., pursued an acad- emic course for two years, and then taught common school in Carroll county for seven years, assisting on the farm during vacations. In 1878, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. W. N. Gates, in Carroll, and was under his preceptorship, with the exception of the time passed at college, until 1881. In 1879 he attended one course of lectures at the Ohio Medical college, and in 1880 one course at the Kentucky school of medicine, at Louis-
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ville, and from the latter graduated in 1881, receiving a gold medal for general proficiency, and was elected vice-president of the Alumni association for 1881-82. He began practice at Losantville, Randolph county, Ind., as part- ner with Dr. H. P. Franks. In 1886, while still maintaining his Losantville partnership, he went to New York, passed a whole year in the hospitals, and graduated from the college of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city in 1887; he then returned to his partner in Losantville and remained until 1888, enjoyed a fine practice, and never permitted a patient to leave their care for either surgical or medi- cal treatment. He then went to Columbus, Ohio, for a year, and in 1889 settled in Muncie.
In December, 1889, Dr. Trent was united in marriage with Miss Cora Shetterly, daughter of Philip Shetterly, of Winchester, Ind., but, within two weeks after his wedding, the Boyce block, in which he was domiciled, was de- stroyed by fire and all his personal effects con- sumed. His present office is in Odd Fellows' block, on Jackson street, where, in partnership with Dr. E. B. Mann, under the firm name of Trent & Mann, he has elegantly furnished apartments and enjoys a most lucrative prac- tice. Dr. Trent takes much interest in medi- cal society work, and has been president of the Randolph County Medical society and also representative to the American Medical asso- ciation; he is now a member of the Delaware County Medical society, Delaware District Medical society and the Indiana State Medi- cal society. The doctor has a predilection to- ward surgery, for which his long hospital ex- perience has peculiarly fitted him, and his success in laparotomy has been phenomenal. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1877, has passed all the chairs in the lodge, is a K. of P. and a member of the order of Chosen Friends.
Joseph Trent, father of the doctor, was born near Eaton, Ohio, and was quite a youth when taken by his parents to Carroll county. He married Mary Wagoner, and to this union were born six children, who, with their chil- dren, are still living, while Joseph and his wife still retain their residence in Carroll county, respected and honored by all who know them.
J OSHUA TRUITT, retired citizen and prominent business man of Muncie, was born September 7, 1830, in Adams county, Ohio. His father, George Truitt, was a native of the state of Maryland, from where he moved to Armstrong county, Pa., and afterward to Scioto county, Ohio, in 1814. About one year later he removed to the adjoining county of Adams, and in Novem- ber, 1830, came to Delaware county, Ind., and entered land two miles east of Muncie, where he cleared and improved a fine farm. He devoted his time to agricultural pursuits until a few years prior to his death, when fail- ing health compelled him to retire from active labor. He died in 1873. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Walden, daughter of Elijah and Mary (Minor) Walden, bore him the following children: Mary, Minor, Parker, Rhoda, Joshua and William-five of whom lived to become heads of families, Parker dying in infancy. Of these children, Mary, Rhoda and Joshua Truitt are the only ones living at the. present time. Mary is the widow of Aaron Moore, an old and respected farmer of Delaware county, and Rhoda is the wife of Samuel Cecil, a wealthy and influential far- mer and stock raiser of Centre township. The mother died in 1835 and Mr. Truitt after- ward married her younger sister, Mary Wal- den, who bore him one child, Caroline (de- ceased).
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Joshua Truitt accompanied his faiher's family to Delaware county in 1830. He at- tended school in Muncie for two terms and then engaged in teaching in the winter and working on the farm during the summer. He afterward attended school at New Castle, Ind., and until his twenty-sixth year was engaged alternately at farm labor, teaching and atteud- ing school. While at New Castle he first be- gan to give attention to matters political, and his convictions lead him away from the politi- cal school in which he had been reared. He became a republican, and his independence in this matter attracted the attention of promi- nent politicians. He was elected surveyor of Delaware county in the fall of 1856, and serv- ed for four years. He then engaged in the marble business at Muncie, at the same time acting as civil engineer until his brother re- turned from the army, when he placed the work in the latter's hands and engaged in the lumber trade. He first began buying and selling walnut lumber, and afterward erected a saw mill seven miles northwest of Muncie. Subsequently he removed his mill to Madison county, Ind., and in 1874 to its present loca- tion south of the Big Four railroad. Through- out a long and active life Mr. Truitt's trans- actions with all men have been of an honorable nature and he is universally respected and esteemed. In 1891 he retired from active life, but still owns the mill, which has been leased, beside other valuable property in the city and county.
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