USA > Indiana > Newton County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 16
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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
·In political affiliation Mr. Cunningham is a democrat 'and at pres- ent is serving as attorney for Newton County. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, and the Masons of Kentland, Indiana, in the last order having attained the Council degrees at Monticello, Indiana.
WILLIAM L. McMILLEN. Beautiful and attractive hotels for the accommodation of the traveler are among the most important institutions of all countries and cities. One of the most attractive hostelries found in Northwest Indiana is presided over by the genial and cordial host and hostess-Mr. and Mrs. William McMillen. The beautiful building, clean, modern, and adorned with growing plants and flowers, is a solace and comfort to the weary traveler. Mr. Mc- Millen has known the pretty Town of Brook and its surrounding agricultural regions for some thirty-three years and he and his esti- mable wife need no introduction to the citizens of Newton County.
He is a native of Clarke County, Indiana, born June 7, 1865. He is the third of a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, born to Thomas J. and Sarah (Adams) McMillen. Only two are living-Ida, wife of William Martin, a resident of Peoria, Illinois, where he is a merchant, and they have two children; and Mr. McMillen.
Father McMillen was a native of Virginia, not far from Rich- mond. He was a young man grown when he left Virginia. He was a soldier in the Civil war and enlisted in Company D, Twenty-second
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Indiana Volunteers at Indianapolis, and was in the Army of the Cumberland. He was in several battles, including Shiloh and Mis- sionary Ridge, and was wounded in the hand and hip. He was about three years in the service and had received an honorable dis- charge. Ile has always attended each Soldiers' Encampment. He was educated in the common schools and was an agriculturist. He was a republican. He died at Isabel, Illinois, being seventy-three years of age at his death. He traced his lineage to the "land of the thistle" bonnie Scotland. His father, Thomas McMillen came from Scotland.
Mother McMillen was a native of Clarke County, and she died when Mr. McMillen was but two years of age. He could not remem- ber his own mother. The father wedded as his second wife, Miss Sarah Burton and there were six children, two sons and four daugh- ters, born to this marriage, all still living: Lola, widow of James Stricker and residing at Isabel, Illinois; Samuel, married, and a resi- dent of Terre Haute, Indiana, where he is a car inspector of the Vandalia Railway; Warren, married, and a resident of Terre Haute, one of the city police; Nora, wife of Anbray Hutchings, an agricul- turist; Maggie, wife of Clyde Martin, a resident of Detroit, Michi- gan, and in an auto factory; Florence, wife of Harry Early, resident of Riley, Indiana and a grain dcaler.
Mr. McMillen resided in his native County of Clarke, until eigh- teen, was educated in the common schools, and is a self-educated man. At this age he left home to begin life as a wage carner on the farm. He left home in October, 1882, and worked for wages until the spring of 1883 and then came to Brook, Indiana. On a farm he began as a wage carner, and began with George O. Conn, and remained with him during the summer and then he worked around by the day here and there. So it is seen that he had no capital, but his industrious disposition and honesty to make his own way. The longest time he worked was with B. F. Warr, with whom he remained about four years by the month and at the end of that time he engaged with Mr. Warr to work the farm on shares, which he did for three years.
At this time Mr. McMillen wedded Miss Edna J. Warr, March II, 1891, and the young couple located at Brook. Being anxious to make a start in life for themselves, they took charge of a little resta- rant, with a capital of only $500.00. His wife has nobly stood by his side, in labor, counsel and advice, all these years to the present 1916.
Mrs. McMillen is a native of Buckinghamshire, England, born in January 28, 1867, and a daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary Ann (Hedges) Warr.
There were eleven children, five sons and six daughters, in the family. Seven are living and the ckiest is William J., a resident of Sweet, Idaho, a merchant and married; Harry, a resident of Brook, Indiana, who married Maud Marrifield; Mrs. McMillen is next;
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Dollie is the wife of Samuel Souders of LaFayette, Indiana, presi- dent of the Farmers and Traders Bank; Suc is the wife of Charles Adamson, a resident of Brook, Indiana, and relief agent on the Monon Railway; Mande is the wife of Reinhart Bossung, a mer- chant of Brook, Indiana; Claud, a resident of Brook, is a plumber by trade, and married.
Father Warr was a native of Buckinghamshire, England, was born, May 18, 1836. He grew to manhood in his shire, and was educated in the schools of England and he was an agriculturist. He wedded there and four of the children were born there. He concluded to come to the United States and seek a home and in April, 1869, set sail from Liverpool and landed in New York and came to Joliet, Illinois, and resided on a farm, and about 1871 he returned home to England. After a short time there he came back to America by himself, and in July, 1872, his wife and the children set sail from Liverpool and landed in Castle Garden, New York, and Mrs. McMillen, although only five years of age, remembers well "old Castle Garden."
The trip was about eleven days, crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The family came through to Joliet, Illinois, and they located there until October, 1875, and then came to Brook, Indiana, and this has been their home ever since. The Warr family came from Joliet to Brook in one of the covered wagons such as were used in crossing the plains in the days of '49. Brook was just a village, the mail being carried across the country from Kentland. Father Warr has always been an agriculturist but is now retired, aged eighty years. He is a republican and Methodist. Mother Warr was born April 26, 1838, in the same shire as her husband and was edu- cated in the English schools. She is a member of the Methodist Church and has always been an ardent supporter of the Methodist Episcopal doctrines. She is a lovable and charitable lady and at the venerable age of seventy-eight she is yet like a lady of half the years.
Mrs. McMillen was educated in the schools of Brook and her whole life has been of a stirring and busy character. She is a lady whose chief characteristics are energy, method and promptness in the discharge of her duties. She not only superintends her bean- tiful hotel but aids her husband in the postoffice since he became postmaster at Brook. She is a member of the Carnation Club, a social organization of the leading ladies of the town. She is a mem- ber of the Eastern Star, and is the marshal of the order and she has passed almost all the chairs of the order. She is a member of the Methodist Church.
Mr. McMillen politically is a Jeffersonian democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Cleveland and he has always stood by the principals of the democratic party. Mr. McMillen was ap- pointed postmaster of Brook under the administration of President Wilson. Miss Rose Mayhew is the assistant postmaster and Mrs.
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McMillen is his deputy. There are three rural deliveries from Brook, each route covering twenty-five miles. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Brook. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Brook, and they aided in the erection of the present modern church and they also aided in the erection of the church before the present one, and they have done their part in all benevolences worthy of their consideration.
It was in the year 1909 that they erected their present modern brick and stone hotel, which is complete in detail. Besides their hotel property they have 320 acres of fine land lying near Grand Forks, North Dakota. So it is seen what Mr. and Mrs. McMillen have accomplished from the little restaurant they began with in Brook when their cash capital did not exceed $500.00. This shows business acumen and tact worthy of emulation. They are now in the prime of man and womanhood. Mr. and Mrs. McMillen are people who have spent their money liberally in travel. They have . seen Niagara Falls, have gone through Canada, and again made an Eastern trip to Washington, District of Columbia, Mt. Vernon, "Washington's Tomb" and the Gettysburg Battlefield. Then they made a Western trip in 1904 to Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo, and then to the mountains of Idaho, visited Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon, and took the steamer from there to San Fran- cisco, thence to Los Angeles, El Paso, Texas, and crossed the line into "old Mexico" and they saw the Mexican sport-a bull fight- then through Kansas City to St. Louis and attended the Worlds Fair at St. Louis. Mr. McMillen has in his possession his father's regimental badge, indicating the company, regiment and infantry that he was a member of and it is a relic he prizes highly. Mr. and Mrs. McMillen have no children of their own but in the goodness of their hearts they have reared two children. The first was a niece of Mr. McMillen-Catherine Martin, taken when she was about twelve years old, and they educated her in the Brook High School and then they sent her to Indianapolis and gave her a business edu- cation. She wedded Ernest Gilbert, a resident of Chicago and en- gaged as inspector of munitions of war. They have two children, William Lewis and Edna. The next child was a nephew of Mrs. Mc- Millen, Roscoe C. Merchant, aged ten, and they educated him in the Brook High School, and he graduated from Purdue University in the class of 1913. He wedded Miss Lora Witzka of LaFayette. He graduated from the Electrical Engineering Department of Pur- due and now he is engaged in the laboratory of an automobile fac- tory in Detroit, Michigan. .
WILLIAM HENRY BURTON. A half century ago, somne of the richest lands in Northern Newton County, Indiana, could be bought for a trifling sum, and those who invested largely in these swamp lands at that time, became what was called "land poor." Modern systems of drainage have changed their character and fortunate
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indeed are those who, as a heritage, have come into possession of such land, incomparable for farming and stockraising. William Henry Burton, one of Lake Township's substantial men, owns a good farm of this fine land and has resided here ever since return- ing from an honorable term of service as a soldier in the Civil war. Mr. Burton is serving in his second term as recorder of Newton County.
William Henry Burton was born in Estell County, Kentucky, March 7, 1841, and is a son of William and Eliza (Walters) Burton, who reared eight of their children to maturity, four of whom yet survive. William Burton came from Kentucky to Kankakee County, Illinois, in 1855, accompanied by his family, and later they moved to Paris, Illinois, where both he and his wife died. He was a farmer all his life, beginning poor but, through industry, becoming wealthy. He invested largely in land in the northern part of Newton County, Indiana, from which, during his lifetime he received no revenue.
William Henry Burton easily recalls the journey from the old home in Kentucky to Illinois, and as he was then fourteen years old, was able to give his father much assistance. He had some educational advantages, first attending school held in a primitive log structure, and later a more advanced school at Kankakee, where he was a pupil for several terms. He was preparing for an agri- cultural life at the time that Civil war began to threaten, and when it became a certainty he soon made up his mind to participate in the struggle. On September 29, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and after three months spent in the instruction camp at Cairo, Illinois, his regiment joined General Grant's army before Fort Henry. After its reduction the Fourth took an active part in the capture of Fort Donelson, and, continuing with Grant's army to Pittsburg Landing, was engaged in the two days of battle at Shiloh. Mr. Burton during these stirring events was ever at the post of duty and his valor was noticed and during the second day's struggle at Shiloh, he was an orderly on the staff of General Thomas, and was with this command until after the reduction of Corinth.
During the nine months that followed, Mr. Burton was detailed for guard duty, assisting in protecting the railroads from the attacks of the Confederates on the line between Corinth and Memphis, and during the last three months of this time served as orderly on the staff.of General Denver. After this Mr. Burton's regiment was encamped on Black River, at the rear of Vicksburg, and in one of the innumerable skirmishes in which he was a participant, Mr. Burton received a severe gunshot wound, through the back of his neck, which knocked him from his horse and otherwise disabled him. Although his was a hospital case he objected to such service and secured permission to remain at headquarters while convalescing, and just as soon as he was able he reported for duty. During the
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next nine months he was engaged in the dangerous occupation of scout, with headquarters at Natchez, and it was while there that his term of enlistment expired. He returned to Springfield, Illinois, where he was honorably discharged October 3, 1864, with the rank of sergeant.
Immediately afterward Mr. Burton came to Newton County and for the first three years herded cattle on the wide range of swamp land his father had bought years previously, after which, · as conditions improved, primarily through his own efforts, he en- barked in farming and stockraising and has continued here ever since and has been actively identified with the material development of Lake Township.
On March 13, 1871, Mr. Burton was umited in marriage with Miss Mary J. Watson, who died after becoming the mother of six children, two of whom, Niel W. and Emery M. are yet living. Mr. Burton was married a second time, on February 24, 1889, to Miss Sophia Stankie, and they have four children: Beulah L., Ora G., Calvin R. and Cecil L.
In politics Mr. Burton has always been affiliated with the repub- lican party and his personal standing has been so high that on numerous occasions he has been elected to important public offices. For some years he served as township supervisor and also as town- ship trustee, and at all times his sound judgment and advice founded on experience, have been useful to his community. In 1910 Mr. Burton was elected recorder of Newton County, and in 1914 was re-elected, at which time he was the only republican official of Newton County, Indiana. Mr. Burton is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Kentland, Indiana.
HON. RICHARD C. MCCAIN, M. D. For forty years the name of Dr. Richard C. McCain, of Kentland, Indiana, has been as a house- hold word in Newton County. With pride and interest he has watched its wonderful development and, as physician, business man and legislator, has been closely identified with its history. He has been an important figure in the transition period that brought about Newton County as it is today.
Richard C. McCain was born July 10, 1852, at Trenton, Missouri, and is a son of Rev. Cornelius and Eliza Anne (Curry) McCain. Rev. Cornelius McCain was born in Warren County, Ohio, of Scotch ancestry, and in Scotland the name was spelled Mckeon. He was a man of superior education, was physically and mentally strong and his life work was well done. As a minister in the Presbyterian Church he traveled about considerably, mainly on the frontier of Missouri and Kansas, but later in life he retired and died at Kent- land, Indiana, where, at one time he was in charge of a church. He married Eliza Anne Curry, who was born at Crawfordsville, Indiana, and six children were born to them, two of these yet surviving, Richard C. and his sister.
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Very often the family of a minister has no settled home for a time and thus it was that young Richard C. acquired a knowledge of numerous localities while obtaining his early education. During the early part of the Civil war he was with his parents in Missouri, and witnessed some of the border warfare of that period. His father was a graduate of Hanover College, in Southern Indiana, hence he became a student there and after completing the course began the study of medicine under Dr. A. H. Shaffer, who still resides at Huntington, Indiana, being now in his eighty-fifth year.
From Doctor Shaffer's preceptorship, Doctor McCain entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, attending lectures for two terms, and subsequently one term in the old Louis- ville Medical College, Kentucky, from which he was graduated in March, 1875. For three months he followed his profession at Darl- ington, Indiana, but in the fall of 1875 came to Kentland, then a small place, and here Doctor McCain has maintained his home ever since, becoming one of the foremost physicians and leading citizens of Newton County. Many well known residents of the present day were assisted into the world through his ministrations and after- ward, through his medical care have kept in the path of health.
Everything pertaining to the early days in a section in which one prefers to live permanently, must possess interest and to secure reliable knowledge, outside of statistics, one may profitably listen as the old family doctor for a wide section of country, visualizes the past. In a settling community the physician is cognizant of every public movement, very often being the prime originator of the same. His profession leads him behind the closed doors of family life, and not seldom is he the father confessor and adviser as well as the potent healer. Doctor McCain can very vividly recall his long drives over almost impassable roads, in rain, sleet and snow, in both darkness and daylight, making as swift progress as possible although hampered by conditions little understood by those who have present day privileges in every part of Newton County. On one particular day, January 23, 1882, he awakened to find the whole country side covered with ice and so slippery that horseback riding even was not to be thought of. Perhaps every physician facing such a test, would not have been as conscientious as Doctor McCain, who, notwithstanding the great physical effort required, covered a radius of twenty-five miles and visited and comforted every one of his patients.
Upon the evening of the above strenuous day, Doctor McCain was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude E. Test, a daughter of Thaddeus and Sallie (Myers) Test, and a granddaughter of Judge Charles Test, well known pioneer people of White County, Indiana. The father of Mrs. McCain died when she was three years old. To Doctor and Mrs. McCain twelve children were born.
Since 1883 Doctor McCain has been interested also in the drug business at Kentland, Indiana. For many years he has been an
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important factor in the republican party in the state, and in 1905 he was elected to the state senate, representing for four years the counties of Newion, Jasper and White, and demonstrated on many occasions while in the general assembly, the wisdom of submitting the solving of important problems that would result in the formulat- ing of new laws, to men of scientific training and experience.
Ever since becoming a resident of Kentland Doctor McCain has assumed his share of public responsibility when called on, has served as health officer and was a member of the school board. He is identified with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias in Kent- land. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
ELMER MCCRAY. A leading member of a family that has been closely and honorably identified with Newton County for many years, the late Elmer McCray was respected by his business asso- ciates and sincerely esteemed by all those who had been admitted to his friendship and into his private life. His death, on April II, 1874, markd the passing of one of Newton County's pioneers, a man of acknowledged sterling character, one whose ambitions had been noble and whose helpful influence had always been exerted in the direction of worthy enterprises.
Elmer McCray was born in Fayette County, Indiana, October 12, 1834. His parents were William and Lucinda (Edwards ) McCray, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The ancestral lines may be traced to Scotland, Ireland and England, but · the first of the name in the United States, seems to have been the progenitor of a family in Connecticut and from there its members have drifted to other sections. In Indiana at the present day the family name is one that is conspicuous both in business and politics.
Elmer McCray was fifteen years old when his parents moved to Crawfordsville, where he attended the public schools. Later he became a student in Bacon's Commercial College at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1856, thus being much better prepared to enter the business world than many of the youths of his age and acquaintance. Probably his first important business venture, was the purchase of a timber tract. The hard work incident to clear ing and improving this tract did much to impair his health.
In October, 1861, Mr. McCray came to Newton County with his brother, the late Greenbury W. McCray, and they bought a tract of land and went into the business of farming and cattle-raising. Mr. McCray remained on the farm until the fall of 1868, when he came .to Kentland to establish his home although he continued to be interested in his farm activities. At that time Kentland had few transportation facilities and Mr. McCray, with business acumen, recognized a promising field for an extensive livery business and soon built a livery barn, the first ever erected in Kentland. The business proved profitable and he continued to conduct it and also,
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Avanil Jesser.
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at the time of his death, was interested in a farm implement con- cern.
On October 8, 1867, Elmer McCray was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Kern, who was born in Pennsylvania April 20, 1843, and was reared in her native state. She is a daughter of John S. and Catherine (Tittle) Kern, with whom she came to Michigan and thence to Indiana. Her father died at Renssalaer and her mother at Logansport, both being interred at the latter place. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCray, but all are deceased, William K. was educated in the Kentland High School, and was scarcely twenty years of age when he went into the stationery business in Kent- land. Although successful in the venture, he sold his interest and organized the Kentland Telephone Company at Kentland, and had lines running to Goodland, Brook, Sheldon, Iroquois, Earl Park, Raub and Morocco. He was signally successful in this business, but on account of failing health sold his interests for $14,000, and spent three winters in Florida to recuperate. He was afterward engaged in the cement business in Kentland for four years. He married Miss Virginia Smith, of Kokomo, Indiana, and their four children are all living : Elmore, who is a member of the class of 1917 of the Kentland High School; Margaret, who is completing the eighth grade work; Elizabeth, who was born in Florida and is in school; and Virginia, the youngest. Mr. William McCray affiliated with the republican party, was a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Kentland, and both he and his wife were members of the Pres- byterian Church. He lies buried in the Kentland Cemetery, where a beautiful stone stands sacred to his memory. John Adc, the sec- ond son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer McCray, received the same educa- tional advantages as his brother William, and became a salesman. He too was a republican. He was a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities, and was buried with Masonic rites. Lillie, the only daughter, died in infancy.
Mr. McCray was a staunch republican in politics but never was willing to accept public office, preferring to confine his attention to his private interests. In his own home he found the atmosphere he loved best and thus never cared to identify himself with any secret organization. He was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, gave liberally to this body at Kentland, and his burial was in the church cemetery. Mr. McCray left a large estate, including city properties and 320 acres of fine farm land.
Following out her husband's general scheme of life Mrs. McCray, some time ago, gave to Kentland the lot upon which the public library now stands.
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