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 7
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 7
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Omar J. Kenton was born on the farm on which he now resides, in Newton Township, April 25, 1877, and this has always been his home. He assisted with the work of the home farm in his youth, securing his education in the district school, and while farming has always been his general line of occupation he has also done much for the improvement of high grade stock in Jasper County, his present specialty being the raising of pure-bred Short Horn cattle. He owns 250 acres of superior land, the greater part of which is the old Kenton homestead. Mr. Kenton is an advocate of modern methods in farming, bears an enviable reputation in busi- ness circles, and is known as a good and public-spirited citizen of his community.
On April 27, 1904, Mr. Kenton was married to Miss Effie Swaim, and their children, Helen Josephine, Jack and Tom are of the seventh generation of the family who have resided in America.
HENRY KOLHOFF. One of the well known and highly respected families of Jasper County, Indiana, bears the name of Kolhoff, and many years ago it was just as well known in the old city of Olden- burg, Germany, where Henry Kolhoff, now a substantial farmer in Marion Township, was born on January 14, 1858. His parents, Herman Henry and Mary Anna (Swinefert) Kolhoff, both died in Germany.
Henry Kolhoff attended school in Germany for a certain time as the German law provides and afterward began to think and plan for a future in America as he wished to be a farmer and saw 110 chance to follow that vocation in his native province. He was a boy of seventeen years when he reached the United States, reach- ing Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1875. He found employment there for one year but in 1876 came farther west, locating in the vicinity of Rensselaer, Indiana, where he found employment at first on farms.
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At that time Mr. Kolhoff was possessed of but little except good health and good principles, a desire and willingness to work hard and an inheritance of thrift that had been a part of his upbringing in his German home. An interesting contrast is the picture of the sturdy, hard working youth with empty pockets in 1876 and the other picture of the same youth in only middle life who is now the owner of 550 acres of as fine land as can be found in Jasper Comty. This land lies two miles south of Rensselaer, in section 27. range 7, 64 acres in Marion and 480 in Jordan Township. The entire farm is eligible for tillage as it is all cleared and well tiled. Since first coming to Jasper County, Mr. Kolhoff has lived cither in Jordan or Marion Township. For two years prior to 1883 he served as superintendent of the farm connected with the Jasper County Orphan Asylum. Then he embarked in farming in Jordan Township and continued there until 1905 when he moved to his present well improved farm in Marion Township.
In 1883 Henry Kolhoff was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Maenbruck, a daughter of John and Angeline (Strip- weyer) Maenbruek, of Marion Township, and they have five children: John, who is a resident of Jordan Township, married Cordelia Sigo; Katherine, who is the wife of Tona Keiper, lives in Marion Township, and has one little daughter, Cuella; Joseph, who is a farmer in Jordan Township, married Rose Sigo; and Angeline and Leona, both of whom live at home.
Mr. Kolhoff and family are members of the St. Augustine Catholic Church at Rensselaer. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters. In politics he is a democrat but has never been a seeker for publie office. He has given hearty support to all measures looking to substantial publie improvements and well deserves to be numbered with the useful and representative men of his part of Jasper County.
JOHN KOLHOFF. A prosperous farmer of Jordan Township, Jasper County, Indiana, who is now serving as township trustee, is Jolin Kolhoff, who was born on his present farm, June 22, 1884, and is a son of Henry and Josephine Kolhoff. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and in his hard-working and successful father had an excellent example to follow. Mr. Kolhoff's farm lies in section 27, range 7, and under his careful management yields large crops. He believes in general improvement not only on his own land but in the county generally and when movements are on foot looking toward systems of drainage and publie highway improve- ments, he is ready to lend his influence in their support. His farm is located 51/2 miles southwest from Rensselaer so that he and wife can enjoy town as well as country life and without trouble attend St. Augustine Catholic Church of which they are members.
On January 12, 1900, Mr. Kolhoff was united in marriage with Miss Cordelia Sigo, who is a daughter of Moses and Philomene
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Sigo. Mr. Kolhoff is somewhat prominent in democratic politics and in the fall of 1914 was elected township trustec. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters.
JOSEPH KOLHOFF. The name of Kolhoff in connection with farming and public interests is very familiar in Marion and Jordan townships, Jasper County, Indiana, and a well known bearer of this honorable name is Joseph Kolhoff, who follows an agricultural life on a farm belonging to his father, situated 572 miles southwest of Rensselaer. He was born in Jordan Township, October 15, 1887, and has always lived on this place. He is the youngest son of Henry and Josephine Kolhoff, residents of Marion Township. Mr. Kolhoff attended the public schools and since then has devoted his attention closely to his farm industries. He is intelligently interested in public affairs and in the fall of 1914 was chosen by the progressive party as its candidate for sheriff of Jasper County.
On October 2, 1915, Joseph Kolhoff was united in marriage with Miss Rose Sigo, a daughter of Moses and Philomene Sigo, of Jasper County. Mr. and Mrs. Kolhoff are members of St. Augustine Catholic Church at Rensselaer and he is identified with the fraternal order of Modern Woodmen of America at the same place.
WILLIAM K. PARKISON. HARVEY E. PARKISON. WILLIAM H. PARKISON. In the eighty odd years since that splendid pioneer John G. Parkison established his home within the wilds of Jasper County, three successive generations of the family by their work and influence have added to the many distinctions of the name in this section of the state. For the purpose of supplementing what has been said regarding the pioneer founder of the family a brief sketch is given concerning each of the three above named, each of whom represents a successive generation of the family in Jasper County.
On account of the fact that he was already past the age of - childhood and able to participate to some extent in the work of a new community, William K. Parkison, a son of John G. Parkison, also deserves a place among the pioneers of Jasper County. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, May 4, 1830, being one of twelve children. He was in his early teens when brought to Jasper County and he grew up among the wilds and swamps of what is now Barkley Township. William K. Parkison married Mary W. Barkley, in honor of whose family the township was named. Nearly all his active career William K. Parkison lived in Barkley Township, and after reaching manhood became prominent in the affairs of his com- munity, serving as trustee of the township and for a number of years as county commissioner. In politics he was first an old line whig, but became identified with the republican party on its organiza- tion in 1856, and was a loyal and straightforward advocate of its
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principles until his death. Though past military age at the time of the Civil war, he rendered effective service, particularly in filling the quota of recruits for his township, thus avoiding the necessity of a draft.
Born to William K. and Mary (Barkley) Parkison were ten children, of whom the following reached maturity: John G., who enlisted in the Fifteenth Indiana Battery during the Civil war and was killed in the Battle of Rocky Face Gap during the Georgia cam- paign : William Miller, who died when about twenty-one years of age; George B., Harvey Edward and James R., all of whom are active farmers and citizens of Jasper County ; Mary J., wife of Gran- ville Moody of Jasper County ; and Robert A., who is president of the First National Bank of Rensselaer.
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JIarvey Edward Parkison, who represents the third generation of the family residence in Jasper County, was born in Barkley Town- ship October 7, 1851. Such education as he acquired came from the district schools and Wabash College, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, but his most substantial training for life was acquired in the discip- line of the home place. In fact, his occupation and vocation have been agriculture, and that he was wise in selecting that line of busi- ness is indicated by the fact that he has reached a most vigorous old age and has a splendid property to his credit. He owns three farms aggregating 560 acres. In September, 1914, Mr. Parkison retired from the active management of his farm interests, and has since lived in Rensselaer, from which point he looks after his large property affairs.
In politics he is a republican, and while never aspiring to political preferment has filled several of the more important official posi- tions, including that of township trustee. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On October 7, 1875, he married Miss Melvina C. Moore, daughter of W. E. and Diana (Evans) Moore, who came to Jasper County in the early '50s and thereafter was closely associated with the growth and development of his community. The three children of Harvey E. Parkison and wife are: William H., a lawyer of Rensselaer; Wallace M., a practicing physician at Rockford, Washington ; and Martha J., wife of Howard Mills of Rensselaer. 1 William H. Parkison stands in the fourth generation of the Parkison family in Jasper County, has turned from agriculture, which has employed the energies of so many earlier members of the family, and has already achieved success and prominence in the Jasper County bar.
He was born on the old home farm near Pleasant Ridge on July 27, 1876. As a boy he attended the Lefler School and also the Rensselaer High School, and completed his literary training with a course at Purdue University. After making up his mind to study law, he attended the law department of the Indiana State University for a time, though the greater part of his legal education was
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acquired in the law offices of Foltz, Spitler & Kurrie. In June, 1899, Mr. Parkison began practice in Rensselaer as a member of the firm of Chilcote & Parkison, and during the past sixteen years he has steadfastly devoted himself to the interests of liis practice and has won many enviable successes in the profession.
Mr. Parkison is a republican, affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Foresters, Loyal Order of Moose, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Columbia Club and also a member of the Van Rensselaer Club of Rensselaer, Indiana. In the Foresters order he has held the office of high chancellor of Indiana. On September 7, 1899, he married Miss Emma Linn, a daughter of Alfred and Augusta ( Burke) Linn. Their two children are named Helen Catherine and William Linn.
CHARLES F. STACKHOUSE. Few residents of the country com- munity in Jasper County have more thoroughly deserved the es- teem and high standing among fellow citizens than Charles F. Stackhouse, whose home has been in this county since infancy. It has been his good fortune to acquire a comfortable competence as a farmer in Marion Township, and at the same time he has been honored by his fellow citizens with positions of trust and responsi- bility and during his recent service as a county commissioner his name became familiarly associated with the public life of the county.
This is a famiily which has been identified with Jasper County for nearly sixty years. It was founded here by the late Clinton D. Stackhouse, father of Charles F. Stackhouse. Clinton D., a son of Clinton and Cynthia Ann (Green) Stackhouse, was born in Penn- sylvania in 1828, and when a small boy went to Ohio with his mother, who kept a hotel in that state. From there he came to Indiana, learned the baker's trade in Lafayette, and later was a farmer in the Wabash Valley in Tippecanoe County. From there he came with his mother to Jasper County in 1856, locating on a farm about three and a half miles north of Rensselaer. Their first home was a log cabin, and his labors effected many improve- ments on the farm and he continued its management for several years. Later going to Rensselaer he engaged in the hardware busi- ness with his brother I. M. Stackhouse. To their stock of hard- ware they subsequently added implements, furniture and under- taking, and thus developed a business which for many years sup- ' plied a large and important service to the community. About 1869 Clinton D. Stackhouse, having sold his mercantile business, returned to the farm. In 1891 he left Jasper County, Indiana, and moved . to the county of the same name in the State of Missouri, where he conducted a grocery and hardware store at Sarcoxie until his death on March 20, 1892. The many people who remember Clin- ton D. Stackhouse in Jasper County recall two chief characteristics of the man, first, his ability to work hard and persistently in any
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undertaking in which he was engaged, and his jovial disposition. These qualities, united with a constant readiness to oblige, gave him a circle of friends which was only limited by the number of persons he knew. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, was first a republican and later a democrat, and though active in party politics was never an office seeker. Clinton D. Stackhouse was twice married, his wives being sisters. Delilah Obenchain, his first wife, died November 13, 1856, and his second wife, whose maiden name was Mary Jane Obenchain, is still living. He had fourteen children, two by the first marriage and twelve by the second.
One of the two children by his father's first wife, Charles F. Stackhouse was born October 7, 1856, and was only a few weeks old when his mother died, and very soon afterward his father renioved to Jasper County. His home has been within the limits of this county practically all his life, and his interests have been concentrated in Marion Township. Farming has been his activity, and to that vocation he has given himself with such energy as to raise himself beyond the reach of want a number of years ago. His education was supplied by the public schools of Marion Town- ship.
On December 28, 1884. Mr. Stackhouse married Elizabetlı E. Israel. While they have had no children of their own, they have reared two boys, nephews of Mrs. Stackhouse. Mr. Stackhouse now has 140 acres of some of the most desirable land in Jasper County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a democrat. His first important office in the community where he has spent his active career was that of township trustee, to which he was elected in 1904. and during the following four years the schools and other matters under his jurisdiction had a most capable handling. In 1910 he was elected to the office of county com- missioner, serving one term of three years.
JACKSON PHEGLEY. Of the men whose ability, industry and character have added to the wealth and progress of Jasper County from the earliest times that of Jackson Phegley would deserve mention and special consideration in any history of the locality. Although more than a quarter of a century has passed since his death on October 28, 1888, he is still well remembered by the people of the county. He was one of the men who helped to construct the early fabric of industrial and civic institutions in Jasper County and left an impress on the community which succeeding years will never erase.
A native of Kentucky, Jackson Phegley was born on April 12, 1823, a son of David and Judah Phegley. A few years after his birth his family removed to Southern Indiana and in 1836, when he was thirteen years of age they came to Jasper County, where his father entered land in section 2 in the southeastern part of Marion Township. For some years the family lived in a primitive log
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cabin of the type common to pioneer days, and David Phegley with the aid of his sons undertook the tremendous task of reclaiming a tract of land to cultivation. Many of the valuable and fertile acres found in that section of Jasper County were redeemed from the wilderness as a result of the Phegley family's enterprise. In the early days the wild game of the woods, the fish from the limpid waters of lake and stream, kept the family larder well supplied with meat, and every settler of that time was more or less skilled as a hunter. It was in such surroundings that Jackson Phegley grew to manhood. As a boy he had Indians for his playmates, though from a very early age very little time was granted for sports and pleasures, and his career was a strenuous one, with a never ending supply of hard work in clearing the forests and improving the land. Jackson Phegley is remembered for his traits of mind and character as well as for his sturdy industry. He was naturally studious and became unusually well informed for a man of his limited opportuni- ties. He excelled in his part of the country as a mathematician, writer and speller, and always stood high in public esteem.
Jackson Phegley married Lucinda Daugherty. After his mar- riage he located on section 1 in Marion Township, south of Rensse- laer, and his original homestead of forty acres which he had entered from the government is still owned by his descendants. That was his home the rest of his life, where he was quietly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Jackson Phegley was quiet, retiring and unostentatious in disposition, and while never seeking public honors he bore a worthy part in the upbuilding of his community and com- manded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He lived the golden rule and by industry acquired a generous portion of this world's goods. He and his wife became the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy, one at the age of eleven and the remaining nine reached maturity. His wife was born June 25, 1832, and died March 17, 1883.
George O. Hoover, who married one of the daughters of the late Jackson Phegley, also deserves some particular mention in this history of Jasper County, where he lived for a great many years and was known for his substantial worth. His parents were Alford and Margaret (Rozell) Hoover, who were identified with the early settlement of Jasper County, and concerning them more detailed information will be found on other pages.
Born in Warren County, Indiana, July 4. 1850, George O. Hoover was brought when four years of age to Jasper County, and from 1854 grew up on the old Hoover homestead. He received a good practical education, and for a number of years was engaged in teaching school.
Ile married Lucy Annette Phegley, daughter of Jackson Pheg- ley. After his marriage Mr. Hoover followed farming, acquired 320 acres of land, and also became widely known for his activities as a stock buyer. In 1885 he removed to Rensselaer, and died at his
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home in that city April 18, 1889. He and his wife had one daugh- ter, who died in infancy.
ROBERT W. MAY. Surrounded by comforts provided by his life of honest industry, and enjoying benefits and conveniences con- tributed by improvements and inventions of modern days, Robert W. May, who is the second oldest settler in Carpenter Town- ship, realizes as he looks back that he has lived through a period of great progress. He has .witnessed the vast changes that the introduction of steam and electricity have brought about, has seen the automobile to some extent supersede as a transportation medium, horses and oxen and as he reads his daily paper that brings him the telegraphic news from the farthest corners of the earth, he remembers when a weekly or even a monthly journal was the closest connection the farmer had with other than his own restricted sec- tion. He appreciates to their full value these many additions to the comfort of life on a farm for in earlier days these advantages were lacking.
Robert W. May was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, March 23, 1840, and is a son of George and Mary (Yeager) May. Of their family of eight children six survive. When he was nine years old the family moved from Virginia to Jasper County, Indiana, and located on the site of the present home of Mr. May, and here the father died in 1857 and the mother in 1866. His boy- hood days were passed usefully in helping to cultivate the farm, along primitive methods, herding cattle on the almost unbroken prairie and, in a very limited way, attending a country school. The farm produced wheat abundantly and he well recalls accompanying his father with a load of wheat to Lafayette, Indiana, which was sold for thirty cents a bushel. Other grains brought but little money as corn sold for ten cents a bushel. At that time the United States had not yet become the granary of the world. As he grew older he worked as a farm hand for $5 per month, being satisfied with this general wage. When his father died he inherited 40 acres of the homestead and here, by crop raising and stock raising he gained his start in life. To his first forty acres he continued to add until at the present time Mr. May is the owner of 700 acres. Prac- tically his entire life has been passed here and there is no better known nor more highly respected citizen in Jasper County.
On .September 7, 1865, Robert W. May was united in marriage with Miss Mary Guy, and they have had six children born to them : Charles V., Samuel H., Dorothy, who is the wife of Burdett Por- ter, Thomas, Benjamin, and Etta, who died in childhood.
Interested all his life in substantial progress, Mr. May has been usefully influential in his neighborhood but he has never been willing to accept public office, always, however, giving support to the republican party's candidates.
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CHARLES V. MAY. The industry and good judgment that are absolutely necessary to make a man a competent farmer, would, without doubt have contributed to his success in any other selected calling and very often prepare for efficiency in public office. Farm- ing is no more easily mastered than many professions and, in fact, a farmer, to realize the highest mark, must understand to some ex- tent, very many things aside from sowing seed and gathering his harvest. In selecting or preparing soil to suit certain seeds, he exercises a knowledge of chemistry, and in his various subsequent operations he must be mindful of temperature and climatic changes and thereby enters the field of meteorology. If he has no entomo- logical information, his crops will suffer from the ravages of insects. Thus it is that the farmer justly occupies a very prominent place in public estimation, not only because the world needs what he produces but also because he has the trained ability to fill this need. Among the well qualified farmers of Jasper County, Indiana, men- tion may be made to a representative member of one of the old families of Carpenter Township, Charles V. May.
Charles V. May was born June 8, 1867. in Carpenter Township, Jasper County, Indiana, and is a son of Robert W. and Mary (Guy) May, the former of whom was born in Virginia and is now the second oldest settler of Carpenter Township.
Reared on the home farm and from boyhood assisting according to his strength and experience, Mr. May has devoted a large portion of his life to things purely agricultural. He was educated in the district school, attending mainly during the winter terms and made the most of his opportunities and today is one of the intelligent, well informed men of his community. Since the age of twenty-one years he has been in business for himself and now owns 297 acres of valuable land. During earlier years he gave personal attention to all the details of his farm but latterly has had to delegate many duties to his son owing to his responsibilities as vice president of the Remington Bank, and because of his election in 1914 to the important office of treasurer of Jasper County.
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In 1889 Charles V. May was united in marriage with Miss Noral Irelan, who died in 1897, the mother of two children, Opal and Harry. In 1901 Mr. May was married to Miss Sallie Shaull, who is a daughter of George and Mollie Shaull. Three children have been born to the second marriage: Lois, Mary and Robert.
Mr. May has always been dependable in his adherence, to the republican party and on numerous occasions has been honored by that organization by election to public offices of trust and responsibility. In 1908 he was elected trustee of Carpenter Town- ship and served as such for six consecutive years. After being elected to the office of county treasurer, Mr. May made arrange- ments to leave his farm, in 1915, when assuming the duties of his office, locating with comfortable surroundings, at Remington. Mr. May has always managed his private affairs carefully and
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