USA > Indiana > White County > A standard history of White County Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. II > Part 12
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Charles W. Field grew up in Bureau County, acquired his education there in the common schools, and followed farming after the high stand- ards maintained in that section. In October, 1902, he removed to Union Township in White County, Indiana, but left his home in the country in 1912 and has since lived in Monticello. He still owns and operates through a renter his place of 320 acres. His success has come as a general farmer and stock raiser, he is an expert judge of live stock, and in the course of his career has shipped many carloads.
A republican in politics, he is without ambition for office, but has shown an interest in public affairs and recently has exerted his influence
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in behalf of some candidate who he considered deserved his support. Mr. Field is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
In 1889 he married Carrie B. Lathrop, daughter of M. T. W. Lathrop of Princeton, Illinois. She died in April, 1897, the mother of one daughter, Hazel. June 12, 1899, Mr. Field married Laura C. Moore. Mrs. Field is the daughter of Robert S. and Martha (Sperry) Moore of Chillicothe, Missouri, where both of them are now at rest. Mr. and Mrs. Field have two children : Harry, born June 3, 1902; and Marjorie, born October 9, 1903.
WILLIAM KITCHEN AND THOMAS MOORE. Mrs. Elizabeth Kitchen, who now lives in her comfortable home at Monticello, is the owner of a large farm in Liberty Township, and represents through her family some of the early pioneer settlers of White County. Her husband was the late William Kitchen, who had lived in White County for a few years and had only laid the foundations for his extensive farming enter- prise when death claimed him.
William Kitchen was born October 15, 1851, in Troy, in Miami County, Ohio, one of the six children of Hugh and Mary (Myers) Kitchen. Both parents died in Ohio and are buried there. William Kitchen grew up in his native state, received his education in the com- mon schools, and farming became his regular business. He owned a small place of forty acres in Ohio, but sold this and in 1901 came to White County in search of a new and larger home. He established his residence in Liberty Township, and was successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising when he died in his fifty-second year on May 30, 1903. He was buried at Buffalo in White County. In all his varied relations of life he bore an honorable reputation, was a great lover of home, and while a democrat and interested in public affairs generally, never held any office.
On June 1, 1893, at Logansport, Indiana, Mr. Kitchen married Eliza- beth Moore, daughter of Thomas and Louisa (Paul) Moore. A few years after the death of her husband Mrs. Kitchen, after renting her farm of 295 acres, moved into Monticello, where she now lives in comfort and enjoying her relations with the Methodist Church and with a large circle of friends. Mrs. Kitchen has one son, Paul M., who was born July 19, 1894, and has just attained his majority. Mrs. Kitchen grew up in White County, and for eighteen years was one of the most successful and popular teachers in this part of the state. Five of these years were spent in the Monticello schools.
Thomas Moore, her father, was one of White County's pioneers, and
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during his lifetime witnessed the most important changes that have transformed White County from a wilderness into one of the flourishing districts of the Hoosier State. He was born July 9, 1824, near McCon- nellsville in Morgan County, Ohio, and died near Buffalo in White County, Indiana, October 8, 1895. His wife, Louisa Paul, was born October 20, 1831, in Muskingum County, Ohio, and died July 11, 1892. Both are buried at Buffalo. They were' married in Ohio, September 20, 1849, and in 1852 came by wagon to White County, locating on unimproved farm land in Liberty Township. The late Thomas Moore was unusually successful as a farmer and stock raiser and his life was in many ways a benefit to the community. He was a republican in politics, served for a number of years as justice of the peace, and was a strong Union man and showed his friendship for the old soldiers in many ways both during the war and afterwards. During the war he frequently carried the soldiers across Tippecanoe River when they came home on a furlough. Mrs. Moore was noted for her hospitality and maintained her home as an open house and it was almost constantly a place of enter- tainment for friends, and was always open to the old circuit riders and the Methodist ministers. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the parents of the following children: Mary Ellen, deceased; Jacob, deceased; Elizabeth, Mrs. Kitchen ; Benjamin F .; John; Lily, wife of Rankin Renwick; and Joseph. Benjamin F. graduated from the State Normal University at Bloomington, Indiana, and was superintendent of schools at Monticello, at Frankfort and at Marion. He is now superintendent of the Muncie public schools. Joseph and Lily were both teachers. Mrs. Kitchen was also a teacher in her home county for eighteen years, and her last work was in Monticello.
JAMES HUGHES Many worthy civilian efforts characterized the use- fulness of the late James Hughes in White County, but he also had a clean and honorable record as a soldier during the Civil war. The traits of faithfulness and courage which he displayed in that great struggle were subsequently displayed during his long career as a farmer and stock raiser in Liberty Township, where his family had settled as pioneers in 1848, and while he was primarily a farmer, he had the ability and found the inclination at all times to serve his community, so that his abilities contributed materially to its upbuilding and devel- opment.
James Hughes was born on a farm in Greene County, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1839, a son of John C. and Lucinda (Smith) Hughes, of German and Irish extraction. The parents were married in Pennsyl-
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vania, and in 1847 made the journey overland to Indiana, settling for a year at Monticello and then moving into the country, where they took up Government land in Liberty Township. There they continued to be engaged in the development of their farm during the remainder of their lives, the mother meeting her death by drowning, in 1863, while the father died in 1872. They were the parents of eight children, of whom but one, Thomas, is living today. The father was a republican in poli- tics and took a keen interest in public affairs, serving some years in the capacity of justice of the peace. He was a man of more than usual ability, and through industry and well-directed effort accumulated a good property, so that he was able to leave his children in comfortable circumstances at the time of his death.
James Hughes was eight years of age when he accompanied the fam- ily in their journey to Indiana, and, as were the great majority who came to the rescue of their country in its hour of need, was following the dull routine of the farm, his life up to that time having known little deviation from the strict fulfillment of home duty, interspersed by inter- mittent attendance at the district schools, where he was given instruc- tion during three months each winter. He enlisted in Company G, Thirty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, an organization with which he served faithfully for ten months, and was mustered out of the service with his honorable discharge at Indianapolis. Returning to the home farm, he resumed the occupation of peace, and February 8, 1866, was married in Liberty Township to Miss Elizabeth Benjamin, daughter of Abel and Mary (Conwell) Benjamin. Twelve children were born to this union: Frank, Jeptha, Luta, Thomas, Pearl, Ethel, Cloyd, Owen, Estella, Silas, Benjamin and Roscoe, of whom the last four named are now deceased.
Mr. Hughes remained on the home property, assisting his father, at whose death he fell heir to the old home place. There he resided for a period of forty-five years, being engaged in general farming and stock- raising, and at times breeding blooded cattle. Like his father, he was an industrious, painstaking and practical farmer, and his intelligent application of modern methods enabled him to gain a full measure of success from his labors. He was an able business man, and the old home place is in Mrs. Hughes' name for life. In November, 1911, Mr. Hughes retired from his long and faithful labors and removed to his home at Monticello, but did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his toil, as one month later, December 4, 1911, he died. Few men held in greater degree the respect and regard of their fellow-men, his integrity and fair dealing being proverbial. He inherited his father's republican tenden-
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cies, always took a keen and active interest in public affairs, and served efficiently for some years as a member of the board of trustees of Liberty Township. Mrs. Hughes, who survives her husband, resides at Monti- cello, where she has numerous warm and appreciative friends.
ROBERT JOHNSON CLARK, M. D. One of the esteemed and prominent members of the medical profession in former years at Monticello was Dr. Robert J. Clark, who as a kindly family physician continued to give his services to a wide circle of patients for many years and was a valuable factor in the life of the community.
Robert Johnson Clark was born at Lafayette, Indiana, May 24, 1844, a son of Dr. O. L. and Charille (Durkee) Clark. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of New York State, and they were the parents of nine children, only one of them now living. The City of Lafayette, Indiana, was the home of nearly all these children, and those deceased are all buried there.
Dr. Robert J. Clark attended the common schools, was also a student in the Notre Dame University at South Bend, and finally entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where after his graduation he served as an interne in the Cincinnati Hospital. He came to Monticello to take up practice in partnership with Dr. W. S. Haymond, under whom he had read medicine before entering medical college. After 1872 Doctor Clark practiced alone. He was a thorough student, always regarded as a man of broad scholarship, and was very successful in the handling of all cases entrusted to his charge.
Doctor Clark also had a military record. In March, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Indiana Light Artillery, and his most important service was during the Atlanta campaign. He was discharged in 1865 at Indianapolis, and it was after the war that he began his studies for his profession. While a democrat in politics, the only offices he ever held were as coroner and as a member of the board of health.
On July 5, 1871, Doctor Clark married Miss Mary Elizabeth Reynolds, a daughter of James Culbertson and Miranda (Sill) Reynolds. To this union were born two children : Cornelia R., widow of Lloyd Logan; and Frederick Anderson.
James C. Reynolds, the father of Mrs. Doctor Clark. was born in Perry County, Ohio, and in an early day settled on farm land in Union Township in White County. He was married in this county and his seven children were named William E., Mary E., Ashbel, deceased, Ida, James C., Carey, and Edith. In addition to farming James C. Reynolds also operated an old mill at Monticello and was a dry goods merchant,
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and took a prominent part in public affairs, at one time having served as county treasurer. He was a democrat, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and among his benefactions to the community was the donation of the land where the Monticello High School is now located. Miranda Sill, who became the wife of James C. Reynolds, was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Martin) Sill, who were also among the old settlers of Union Township, where they lived and died.
STEPHEN NAGEL. The youth obliged to make his own way in agri- cultural pursuits, without the aid of means or influence, should find encouragement in the career of the late Stephen Nagel, who, during a long and honorable career, was identified with the farming interests of White County. When he arrived in the United States he was a poor German emigrant lad of seventeen years, with little save his ambition and determination to aid him, but so well were his subsequent activities directed that at the time of his death, in 1907, he' was the owner of a valuable property and the possessor of the esteem and respect of the people in whose midst he had lived for so many years.
Mr. Nagel was born in Baden, Germany, May 25, 1837, a son of Simon Nagel, who passed his entire career in Germany and there died. Stephen Nagel's education was obtained from the public schools of his native land, but like many others of his fellow-countrymen he felt that there was no future for him there, and at the age of seventeen years managed to secure passage money and embarked on a sailing vessel, bound for America. Landing at New York City, he at once made his way to Michigan City, Indiana, and there secured employment, being a willing and industrious worker, ready to turn his hand to whatever hon- orable position presented itself. The Civil war called him to the ranks of the Union army in defense of the flag of his adopted country, he enlisting in Company H, Thirty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and being mustered into the service at Indianapolis. While in the army Mr. Nagel contracted sickness, which disabled him for fur- ther service, and June 16, 1865, he was honorably discharged and returned to his home.
Not long after the war Mr. Nagel came to White County, locating on a farm near Reynolds, in Honey Creek Township, and there continued to be engaged in farming and stock raising for several years. Subse- quently he disposed of this property and purchased another tract in Big Creek Township, to which in the following years he added from time to time until he had accumulated 420 acres, and this property continues to be in the family possession at this time. Mr. Nagel continued to labor
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faithfully and industriously as a farmer until October 20, 1902, when he felt that he had earned a rest from his activities, and accordingly retired with his family to his home at Monticello, where he passed away January 14, 1907, being buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Reynolds, Indiana. Mr. Nagel was a great lover of his home and was always a kind husband and indulgent father. His long residence in White County made him well known throughout this section, and the esteem and regard in which he was universally held testify eloquently to the probity of his life. For many years he was a consistent member and liberal supporter of the German Lutheran Church, and his only fraternal connection was with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In national politics Mr. Nagel was a democrat, but in local elections was inclined to use his own judgment in his selection of candidates whom he believed best fitted for the offices at stake, and thus refused to be bound by party lines.
Mr. Nagel was married to Miss Caroline Tumm, and three children were born to this union: Robert, August and Stephen, the last-named of whom died at the age of two years. On May 13, 1866, Mr. Nagel was again married, his wife being Amelia Krining, the daughter of Adolphus and Rosanna (Quade) Krining. Mrs. Nagel's parents came to White County in 1854 and here passed the remainder of their lives, and are now at rest at Bunnell Cemetery. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nagel: Henry, a resident of Los Angeles, California ; Andrew, who is engaged in operating the old homestead place and chair- man of the Board of Commissioners of White County; Louisa, who is the wife of C. F. Bliss, of Chicago; John, who is a practicing physician of Chicago; Caroline, who is unmarried and resides with her mother ; George, a resident of Chicago; and Albert, who lives at Los Angeles, California.
BENJAMIN W. TALBUTT. Only those who have been through the experience can appreciate the difficulties and the hard labor attendant upon the reclamation of a tract of new and wild land into a cultivated and productive farm. It has been the lot of Benjamin W. Talbutt to perform his share of this sort of useful labor, and his present place of 120 acres in Liberty Township is in an important degree a monument to his well directed toil and capable management. Mr. Talbutt has been a resident of White County for about half a century, and while best known as an agriculturist he has also taken a public spirited part in local affairs and is a member of the community who is also depended upon in movements affecting the general welfare of the locality.
The Talbutts are of pure English stock and grandfather Talbutt came from England many years ago and located in Virginia, where his
FAMILY GROUP OF MR. AND MRS. BENJAMIN W. TALBUTT
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son, Benjamin W. Talbutt, Sr., was born. The latter was married in Clermont County, Ohio, to Sarah J. Fauquer, who was of Scotch-Irish descent. From Ohio they moved to Carroll County, Indiana, where Benjamin W., Sr., conducted a sawmill for a number of years, and was also a farmer until his death. He was a republican in politics. His wife died in White County and both are now at rest in Carroll County. To their marriage were born five children, Ella, deceased; Benjamin W .; Carrie, deceased; William, deceased; and Jennie, the wife of L. D. Taylor of Brookston.
It was at the old home of the family at Pittsburg, Carroll County, Indiana, that Benjamin W. Talbutt was born January 17, 1852. As a boy he attended the public schools of Carroll County, and in 1865 accom- panied his mother and other members of the family to White County, where he continued his education for a time. His mother bought the old Jim Davis farm on Spring Creek near Brookston. There he came to years of manhood and has ever since made farming and stock raising his principal pursuits. For about seven years he was engaged in farm- ing in LaPorte County, after which he returned to White County, and about twenty years ago located on his present farm. He has not only been a witness but an important factor in the changes that have been made in the landscape around his home within the period of his own lifetime. He and his good wife were people who were willing to make sacrifices and work hard for the sake of the future, and for several years they accommodated themselves in a small two-room house. Prac- tically every improvement of any importance on the farm is the direct results of his own work. He has cleared up many acres, has grubbed out the stubs and underbrush, and not many years ago the land now occupied by his productive fields was of little value for agricultural purposes.
On May 12, 1878, Mr. Talbutt married Miss Hattie Martin, whose parents were early settlers in Tippecanoe County. Mrs. Talbutt was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, October 12, 1858, the seventh of the eleven children born to Mitchell and Abigail (Burroughs) Martin. Six of the children are yet living, and all are residents of Indiana. Mr. Martin, the father, had his nativity in Ohio, received his education in the primitive schools of the early days, and became identified with the republican party. Both he and his wife were members of the Christian Church, and both now lie buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery of White County, where beautiful stones stand sacred to their memory. Mrs. Talbutt was but five years old when she came with her parents to White County, and in its public schools she received her educational training. She is a member of the Christian Church of Spring Creek.
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Mr. and Mrs. Talbutt take pride not only in their well ordered and valuable farm, but also in their fine household of children. There have been nine births in the family and the names are as follows: Nellie B .; Cullen B .; Scott M .; Bessie H .; William H .; John C .; Everett D .; Sarah, who died at the age of three months, and Jarvis. Nellie is the wife of B. F. Dill, of Monticello, and they have seven children-Ben- jamin M .; William G .; Harold; Leo; Gwendolin; Gladys, and Bertha. Bessie Talbutt became the wife of Emil G. Warner, a farmer in Mis- souri, and their three children are Lorine H., Esther L. and William Charles. Cullen B. Talbutt, who is a farmer of LaCrosse, Indiana, mar- ried Miss Lila Mason, and they have two children, George and Hattie.
Mr. Talbutt has gained his success by general farming and the rais- ing of graded stock. His home is located on Rural Route No. 1 out of Monticello. Practically all the 120 acres are under cultivation and from time to time he has ditched and drained such portions as needed that improvement and his fences and all the buildings are in an excel- lent state of repair. In August, 1915, he erected one of the finest barns in Liberty Township, a structure 50 by 36 feet in dimensions and 16 feet high, with concrete floors, and a corn crib 24 by 40 feet. Fraternally Mr. Talbutt is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees. In politics he is a republican so far as national questions are concerned, but. in local affairs casts an independent ballot. He attends the Christian Church. He has given most of his time to the development of his farm and its attendant interests, but has not neglected his duties as a public spirited citizen, and served one full term as township supervisor and held that office a portion of two other terms.
HOLLADAY FAMILY. For three-quarters of a century the Holladay family has been represented in White County, where its members have been largely engaged in agricultural pursuits, although at all times being identified also with education, religion, politics and society. They have been men who have served their country and their community well, as soldiers during the Civil war, as the developers of farms and the founders of homes, and as friends of education, moral probity and good citizenship. Among them today are found at Monticello, Phillip A. and Charles A. Holladay, worthy bearers of the name, and sons of the hon- ored pioneers, John and Charlotta (Marquam) Holladay. Another of the pioneers' children, and the only other of the thirteen who is now living, is Isabel, the wife of Augustus Martin, of Brookston, White County.
John Holladay was born in the State of North Carolina, of Irish extraction, and was a young man when he journeyed westward with the
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tide of immigration to Indiana, locating in Tippecanoe County, where he met and married Charlotta Marquam, who had been born in Mary- land, of English descent. About the year 1840, seeking a locality in which they could build up a home and develop a property for their family, Mr. and Mrs. Holladay came to White County and here, during the administration of President Polk, entered from the United States Government a tract of wild land located in section 26, Prairie Town- ship. On this farm they lived for a number of years and although they moved to Iowa on two occasions, returned to Indiana each time, and died on the homestead, the father November 22, 1855, and the mother in 1865, and both were here buried. Mr. Holladay was a public-spirited citizen, contributing of his time and means toward the support of laud- able enterprises, and was generally interested in the affairs of the demo- cratic party, although he never himself held public office. A hard-working, conscientious man, the greater part of his attention was devoted to general farming and the raising of livestock, although he also dealt to some extent in farm lands. He was very highly esteemed in the community, while Mrs. Holladay was generally beloved for her kind-heartedness and sympathy.
Phillip A. Holladay, son of these noble pioneers, was born in Prairie Township, White County, Indiana, October 29, 1845. He grew up amid pioneer surroundings, and still vividly remembers moving the old frame house with sixteen yoke of oxen, this building still standing on the old homestead as a remembrance of the early days, although since then it has been greatly added to and improved. Mr. Holladay secured such educational advantages as were afforded by the primitive schools, did his full share of the work of clearing and development, and grew to sturdy young manhood. He was married January 8, 1868, to Miss Eliza- beth Carr, daughter of William and Cynthia (Thompson) Carr, who came to Big Creek Township during the '30s and here spent the remain- der of their lives. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hol- laday : Eugene Griffith, who died December 25, 1895; and Anna Laura, who married Linden Wooley, and had one daughter, Lela. Mrs. Wooley then married Ernest Thompson, and has one daughter, Gladys, six years old.
On February 1, 1865, Phillip A. Holladay enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the Union service at Indianapolis, as a soldier for the Civil war. He remained with that regiment until August, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge and was mustered out at Indianap- olis, and at once returned to the farm. Mr. Holladay resumed his operations in general farming and stock raising and continued to be Vol. II- 8
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