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 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
On returning home he exchanged the equipments of warfare for those of peaceful agriculture, and was diligent and progressive as a farmer up to 1906, in which year he retired and moved to Idaville. Mr. Downs still owns a fine farm of 266 acres.
638
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
On September 25, 1866, a little more than a year after he returned from the army, he married Rachel E. Hamil, daughter of James H. and Nancy (Montgomery) Hamil of Carroll County, Indiana. Mrs. Downs was born in Carroll County, May 26, 1846, and her parents were pioneer settlers there. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. To their union have been born eight children, as follows: Edwin H., Frank W., Charles E., Harry, Samuel, James H., Jennie, and Elsie. Edwin H., the eldest child, is a resident of Jackson Township and a farmer. He was educated in the common schools. He wedded Miss Cora Critchfield and they have two children, Clara Blanche and Eva Birdella. Clara is in high school and Eva in the seventh grade. Mr. Downs is a republican and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Frank W., a resident of Decatur, Indiana, and engaged in newspaper work and printing, was educated in the common schools and the State Normal at Terre Haute and was a teacher. He married Miss Cora Sharkley, and they have two sons, Charles S. and James H., both in school. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is a republican. Charles E., a resident of Warren, Indiana, was edu- cated in the common schools and is a commercial traveler. He married Miss Catharine Work, and they have one son, William. Charles Downs is a republican and a Mason. Harry died September 23, 1887. Samuel, a resident of Los Angeles, California, and an optician, married Miss May French, and they have three children, Roscoe, Harold and Elsie May. Samuel Downs is a republican in politics. James H., a resident of Jackson Township, and a farmer, married twice, the last time to Miss Bessie Blythe, and they have one son, Howard. Mr. Downs is a repub- lican and a member of the Methodist Church. Jennie, a resident of Riv- erside, California, is a stenographer. She was educated in the high school and took her stenographic course in Bloomington, Illinois. Elsie is at home. She is a graduate of the State Normal University at Terre Haute, in the class of 1912, and has been one of the successful teachers of White County and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In politics Mr. Downs is a republican, but has done little work in the party. He is a member of the Grand Army post at Monticello, and he and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church. Since coming into Idaville from the country they have lived in a very neat house in that village, and are among the most highly respected people in that part of the county.
EDWARD R. DYE. With fifty years of residence in White County the Dye family has been one of those most actively identified with the varied
639
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
industry and business of the county, and Edward R. Dye, who has lived here nearly all his life, is one of the leading coal operators of the state.
Edward R. Dye was born in Mineral County, West Virginia, October 31, 1861, a son of James W. and Nancy (Taylor) Dye. His father was born in Hampshire and his mother in Mineral County, West Virginia, the father being of Scotch ancestry. The Dye family goes back in Amer- ican history to the time when three brothers came over from Scotland and located in the colonies. James W. Dye and wife were married in West Virginia, and in 1866 came to White County, Indiana, locating on a farm near Wolcott. Here he became well known in the stock busi- ness, and was also interested in public affairs. He died January 24, 1904, and was laid to rest at Remington. His widow is still living at Wolcott. Their three sons are: Edward R., Charles T. and George D. James W. Dye was a democrat in politics, and for several terms filled the office of county commissioner. He lived retired during the last few years of his life, and passed away at the age of sixty-nine. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Edward R. Dye grew up in White County, attended the local public schools, and for a number of years was actively assisting his father on the stock farm. At the age of twenty he took up farming for himself north of Wolcott, but for the past twenty-five years has been interested in larger affairs. Leaving the farm in 1890 he engaged in the lumber business with his father and brother at Wolcott, and this concern is still carried on by his brother. Mr. Dye is now president, general man- ager and treasurer of the United Fourth Vein Coal Company of Indian- apolis, a company that operates seven mines in the Linton district of Greene County, Indiana. Mr. Dye resides at Monticello, and has a num- ber of other business connections at Indianapolis.
On September 28, 1881, Mr. Dye married Maud Britton, daughter of James and Sarah (Gill) Britton, who came to White County from Newark, Ohio, in 1867, both being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Dye have been born two daughters, Lulu E. and Edna. Lula E. graduated from the Monticello High School and was a student of DePauw Uni- versity. She is the wife of Russell Gardner and a resident of Monticello, Indiana. Edna is also a graduate of the Monticello High School, and was a student in DePauw University. She is the wife of Everett Gardner, and they are residents of Monticello.
Mr. Dye is generally interested in public affairs, though he has never held office, and belongs to the democratic party. He is affiliated with the lodge' and chapter of the Masonic fraternity at Monticello, and his family practice the principles of the Christian Science Church, with membership in the Mother Church at Boston, Massachusetts.
640
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
WILLIAM F. BRUCKER. A citizen whose career in White County has been characterized by sufficient accomplishment and influence to make his name known in every township and locality is William F. Brucker, who for many years was identified with railroad service, is a former county treasurer, and at this writing is temporarily engaged in the manu- facture of tile at Monticello.
Nearly all his life has been spent within the limits of White County. William F. Brucker was born in Logan, Ohio, August 4, 1863. Jacob F. Brucker, his father, was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, and married there Fredericka Keller. In the old country he learned the wagonmaker's trade, and was employed in that line until he came to America. With his wife and two children he crossed the Atlantic Ocean on board a sailing vessel about the year 1856, and from that time until 1865 the family resided in Ohio. It was in 1865 that the Brucker family came to White County, Indiana, and located at Rey- nolds, where Jacob F. Brucker worked. at his trade and where he lived until his death. He and his wife are the parents of six children, three of whom are living, William F. the only one in White County.
While there was little out of the ordinary in the life of the late Jacob F. Brucker, he was the type of man whose life after all counts for most in any community or nation. He came to the United States with only sufficient means to pay the expenses of the journey. He was unable to speak the English language and was unacquainted with the customs and mamers of the country. He possessed two important attributes-a will- ingness to work early and late to support his family, and a sturdy, rugged industry characteristic of the best German people. He lived a clean, upright life, paid his honest debts, and passed away with the respect of his fellowmen. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church.
William F. Brucker was reared to manhood in and around Reynolds, where he acquired his education in the public schools. Twenty-two years of his life were spent in railroad work for the Pennsylvania System as telegraph operator and station agent, being located at different times at Reynolds, Goodland. Kentland and Wolcott. In 1903 Mr. Brucker removed to Monticello, and that city has since been his home. In 1904 he was elected county treasurer of White County, filled that office with serupulous integrity and efficiency for two years, and has also served three years as city treasurer of Monticello. Mr. Brucker is a democrat, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. On October 10. 1889, he married Miss Gertrude Goodrich, and they are the parents of three children : Fred L., Fay and Henry K. Fred L., who is in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad, was educated
641
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
in the Monticello schools and then took a business course in the State University at Bloomington, Indiana. His residence is at Monticello, Indiana. Fay is the wife of Harry R. Hildreth of Monticello. She is a graduate of the Monticello High School and also of the Ladies' college at Jacksonville, Illinois. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Pythian Sister. Henry K. will graduate from the Mon- ticello High School with the class of 1916.
HENRY VAN VOORST. For sixty years Henry Van Voorst lived in White County and in different stations and under widely different con- ditions did what history must call an important individual share of the world's work. At successive times he was a farmer boy, a soldier who helped to preserve the integrity of the Union, a laborer at daily wages, in the railroad service, the efficient incumbent of a county office, and afterwards for nearly twenty years identified with banking.
Henry Van Voorst was born February 27, 1844, in what is now a suburb of the City of Toledo in Lucas County, Ohio. His parents were Abram and Mary (Murrey) Van Voorst, the mother having died in 1849. Abram Van Voorst was born in New York State of Holland Dutch descent. In 1850 he brought his family to White County, Indiana, and located on a farm adjoining the Town of Reynolds. Henry Van Voorst was then six years of age, and grew up in the country around Reynolds. Though the country schools were at that time defective in many ways, Henry Van Voorst by his own industry and ambition acquired a substantial education. Soon after his seventeenth birthday the Civil war broke out. He enlisted for service in the Union army August 7, 1861, and in spite of a small stature and his youth was accepted. He went with other recruits to Camp Morton at Indianapolis, where after a short time the company to which he was assigned was disbanded. When he enlisted he was earnest in the matter of becoming a soldier and instead of returning home with honor he re-enlisted, and became a member of Company F of the Twenty-seventh Indiana Infan- try. The regiment was soon afterwards sent to Washington, D. C., and for two years was connected with the eastern armies. The regiment sub- sequently joined the troops under General Hooker in the Army of the Cumberland, and saw another year of active service. The Twenty- seventh Indiana Infantry while in the East was engaged in many bat- tles, including Front Royal, Newtown, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the West it was connected with the Army of the Cumberland during the Atlanta campaign, and marched with Sherman to the sea and from Savannah north through the Carolinas to Washington. Among other
HISTORY UF WHITE CORIYIY
uttlewet tought At Resaca. New Hope Church. Foibs Firm. Pcaen Tree Attanta. Averysborough und Bentonville. Mr. Wan Worst vis absent from us megment und from inty only when kept away liv roomis. fe was wounded at Antietam. again it harcel- Braviile und & hir time at Resaca. Recovering from these injuries. De was in the longital at Philadelphia. laber ut Washington. ind tor Ime w Fansmile Viaile de Ganis Sul mare [ luty in the ranks. Herme . amster. es proncuney e penman caused imm ove tien crown company and reurnentai bosagvarers fe hus became ontswi cth uk che ommanding meers is veil u the privates. Eu Lmes [ arethe reumental ommanuer it one ime fered him in
echte ami wurmyy w others who verr in the regmiar me t. promo- TETIL . ollier lint ws -xcentenaily engenial und mialle
Vien de retornes frem Le mie de ras a nan in fears out had not whatever Tation de woall eure. anunt coool everal vinters in ne entre u twee @ www picture stant lowing on mi a fellow motel Hezmpier uma mis apuntesi tation gent it Revnotus. on
et reten an hat position e snowed
it ms m [8] that JIr Win Forss -marxen in ne ramzation t . povete anking einpany known de the Bank t Montie E Tui mon -25ne% North am Streer vist himself sommer. în 1896 the intention was inerrorand the State Bank & Inticele when for henry Pars has been the leading ank ot White Dunty In 1897 the stur Bank omurwi the wilding ina good will at the i Citizens 3b u monol to the zew imention. Behind ver- neurtition [ hus mi tamis me mmunter ami integruy of the ndividuais vno onsu- TT tr managing personnel und the good name ind ipriest record ot
643
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
Henry Van Voorst are indelibly impressed upon the material resources of the State Bank of Monticello. He remained active in its manage- ment until about 1905, when ill health intervened to impair his efficiency. On the last day of his life, April 16, 1910, Mr. Van Voorst slowly made his way to the bank, lingering quietly about the premises, inside and out, as had been his habit, and soon after returning home fell into the sleep of death.
The late Henry Van Voorst was a charter member of Tippecanoe Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Monticello, and for two years was its commander. He was deeply interested in the affairs of the Grand Army organization, and his public spirit and kindly sympathy were long an influence for good in this community. On December 24, 1868, a short time before he became railroad agent at Reynolds, Mr. Van Voorst married Mrs. Ellen Bunnell. There are two sons: Bert, at present cashier of the State Bank at Monticello; and Fred.
S. A. CARSON. As a banker and business man S. A. Carson has been a valuable factor in White County for many years. His individual integrity of character has helped to make the State Bank of Monticello an institution enjoying the highest confidence in the community which it serves. The present generation in White County knows the name of S. A. Carson too well to require introduction, and for the memory of the future the following brief sketch is written of his life.
S. A. Carson was born on a farm in Carroll County, Indiana, Jan- uary 5, 1859. His father, William Carson, was a native of Tennessee and was brought to Indiana at the age of seven years, his parents locating in Carroll County, and on the old homestead in that county William Carson lived the life of a quiet and prospering farmer until his death.
Mr. S. A. Carson had an education in the common schools, was taught the lessons of industry and thrift at an early age, and lived on the farm until twenty-one. Then followed several years of teaching in the rural schools, and for sixteen years he served as deputy county auditor of White County. Mr. Carson began his career as a banker by assisting in the organization of the Monticello National Bank, in which for eight years he held the post of cashier. He then sold his interests in the National Bank to become president of the State Bank of Monticello, and has since been chief executive in that institution.
Mr. Carson is affiliated with the Masonic order in the lodge and council degrees, also with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. Politically he is a democrat. On May 15, 1885, he married Mabel Spencer, daughter of Dr. William Spencer. They are
Vol. II-9
644
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
parents of two children: Spencer; and Helen, who is the wife of Earl McCollum, who lives in Chicago.
JEREMIAH GOCHENOUR. The work of Doctor Gochenour in the prac- tice of dentistry at Monticello covers a period of twenty-one years. He is the leading dental surgeon of the city, and along with his successful professional relations has acquired the esteem and respect of a host of friends in White County.
Jeremiah Gochenour was born in Clinton County, Indiana, April 5, 1868, and is one of a family of seven children, five of them still living. His parents were David and Mary (Reavis) Gochenour. His father died in September, 1909, and his mother in February, 1874. Doctor Gochenour as a boy attended the public schools of Clinton County, and his early experiences were largely associated with the farming community. His determination to take up the practice of dentistry was formed when he was still a boy, and on March 22, 1892, he was graduated D. D. S. from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. For about two years he practiced in Hammond, Indiana, but in April, 1894, opened his office in Monticello, and here for more than twenty-one years he has been continuous in attending the demands of a growing practice.
Politically Doctor Gochenour espouses the doctrines of the prohibition party and has served as chairman of the county committee of that party. He is a member of the Church of the Brethren. On March 22, 1893, he married Miss Kansas Mears, daughter of John and Sarah (Dill) Mears, of Carroll County. To their union have been born two children, a daughter, Della, and a son, Truman M., who died at the age of four years.
WILLIAM JAMES REAMES. Of the farmers of White County who have won success through the medium of their own efforts, and whose helpful labors have lent strength and substance to the agricultural in- terests of their communities, William James Reames is a worthy example in Liberty Township. Left an orphan when a small boy, his advantages in his youth were few, and whatever of success he has attained, and it is not inconsiderable, has been worthily won. Mr. Reames is a native son of White County, having been born on a farm in Cass Township, De- cember 1, 1856.
Jonathan Reames, the father of William J. Reames, was probably born in Ohio, from whence he came as a lad with his parents to White County in the pioneer days. The family located on a tract of land in the northwest part of what is now Cass Township, and there the youth participated in the making of pioneer history and the development of
William . J. Reame.
Mrs William. J. Reames
645
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
a farm. He took part in the hard and unceasing work of grubbing and clearing, later became a farmer on his own account and the owner of a property, and continued to be engaged in the pursuits of the soil during the remainder of his life. He died during the period of the Civil war and was laid to rest in the cemetery now on Indian Creek, in Pulaski County, while Mrs. Reames survived him about six years and was laid to rest by his side. She bore the maiden name of Catherine Yount, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living.
William James Reames was still a small boy when his father died, and after his mother's death he was sent to the home of his uncle, Alexander Yount, with whom he grew to the age of sixteen years. In the mean- time he attended district school in a desultory way, being given this privilege when there was nothing to occupy his time and strength on his uncle's farm. He was ambitious and industrious, had a retentive mind, and made the most of his opportunities, so that he secured a fairly good education. When he was but sixteen years of age he faced the responsibilities of life on his own account, going to the farm of Abram Sluyter, where he was given employment as a hand at wages of $12 per month. For a number of years he continued to work, in the mean- time carefully saving what he could of his meager wages, with the aim in view of becoming the owner of a home of his own. Mr. Reames was married November 25, 1880, to Miss Leah J. Ross. Mrs. Reames was; born in Montgomery County, Indiana, February 11, 1858, the eighth of the ten children, three sons and seven daughters, of Harrison and Nancy (Clouse) Ross. Six of these children are yet living: Philip, who is married and living in Monticello County ; Maggie, the widow of James Swank and living in Indianapolis; Wilson, married and living in Star City, Indiana; Leah J., who became Mrs. Reames; Rufus, of Union Township, White County ; and Emma, the wife of James Downey, of Monticello. Harrison Ross was born in Ross County, Ohio, February 8, 1826, and died on the 14th of November, 1912. He had moved with his parents to Montgomery County, Ohio, when but five years old. He. chose farming as a profession, and followed it until barred by the in- firmities of old age. He was a faithful and kind husband and father,. and was a member of the Christian Church from the year 1868 until his death. He was married to Nancy Clouse, January 13, 1846, and she was born in Lancaster, Kentucky, November 23, 1824. She was left. an orphan at the age of eleven months and was reared by her grand- parents, with whom she came to Montgomery County, Indiana, in 1829, and there spent her early life. She was a devoted wife and mother and a good Christian, having united with the Christian Church at Craw- fordsville, Indiana, when only sixteen years of age. In 1875 Mr. and
646
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
Mrs. Ross came to White County and lived on a farm until a few years before their deaths, when they retired and located in Buffalo, from whence her spirit took its flight April 17, 1902.
Following his marriage, Mr. Reames became a renter of land, and con- tinued as such until 1890, when he realized his ambitions by becoming the owner of sixty-three acres of land, school property, in the northeast part of Liberty, Township. Since that time, as his finances have permit- ted, he has added to his holdings from time to time, and now has 120 acres of good land, all accumulated through his own efforts and those of his faithful wife. He is devoting his attention to general farming, and is meeting with well-deserved success. Mr. Reames is a republican in his political views, but his political activities are exerted only as a voter. He and his family belong to the New Light Church at Buffalo.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reames: Emma Dora, who is the wife of Edward Radenstorf, and they have six children, Bertha May, Mildred Mabel, James Harold, Cecil Edward, Clarence Walter and Ira Wilson; Orville Ray, who married Carrie Burton, and their two children are Reba Theo and Arle Dussel; and Effie Myrtle, who is the wife of Clarence Brooker and has three children, Geneva Opal, Anna Gertrude and Frances Ruth.
BERNARD G. SMITH. Nearly seventy years ago the Smith family came into White County. They did their share of the heavy task of clearing up the wilderness, were substantial cultivators of the soil, have stood as good honest citizens in all the relations of community life, have per- formed with credit the military duties of citizenship, and are a family who as a whole would do credit to any county.
Bernard G. Smith, who came to White County as a boy, is now living retired at Monticello, after having spent many years as a farmer and stock raiser. He was born in Harrison County in what is now West Virginia, but was then the Old Dominion State, February 19, 1838, a son of Abel T. and Deborah Spencer (Wilson) Smith. Mr. Smith's grandfather, Col. Benjamin Wilson, was a soldier in both in the Revolu- tionary war and the War of 1812, and he well remembered seeing Gen- eral Washington. He was a native of Randolph County, Virginia, and was the organizer of Harrison County of that state. He was appointed clerk of the court and held the office for thirty years, and his son John
held the same office for twelve years, making forty-two years of county official service for father and son. The grandfather Wilson was the father of thirty children by his two wives, and twenty-nine of the chil- dren reared families of their own. Bernard G. Smith's parents were likewise natives of Harrison County, and emigrated from old Virginia
647
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
to Indiana and settled in White County, Indiana, in 1846. There were nine children in the family, and three of these are still living. The occupation of the various members of this family in White County have been as farmers and stock raisers. The father was a whig in politics and later affiliated with the republican party, and took quite an active interest in local affairs, holding the office of trustee in his home locality, Big Creek Township. He died January 17, 1875, his wife having passed away in 1871, and both were laid to rest in Bunnell's Cemetery. As pioneers they had to experience all the hardships incident to early life in White County.
Bernard G. Smith received his education in the local public schools in the '40s and '50s, having attended one of those primitive temples of learning long since obsolete in Indiana. Reared on a farm, he was well prepared for that vocation when at the age of twenty-two he started for himself, working the home place in partnership with his father. On July 5, 1862, he enlisted in Company K of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, was mustered into service at Indianapolis and after an honorable record as a soldier was mustered out in the same city. The Fifth Cavalry Regiment spent a large part of its service engaged in guerilla warfare and in skirmishing against Morgan, and later was with Sherman's army in its victorious march across Southeastern Tennessee and Georgia. He was wounded in the battle of New Hope Church, and received slight wounds at other times. He entered the United States service as a pri- vate, and the first commission he received was that of second lieutenant, then first lieutenant and detailed as quartermaster of his regiment. Shortly before he was mustered out of service he was commissioned captain of Company K, Fifth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, and was hon- orably discharged September 29, 1865.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.