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 20
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and Madge; Nancy, now deceased; and Anna A., also deceased. Robert T. Harrison married for his third wife Mary Benjamin.
Robert T. Harrison was a republican but never sought any public position, was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and gave the ground on which the White Oak Church now stands in Cass Township. Though he came to White County with practically nothing, he possessed 320 acres of land at the time of his death. He took a very active part in local improvements, especially those providing for the con- struction of roads and ditches. He was a man of quiet disposition, lived always at peace with his neighbors, attended strictly to his own business and was a man of large brain, with proportionate strength, vigorous and hearty and a congenial companion. His death occurred September 6, 1900, and he was laid to rest in the Buffalo Cemetery.
On part of the old homestead farm owned by his father, Andrew A. Harrison is still living. His home is three-quarters of a mile west of Headlee. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 12, 1862, and was about three years of age when the family moved to White County. He grew up here, attended the local schools, and by practical experience on the home farm was well trained for the duties and responsibilities of the agriculturist. Mr. Harrison now owns 120 acres of land, a part of which he inherited, but a larger part of his prosperity represents his individual efforts continued through many successive years. He has stood for improvements in his home district, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of Cass Township. While a republican, he has never sought office and has not the slightest desire for rewards and honors of that kind. He is affiliated with Buffalo Tent No. 125 of the Knights of the Maccabees.
On May 18, 1891, Mr. Harrison married Miss Ida Dowl, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Morcraft) Dowl, who were early settlers in White County and lived for many years in Monon Township. Mrs. Harrison was a native of Monon Township, born July 28, 1866. She has done her part nobly in the rearing of her family. To their marriage was born one child, May C., who married Cecil Van Meter, and by that union became the mother of five children: Lawrence, Edward, Harley, Louise and Walter W.
SAMUEL WEBB BAILEY. One of White County's most estimable and honored citizens passed away in the death of Samuel W. Bailey on August 27, 1913. His career, which was mainly spent in White County, was productive of many benefits, and the material prosperity that rewarded his efforts was only one of the fruits of his character and activities. He possessed those elements of mind and manhood which
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serve as distinguishing traits out of the commonplace type of people. It is only due to his life and to his family that some memorial tribute should be inscribed in this volume of White County history.
The Baileys were Scotch-Irish people, and the late Samuel W. Bailey was the youngest child of Abraham and Eliza (Webb) Bailey. Abraham Bailey died in Ohio in 1833. His widow then brought her seven children to Carroll County along with her brother, Henry Webb. Henry Webb married a member of the Hayes family, which was distinguished by Rutherford B. Hayes, one time President of the United States.
Samuel Webb Bailey was born February 23, 1830, at Chillicothe, Ohio, and came to Carroll County, Indiana, a few years after his birth. He married Melissa Hoover, a daughter of Alexander and Eliza Hoover. The Hoover family settled in Adams Township of Carroll County in 1825, and were among the earliest pioneers in that locality. To the mar- riage of Samuel W. Bailey and wife, which was celebrated August 4, 1857, were born a family of seven children. The oldest of these, Clara, now Mrs. F. M. Frye, is living in the old house which her father built a great many years ago in Adams Township of Carroll County ; she and her husband have five children: Walter, who married Susan Nichols, and their three children are named Frances Mary, Eillene and Jessie ; Alonzo, now deceased; Quincy; Russell, who by his marriage to Hen- rietta Purviance has a child named Philip M .; and Alexander. Besides Mrs. Frye the only surviving child of the late Samuel W. Bailey is Mary E. Bailey, now living at Burnetts Creek in White County. A niece, Mrs. Mary J. MacGlennon, a resident of Hammond, Indiana, is the widow of John MacGlennon. The younger children, all now deceased, were named Jessie, John H., Lawrence, Edwin and Nellie.
After his marriage Samuel W. Bailey followed farming until about 1880. From that year until 1889 he was postmaster and also conducted a store at Lockport in Carroll County. After 1889 he lived at Burnetts- ville. He was in ill health for about four years, but about 1893 bought a general merchandise store and built up a large trade at Burnettsville, finally selling out in 1896 to A. C. Hufford, and the store is now owned by A. F. Galbreath. After 1896 Mr. Bailey lived retired on account of ill health until his death. He was laid to rest in the Cedarville Cem- etery in Carroll County, beside his wife, who died July 26, 1872.
Mr. Bailey after reaching his majority became a voter with the whig party, and was one of the original members of the republican party after its organization during the '50s. He was a positive and vigorous thinker and actor, and like many others in the days when the currents of political belief ran much deeper and more sincerely than at present he could never be brought to entertain a high respect for a democrat. He took
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much interest in party affairs, but was not an office seeker and served only as a justice of the peace and road supervisor. While in his youth he had received only a common school education, he was an inveterate reader, and gained and retained a wonderful fund of information. He always advocated the benefits of higher education for the younger generation. In his reading he was especially attracted to the study of history and knew the past records of the nation and the world much better than the ordinary citizen. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he helped to build the church of that denomination at Lockport, and was always a liberal contributor. Among his chief characteristics was a fondness for children, and he showed great depths of affection for members of his own family. While quick tem- pered, he quickly forgot his anger, and had a great circle of loyal friends. In his lifetime he accumulated a great deal of money in the aggregate, but spent it freely, and while he provided a good home and advantages for his children, he had no ambition to die a wealthy man. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Monticello.
When Mr. Bailey came to Burnettsville he was accompanied by his daughter, Mary E. Bailey, who has lived in that village ever since. Miss Bailey is a member and a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church at Burnettsville and finished her education with two years at the Holy Angels Academy at Logansport. She owns a comfortable home at Bur- nettsville, and besides looking after her home and attending to her various interests as a churchwoman, she spends much time as a nurse and in this capacity has proved a friend in need to many homes in that community.
JAMES M. MCBETH. During a period of thirty years, James M. McBeth has been engaged in the insurance business in White County, about half of that time on the road, although for the past four years he has been located in a local business at Monticello. While he is widely known as a business man, however, he has gained equal prominence and popularity in official office, while still further back in his history he put in four years of service as a Union soldier during the Civil war, and was also one of the early school teachers of White County. In whatever direction his activities have been conducted he has won and retained the esteem and respect that are only granted to those who perform conscien- tiously and well the duties devolving upon them.
James M. McBeth was born July 31, 1842, in Stark County, Ohio, of Scotch ancestry and a son of William and Anna (Steele) McBeth. The family came to White County, Indiana, in December, 1847, settling on a farm in Cass Township, and here William McBeth died in September, 1854, being buried in the Leyman Graveyard, at the northeast corner of
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Liberty Township. James M. McBeth attended the Monticello School, under the preceptorship of George Bowman, and until nineteen years of age resided on the home farm, content to follow the vocation of agricul- turist as had his father before him. At that time the Civil war came on, and with other patriotic young men of his neighborhood he enlisted in the Union army, joining Company E of the Forty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, October 21, 1861, at Monticello. By reason of re-enlistment he was discharged January 1, 1864, but on the following day veteranized, and continued with that famous and hard-fighting regi- ment until September 11, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis. During this time Mr. McBeth saw some of the fiercest struggles of the war and had his full share of active service. At Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864, he was captured by the enemy, and was con- fined at the Confederate Prison at Tyler until August 12, 1864, when he was marched 250 miles to Camp Grove, near Hempstead, where he was confined until paroled, December 12, 1864, and later rejoined his regi- ment. His record is that of a brave and faithful soldier, courageous in the face of danger, cheerful under all circumstances, and obeying un- questioningly and unfalteringly the orders of his officers.
Probably the experience and excitement of his military life changed Mr. McBeth's ideas in regard to an agricultural career. At any rate he was possessed of an ambition to do something in the world beside tilling the soil, and in order to prepare himself more fully took a three-year course at the Battle Ground College. When he left that institution he was equipped to follow a teacher's career, and for eleven years was engaged in educational work, two years at the Wylie School in Cass Township, two years at the Benham School in Carroll County, three years in the Monticello schools, two years at the Hull School in Carroll County, and two years in the Village of Norway. In 1875 Mr. McBeth was appointed a deputy in the county auditor's office, a capacity in which he served for ten years, and during eight years of this time acted also as township assessor and two years as township trustee. He embarked in the insurance business in 1885, having been defeated for the office of county auditor in the foregoing year, and from that time to the present he has given his attention almost undividedly to this line of endeavor, with the exception of the two years from 1894 that he served as a member of the Indiana Legislature. In 1895 Mr. McBeth went on the road in the insurance line, and continued to travel for sixteen years, when ad- vancing years caused him, in 1911, to settle down permanently at Monti- cello, where he has a well-established business. He is widely known among the representatives of the various concerns, and it has been his fortune to have transacted some of the best business done in this section.
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Mr. McBeth has never lost interest in the welfare and activities of his old army comrades. A charter member of the Grand Army Post at Monticello, he is one of its most popular comrades, is a Past Commander, has filled about all the offices, and at present is Adjutant. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Monticello Lodge No. 107, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been twice through the chairs. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
On November 25, 1872, Mr. McBeth was married to Miss Sarah C. Turner, of West Carrollton, Ohio, and seven children have been born to this union : William E., who died in infancy; Doctor Walter, a prac- ticing physician of Burnettsville, a sketch of whose career appears else- where in this work; Bertha, who died August 13, 1902, as the wife of Delbert H. Moorhouse ; Burdella; Lewis and James E., who died in in- fancy ; and Marjorie, who is a graduate in music from Oberlin College and also took special instruction at a conservatory at Chicago.
JOHN E. TIMMONS. During almost a life time of residence in White County, John E. Timmons has accomplished those things which are con- sidered most worth while by ambitious men-years of honorable activity in farming and other lines of business, with satisfying material reward, the esteem of his fellow men, and a public-spirited share in the social and civic life of his community. He and his wife now live retired at Ida- ville, and are among this community's most respected citizens.
It was in the fall of 1847 that the Timmons family became identified with this part of Indiana. At that time John E. Timmons was an infant, his father and mother were in the rising tide of their careers, while the grandparents were already old people and past the prime of life. The grandfather was Robert Timmons, who was a native of the State of Delaware, and had seen service as an American soldier in the War of 1812. He married Mary Fuchs, who was better known among her family and neighbors as Aunt Polly. They moved from the East to Darbysville, Ohio, and in the fall of 1847 located on the line between Cass and White counties, where he lived as a farmer until his death. Both he and his wife are now buried in the Davis Cemetery just east of Burnettsville. Robert Timmons was a democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
William F. Timmons, father of John E., was the oldest of six chil- dren. He was born December 7, 1823, and married for his first wife Sarah Downs, daughter of Henry Downs of Delaware. In the fall of 1847 he came to Indiana and located in Cass Township of White County, while Grandfather Timmons located in Jefferson Township of Cass County. William F. Timmons remained a resident of Cass Township
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until the death of his first wife, then spent four or five years in western states territory, and on returning to White County located in Jackson Township and married. Rebecca J. Timmons, widow of J. J. Timmons. She was born July 30, 1836, and died October 7, 1896, at Idaville. Wil- liam F. Timmons died at Idaville, March 30, 1896. There were many points about the life and character of William F. Timmons that should be remembered by his descendants. He was very successful as a farmer, but made most of his money out of stock. He had few superiors in this section of the state as a judge of horses, and always kept a number of fine animals about him. He possessed almost the true Yankee's genius as a trader. Though his relations and dealings with men were extensive, he had a disposition to fairness and an evenness of temper which always kept him on good terms with his neighbors, and it is said that he never had a law suit in his life. Though he had only a common school educa- tion, he possessed a keen native intelligence, and his judgment was trained by a long and active experience. He was unselfish, and in times of sick- ness and trouble many families have reason to be grateful for his help- fulness. The last six years of his life he lived retired at Idaville, and at the time of his death owned between 300 and 400 acres of land in this part of Indiana. By his first marriage there were six children, one of whom died in infancy, and the others are named John E .; Bayard, now deceased; William H., who lives in Cincinnati; Robert and Uriah, both deceased. By the second marriage there were also six children.
John E. Timmons was born near Darbysville in Piqua County, Ohio, April 20, 1847, and was about six months of age when his father moved to Cass Township in White County. His home has been in White County continuously now for upwards of seventy years. His personal experi- ence enables him to recall many intersting facts concerning pioneer life in White County. He remembers when the family went to church in an old lynch-pin wagon drawn by an ox team. His first wheat crop on his home place was planted and harvested from ten acres. In the harvest. time he swung the old fashioned cradle, while his wife raked the grain, and when she left the field to attend to her household duties he bound the sheaves and shocked them. That first crop of wheat made somewhat of . a record, since he got a yield of more than 300 bushels, and sold it for about $1.25 per bushel.
While growing to manhood Mr. Timmons attended the local schools, but the best training for his life came from the rugged discipline of the home farm. At his marriage he started out for himself and his pros- perity has been of a very substantial order, sufficient for all the comforts required by his declining years. At the same time he has provided
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liberally for his large family of children, and has never avoided those responsibilities which citizenship entails.
Mr. Timmons is a democrat of broad view, and has served many times as a delegate in county conventions. He was a member of the White County Council from 1906 to 1909, and for the past six years has served as a member of the County Board of Equalization. He and his wife are members of the Church of God or New Dunkards, and for a number of years he has been a trustee of this church. Mr. Timmons is one of the largest stockholders in the Bank of Idaville.
On September 17, 1868, in Jackson Township, the well known old pioneer preacher, Rev. Uriah Patton, united in the bonds of matrimony John E. Timmons and Louisa Carnahan. She was the seventh child of Peter and Susan (Davis) Carnahan. Peter Carnahan was born October 10, 1809, and died November 24, 1878, while his wife died September 2, 1886, aged sixty-nine years, eight months and twenty-two days. They were married January 8, 1837. Both were natives of Ohio and came into White County in 1853. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Timmons were born ten children. Four of them died in infancy. Ida B., now deceased, married Arthur Cornell, and her four children are named Franklin L., Clair, Fred and Grace. Wilbur, who lives in Jackson Township, married Oznola N. Wickersham, and has one child Vera. Amos, a resident of Indianapolis, married Edith L. Redding, and their three children are Mabel M., Gertrude and Harry E. Rosie Inez married John M. Clinging of Idaville. Milton, one of the prominent citizens of Idaville, where he is cashier of the bank, married Edith R. Brumbach, and their three children are John J., Value M., and Wayne M. Arbie, a resident of Jackson Township, married David Floyd Turnipseed, and their two children are Millard and Ronald E.
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CHARLES TIMMONS. One of the well known and prosperous citizens . of Idaville is Charles Timmons, who has spent practically all his life in this community and was a practical farmer up to six years ago, when he engaged in the livery business at Idaville. He now owns both barns in that village, has some town property besides, and is the owner of 130 acres of good farming land in Jackson Township.
He was born in Jackson Township, October 27, 1870, and is one of the children of William F. Timmons by his marriage to Rebecca J. Crowell. His mother was a daughter of John Crowell, of Carroll County. Charles Timmons was the youngest of five children, the others being: Lizzie Bell, deceased; Ira, deceased; Samuel, who lives at Ida- ville and married Bell Gibson, daughter of N. C. Gibson; Della, who lives at Monticello and is the wife of Albert Sweezy; and Charles.
westphal Mrs. August Of. Westphal
Dorie
August Mr. Wattshal
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On March 26, 1890, Mr. Timmons married Oda Sweezy, daughter of Anthony Sweezy, of Jackson Township. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Timmons married Lillie K. Bishop, whose father was Richard Connell, of Jackson Township. Mr. Timmons is a democrat in politics but has never sought office.
AUGUST WILLIAM WESTPHAL. Of the men who have participated actively in the great growth and development of White County within the last score of years, none are better or more favorably known in West Point Township than August W. Westphal, now the owner of a fine tract of 160 acres in section 22. It has been Mr. Westphal's good fortune to have realized many of his worthy ambitions and to secure a standing in the community that makes him one of its representative men, not alone as a farmer who has always pursued progressive methods and high stand- ards, but as a citizen who has the welfare of his township and county at heart.
His birth occurred one mile north of the old Fair View Schoolhouse in Prairie Township, December 18, 1873, a son of Ferdinand and Minnie (Hannamann) Westphal. His parents were both natives of Mecklin- berg, Germany, where they were married in 1864, and in the fall of 1871 arrived in America, landing at New York City from a sailing vessel. From there they came on west to Indiana, lived for a time in Michigan City, and during the next few months Ferdinand supported his family by work on a section gang on the railroad. From there he came into White County and to Prairie Township and began his substantial career as a farmer. The first four years were spent on rented land, and he then invested in eighty acres in Round Grove Township, lived there some twelve or fourteen years, and then bought 120 acres of the farm now owned by his son August in West Point Township. Ferdinand West- phal was a hard working, thrifty German and between the time he landed in America early in the "70s and his death on April 12, 1902, had accomplished a great deal for himself, his family and his community. His widow died September 13, 1909, and both are buried in the West Point cemetery. Their five children were: Minnie, who died in Ger- many; Fred, who married Mary Eichert and their four children are Rosetta, Hattie, Samuel and Elmer; Lena, deceased; August W .; and Marie, who is the wife of George Enz of Paulding, Ohio, and their three children are named Alta, Lena and George, Jr. The late Ferdinand Westphal was a democrat, took considerable interest in local affairs, was a member of the German Lutheran Church at Reynolds, and the accomplishment of which he was most proud was in making a home and happy circumstances for his family. He was a man who commanded
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and deserved universal respect. Outside of farming and stock raising he had no other business interests.
August William Westphal came to manhood with a common school education, having attended the Belle Center and Springdale district schools. At the same time his muscles were disciplined and he learned a great deal about the practical departments of farm life. Since his father's death he has continued operating the old place and in Septem- ber, 1908, added another forty to the homestead, making a full quarter section. All of this land is tiled and under cultivation, and in fertility and productiveness there are few farms in the township its equal.
On June 22, 1904, Mr. Westphal married Miss Lillian A. Rockhill, who was born in Randolph County, Indiana, January 31, 1885, a daugh- ter of Edward and Miranda (White) Rockhill, and the first born of their three children. The second daughter, Bessie, is the wife of George Noll, a resident of Brookston, Indiana, and an agriculturist. They have three children. The third child, Cecil, is a resident of Chicago, where he is employed as a chef in a large cafe. Mr. Rockhill, the father, was born in Ohio and became an agriculturist. He is now a resident of White County, and he has fraternal affiliations with the Modern Wood- men of America. Mrs. Rockhill was a native daughter of Indiana, and her death occurred in 1895. Mrs. Westphal was but six years of age when brought by her parents to White County, Indiana, and here she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Westphal have but one child, a daughter, Doris, born January 6, 1908, and now being carefully educated in the local schools. While Mr. Westphal is a member of the Baptist Church at Springdale his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal at Pine Grove. He is a democrat, served two years on the township advisory board by appointment, and in the fall of 1914 was regularly elected for a full term.
GEORGE A. PLOSS. From the time he was two months old this sub- stantial farmer and loyal citizen of Cass Township has been a resident of White County, where his parents established their residence more than forty years ago. Mr. Ploss is a native son of Indiana and is a scion of staunch German stock, his father, John Ploss, having been born and reared in the great Empire of Germany, where he continued to reside until the early '60s, when he immigrated to the United States, where he felt assured of better opportunities for the achieving of success through individual effort. Upon coming to Indiana he established his residence in Cass County, and there he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits for somewhat less than a decade. In 1872 he came with his family to White County, his marriage having been solemnized after he
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