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 34
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NOBLE A. PLUMMER. A prominent and prosperous agriculturist and stock raiser of White County, Noble A. Plummer owns and occupies a well-appointed and well-managed farm in West Point Township, where he is numbered among the active business men who contribute largely to- ward the development and advancement of its industrial interests. A native of this township, he was born on the old Van Voorst homestead, June 16, 1852, a son of John and Mary Plummer, of whom further men- tion is made on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of Albert Plummer.
Attending the West Point School and the Center School, Noble A. Plummer obtained a substantial common school education in his native township, and on the home farm acquired valuable experience in the art of agriculture. Farming in those days was not the easy and pleas- ant pastime it now is, comparatively speaking, modern machinery pro- pelled by horse or steam power having replaced the old-time plows, rakes, hoes and fails. When ready to begin the battle of life on his own account, Mr. Plummer bought a colt to match one which his father gave him, and started in as an independent farmer on the parental home- stead. With characteristic energy and hopefulness he continued at his chosen work, and by untiring diligence, thrift and wise management has met with unquestioned success in his labors, in addition to general
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farming and the raising of graded stock having for twelve seasons oper- ated a threshing machine. The greater part of his farm of 200 acres, lying in Section 8, is under cultivation, and in 1914 he added to the improvements he had previously made by erecting a new and conven- iently-arranged dwelling house, where the latchstring is ever out. His estate, known as the old Plummer Homestead, is advantageously located two miles east of Wolcott, and 31/2 miles south.
Mr. Plummer married, May 21, 1889, Miss Emma J. Jones, a daugh- ter of Lewis and Minerva (Brown) Jones, and of their union three children have been born, namely: Ray, Effie and Glenn. Politically Mr. Plummer is a decided republican, but has never held any public office excepting that of supervisor, his time and attention having been devoted principally to the management of his own affairs.
JOHN A. ROTHROCK. One of the strong and able men of the past in White County was the late John A. Rothrock, who for a number of years prior to his death, which occurred December 28, 1894, was editor and proprietor of the White County Democrat. He was still young at the time of his death, yet in a brief span of years had accomplished a work for which he deserves a permanent memorial in these pages.
A native of White County, John Albert Rothrock was born Novem- ber 6, 1853, in Union Township, a son of Zachariah and Cathrine (Opp) Rothrock. His education was supplied by the common schools, but such good use did he make of his opportunities that when only fifteen years of age he was qualified and was given a school to teach. For many years he followed farming and teaching in the convenient seasons of the year, and rose to a high rank in local educational circles. In 1884 Mr. Roth- rock was elected county superintendent of schools, and held that office for four consecutive terms until 1892. From 1885 to 1894 he was also owner and editor of the White County Democrat. The politics of that. paper reflected his own political convictions, and he welded more than an ordinary individual influence in the political life of the county.
As the name would indicate the Rothrocks are of German descent,. but the family was settled in this country during the colonial era and belonged to that splendid body of simple and courageous Christians who. have impressed their influence on American history as Moravians. The original home of Mr. Rothrock's ancestors was in the historic city of Worms on the Rhine River. His original ancestor left Germany in 1753 on the ship Pink Mary, and settling in York, Pennsylvania, helped to establish the first Moravian Church on American soil. Afterwards the Rothrocks settled in Mifflin in Juniata and Lancaster counties of Pennsylvania.
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The first wife of the late John A. Rothrock was Jennie Catherine Cullen, and they were married at Monticello in September, 1874. Her parents were Allen and Alvira (Conkling) Cullen. At her death on February 11, 1877, Mrs. Rothrock left two children: Orville Allen Rothrock, born August 27, 1875; and Jennie Catherine, born February 11, 1877, who died in December, 1901. In 1878 Mr. Rothrock married Prudence Bennett. To this union were born six children: Raymond Il., Mrs. Edna Curtis, Mrs. Blanche Kavanaugh, Mrs. Lola Rush, Rex and Zachariah Rothrock, all of whom now reside in Indianapolis.
ORVILLE A. ROTHROCK. The distinction of having the best organized and most efficient police force of any railroad, municipality or corpora- tion rests with the Delaware & Hudson Railway, and the credit for the organization and development of this splendidly trained body of men must be given to Orville A. Rothrock, its chief, who in addition to holding this responsible position is the owner of the Tippecanoe Pony Farm, located 11/4 miles from Monticello.
Mr. Rothrock was born August 27, 1875, at Monticello, White County, Indiana, and received his education here in the local schools. His father, a member of an old family here, died when he was seventeen years of age, and young Orville, filled with the spirit of adventure, ran away from home and enlisted in the Twenty-third United States Infantry, serving with Company F until receiving his honorable dis- charge in 1898. In that same year he returned to his home and entered the sheriff's office as a deputy under Sheriff John W. Warner, but in the following year resigned his position to go to work for the then newly- organized police force of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was advanced to the rank of lieutenant and worked at Logansport and Indianapolis until 1901, when he resigned at the latter place and returned home to be elected city marshal of Monticello, a capacity in which he served ca- pably for six years. In December, 1907, he resigned to organize the police department of all the properties owned and controlled by the Delaware & Hudson Railway Company, having been made chief of police of all the Delaware & Hudson Railway holdings, which include not alone the railroad proper, but numerous coal mines, trolley lines, boat lines, hotels, etc. From thirty-eight men, who represented it when he began the work of organization, Mr. Rothrock has built the force up to a personnel of 152 men, and, as before noted, it is the finest institution of its kind in the country. His headquarters are located at Albany, New York, but Chief Rothrock, believing Indiana to be the best state in the finest country in the world, with the most modern schools and up-to-date roads, makes his home at Monticello, and declares that he always will.
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His home here is on a lot the abstract for which was given by the United States Government to his great-grandfather, but he also has the Tippe- canoe Pony Farm, 11/4 miles northeast of the city, where he handles a fine breed of Hackney ponies, a line in which he has met with much more than ordinary success. At the head of his stable is the famous stal- lion Irvington Artful, which was imported from England by P. A. B. Wagner and has won numerous prizes throughout the East. Mr. Rothrock's hobby may be said to be the subject of Juvenile delinquency, the cause, prevention and cure of the same, and in this direction he is in urgent demand to read papers before charitable and philanthropic bodies and those who have made a study of criminology. On several occasions he has been called to New York and Boston in this connection. He is a stalwart democrat in his political views, and in fraternal circles is well and favorably known, being a member of Guttenburg Lodge No. 727, F. & A. M., at Albany, New York; Albany Chapter No. 5, R. A. M. ; De Witt Clinton Council No. 22, R. & S. M., at Albany ; Albany Commandery No. 2 K. T .; Monticello Camp No. 106, I. O. O. F .; and Lodge No. 66, B. P. O. E., at Logansport. Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock are members of the Methodist Church.
On April 6, 1898, Mr. Rothrock was married to Miss Edith M. Ben- nett, a daughter of Elam and Anna (Ross) Bennett, both families being old ones of Monticello. Two sons have been born to this union: John Allen and Lindell Bennett.
LEVI A. MATHEW. Among the men of White' County who have long been identified with the industry of farming and in such a manner as to reach substantial places in the general business consideration of the district is Levi A. Mathew, whose particularly fine homestead is found in section 2 of West Point Township.
The Mathew family is of French descent and has been identified with this county fully forty years. It was the late Alfred Mathew who intro- duced the family name into this section of Indiana. Alfred Mathew was born in Kankakee County, Illinois, August 14, 1856, a son of Flavius and Mary Mathew. As a boy he had very meager advantages in the way of schooling and made his way by dint of hard work and persistent effort carried on over a period of many years. On July 6, 1875, he married Anna Lebeau. All of the eleven children born to them are still living. In the early '70s Alfred Mathew came to White County, locat- ing in West Point Township, and at that time possessed none of those material resources which attract social attention to a man in a business way. He was a hard worker, accepted all the opportunities that came to him, and by the wise direction of his resources eventually accumu- lated about 1,600 acres of land in White County. The operations of this
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land he directed to the general crops and to the raising of stock. Alfred Mathew died in West Point Township May 14, 1914, and is buried at Remington. He and his family were members of the Sacred Heart Church at Remington, and in politics he was a republican, and much interested in any movements for local improvements. His widow is still living in Wolcott. The names of their eleven children were: Levi A., Meddie, Mina, Cordelia, Alfred, Jr., William, Oscar, Arthur, Amos, Clarence and Herman.
The birth of Levi A. Mathew occurred at Kentland, August 9, 1876, and he is the oldest of the children, all of whom were reared and edu- cated in White County. Soon after reaching his manhood he started out to assume the responsibilities of making a home, and on September 20, 1898, was married to Armelia Provo, daughter of Jeremiah and Margaret (Budreau) Provo. Mrs. Mathew's people are French-Cana- dians, and came to White County from Illinois a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Mathew are the parents of ten children: Nealla, born November 26, 1900; Edwin, born June 29, 1902; Mildred, born Janu- ary 5, 1904; Iva, born October 11, 1905; Mabel L., born April 17, 1907; Florence, born December 2, 1908; Lorene, born April 19, 1910; Lillian, born June 25, 1911; Ryland, born June 16, 1912; and Rita, born August 24, 1914.
In the years since his marriage Mr. Mathew, with the help of his good wife, has accumulated a fine farm of 240 acres. He uses it for the general crops and for stock raising and few men of his age are better situated as to future prospects and present advantages. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church at Remington, and his older children are attending the local public schools. In politics he is a republican.
WILLIAM KRAPFF. No man in West Point Township is more sub- stantially and honorably identified with the agricultural growth of his part of White County than William Krapff. He has never allowed op- portunity to knock more than once at his door, and has turned every such opportunity to the best possible account both from a personal and a community standpoint. From modest beginnings and without the encouragement of financial assistance, he has come to be the owner of a handsome estate, which in its tillage and general improvements compares favorably with any in this township.
The third in a family of seven children, William Krapff was born July 15, 1849, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a son of John and Sophia (Keilman) Krapff. His parents were natives of Hesse Cassel, Germany. His father came from that country and settled first
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in Pennsylvania, and in 1856 moved out to Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, then a comparatively new district in that fertile section of the Prairie State. He died in Bureau County, April 18, 1891, and is buried with his wife in the Oakland cemetery in that county. His wife died November 19, 1898. One of the interesting facts about the family record is that with the exception of the father and mother there has not been a death of the family either among their children or descendants since the year 1853.
William Krapff grew to manhood in Bureau, McLean and Tazewell counties of Illinois, and got his education as best he could in the district schools of the various localities mentioned. Up to the age of seventeen he assisted his father in the latter's blacksmith shop, and then went on a farm until the spring of 1871. After spending a short while in Kansas he returned in the fall of 1872 to Bureau County and in the spring of the following year went to St. Louis, He returned to Bureau County in August and four days later fell a victim to the cholera, but survived this dread disease. He soon afterward took up the trade of carpenter, and was employed at that vocation until November 18, 1875, when he married Miss Anna C. Meyer. She was born in Germany and was four- teen years of age when she came to this country. Her birth occurred at Glinstadt, Bremen, Hanover, Germany, March 9, 1851.
A few months after his marriage Mr. Krapff brought his bride to Benton County, Indiana, in the spring of 1876. He lived on the farm now known as the Frank E. Fisher place near Shilo, but in the spring of 1877 moved to West Point Township in White County, locating in section 24, range 5 west. That was the scene of his progressive activities for seven years, after which he moved to his present farm in section 32, range 5 west, of West Point Township, in the spring of 1884. Mr. Krapff was instrumental in having the windows in the schoolhouses of the town- ship placed in the end of the building, so the light would not be in the pupils' faces and thus portecting their eyesight. He has the kind- liest feelings and regard for his dear friend and benefactor, C. A. East- borne, who persuaded him to purchase his present beautiful estate in West Point Township and who fully endorsed Mr. Krapff in the pur- chase of the same. Here for more than thirty years his energies have been carefully directed to the successive cropping of the farm and to the improvement of its facilities and general upbuilding of the farm and home.
In the meantime seven children have been born into the household of himself and his good wife. Alice M., the oldest, is the wife of Marion M. Wilson, living at Chalmers, and their four children are named Faye C., Geneva M., William E. and Dolores P. Jesse R., who looks after
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some of his father's farming interests in Jackson County, Oklahoma, married Elizabeth A. Schofield, and their two children are Marion O. and Mildred L. George G., also a resident of Jackson County, Okla- homa, married Verda Forrester and has a child named Evelyn C. Fred R. is unmarried and living at home with his parents. He spent two years at the Chalmers High School. Franklin I. is also at home and he also received a two-year high school training. Bessie May, who was a student in high school, is the wife of Ward Pampel, living in West Point Township. Leota L., the youngest, is still at home.
As to politics, Mr. Krapff votes for the national candidates of the democratic party, but has been strictly nonpartisan in selecting the officials to manage local affairs. He has himself frequently been called to office by his fellow citizens and has served twelve years as a member of the township advisory board. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Chalmers. His best public service has been as a leader in matters of local improvement. As is well known, a vigorous stand for such improvements often makes a man unpopular for the time, though in after years the people give him full credit for his far- sighted endeavors. Such has been the experience of Mr. Krapff, who has himself never fought any public improvements, but has been abused on account of his taking so active a part in scecuring the construction of ditches and roads. As a result of his determined and unselfish work in this direction the six-mile road between West Point and Prairie and Round Grove townships, is now known as the Krapff Road. There is also a tiled ditch beginning in section 32, running through section 23 and into section 24, terminating in the John C. Vanatta ditch, which out of tribute to his efforts in its construction, is known as the Krapff Ditch.
Though always public spirited and generous, Mr. Krapff is one of the most successful and prosperous citizens of White County. His home farm comprises 240 acres, and he also owns 480 acres of land in Jack- son County, Oklahoma. He is a stockholder in the Chalmers Telephone Company, and was one of the principal organizers of that enterprise. He also assisted in organizing the Bank of Chalmers. Is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Chalmers and has stock in the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Jasper, Benton and White counties. Mr. Krapff has made his money through his own efforts and has used his prosperity to give greater prosperity to the community. His own farm is one of the model places in White County and is situated seven miles west and one mile south of Chalmers.
HOMER M. JAMES. The James family has lived in White County since the war times of the '60s. Hard-working farmers, public-spirited
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citizens, and people who have taken hold of every enterprise with char- acteristic vigor, they have for more than fifty years been identified use- fully and worthily with this section of Indiana. Homer James and wife have found in agriculture an attractive and profitable pursuit, and out of their own efforts, their self-denial, and long continued capable man- agement, they now have a valuable and comfortable home, located three miles northwest of Wolcott in Princeton Township.
The James family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. William James, father of Homer, was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, January 19, 1833, was reared and educated in that locality and after his marriage brought his family to White County, where he lived until his death, June 18, 1902, at the age of sixty-nine years, five months and twenty- nine days. William James married Margaret Paulsel, a daughter of Charles Paulsel, who was of Pennsylvania Dutch stock and an early settler in Hamilton County, Indiana. William and Margaret James had eleven children. Charles and William died in infancy. Ida M. is also deceased. Samuel A. lives in Princeton Township and married Belle Thomas. A fifth child is Homer M. Clara F. married Henry Spangle and lives in Wolcott. George W. married Minnie Anderson and lives in Princeton Township. Alphie E. is the widow of John Kerlin and lives in Wolcott. Bertha is deceased. Frank T. died in infancy. Sarah F., the youngest, is the wife of Delbert Sharkey and lives in Princeton Township.
William James brought his family to White County in 1864, locating on section 1 of Princeton Township. He was a poor man, dependent en- tirely upon the work of his hands to support his little household. For about four years he was employed by the month by John Darrow, and then bought, partly cash and partly credit, a small farm which he was able to increase to an aggregate of 110 acres before his death. While a democrat in politics he usually voted for the man in local affairs and never consented to run for office though frequently urged. He was a member of no secret organization, but had a great many friends, and was affectionately known as "Uncle Billy" and was always quick to lend a helping hand in times of trouble and was very liberal. He was buried in the Dobbins Cemetery in Princeton Township.
Homer M. James was born on the old farm in section 1, range 6 west of Princeton Township, January 15, 1870, and never claimed any other place of residence than this one community. The common schools did something toward preparing him for a life of usefulness and before he reached his majority he was making his own way as a farm hand and as a farmer.
In 1895 Mr. James married Miss Delia Spencer, a daughter of
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William V. and Hannah R. Spencer, members of the well known old Spencer family of White County. Mr. and Mrs. James have one child, Lulu S. When Mr. and Mrs. James were married and started out to face the world together they had neither a home nor the means with which to buy one. Mrs. James had been teaching in Princeton Township for five years and she continued in the same vocation for another five years after her marriage. Thus by working hard, exercising strict economy, they finally accumulated a little nucleus and secured their first stake in the land as a start in agricultural enterprise. From this beginning they have prospered until they now own 200 acres of land, 120 acres in Princeton Township and eighty acres in Melroy Township of Jasper County. Mr. James also has some stock in the Farmers Co-op- erative Elevator at Wolcott. The energy with which he has managed his own affairs has caused his fellow citizens in the township to entrust him with public responsibilities, and for six years he made a most ca- pable township trustee. He is a democrat, his wife is a member of the Christian Church, and he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Wolcott.
ISAAC N. DARROW. The home of Mr. Darrow and family is 41/2 miles northwest of Wolcott. It is a fertile and well-managed estate and has been in the capable hands of its present owner for many years. Mr. Darrow has lived in White County since early childhood, and his career has been directed along those lines which result in substantial achieve- ments and material accumulations, and also command the confidence and esteem of the community.
It was in the spring of 1863 that the Darrow family established its home in Princeton Township. The head of the family at that time was John H. Darrow, who was born in Kentucky in May, 1825, and in No- vember of the same year was taken by his parents to Hamilton County, Indiana. He grew up in that county and became a prominent factor in local affairs, serving two years as county sheriff. He was a member of the whig party in early days and afterwards became a republican. While living in Hamilton County he married Margaret Hair, who was born in Hamilton County, July 28, 1850, a daughter of James and Polly Hair. She died at Wolcott, February 26, 1894. John H. Darrow and wife brought their family to White County in the spring of 1863, locat- ing on a farm in section 2, range 1 west. After a little more than eighteen months of residence in the county John H. Darrow passed away November 17, 1865. He was a member of the Masonic order and was buried under the auspices of the local Masonic Lodge. Both he and his wife now rest in the Dobbins Cemetery. They were married
,
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May 14, 1850, and to their union were born seven children. The oldest, James W., now lives in Des Moines, Iowa, while the others are still in White County. Benson F. is unmarried and lives in Honey Creek Township; Mary E., also living in Honey Creek, has been twice mar- ried, first to George Baxter and second to Henry Baker, and both hus- bands are now deceased; Walter P. lives in Wolcott and married Rosa Allen ; the next in age is Isaac N .; Dora B., who lives at Wolcott, is the widow of Peter Scripter; Laura M., the youngest, married Edward Jackson, and they live at Wolcott.
Isaac N. Darrow was born in Hamilton County near Noblesville, Indiana, April 7, 1859, and was about four years of age when his par- ents located in Princeton Township. He was six years old when his father died and for that reason and as a result of his natural inde- pendence he early chose to become self supporting. His education was acquired in the common schools, but since early manhood he has been a vigorous and progressive farmer, managing his crops and other re- sources in such a way as to give him an excellent reputation as a busi- ness man. His father at the time of his death owned 440 acres of land in White County, and the son has been similarly prosperous and his farm, though containing 147 acres, represents a much higher value and many more substantial improvements than the farm left nearly half a century ago by his father.
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