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 49
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His first wife was Lydia MeLaughlin, a daughter of John Mclaughlin of Tippecanoe County. Of the two children of this union Rebecca died in infancy and Sylvester is still living and unmarried. After the death of his first wife, Rebecca Taylor married Mr. McCabe. Her father was Thomas Taylor of White County. Both the children of this union, Thomas W. and Carl L., are now deceased. The present Mrs. McCabe was before her marriage Mary Ann Alkire, a daughter of Harness Alkire, of the well known Alkire family that were identified with the early settlement of White County.
JEREMIAH REDDING. Out in Prairie Township in section 18, on rural route No. 16 out of Brookston, is the comfortable country home of Jeremiah Redding. Mr. Redding has spent practically all his life in this section of Indiana and with the exception of a few years has been
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continuously engaged in farming since he was twenty-three. Everyone in that section of the county has a sound appreciation of his ability, his good judgment, and his solid worth as an asset of the community life, and a further visible evidence of his accomplishment is found in his farm of 224 acres, which have been made to respond to his efforts of improvement until they now constitute a place with hardly a superior in all Prairie Township.
The Redding family came to White County when all the country was new and their work must be reckoned among the factors which brought about so many marvelous changes in the landscape during the past eighty years. Jeremiah Redding was born on Big Creek, December 28, 1847, a son of Alexander and Rachel (Holladay) Redding. His father, who was a native of Maryland, came out to White County toward the close of the decade of the '30s. He brought little with him except the resources and possibilities of his own labors and willingly endured a great deal of hardship in order to provide for the future. It is said that when he and his wife arrived in this part of the wilderness they constructed a rude habitation of rails which could hardly be described as better than a pen. From that point they gradually prospered, he farmed and raised stock, and left his family in much better circum- stances than those in which he himself had started life. His death occurred in 1861, and he was survived by his widow a great many years until she died in 1897. Both are buried in a cemetery in Carroll County. Of their twelve children, only two are now living.
Jeremiah Redding had such education as the country schools sup- plied during the '50s and early '60s. At the age of twenty-three he began farming and has been at it ever since with the exception of about five years. He has kept pace with the improvements and advancements made in farm enterprise in Indiana, and while dividing his attention among different crops, he has also secured a great deal of revenue from the raising and marketing of graded stock. All the improvements of the farm represent his individual labors and management, and his acres are now all under cultivation with the exception of fourteen acres of timberland. In recent years he has surrendered the active cares of farm management and his sons now do all the work.
On January 28, 1869, in early manhood, Mr. Redding married Miss Sarah A. Martin, a daughter of Mitchell and Abbie Martin. Their home has been blessed with the birth of ten children, named as follows: Mitchell A., John C., Leroy W., James A., who is now deceased, Jarvis Earl, Charles Sherman, Goldie Leota, Rosie May, also deceased, Sylvia May and Precious Pearl.
Since casting his first vote Mr. Redding has been a loyal democrat,
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RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. JAMES HARVEY MOORE, PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP
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and while interested in various civic movements which have been formu- lated in. the county, he has never sought nor desired official position. He is an upright and vigorous character and has conformed his life to the principles and teachings of Christianity and is a member of the Christian Church at Spring Creek.
JAMES HARVEY MOORE. While Prairie Township is distinguished for its many fine farm homesteads, there are few residents of that township who control a greater landed acreage and have been better prospered from year to year during the last half century than James H. Moore. Mr. Moore's land holdings extend beyond the limits of White County, and he is one of the most substantial property men in his section of Indiana. His large and attractive rural home is in section 17 of Prairie Township, nine miles south of Monticello.
Fully eighty years have passed since James H. Moore first saw the light of day in Henry County, Indiana, on January 7, 1835. While he still attends to a routine of duties and goes about with firm step and unclouded mind, he has long been in a position where he could com- mand his own time and take leisure as he needed it. He was the second son in the family of Philip and Julia A. (Wilson) Moore. His grand- father, William Moore, a native of Tennessee, married Catherine Cotener, and lived for some years in Preble County, Ohio, and finally became one of the very early pioneer settlers in Henry County, Indiana. He was one of the young western men who participated as soldiers in the second war with Great Britain from 1812 to 1815.
In Eastern Indiana James H. Moore grew to maturity, received such education as the schools of that time offered, and was already a vigorous, prospering and progressive young man when he married on December 22, 1861, Emily L. Lamb. Mrs. Moore was born in Wayne County, Indiana, where her father, Thomas Lamb, was a farmer. For two years after his marriage Mr. Moore lived on rented land, and it was in that way that he got his start in the world. He then bought eighty acres in Howard County, Indiana, but after farming there a year came to his present location in Prairie Township of White County in 1865. In partnership with his brother Miles M. Moore he bought 265 acres there, and under their joint proprietorship they subsequently increased their holdings to 365 acres. In 1874 Mr. Moore bought out his brother's interests, and as a result of selling and buying his present land holdings in White County comprise 250 acres. He is also owner of 190 acres in Carroll County, and has a considerable stake in the lands of Western Canada, owning 332 acres forty miles south of Winnipeg in the Province of Manitoba, all of which is under cultivation. Another important interest which Mr.
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Moore holds and which has been the means of contributing to the in- dustrial activities of the state is a block of stock in the Indiana Iron Rolling Mill Company at Newcastle, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore several years ago celebrated the fiftieth anniver- sary of their wedding, and there are few couples in White County who have traveled together the road of life for a longer time. Both are mem- bers of the United Brethren Church. They are the parents of two chil- dren. Mary L. married Wilson B. Lucas of Battleground, and they live with Mr. and Mrs. Moore. Hattie E. is the wife of C. W. Mouch, who is now president and general manager of the Indiana Iron Rolling Mill Company at Newcastle and also president of the Farmers State Bank at Newcastle. He is at the present time erecting a $28,000 residence at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Mouch have two children named Lois H. and James Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have one of the most beautiful modern country residences in White County. It is equipped with all modern improvements, and is a large and spacious mansion, it is built like an English Manor House. Fraternally Mr. Moore is an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity of. Brookston, Indiana.
JOHN W. MOODY. Out of the struggles and adversities of youth John W. Moody, now living comfortably retired at Brookston, has con- trived a liberal prosperity, and has made his career one of the most active and useful in the farming community of Prairie Township for many years.
It was in Ross County, Ohio, that John W. Moody was born, Septem- ber 17, 1858. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Fay) Moody, who spent all their lives in Ohio. Joseph Moody a few years after the birth of his son John responded to the call of patriotism and went away to fight for the Union, and lost his life during the war. The Moodys are of a mingling of German and Irish stock, and the principal ancestor came to the United States many years ago. John W. Moody was one of two children, and while he has practically no recollections of his father, he was still further bereaved by the death of his mother when only twelve years old. When most boys of the modern generation are learn- ing their first lessons in the public schools, John W. Moody was using his strength for the benefit of the humble home in which he was reared and after the death of his mother his life was one of constant struggle. Thus his success has been due entirely to his own efforts, and few men have a more creditable record.
Farming has been his lifelong career. In 1876 he moved to Tippe- canoe County, Indiana, and the following year saw his advent to White County. For several years he moved about the county in the capacity
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of a farm laborer and his services were much in demand, since he was known to be diligent, reliable and had the ambition which made him useful both to himself and to others. For several years he was employed by the month by Mr. Gross and later by Samuel Shaw. About 1883 he had advanced far enough to be able to buy forty acres in Prairie Town- ship. There he settled to the work of making a home for himself, effected numerous improvements, and as more capital came to his com- mand invested in other lands until at the present time he has a splendid estate of 160 acres in section 21, besides a comfortable home surrounded with six acres of land in the Town of Brookston.
Another factor in his success was his capable wife. On February 23, 1881, he married Margaret Ellen Stewart, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Chilton) Stewart. The Stewart family came overland from Kentucky in 1844, and were among the pioneer settlers in Prairie Town- ship. Mr. Stewart died in 1875 and his wife in 1908, and both are now at rest in the local cemetery. Mr. Stewart was a democrat in politics, took a general interest in public affairs, though he never held any important office.
Mr. and Mrs. Moody became the parents of two daughters. Lida A., born December 10, 1881, is well known in educational circles and is now principal of the high school at Brookston. The second daughter, Lula Mary, born February 1, 1884, is the wife of John K. Maxwell, and their one son, Glenn Moody Maxwell, was born December 30, 1913. Mrs. Maxwell died May 6, 1913, and is now at rest in the local cemetery.
Mr. Moody made his success as a farmer by raising the staple crops and graded live stock. Eleven years ago last November he moved into Brookston, and since then has given only nominal supervision to his farm out in Prairie Township. He is a democrat in politics but by no means a radical, and is rather inclined to independence of political opin- ion. He is a member of the Baptist Church and is affiliated with the Blue Lodge of Masons at Brookston. He has performed some con- scientious and efficient public service to his community. While living in the country he served ten years as township supervisor and for two terms has been a member of the town council at Brookston.
ROBERT ALKIRE. Since the family was established on the unbroken and untamed prairies of Prairie Township, a period of more than six decades has elapsed. During this time White County has had the benefit of the sturdy activities and the rugged character of various members of this family. One of the sons of the pioneer settler was the late Robert Alkire, whose life was one of great accomplishment though he did not reach ripe old age. He sedulously confined his attention to the basic Vol. TI-29
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industry of farming and stock raising and lived to the advantage of the community and to all around him.
The pioneer of this noted family in White County was Forgus Alkire, who was born February 13, 1813, in Ohio, and in 1837 came to Tippe- canoe County, Indiana. In that locality the following year he married Rachel Hayes, who had also been born in Ohio. His career was launched in this section of Indiana in early manhood and with a very modest capital. For a number of years he farmed eighty acres in Tippecanoe County, and in the fall of 1854 removed to White County, where he secured direct from the Government three tracts of eighty acres each. It was wild land, and as his labors subdued and brought into cultivation successive tracts, he continued buying more land, and at one time was one of the largest land owners in Prairie Township, his ownership ex- tending to about 2,000 acres. He pastured large herds of cattle and other live stock on what was practically an open range, and before the railroads penetrated this section of Indiana he annually drove from 400 to 600 head of cattle either to market at Philadelphia or to Madison County, Ohio. His operations as a stock raiser also extended on a large scale to hogs and sheep. He possessed extraordinary vigor and judg- ment as a business man, was a high type of the pioneer citizen, and his memory deserves to last long in that community. His first wife, Rachel, died in September, 1871, and at a later date he married Mrs. Eliza A. Hayes, daughter of James and Nancy Griffith. By his first wife there were five children: Mary A., Cynthia J., Isaac R., Robert H., and William T.
A brief record should also be given to the oldest of his children, Isaac R. Alkire, who was born in Ohio, May 2, 1839, was reared in Tippecanoe County, and was still a boy when the family removed to White County. He was likewise a farmer, and his first farm comprised 160 acres in Prairie Township. This he sold and bought another quarter section, and went on from one stage of prosperity to another until at one time he owned about 600 acres. Following the example of his father, he also raised cattle and horses extensively. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1865 Isaac R. Alkire married in Tippecanoe County, Ellen Chilton, who was born in Ken- tucky, a daughter of James and Mary Chilton. Her father died in Tippecanoe County. By this union there was one child, Olla M.
Coming now to the record of the second son of Forgus Alkire, Robert was born in Tippecanoe County, October 22, 1840. His early training for life was begun in the public schools at Battleground and with the vigorous discipline of the home farm, and on his fourteenth birthday, in 1854, the family removed to White County. There he came to manhood
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and at the age of twenty started out for himself, and thereafter made his years useful and profitable as a farmer and stock raiser. He is one of the most successful members of the second generation of the family in White County, and had accumulated about 1,300 acres of land at one time and when he died on December 31, 1897, the nucleus of his estate constituted about 640 acres. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Brookston.
On January 1, 1863, Robert Alkire married Miss Delilah Graves, a daughter of Johnson and Maria (Kane) Graves. Mrs. Alkire is still living at the fine old homestead near Brookston and in her declining years has the comfort and support of her five children, whose names are: Ida May, Joseph Graham, Asa Heath, Nellie Delphin and Fannie Glenn.
The late Robert Alkire was affiliated with the Masonic Order, but had no church membership. He was a stanch republican, though he never sought nor held public office. As a matter of history it should be recorded that the Alkire family donated land for the Brookston Academy, an institution which furnished educational advantages to hundreds of the growing youth in White County. Robert Alkire was one of the trustees when the academy was built. Outside of farming and stock raising he formed no business connections but was greatly interested and a liberal contributor to any movement for the benefit of the community. His home was on section 34 in Prairie Township, and every item of improvement in that location is the direct result of the enterprise of the Alkire family.
Brief mention in this sketch should also be made of another son of Forgus Alkire. W. T. Alkire was born in Tippecanoe County, February 13, 1843, and was eleven years old when he came to White County. In this county he married Rebecca J. Ramey, daughter of Samuel and Nancy Ramey. Following his marriage he located on a farm in section 28 of Prairie Township within a half mile of Brookston, and in that vicinity has accumulated about 600 acres of land. He is one of the large and prosperous farmers and stock raisers, with a special preference for the shorthorn class of cattle, and not only raises good cattle and hogs but also deals somewhat extensively in live stock. He and his wife are the parents of three children : Reed C., Edward F., and Catharine.
JAMES McCOMB. A life of quiet effectiveness, marked by a record of many deeds well done and many responsibilities faithfully fulfilled, was that of the late James McComb, who, brought to White County when a child in the early '50s, deserves to be remembered among early settlers. In the round of everyday duties and in the faithful and intelligent per- formance of every task that was allotted to him during his life, he left
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a record which may well be admired by those that follow him. Mrs. McComb is now living at Brookston, and has all the comforts that the diligence and enterprise of her husband supplied during his lifetime, and also enjoys the esteem which was paid both to herself and to her husband while he was living.
The McComb family was of Scotch-Irish descent. James McComb was born in Madison County, Ohio, March 15, 1850, a son of Robert and Maria (Hare) McComb, who within a few years after the birth of their son James moved out of Ohio and located in White County, settling in Round Grove Township near Oxford. Robert McComb was a farmer and stock raiser, and he and his wife died within two weeks of. each other and are buried in the Oxford Cemetery.
The late James McComb got such education as served for his equip- ment in life by attendance at the public schools, but was only fifteen years of age when he became self-supporting. His active career was spent largely in dealing in cattle and hogs, and he possessed what may be called a genius for this particular vocation. There is no record in which a case of his judgment was ever seriously at fault, and guided by this almost infallible intelligence he had complete confidence and ability to meet every issue wihch arose. One of his earliest enterprises which shows his self-reliance was the taking of $1,800 of his own money to Chicago to invest in hogs, which he then brought back to Indiana and fed and fattened until they were fit for market. His scrupulous integrity and honesty matched his business ability, and he enjoyed the high esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. McComb was first married to Miss Nettie Brandon, and the one child of this union was a daughter, Nellie Dean, who became the wife of Harry W. Hagerty, a practical agriculturist of Prairie Township, and they reside on the McComb Estate. They are the parents of a son, James Henry. Mrs. Hagerty attended school in Wabash and White counties, also the Brookston High School, and received musical instruc- tion. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Pythian Sisters. Mr. Hagerty attended both the public schools of White County and the Brookston High School. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Brookston.
On March 2, 1898, Mr. McComb married Elizabeth Berry, daughter of Michael and Mary (Murray) Berry. Her parents were born in Madison County, Ohio, and the family came to White County soon after the father's death about 1860. In White County the mother married Moses Wilson, and she lived in Monon Township until her death in 1906, and is now at rest in the cemetery at Monon. Mrs. McComb was the only daughter and child by the first marriage.
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Mr. and Mrs. McComb had one daughter, Mildred L., who was born December 17, 1899, and died May 27, 1915, at the entrance to a promis- ing young womanhood. The following excerpt is quoted from the home newspaper relative to her death:
"Miss Mildred McComb, daughter of Mrs. James McComb of Brooks- ton, Indiana, died at 2 o'clock after an illness of several months' dura- tion. She was a patient sufferer and her death is attributed to pernicious anaemia. She was born near Brookston December 17, 1899, and all her life was spent in White County. Mildred possessed a sunny disposition and was loved by a large circle of friends. She was a member of the Methodist Church at Brookston and was an affectionate daughter. Be- sides the mother she leaves one half-sister, Mrs. H. W. Hagerty of Brookston. The funeral was held at the family residence in Brookston."
She is laid to rest in the family burial ground at Brookston, where the remains of her father also find their repose.
Mr. McComb died June 19, 1912. In politics he was a radical demo- crat and took a keen interest in public affairs, though his ambition did not extend to office holding. He was a member of the Masonic order and with his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Physically he was a fine specimen of manhood, of the decided blond type, stood six feet tall and weighed about 180 pounds. As a result of his business activities he acquired the ownership of about 160 acres in section 19 of Prairie Township, and that is still the property of Mrs. McComb. In 1906 he removed his family to Brookston, and Mrs. McComb has lived there since that year.
JACOB D. MOORE. In the person of Jacob D. Moore, White County has a fine representative of its native-born citizens, one who by his en- terprise, progressiveness and marked ability is materially forwarding its financial welfare in several ways. At the present time he is the owner of 130 acres of well-cultivated land in Monon Township, in which vicin- ity he has spent his entire life, and is making a decided success of his operations in farming and stock raising. His career has been one emi- nently useful and worthy, and his neighbors and old friends will unitedly bear testimony to his sterling worth and valuable services.
Mr. Moore was born on his father's farm in Monon Township, White County, Indiana, March 29, 1862. His father, John D. Moore, was a native of Morgan County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm and where he received his education in the public schools. He was there united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Paul, and with his wife and six children moved to White County, Indiana, in the year 1858, locating in Monon Township, on what is now known as the Curtis farm, situated
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about one and one-half miles east of the present site of Monon. There Mr. Moore passed the remaining years of his life, being engaged exten- sively in farming and the raising of stock. Of the ten children born to him and his wife, eight are still living. Mr. Moore was a man unusually well informed on the public questions of the day and in general knowl- · edge. He was a republican in politics, but while he was a man held in high regard in his community never held an office of any consequence. A devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he did much to help build the first church of that denomination at Monon, as well as the chapel located about three miles east of that city. Mr. Moore died in the fall of 1894, while his widow survived him until September 25, 1911. They were among the best people of Monon Township.
The next to the youngest of his parents' children, Jacob D. Moore has always made his home in Monon Township. Such education as he acquired was obtained in the public schools of his native township and his boyhood was passed like other Indiana farmers' sons. Mr. Moore remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of thirty-two years, at which time he entered upon an independent career, the first transaction of which was the purchasing of a small tract of land which is now a part of his present farm. To this he added from time to time as his finances would permit, until he is now the owner of 130 acres of good land, all fertile and in a high state of development. While diversi- fied farming has demanded the greater part of his attention, Mr. Moore has also engaged to some extent in the breeding of registered Short Horn cattle, and in both departments has met with well-deserved success. His property boasts a good set of modern buildings and improvements, and in every way shows the presence of thrift and good management.
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