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 52
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An ambitious student from his childhood, Ernan A. Bush early resolved to fit himeslf for a professional career, and while yet in his teens began the study of medicine with Dr. L. W. Little. He subse- quently continued his studies for a year at the Chicago Physico-Medical College, and then entered the Physico-Medical College at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was graduated on March 21, 1903, winning then the distinction of being the second youngest man to apply for a physician's license in this state. Dr. Bush was subsequently engaged in the practice of his profession at Stockwell for nearly there years, and then opened an office at Reynolds. On January 1, 1906, the doctor located in Reynolds, and here, in addition to continuing his practice as a physician, established a drug store, which he conducted successfully for more than two years. On April 1, 1908, he was appointed postmaster, and held the position until July 21, 1914, serving in that capacity under Presi-
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dents Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson. He was for four years a member of the town board, and was once a candidate for representative to the State Legislature, on the prohibition ticket, and in 1914 was a candidate for Congress on the same ticket.
Dr. Bush married, February 16, 1905, Arba Belle Waters, a daughter of Howard and Alta (Kennedy) Waters, of Tippecanoe County, and into their household two children have made their advent, namely : Ernan Waters, born March 8, 1906; and Henry Wayne, borne March 11, 1913. A prominent member of the State League of Postmasters, Dr. Bush served that organization as treasurer one year, as secretary two years, and as president three years. He is a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists; of the Retail Merchants' Association ; and of the Indiana Physico-Medico Society. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being now one of its trustees, and the superintendent of the Sunday school.
EDWARD E. CARR. One of the esteemed farmer citizens of Big Creek Township is Edward E. Carr, who has lived in this county for forty years. His early life was one of considerable hardships, being the oldest son, and he was early in the fields and engaged in the work about the home, when most boys of his years were in the schools. What he has accomplished has therefore been all the more creditable.
Edward E. Carr was born in LaPorte County, Indiana, August 25, 1861, a son of Martin L. and Olive J. (Laylin) Carr. Out of eleven children the five who grew to maturity were: Editha E., who married Abram Cranmer; Edward E .; Reuben R .; Luther L .; and Benjamin F.
Martin L. Carr was a man of roving disposition, and spent his life in many different localities. He died June 31, 1891. During the Civil war he lived in Iowa, and became captain in a Union regiment, but never saw any active service. His wife died in White County May 23, 1912, being then eighty-two years of age. She was born in 1830 and lived in White County forty years. The family came to Indiana in 1870, and in 1874 located on the land in White County where Ed Carr now lives. The land was covered with wild grass, and the father and son set fire to this and burned it off before putting the plow in the land. Their first home was a log house, and about 1878 the present comfortable home of Mr. Carr was erected.
Mr. Carr married India Mills, daughter of Samuel K. Mills. To their marriage have been born three children: Edward Theodore, born De- cember 18, 1903; Ruth Ada, born September 21, 1910; and Robert El- more, born March 1, 1912. All are natives of White County. Mrs. Carr was born March 8, 1881, and was one of a family of six sons and four
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daughters, being the eighth child born. Her father died in November, 1892. Mr. Carr has taken considerable interest in republican politics, and has been a candidate for state representative and for the office of county clerk. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
FRANCIS M. DOWELL. In section 2, range 4 of Monon Township is situated the fine farm homestead of Mr. Dowell, the same comprising 120 acres of admirably cultivated land and evidences of thrift and pros- perity being unmistakable to even the casual observer. The owner is known as one of the progressive men who are exemplifying the best scientific and practical conceptions of modern agricultural and live stock industry and is one of the popular and public-spirited citizens of White County.
Francis M. Dowell was born on a farm in Pulaski County, this state, on the 20th of November, 1849, and is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of the fine old Hoosier commonwealth. He is a son of William and Eleanor (Evans) Dowell, and his paternal greatgrand- father was a native of Holland, the maternal ancestry, as the name im- plies, tracing back to Welsh origin. The marriage of the parents of Mr. Dowell was solemnized in Pulaski County and they became the parents of four children: Isaac, who is deceased; Francis M., whose name initiates this article; William, who is a resident of Goodland, Newton County; and James T., who is deceased. William Dowell came with his family to White County about the year 1850 and his first location was on a pioneer farm south of Monticello. Thereafter he made several changes of residence in the farming districts of the county, and in 1856 he established his permanent residence in Monon Township, where he improved a farm and gained a substantial success, this homestead having continued to be the abiding place of him and his wife until the time of their death, he having passed away on the 16th of October, 1876, and his devoted wife having followed him to eternal rest in the following February, so that "in death they were not long divided." The remains of these honored pioneers rest in the cemetery of Monon Chapel. Mr. Dowell was a staunch supporter of the cause of the repub- lican party, took an active and intelligent interest in governmental af- fairs and local politics but never sought or held public office. He be- came the owner of a farm of about eighty acres and devoted the same to diversified agriculture and stock raising.
Francis M. Dowell was an infant at the time of the family removal to White County and here he was reared to the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm, the while he made due use of the advantages afforded in the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he began
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independent work by obtaining employment as a farm hand, and by energy and good management he soon was able to engage in farming on his own responsibility, the best voucher for his success being his owner- ship at the present time of one of the fine farm properties of White County. His place has excellent improvements of a permanent order, including an attractive residence, and scrupulous attention is given to keeping everything about the farm in good order, so that there is no semblance of neglect or apathetic interest to be found in derogation of the secure status of Mr. Dowell as one of the sagacious and progres- sive farmers and stock growers of the county that has represented his home from childhood and that has afforded to him ample opportunity for constructive enterprise.
Though he has manifested no predilection for political office Mr. Dowell has never failed to give ready co-operation in the support of measures and movements which he has believed for the best interests of the community, and he accords staunch allegiance to the republican party. He is affiliated with Monon Lodge No. 592, Free & Accepted Masons, and he and his family hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal Church in the City of Monon.
On the 1st of May, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dowell to Mrs. Rachel L. Wilson, a daughter of John D. and Sarah E. (Paul) Moore, and of this union were born three children: Cecil and Florence, both of whom still reside in White County; and Omer, who is deceased.
GEORGE E. DAVIS. Actively and successfully engaged in general farm- ing on section 26, Liberty Township, George E. Davis materially assists in maintaining the reputation of White County as a fine agricultural and stock raising region. A son of the late William H. Davis, he was born February 1, 1866, in Liberty Township, which has always been his home.
Of English ancestry, William H. Davis was born and reared in Penn- sylvania, and as a young man migrated to Indiana, locating in White County, probably about 1850. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war he offered his services to his country, enlisting as a private in the Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, being honorably discharged from the service, he returned to White County, and after taking unto himself a wife engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Improving his land, he carried on general farming, including the raising of graded stock, until his death, about 1893. He married Ilwilda Imler, who survived him ten years, dying in 1903. They were the parents of four children, namely: George E., of this sketch ; Nettie, deceased; David; and Hannah, deceased.
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Educated in the district schools, George E. Davis acquired valuable experience in the art and science of agriculture while assisting in the management of the home farm, and has made farming his principal occupation. In 1903 he purchased his present farm of 275 acres, and has since devoted his time and energies to its improvement, having it largely under tillage, and well supplied with comfortable and con- venient buildings. He carries on general farming with highly satis- factory results, and is interested to a considerable extent in stock growing, a profitable industry in this part of the country.
Mr. Davis married in July, 1885, Flora E. Welch, a daughter of Abel Welch. Eight children have blessed their union, namely: Glenn R .; Lloyd; Lulu, deceased; Loren F .; Alta N .; Jennie; Bertha; and Orville.
JOHN R. COWGER. This well known citizen of Union Township repre- sents a family with many years of residence in White County, and his kinship has been very prominent in affairs since pioneer times.
John R. Cowger was born in White County February 23, 1853, a son of Eli and Anna (Worthington) Cowger. The Worthingtons came from England, while Eli Cowger was born in Virginia, originally of German stock. John R. Cowger was the second in a family of five children. The father and paternal grandfather came to White County among the very first families. Eli Cowger helped to build one of the first log cabins in Monticello. The grandfather located northeast of the present Town of Monon, and lived there until his death. Eli Cowger entered his first land just west of the present estate of John R. Cowger. His patent to that land was signed by Martin Van Buren, then President of the United States. The farm now owned by John R. Cowger was entered by his uncle, Jacob Cowger, who subsequently sold it to the father of Mrs. Cowger. Eli Cowger improved the lands already de- scribed, comprising 120 acres, ditched and tiled it, and constructed sub- stantial building improvements. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a man who carried his Christianity into his practical life, and with a good education acquired largely by self-study he was a man of more than ordinary prominence. He was a class leader and active in Sunday school work. His death occurred at the age of fifty- three.
Mrs. Cowger's parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Mowrer) Roth- rock, names which are at once associated with the early history of White County. Robert Rothrock was born in Pennsylvania, as was also his wife, but they were married in White County. Elizabeth M. Mowrer was his second wife. There were four children, and only one is now living.
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Robert Rothrock came to White County among the pioneers, and his father, John Rothrock, entered land directly from the Government, as did also his son Robert. John Rothrock deeded a part of the land on which the courthouse now stands at Monticello. The land was given for the express purpose of being used for a county building, and the deed was so worded that in case the land was not used for that purpose it should revert to the heirs of the original donor. Robert Rothrock was a member of the Christian Church and in politics a democrat. His brother, Joseph Rothrock, was for a number of years county treasurer. Robert Rothrock died on his seventy-fifth birthday.
John R. Cowger received a country school education, and at the age of twenty-four married Kate V. Rothrock. After their marriage they lived with Mr. Cowger's parents, and then settled on an adjoining farm. Here Mr. Cowger has 120 acres of land, and his home was built since he occupied the place, and he has also placed most of the improvements there. He and his wife have three children: Robert Raymond, who married Jennie Peter, daughter of Reverend Mr. Peter, and they have three sons, Raymond, Gordon and Conrad; Dr. Earl Cowger, who mar- ried Gertrude Snapp, and has one child, Catherine; and Clifford, who still lives at home. The family are members of the Christian Church and Mr. Cowger is a democrat. He served in his township as assessor for four years from 1900 to 1904.
CARL C. MIDDELSTADT. Cashier of the State Bank of Monon, Carl C. Middelstadt represents a family that has long and usefully been identified with White County.
His parents were Christopher and Wilhelmina (Long) Middelstadt, both natives of Germany, who moved to White County and settled at Monon about 1882. Christopher died April 29, 1909, and his wife on April 7, 1892. An older son is Otto C. Middelstadt, present county treas- urer of White County. Otto was born at Medaryville, Indiana, March 12, 1867, was reared at Monon, where he attended the public schools, and in 1908 was elected township trustee, serving five years, and in 1912 was elected treasurer of White County, a position which he has since occupied. He has been twice married and has one daughter, Georgia.
Carl Middelstadt, who has identified his career with banking, was born at Medaryville, Indiana, November 12, 1877, and when still a child came with his parents to Monon, where he was reared and educated. He was engaged in the hotel business at Monon until entering upon his present duties as cashier of the State Bank.
Mr. Middelstadt is a Knight Templar Mason of Delphi and Shriner of Indianapolis, also an Odd Fellow and belongs to Lodge No. 124 of
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Monon ; in politics he is a democrat. On July 17, 1896, he married Miss Maude Bunnell, daughter of Stephen Bunnell. They are the parents of two children: Wilhelmina and Leo.
ELI W. COWGER. For the past fifty years this honored pioneer citizen of White County has resided on his present homestead farm, in section 19, Monon Township, where he is the owner of a valuable landed estate of 350 acres, and, now venerable in years, he is one of the comparatively few men who can recall the scenes, conditions and incidents of the early pioneer epoeh in the history of this county, where he has witnessed and assisted in the work of social and material development and progress, mindful of the primitive things of the past and appreciative of the opu- lent prosperity and manifold modern advantages of the present day. His life has been one of righteousness and earnest endeavor, and thus he has fully merited the distinctive prosperity and the personal popularity that are now his.
From the time of his nativity has Mr. Cowger been a resident of White County, his birth having occurred at Monticello, the county seat, on the 13th of November, 1837, and the judicial center of the county having at that time been little more than a straggling hamlet in the midst of the virgin forest. He is a son of Silas and Elizabeth (Bott) Cowger, who were born and reared in West Virginia, which state was at that time still a part of the Old Dominion commonwealth of Virginia, and their marriage was solemnized in Pendleton County of their native state. In 1834 they immigrated to Indiana and numbered themselves among the sturdy pioneers of White County. They passed the first winter in the log cabin home of George Spencer, on Big Creek, and in selecting his future place of abode the father selected a tract of eighty acres of Gov- ernment land on Little Monon River and a comparatively short distance southwest of the present home of the subject of this review. Silas Cowger had the mental and physical characteristics which make the ideal pioneer, and with judgment and energy he set himself to the task of reclaiming his land from the wilderness and developing a productive farm. He and his wife endured the full tension of the pioneer era, were called upon to practice the utmost self-denial and to deprive themselves of many things that are now regarded as absolute necessities, but they were sustained by mutual love and sympathy and by steadfast purpose, so that they pressed forward to the goal of independence and prosperity, the while they commanded the unqualified esteem of all who knew them. At the time of his death, on the 23d of March, 1862, Mr. Cowger was the owner of a well improved estate of 300 acres, in Monon Township, and his wife survived him by a number of years, the remains of both
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being laid to rest in the cemetery of the Monon Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their nine children five are living: Eli W., Mary J., Elizabeth, Silas R. and John W.
Reared to man's estate under the conditions and influences of the pioneer farm and early beginning to lend his aid in its arduous work, Eli W. Cowger acquired his early educational discipline in a primitive log schoolhouse of the type common to the locality and period. Through self-discipline and long association with the practical affairs of life he has effectually overcome a possible educational handicap of earlier years and is known as a man of board views and mature judgment.
Mr. Cowger has paid unfaltering allegiance to the basic industry of agriculture during his entire adult life and such has been his success that he may well be satisfied that he did not consent to enter other fields of endeavor. In 1865, about three years after his marriage, he established his residence on his present homestead, though his original and embryonic farm had slight semblance to his present fine landed estate, either in area or physical conditions. Not all men are permitted thus to call attention to the visible results of former years of toil and endeavor, but in his case the kindly earth has brought forth its increase as one year after another has dropped into the abyss of time, and industry and good management have their tangible presentment in the appearance of his valuable and ad- mirably improved landed domain, his attention having been consecutively given to diversified agriculture and to the raising of excellent grades of live stock. Mr. Cowger is essentially one of the representative farmers of his native county and is an upright, loyal and public-spirited citizen whose circle of friends is limited only by that of his acquaintances. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party and he has taken much interest in all things pertaining to the communal welfare. He served as road supervisor of Monon Township in 1881, and in the following year was elected a member of the board of county com- missioners, an office in which he was enabled to do much valuable service in the furtherance of civic and material progress and prosperity in his native county. He is not formally identified with any religious body but his wife is a zealous member of the Presbyterian Church.
On the 10th of March, 1862, Mr. Cowger wedded Miss Nancy Downey, who has thus been his loved and devoted companion and helpmeet for more than half a century. She is a daughter of Rev. Thomas and Cath- erine (Moore) Downey, her grandfather having served more than fifty years as a pioneer clergyman of the Presbyterian Church in Ohio. The parents of Mrs. Cowger came to White County, Indiana, about the year 1840 and here passed the residue of their lives, both having been laid to rest in the Bedford Cemetery. In this county Mr. Downey became a
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prosperous farmer and he served two terms as county commissioner. Con- cerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Cowger brief record is given in the concluding paragraph of this article.
Rachel Alice, who was born April 9, 1863, died on the 19th of Febru- ary, 1913; Charles was born December 15, 1865, and his death occurred June 30, 1914; William A., who was born October 20, 1868, died on the 11th of the following January; Ida May, who was born April 2, 1870, is the wife of Isaac Parse, of Carroll County; Elizabeth Catherine, who was born September 29, 1872, is the wife of William C. Ledford and they reside in White County; Thomas S., a successful teacher in White and Jasper counties, having been a teacher for twenty years, was born February 4, 1876; and Clara S., who remains at the parental home, was born October 6, 1879. She was graduated from Monticello High School and she was a teacher for eleven years in White County. Her sister, Mrs. Parse, also taught for eleven years in White County. Mr. and Mrs. Cowger have given their children all good educations and have fitted them for the higher walks of life.
JOHN H. CAUGHELL. For half a century a resident of White County, the late John H. Caughell was an able assistant in promoting its agricul- tural prosperity, as an energetic and progressive farmer meeting with good success, while as a man and a citizen he was held in high esteem. A native of Canada, he was born July 26, 1834, in Lincoln County, near Niagara. His father, John Caughell, a Canadian by birth, was of Ger- man descent, liis immigrant ancestor having come from Germany to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, while his mother, whose maiden name was Johanna Merithew, was born in Canada, of French ancestry.
Born, bred and educated in Canada, John H. Caughell there married, February 25, 1862, Elizabeth Gardner, a daughter of Archibald and Margaret (Morrison) Gardner. Just after that important event, he came with his bride to White County, where her parents joined them on November 13, 1864. Mr. Caughell purchased land in Jackson Township, and immediately resumed the free and independent occupation to which he was reared. Laboring diligently and successfully, he cleared and improved a valuable estate, which yielded him rich returns each year. In addition to general farming, he engaged in stock raising, making a spe- cialty of growing hogs for market. Having by good business methods accumulated a competency, Mr. Caughell retired from active pursuits, in 1908 buying 31/2 acres of land on which he lived free from business cares until his death,. July 25, 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Caughell became the parents of nine children, namely : James, born February 12, 1863, was killed June 6, 1892, in Carroll
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County, by an explosion, and is buried at Burnetts Creek; Margaret, born November 27, 1864, married John Gillespie, of Monticello; Thomas Richard, born November 2, 1866, died November 8, 1909; John Henry, born July 19, 1868; Liddy Ann, born April 13, 1870, died March 10, 1878; Minnie, born February 11, 1872; Archibald G., born October 15, 1873, died February 17, 1904; Jennie, born January 10, 1876; and Flora Johanna, born September 1, 1878. Mr. Caughell was actively ' identified with the republican party, and while a resident of Carroll County served as school director. He was a prominent member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, in which he served as an elder for twenty years.
SAMUEL P. COWGER. One of the well remembered citizens of White County who left the impress of his life particularly on public affairs was the late Samuel P. Cowger, who died November 23, 1907. He was one of the early native sons of White County, having been born in Union Township in the Pike Creek neighborhood on February 29, 1844, from which accident of date he was able to celebrate his birthday only every four years. His family were among the pioneers and since the beginning of development in this part of Indiana the Cowgers have been noted as people of substantial industry and worth 'of character.
The parents of the late Samuel P. Cowger were Jacob and Sarah (Bolton) Cowger, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They came to Indiana about 1835 and another fact which connects them with early local history is that the names of both Jacob and Sarah Cowger appear on church records as members of the first Methodist class organized at Monticello. Jacob Cowger was one of the substantial farmers in Union Township. There were seven children in the family, only two of whom are now living.
Samuel P. Cowger received his education in the common schools of White County during the period before the war, and at the age of about eighteen started out for himself. He was a man who largely created his own opportunities in life, and from clerking in a grocery store at Monticello finally came to a position where he conducted a business of his own. However, much of his life was spent in public office, and for twenty-four years he was, first, clerk of White County, later court clerk at Monticello, and for eight years was court clerk at Delphi in Carroll County. He was actively identified with business and social life in Union Township, and was interested in all public movements in his home town and county, and in a business way was a stockholder in local banks and other enterprises.
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