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 53
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Only secondary to Mr. Cowger's public activities came his great love Vol. II-31
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for music, and the piano, cornet and violin added much to his enjoyment of life. He was a leading spirit in band and orchestra music of his home town, and like his success in business his attainments in that art were also largely of his own making. In 1896 he moved his family to Green- castle, Indiana, in order that he might give his daughter a musical and college education in DePauw University. While there, though about fifty years of age, he became a violin student in the school of music of the university, and continued his studies for a period of two years. In 1900 he returned with his family to Monticello, and lived a somewhat retired life, devoting most of his time to dealing in Monticello real estate. Politically he was a democrat. He was one of the early members of the Knights of Pythias order in White County.
March 19, 1873, Mr. Cowger married Alice Julia Lear. The Lears came from Ohio to White County about 1839, and her parents, John H. and Louisa (Van Trump) Lear, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, were married in White County. They were among the early farmers and stock raisers of this county, being one of the first five families to settle in Princeton Township. John H. Lear moved to Monti- cello in 1867, and for a number of years kept the old Lear Hotel at the county seat. Both of Mrs. Cowger's parents died at Monticello, and of their four children three are living. Mr. and Mrs. Cowger had two chil- dren: Norma died in 1876 and Raeburn is the wife of Frederick C. Obenchain of Monticello.
HENRY SHAFER. This venerable resident of Union Township, now in the eighty-fifth year of his life, came to White County when it was a wilderness. He recalls the fact that in coming to the county he passed down the Wabash River, and at Peru people told him that there was not enough land out of water in White County to build a house upon. Never- theless he stuck to his determination, and the prosperity which has re- warded his years has been sufficient compensation for the early trials and labors he endured.
Henry Shafer was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 1, 1831, a son of John and Elizabeth Shafer. He was the second in a family of nine children, five of whom are still living, one of them being Andrew Shafer of Idaville. From Wayne County the family removed to Dela- ware County, and thence to this county. Coming here in 1856, the father bought land at Idaville, and Henry was associated with his father in its management for several years.
Mr. Shafer was married in Delaware County to Elizabeth Johnson- baugh, daughter of John Johnsonbaugh. To this union were born five children. Mrs. Shafer died and he afterwards married Mrs. Benjamin
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Fisher, whose maiden name was Lydia Barnard, daughter of Jonathan Barnard. By the second marriage there were two children: Ella, who married William Marburger; and Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years.
Mr. Shafer has occupied his present farm for a great many years. He was a miller by trade, and took up the work of that trade in 1851. He is now the owner of a good farm of 120 acres, and its improvements repre- sent his individual efforts. He is a member of the Brethren Church, and in presidential elections casts his vote as a democrat, but otherwise is independent.
WILLIAM WOODS. While the Indians were still roaming through the woods and pitching their camps along the banks of the Tippecanoe and Wabash, and while the white population north and west of those rivers was still limited to a few cabins that marked the extreme outposts of the western frontier, the Woods family was introduced into the south- eastern part of what is now White County. It is one of the oldest families. that have remained in continuous possession of one locality and the name has always been identified with those solid virtues which are the best elements of American citizenship.
The pioneer was William Woods, who was born in the State of Ver- mont in 1784, and after living in Logan County, Ohio, moved out to Northwestern Indiana in 1830. He and his son, James K., entered 200. acres of what is now section 24, range 4, Prairie Township, White County. Of that 200 acres 120 acres are still in the family name, being owned by Mr. William Woods, grandson of the original pioneer. Grandfather- Woods married Patsy Kelley, who was a native of Ohio and of Irish descent. William Woods died in 1839 at the age of fifty-five and was. buried in the Barr Cemetery. He was a whig in politics.
Alfred Woods, who was the third among the children of William and Patsy Woods, was born in Ohio, September 18, 1818, and was still a young boy when the family came to White County. He died in February, 1868. and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Brookston, having for many years been identified with that fraternity. His active career was spent in farming pursuits, and he was known as a leader in community affairs. He was one of the trustees who built the old Brookston Acad- emy. As a republican he was elected and served one term as state senator in the '60s. In church matters he was a Universalist, and one of the leading representatives of that faith in Southeastern White County. His material success is indicated by the fact that at the time of his death he owned 600 acres of valuable land. In all his relations he was straightforward, stood in unequivocal esteem, and well merited every
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honor and mark of respect paid him. Alfred Woods married Jane Maria McClain, a daughter of Alexander McClain, who was a pioneer in Tippecanoe County. The names of their seven children were: Alice, William, Albert A., Altheus, James K., Jr., Jennie and Archibald. The only ones still living are William and Albert, the latter a resident of Cowley County, Kansas.
William Woods, who represents the third generation in White County, was born May 13, 1850, on section 34, range 4 in Prairie Town- ship, and that one locality has always been his home. He has desired no other calling than that of a farmer, and has made that vocation the basis of a considerable success. His estate comprises 290 acres, situated three miles east of Brookston, and in the course of his active career he has not only provided a good home and advantages for his growing family of children but now has ample provision for his own declining years. At the same time he has been public spirited in his attitude toward community affairs, but has never interested himself in party politics, though he is a republican voter. He is a member of the Uni- versalist Church.
On November 13, 1889, he married Miss Isola May Hendrickson, a daughter of Erick and Mary J. Hendrickson of White County. Of the eight children born to their union one died in infancy and all the others, with one exception are living at home. Their names are: Alfred H .; Walter A., who lives at Monroe, Michigan, and by his marriage to Adriah M. Hague has one child named Albert; James K .; Mary Jane; Lloyd D .; Earl D .; and Blanche R.
CORNELIUS M. HORNER. As a merchant and banker Cornelius M. Horner has been identified with practically every phase of development and progress in Monon during the past half century, having located in that town soon after the close of the war in which he fought on the Union side.
Mr. Horner was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, January 3, 1842, and is the only one living and the youngest of ten children born to Elias and Elizabeth D. (Smith) Horner. Both parents were born near Leeds, England, were married in the old country and came to the United States after their first child was born. After settling in Ohio the father taught school, bought stock and rafted them down the Ohio river to various markets. After coming to Indiana in 1844 he engaged in mer- chandising at New Durham in LaPorte County. In early manhood he became identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church as a minister, at a time when the preachers of that state followed the Peter Cartwright method of traveling from place to place. His death occurred at New Durham during the '50s and his widow survived many years.
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M. J Holtman
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Cornelius M. Horner lived in LaPorte County, Indiana, from infancy until about sixteen or seventeen years of age and there received most of his education in the public schools. Several years following were spent with a brother on a farm near Medaryville in Pulaski County. While there, at the age of nineteen, he was married to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Brewer. The four children of that union were: Dorothy ; Urban E .; William C., now in the banking business at Monon; and Emma.
Before the war Mr. Horner had also had some experience as a small farmer, and his crops were raised from the virgin soil through which he had directed the first plow. This was the manner of his life until the beginning of the war, when he endeavored to enlist at the first call for troops. The quota was full, however, but he subsequently enlisted in Company A of the 138th Indiana Infantry, and was with that command in one of the early campaigns of the Mississippi Valley, including the battle of Stone River. With the expiration of his first year of enlist- ment he re-enlisted in the same company, which became Company A of the 151st Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He remained with that regiment during all its service until the close of the war, when he received an honorable discharge.
In December, 1865, Mr. Horner located at Monon, and engaged in merchandising. For thirty years he was a prosperous merchant, and in 1892 established a bank in his store. His store was sold about 1894, and since then he has confined his attention to banking.
For his second wife Mr. Horner married Miss Lucy J. Kerr. Their five living children are: J. Francis; Mary E .; Florence; Alta K., who married Edward Smith; and Herbert H., who was graduated from the State University of Indiana.
Mr. Horner is a republican but has never been an aspirant for polit- ical office. IIe began life's battle on his own responsibility, and such success as he has attained has been entirely through his own efforts.
MORRIS JACOB HOLTZMAN. A distinct loss to the citizenship and pro- gressive business spirit of White County was the death of the late Morris Jacob Holtzman, which occurred at Brookston in Prairie Township March 24, 1915. Most of the years of his life were spent in Prairie Township and there are many reasons why his name should be held in respect and honor in that community. Over the county at large his name became especially familiar through his service as county auditor some years ago. He had a large personal following of friends and it would be difficult to enumerate and classify all the usefulness and valuable influences that came from his character, though his death came when only a little beyond his prime.
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Born at Rehrersburg, Berks County, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1853, he was sixty-two years of age at the time of his death. His parents were Jonathan and Lucetta (Aulenbach) Holtzman. The family was founded in America by three brothers who came out of Saxony, Germany. In 1870, when the late Mr. Holtzman was seventeen years of age, his par- ents came to Brookston from Logansport, Indiana. Jonathan Holtzman was a stock dealer and butcher and devoted most of his active years to those pursuits. His death occurred in 1880, while the mother passed away in January, 1900. Both are now at rest in the Brookston Cemetery.
Morris J. Holtzman acquired his education in the public schools while living in Pennsylvania and Indiana. For two years he was a student in the old Wabash College at Crawfordsville, and was really a well educated man. For a number of years he taught school in Prairie Township and at Brookston. The death of his father threw upon him active responsibilities and the care of the family, and he acquitted him- self of those duties with characteristic energy and ability. For a num- ber of years he was a general provision dealer. After the close of his work as county auditor he became a farmer.
A democrat in politics, but regardless of party popular among all classes of citizens, he served the people of his home township as trustee for two terms, and in 1892 was elected county auditor. During the two terms in that office his home was in Monticello. He was always diligent, courteous, methodical, and efficient, and those characteristics impressed themselves upon his work as a county official. Mr. Holtzman was an able musician, was leader of the Brookston band for twenty years and cornet soloist in the Monticello band during his residence in that city. Mr. Holtzman was a member of the Masonic Order in the lodge at Brookston and in the Royal Arch Chapter at Monticello. His funeral was conducted by members of the Masonic fraternities of White County. In his youth he united with the Lutheran Church in Rehrersburg, Penn- sylvania, and in 1903 he became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Brookston. At the time of his death he was one of the trustees of this church.
On September 25, 1889, Mr. Holtzman married Miss Emma Wigmore, daughter of James Stuart and Martha (Rothrock) Wigmore. Into their home came by birth six children, but the only two now living are Morris R., born August 28, 1890, and Harris, born October 30, 1897 .. Mrs. Holtzman and her sons now own a fine homestead of 180 acres in Prairie Township. They reside in a beautiful modern residence on East Third Street in Brookston.
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JOHN J. NAGLE. For thirty years or more a factor in the community at Brookston as a farmer and banker, John J. Nagle is a native of Indiana and has lived in White County since his marriage.
John J. Nagle was born on a farm in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, January 22, 1864, a son of William and Samantha (Holloway) Nagle. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of the Green Hill community of Indiana. His father was born about 1831, was a farmer, and died December 9, 1912. He came to Indiana in the early days, and spent most of his life in Tippecanoe County. He was an active Methodist, a trustee in the church, and superintendent of the Sunday School, and was a fine singer. He was likewise a superior business man and accumulated a large amount of property. His distinguishing char- acteristic was his sterling honesty. In politics he was a republican.
John J. Nagle was the fourth in a family of eight children, four of whom are still living. He was reared near Otterbein, just across the Tippecanoe County line in Benton County, and attended country dis- trict schools and also the schools in Otterbein. In 1881 he entered DePauw University at Greencastle and was graduated Bachelor of Science in 1885. On November 24, 1886, he married Luella Jennie Beeker, daughter of Daniel Beeker of Battle Ground, Indiana.
After his marriage Mr. Nagle began farming about four miles south- east of Brookston, and agriculture has been his steady pursuit ever since. At the reorganization of the Bank of Brookston he moved into town and became a director and vice president, and now for a number of years has directed the institution as its president. For about ten years he has also been a director of the Brookston Building and Loan Association. Mr. Nagle is a republican, in Masonry has attained thirty-two degrees in the Scottish Rite, and is a member of Murat Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis. He also belongs to the Phi Delta Theta college fraternity. Mr. and Mrs. Nagle have two children: Ida Lois and John Clifford. Mrs. Nagle is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
CHARLES BOEYE. One of the well improved estates of White County is occupied by Charles Boeye, a hundred acre farm in Prairie Township, where he is successfully engaged in the business which has been his life- long pursuit, that of diversified agriculture.
As his name may indicate, Charles Boeye is of French ancestry, and was born in that country May 11, 1847, a son of Joseph and Augustine (Sordley) Boeye. His father died in France and in 1849 the widowed mother brought her little family to the United States .. The voyage by sailing vessel required many weeks. She located near Buffalo, New
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York, and soon afterwards married John Vincent. She died in Indiana more than forty years ago and is buried in Allen County.
It was during the winter of 1855-56 that Charles Boeve first became acquainted with White County, being then a boy of about eight years. He grew up and was supplied with some of the advantages of the public schools of that time. In the year 1866 he located on the farm where he has resided now for almost half a century. He has been thrifty and hard working and has managed his affairs so that for a number of years he has been able to look into the future without dread. A number of years ago he did a considerable business in the raising of Shorthorn cattle, but now confines his attention to the simple branches of agri- culture.
In politics he is a republican and has served as township supervisor. Mr. Boeye married Martha Alice Cooley, daughter of Calhoun and Eliza Cooley. Calhoun Cooley came to White County from Montgomery County in 1849, being an early settler and pioneer in Prairie Township. Mrs. Boeye is the only survivor of the family of five children. To their union was born one daughter, Grace, who is now the wife of John Draper and they live in Chicago. Mr. Boeye and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Brookston, which is also his postoffice address.
SILAS R. COWGER, M. D. After forty-seven years of continuous prac- tice at Monticello, Dr. Silas R. Cowger is one of the best known physi- cians of White County. He is a native son of the county, having been born here March 6, 1847, and is a son of Silas and Elizabeth Susan (Bott) Cowger.
Doctor Cowger's parents were natives of Virginia, who migrated to White County in 1832, and here spent the remainder of their lives, the father being a carpenter and farmer and the owner of land at Monon. He died in 1862, while the mother survived him for many years, and both are buried at Monon Chapel Graveyard. Mr. Cowger took a general interest in public affairs, although never an office-seeker, and he and the mother were faithful members of the Methodist Church. Of their eight children, five still survive.
Silas R. Cowger received his early education in the public schools of White County, and early decided upon a career in medicine. After thorough preparation he engaged in practice and continued therein for five years, when he felt the need of further training and accordingly entered the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was duly graduated therefrom in 1878, and at once returned to Monticello, where he has since built up a large and representative practice. He is a repub-
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lican in his political views, but has never held public office save that of member of the board of health.
Doctor Cowger was married in 1879 to Miss Maria Ruland, and to this union there has been born one son: Clarence R. Mrs. Cowger is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
HENRY P. BENNETT. Conspicuous among the enterprising, thrifty, and progressive men who, a generation or more ago, were leaders in the business circles of White County, was Henry P. Bennett, a man of recognized ability and worth. A native of Virginia, he was born, March 15, 1815, in Barbour County, and was there bred and educated.
A youth of fine physique and broad mental capacity, Mr. Bennett began the battle of life on his own account as soon as he attained his majority, having just previous to that time taken unto himself a wife, his marriage with Phoebe Hudkins having been recorded in 1835. In 1854, being strongly impelled by the restive American spirit that led so many to seek new locations in the wild lands of this section of the country, he came with his family to Indiana, following the emigrant's trail to Fulton County, where he bought land, and for several years continued his agricultural work.
Coming to White County in 1869, Mr. Bennett embarked in mer- cantile pursuits, opening in Monticello a grocery store, which he operated successfully for many years, having built up a large and highly remun- erative patronage in this part of the county, where he was well and widely known. Mr. Bennett was elected justice of the peace, and held the office until his death, in 1889. He was an able business man, and through judicious investments accumulated considerable wealth, his real estate including valuable farming property in the O'Connor Addition to Monticello. Politically he upheld the principles of the democratic party, and religiously he was a life-long Methodist, and one of the pillars of the old church in the north end of town.
The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Bennett, as previously stated, was Phoebe Hudkins. To them ten children were born, namely: Frank- lin, deceased, fought in the Union army during the Civil war; Roanna M., deceased, married Michael Hogan; James R., deceased, served throughout the entire period of the Civil war as a soldier; Edwin L., deceased ; Miranda J., widow of Richard H. Singer; Mary F., deceased, was the wife of Benjamin F. Ross ; Johnson L., now a resident of Illinois ; Prudence, widow of John A. Rothrock, of Indianapolis; Sarah Etta, died in infancy; and Robert P., living in Arkansas. Mrs. Bennett sur- vived her husband for many years.
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WILLIAM TURNIPSEED. One of the men who lived lives of broad use- fulness and service in White County was the late William Turnipseed, who died April 10, 1908. He was then in the prime of his years, having been born June 19, 1849, in Illinois. His parents were David and Sarah (Turnipseed) Turnipseed, the family being of German and Dutch de- scent. They located in White County many years before the war, and the name has been almost continuously identified with Liberty Township since that time. David Turnipseed and wife are now at rest in the Hughes Cemetery. Of their seven children three are still living, James, David and Martha.
The late William Turnipseed was educated in White County, and when still a boy began life for himself. He was a farmer and stock raiser, took a wholesome interest in public affairs, and his enterprise was represented by the accumulation of a good farm of sixty acres, upon which he had labored industriously until the close of his life. He was a democrat in politics and served as a road supervisor. He had no affiliations with church or lodges.
On December 23, 1876, Mr. Turnipseed married Miss Annie E. Har- vey, daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Ward) Harvey. To their union were born eight children : Rosa ; Joseph ; David; Oral, who died August 31, 1885; Fred J., who died April 30, 1889; Lacie; Ola; and Minnie.
Mrs. Turnipseed was born October 8, 1857, in Prairie Township of White County, and was one of six children, four of whom are still living. Joseph Harvey, one of her brothers, was born January 17, 1860, and died October 18, 1873.
CURTIS D. MEEKER. A business man and citizen whose activities con- tinued through more than thirty years have given him a prominent place in White County, Curtis D. Meeker is a man who has believed in and practiced the gospel of self-help, has never asked for any opportunity except that of hard work, and has been a diligent, public spirited and thoroughly progressive member of the community.
Curtis D. Meeker was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 31, 1857, a son of Charles A. and Sarah (Curtis) Meeker. Both parents were born in Ohio and are now deceased, the family came to Indiana in 1862 and resided in Winamac. Curtis D. Meeker removed to Monticello in 1871 with his mother and younger brothers. Of the seven children four lived to maturity, and the survivors are Curtis D. and Benjamin D., the latter a citizen of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Curtis D. Meeker finished his schooling after coming to White County. For eleven years he was employed in Doctor Spencer's drug store at Mon- ticello, and in 1888 engaged in the lumber and coal business. That has
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been his line of enterprise for the past quarter of a century, though the years from 1895 to 1900 were largely spent in Indianapolis. Mr. Meeker is an all around lumberman and knows a tree from the stump to the finished product. He was president of the Retail Lumber Dealers As- sociation of Indiana in 1913, and through the recommendation of this body was appointed by Governor Ralston a member of the Indiana State Board of Forestry. Mr. Meeker now has a large business incor- porated as a stock company.
On May 3, 1882, Curtis D. Meeker married Gertrude Spencer, whose father, Dr. Wm. Spencer, was one of the prominent old residents of Monticello. Of their five children, three are still living: Mrs. Mabel Beardsley of Michigan ; Mrs. Harriet Turner of Indianapolis ; and Fred William, who is attending high school in Monticello.
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