USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 9
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CHARLES B. KIRK. Of the pioneer families which have materially con- tributed to the prosperity and advancement of Delaware county and particu- larly to Muncie, the one represented by Charles B. Kirk occupies an im- portant place. They have been influential in the development of its business interests and the name is known far and near in connection with the city's industrial activities. The family on both the paternal and maternal sides is traced to the mother country of England, from whence the maternal grand- father, Benjamin Merriwether, came to the United States and established his home in Ohio, where he followed his trade of harness making. His wife died during the voyage to this country. William N. Kirk, the father of Charles, was born in York, England, but during his boyhood days came with his father, Charles Kirk, to the United States, they making their way to Muncie in an early day, where the elder Mr. Kirk was employed as a harness maker. He taught this trade to his son William, but in 1865 the latter transferred his interests to the grocery business. About 1887 he merged his stock into a department store and two years later he moved to 221 East Main street.
Charles B. Kirk, whose name introduces this review, was born in Muncie on the 24th of November, 1865, and after completing his education in the city's public schools he learned the printing business. In 1887 he left the printing office and joined his father in business, for his trade had grown to large proportions, and after the latter's death another son, Will E. Kirk also became associated therewith, and the two brothers organized the business under the firm name of Kirk Brothers. On July 24, 1898, Will E. Kirk died, and the business was then assumed by Charles B. Kirk. With the passing years his interests have grown and expanded to such an extent that he is now the proprietor of one of the largest stores in the city, where he carries a magnificent stock of sporting goods, small hardware, cutlery, etc., also a complete line of athletic goods, and his is one of the oldest as well as the most attractive store in Delaware county.
Mr. Kirk was married in 1900, when Julia E., a daugher of one of the early pioneers of Muncie and Delaware county, Ed Wilson, became his wife, and their three sons are Ernest E., Robert W. and Edward C. Mr. Kirk's fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, Delaware Lodge, the order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. His many admirable qualities of heart and mind have gained him a large circle of friends, and he is widely and favorably known in Delaware county.
O. W. OWENS. Among those who have attained distinctive prestige in the practice of medicine in the city of Muncie and whose success has come as the result of thorough technical information and skill stands Dr. Owens, who is a man of scholarly attainments. His birth occurred in Venedocia,
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Van Wert county, Ohio, January 22, 1869. so he is numbered among thie younger representatives of the medical profession. His father, David J. Owens, was a native of Anglesey, Wales, but when only six years of age was brought by his parents to the United States, the family home being established on a farm in Ohio, where David J. Owens is still engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Mary Jenkins, a native of Ohio, and both Mr. and Mrs. Owens are of Welsh descent.
Their son, O. W. Owens, received his elementary education in the pub- lic schools near his boyhood home, while later he attended a normal school in Ohio, and for five years was a valued member of the teachers' profession. Deciding to make the practice of medicine his life work he entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, where he completed the course and graduated in 1897. During the three years following his graduation he successfully practiced his profession in his native city of Venedocia, and on the expiration of that period, in 1900. came to Muncie and opened an office, where he is now the leading representative of the Hahnemann or homeopathic school of medicine, whose methods and principles are becoming more highly appreciated and approved year after year. He has made deep and careful research into the science to which he is devoting his life, and has gained an enviable prestige as one of the able and successful practitioners of medicine in Delaware county.
In 1902 Dr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Davies, a daughter of Evan Davies, of Van Wert county, Ohio, and they have two little sons, David Wendell, born on the ioth of August, 1903, and Walter Evan, born March 20, 1907. By his membership in the Homeopathic Med- ical Society Dr. Owens keeps abreast of the many discoveries which are constantly being made in the medical science, and also has membership rela- tions with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Red Men, while his religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church.
FRANK FEELY, one of the leading members of the legal fraternity in Delaware county, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, September 22, 1862, a son of Thomas and Mary (O'Brien) Feely, both of whom were born in the Emerald Isle. They came to the United States in their childhood days and for a number of years Mr. Feely followed agricultural pursuits in Fayette county, Indiana. In 1871 they came to Delaware county, later removing to Henry county, this state, but shortly afterward came again to this county, where Mr. Feely now resides.
Frank Feely accompanied his parents on their various removals and received his education in the schools of Fayette, Delaware and Henry coun- ties, and after the completion of his education followed farming and agri- cultural pursuits. While at school he read law, and was admitted to the Delaware county bar in 1895. Immediately opening an office in Muncie, he has ever since enjoyed a substantial and growing practice, continuing alone
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in his profession until two years ago, when he formed a partnership with H. S. Redkey. They form one of the leading law firms of the city and their extensive practice connects them with much of the important litigation heard in the courts of Delaware county. Mr. Feely is prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party, having been its nominee for the position of prosecut- ing attorney and has served as chairman of its county committee. His fraternal relations are with Delaware Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Independent Order of Red Men, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.
G. W. BUCKLIN, M. D. For many years Dr. Bucklin has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Muncie. Being of broad and liberal mind and having enjoyed the advantages of a superior education, he has always stood forth as the champion of progress, and his influence has been exerted at all times on the side of right and truth. His birth occurred in Princeton, Indiana, May 14, 1850, a son of Horace M. and Elmira ( Maxam) Bucklin, the former a native of Rhode Island and the latter of New York, and both members of prominent old eastern families. The father's death occurred in 1895, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years, but the mother survived until 1906, passing away at the age of eighty-nine years. Of their children two sons and two daughters are living." On both the paternal and maternal sides the family were early pioneers of Indiana, the father having removed hither in 1832 and located in Princeton, while the mother came with her parents when only a babe of two years. Her father was Sylvester Maxam.
Dr. G. W. Bucklin, after completing his education in the Princeton high school, taught school for four years, and in 1876, entered upon the study of the profession which he had determined to make his life work, his preceptor being Dr. Munford, of Princeton. In 1879 he graduated from the Bellevue Medical College of New York, and immediately entered upon the practice of Medicine in New Harmony, Indiana, there remaining until 1892. In the meantime, in 1890, he pursued a course of study in the Polyclinic of New York, and in 1906 entered upon a course in the Chicago Polyclinic. The Doctor yet maintains many pleasant reminiscences of his early practice in Posey county, when he daily rode forty-five miles on horseback, and at that time the county was practically without roads. His practice extended across the river into Illinois, and he was often obliged to cross the Wabash at very late hours in a skiff, and at times when the river had been greatly swollen. Who can fully comprehend what it means, and how many of the present generation realize what it meant to be a pioneer physician, riding here and there, far and near, in all kinds of weather, without regard to self, his sole thought being of others. In 1892 Dr. Bucklin came to Muncie, where he has since been a permanent and ever ready family physician. He holds membership relations with the County, State and American Medical Associa- tions, is an ex-president of the County Medical Society and for three years has been a county delegate to the State Medical Society.
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The marriage of Dr. Bncklin was celebrated in 1879, when Emma Wright, a native daughter of Warwick county, Indiana, became his wife. The doctor is a worthy member of the Masonic order, connected with Dela- ware Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter No. 30, and is also a member of Muncie Commandery No. 18, K. T. He is a valued member of the Methodist church, with which he has been associated in the capacity of trustee for twelve years. The record of a noble life is a man's best monument, and no words of eulogy can add luster to the name of Dr. G. W. Bucklin.
DAVID T. HAINES, JR. No citizen of Muncie enjoys the confidence and high esteem of his associates and neighbors in a greater degree than does D. T. Haines, who is a native son of the county, born on the 12th of February, 1865. His paternal great-grandfather, John Haines, took up his abode in Ohio about 1770, locating first at Waynesville, but soon afterward moved to Greene county. His son, Stacy Haines, the grandfather of David, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1795, and married Judith Terrell, by whom he had twelve children, the eldest being David T., Sr. The family were birthright members of the Society of Friends.
David T. Haines, Sr., was born in Ohio on the Ist of October, 1818, and there learned the trade of a miller. It was in the early year of 1848 that he came to Muncie, where he was engaged in a wholesale and retail grocery business until 1853. He was a public-spirited and enterprising citizen and he did much toward developing central Indiana and Delaware county. To him belongs the honor of securing the Fort Wayne & Southern railroad through this locality, and he served as secretary of the company from 1853 until 1855, when it failed, and he later helped organize the company that built the Fort Wayne, Chicago & Louisville railroad, serving first as its secretary and treasurer and later as its vice president. He also helped to organize and build what is now the Fort Wayne & Cincinnati railroad, becoming the secretary and director of the company. Mr. Haines also embarked largely in the grain business during the early '6os, also speculated considerably in real estate in Kansas, and in 1875 became identified with the Muncie Machine Works, of which he became the general manager. To him came the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the great material industries of this section of the state, and his was truly a successful life, but the busy and useful career was ended in death in 1899, when he had reached the eighty-first milestone on the journey of life. In his early manhood he had married Deborah Sever, of Warren county, Ohio, who died in 1852, and he afterward wedded Elizabeth Dragoo, of West Virginia.
David T. Haines, Jr., received his educational training in the Muncie schools, and after some experience in the mercantile business he went to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1885, and was thus engaged for nine years. In 1893 he returned to his native city of Muncie, where he has since achieved access in the commission business. In 1896 he was united in marriage to
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Martha Ritchey of Liberty, Missouri. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias.
OLIVER CARMICHAEL. One of the prominent old families of Delaware county is that of the Carmichaels, where they have been represented ever since the opening decades of its history. They have ever borne their part in the upbuilding and development of this region, and have invariably been exponents of progress and liberal ideas upon all subjects. One of its promi- nent representatives is Oliver Carmichael, whose name is also deeply en- graved on the pages of its history, for through many years he has been a most important factor in its varied interests. His birth occurred in Monroe township, Delaware county, January 20, 1841, his parents being Patrick and Louisa (Gibson) Carmichael, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. Andrew Carmichael, the grandfather, was a native of Ireland, and after coming to the United States settled in Baltimore, Maryland, from whence he removed to the Carolinas and subsequently to Kentucky, where occurred the birth of his son Patrick. In the early year of 1827 Patrick Carmichael came to Delaware county, Indiana, being preceded two years by the Gibson family, and both settled in Monroe township. He became one of its most prominent residents and was the recipient of many public honors, having served as school trustee, also as township trustee and for years was a justice of the peace.
When a lad of twenty years Oliver Carmichael offered his service to his country's cause during the Civil war, enlisting in July, 1861, in Company E, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers, in which he served for three years. The Nineteenth was one of the regiments of the famous Iron Brigade, and as a member of the Army of the Potomac he took part in many of the noted engagements of the war, including those of Gainsville, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg. In the last engagement he received a gunshot wound and was mus- tered out of service on the 29th of July, 1864.
With a military career which will ever redound to his credit as a loyal and devoted son of the republic Mr. Carmichael returned to his father's farm, where he remained until 1875, moving thence to Muncie, and during the following fifteen years was an invalid owing to the result of his wound and the severities of his military life. In 1900 he was elected to represent his county in the state legislature, and so well did he discharge the duties which devolved upon him in that important office that he received a re-elec- tion, and is now serving his fourth term. Among other bills he was the author and had passed the county hospital bill, and has at all times been true to his duty and the right. In April, 1907, he was appointed a member of the board of public works for the ensuing term, expiring January 1, 1910.
In October, 1864 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Carmichael and Martha Losh, she being a native of Delaware county and a daughter of John Losh, of Pennsylvania. Their children are: Otto, a resident of Muncie ;
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Milton, who makes his home in Detroit ; Wilson, of Illinois; Jesse, of Wash- ington, D. C. : and Mary, now Mrs. Lambertson and a resident of Indianap- olis. Mr. Carmichael maintains his relations with his army comrades by his membership in Williams Post, G. A. R., of which he served as its commander in 1906. He is a member of the Christian church, in which he has officiated as a minister for many years. He is thoroughly earnest and sincere in all his thoughts, words and deeds, and his noble, manly life has proved an in- spiration to many of his old friends and associates.
FREDERICK F. MCCLELLAN. In reviewing the prominent representatives of the Delaware county bar the name of Frederick F. Mcclellan is found among its younger members. His birth occurred near the city of Muncie on the 12th of August, 1875. His father, Frederick H. McClellan, a native of Greene county, Ohio, took up his abode within the borders of Delaware county in the early days of the '40s, settling on a farm a few miles from Muncie, where his death occurred on the 28th of July, 1875. about two weeks previous to the birth of his son Frederick. After his arrival in this county he married one of its native daughters, Mary Jewett, whose birth occurred in 1848. Her father, Jeremiah Jewett, was one of the first to cast his lot with Delaware county, arriving within its borders as early as 1838. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McClellan, one son and two daughters, all of whom are yet living.
Frederick F. McClellan received his literary education in the Muncie high school and the Georgetown University of Washington, D. C., and after the completion of this excellent training entered upon the study of law with Gregory, Silverburg & Lotz, and in the meantime was engaged in teaching school, serving as principal of the Jackson and Garfield schools. In 1904 he graduated from the law department of the Georgetown University, and immediately thereafter entered upon the practice of his profession in Muncie, in association with D. D. Hensel, the firm style being Mcclellan & Hensel. In the practice of his chosen profession Mr. McClellan is meeting with the success he so justly deserves, for he is a man of exceptional attainments and mental culture and one well calculated to assist in moulding the public thought and action of his community. He was appointed a member of the board of public works, entering upon the duties of that office in September, 1906, and in April, 1907, was appointed the city attorney of Muncie.
In his fraternal relations Mr. McClellan is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also associated with the High Street Metho- dist Episcopal church, being one of its valued members, and during the past two and a half years he has served as superintendent of its Sunday-school.
GEORGE N. MCLAUGHLIN, who is well known to the citizens of Delaware county as one of its native sons, born on the 23d of April, 1845, is now practically retired from the active cares of life. In former years he occupied a distinctive position in the educational and political circles of his com-
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munity, always faithful to his conceptions of the duties of citizenship and ever striving to advance the interests of his fellow men. His parents, John and Rachel ( Beeler) MeLaughlin, were both born in Ohio, and the former was of Irish and German descent. The grandfather, James McLaughlin, came to the United States from his native land of Ireland when a young man and located in the southern part of Ohio. Mr. John Mclaughlin, who followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation, came to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1834. locating in Mount Pleasant township, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of government land and there established a home for his family. He devoted the remainder of his life to the cultivation and improvement of his farm, and was an upright, popular and highly respected citizen. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and was a Methodist in his religious belief. In his family were five sons and three daughters, and all of the sons, William H., Orlando L., George N., James S. and Thomas J., served their country as soldiers during the Civil war, while one, James S., was called upon to lay down his life on its altar. He was captured while on picket duty in Georgia, and was shot to death by an enemy.
George N. MeLaughlin farmed and attended school during his boyhood days, but during the Civil war he laid aside all personal considerations and enlisted for service in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days. At the expiration of that period he re-enlisted in Company C. One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry, with which he continued until his honorable discharge on the 11th of July, 1865, with the rank of corporal. He took part in many of the hard fought engage- ments of the war, including the battles of Murfreesboro, Town Creek, Goldsboro, Rolla and Greensborough, North Carolina, having been located at the latter place at the time of Lee's surrender. After the war he returned home and resumed his studies, while later he engaged in teaching school, continuing in that occupation for twenty-two years. With the exception of one year, all of that time was spent in Delaware county. His broad intelli- gence and scholarly attainments made him an able educator, and his name is inseparably interwoven with the educational interests of Delaware county. In 1888 he was elected the trustee of Center township, while in 1890 he was returned to that office by a very large majority. He takes a broad minded interest in the political situation of the country, and gives his support to the men and measures of the Republican party. In 1874 he practically laid aside the active cares of life and came to Muncie, where he is interested in real estate.
In 1870 Mr. McLaughlin was married to Miss Orintha Kilgore, whose death occurred in 1904, and he afterward wedded Minnie M. Puntenney. Mr. MeLaughlin has relations with the Masonic order. being a member of its chapter, commandery and the Scottish Rite, he having attained the Thirty-second degree in Masonry. He is also a member of the order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Grand Army of the
Ulysses S. Spland , M.D.
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Republic, and is a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist church. He was an able educator, an efficient officer and is a representative and honored citizen.
ULYSSES G. POLAND, M. D. For eight years the official lists show that the office of coroner was filled by Dr. U. G. Poland. In addition to this unusual length of service for the county he has gained prominence in the profession as a regular practitioner of medicine, and has a successful practice in Muncie. Dr. Poland is a native son of Delaware county, born June 2, 1865, in the little community known as Sharon, in Delaware town- ship, on the banks of the Mississinewa. Nicholas Poland, his father, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1833, was reared in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Delaware county in 1854, where for many years he followed his trade-that of a carpenter. In 1876 he moved with his family on a farm in Hamilton township, where he lived until his death, in 1902. He led a busy, practical life, and was much esteemed by all who knew him. . In early manhood he married Martha J. Dickover, a native of Indiana, who died in 1875.
During his youth the subject of this sketch worked on the farm and attended the neighborhood district schools, and later was a student for two years at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso and one year at Delaware, Ohio. The career of Dr. Poland includes seven years' experience in the teaching profession, and it was during this time that he decided to enter the medical profession. Dr. A. P. Murray of Albany was his first preceptor in medicine, later continuing with Dr. G. R. Green of Muncie, and in 1892 he entered the Medical College of Indiana, from which he graduated in 1895. Having begun practice at once in Muncie, the subse- quent twelve years have been marked by increased success as a physician. Dr. Poland is noted for the energy with which he pursues his vocation, for his enthusiastic research in professional subjects, and as a public-spirited citizen. He is a member of the Delaware County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Association and also of the American Medical Asso- ciation. For eleven years he served as secretary and treasurer of the Delaware County Medical Society, during which time, largely through his influence, the society increased in interest and more than doubled in membership.
Outside of his profession Dr. Poland is interested in various activities and organizations. He is a member of Silver Shield Lodge No. 403, K. of P., at Muncie, and is a past chancellor of the order. . In the First Presbyterian church he is an elder, and he and his wife are well known socially. He married, in 1896, Miss Grace E. McClellan, a daughter of Frederick and Mary F. McClellan, an old and well known family of the city and county. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Poland was a teacher in the public schools of Muncie. Her mother. who is still living, was one of the pioneer residents of the county.
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M. B. BAIRD, a representative of one of Delaware county's most promi- nent families, and also one of its leading young lawyers and business men, is a native son of the Hoosier state, born in Jay county, Indiana, January 3, 1879. The family home was founded in that county by his grandfather, John Baird, whose birth occurred in Warren county, Ohio, but in an early day he took up his abode within the borders of Jay county and became one of its most prominent citizens. His son and the father of our subject, Dr. J. V. Baird, was born in that county, and in 1881 be removed with his family to Delaware county, establishing his home at Albany, where he yet resides. He is one of the leading physicians of the county, as well as one of its foremost citizens, and the family is thus prominently represented in two of the leading professions, the medical and the legal. In his early manhood Dr. Baird wedded Amelia Meeks, a native daughter of Ohio.
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