USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 47
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At the time he started on his farm it was in a rather run-down condition and it owes its present high state of cultivation and improvement directly to his masterful and skilled supervision. Thomas R. Stevens raises much stock of a high quality and which it is his custom to ship, when they reach the proper state of perfection, direct to the markets in Louisville and Cincinnati.
He was born in Bethlehem township, Clark county, Indiana, on the 23d of July, 1871, and was the son of A. T. and Mary (Ray) Stevens. A. T. Stevens was also a native of Bethlehem township. Thomas Stevens, the grand- father of our subject, was born and reared in London, England. He married Mary Stevens, a native of the same country and city, and he and his wife emigrated to the United States about the year 1818, and in the course of a short time bought a farm in Bethlehem township, Clark county, Indiana, The re- mainder of his life was spent in different places in Clark county, and his death occurred in Louisville, Kentucky. His son, A. T. Stevens, married Mary Ray at Louisville, and afterwards came to Bethlehem township where he built a house on the land on which he still lives. Two children were born to A. T. Stevens; Alfred G., who died at the age of seven months, and Thomas R. Stevens, of this review.
Thomas R. Stevens was reared by a stepmother and grew to manhood on the family farm. He attended the district school and at the age of sixteen, entered Hanover College, graduating with the degree of A. B. in the classic course in the year 1893, being then in his twenty-second year. He thereupon entered the School of Pharmacy at Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1894, and graduated in 1896; he held a position in a drug store while studying in Philadelphia. In May, 1897, he retired from his position in Philadelphia and returned to his native township in Indiana. In the year 1899 he mar- ried Mattie Wilson, of Louisville. His wife, who was a daughter of James Buford Wilson, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was born on the 16th of October, 1880. Her father was for many years, after leaving Lebanon high school teacher in Louisville.
To Thomas R. Stevens and wife four children have been born. They are : Thomas R., Junior, born on the 12th of November, 1904; Dorothy E., born July 18, 1908; the two other children died in infancy.
Shortly after his marriage the subject of our notice moved to his farm which contained one hundred and eighty-five acres. He is a scientific farmer, modern and progressive in every respect, who h: concentrated and devoted all his energies to obtain the best results from his , ricultural labors. He has accomplished this to his own satisfaction and pro!
Thomas R. Stevens is an important man in the affairs of the locality. He has a large circle of friends whose confidences he has succeeded in win- ning. He is a Republican in his political sympathies though he has not been very active as a party man. He is a member of the Pythian and Red Men
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lodges, being a charter member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is a member of the New Washington Masonic Lodge, No. 167. He is a deacon of the local Presbyterian church and a religious and moral man. In March, 1907, at the organization of the State Bank at New Washington he be- came a stock holder and a member of its directorate.
JOHN A. GLASS.
John A. Glass, of Bethlehem township, Clark county, is a well educated and cultured citizen as well as a farmer of prominence in the community in which he resides. Jointly with his sister, Clara, he is the owner of five hun- dred and thirty acres of land as good as any in the township, and on which the paternal homestead stands. The Glass family were originally of North Carolina, and were for many generations prominently identified with that his- toric southern state. John A. Glass has the reputation in his native township of industriousness and temperate habits. Had he followed the teaching pro- fession to which he devoted some years of his life, it is probable that he would have made a name for himself as an educator of note. As it is he is content to lead the life of a farmer.
John A. Glass was born in Bethlehem township and was the son of John A. and Eliza (Cortner) Glass. John A. Glass, senior, was born near New Washington, Clark county, Indiana, on the IIth of January, 1827. His father, David Glass, was a settler in Clark county, having migrated to Indiana from North Carolina at an early date. Our subject's mother, Eliza (Cortner) Glass, was born August II, 1837. The Cortners were also of North Caro- lina, and were neighbors of the Glass family in that state, who afterwards also migrated to Indiana. John A. Glass, senior, and Eliza Cortner married on May 31, 1857, at New Market, in Oregon township. They came to Bethlehem township about the year 1861, where they farmed. They moved to Charles- town in 1877, as they desired to have better educational advantages for their children. Five children were born to them, two of whom are now living. Two, Edward and Alice, died in infancy ; David died at the age of twenty years, and the two survivors are the subject of our review, and his sister, Clara. John A. Glass, senior, died on May 10, 1895, while his wife died pre- viously on July 27, 1880. John A. Glass was known over Clark county in his lifetime as an excellent farmer. He was a Democrat in politics and belonged to the Christian church, of which he was an influen! !! member. Altogether. he was an admirable citizen, an affectionate father and a man with a large number of friends.
John A. Glass and his sister, Clara, passed through the Charlestown
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schools together. John A. took the Bible course and graduated at the Ken- tucky University at Lexington. He was reared upon the family farm and at- tended the district schools. He studied at the Charlestown schools and then attended the Butler University for two years, at the end of which time he had to give up on account of a breakdown in his health. He afterwards taught school for two years in Bethlehem township and attended the Lexington ( Ken- tucky) Bible College, graduating in 1897.
On April 12, 1899, Clara H. Glass married Dr. W. H. Willyard, and has one daughter, Dorcas H. Willyard. Mrs. Willyard lives with her brother, the subject of our sketch, in the old homestead on the family acres. Dr. W. H. Willyard is now in Peru, Indiana, and engaged in the practice of medicine, where he expects to move his family.
John A. Glass is a Prohibitionist in politics and adheres to the tenets of his party in everyday life and is a consistent voter on the ticket at election time. He is a member of the Christian church and is influential and active in religious affairs.
JOHN BYRN.
John Byrn, well known farmer, of Bethlehem township. Clark county, is a man now well advanced in life who has ever been a valuable asset in the community in which he has resided. An industrious farmer, he has ever worked assiduously for the family which has been his privilege to raise. He has given his children a good education, and has brought them to maturity con- scious of their duties in life and well equipped to take their part as citizens. John Byrn is a man of strong religious convictions and his activity in religious work has often been felt in the local Methodist Episcopal church of which he is a trustee. It has been his privilege, also, to fight for his country in the Civil war. In the fight at Vicksburg he was wounded. He is a Grand Army man.
Mr. Byrn was born in New Albany, Floyd county, Indiana, on January 2, 1844, and was the son of Michael and Amelia A. (Hay) Byrn. Michael Byrn was a native of Ireland who came to America when a boy and, when old enough, worked on a farm and learned the carpenter business in which he became pro- ficient at an early age. Adaron Hay, the father of Mrs. Byrn, was an English- man who came to this country and followed farming pursuits during his life. He owned a large tract of land in Floyd county, Indiana.
Michael Byrn and Amelia Hay were the parents of three children : john, of this review, Joseph II., and a child that died in infancy. Joseph H. Byrn enlisted as a soldier in the Thirteenth Cavalry in which he remained for two years. He is now dead.
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John Byrn was reared on a farm in Floyd county, Indiana, and on arriving at the proper age helped his parents. He attended school and at the age of eigh- teen he joined Company D of the Fifty-ninth Indiana Regiment on February 20, 1862. They camped at New Albany, Indiana, from where they were trans- ported to New Madrid, Missouri, where the regiment engaged the enemy for the first time. From that time forth our subject participated in several of the big fights. He was at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, and was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg. He suffered from the effects of the in- jury for about five months, at the end of which time he rejoined his regiment. He was then detailed for special duty on the staff at General McPherson's head- quarters and thus spent the remaining two years of his military life. At the close of the war he returned to Floyd county, Indiana, where he remained for a very short time coming to Clark county, Indiana, where his mother had located, and there he farmed for two years. He then married Susan M. Varble on the 22d of October, 1867. She was born in Clark county, Indiana, on the 29th of December, 1849, and was the daughter of George Varble. She spent all her life, with the exception of one year, in the county. She was educated in the district school and was left motherless at an early age.
John Byrn and his wife became the parents of five children: George D., born June 11, 1871, died November 26, 1903; Minnie, born May 22, 1875, is the wife of O. W. Simonton; Mary, born November 12, 1877, died July 30, 1901 ; she was the wife of George B. Headley and left one daughter, Edith, born November 20, 1882, is unmarried as is also Maime, born November 30, 1886. At his marriage, not being able to purchase a farm, John Byrn rented land for several years and then bought the farm owned by George Varble which consisted of one hundred and eighty-three acres, twenty acres of which has been sold. The Byrn farm lies in section No. 6. Our subject and his wife have been prosperous in their farming pursuits. In religion they are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Byrn family attend the local New Hope church. John Byrn is a Republican in politics and has for many years followed the fortunes of his chosen party.
H. C. FORWARD.
H. C. Forward, Civil war veteran and prosperous farmer, of Bethlehem township, Clark county, has been connected with the district in which he lives all through life. He has now reached the . ge of sixty-six years and is in a position to lead a life of leisure and enjoy the fruits of his labors. When the spectre of war spread itself over the land H. C. Forward was among the first in his township to volunteer for action and passed through the thick of that
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dread conflict valorously bringing credit on himself. At the close of the war he returned to his native township and resumed his work, and his prosperity has increased with his years.
He was born in Bethlehem township, Clark county, on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1842, and was the son of J. Nathan and Elizabeth (Long) Forward. His father was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, and came to Clark county in 1833, where he settled in Bethlehem township. He was a carpenter by trade and married Elizabeth Long, who was a native of Kentucky. He was the father of the following children : H. C., Francis, Ellen, Chancy R., Urshel died August, 1908: Samuel, Abigail, Walter, Laura, Jane, Alwilta and Huldah ; one child died in infancy.
H. C. Forward was reared upon the farm in Bethlehem township and when old enough helped on the farm. He had but little chance of education, and on the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry on the 18th of November, 1863. The engagement at Nashville was the largest in which he took part though his term of service extended until the close of the war. His brother, Samuel, also took part in the conflict, as a soldier. He died in the Andersonville prison.
On his discharge from the army our subject returned home, and since that time has engaged in farming operations in his native township. On April 8, 1869, his marriage took place. He took for his wife Anna E. Allen, also a native of Clark county. They have not, however, had any children. H. C. Forward is a member of the local post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he is รก prominent member. In politics he is a Republican though not a stren- uous party man. He receives a pension from the government for his war services. He owns fifty-six acres of land, which he has brought to its present state of cultivation and improvement through his own efforts.
MORDICAI B. COLE.
The family of this name settled in Maryland at a very early date, the gene- alogy extending back to the middle of the eighteenth century. We first hear of Thomas Cole, who was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, December 25, 1754, and died September 12, 1808. He married Aletha Ford, born February 15, 1768, in Maryland, and died March 16, 1848. By this union, which oc- curred in May, 1786, there were several children . Mordicai Cole, the olde-t, ond son, was born March 6, 1802, and died October 6, 1889; Thomas C'e, the third son, was born October 8, 1803, and died February 25, 1823. Chris- topher Cole married Mary Fouts, one of the twelve children of Lewis and Sa-
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rah (Dougan) Fouts, the former born April 10, 1778, and died March 28, 1864. His wife was born July 25, 1783, and died August 12, 1852. Their children were: Thomas, Isabel, Mary, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Jane, Sarah, Cath- erine, Andrew, Harriet, Thomas, Douglas and Rebecca. Their births oc- curred during the years 1801-27 and all of them have long since passed away. The marriage of Christopher Cole and Mary Fonts occurred in 1822, and they were the parents of Mordicai B. Cole, who was born after his fathe and mother had removed to Clark county. Christopher Cole was a native of Maryland, and removed with his parents to near Steubensville, Ohio, and later to Clark county, where he was married. He became a pioneer merchant at New Washington, engaging in this line of business for many years during the early history of Clark county. In 1841 he was appointed to the office of sergeant-at-arms at Washington, D. C., and he served in that ca- pacity until 1860. He then returned to Charlestown, Indiana, where his fam- ily had resided during his absence at the national capital. He lived in retire- ment after this until his death in 1889.
Mordicai B. Cole was born in New Washington, Indiana, July 7, 1825, the son of Christopher Cole. He was reared in that town and when young his parents located in Charlestown, where he received a common school educa- tion. When twenty years old he engaged in the mercantile business at Charlestown. He built up a large trade and in a few years became one of the leading merchants of Clark county, as well as one of the best known men in this locality. In later years he was associated with his sons and still later his son-in-law, G. T. Beeler, became a partner and after the death of Mr. Cole continued the business. Mr. Cole was continuously in business in Charlestown for fifty-nine years at the time of his death, July 7, 1904, probably the longest record of any man in the county in this respect. He was prominent in busi- ness circles, and his name was known to all classes throughout the county. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Charlestown in 1891, and was elected as first president and he very ably served in the same capacity until his death. He was a public-spirited man and always contributed to the up- building of the town in any way possible. He was the most successful mer- chant Charlestown ever had. He started with a small capital and became wealthy through the skillful management of his business affairs. He was a member of the Christian church and for many years an official in the same and one of its most liberal supporters. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Charlestown, during his entire mature life, and was prominent in the same. In politics he was forny rly a Whig, later a Repub- lican. He never held office or aspired to positions of public trust, preferring to devote his time exclusively to his business a: airs.
Mordicai B. Cole married Margaret E. Long, a native of Clark county, the accomplished, cultured daughter of John Long, and the representative of
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an old and influential family here. Mr. and Mrs. Cole were the parents of five children, who grew to maturity, namely : John Christopher, Edward W., Eva, James L. and Albert M. Mrs. Cole, a very estimable lady, survives her husband, making her home at the old family residence at Charlestown.
FRANK F. DEAN.
Frank F. Dean has been located on his present farm in Owen township since the year 1900, coming from Bethlehem township, where he had been located since 1884, He is widely known throughout Clark county as an expert fruit grower and an agriculturist of merit. He passed through the Civil war and emerged unscathed from the conflict.
The subject of our sketch was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, on the 25th of April, 1843; He was the son of Argus and Abigail (Stowe) Dean. Argus Dean, a man of broad culture and the writer of several books on river and harbor topics, was born in Ohio in 1810. He engaged in the quarry busi- ness and was later a large fruit grower. He was appointed at one time on the Harbor and River Commission by Governor Porter, of Indiana, and according- ly wrote upon the subject. Argus Dean and his wife were the parents of the following children: William S., Frank F., Charles E., Mary L., Hiram P. and Abbie J.
Frank F. was raised on a farm in Jefferson and Clark counties, near Beth- lehem, and at the proper age he attended school. He enlisted in Company H, Thirty-ninth Indiana Regiment, in October, 1861. This regiment was after- wards known as the Eighth Indiana Cavalry. Our subject served all through the Civil war and was mustered out in the year 1865, receiving a commission as second lieutenant. He participated in the following engagements : Middle- town, Stone River, Shiloh, Cumberland Gap, Chickamauga, Jonesboro, Waynesboro, Averysboro, Brown's Cross Road, and a number of other bat- tles of minor importance. At the close of the war he returned to Clark county and afterwards went to Missouri, where he engaged in the fruit business for five years. There he married Eliza Zumault, of Missouri. He then moved to Cincinnati and engaged in selling peaches for his father and brother during the season, and there he obtained an appointment as postal clerk in the railway mail service on the road from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Grafton, West Virginia, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which he held for eleven .ars. He re- signed in 1884 and located in Bethlehem township, and in 100 moved to Owen township, where he has engaged in the fruit raising business, raising peaches and apples. He and his wife are the parents of two children. They are : Minnie A., the wife of Charles E. Pernett, of Bethlehem township, and
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Frank, who married a daughter of J. F. Rice, of Owen township, named Lucy. Both children are well settled and prosperous.
The subject of our sketch was a prominent member of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post at Otto, now disbanded. In politics he is a Repub- lican, his earliest vote for the Presidency being cast for General Grant, and his latest for William Howard Taft. Frank F. Dean enjoys a peaceful do- mestic life, where he has all the comforts suitable to his advanced years. He was Justice of the Peace from 1886 to 1900. In 1900 he was nominated for Representative on the Republican ticket against Reuben Daily, and ran about two hundred ahead of most of the ticket. In 1892 he was a candidate for Joint Senator of Clark and Jefferson counties. In 1904 he was Republican candidate for County Commissioner. All these nominations came to him un- solicited.
JOHN CHRISTOPHER COLE.
John Christopher Cole was born at Charlestown, Indiana, October 7, 1849. He was educated in the place of his nativity. His father conducted a dry goods store at Charlestown, and in this he got his business training as a clerk. He remained under the parental roof until February, 1882, when he removed to Bloomington, Illinois, in company with his brother, Edward W. Cole. In partnership they purchased the dry goods and carpet business of J. E. Houtz & Company, which they proceeded to enlarge and extend. The Cole brothers became well known as merchants throughout that part of Illinois, and for over twenty-seven years conducted a successful business. In January, 1909, the Cole brothers sold their stock of merchandise and retired from active business, but they continued to reside in Bloomington, Illinois.
On December 9, 1874, John Christopher Cole was married to Cora E. Bottorff, who was born March 9, 1855. in Clark county, Indiana. Her parents were John T. and Margaret Bottorff, members of the old and well established families of this section. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Cole are William Gordon, Margaret Thomas, Nina and Louise.
FRANK W. CARR.
In an analysis of the character of this well known citizen of Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, who has for many years stood at the forefront of the legal profession, we find the qualities of reliability in business, and consci- entiousness in the discharge of the duties of private and public life.
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Frank W. Carr was born in Oregon township, Clark county, July 17, 1866, the son of Dr. F. M. Carr, long a prominent physician of this locality. After practicing medicine in Oregon township for fifty years, he is now living in re- tirement. Frank W. Carr is a member of a family of seven living at this writing. J. P. was a student at Hanover College and the University of Indiana. He served for five years as superintendent of Clark county schools. He is at present superintendent of schools of Vicksburg, Mississip- pi. J. W. is a telegraph operator in Kansas. M. W. is a barber at Corydon, Indiana. S. E. was a student at Hartsville University and at the school at Danville. He served as county superintendent of schools of Clark county for two terms. He is now a druggist. C. L. is a resident of Oregon town- ship, M. M. is a barber at Corydon, Frank W., our subject, attended the public schools and later attended the Danville (Indiana) Central Normal School, where he graduated from the teacher's course. He later took a partial course in the scientific department and later graduated from the law depart- ment with high honors.
Mr. Carr taught school in a very acceptable manner for several terms in a town school and began the practice of law in 1896 in Charlestown, Indiana, where he practiced with marked success for a period of two years, when he was elected Circuit Clerk of Clark county by the Democratic party and served one term from 1900 to 1904 in a manner that elicited nothing but words of commendation from everyone.
On October 11, 1904, the happy domestic life of Mr. Carr began, when he was united in marriage with. Nevada Bottorff, who was a native of Clark county, having been born in Oregon township, the representative of an in- fluential family. One child has brightened the home of the subject and wife, Marion B., who was born June 14, 1907.
Mr. Carr has made a pronounced success of his profession, his office is always a busy place and he is known as an able counselor and advisor, his name having become known throughout Southern Indiana as one that stands at the head of the legal profession.
Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian church, being one of the el- ders in the same. He served as a commissioner to the Presbyterian general assembly in 1909.
Mr. Carr is a member of the old and honored Masonic fraternity, the lodge at New Washington, Indiana. Also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed the chairs of the same and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and has represented this district at the head camp, Dubuque, Iowa. He was made permanent chairman of the first state camp at Indianapolis. Shortly after the expiration of his term of office as Circuit Clerk, Mr. Carr removed to Charlestown where he resumed the practice of law, maintaining an office by
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himself. Alive to all that interests and benefits the public or makes for the benefit of his fellowmen, Mr. Carr's efforts have been strenuous and fruitful of happy results.
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