USA > Indiana > Clark County > Baird's history of Clark County, Indiana > Part 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Omer J. Miller remained at home during his youth assisting his father.
907
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
When he reached manhood he began work at the Jeffersonville Car Works and later took a business course, after which he engaged in the grocery business in Jeffersonville, beginning in 1890, and he continued in that line successfully until 1906, when he received the appointment as Deputy Revente Collector (Internal) for the United States, for the port of Indianapolis. He then closed out his business and moved to Indianapolis, for the purpose of assuming charge of his newly assigned duties. He has charge of fifty-nine men acting in different capacities, store keepers, gaugers, etc. He also has charge of the bonded spirits department, and full charge of the various ยท departments of the government at the Indianapolis branch of the revenue department, and he is handling the same with accuracy and dispatch, showing that he is a man of apt business acumnen.
From boyhood he has always taken a great deal of interest in politics, being a loyal Republican, and while he was at Jeffersonville he was active in the ranks, and he keeps well posted on curent events of state and national import, but he has never aspired to elective office. For many years he was prominently connected with the business interests of Jeffersonville and vicinity, being favorably known throughout Clark county.
Omer L. Miller was married on October 3. 1897, to Clara E. Tatspaugh, who was born in New Albany, Indiana, in 1875, a lady of intelligence and culture, the daughter of John and Julia Tatspaugh, who still live in New Albany. Mr. Tatspaugh is a railroad engineer, having been prominent in railroad circles for many years. He is a member of the Christian church. He is the father of two children, Cora, now Mrs. Beatte; and Clara, wife of Omer L. Miller, who is the father of one winsome daughter, born August 5, 1899. Her name is Marjorie.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Presbyterian church. They moved their membership from Jeffersonville to Indianapolis when they' moved to the latter city.
HARRY C. SHARP, M. D.
This distinguished physician, one of the most eminent socialogists of the age and a reformer of high degree, is a native of Clark county, whose fame he has done so much to extend. His birth occurred in Charlestown, Indiana, December, 1869, his parents being James K., and Margaret J., (Ferguson ) Sharp, the latter a sister of the well known Judge C. P. Ferguson. After graduating from the high school in 1888, he entered the medical department of the University of Louisville and there obtained his degree in 1893, locating at Henryville, this county, and began active practice of his
908
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
profession. In 1895 he removed to Seymour, Indiana, and in October of that year was appointed physician of the Indiana State Prison, South. In connection with others he framed and secured the passage of a bill that changed this prison to the Indiana Reformatory, working it before the Legislature, though he knew the passage would cost him his place as official physician. He was, however, re-appointed by Governor Mount and has ever since given the institution the benefit of his rare talents. He offered his resignation to take effect on October 1, 1908, but on urgent request consented to remain until the subsidence of the epidemic of typhoid fever then prevalent at the Reformatory, subsequently removing to Indianapolis, where he con- tinues the practice of his profession. During his tenure at the Reformatory he had charge of about sixty-five hundred inmates, the usual average being some twelve hundred and fifty at one time. Dr. Sharp has received many evidences of esteem from fellow members of his profession and has been showered with honors, but his greatest claim to distinction is due to the leading part he took in instituting a great and epoch-making reform in the treatment of degenerates. It has long been recognized by the medical pro- fession and sociologists that many, if not most of the insane, epileptic, ibecile, idiotic, sexual pervert, and many confirmed drunkards, prostitutes, tramps, habitual criminals and chronic paupers are by heredity degenerates. In other words they have defects that cannot be cured. If allowed to become parents their posterity increases the same defects and their number increases at a ration far greater than that of the total population. The question was how to stop this growth of degeneracy, what method would be most effective with least hardship. In studying out this vital problem, Dr. Sharp reached a remedy that is destined to enroll his name high among the benefactors of his race. He formed and took a leading part in passing through the Legislature a bill that is destined to have far-raching importance. In effect it provides that when degenerates are confined in state institutions, the proper authorities, under prescribed safeguards, may cause to be performed on them a surgical operation, known as vasecotomy, a simple easy and not very painful operation, that prevents procreation. Dr. Sharp has operated on two hundred and fifty such, with full opportunity to study the results and is highly pleased with the outcome. He says the results, unlike those of castration, are physicially, mentally and morally beneficial to the patient and the patients themselves favor and recommend the operation to their friends as being for their good. He has never observed any unfavorable symptoms, but the great result achieved is the prevention of the multiplication of degeneracy. It is a dis- tinction to Clark county that this great reform began here and was instituted by one of her citizens. Other states are now following the way pointed out by Dr. Sharp, and the discovery will undoubtedly spread over the whole civilized world as one of the most valuable achievements in the science of sociology.
909
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Dr. Sharp recently received letters of inquiry from Germany relative to this subject. The German government, through the efforts of repesentative citi- zens and philanthropists, has taken up the matter of changing the laws of that country in regard to degenerates and criminals and is in correspondence with the doctor for the purpose of incorporating into the German code a law similar to that of Indiana. The originator is destined to rank with Koch and Pasteur as a benefactor to the human race and Clark county will receive the glory reflected upon her by one of her most distinguished citizens.
Dr. Sharp has held many positions of honor and trust, among them being the president of the Third District Medical Society, and the vice- president during 1906-7 of the Indiana Medical Association. He was coun- cilor of the third Councilor District of the last mentioned association and Indiana member of the committee on medical legislation of the American Medical Association. In 1908 he read a paper before the American Anti- Tuberculosis Association at its annual meeting in Chicago, which gained for him much favorable comment and wide distinction as a physician of learning and original thought upon the subject of that dread disease. In his discussion he took the advanced ground that rarely if ever death was lue to the direct results of tuberculosis, but in almost every instance to complications there- from. This position has since been indorsed by practically the entire profession. He is a member of the Jeffersonville Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and Lodge No. 362 of the Elks, of which he was exalted ruler in 1907. His religious affiliations are with the Unitarian church and his standing both socially and professionally is of the highest rank.
ELISHA CARR.
Elisha Carr belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Clark county. His great-grandfather, John Carr, came to this country from Ireland when ninetten years of age. He was accompanied by a brother and sister, but his father and mother both died on the ocean voyage to America. The young people landed at Annapolis, Maryland.
Later we find his son, Thomas Carr, and wife moving from Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, to Clark county, Indiana, in 1806. He settled on what is known as the Sinking Fork of Silver creek, a tract of land embracing five hundred acres, which he purchased for one thousand six hundred sixty-six dollars.
He was a man of influence in his time, and became a member of the famous constitution convention which sat under the great elm tree in Corydon, Indiana, and framed the state constitution in 1816. Later he was for two
910
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
years a member of the General Assembly of the state, and was also an officer in one of the regiments serving in the Indian wars. He was present at Colonel Crawford's defeat. His death occurred in 1822.
One of the eleven children of Thomas Carr was Joseph Carr, who was born February 7, 1796. On February 26, 1818, he married Nancy Drum- mond and they established their home where the residence of Elisha Carr is at this time. From this union came twelve children, and when the youngest of these, Elizabeth Carr, was but seven months of age, Joseph Carr died, leaving to his widow, Nancy Carr, the care of twelve children.
It was a great task for a mother to thus rear so large a family in those pioneer days. However, she proved to be a careful and successful manager, both in regard to her family and in the conduct of the estate. It may be of interest to say that of the twelve children, eleven attained their majority, one daughter having died in her eighth year.
One of these sons, Elisha Carr, who was born December 3, 1838, ac- quired the home farm from the various heirs, after the death of his mother, Nancy Carr. He still holds this farm, comprising now the land on which his grandfather, Thomas Carr, settled in 1806. It is one of the most beautiful homes in Southern Indiana.
Mr. Carr has been in every way a successful farmer and stock raiser. May 22, 1878, he was married to Mary Hess, of Cadiz, Henry county, In- diana. Her father, Milton T. Hess, and his wife, Elizabeth Shively, were born in Monongahela county, Virginia, and were brought by their parents to Indiana about the year 1830, entering farms near where Mount Summit is now situated.
Mr. and Mrs. Carr have one daughter, Miss Lucile Carr, and it was for the purpose of placing her in Butler College that they left their home on the farm and moved to Irvington, suburb of Indianapolis, in 1900. Mr. Carr still manages his farm in Clark county, however, making frequent visits to it from his home in Indianapolis.
MISS LILLIAN HARMON.
The many friends of this affable and estimable lady will no doubt be glad to learn more of her personal history than has heretofore been shown the public through the medium of a sketch similar to that which here follows, for she has shown herself to be capable, alert and possessing many com- mendable attributes of character, which have won for her the esteem of all with whom she has come in contact. She is the present efficient postmistress of Marysville.
911
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Miss Lillian Harmon was born in Oregon township, Clark county, the daughter of Daniel and Rachael C. (Bower) Harmon. Her ancestors are of sturdy German stock, seven brothers of the Harmon family having come to America from the Fatherland, four of whom settled in New York and three in Virginia ; one of the three, William, was the son of the one that later emi- grated to Indiana and settled in Clark county, and he was the grandfather of Lillian Harmon. William Harmon married Elizabeth Stoner, and they were the parents of Daniel Harmon, the subject's father, their family consisting of the following children : William, John, Silas, Joseph, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah.
To the subject's parents the following children were born: May, wife ; of A. H. Hemphry, of Marysville; Lillian the subject of this sketch; Milton E .; Myrtle is the wife of Jacob Shields, of Lexington, Indiana. These chil- dren all received every care at the hands of their worthy parents, who were people of sterling qualities and they are all held in high respect wherever they have gone.
Miss Lillian Harmon was reared on the farm in Oregon township, where she did her share of the household duties and attended the district school. having graduated from the common school and rapidly developed into a lady of culture and refinement as well as an innate individuality that has shown her to be a woman of rare business ability.
Our subject moved to Marysville in 1891, and she was appointed post- mistress in 1906, in which capacity she is serving in 1909 in a manner that has won the praise of everyone concerned.
She is a member of the Christian church, and she was honored by being elected district superintendent of the Christian Endeavor work in this dis- trict, faithfully serving in this capacity for a period of four years. She takes a great interest in religous and educational movements, and has become widely known in this line of work.
THE WHITESIDE BAKERY.
Truly a wonderful plant-one of the finest in the United States-is that of the Whiteside Bakery, where the famous "Mother's Bread" is made, and which was established by the late Isaac F. Whiteside, a sketch of whom ap- pears in another part of this history.
The building is a beautiful structure, reflecting much credit upon the architect, Arthur Loomis. It is Moorish or Spanish in design. In the large tower which looms high over the lower part of the building is an immense clock, which strikes every hour during the twenty-four, and at night it is es-
912
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
pecially imposing, for then the characters describing the circle and declaring the hours stand forth in letters of fire, and read, "Mother's Bread." The hands of this enormous clock are also illuminated as soon as twilight comes on. It is a master time-piece and controls, electrically, all the other clocks around the building.
The building was formally opened and dedicated July 16, 1908, the fiftieth birthday of Mr. Whiteside. It is a concrete and fire-proof structure and is a real marvel among bakeries. It is located at the corner of Broadway and Fourteenth street, Louisville, Kentucky, on the tracks of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. This has a great advantage since it does away with any re- handling of materials-these coming direct from the cars to the consumer.
The flour in barrels is taken from the cars, placed directly into the large iron chutes leading to different parts of the basement storage room. The sifting and cleaning are done mechanically in the basement. A "worm" ele- vator runs the flour to the second floor, where great mixing machines mix the dough, going from the sifters and blenders on to the dough mixers, and into the sanitary dough troughs. These are portable and can be wheeled with their contents into the cooling room.
From this room the dough descends through iron chutes into dough . dividers, thence into the "merry-go-round." The next step in the preliminary process takes place in the moulding machine, where the dough is formed into loaves for the baking pan. These loaves are placed on large portable cars and wheeled into the steam rooms, where they remain about half an hour to raise. This is quite different from the home method, where the bread has to be "set" over night for the "raising" process.
Now that it is time to begin baking the loaves are wheeled to the ovens. The oven room in the Whiteside Bakery would be a joy to any baker, and is perhaps the finest one extant. It is long and well lighted with nine ovens down each side. These have a combined capacity of one hundred forty thousand loaves daily. The ovens, which are faced with white enameled tile, are fired from the rear with coke, which is brought in by an overhead trolley. After a proper time the bread is wheeled out of the opposite side of the steam box which opens into one hundred and twenty corridors between two rows of ovens.
During the whole time of baking, pilot lights show the condition of the bread. When it is finished it is delivered to the shipping room. Twenty doors leading to as many wagons lead from this room. These wagons are lined up in a covered paved court. Delivery of the bread begins at 12:30 in the morning and the last wagons leave the court at 1 :45 a. m., to serve the community with breakfast rolls and bread.
Praise is due the architect for the splendid arrangement of lights, ventila- tion and extreme cleanliness, for the sanitary condition of the bakery is as near
913
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
perfect as is possible. Just above the front of the ovens is a wall, slightly pro- truding over and between it and the oven tops is a space which permits the heat to pass out, to prevent overheating the workers, as is often the case in bakeries. Much care had to be taken in the arrangement of the skylights, etc., in order to produce the proper amount of light-light enough to prevent seeing into the darker ovens and yet enough in which to work comfortably and to show every spot of dirt that might accumulate; but the proper results were obtained by the minute arrangement of upright sky-lights over the middle of the corridor from end to end.
Bath-rooms of the most improved design occupy one part of the building. Every employee is compelled to bathe before commencing work, and is fur- nished by the company a freshly laundered linen suit each day before begin- ning work, and all workers are required to wash their hands when returning from any place about the building where there might be a chance to collect the least particle of dirt.
The mechanical appliances throughout the plant are of the very latest de- sign. But little of the work is done by hand, the machinery even dividing and weighing each loaf automatically, and the least possible waste of energy is avoided in the plant, and to fully appreciate the genius of the architect one must go through the plant and observe how perfectly the various departments coincide, making one splendid system.
The entire building is lighted with electric lights, each light being enclosed in a glass globe for sanitary purposes, the fixtures being absolutely dust-proof. The flour sifters and blenders, as well as the machines in the moulding room, are driven by motors attached to the ceiling. A tiny motor is also used in the testing laboratory, the Whiteside Bakery being a model both among bakeries and as to electrical installations.
DAVID W. WATSON.
This name is well known in Clark county, where our subject was born, and where his ancestors also maintained their homes, being numbered among . the representative pioneers here, and Mr. Watson is not only recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of Oregon township, where he has a valuable farm property, but he has also been prominent in public affairs of a local nature and has been incumbent of offices of distinctive trust and responsibility, and he has been signally faithful to his duties of citizenship.
David W. Watson was born in Oregon township, Clark county, Indiana, December 28, 1853, the son of John and Catherine ( Amick) Watson, John Watson was also born in Oregon township, this county, his birth occurring 58
914
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
March 17, 1827, the son of Robert Watson, who was of Scotch-Irish descent. John Watson is living at this writing ( 1909). John Watson and Catherine Amick were married in Oregon township February 5, 1849. They are elderly people of much stability of character, and are making their homes with David . W., their son. They are the parents of Ann, the wife of William McNew, of Scott county, Indiana; D. W., of this review, being the second in order of birth; Amanda, the wife of Daniel Smith, of Scott county, this state.
David W. Watson was reared on the farm in this county, having assisted with the work about the place until he reached man's estate, attending the dis- trict schools in the meantime until he was seventeen years old, but he remained under his parental roof until he was married to Mary Taflinger, who was born in Oregon township, Clark county, August 20, 1858, the daughter of Joseph and Hester Tallinger, She was reared on n farm and received her education in the district schools. The subject and wife moved on the farm where they now live, which is in Clark's grant No. 279, soon after their mar- riage, and they have a valuable farm, consisting of three hundred and seven acres, which is highly improved. Mr. Watson carries on general farming. being regarded by his neighbors as a first class agriculturist in every respect. He was formerly in the lumber business in which he prospered. He has a substantial home well located with attractive surroundings.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents of fourteen children, named as follows: Catherine, born September 25, 1875. the wife of Charles Bonsett ; John, born November 27, 1876, married Ida Boley ; Bertha, born August 19, 1878, is the wife of Edward Zimmerman; Bert E. was born November 27, 1879, married Amelia Deiterlen ; William I., born September 22, 1881, mar- ried Catherine Gladdin ; Elmer, born September 14, 1883, is single and living in Illinois; Lunetta, born October 9, 1885, is the wife of John Deiterlen ; Dud- ley, born December 3, 1887, is a teacher and is unmarried; Nellie was born January 28, 1890, and is single; Jessie, born July 14, 1892; Alta, born Octo- ber 17, 1894; David, born May 13, 1897; Mamie, born September 15, 1899. is deceased; Walter was born August 6, 1900.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of this neighborhood. Mr. Watson is a member of English Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, also of the Marysville Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand master.
In his political relations Mr. Watson is a Democrat, and he has taken considerable interest in the affairs of his party. He was elected Trustee of Oregon township in 1900, and faithfully served in this capacity until 1904, and while incumbent of this office he was nominated and elected Commissioner of the Third district, and two years later, in 1906, was re-elected and is at this writing serving in that capacity in a manner that stamps him as a man of excellent business qualities. His term expires January 1, 1910. During his
915
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
term as Trustee he built the graded school at Marysville, this county, and it was during Mr. Watson's term that the magnificent county infirmary was built, which is a credit to Clark county. For this manifestation of interest in public affairs and his honest dealings with his fellow men, Mr. Watson is held in high favor with all who know him.
DANIEL W. BOWER.
Daniel W. Bower, Commissioner of the Second District of Clark county, and prosperous and influential farmer of Charlestown township, has done much during his career to increase the material and moral welfare of the town- ship in which he resides. He has been instrumental in obtaining many of the progressive innovations which have become associated with the townships with which he has been connected in recent years. During his term of office the Board of Commissioners built the new county infirmary at the cost of twenty-five thousand dollars, which is a credit to the county, and of much as- sistance to many of the inhabitants. He has been successful as a farmer, lives in a beautiful spot on the banks of the Ohio, and leads a peaceful domestic life.
He was born in Oregon township on the 29th of June, 1860, the son of John A. and Mary Jane (Coombs) Bower. John A. was born in Owen town- ship, Clark county, his father, who was the grandfather of our subject, having come to Indiana from South Carolina at a very early date and settled in Clark county, where he lived the remainder of his life. The elder Bower was in- terested in the manufacture of flat boats and he followed the old custom of piloting them down the river to New Orleans from which place, having effected a sale, he would back to Indiana overland. It was during one of these trips that he took sick at Natchez, Mississippi. Grandfather Bower was the father of eight children. They were: George, John A., Daniel, Adam, Eliza- beth, Kittie, Anna and Eliza. All grew to maturity. John A. Bower was born in the old log school-house where he received his early education. During his life time he was a successful farmer and served as Justice of the Peace. He married Mary J. Coombs, a cousin of the late Doctor Coombs, of Charlestown. He and his family were members of the Christian church. Three children were born to John A. Bower: Orrie, born in 1852, who was the wife of Frank J. Stutsman and is now deceased ; Benton B., who was born in 1857, is a farmer in Oregon township; the third was Daniel W., of this review.
Daniel W. Bower was reared on the old farmstead in Oregon township, worked on the farm, and went to the district school, where he got a common school education. IIe married Belle Graebe on November 10, 1882. Mrs.
916
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Bower was born and reared in Owen township, where she attended the district school. At the time of his marriage both Daniel W. Bower and his wife were in rather poor circumstances. They moved to Illinois and farmed there for awhile, returning thence to Nabb, in Washington township. In 1892, he bought the farm he now owns which contains in all one hundred and sixty acres of bottom land and one hundred and fifty-three of the old homestead. He has been quite successful financially in all agricultural ventures. In 1904 he erected a fine residence on the banks of the Ohio, eighteen miles above Louisville.
To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Bower were born seven children, five of whom are at home and all have a good common school education. His wife and family are members of the Presbyterian church, while he belongs to the Christian church.
Daniel W. Bower is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lexington Lodge, No. 405. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Red Men. In politics he has ever been a Democrat and has been active in the affairs of his party in this county. He served as Trustee of Owen township from the year 1900 to 1904. He was then Commissioner, and served one term, being elected the second time in 1906. He is the present Com- missioner of his district. In past years he has worked strenuously for gravel roads in the county, as he is a firm believer in their efficiency.
PARADY PAYNE.
Parady Payne, of Henryville, Clark county, needs slight introduction to the people of his township and county. He is one of the oldest settlers now living on Blue Lick road. He is the proprietor of the widely known Blue Lick Springs, which are justly famous for the medicinal properties of the water.
He was born on the 28th of May, 1830, in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and was the son of Thomas B. and Mary (Coffman) Payne. Thomas B. Payne was of English descent and was by occupation a riverman, being for many years associated with the steamboat business. He died in Kentucky at a ripe old age, never having come to Indiana. His wife was of German descent. She was one of the earliest pioneers in this section of the county, and died aged sixty-seven years. Of their family our subject was the only boy of three children born to them; one of his sisters still survives in Crothersville. Par- ady Payne came to Clark county when about four years old. Some time about his sixth year his mother became a widow. The old salt trail, still visible on the subject's farm, and the deer trail lay across the land, while every night in those early days it was necessary to bar the doors of their log cabins to keep out the wolves. This section of the state was almost a wilderness then and on
917
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
one occasion during this period a five hundred acre tract of land of which our subject's farm was a part was bartered for an old flint-lock gun.
Parady Payne's education was obtained in the subscription schools in the old log school-houses; he never attended a free school. In the year 1844 he started to make his own way in the world. He ventured into the cafe busi- ness, and was for many years connected with the steamboat service on the Ohio. In 1853 his marriage took place, his wife Sophia Townsend, being the daughter of John F. Townsend and Celesta Ferris, his wife, natives of New York. Mrs. Payne was born in Staten, New York, and her marriage cere- mony was performed on March 20th, of the above-mentioned year, in Michigan. They then came to Monroe township, Clark county, Indiana, which has ever since been their home. The children born to them were: William H., born in 1855, married Nora Sprague; they live in New York, and have two chil- (Iren, both boys. James M., born in 1856, married Mattie Russell; they live in Nebraska, and have six children. Lilly C., born 1858, married Danie! Guern- sey; they have two children, and live with the subject. George F., born in 1860, is a doctor in Louisville. He graduated from the Louisville Hospital College of Medicine. He married Addie Guernsey, and has four children. Charles. born in 1862, married Katie Hawes; they live in Clark county, and have four children. Henry H., born in 1864, died when young. Blanche, born in 1866, died when nineteen years old. Arthur B., born in 1866 (twin brother of the last named), married Lizzie Manning ; they live in Clark county, and have six children. A child, Eleanor, died in infancy. Katie, born in 1868, married F. W. Carney ; they live in Charlestown. Jolin Byron Payne, born in 1870, is the youngest member. He married Rose Gray ; they live in Louisville, and have one child.
Parady Payne is a Democrat. He is secretary of the Township Advisory Board. He is also interested in the cemetery association, and president of the finance committee of the township. His land is contained in sections No. 265-266.
HENRY FISCHER.
Among the energetic and prosperous agriculturists of Clark county, whose efforts have benefited alike themselves and their community, is the subject of this sketch, who is one of the best known men in his locality, being an American by adoption only, for Mr. Fischer was born in Germany, June 22. 1845. the son of Mathias and Elizabeth ( Rockey) Fischer, the former having been born in the Fatherland and came to the United States in 1853, locating in Clark county, Indiana, on the farm where the subject now lives in section 5. He was a farmer and miller in the oldl country. He made the voyage to
918
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
America in an old sailing vessel, the trip requiring nearly four months. He made two or three return trips to Europe. He followed farming until his death, October 5, 1871. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and a good Democrat, and although often solicited by his friends to accept public office, he would not do so. He became well known in this county. Mathias Fischer and wife were the parents of ten children. This family first came to New York, where they remained about six months, then came to Clark county. Mathias Fischer was born February 1, 1802, (lied October 25, 1871. His wife was born December 22, 1805, and died May 12, 1883. The former received his education in Germany. He was a well informed man, and a good farmer, his land lying in section 5, Wood township, where he bought a farm when he came here. It was all timber and in the wilderness, but he cleared it all off and made extensive improvements.
Henry Fischer, our subject, still lives on the old home place, where the Fischer family was reared. At the age of twenty-three he married Ozena Fordyce, and after her death he maried Mary Temple October 10, 1872. She was the daughter of Frank and Magdalene ( Siler) Temple. Her father came from Germany and her mother from Switzerland. She is the oldest of nine children.
The following children have been born to the subject and wife: Clara Matilda, born August 14, 1873, married Hite Henry Heistand, and they are living in Hammond, Indiana; Flora Amelia, born September 21, 1875, mar- ried Louis P. Wagoner ; they are living in Harrison county, this state and are the parents of two children; Walter Henry, born January 31, 1878, married Laura Jameson ; they also live in Harrison county, and are the parents of one child: Elmer Milton, who was born July 11, 1880, married Iva Haddox, and is living at home; Anna Nora, born October 7, 1882, is single and living at home; Hettie Pearl, born June 12, 1884, married Joseph Bowman, of Har- rison county, and they are the parents of three children; Edgar Emil, born June 18, 1886, is single; Jesse Gilbert, born May 18, 1889, is single; Carl Leon, was born October 18, 1893.
The subject has been a farmer all his life and he has also been interested in the flour mill business, and is now interested in the mercantile business in Harrison county. He has been a hard working man and now as the twilight of old age approaches, he finds himself well fixed in reference to this world's affairs. All his time is taken is looking after his farm and other business, con- sequently he takes little interest in politics, merely voting the Republican ticket when elections come. He is a well informed man, having received some edu- cation in Germany and some in America. He delights to tell of his boyhood days and the early experiences of his father in this county, when he used to haul the products of his farm to New Albany and Louisville to market, using oxen to do the heavy hauling.
919
BAIRD'S HISTORY OF CLARK CO., IND.
Following are the brothers and sisters of the subject: Christian, born October 10, 1825, died February 5, 1894 ; Elizabeth, born November 29, 1837, is now deceased; Louis, born February 22, 1832, died August 24, 1905; John E. born December 22, 1834, died February 12, 1900; Ferdinand, born Octo- ber 4, 1835, died August 25, 1862; Mathias lives in Borden: Philip is de- ceased; Mary, who was born in 1839, lives in Ohio; Eliza, born in 1838 lives in Shelby county, Kentucky.
Mr. Fischer is known as a man of good business principles and is an ex- cellent neighbor and has many friends throughout the county.
4180
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.