USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 14
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was born in Allegheny and was of Scotch-Irish descent. By her marriage she became the mother of six daughters and four sons.
Robert Humphreys, the second of this family, was reared in Pittsburg and attended the public schools of that city until eleven years of age, when he entered upon his business career. Seven years passed in which he was employed at various pursuits that would yield him a living, and thus depend- ent upon his own resources he developed habits of self-reliance, industry and enterprise which have brought to him the success which crowns his active career. At the age of eighteen he entered the office of the Christian Advo- cate, at Pittsburg, and learned the printer's trade, which was the beginning of what has proven a successful business career.
In September, 1879, Mr. Humphreys came to Logansport and accepted the position of salesman in the hardware store of I. N. Crawford, with whom he remained until 1882, when he resumed his trade in the office of the Logansport Journal. In May, 1885, he was elected to the position of city clerk of Logansport, on the Republican ticket, and filled that office for two years. After the expiration of his term he became a member of the present well-known firm of Wilson, Humphreys & Company, which was organized in August, 1887, and is to-day doing an extensive business in print- ing and binding, the establishment being one of the largest concerns of the kind in Indiana. The volume of their trade is an indication of good workmanship, and the house sustains a reputation for honorable dealing that is indeed enviable. From the beginning Mr. Humphreys has had prin- cipal charge of the printing and binding departments, and his own practical experience and thorough knowledge of the business have contributed materi- ally to the gratifying success which the firm enjoys. Mr. Humphreys is also treasurer of the Home Music Company.
In 1883 he was united in marriage to Annie, daughter of John and Isa- belle Donaldson, of Logansport, and they have had three children: Robert J., who died in infancy; William R., born January 24, 1886; and Helen A., born August 27, 1889.
G EORGE P. WOOD, secretary of the Kokomo Paper Company and the Kokomo Wood Pulp Company, was born at Piqua, Ohio, March 3, 1845. His father, Charles L. Wood, was a native of Hollis, New Hampshire, and the
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grandfather was also born in the old Granite state. The latter was of English descent. He served his country in the war of 1812, and earned his liveli- hood by following farming and the wheelwright's trade. He reared a large family, comprising eight or nine sons and two daughters, and when death called him had passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey. Charles L. Wood was a cooper by trade and in early life followed that pursuit, but later engaged in farming. He came to the west in 1842, locating first in Piqua, Ohio, where he conducted a coopering business. At a later period he fol- lowed farming, and subsequently engaged in a manufacturing business which he carried on for some years. He is now living retired in Piqua, Ohio. His wife bore the maiden name of Hannah F. French and she also was a native of Hollis, New Hampshire. Her father, also born in the same state, defended his country in the second war with Great Britain, and died at an advanced age. Mrs. Hannah Wood passed away in 1870. Like her hus- band, she was a member of the Methodist church, and was highly esteemed by many friends. Her grandfather, Peter Robinson, was one of the heroes who valiantly fought for the independence of the nation, and was specially recognized for his bravery by his commander. At the battle of Bunker Hill, he was wounded in theright hand.
George P. Wood, of this review, was the second in a family of three sons, his brothers being Charles L. and Marcus D. Wood. On the home farm near Piqua, Ohio, he was reared, and in the district schools of the neighbor- hood he acquired his education. Laying aside his text-books in 1864, when nineteen years of age, he enlisted in his country's service as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and was in the campaign in the Shenandoah valley under General Lew Wallace. When the war was over he went to Indianapolis, where he engaged in the manufacturing and cooperage business. In 1888 he came to Kokomo, where he aided in the construction of the plant of the Kokomo Wood Pulp Company and the Kokomo Paper Company, and in the organization of these companies he was an important factor. They manufacture wood pulp and box board of vari- ous kinds, and employ an average of one hundred workmen. The products of the plant are of a superior grade and this has enabled them to command an excellent price on the market. There is always a demand for the goods that come from these factories, and the business has steadily increased until it has now assumed extensive proportions. Faithful service is recognized by promo-
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tion, and good, living wages are paid the operatives, so that pleasant relations exist between employer and employees, and the factory has never been shut down except for repairs.
On the 27th of February, 1868, Mr. Wood wedded Miss Mary E. Hines, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Apgar) Hines. Her father was a native of Germany but was brought to America in early childhood. Her mother was born in Ohio, but was descended from an old Virginian family. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born six children, two sons and four daughters: George H., who married Miss Fannie Beroth, of Wabash, Indiana, and is engaged in the manufacture of binders' boards in Kokomo, but was formerly superintendent of the Wood Pulp and Paper Companies; Charles R., who is timekeeper in the Kokomo Wood Pulp works; Etta M., wife of Lee Albaugh, of Kokomo, by whom she has one child, Aline; Mary Elizabeth, a student in Fairfax Hall, Winchester, Virginia; Dorothy and Margaret, at home.
The parents and all the children are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Wood is very prominent in the Masonic frater- nity, having membership connection with Center Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Indianapolis; Kokomo Chapter, R. A. M .; Kokomo Commandery, K. T .; and he and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. He also belongs to Marion Lodge, No. I, K. of P., of Indianapolis, and to the Order of Elks. Politically he adheres to the faith of the Republican party, and while residing in Indianapolis was a member of the board of city aldermen. He is one of the good business men of Kokomo.
PETER KELLY, one of the most estimable citizens of Peru, and the pres- ent efficient city engineer, is a native of county Cork, Ireland, where he was born July 5, 1849. His parents, Patrick and Hanora Kelly, were also natives of Erin's green isle. His mother's maiden name was Toomey. His father, a farmer by occupation, died in 1862.
The subject of this sketch, thirteen years of age at the time of his father's decease, obtained his knowledge of surveying under the instructions of an uncle in his native land. In April, 1867, accompanied by his mother and a sister and her family, landed in New York, crossing the Atlantic to find a home in broad America; and in the fall of the same year they came to Peru,
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to which place an elder son and brother, Dennis Kelly, had preceded them. Here the mother lived till her decease, which occurred in 1875. Mr. Kelly's business career thus far has been such as requires a knowledge of the prin- ciples of surveying. For a long time, under the firm name of Morrisey & Kelly, he was engaged in making, by contract, ditches for drainage and country and city gravel roads; and this work was not confined to Miami county, for also in Huntington county they were extensively engaged, build- ing the first free gravel road which that county ever ordered. They also built nearly all the gravel roads in Peru. Mr. Kelly has been acting sur- veyor of Miami county for the past five years, and has been city engineer of Peru since 1896. He is also drainage commissioner of Miami county. In his religious connection he is a sincere Catholic, holding his ecclesiastical membership in Father Meissner's church; he is also a member of the total abstinence society of Peru and is in all respects a most worthy and esteemed citizen.
The surviving members of the family are Dennis and Peter, residing in Peru; Mrs. Ellen Sullivan, living in the state of Illinois; and Mrs. Mary Burke, of Crawford county, Iowa. A brother, named John Kelly, died in Logansport in 1862.
H ENRY F. DRITT .- Among those leading and representative farmers of Cass county whose labors have contributed to the material advance- ment and general welfare of the community was Henry F. Dritt. His life was a busy and useful one and furnished an example of honorable dealing. steadfast purpose, fidelity to principle and invincible moral courage that is well worthy of emulation. At his death the community mourned the loss of one of its esteemed citizens, and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of many friends.
Mr. Dritt was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born on the 25th of September, 1836, his parents being Andrew and Elizabeth (Fiscel) Dritt. His parents also were born in Lancaster county, and with them he came to Cass county, Indiana, in 1853, the family locating on the farm, in Clay township, where Mrs. Henry Dritt still makes her home. Our subject was then only sixteen years of age. He entered upon his business career as a salesman in a general store and was thus employed for some time, during
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which he completely mastered business methods as concerning merchandis- ing. He afterward entered the dry-goods business on his own account and successfully conducted a store for five years, his close application, earnest desire to please his patrons, courteous treatment and honorable dealing win- ning him a liberal patronage. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to farming, which he followed throughout the remainder of his life. The same energy and careful foresight that characterized his mercantile expe- rience marked his farming operations, and his labors resulted in making his property one of the best improved farms of the township.
On the 30th of April, 1868, Mr. Dritt was united in marriage to Miss Emma Adams, a native of Logansport and a daughter of George E. and Sarah (Kinnear) Adams, the former a native of Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and the latter of Ireland. In 1836 they came to Indiana, taking up their resi- dence in Logansport, where Mrs. Dritt was born and reared. She also attended the Logansport schools, and for two terms was a student at College Hill, Ohio Her father was a very prominent citizen of Cass county and was frequently honored with public office. For two terms he served as mayor of Logansport, for three terms was alderman of the city and for two terms was county treasurer. His administration of the affairs of those offices was always safe, yet progressive, and while concerned with the municipal government of Logansport he did much to advance the interests of the city. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and warmly espoused the principles of his party. Socially he was connected with the Improved Order of Red Men, and all who knew him esteemed him for the sterling rectitude of his character. His death occurred in 1885, when he had attained the age of seventy-one years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dritt was born one daughter, Sarah, now the wife of Robert Reed, a native of Marshall county, Indiana. They likewise have one daughter, Emma R. Mr. Reed is a teacher and farmer and is living on the old Dritt homestead, of three hundred and twenty acres, which is under a high state of cultivation and is improved with all the accessories and con- veniences of the model farm of the nineteenth century. This property was accumulated through the well-directed efforts of Henry F. Dritt, whose industry enabled him to overcome all obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to affluence. He was thus able to leave his family in com- fortable circumstances, but more valuable than the property which they
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inherited was the untarnished name. He died on the 24th of September, 1891, at the age of fifty-six years, and the deep regret of many friends was added to the grief of wife and daughter over the loss of a devoted husband and father.
E LI J. JAMISON, a highly esteemed citizen of Miami county, is a native of Maryland, born in Frederick county, November 24, 1820. His first American ancestors on his father's side were immigrants from Scotland. John Jamison, his father, was a native of Maryland and the youngest of twelve children, all of which generation have passed away. John Jamison married Sarah Harris, also a native of Maryland, but her father was a native of Wales. John Jamison and wife passed all their lives in their native state, both dying in 1823, within three months of each other. Their children who grew to mature years were Benjamin, Susanna, William, Eli J. and John.
Being left an orphan in childhood, the subject of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources at an early age. In 1837, when in his seventeenth year, he came to Indiana, which has now been continuously his home for more than sixty years. We can say to this man, as did Daniel Webster to a patriarchal citizen, "Venerable man, you have come down to us from a former generation. Heaven hath lengthened out your life that you might behold this joyous day." His first place of residence in the Hoosier state was at Centerville, then the county seat of Wayne county, and there he served an apprenticeship of three years to the trade of cabinet-making. In 1848, in connection with his brother, John Jamison, he established himself in business at Muncie, Indiana. His residence in Peru dates from 1857, from which time, for many years, he was engaged in the furniture and under- taking business, dropping the former in 1880. He was undertaker and funeral director until 1891, when he was elected to the office of county re- corder; in 1895 he was re-elected to the same position, and is now serving the third year of his second term. During his residence of more than forty years in Peru he has ever had the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. For many years he was a member of the city council, and has ever had in view the best interests of the community where he has so long resided. He is prominent in the orders of Masons and Odd Fellows, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and council of the former, and has had conferred on him
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all the degrees of the latter. For many years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with the doctrines and usages of which denom- ination he is still in sympathy, though not a member of that ecclesiastical body.
November 25, 1841, is the date of his union in matrimony with Miss Sarah Dinwiddie, a native of Pennsylvania. Their children are Henry B., of Peru, and Elizabeth L., wife of James Troutman, of Chicago. The esti- mable mother of these children departed this life July 8, 1846; and on the 1 1th of June, 1848, Mr. Jamison was united with Mary S. Marshall, a native of Kentucky, and by this marriage there is one son, Eugene, a resident of Peru.
A DDISON F. ARMSTRONG .- It would be difficult to name an essential element in the progress and advancement of Howard county that does not bear the impress of the strong individuality of Addison F. Armstrong. He has been a very important factor in the industrial and commercial activity of the county, has advanced its moral and educational interests, has been one of its prominent representatives in the field of politics, and indeed is one of the founders of the city of Kokomo, which stands as a monument to the enterprising and well directed efforts of such men as he whose name initiates this review. His life record is an essential part of the history of Howard county, and this work would be incomplete without a review of his career.
His parents were Thomas A. and Sarah E. (Grant) Armstrong, the former a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Virginia. They were married in Clinton county, Ohio, July 1, 1824, and became the parents of eight children. In 1851 they took up their residence in Howard county, Indiana, among its pioneers, and the family has since been promi- nent in its growth and development. Addison F. Armstrong was born in Clinton county, Ohio, April 1, 1833, and acquired a common-school educa- tion there. In 1851 he came to this county, where he has since made his home. In 1856, in connection with Dr. J. A. James and H. A. Armstrong, he founded the business of which he is now the head, and has continued his connection with it throughout the intervening years. Many changes in the partnership have occurred, but the house has ever remained as the leading
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hardware and implement house in the county. The present style is the Armstrong-Landon Company, and the subject of this review is the president. The business occupies a handsome brick block, forty-four by one hundred and thirty-two feet, three stories in height, with basement, and is situated at the southeast corner of the courthouse square. It was erected in 1875, and is now splendidly equipped with a large and complete stock of hardware, agricultural implements, wagons and bicycles. The members of the firm are wide-awake, energetic and accommodating business men, and the reputa- tion of the house is most enviable. In addition to their store they operate a large planing-mill and conduct a lumber-yard, doing considerable contract work and employing a large force of workmen, thus adding greatly to the material welfare of the community. Mr. Armstrong is also interested in other enterprises, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. For about forty-five years he has been actively connected with the commercial interests of Kokomo and has been remarkably prosperous from the beginning. His career has been one of continuous success, owing to his unabating industry, his integrity, sound judgment and honorable busi- ness methods.
While thus laboring for his own interests Mr. Armstrong has never been unmindful of his duties of citizenship. He aided in organizing the city of Kokomo and was a member of the first city council, in which capacity he served for eight consecutive years, taking a very active part in formulating the policy of the municipality. He has given his aid to all progressive measures for the improvement and advancement of the county and has done much for education, serving as a member of the school board of Kokomo for a number of years. In politics he has always been an ardent Democrat and is an influential member of the party. In 1870 he was elected to the state senate, where he served four years, including the special session of 1872. His genial and gentlemanly deportment and his sincere interest in his fellow men and the public welfare have made him very popular in his district, and in 1876, when a candidate for the nomination for state auditor, he received nearly as large a vote as the numerous candidates combined, with the excep- tion of General Manson, who received the nomination. He has held various county offices and has ever been most true and faithful in the discharge of his duties.
In June, 1863, Mr. Armstrong married Miss Mary S. Brandon, daughter
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of Montgomery and Martha Brandon, of Kentucky, who became pioneers of Indiana. Her father died in Kokomo in 1881, surviving his wife only a few months. He was for many years prominently identified with the development of the state and was a highly respected citizen. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, one of whom died in infancy. They are leading members of the Christian church, with which they have been identified for many years. Mr. Armstrong has given largely of his time, means and energy to the advancement of the cause, helped to organize the first church of that denomination in Howard county and assisted in erecting the first house of worship. Further than this, Mr. Armstrong has for many years been inter- ested in the higher educational enterprises of the state, having been an active member of the board of directors of Butler College, of the University of Indianapolis. He is now serving his second term as president of the board of directors, and in 1890 Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong gave a practical demon- stration of their interest in education by endowing the Armstrong chair of Germanic languages in Butler College. His works of charity and benevo- lence are manifold, yet entirely free from ostentation and display, and are fre- quently known only to himself. Mrs. Armstrong is president of the Orphans' Home, the Suffrage Club, and the Ladies' Lecture Association, besides tak- ing an active interest in the cause of temperance and all charitable work.
D ANIEL E. GILBERT .- "Business is the salt of life," says Feltham, "which gives not only a grateful smack to it but also dries up those crudities that would offend, preserves from putrefaction and drives off all those blowing flies that would corrupt it." Fire, life, accident and cyclone insurance is a business that insures business and is therefore a prime factor in all the industries of civilization; and this enterprise is ably represented in Tipton, Indiana, by Mr. Gilbert, who is the subject of these remarks.
Mr. Gilbert was born in Whitehall, Washington county, New York, Feb- ruary 7, 1827, a son of William and Anna (Delamater) Gilbert, His father, a native of Rutland, Vermont, was a carriage-maker by trade, who emigrated to Indiana in 1827, locating in Muncie, where he engaged in the fur business, and he served as sheriff of that (Delaware) county for six years, after which he resumed the fur trade. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died
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in Muncie in 1856, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife, who was a native of Albany, New York, died in 1847; both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church. For his second wife he married a Mrs. Brown, and they had one son, William, now living at Eaton, Delaware county, this state. By the first marriage there were seven children, -two sons and five daugh- terr, only two now living, as follows: Cornelia, of Wapello county, Iowa, widow of Hamilton Olney, her second husband, her first husband having been Alexander T. Sackett, who lost his life at the close of the war on the ship General Lyons, which was burnt between Fortress Monroe and Wil- mington. Her second husband also lost his life by accident. Mr. D. E. Gilbert is the next and only other member of this family now living.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was also a native of the Green Mountain state, in which state he died in middle life. He was a Revolutionary soldier, a farmer by occupation and had three sons and four daughters. Benjamin Delamater, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Albany, New York, born in 1773, a farmer by vocation, married Miss Anna Barnes, and died in 1815. In the war of 1812 he was a captain of a military company.
D. E. Gilbert, whose name heads this sketch, was brought to Muncie, this state, by his parents the year of his birth, and he grew up to manhood and lived in that place until 1861. After obtaining the usual common-school education he learned the carriage-maker's trade, under the instructions of his father, and followed that vocation until some time in 1854, when he sold out and entered the drug trade in Muncie, and continued therein till 1861; then selling out, he established a new drug store in Tipton, and continued to do business there until January, 1880, when he again sold out and engaged in the insurance business, which he has ever since followed. For several years he was city clerk and for another period he was city council- man. His residence is at the corner of Madison and Independence streets, where he has three lots, which property he purchased when he first came to Tipton and to which he has added many improvements until he now has one of the finest residences in the city. The large shade trees and the orchard which now adorn the premises are his planting.
June 19, 1849, he was united in matrimony with Miss Emma Y. Ross, daughter of John and Emma (York) Ross, -her father a native of Dublin, Ireland, and her mother of Stonington, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert
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have had three sons and two daughters: George E., Clara A., Oliver S., Francis A. and Cornelia M. George E. died when a babe. Clara A. mar- ried Edwin M. Davis, of Frankfort, Indiana, a railroad man, and has three children-Besta C., Halfred G. and Lois A .; Oliver S. lives in Chicago, engaged in the jewelry and music trade: he married Miss Alice Moore, of Kokomo, and they have one child, named Julia. Francis A. died at the age of nine years. Cornelia is unmarried and is the assistant bookkeeper and cashier of the Home Insurance Company, of New York, in the Chicago. office, which is the headquarters of the western department
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