USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 24
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On the 25th of November, 1858, Dr. Passage was united in marriage to Miss Martha Cooper, daughter of Elijah S. and Berrilla (Noel) Cooper, prom- inent citizens of Hancock county, Indiana. The Doctor and his wife have
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one daughter, Florence M., wife of Walter H. Nesbet, of Peru, whose four children, Henry, Mary Berrilla, Esther Noel and Martha, have brightened many days at the grandparents' home.
For a number of years Dr. Passage has taken a very active part in polit- ical affairs, and is an ardent advocate of the Democracy. He has served two terms in the state legislature of Indiana, having been elected to represent his district in the general assembly in 1884 and again in 1892. While a member of the house he gave careful consideration to the various important questions which came up for settlement, and labored earnestly to promote what he believed to be the best interests of the state. He is the author of the law of 1885 compelling corporations to pay laborers monthly and mak- ing their wages a preferred claim in cases of bankruptcy. The Doctor is a man of scholarly attainments, a fluent and entertaining writer, and for a number of years has been editor of the Miami Record. He is a man of strong individuality, of much force of character and is highly esteemed, both professionally and as a citizen.
JAMES SULLIVAN, the popular freight conductor on the Chicago divis- ion of the Pan Handle Railroad, was born in Sidney, Ohio, on the 15th of March, 1861, and is a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Morarity) Sullivan. The father was born in Ireland, and, emigrating to America, followed farming in Grant county, Indiana, for many years. His death occurred in 1881 at the age of seventy-two years, and his widow still survives him, her home being in Marion, Indiana. Their children are Michael, a resident farmer of Grant county; Mary, wife of Cornelius Sullivan, of Marion; James, of this review; and William, who also resides in Marion, Indiana.
Upon his father's farm James Sullivan spent his early youth and as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began working in the fields, assisting in the cultivation and development of the land until he had attained his seven- teenth year, when he began railroading on the Erie line, in the capacity of brakeman. He was in the service of that company until 1879, in December of which year he came to Logansport and at once secured employment on the Pan Handle road, beginning work on the Ist of January, 1880. He was pro- moted to conductor in 1882 and for some years has been running the local
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freight between Logansport and Chicago. His uniform courtesy to and con- sideration for the passengers on that line has made him a popular .employe and his faithful service has gained him the high regard of the company.
Mr. Sullivan was married in 1888 to Miss Maud F., a daughter of W. H. H. Carter, a prominent stock-buyer and shipper of Cass county, now residing in Washington township. Mr. Sullivan is very popular among train- men, by whom he is familiarly known as " Jim." A spirit of justice, a love of " fair play," disinterested kindness and generosity have won him the warm regard of those with whom he is associated and he has the friendship of those to whom the term means much.
C HARLES E. MIDDLETON, deputy county clerk of Howard county, Indiana, and the Republican nominee for the office of county clerk, is one of the most genial and accommodating servants of which the county of Howard can boast.
Mr. Middleton is a native of this county and represents two of its oldest families. He was born in Honey Creek township, November 19, 1856, son of William and Jane (Moulder) Middleton, both natives of Indiana. Their family was composed of three children, Charles E. being the eldest, the others being Mary Florence, wife of W. H. Orr, and John M. The father, a farmer by occupation, came from Montgomery county, where he was born, to Howard county, locating here during the early settlement of this county, and for many years carried on farming and stock-raising near West Middle- ton. For the past year he has been a resident of Russiaville. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Harrison township. Both he and his wife are members of the Friends' church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Levi Middleton. He was a native of Ohio, by occupation a farmer, and died after he had passed the meridian of life, leaving a large family of children.
John Moulder, the maternal grandfather of Charles E. Middleton, is of German descent, came to this state from North Carolina, first settling in Parke county and coming from there to Howard county, where he figured promi- nently as a pioneer settler. He was a member of the commission which was appointed to lay out and name the city of Kokomo. For many years he was
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engaged in merchandising in Kokomo, but farming has been his principal occupation. He is now a resident of Russiaville, has attained the ripe old age of ninety-three years, and is honored and esteemed by all who know him.
Charles E. Middleton was reared in Harrison township, on his father's farm, and attended the common schools until he was sixteen, at which time he secured a position as clerk in a general-merchandise store at West Mid- dleton, where he was employed for ten years. Then for one year he was a clerk in the grocery store of John T. Lett, at Kokomo, at the end of the year returning to West Middleton, where he remained until 1890. That year he came back to Kokomo, and has resided here ever since. For two years he was bookkeeper for Sparker Brothers, brick and tile manufacturers, and from their establishment came to the office of the county clerk, as deputy for Mr. Cooper, and this position he has since held. In March, 1898, he received the nomination for the office of county clerk at the hands of the Republican party, of which he has always been a stanch supporter.
Mr. Middleton resides at No. 173 West Taylor street, Kokomo, and has a wife and two children. He was married October 20, 1880, to Miss Mary Torrence, daughter of Robert E. and Sarah J. (Jones) Torrence. Their chil- dren are Eva Pearl and Charles Louis. Born of Quaker stock and reared in this faith, Mr. Middleton still adheres to it, both he and his wife being mem- bers of the Friends' church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow.
JULIUS FALK .- The name of Falk has long been prominently associated J with the commercial history of Peru, and the subject of this sketch is now one of the prominent business men of the city, successfully conducting an extensive mercantile establishment. He is a son of Moses Falk, a well known pioneer of Miami county, Indiana. The father was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, February 8, 1816, was left an orphan in early childhood and during his youth came to America. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, but soon after his arrival in America he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he entered upon his business career as a merchant by purchasing goods in that city, and, in the capacity of an itinerant peddler, traveled on foot over the states of Ohio and Indiana. He followed that vocation for a num- ber of years, after which, in 1837, he located near Peoria, Miami county,
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Indiana, where he opened what became known as the "Dutch Grocery." Many of his customers were Indians, and with their language he thus became familiar. Through the exercise of excellent business qualities, he met suc- cess in that enterprise, and at the same time he conducted a farm which he had purchased near by. In 1850 he located in Peru, and from that time forward until his death was prominently connected with the business inter- ests of this city. He had previously sent to Germany for the Sterne brothers, who became well known citizens of Peru, and under the firm name of Falk & Sterne they carried on a mercantile establishment until about 1859. The partnership was then dissolved, Mr. Falk continuing the business until 1878, when he retired and was succeeded by his son, Julius.
Moses Falk was twice married. In Peoria he wedded Miss Helen Redelsheimer, a native of Germany, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her death oocurred in 1858, and Mr. Falk afterward married Jennie Kuppenheimer, who survives her husband and is now a resident of Chicago. Seven children were born of the first mar- riage, four of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Paulina Kaufman, of Boston, Massachusetts; Mrs. Carrie Meyer, of Michigan City, Indiana; Julius, and Mrs. Flora Bernard, of Cleveland, Ohio. Francis married William Levi, of Peru, and died in 1889. The others passed away in childhood. The chil- dren of the second marriage are Mrs. Molly Rosenthal, of Crookston, Minne- sota; Mrs. Elba Wile, of Chicago; and Harry, also of Crookston, Minne- sota. The father of this family, Moses Falk, died at his home in Peru, Feb- ruary 11, 1880. He was a successful business man and a respected citizen. Very charitable, he was ever ready to assist the poor and needy, and extend the hand of assistance to those who were earnestly endeavoring to work their way upward. He is held in kind remembrance by those who were his con- temporaries in the early development of the city, and his name is inseparably connected with its upbuilding and material advancement.
Two of his brothers, Isaac and Loeb Falk, also became residents of Peru. Isaac met a tragic death. At the beginning of the Mexican war in 1846 he enlisted under Captain, afterward Colonel, John L. Wilson. It appears that after his enlistment he was engaged in securing enlistments for the company and one night started for Wabash with that purpose in view. While en route by way of the tow-path of the canal, he lost his life by drown- ing. Whether he fell into the water or was thrown in by a boatman was
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never clearly established. The other brother, Loeb, remained in Peru until his death.
Julius Falk, his father's successor in business and the only one of the family now resident in Peru, was born in the city which is still his home, February 25, 1855. He attended the public schools here until about four- teen years of age, and was afterward for two years a student in Earlham College, in Richmond, Indiana. He then entered his father's store and suc- ceeded to the business on the latter's retirement in 1878. He has occupied his present location at the corner of Main street and Broadway since 1887 and is recognized as one of the most successful, enterprising and progressive business men of Peru. He carries a large stock of clothing, men's furnishing goods and boots and shoes and has one of the most complete and finely appointed stores in his line in the state. He has inherited the business qualities of his father, and has added to them the modern methods which enable one to carry on extensive enterprises. He is persistent in the pur- suit of a purpose, is energetic and far-sighted. and his capable management has brought to him excellent and well deserved success.
Mrs. Falk was formerly Miss Jennie Wile, a native of Owensboro, Ken- tucky, and they have three daughters, -Fanny, Corinne and Aimee. The family is one of prominence in the community and many warm friends delight in the hospitality of their pleasant home.
AMES H. WILLIAMS, a veteran in the railroad service, has had many J rough and interesting experiences in the quarter of a century he has been running an engine, and has had some narrow escapes, but has passed through all with only a few bruises and without forfeiting the life of a single human being. His life history, briefly given, is as follows:
James Harvey Williams was born in St. Louis, Missouri, June 23, 1844, and is of English descent. John F. Williams, his father, was a native of England, who emigrated to this country when a young man and settled in Louisville, Kentucky, whence he subsequently removed to St. Louis, Mis- souri. For a number of years he was an ice dealer. During the gold excitement in California, in the days of '49. he left his little family and started overland for the gold fields of the Pacific coast. His death occurred
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on the plains, and he was not permitted to reach sunny California or realize his dreams of wealth. His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah T. Cox, subsequently became the wife of M. H. Eastham, now of Baxter Springs, Kansas. Following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. John F. Williams: John R., deceased, was a passenger conductor on the Pan Handle Railroad for a number of years, and was killed in an accident, August 14, 1870, between Pittsburg and Columbus; James H., whose name forms the heading of this sketch; Mary J., now Mrs. William G. Mason, of Fort Worth, Texas; and Annie, wife of J. B. Boyer, of Baxter Springs, Kansas.
James H. Williams spent his boyhood chiefly in his native city, St. Louis. Besides attending the schools of that place, he was for a time a pupil in the country schools of Montgomery county, Missouri, the schools of Taylorville, Kentucky, and the Catholic schools in Bloomfield, Kentucky. At an early age he became self-supporting. At the age of fourteen he began working for wages, two dollars per week, in a bagging factory in St. Louis. He was later employed as a farm hand in Montgomery county, Missouri, up to 1859, when he went to Alton, Illinois, and began his railroad career as a brakeman on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. He was given a fireman's position in 1860 and remained with the road until 1863, when he went to Newark, Ohio, and took a position as conductor for the original Pan Handle Company. He remained on that end of the road until 1867, since which time he has been identified with Logansport. Here he accepted a position that year on the old C., C. & I. C., and rode "the rear end of the train " till 1873, when he was given an engine. For fourteen years he was in the freight service as engineer. In 1887 his faithful services were rewarded by promotion to the passenger service, and since that date he has had charge of a passenger engine running between Logansport and Chicago. As already stated, Mr. Williams has had some thrilling experiences and nar- row escapes. In 1897 he ran into an open switch at Sherryville, Indiana, and his engine was turned over and wrecked. He, however, stuck to his post, and extinguished the fire before he realized he was badly burned.
Mr. Williams was married in Logansport, February 20, 1884, to Eva Knight, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Mehaffey) Knight. Mr. Knight was a Canadian and his wife a native of Ireland. He was for some years night foreman of the shops of the Pennsylvania Railway Company at Logansport,
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and died here March 27, 1885, at the age of fifty-two years. Following are the names of his children: Mrs. Kate Sheridan, Mrs. Elsie Minneman, Mrs. Nellie Crain, Mrs. James H. Williams, William J., Thomas, Robert and George. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two children, Harry W. and Mabel E.
Mr. Williams is a man of genial and social nature, and is popular with the various organizations to which he belongs. He is an Odd Fellow, a Forester and a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
W ILLIAM COOPER, M. D .- For twenty-two years a practicing physi- cian of Kokomo, Dr. Cooper ranks among the leading representatives of the medical profession in Howard county, for earnest, persistent labor and close application have gained him pre-eminence in his chosen calling. If fame and success were purchasable qualities many a man whom fortune has favored with wealthy ancestors would be occupying leading positions in pro- fessional circles; but learning and labor are the ladders by which all must rise, and it is those qualities which have enabled Dr. Cooper to win a place in the foremost rank of his medical brethren.
He was born in Preble county, Ohio, near Eldorado, nine miles north of Eaton, on the 21st of August, 1839, and is a son of James and Delilah (Baker) Cooper, natives of Virginia. The former is a son of Alexander Cooper, a native of Virginia, who, emigrating to Ohio, in 1832, made the journey by wagon. Securing a tract of wild land he cleared and developed a farm, upon which he made his home throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in middle life. He had a family of eight sons and five daughters. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Baker, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, and died in the Old Dominion at an advanced age. The Doctor's father was for many years a farmer of Preble county, Ohio, and is now living retired in Eldorado. About 1853 he removed to Cass county, Indiana, locating near Galveston on a farm which continued to be his home for some time. He then sold his land, removed to the town and afterward went to Iowa, where he remained for several years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Galveston, purchasing his old home there; next removed to Denver, Indiana; several
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years later located in Kokomo, and in 1889 returned to Eldorado, Ohio, where he is now living. While a resident of Kokomo his wife died, in Febru- ary, 1887, and two years later he returned to Preble county, Ohio, where he married Mrs. Charlotte Disher. He is a member of the Baptist church, as was the mother of our subject. They were the parents of six children: William; John; Isaiah A .; Martha A., wife of William Bossam, of Kokomo; and Margery, wife of Herbert Johnson, of Chicago. Four of the children yet survive.
The Doctor spent the first sixteen years of his life in the county of his nativity, and then accompanied his parents to Indiana. He acquired his pre- liminary education in a log school-house, school being conducted on the sub- scription plan, and remained with his father on the home farm until he had attained his majority. When a young man he engaged in teaching school, receiving one dollar per day for his services. While thus engaged he was married, September 2, 1858, to Miss Eliza Newcomb, daughter of John and Emily (Braden) Newcomb. Later he determined to devote his energies to the medical profession, and commenced reading medicine with his brother John. Later he entered the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, and was graduated May 27, 1867. Soon afterward he began practicing in Bur- lington, Carroll county, Indiana, where he remained until March, 1876, when he came to Kokomo. His practice here soon assumed extensive proportions, for his success in the handling of difficult cases demonstrated his superior talent and ability. He has ever been a close and thorough student of the science of medicine, has kept abreast with original lines of thought and investigation as they have been advanced and with all new inventions to aid in the practice. As his financial resources have increased, by reason of his large patronage, he has made judicious investments in realty and is now the owner of several valuable farms.
To Dr. and Mrs. Cooper were born four children: Sarah F., widow of Dr. Charles Lovell, by whom she has one child, John K .; Anna Lisle, wife of Dr. J. B. Shultz, of Logansport, by whom she has two living children; Arminta A., wife of John W. Kern, ex-reporter of the supreme court of Indianapolis; and Ronaldo M., who pursued a two-years military course at Orchard Lake Academy, Michigan, and later graduated in the literary and law departments of the University of Michigan. Subsequently he pursued a post-graduate course in that institution and is now engaged in the practice
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of law in Indianapolis, in connection with his brother-in-law, John W. Kern. The mother of this family died, and May 15, 1887, the Doctor was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary A. Jackson, widow of Amer Jackson and daughter of Jacob and Fannie Rhodes. She is a member of the Christian church and a most estimable lady. The Doctor belongs to the Odd Fellows society, and is a prominent and highly respected citizen, who throughout his connection with Kokomo has always manifested a public-spir- ited interest in its welfare and done all in his power for its upbuilding and advancement. His life has been well spent and he commands the regard of all, by reason of his sterling qualities of mind and heart.
F RANK C. MURPHEY belongs to the army of railroad men who have their homes in Logansport, Indiana. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, October, 4, 1856, and is a son of one of Chicago's first settlers.
Edward C. Murphey, his father, wasa native of the Emerald Isle, who came to this country at the age of eighteen or nineteen years; was married in Girard, Pennsylvania, and migrated to the " metropolis of the lakes " before the whistle of the locomotive was ever heard in Cook county. He acquired a large amount of property on what is known as the West Side, much of which he improved, and was for many years engaged in a real-estate and brokerage business. Among other property, he owned his office at the corner of Harrison and Halstead streets and the block which has since been replaced by the New Era building. In local political circles he was known for his outspoken opinions and for his firm belief in the principles of Democ- racy. He retired from business with large means some twenty years before his death, which latter event occurred in 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Dimpsey, died in 1872. Their children were: John, deceased, who was a stock-grower in Colorado; James, a gas-fitter, corner of Harrison and Halstead streets, Chicago; William, who died at Denver, Colorado, in 1889; Frank C., whose name introduces this sketch; and Mary, who died in Silver City. Colorado, in 1883.
Frank C. Murphey was educated in the Chicago schools. At a youthful age he became a bookkeeper for Cook & McLain, dyers, of that city, and upon severing his connection with them he entered his father's office as book- 16
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keeper, where he remained in that capacity four years. All the while he had a strong penchant for railroading and was waiting and watching for the proper opportunity to begin the business for which he believed himself best suited. At last the longed for opportunity arrived and he commenced his railroad career as a passenger brakeman on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road. He, however, remained with that company but a short time. Then he entered the service as news agent for the old firm of Riley & Sargent, pioneers in the business of introducing news agents on trains. In October, 1877, Mr. Murphey entered the employ of the old C., C. & I. C. Railroad, now a part of the Pan Handle, as passenger brakeman between Chicago and Bradford Junc- tion, the longest run on the division. He had that run four years, at the end of which time he was transferred to the freight service, in the same capacity, but was soon promoted to the position of freight conductor. September 9, 1888, he was made conductor of a passenger train, the posi- tion he has ever since filled.
In August, 1897, Mr. Murphey was sent by the trainmen west of Pitts- burg as a delegate and one of a committee to wait upon the general mana- ger to suggest the advisability of making changes in uniforms worn by pas- senger-train men.
He was married in Logansport to Miss Jessie F. Grover, a daughter of the late Captain John B. Grover, a veteran of the Mexican war. Mr. and Mrs. Murphey have three children, namely: Florence M., Winifred A. and Frances S.
A LBERT A. ROGERS, Logansport, Indiana, resides on the Rogers home- stead near this city, and is one of the enterprising young farmers of Cass. county.
Mr. Rogers is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and was born January 4, 1868, son of Joseph P. and Hester A. (Hawver) Rogers, the former a native of the "Buckeye " state and the latter of Maryland. Their family was composed of three children, - Ada C., Harry A. and Albert A. Joseph P. Rogers, the father, was by trade a carriage-maker, which he followed up to 1869. That year he came over into Indiana and in Clay township, Cass county, purchased two hundred acres of land, upon which he settled and where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1894. He then retired, moved to Logansport,
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and here passed his last days in quiet and comfort. He died December 14, 1896, at the age of sixty-eight years.
It was the year following the birth of Albert A. Rogers that the family removed to Cass county, and here on the farm above referred to he was reared and early became familiar with all kinds of farm work. On the re- tirement of his father, he took charge of the home place, and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of it,- a nicely improved and well cultivated farm.
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