USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 45
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 45
USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 45
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 45
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He has been a member of the board of the five Richmond building asso- ciations, and president of each of them. For seventeen consecutive years he represented the fifth ward in the city council. He also served on the board of public improvements and on other important committees. He has been closely identified with all the public improvements that have been made in Richmond, and was a most acceptable secretary to the board of trade for the term of one year.
On October 26, 1856, Mr. Curme was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth J. Nicholas, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the daughter of the Rev. William Nicholas. They have eight exceptionally bright children, who have received their watchful and loving care. They are: Professor George O., a · graduate of the Richmond high school, of De Pauw University at Green- castle, and of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and a post-graduate of a course at Berlin, Germany. He taught two years in Jennings Seminary at Aurora, Illinois; two years at the State University of Washington at Seattle, where he was professor of Latin, Greek and German; eleven years in Cor- nell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, teaching German and French; and in 1895 he accepted a chair in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, where he is professor of German. He is an educator of ability and a successful writer, being the author of a number of well known books. He was selected to read an inscription on the Runic stone discovered in Minne- sota in 1898, after all others had failed. 'He is also a speaker of some pre- tension, having delivered several well received lectures upon educational and scientific subjects.
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The second child, Nellie, married Rev. Frank H. Parris, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was a graduate of Jennings Seminary, a lady of many excellent attainments and an earnest church and Sunday- school worker, especially interested in the Epworth League. Her husband died in 1893, and she departed this life in 1895, at the age of twenty-seven years. Jennie, a child of much promise, died in her eleventh year. Rosa M. is the wife of David A. Thomas, of this city. Arthur A., Jr., received his education in the Richmond high school and his professional education in the Cincinnati Law School, and was admitted to the bar in Wayne county, Indiana, and at Dighton, Kansas. He is the official stenographer of the Wayne county, Indiana, circuit court, and is recognized as one of the best stenographers in the United States. Lula is a graduate of the Wesleyan Female College at Cincinnati, and of Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa. She taught in Jennings Seminary, at Aurora, Illinois, and in Taylor University, at Upland, Indiana, and is now the wife of Rev. B. H. Brentnall, pastor of the Meth- odist church at Preston, Iowa. Maggie is a graduate of Jennings Seminary and the wife of Professor W. A. Wirtz, professor of German and French at Parson College, at Fairfield, Iowa. Bessie, after attending Jennings Semi- nary and Taylor University, has been a student at the Cincinnati Conserva- tory of Music, where she will graduate this year, 1899. On the 22d of Feb- ruary, this year, she was married to Percy H. Gray, of that city.
SAMUEL MOORE.
Born July 22, 1816, on the farm which is now owned and occupied by him in Boston township, Wayne county, Samuel Moore is therefore one of the oldest living pioneers of this section. He is a really remarkable man in many ways, and now, though in his eighty-third year, he possesses more energy and general ability than many men of half his years. Though he hires assistants in the management of his homestead, he still exercises a thorough supervision of the whole and does a surprising amount of hard work himself. He belongs to that active class of agriculturists who are never ready to retire and settle down to " take life easy," which seems to be the goal ever in view to multitudes of farmers; he is not afraid of work and would not be contented to live in quiet idleness and luxury, for he realizes that work is the salvation of mankind and idleness is a curse to one's self and the community. No one can justly accuse him of not having done his share in the development of this township, and at all times he has discharged his full duty as a citizen.
Joel Moore, the father of our subject, was a native of Surry county, North Carolina, and was married in that state to Mary Tucker, of Pennsyl- vania. They removed to Indiana as early as 1810, and entered the land, a
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part of which came into the possession of Samuel Moore later. Here Joel Moore passed the rest of his life, his death taking place in 1853. He was a cooper by trade and worked at that calling to some extent and, more- over, he built a small distillery and made whisky, as many of his neighbors did at that time, for it was the one product that could be turned into ready cash in those primitive days. In the home neighborhood it commanded from fifteen to eighteen cents a gallon, and even in Cincinnati not much higher prices could be obtained for the liquor. As a boy, Samuel Moore himself worked in the distillery, helping his father. It was then considered nothing out of the common for a good church member to be employed in such manufacture and sale, and it needs cause no surprise, this being the case, when the fact is stated that Joel Moore was one of the charter members of the first Baptist church in this vicinity and that he was a zealous worker in the cause.
Samuel Moore is the only survivor of his father's large family, though they all lived to marry and have families, and, with the exception of Eliza- beth and James (the latter of whom died in Cass county, Michigan, at the age of eighty-two years) all of them remained in Wayne county. John died at the age of eighty-six; Alfred when about thirty-five; William, at thirty- five; Mary and Ruth when about thirty, and Tempe at thirty-five.
Upon starting out upon his independent career Samuel Moore was given eighty acres of the old farm by his father, who paid off the other heirs. Later Samuel Moore bought his brother William's eighty-acre farm, and in the autumn of 1858 he moved into the substantial house which he had built himself, and which for forty years has sheltered his family. As time went on, and as he prospered, he added to his original farm another tract of eighty acres, on the west, and he now owns still another place, -a quarter- section of good farm land in Harrison township, Union county. He has dealt extensively in live stock and even to this day feeds and raises a large number of cattle. He follows in his father's footsteps in the matter of politics, and is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian stripe.
September 9, 1838, Samuel Moore married Miss Margaret Matilda Jones, daughter of Smith Jones. She was reared to womanhood in Union county, and her death occurred May 21, 1851. The eldest son, James Will- iam, who had continued to live with his parents on the farm, died at the age of twenty-six years; David Thomas died at thirteen years; Mary Elizabeth is Mrs. Arbuckle, of Indianapolis; Nancy Jane is Mrs. Nickson, of Alexan- dria, Indiana; Margaret Lorena is Mrs. Saulsbury, of Anderson, Indiana; and Sarah Kathrine, widow of William M. Starr, is now keeping house for her -aged father. She became the mother of one son, Leonidas Clay Starr, who was a fine business man and electrician, and who was accidentally killed in
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San Francisco, California, in March, 1899, his untimely death ending a life ' of much promise and bringing unmitigated grief to his devoted mother and to a large circle of friends. The second marriage of Samuel Moore was celebrated October 31, 1852, his wife being Mary Butt, of Union county. She departed this life June 8, 1896, and left four children, namely: Ann Eliza, wife of Jonas Goar, of East Richmond; Lydia Alice, Mrs. Isaac Hunt, of Richmond; Jacob S., of Dunkirk, Indiana; and Minnie Agnes, wife of Harry Highley, of West Richmond.
GEORGE M. SINKS.
George M. Sinks, a prominent representative of the business interests of Connersville, was born in Bethel, Clermont county, Ohio, February 20, 1846, his parents being Randolph M. and Eleanor H. (Clarke) Sinks. His ancestral history may be traced in the sketch of his brother A. M. Sinks, elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Sinks of this review was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and during his youth he entered his father's store, where he worked during the periods of vacation, attending the local schools during the scholas- tic year. His time was thus passed until he had attained the age of thirteen, and then through the two succeeding years he gave his entire time to the task of assisting his father in the mercantile establishment which was so long a factor in the business life of the town. When a youth of only fifteen, however, he put aside all personal considerations in order to devote himself to his country's service, enlisting in August, 1861, as a member of Company H, Fifty-ninth ·Ohio Infantry. He continued at the front until November, 1864, when, his term having expired, he was honorably discharged. The principal engage- ments in which he participated were at Pittsburg Landing and Stone river, and after the latter he served in the quartermaster's department. He returned home at the expiration of his term, but after a few days entered the quartermaster's department at Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained until December, 1865. He was then employed as a clerk in the United treasury for two years.
Since 1868 Mr. Sinks has been a resident of Connersville. Here he joined his brother, A. M. Sinks, in the publication of The Connersville Times, which paper his brother had purchased a short time previously, and continued his connection with that journal, either as part or sole owner, until 1875, when he sold out and was appointed postmaster of Connersville, in which capacity he served for eight years, being appointed by President Grant and later by President Hayes. His term expired in 1883, and retiring from the office he directed his energies into manufacturing channels, having pre- viously become a stockholder and director in the Indiana Church Furni-
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ture Company. He was made secretary and treasurer in 1883, and contin- ued his active connection with the business until the fall of 1898, when he- resigned the office, although he still retains his stock in the company and is a member of its board of directors. He was one of the organizers of the Fayette County Banking Company, and since that time has been a director and vice-president.
In November, 1867, Mr. Sinks was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Holter, of Batavia, Ohio, and to them have been born three daughters. He has been accounted one of the leading citizens of Connersville throughout his residence here, and has given his aid and influence to many measures which have promoted the public good. In business circles he sustains a most envi- able reputation. His energetic nature, strong determination, sagacity and capable management have brought to him a handsome competence. He car- ries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and his busi- ness methods have ever been in strict conformity with the ethics of commer- cial life. He has now largely laid aside business care, having acquired a handsome competence that enables him to retire from arduous labor.
JESSE CATES.
The name of Jesse Cates is deeply engraved on the pages of Wayne county's history, for through many years he has been a most important factor in the agricultural and financial interests of this section of the state. Absolute capability often exists in specific instances, but is never brought into the clear light of the utilitarian and practical life. Hope is of the valley, while effort stands upon the mountain top; so that personal advancement comes not to the one who hopes alone, but to the one whose hope and faith are those of action. Thus is determined the full measure of success to one who has struggled under disadvantageous circumstances, and the prostrate mediocrity to another whose ability has been as great and opportunities. wider. Then we may well hold in high regard the results of individual effort and personal accomplishment, for cause and effect here maintain their func- tions in full force. The splendid success which has come to Mr. Cates is directly traceable to the salient points of his character. With a mind capable of planning, he combined a will strong enough to execute his well-formulated purposes, and his great energy, keen discrimination and perseverance have resulted in the accumulation of a handsome property, which places him among the substantial citizens of northern Indiana.
Mr. Cates was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, near Knoxville, March 21, 1815, and is the ninth in a family of fourteen children, whose parents were Richard and Elizabeth (Tharp) Cates, who were of English and German ancestry, respectively. In the subscription schools of his native-
Desse leates
Rebecca bates
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state Jesse Cates acquired his education, which has been supplemented by a broad and practical knowledge gained by reading, observation and business experience. In September, 1836, he came to Wayne county, Indiana, where he worked for one year at eight dollars per month, after which he carried on tanning and the boot and shoe business in Williamsburg. In the former enterprise he was associated with his brother Ephraim. He carried on the latter enterprise until 1843, when he sold his manufacturing interests and purchased his present farm, then comprising two hundred and twenty-six acres. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he fol- lowed with marked success until 1882, during which time he also engaged in the pork-packing business in Cincinnati, Ohio, for three years. From time to time he has made judicious investments in farming lands, and now has two thousand acres near Williamsburg, being one of the most extensive land- owners in Indiana. He also has a rich farm of three hundred and ninety-one acres in Randolph county, this state.
For many years Mr. Cates has been prominently connected with the banking interests of Wayne county, and his ability as a financier has made him a leader in financial circles. In 1862 he invested capital in the First National Bank, at Centerville, Wayne county, and was vice-president of that institution until 1881, when he was made president, serving in that capacity until 1885. He was also one of the original stockholders and incorporators of the Second National Bank of Richmond, and in 1885, in connection with his sons, he organized the Union National Bank of Rich- mond, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars and the follow- ing officers: Jesse Cates, president; George L. Cates, cashier; and Edwin H. Cates, assistant cashier. The subject of this review was also a director of the Citizens Bank of Hagerstown, Indiana, and was also an extensive stockholder in the Randolph County Bank, at Winchester. In his banking business he follows a safe yet progressive policy, and has made the institution of which he is president one of the leading financial concerns in this part of the state.
On the 14th of December. 1843, Mr. Cates married Rebecca Coggshal, and of their children we give the following brief record: Harvey, who was born October 29, 1844, died in infancy; Mary C., born April 3, 1847, died in 1869; Charles O., born October 9, 1849, died in 1860; Sarah J., born January 8, 1852, is the wife of Charles Stutson; Arthur L., born January 13, 1856, died in infancy; George L., born October 18, 1857, is associated in business with his father; Lucy E., born February 26, 1859, is the wife of William D. Clark, of Winchester, Indiana; Edwin H., born December 8, 1866, is also associated in business with his father.
Jesse Cates, whose name heads this review, takes a deep interest in 25
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everything pertaining to the welfare of his town and county, and contributes liberally to the support of all measures for the public good. His career has been one of almost phenomenal success. Entering upon his business career in Wayne county at a salary of eight dollars per month, he has steadily worked his way upward to a position of wealth and affluence, overcoming many difficulties and obstacles in his path, and advancing step by step along the tried paths of honorable effort until he has reached the goal of prosperity.
WARNER GARDNER.
Warner Gardner was born on the old original Isaac Gardner homestead, in Center township, Union county, Indiana, May 11, 1847, a son of Thomas and Ruth (Maxwell) (Gordon) Gardner. (For ancestral history see sketch of Edwin Gardner elsewhere in this book.) Thomas Gardner was born October 23, 1787, and died July 17, 1867. He first married Eunice Gardner, his cousin, and a daughter of Brazillaer Gardner, of North Carolina. They had the following children: Nathan, the first born, died at nineteen; Brazillaer lived sixty years; Isaac, suffering from brain disease, is an inmate of the asy- lum for the insane at Richmond, Indiana; Thomas is living in White county, Indiana; Annie died in Tippecanoe county, aged fifty-five; Walter died at twenty-five; Cyrus married Elizabeth Gordon, his step-sister, and lived near the old homestead until his death, about 1885; John died, aged about thirty- five, in 1870; Elihu, in 1873, aged forty-five; and the three daughters, Eliza, Rhoda and Isarella, inherited the old homestead. Rhoda died first, then Isarella. Eliza, who was long the head of the family, and a mother to her younger brothers and sisters, married Wilson Cline in her old age and lived in Iowa until the death of Mr. Cline, in December, 1898, and now resides in Center township. The widow Gordon, who became the second wife of Thomas Gardner, had six children by her former husband, James Gordon, who died in 1839, aged thirty-nine. Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married her stepbrother, Cyrus Gardner, and survived him some years, dying at sixty- five. Ann married Isaac Carmack and died at twenty-seven. Charles went to Minnesota in 1856 and died there, aged sixty-one. Isom makes his home with T. C. Burnside, of Center township. Jemima has not married and lives ›with Warner Gardner, her half-brother. Esther died unmarried, aged twenty- inine. Thomas Gardner and his second wife had three children: Isarella, who died unmarried, aged forty-nine; Hugh, who lives in Henry county, Indiana; :and Warner. Ruth (Maxwell) (Gordon) Gardner died at the age of forty-nine. 'She was a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Elliott) Maxwell and came with her parents to Indiana from Tennessee at the age of ten, in 1816. The family located in the northern part of Center township, Union county, where they
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both died at about the age of seventy. Her father was a thrifty Quaker farmer.
Thomas Gardner inherited a goodly portion of the Isaac Gardner prop- erty and cared for his parents during their declining years. He settled early on the farm on which his son Warner now lives and there he lived fully forty years and died in 1867. He had other tracts of land, but loved the old homestead and it was there that his relatives and friends loved to visit him. He was a born entertainer and the happiest hours of his life were those in which his house was full of company. After the death of his second wife, his daughter Eliza did the honors of the house and took real delight in enter- taining and visiting with her guests. Thomas Gardner was a friend of strict principles and a man of sterling worth. He had good business ability and acquired about two hundred acres of land. He was a constant reader of newspapers and good literature, and was as well posted as any man for miles round about and could hold his own in an argument with any. He divided his estate by will.
Warner Gardner is the only male member of his father's family living in the immediate vicinity of the old family home. He was brought up to farm life and his labor was of much assistance to his father. He served the Union cause about four months near the end of the civil war in the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry. After his father's death, in 1867, Warner and his brother Hugh lived on the home farm for a little over a year, then both married and settled on the present home place of Warner Gardner. After five or six years Hugh changed his abode and from that time Warner has resided on the farm, which he has brought to a highly productive state and increased in size. September 22, 1868, he married Miss Lucina Talbert, daughter of Jabez and Mary (Cook) Talbert. Mrs. Gardner's parents were married in 1837, and settled on the farm on which their eldest daughter, Verlinda, and Calvin Huddleston, her husband, now live.
About 1870 they removed to Henry county, Indiana, where Mr. Talbert died some years later. Still later Mrs. Talbert returned to Union county, where she is passing her closing years as a member of Mrs. Huddleston's household, on the old farm where much of her married life was passed, and near to her other daughter, Mrs. Gardner. Although a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and reared under the strict discipline of that church, she freely accords to all of her many friends the fullest right to individual views and opinions. She is a fine, matronly old lady, of the soundest sense and extremely lovable; and there are hundreds who rejoice with her that the last years of her good and happy life are being passed amid such pleasant surroundings and under loving ministrations of those who are indebted to her for a mother's protecting care and fondness. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have
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had three children, - Claribel, Everett and Frank. Claribel died November II, 1897, aged twenty-seven. This lady, who was active and prominent in church and Christian Endeavor work, was graduated at Earlham College in the class of 1893, and received the class scholarship entitling her to the edu- cational course at Bryn Mawr College, Philadelphia. She was a student there one year, then taught mathematics in Spiceland Academy, in Henry county, Indiana, for three years. Subsequently she entered the University of Chicago, but after a brief attendance there was obliged to return home by a fatal illness to which she succumbed a few days later. Everett Gardner taught three years in his home school district, and then, December 16, 1898, he married Isarella La Fuze, daughter of Ezra and Mary (Stevenson) La Fuze, and has purchased a farm. in Center township, about five miles north of his parental home, where he will be an agriculturist. The younger son, Frank, is in school.
Warner Gardner is a consistent member of the Republican party, and though not an active partisan is deeply interested in the success of its dis- tinguishing principles. At the solicitation of friends in all parts of the county he consented to become a candidate for the office of county commissioner, to which office he was elected and in which office he served from 1890 to 1893. He has been sent frequently as a delegate to important conventions of his party. Mr. Gardner was a birthright Friend and was reared in the Quaker church, of which he and his wife are active members. The Silver Creek monthly meeting was authorized by the White Water quarterly meeting, on the "fifth day of the fourth month, 1817," and " was opened and held on the tenth of the fifth month, 1817." The first declaration of marriage bears date "twelfth of seventh month, 1817." Boyd Williams and Eliza- beth Stanton were the contracting parties. Silver Creek church stood near the site of the present home of Thomas C. Burnside. In April, 1818, this meeting granted a request of Friends on the east side of Hanna's creek to hold meetings among themselves. That was the first event in the history of Salem church. The minutes of the old Silver Creek church are preserved, and are valuable and interesting for their reference to men and women who have passed away and to quaint old customs which have changed or been abolished.
JABEZ TALBERT.
The subject of this sketch was born February 18, 1816, on Calvin Hud- dleston's place, which was his home for years. He was a son of William and Miriam (Gardner) Talbert, who came to Indiana from North Carolina about the first of the present century. Their oldest child, Anna, was born in North Carolina, the rest being natives of Indiana. William Talbert never had but three months' schooling, but became a fine scholar by his own study
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at home, learned surveying and applied this to practical service in the com- munity for many years. He was long a man of standing in the community and very prominent in the Friends church. Mr. and Mrs. Talbert had these children: Anna (Mrs. Hugh Maxwell), Sarah (Mrs. John Davis), Elihu, Cyrus, Jabez, Mary (Mrs. Benjamin Paddock), Sylvanus, Aaron, Milo, Alvin and Emily. All are now dead but Milo, who lives, aged seventy-seven, at Spice- land, Henry county, Indiana. William Talbert and his good wife lived to an old age and both are buried in the Friends' burying-ground at Salem church.
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