USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 49
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He was united in marriage to Miss Harriet V. Kistler, by whom he has
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two children: Gertrude, wife of C. D. Meeker; and May, wife of A. L. Car- son. Dr. Spencer is a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also a member of the Encampment. He has been almost a life-long member of the White County Medical Association, of which he has been sec- retary for a number of years, and which he represents in state and national associations. He has not been active in politics, although he has always been a Republican in principle, and cast his first vote for the first candidate of that party, John C. Fremont. Firmly impressed with religious convic- tions, he early became a member of the Presbyterian church, and has ever been a prominent worker in that organization.
WILLIAM MARTINDALE.
Among those who have devoted their attention for many years to agri- cultural pursuits and who have made a success in their chosen occupation may be noted the gentleman whose name initiates this review, and who as an enterprising man and a worthy descendant of a pioneer family of this state deserves a place in the historical record of Warren county. His father was Samuel A. Martindale, a native of Miami county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married, and came to Indiana in 1838, taking the long journey with wagons and encountering all the hardships and inconveniences which fell to the early settlers. His first location was in Adams township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 33, and which forms a part of the farm on which our subject now lives.
The only improvements on this place were a small log cabin and a few acres which had been broken by the plow. After living on this place for several years Mr. Martindale removed to an adjoining farm on which he built a log cabin, replacing this a few years later with a large two-story stone house, which, however, he was not permitted to enjoy, as his death occurred just after its completion. Mr. Martindale was one of the best and most enterprising citizens of this community and took an important part in the development of his township, opening and clearing up the woods, improving farms and adding to the value of property of that section. He was a poor boy when he began life for himself and his success was entirely due to his untiring industry and perseverance. At the time of his death, which occurred December 8, 1867, when in his fifty-third year, he was the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of fine land. Mr. Martindale was married to Miss Elizabeth Mahurin, who died February 6, 1891, in the seventy-sixth year of her life. Of this marriage ten children were born, namely: Henry, Jessie and Mary, all deceased; John C., a prominent farmer of Jasper county, Indi- ana; Emma E., deceased; Rebecca, wife of John Brown, of Pine township;
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William, our subject; Eudora J., a well-known farmer of Adams township; Eliza, wife of Frank Ridenour, residing in Prairie township; and Francisca, the wife of J. M. Rynearson, of Lafayette.
William Martindale took charge of his father's farm after the latter's death and has carried on general farming ever since. In 1883 he made many improvements on the place and built the house in which he now lives. He owns three hundred and ten acres of land, two hundred and ninety of which lie in Adams township and the other twenty in Warren township. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising and has made a success of the business. His home is situated two and a half mile's east and three miles south of Pine Village, and is a pleasant and convenient place.
The marriage of our subject took place October 27, 1882, when he was united to Miss Laura F. Hoffman, and two children have been born to them, Jesse R. and Sylvester,-the latter now deceased. In politics Mr. Martin- dale is a stanch Republican, and he is a member of Lodge No. 455, A. F. & A. M., at Green Hill.
GEORGE A. JAMISON.
In business and politics, in society and church relations, the subject of this biographical notice is justly popular. A native of Tippecanoe county, and throughout his whole life closely identified with the interests of Lafayette, he is widely known, and wherever known it is safe to say that he is highly esteemed. His honorable, just, upright record is above reproach, and as a public official he manifests the same energy and fidelity to duty that he does in the management of his private business affairs. As every true patriot should do, he has always taken great interest in the success of the party which he believes to be the exponent of the best policy for his beloved country, but has never held any office within the gift of the people until 1894, when he was nominated and elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county auditor. Upon the expiration of his term he was favored with re-election, leading the ticket, and is therefore serving his second term in this responsible and trustworthy position. From time to time he represented his county in state and congressional conventions and did all within his modest power to assist his party on its successful way.
John W. Jamison, father of George A., was a native of Kentucky, and with his father, John Jamison, came to Tippecanoe county in very early. days. Here John W. grew to manhood and married Prudence Wright, whose birth had occurred in Ohio. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom George A. was the fourth. In his early manhood John W. Jamison followed farming, but from 1861 to 1876, the year of his death, he was a grain merchant. One of the organizers of the Farmers' Warehouse
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in Lafayette, he managed the same for several years and finally it was merged into a private enterprise, becoming the property of the firm of Pierce & Jamison.
George A. Jamison was born April 25, 1853, and spent thirteen years of his life on his father's farm in this county. Then he came to Lafayette, in whose public schools he received his elementary education. Later it was his privilege to attend Purdue University for a period, but he was obliged to leave the institution during his sophomore year. He then commenced learn- ing the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years and six months, but the business not being altogether to his taste he turned from it and taught in the public schools of West Lafayette for three years, meeting with success.
In 1878 Mr. Jamison went to Philadelphia, where for four years he rep- resented the Western Publishing House, of Chicago. In 1882 he returned to Lafayette and soon joined his brother in the hardware business at the foot of Main street, the firm name being Jamison Brothers. They have succeeded in building up a large and flourishing business and deal extensively in all kinds of hardware, farm implements, machinery and harness.
Few persons take more active interest in the educational problems of the day than does Mr. Jamison, who for twelve years has served as trustee of the West Lafayette public schools, his own home being situated in that section of the city. He is prominent in various fraternities, being associated with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Religiously, he is a Baptist and contributes liberally to the support of the church. In 1876 he was married, in Lafayette, to Miss Ruth Davis and they have four children, viz .: Maude D., Kathryn, Maurice and Ruth.
ALFRED NEVIN SNODDY.
This well-known and highly respected citizen of Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana,-Alfred Nevin Snoddy, -springs from Scotch and German ancestry and in his make-up is found combined the sterling traits of character peculiar to the two nationalities.
Adam Snoddy, the great-grandfather of Alfred N., was born in Scotland and came to this country at an early day. His son John, grandfather of our subject, was a resident of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming and where he passed the greater part of his life and died. He was a participant in the war of the Revolution. In Pennsylvania he married a Miss Johnson, and their children were William I., Benjamin, John and Mary. William I. Snoddy, the father of Alfred N., was born in Shippens- burg, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1792; received a good education, and passed 28
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his life as a farmer. From his native state he went to Butler county, Ohio, when a young man, and there in 1827 wedded Miss Mary B. Shrader, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born in 1801, of Pennsylvania- Dutch stock. They continued to reside in Ohio until 1834, when they moved over into Indiana and located in Tippecanoe county, Mr. Snoddy at that time entering the three hundred and twenty acres of land upon which his son Alfred N. now lives. This land the father cleared aud improved, erecting buildings, etc., and bringing his farm up to a high state of develop- ment for that day. Also he acquired other lands, owning in all seven hundred acres. He was a man above the ordinary in intellect and held a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, being honored by them from time to time with official position. Politically, he was a Democrat until 1856, when he became a member of the Know-Nothing party, and still later was a Republican. He was county commissioner in 1845 and county sur- veyor in 1856. In 1847 he was elected to the state legislature, and served acceptably one term. His religious creed was that of the Presbyterian church. For years he was an active churchman, officiating as elder and contributing liberally of his means to the support of the church and the spread of the gospel. He died in March, 1866, at the age of seventy-four years.
Alfred Nevin Snoddy was ushered into life April 21, 1834, and was edu- cated in Hanover College, Madison, Ohio, graduating there in 1855. Then taking up the study of medicine he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in 1858, receiving the degree of M. D. The next two years he was engaged in the practice of medicine in partner- ship with Dr. Fell, of Lafayette, after which he returned to the vocation in which he was reared, that of agriculture. He bought out the other heirs to the old homestead, above referred to, and now has a farm comprising two hundred and forty acres and improved in first-class manner, its substantial brick residence having been erected by him in 1875.
Mr. Snoddy married, July 13, 1859, Miss Margaret Sewright, of Frank- fort, Indiana, daughter of Wilson and Martha (Mitchell) Sewright. Mr. Sewright was born in Butler county, Ohio, of English descent, and in that county married the daughter of Judge Mitchell, a large land-owner and one of the pioneers of Clinton county, Indiana. Mr. Sewright was a substan- tial farmer, a man of prominence in his day, and served a term in the state legislature of Indiana. He died at the age of seventy-two years. His chil- dren were Margaret, Harriet, Martha B., Mary A., William and Fannie. Mr. and Mrs. Snoddy's children are Samuel A., Charles L., Martha C. and Edith E.
Mr. Snoddy is a member of the Presbyterian church at Dayton, Indi-
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ana, has been an elder in the same for thirty years, and has all these years been a generous supporter of the church. His political views have harmon- ized with those of the Republican and Prohibition parties, and while he has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs, he has ever refused to accept office, his own private business demanding his time and attention.
JAMES McADAM.
" McAdam's Gallery " is a synonym of fine photography, as the pro- prietor stands at the head of the photographic profession in Benton county, and though a comparative new-comer to Fowler he has already identified himself with the city's business interests.
Mr. McAdam was born in Harrison county, Ohio, October 20, 1845, a son of George and Anna J. (Moore) McAdam. Mr. George McAdam was a native of Harrison county, Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. He came west in 1857 and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Marshall county, Illinois, where he died in 1880, at the age of seventy years. His wife, also a native of Harrison county, Ohio, was born in 1820, married in 1840, and died in 1865. Of their eight children only four are living. John, born in 1841, died in hospital at Memphis, during the civil war; George, born in 1843, is a carpenter and contractor in Marshall county, Illinois; James, our direct subject; William A., born in 1848, died in 1896, at Mil- ford, Illinois; Ruth Ann, born in 1851, died in 1880, at Wenona, Illinois; Eliza M., born in 1854, was married to J. Snodgrass, who is a lumber mer- chant at Mason City, Iowa; Mary E., born in 1857, became the wife of W. Richey, a carpenter and contractor at Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Talford, born in 1860, departed this life at the age of two years.
George McAdam, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, came to America in 1800, at the age of thirty years, and located temporarily in Maryland, whence he came to Harrison county, Ohio, where he finally died, at the age of eighty years.
Mr. McAdam's maternal grandparents, John and Ann Jane (Glasgow) Moore, were natives of New England, and both died in Harrison county, Ohio, at about the age of sixty years.
Mr. James McAdam was educated in the public schools of Marshall county, Illinois, leaving school at the age of twenty. He engaged in the dry-goods business with his father, also at Wenona, Illinois, for about two years, and since that time has been engaged in his present business. For fifteen years he ran a profitable business at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; was two years in business at Oskaloosa, same state; at Ottumwa, also in the same state, until 1896; the following year in Milford, Illinois, and since that time
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in Fowler. He owns a finely appointed gallery, with up-to-date appliances, and does high-grade work. He is a gentleman of affable manner, devoted to home and its endearing influences.
He was married at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, June 27, 1877, to Agnes Phillips, daughter of William Phillips, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, being a member of the Sixty- second Pennsylvania Infantry. Mrs. McAdam's mother died in Pittsburg, in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. McAdam have one child living and two deceased. The eldest, Mary A., was born at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, July 19, 1878, and is the only survivor; William, born July 28, 1883, died the following day; and Edwin, born September 12, 1884, died August 10, 1885.
In religion Mr. McAdam was reared by Presbyterian parents, and he has been a member of that church for twenty years.
WILLIAM C. RHODE.
William Curtis Rhode, a prosperous farmer in Adams township, Warren county, was born in Warren township September 20, 1854, and is a son of Seymour T. and Lucy (Benge) Rhode. (For other children see sketch of Seymour T. Rhode elsewhere in this volume). His early life was spent on his father's farm and he obtained a good education in the district school, to which he has added by reading and observation, and to-day is among the well informed and progressive farmers of which Warren county has its full share.
Mr. Rhode was married September 18, 1879, to Miss Jennie Milligan, daughter of James and Elizabeth (James) Milligan. The parents were natives of Ireland and emigrated to America about 1839, making the journey on a sailing vessel that took eleven weeks on the trip, a curious contrast to the swift steamers that now carry their passengers across the water in from five to six days. The family located in Butler county, Ohio, where they lived until 1859, when they removed to Warren county and the father purchased a farm in Warren township. He died there in 1872, when fifty-nine years of age, his wife surviving him until 1884, passing away when sixty-five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan were the parents of ten children: John J., deceased; William J .; John H .; Robert A .; George W .; Sanford F .; Alfred A .; Jennie; Emma, wife of Robert Butler, of Liberty township; and Louisa, who married Jasper Rhode. Our subject and his wife have four children: Bertha E., Charles J., Seymour A. and Marshall C.
In the spring following his marriage Mr. Rhode began farming on his portion of the old homestead and lived there one year, then moved to his brother Jonathan's place, on which he remained two years, and then moved back to his original farm, where, in 1883 and 1884, he built a
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pleasant residence and has since resided. He owns two hundred acres, on sec- tions 32 and 33, in Adams township, three and a half miles south of Pine Vil- lage, and on section 5, in Warren township, and he carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising, in which he has been very successful. In politics he is a Republican.
CAPTAIN BERNARD G. SMITH.
The patriot who fought and suffered that the Union might be preserved, -that this country, now recognized as one of the greatest among the nations, might continue to be great, increasing in strength and power in the future as it had done in the past, -is entitled to praise and honor, not only in his own generation but also by succeeding ones, who are entering into the heritage made secure to them by his heroism and that of his brave comrades who " wore the blue."
Captain Smith, whose record of service on behalf of his country follows, was born in the south, against which he was obliged to take up arms some years later, on account of his earnest convictions of right and duty. He first saw the light in Harrison county, Virginia, February 19, 1838. His father, Abel T. Smith, was a native of the same county, born June 30, 1803, a son of Joshua Smith, likewise a Virginian, but of Scotch ancestry. The latter passed his whole life in the Old Dominion, dying in 1852, at the age of seventy-eight years. But two of his five sons and five daughters are now living: Joshua, a resident of Harrison county, Virginia, and Mrs. Elizabeth Horner, of Clarksburg, same state.
Abel T. Smith, who is well remembered in Big Creek township, White county, by many of his old friends and neighbors, came to this locality in 1846 and remained here until his death, January 17, 1875. With his family he passed the first winter here in a humble little log cabin, which was some- what enlarged the following season, and there they continued to dwell until January, 1854, when they took up their residence in the house which was built by Abel Smith and his sons, and has since been the home of the subject of this sketch. The father entered over five hundred acres of land and owned three hundred acres besides, which, after he had cleared and improved it, constituted a valuable property. He was a man of sterling integrity and strong personality, devoted to the causes which he considered right and unswerving in his performance of duty. First an ally of the Whig party, he later became a Republican. Religiously, he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married February 14, 1828, to Deborah Spencer Wilson, a daughter of Colonel Benjamin Wilson, a soldier of the war of 1812. The Colonel was a son of William and Elizabeth (Blackburn) Wilson, whose parents were Scotch and Irish, respectively.
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Mrs. Deborah Smith was a native of Harrison county, Virginia, her birth having occurred October 17, 1806. Her death took place about four years before that of her husband, on the 18th of April, 1871. Of their nine chil- dren three died while young; Mary Margaret Haymond lives in Los Angeles, California; B. Wilson is living in Indianapolis; Joshua S. died at the age of sixty-three years; Frances M. is the wife of Joseph W. Elliott, of Stockwell, Indiana; Henry Clay died in California, February 16, 1884; and the Captain completes the number.
Well does our subject recall the days of his boyhood in the wilderness of Big Creek township, which was gradually transformed into the fertile and prosperous farming district of the present. His educational advantages were very meager, as may be supposed, but he was of a studious disposition and was especially fond of mathematics; so, in course of time he attended school at Monticello and then taught for a few terms.
On the 9th of July, 1862, Captain Smith enlisted in Company K, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Felix W. Graham, and was sent to Kentucky. There his troop was sent in pursuit of General Morgan, who had started on his famous raid, bound for Ohio, and his regiment followed the rebels from Tennessee to the Buckeye state, taking the lead of the other pursuers. Later Mr. Smith and his comrades joined General Sherman near Tunnell Hill, Georgia, and took part in the Atlanta campaign, including the battles of Resaca, Cartersville and Cassville. He was commissioned second lieutenant in March, 1864, and on the 27th of the following May he was wounded in the left arm in the fierce battle of New Hope church, and the seven other bullet-holes in his uniform proved that, for a time, he seemed to be the special target of the enemy. After spending about twelve weeks in hospitals at Jeffersonville and Indianapolis he returned to his command, which was then at Nicholasville, Kentucky. He was then allowed to come home on a furlough, and stayed until after the presidential election of 1864. On the 3d of February, 1865, he set out from Louisville and proceeded to Pulaski, Tennessee, under orders, after which he did scout duty in that state and in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. His headquarters then were at Pulaski, Tennessee, until September 23. On June 6 he was transferred from the Fifth to the Sixth Cavalry, and he was finally mustered out of the service at Indianapolis, October 3, 1865, when he had been in possession of. his commission as captain scarcely a month. During his entire service in the army his record was of the best, and he may well be proud of the years which he freely sacrificed to his country.
Returning to the accustomed labors of life, the Captain soon became thoroughly engrossed in agriculture and has given his chief attention to the management of his farm ever since. He now owns the old homestead for-
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merly belonging to his father-a fine place of three hundred and forty acres. Politically, he has always given his hearty allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic order, in the latter being past master.
The marriage of Captain Smith and Miss Emma B. Lane was celebrated October 14, 1869. She is the daughter of Abram C. and Eliza (Wooley) Lane, was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 15, 1846, and came to this county with her parents in 1864. Three daughters and a son were born to our subject and wife. Robert C., now a resident of Indiana, is a graduate of the civil-engineering department of Purdue University. The daughters are Nellie G., Maud L. and Eliza D. In the work of the local Methodist Episcopal church the Captain and wife have been very active and efficient, the former having been superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years.
SEYMOUR T. RHODE.
Seymour T. Rhode, who was one of the early settlers of Warren town- ship, Warren county, and whose death, when in the prime of manhood, was a severe loss not only to his family but also to the community of which he was a valued citizen, was born in Ohio, February 13, 1825. His parents were Jonathan and Harriet (Anderson) Rhode.
Jonathan 'Rhode, in company with his father, John Rhode, came to Ohio from North Carolina, then removed to Indiana, in 1827, took up gov- ernment land and settled in Warren township, on the farm where the subject of this sketch spent his entire life. They were Quakers in their religious belief, and the grandfather helped to build a log church in which the weekly meetings of the Society of Friends were held. He was an active worker in the church and was a man of influence in his neighborhood. He died in 1845 and is buried in the Quaker cemetery in Adams township. Jonathan, his son, was born in North Carolina, August 22, 1788. He lived in Warren township from 1827 to 1839, thence going to Arkansas, where his wife died, in 1843, after which sad event the family returned to Warren county. The father died November 23, 1845. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, as follows: Daniel; Alice, who married William Cobb; John; Joseph; Hannah, wife of Robert McCord; Caleb, and Seymour T. Of this family, all of whom reached mature years, none are now living.
The subject of this sketch was a farmer by occupation and always lived upon the farm which his father first settled upon in Warren township. He was married, May 1, 1849, to Miss Lucy Benge, who was born February 8, 1830, in Putnam county, Indiana, and they became the parents of six chil- dren, namely: John T., who died in infancy; Jonathan D., who died March
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