USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
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Tanner, who were of German descent and who died in Illinois. Both were members of the Baptist church. Mr. Tanner was twice married, the children of his first union being: Mary E., wife of our subject; and Thomas, a farmer in Jasper county. By his second wife he had the following: Maggie, who married W. West; Lewis; William, a farmer; Lavina, who became Mrs. R. Ader; and Almarinda, a school-teacher at Englewood, Chicago, where she has been for eight years.
The following comprise the issue of our subject and his wife: Lotta M., wife of William Burns, a farmer; Clifford, Fred W., Frank and Emmett, the latter's birth occurring April 10, 1897.
Mr. Dowell was reared to the principles of the Republican party, in the interests of which he has always been active and influential. In nominating him for county commissioner in 1898, his party selected the right man in the right place, for a man who has made a success of his own affairs will no doubt know how to conduct those of the county.
BRAZILLIA F. FERGUSON.
The senior partner of the law firm of Ferguson & Wilson has been a resident of Rensselaer, Indiana, for twenty years, and for ten of those years he has been engaged in the real-estate business. He was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, May 31, 1850, and is a son of George W. and Nancy (Miller) Ferguson. His father was a native of North Carolina, where he taught school and was also a merchant and a mechanic. In 1852 he brought his family to Hamilton county, this state, and four years later moved to Missouri, where they experienced many hardships and dangers incident to events leading up to the war of the Rebellion. In 1859 they moved to Johnson county, Kansas, where they remained until 1863 and then came to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where the father died at the age of forty-two years. The mother was a native of Virginia and was thirty-six years old at the time of her death, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. There were three children: Eliza, wife of William C. Haymond; Brazillia F., our subject; and William H., a farmer of this county.
Mr. Ferguson received a good education, first attending the common schools and then the college at Battle Ground. After this he taught for ten years in this state. While thus engaged he was a close Bible student, and fitted himself for a theological course. He became a minister of the Free Baptist church, and for twenty-two years labored for the spiritual upbuilding of his people. He was a pleasant, convincing speaker, and his ministry was attended with many conversions. Religion to him was the cause of unbounded happiness and peace, giving to his countenance an expression
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of smiling content often lacking in many scriptural teachers. He now preaches an occasional sermon, although not regularly, and he is frequently called on to speak the last word of comfort and hope at the burial of some friend, while he is in great demand at weddings. Even during his ministry he was interested in various business enterprises here, -first in a lumber yard located at the stand now occupied by Paxton & Company, then as the prime mover in securing electric lights for Rensselaer, and still later as one of the most active and successful real-estate men in this vicinity. He first. conducted the business alone, but found it necessary to take a partner to properly care for the increasing custom, and he now has one of the largest and most substantial real-estate enterprises in this part of the state.
Mr. Ferguson has been twice married, -first to Martha A., daughter of Jesse and Mary J. Robinson, of Tippecanoe county, who left him one child, George W., a fireman on the Panhandle Railroad, at Logansport; and the second time to Harriet W. Coen, of this city. Two children have been born to them, DeMyron and Ethel.
Political affairs have always appealed strongly to Mr. Ferguson, and as a politician he has taken an active part in advancing local interests, and was chairman two years of the Republican county committee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has an unusual degree of popularity among those who have come in con- tact with him, and enjoys the confidence of everyone. He began the study of law about ten years ago and was admitted to the bar of Jasper county June 22, 1893, and is now a member of the well known law firm of Ferguson & Wilson and is doing a general law business.
LOUIS H. HAMILTON.
Among the self-made men in Jasper county, Indiana, none are more deserving of honorable mention than its county superintendent of public instruction, Louis H. Hamilton.
Mr. Hamilton came to Jasper county in 1879 from the Orphans' Home in Indianapolis, being brought here when eight years old by John G. Culp, a farmer, with whom he remained six years, as soon as he was old enough working and attending school. Since he was thirteen years old he has "shifted for himself." Having a high temper and disliking restraint, his life, as he drifted about, was attended. with many an unpleasant incident. He was industrious, however, and he worked at anything he could get to do, principally farming. In an accident with a clay-crusher, July 20, 1887, he lost an arm, and in this condition, unable to do manual labor, he realized the need of an education. Accordingly, in September following, he entered 47
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school at Rensselaer, determined to settle down to study and make some- thing of himself. He graduated at the Rensselaer high school in 1891, after which he alternated teaching and attending school, teaching in winter, and in summer pursuing advanced studies at Valparaiso and Terre Haute. In this way he acquired both the theory and practice of teaching, and rapidly worked his way to the front, having been elected to his present position, that of county superintendent of public instruction, in 1897. In the meantime he successfully passed a rigid examination and received a state professional license. Considering the rapid strides Professor Hamilton has already made in the educational field, it is fair to predict that still higher positions of prom- inence and honor await him.
Mr. Hamilton married Miss Mary Robinson, of Hanging Grove town- ship, Jasper county, Indiana, and they have two children, Fred and Marie, aged respectively four and one years.
Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, and, fraternally, with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Foresters.
JAMES YEOMAN.
James Yeoman, whose post-office is Rensselaer, has resided for over fifty years in Jasper county and is one of the most successful and influential farmers and stock-raisers in this section of the state. He was born in Fay- ette county, Ohio, September 20, 1832, a son of Stephen B. and Hannah (Smith) Yeoman. His grandfather, James Yeoman, a native of New York, and of English descent, was born June 15, 1775, and was a farmer by occu- pation. He moved to Ohio and there died. His wife, Sally (Bates) Yeo- man, born April 1, 1779, lived until 1873, reaching the advanced age of ninety-three years. Both were members of the Baptist church. Their chil- dren were as follows: Abigail; Stephen B .; Joseph D., who was among the first settlers of Jasper county, coming here in 1834; Cyrene; Ira; Alva Jared; Luddia; Minerva; and Samantha.
Stephen B. Yeoman, father of our subject, was reared and married in Ohio and in his youth learned the trade of a wheelwright and also made spin- ning wheels. He afterward engaged in farming and was known as a man honorable in all his dealings. He lived in Ohio, where all his children but one were born, until 1844, when he removed to Jasper county, Indiana, and bought the farm on which our subject now lives. He eventually became a large land-owner and had succeeded in providing his family with abundant means when he was seized with the typhoid fever, from the effects of which he died September 9, 1845. He was a strong Democrat, active and influen-
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tial, and while living in Ohio served as justice of the peace. His wife sur- vived him for many years, keeping the family together, opening up and improving the land, and although she had many hardships and deprivations to encounter she managed to rear and educate her children so as to make them intelligent and useful citizens, all of them becoming prominent in after life. She died January 14, 1875, at the ripe age of seventy-two years. Her father was James Smith, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early day and followed farming. The children of this family were Joseph, James, Rachel, Jemima, Sarah and Hannah, the mother of our subject. The chil- dren of the Yeoman family were as follows: Joseph, living in Rensselaer; Sarah, Mrs. W. H. Stewart; Alvira, who became Mrs. John Slatery; Mary, Mrs. H. Coen; Minerva, the wife of W. P. Hopkins; Elizabeth, who mar- ried L. Saylor; John, who died in Colorado; Ira, living in Remington, Indiana; Stephen, a farmer and school superintendent of Gosper county, Nebraska.
James Yeoman was twelve years old when he came with the family to Jasper county, and after the death of his father he remained with his wid- owed mother, assisting her in all her laborious duties and in every way act- ing the part of a dutiful son. He obtained his education in the common schools, where he improved every opportunity for learning, and when quite a young man he for some time engaged in teaching school. In 1858 he was married and settled on a part of the home farm, subsequently moving to his mother's house and caring for her in her declining years. Soon after her death he bought the interest of the other heirs and became the owner of the home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has added adjoining land, the whole now comprising four hundred and forty-four acres of good land. He has built a commodious two-story frame house and has made many permanent and valuable improvements on the place. He also owns property in Rensselaer, which he rents. In addition to general farming Mr. Yeoman has given considerable attention to raising and shipping cattle and hogs, also buying large quantities of stock, which he feeds and sends to market.
The marriage of Mr. Yeoman took place July 1, 1858, his wife being Miss Phebe Benjamin, who was born in Jasper county, March 19, 1840. She is the daughter of Samuel H. Benjamin, who came to Jasper county in 1837 with his widowed mother and entered land in this and Newton county, dying in the latter in 1895. He was an important factor in developing this section of the country and was an energetic and enterprising man. He was a prim- itive Baptist minister by profession and was honored and loved by all who knew him. The children of this family were as follows: Jared, Phebe A., wife of our subject, and Jane. The father was married a second time, his wife being Miss Elizabeth Price, a daughter of Joseph Price, a primitive Bap-
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tist minister, one of the early settlers of Jasper county. Of this last marriage two children were born,-Rial and Siloma.
To Mr. and Mrs. Yeoman six children were born, namely: David, who died March 3, 1885, at the age of twenty-two years, while a student at the university at Lebanon, Ohio; Effie M., wife of H. Wade, of Rensselaer; Alma J., wife of C. G. Hammond, a teacher at Mount Ayr; Charles R., living at Rensselaer; James M. and Grace, at home with their parents. Mrs. Yeo- man is a member of the Free-will Baptist church, while her husband be- longs to the Methodist denomination. Mr. Yeoman was formerly a stanch Democrat, but for the past ten years has been in sympathy with the Prohi- bition party, although in the election of 1896 he voted for William J. Bryan. He has filled nearly all the township offices, having been trustee, assessor, justice of the peace, etc. Socially he belongs to Iroquois Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F., at Rensselaer. He is a man of undoubted integrity of charac- ter and is respected wherever known.
ALEXANDER L. WEST.
An enterprising, progressive young farmer of Jefferson township, Newton county, is he of whom this sketch is penned. He was born on the identical homestead which he now owns and carries on, and during his entire life he has been closely associated with the welfare of this community.
Our subject's father, Nathaniel West, was born in Salem, Massachu- setts, October 15, 1815, a son of Nathaniel and Mary B. (White) West, like- wise natives of the Bay state. They had eight children, of whom two, George and Mrs. W. Noble, of Indianapolis, survive. In 1836 Nathaniel West, Sr., came to this state, and, buying a tract of land adjoining the cor- poration limits of Indianapolis, he erected a mill, operated by water power, and continued to carry on this enterprise, in connection with farming, until his death in 1842, when he was fifty-seven years of age. His wife departed this life two years later, when she was in her fifty-ninth year. Both were devout members of the Unitarian church.
Nathaniel West, Jr., was an exceptionally well educated, able man, one who would have commanded respect in any community. He was but fif- teen years of age when he entered Harvard College, where he was graduated with eighty-two other students, in the class of 1834. Two years later he re- moved to this state with his father and soon assumed the superintendency of the mill near Indianapolis. After ten years spent in that business, he turned his attention to the buying and selling of real estate there until 1860, when he came to this county and established himself in the same occupa-
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tion at Kentland. Becoming the county land agent, he did more than al- most any other man to secure good, permanent settlers in this region. Hav- ing the data of the county in his possession, he found that one tract, curi- iously enough, had never been entered, and this he proceeded to do, taking up the property in his own name. The farm, which is situated three and a half miles south of Kentland, was thenceforth his place of abode, and in time he extended its boundaries to two hundred and forty acres. In 1868 he was elected clerk of the court of Newton county, on the Independent ticket, which office, after holding for three years, he resigned in favor of Andrew Hall, his successor. He was prominent in the ranks of the local Democracy and was repeatedly urged to become a candidate for one or another import- ant county office, but almost invariably refused to allow his name to go be- fore the public. In his early manhood he studied medicine to some ex- tent, and later was admitted to the bar, after due preparation; but to neither profession could he determine to devote his energies. A man of the utmost integrity and justice, he was honored and admired by all, and died April 13, 1896, regretted and mourned by a multitude of sincere friends.
His first marriage, celebrated in 1843, was with Miss Esther J. Harvey, of Wayne county, Indiana. She died in 1845, at twenty-two years of age, and their only child, Francis, died in 1878. In 1859 Mr. West married Miss Elizabeth A. Cook, daughter of Dr. Jesse Cook, an early resident of Indian- apolis, in which city he died. Mrs. West, now about sixty-five years of age, makes her home with her children, and is a devoted member of the Method- ist Episcopal church, as were her parents before her. Her brothers and sisters were Sylvester, William, George, Mary, John and Bertha. Lillie, the eldest child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth West, was the first child born at Kentland, and she is now the wife of Joseph Barnes. Charles H., the eldest son, a leading Democratic politician of Benton county (which is strongly Republican), Indiana, and for many years county superintendent of schools, has been a candidate for the offices of county treasurer and joint representa- tive. William, the next in order of birth, started for the Klondike region in Alaska, and has not been since heard from. Ada is the wife of E. Hawkins; Clara married Mr. Hays; Mary is Mrs. R. E. Manier; and Howard, the youngest, is now living with our subject.
Alexander L. West was born June 12, 1867, and attended the common schools of Kentland. He has always resided on the paternal homestead, and early evinced a great fondness for agriculture. Having purchased the inter- ests of the other heirs, he remodeled the farm buildings, and has made other substantial improvements, not the least of which was the planting of a new orchard. He operates a thresher and hay-press during the season, and in numerous ways manifests the progressive spirit of the age. Politically he is
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a Democrat, and has been a candidate for the offices of township and county treasurer.
In September, 1892, Mr. West married Clara, only daughter of Captain H. K. and Sally (McClain) Warren. The father, who was born in Oneida county, New York, November 3, 1833 went to Michigan with his parents in 1836, who settled near Adrian. He grew to manhood there, for several years was a clerk in the Adrian post-office, then for three years he was an em- ploye of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, and in 1857 ac- companied his parents to Newton county. Early in 1861 he enlisted under General Milroy, and was commissioned first lieutenant of Company H, Fif- teenth Regiment of Indiana Volenteer Infantry, known as the Iroquois Rangers. In the following summer he was mustered into the three-years service and went to the front, where he participated in many of the memor- able campaigns of the war, and on one occasion he had the honor of an in- terview with General Lee, who came under a flag of truce. In 1862 Mr. Warren was commissioned as captain, and was assigned to the staff of Gen- eral Wagner, as provost marshal. By the explosion of a shell at the battle of Stone river, his horse was killed under him, and the wounds and shock which he himself sustained unfitted him for further service.
Resigning he returned home, in the spring of 1863, and after a time was elected sheriff of Newton county. He was re-elected to that position in 1 868 and in 1870, and in 1879 was appointed coroner of this county, by Governor Williams. In 1882 Captain Warren was influential in the organization of a Grand Army post, and was chosen as its first commander, which office he held until his death, October 26, 1896. He was a Mason and an Odd Fel- low. In 1867 he had married Miss Sallie, daughter of Dr. J. H. McClain, an early-day preacher and later a physician of Sheldon, Illinois. Mrs. Warren, who died September 14, 1893, was a consistant member of the Methodist church. Her only son, Willie H. Warren, born July 9, 1868, died April 27, 1869. Mrs. West, who was born July 25, 1870, has become the mother of a son, Lanier, born July 11, 1894, a bright, interesting child, the pride of the little household; and an infant, George Dewey, born June 27, 1899.
ORLANDO MCCONAHAY.
One of the old residents and respected citizens of White county is the subject of this review, now living in Monon. He was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, February 14, 1831, the third child of Ranson. and Mary (Thompson) Mcconahay, who were natives of Kentucky and were married in that state. When our subject was but three years old he was brought to this county by his parents, and from the time of his first recollections he has been
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a citizen of this section of the state, and has been loyal, interested, and ac- tively concerned in its upbuilding and development.
Ranson Mcconahay was born and grew to manhood in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and in 1829 he started with a yoke of oxen and a two-wheeled cart for central Indiana. He stopped at a point about six miles south of La- fayette and engaged in teaching school and farming there for a few years. About 1833 he removed to White county and located on land on the bank of the Tippecanoe river, south of Monticello. There also he taught and farmed at the same time, at intervals working at his trades of shoemaking and black- smithing, for he was a man of many talents, and when circumstances made it advisable he could turn his hand to some other employment. For a few years he owned and cultivated land north of Monticello, in Liberty township, and later he became a resident of Monticello itself. Appointed clerk, to fill out the unexpired term of William Sill, clerk of the court of White county, he was afterward regularly elected, and served altogether about ten years in that responsible position, giving general satisfaction to all concerned. He was the second person to hold the office in White county, being elected on the Democratic ticket, as he was affiliated with that party. His busy life came to a close in Pulaski county, when he was sixty-eight years of age, and at the time he was engaged in a mercantile business. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow. His father, David McConahay, of Scotch-Irish descent, was born, lived and died in Pennsylvania, a few years of his life being spent in Kentucky, however. He followed agricultural pursuits and met with success in his financial undertakings. Mary, wife of Ranson Mcconahay, was a native of Campbell county, Kentucky, and was married there. Her father likewise was born and reared in the Blue-grass state.
The first school attended by Orlando Mcconahay was taught by his father, at a place south of Monticello. The lad received a liberal education, finishing his studies in the graded schools of Monticello. When his father was appointed deputy clerk the youth assisted him in his duties, and in turn became deputy. He learned all the details of the place, and upon the ex- piration of the senior man's service young Mcconahay was elected clerk, - this event occurring in 1858. He was re-elected in 1862, and thus acted for eight years as clerk and for five years had been deputy clerk. In the mean- time he had taken up the study of law, and now proceeded to engage in practice, opening an office in Monticello. In that city he also engaged in the grocery business, and for thirty-seven years was a well known figure in commercial and professional circles of the place. Desiring a change of loca- tion, he went to Lafayette, where he established an office for the practice of law, and for two and a half years he was justice of the peace. In 1886 he came to Monon, where he is engaged in legal work, collecting and real-estate
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transactions. Until the breaking out of the war he gave his allegiance to the Democratic party, but is now a stanch Republican. Formerly he was iden- tified with the Masonic order, but is now non-affiliated.
The first marriage of Orlando Mcconahay was to Sarah A. W. Ritchey, a native of this county. Their only surviving child is Samuel T., a mer- chant of Attica, Indiana. Mr. Mcconahay married for his second wife Miss Maria L. Price. By her marriage to Mr. Mcconahay she had one child, Asenath Blanche, now Mrs. Frank Fox, of Lowell, Indiana. The present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Ellen L. Barlow. She has two chil- dren by her previous marriage, namely: Mary, wife of Charles Montgomery, of Lowell; and Isaac, of Monon, Indiana. There are no children by the present marriage.
GEORGE W. BURK.
This prominent citizen of Jasper county, who has for many years been prominently identified with farming interests and stock-raising, was born in Tippecanoe county, this state, July 31, 1833, a son of John and Sarah E. (Phillips) Burk. He was reared to farm pursuits, and although his early schooling was somewhat neglected, he later obtained a good, practical educa- tion. In 1850 he came to Jasper county with his parents, both of whom died soon after, leaving our subject no other legacy than a pair of strong hands and a courageous disposition, and with these he started out to win his way in the world. He secured employment as a farm hand at six dollars a month, where he worked one season and then engaged in the service of an- other farmer, with whom he remained for nearly six years. Some time later he began buying and selling a few cattle, which was the entering wedge to an industry in which he expanded as time went on. In 1857 he became associated with another farmer, with whom he remained two years, and in September, 1859, he moved to the farm on which he now resides. Two years later, such was his financial success that he began buying the interests of the heirs who were in possession of the place, but it was eleven years be- fore he paid up the entire sum and became sole owner.
The farm of Mr. Burk is situated four miles north of Rensselaer, and a great many improvements have been made by him since he began to occupy it, he having built a commodious and comfortable house, a large barn, set out a fine orchard and in other ways changed the place into a valuable piece of farm land. The property at first comprised two hundred and twenty- seven acres, to which Mr. Burk afterward added one hundred acres, but sub- sequently sold the latter. Ever since he commenced farming on his own be- half he has handled some stock, most of which consists of cattle, with which he has been quite successful. He has always been a hard worker, living up
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