USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical memoirs of Blackford County, Ind. : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography embellished with portraits of many well known residents of Blackford County, Indiana > Part 50
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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continued to advance step by step until he attained to a position of prominence and influence and by industry and economy ac- cumulated a competence which placed him- self and family in a condition of independ- ence. He was a friend to the poor, many of whom shared liberally of his bounty, and his public spirit led him to advocate both by his voice and means the furtherance of any movement having for its object the advance- ment of the city's interests. His was indeed a full and complete life and at its close he rests well. "Mark the ways of the just for the end of that man is peace."
EUGENE ABBOTT.
The gentleman whose name introduces this biography is a native of Michigan, and the son of Horatio and Angeline (Cory) Abbott. His paternal grandfather, Pom- eroy Abbott, was a soldier of the war of 1812 and an early pioneer of Michigan, in which state the father was also born. The latter was a carpenter by occupation and in after years a grocer. He came to Indiana in 1857, and the subject's mother died at La- porte, this state, on the 4th day of March, 1858.
Eugene Abbott's birth occurred in the county of Hillsdale, Michigan, March I, 1857, and when one year old he was taken by his parents to the city of LaPorte, where he attended school until the age of fifteen, In his sixteenth year he took up the painter's trade, which he followed until twenty-two. From that time until he was twenty-eight years of age our subject engaged in traveling and dealing in horses and then engaged in the hotel business at Vincennes where he
ministered to the wants of the traveling pub- lic for a period of eight years, the greater part of the time as a silent partner. For about ten years the proprietor of a sample room in the above place, and in 1894 dis- posed of his interests there and came to Hartford City where he is now engaged in the liquor business in connection with the general agency of the Columbia Brewing Company of Logansport, Indiana.
Mr. Abbott is also engaged in the manu- facture of all kinds of soft drinks, mineral, carbonated waters, etc., doing a large and lucrative business, supplying not only the local demands for the products of h estab- lishment, but shipping to other points in the vicinity of Hartford City, and also making frequent consignments to places more re- mote. His factory has a yearly capacity of over four thousand cases, and by reason of the superior quality of his drinks the de- mand, already large, is constantly on the increase.
Mr. Abbott was elected to the city coun- cil in 1896 and served as a member of that body four years, retiring in 1900. He proved a valuable municipal legislator and was earnest in behalf of the city's interest as a member of some of the most important committees during the period of his incum- bency. He was united in marriage, March 14, 1878, to Miss Lucinda B. Morford, daughter of John Morford, the issue of which union was one child, Mabel, who died in childhood.
Mr. Abbott is a member of Palato Coun- cil, No. 292, Royal Arcanum, and also be- longs to the I. O. O. F., holding membership in Wabash Lodge, No. 20. He is a first- class business man and has met with finan- cial success commensurate with the efforts displayed in the various enterprises with
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which he has been identified. He possesses a pleasing personality and combines the faculties of making and retaining strong friendships among all classes of people. Since becoming a resident of Hartford City he has won a large share of public esteem and conducts himself as a gentleman jealous of the good reputation he enjoys.
MRS. MARY J. BEATIL.
Mrs. Mary Beath is an old and highly estemed lady, residing at this time in Hart- ford City, where she is widely and favor- ably known and greatly respected for her many virtues and admirable qualities of mind and heart. Her first husband was John Davis, whose father, William Davis, was born on October 31, 1772, and whose mother, Dreu- villa (Olney) Davis, was born April 20, 1770. William Davis was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father, whose name is unknown, served in the war of the Revolu- tion.
John Davis was born in the town of Lowell, Washington county, Ohio, August 10, 1814, and married Mary Jane Cusick, on the 20th day of August, 1840. Mrs. Davis was born November 1, 1822, and became the mother of children as follows: William died in infancy; Willard, the second child, died in November, 1864, while serving as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion; Mary married Leonard Hart, and has twelve chil- dren ; she lives at this time in the territory of Oklahoma. The fourth child is Elizabeth, who married Milton D. Ward, and reared the following children: Jeannette, deceased ; Sarah C., Charles S., George O., William H., John W., Walter L. and Mary J. Cath- arine Davis, the next in order of birth, mar-
ried Wesley Morton and departed this life in November, 1886. Emma Davis was the next born and is also deceased. Mar- garet, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Slater. Mr. Davis, the father of the above named children, departed this life on the 2d day of May, 1856. Mrs. Davis subsequently, June 1, 1863, entered into the marriage relation with Lair Run- yan, who was born in the year 1798. Mr. Runyan's first wife was Abigal Bumgarner, to whom he was united October 29, 1819. The subject's third husband was John Beath, who was born January 19, 1809, in Ohio and as early as 1836 came to Blackford county, of which he remained an honored resident until his death, on the 29th day of January, 1885. In early life Mr. Beath was a farmer, but later turned his attention to carpenter- ing, which he carried on for a number of years in connection with agricultural pur- suits.
Mr. Beath was a man of affairs and for a period of about twenty-five years served as justice of the peace, besides holding the office of county commissioner a number of terms. He was indeed a representative citi- zen, well known throughout the county for his public spirit, and few stood as high as he in the estimation of the people. He aban- doned farming in 1863 and removed to Hartford City. From that time until called from the scenes of his earthly labors he de- voted his best energies to the public good and accomplished much for the material, mor- al, intellectual and religious interests of the city and county. His career was marked by an unselfish devotion to the welfare of man and his memory will be long cherished by those he helped along life's rugged highway. Mrs. Beath affiliates with the Methodist Protestant church.
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ISAIAH GILBERT.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article is the proprietor of the caption of this article is the proprietor of the leading livery barn of Hartford City. He is the son of Martin and Lydia A. ( Houts) Gil- bert and was born in Indiana November 24, 1857. Reared on a farm he attended the district schools until nineteen years of age, at which time he engaged in agricultural pursuits and continued this useful and time- honored vocation until 1893. In that year he engaged in the livery business in the town of Ponto, Wells county, and after remain- ing for some time at that place disposed of his stock and removed to Hartford City, where he erected a large and commodious building and resumed the livery business up- on a much more extensive scale. At this time Mr. Gilbert has the best equipped es- tablishment of the kind in the city and is fully prepared to meet all the demands of the public in his line. He keeps sixteen fine roadsters, with a full complement of bug- gies, phaetons, surries, carriages, hacks, etc., besides doing a thriving business in the way . of caring for horses belonging to other par- ties, having quite a number of regular boarders, and at the same time realizing handsome returns from transient custom- ers. In connection with his regular livery he has a large feed yard and hitching shed, which is well patronized, especially upon pub- lic occasions when large numbers of people visit the town.
Mr. Gilbert was married in the year 1882 to Mrs. Catharine Price Gilbert, daughter of Thomas and Georgina ( Williamson) Price, who has borne him five children, namely : Jennie A., Homer J., George R., Frank E. and Nellie M. By a previous marriage with
William Gilbert Mrs. Gilbert had four chil- dren, as follows: Charles M., William T., Ettic G. and an infant, the last two decease.1.
Mr. Gilbert is one of the leading Demo- crats of Hartford City and has contributed much to the success of his party, in recogni- tion of which he has been honored with the candidacy of the office of sheriff. He is a very active worker as well as an able and discreet counsellor. Fraternally he belongs to Blackford Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., and is also identified with the Order of Mac- cabees, his name appearing upon the records of local organization No. 50, of Hartford City.
Personally Mr. Gilbert is an affable gen- tleman and possesses those characteristics which render one popular with the people. He numbers his friends by the hundreds in Hartford City and Blackford county and in his relations with the public through the medium of his business has become quite popular with the traveling fraternity, all of whom speak of him in terms of the greatest praise. His business, encouraging from the beginning, has steadily increased until, as already stated, he stands at the head of the livery trade in Blackford county and he con- templates a much more extensive business in the future. He has earned his present commendable standing by true merit and it is eminently fitting to class him with the suc- cessful men of the city in which he resides.
GEORGE RAPP.
Conspicuous among the well-known Ger- man-American citizens of the county of Blackford is George Rapp, who was born on the 4th day of September, 1859, in the town
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TIIE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Claishorbah-by-the-Rhine, Germany, the son of George and Elizabeth ( Hoffman) Rapp. When of sufficient age he entered the schools of his native place, which he attended until his fourteenth year, and later pursued his studies for some time in night schools, devoting his days to labor of various kinds. He first found employment in a distillery, where he worked two years, and then began to learn butchering, which in his native cout try is a trade requiring considerable instruc- tion and no little practice to master. After working at this about one year young Rapp matured plans for coming to America; ac- cordingly he bid adieu to the fatherland, Oc- tober 18, 1880, and turned his face to the great western world beyond the waters where, he was told, much better advantages awaited him. In due time he landed in New York, November 2, 1880, two days after Garfield was elected, and after remain- ing in that city thirteen days proceeded west- ward to Cincinnati, where he joined an uncle, John Hoffman, who had come to the United States some years previous. After working in his uncle's meat market for a short time Mr. Rapp went to Montpelier, Indiana, where his brother Andrew then lived, and he worked for the latter until 1884 at which time he came to Hartford City and took service with Peter Lacy. After con- tinuing in that gentleman's employ for a period of eighteen months he engaged with John Newbauer, whose meat market he con- ducted about three years, making an exten- sive acquaintance throughout Blackford and neighboring counties the meantime. During the succeeding six years he was empl. 1 by Jason Huggins, at the expiration of which period, in the fall of 1893, he opened a meat market of his own, which he conducted suc- cessfully until 1899. In the fall of the lat-
ter year he rented his place, but did not long remain out of business, resuming it again the following spring and carrying it on to the present time.
Mr. Rapp was married July 10, 1883, to Miss Lena Anderson, daughter of George and Maria (Roberson) Anderson, whose birth occurred in Randolph county, Indiana, on the 9th day of July, 1863. Mrs. Rapp is of English descent and comes from one of the oldest pioneer families of the county of Randolph. Mr. and Mrs. Rapp are the par- ents of the following children : Stella May, George Earl, Raymond Ray and Helen Marie.
Mr. Rapp is a member of Blackford Lodge No. 262, I. O. O. F., being treasurer of the same at the present time. He attended the Grand Sovereign lodge, recently held at Detroit, and there won the first prize for in- dividual sword drill. Later he won another individual prize, which facts attest the ef- ficiency which he has attained in the order. He received his naturalization papers in Wells county, Indiana, in 1892, since which time he has been a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of our free institutions. As an American citizen he fully appreciates the government of the United States.
Mr. Rapp inherits in a marked degree the sturdy characteristics of the German race, together with the finer instincts with which that people are endowed. He is hon- est, frugal and industrious and since leaving the fatherland has met with well earned suc- cess in the way of accumulating wealth, be- sides making for himself a reputation against which nothing questionable has ever been mentioned. He is master of his business, knows how to earn and save money, and he stands for what is truest and best in our citi- zenship. Ile is popular with the people of
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his adopted city and all with whom he has business or other relations pronounce him an uprigl:, intelligent gentleman.
SAMUEL GETTYS.
Our subject was born in Blackford coun- ty, Indiana, November 19, 1850, and is the son of james and Sarah (Moore) Gettys. , His first knowledge of books was obtained in a little old log school house in the north- ern part of Licking township, where he pursued his studies at intervals until his fifteenth year. At that early age he be- gan earning wages for himself in the con- struction of the Pan Handle Railroad where he worked the greater part of the time for five years, being variously employed, prin- cipally in grading the Logansport and Brad- ford divisions. He was also employed three years on the State Line and Richmond divisions, at the end of which time, in 1873, he severed his connection with the road and turned his attention to other pursuits. From 1873 to 1876 he was engaged in trading on the Ohio river and in the latter year, in com- pany with three friends, went to Moorfield, Harvey county, West Virginia, and con- tracted to erect stone work for two large bridges across the southern branch of the Potomac river. Upon the completion of this work Mr. Gettys returned to Blackford county where, on the 30th day of December, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Almeda Lillibridge, daughter of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Mills) Lillibridge, a union blessed with seven children, namely: Bes- sie E., born November 2, 1877, married Clarence Rollins, of Hartford City; Ruth M., born May 8, 1885; Samuel C., born
June 24, 1887; Mary L., born April 24, 1889, and James V., whose birth occurred November 5, 1895, and two that died in in- fancy unnamed.
For a number of years Mr. Gettys served as justice of the peace and he also held the office of constable, in both of which posi- tions his duties were discharged in a man- ner highly satisfactory to all concerned.
In August, 1877, he was appointed dep- uty sheriff by his uncle, John Saxton, at the expiration of whose term he was retained in the same position during the incumbency of S. L. Gadbury. By reason of failing health, he resigned the position in 1880 and took a trip to the Rocky mountains, where he re- mained three months to the great benefit of his physical powers. Upon his return to Hartford City he again entered the sheriff's office as deputy, in which capacity he has since continued. With the exception of the time spent in the west in quest of his health Mr. Gettys has been connected with the court house of Blackford county continuous- . ly since 1877, his long period there attesting his ability to fill the position satisfactorily, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to say that the public has never been served by a more careful or obliging official. At the present time he is the efficient circuit court bailiff, appointed thereto by the judge of the court who, recognizing his worth, took this means of rewarding him.
Mr. Gettys is a member of the Pythian fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 135, Hart- ford City, in which he has been called to fill various official positions. He is active in all work connected with the order and has done much to advance its interests since becom- ing identified with the lodge above named.
Mr. Gettys possesses a winning person- ality and the happy faculty of making friends
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wherever he goes. IIe is full of spirit, leaves nothing undone which he undertakes and his reputation as an honorable gentleman has never been impeached or even suspected during the period of his residence in Hart- ford City. Indeed his life, passed within the confines of Blackford county, is an open book read by the public, which so far has found nothing to criticise, but much to com- mend. While heretofore filling subordinate places his many friends are justified in pre- dicting for him something higher and more remunerative in the future. Whether or not these optimistic prophecies will result in ful- fillment, of one thing everybody is certain, to- wit : That no gentleman stands higher in the public esteem than Samuel Gettys or is more entitled to the confidence of the public.
ASHLEY WELLS CLARK.
The gentleman whose biography is here- with presented traces his genealogy back to the pilgrim fathers of Massachusetts and clearly establishes kinship with some of the most illustrious members of that historic company. After a number of years in the Plymouth colony several of the Clark family moved to Connecticut, others went to Ver- mont, some finally drifted to New Hamp- shire, while not a few of their descendants eventually settled in various parts of New York. The subject of this mention is de- scended from the Connecticut branch and he is also remotely related to quite a number of the name who have lived for several genera- tions in Oneida county, New York, where a number of Clarks have been for many years identified with affairs of church and state.
Mr. Clark's paternal grandfather was a personage of local prominence and is remem- bered as a man of gigantic stature and much more than ordinary powers of mind. IIc lived to the age of eighty-eight and his an- cestors before him were noted for longevity and great physical endurance. Gardner Clark, father of Ashley W., was born in Oneida county, November 28, 1835, and the mother, whose maiden name was Mary So- phronia Fenton, also a native of the same state, was born on the 19th day of February, 1847. Our subject's maternal ancestors were among the first white settlers of Con- necticut and later they figured in the pioneer history of York state, where many of the name still reside. The grandfather of Mrs. Mary S. Clark was for many years a noted sea captain and other members of the Fen- ton family were also seafaring.people, but the majority appear to have been tillers of the soil.
Ashley Wells Clark was born November 17, 1867, in New Albany, Indiana, and when four months old was taken by his par- ents to Alma, Michigan. He attended the schools of the latter place during his youth- ful years and at the age of thirteen entered a glass factory for the purpose of learning glass gathering, a branch of the trade at which he soon became an expert. After be- coming familiar with his trade, he began working at the same in Michigan and later found employment in Bellaire, Findlay, and Fostoria, Ohio, Wellsburg, West Virginia, Streator, Illinois, and Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and finally, in 1896, came to Hartford City, Indiana, where he has since been act- ively engaged in the manufacture of glass with encouraging financial results.
Mr. Clark was married, August 5, 1891, to Phebe Adaline Saxbee, daughter of John
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and Margaret (Donald) Saxbee, the issue of which union is two children: Gladys, born October 9, 1893, and Clarence, born April 15, 1897, died on the 24th day of October following. Mr. Clark is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Hartford City Camp. No. 4962, in which he fills the office of sentry at the present time, and he also belongs to the Knights of Labor. Since December, 1891, he has been preceptor and chairman of the apprentice board, in which his services have been productive of much benefit.
Mr. Clark is a master of his trade and his skill as a workman has always com- manded the highest wages. Not only is he thoroughly familiar with the department to which his life has been devoted, but he is also well acquainted with every detail of glass manufacture, of which he has made a care- ful and intelligent study from his youth up. His residence in Hartford City has been mu- tually beneficial to himself and the commu- nity as he interests himself in whatever concerns the public and takes an active part in every movement for the promotion of the moral and material welfare of his adopted place. He is a gentleman of sterling worth. inheriting in a marked degree the sturdy qualities of his Puritan ancestry, and the people of Hartford City have found him to be an upright, intelligent and progressive citizen.
D. MONFORT.
The name Monfort is historical. Read- ers of history will at once recall the Mon- forts who figured prominently during the Middle ages and the name also adorns some of the brightest pages of the days of chival-
ry. Doc Monfort is a lineal descendant of the celebrated family that hore such a con- spicuous part in the early war between France and England, and also proved a po- tential force in shaping state policy in dif- ferent countries in later times. Subjoined to the sketch of our subject are a few his- toric annals which will be perused with pleasure by those at all interested in matter of this character.
Doc Monfort, the son of Henry and Re- becca (Wood) Monfort, was born in the town of Franklin, Warren county, Ohio. May 8, 1859. When he was ten years old the family moved to Shelbyville, Indiana, where he attended school for a period of five years, and then began learning the plasterer's trade, at which he soon became a skillful workman. After working with his father and brother one year he went to Indianapolis, where he followed the trade four years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in agricultural pursuits near the town of Du- pont, Jennings county. After two years at that place he removed to Liberty Mills, Wabash county, where for a period of three years he carried on farming in connection with plastering, meeting with a fair degree of success the meantime. Mr. Monfort's next move was to Rushville, near which place he again tried his fortune as a tiller of the soil, continuing the same until going to New Albany four years later. At the latter place he was engaged for two years in me- chanical work, principally bridge building, but afterwards resumed agriculture, which he carried on near Priam, Blackford county, until coming to Hartford City in 1887. Shortly after locating in Hartford City Mr. Monfort began contracting plastering work and followed the same successfully until 1896, in January of which year he accepted
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a position with the Hartford City Glass Company, in whose employ he has since con- tinued. He began working for the company as a yard man, but is now engaged in filling the tanks, the duties of which he discharges creditably to himself and satisfactorily to those by whom he is employed.
On the 24th day of August, 1889, Mr. Monfort and Miss Mary Jane, daughter of George and Sophia ( Anderson) Court- wright, became man and wife and their mar- riage has been blessed with two children : Mila Louise, born October 6, 1890, died January 16, 1893, and Walter Herschell, born January 23, 1898. Her father is a na- tive of Indiana, born in Blackford county, and the mother came from the state of Ohio. George Courtwright is a well known farmer of Jackson township, where he holds the of- fice of trustee, and in connection with agri- cultural pursuits he also carries on the mer- cantile business in the village of Priam.
Mr. Monfort is a member of the Macca- bees and Modern Woodmen, benevolent fra- ternities, and in religion is what may prop- erly be denominated a free-thinker. Sub- scribing to no creed or confession of faith, he is liberal in his opinions and, while repud- iating the commonly accepted belief in rev- el:tions, he is charitable of the views enter- tained by others, allowing them the same lat- itude he claims for himself. He is a reader and a thinker, has decided opinions upon all questions of the day, religious, political, in- dustrial and social, and when the occasion presents itself he maintains his views with arguments logically presented and not easily refuted. Mr. Monfort is a gentleman of good intentions, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men, and no one has ever attributed to him anything not con- sistent with the highest integrity. He is
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