USA > Indiana > Grant County > Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana. > Part 100
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The Friends Society of Fairmount comprises seven hundred and ninety mem- bers, including children, and is one of the pioneer religious organizations of this sec- tion of Indiana, has been very prosperous, and numbers among its members the best families of the city and a large area of the surrounding country.
In politics Rev. Enos Harvey has been a Prohibitionist of recent years, though for- merly he served two terms as township trustee of Liberty township as a Republi- can, and he still takes an active interest in the moral phase of politics.
MARION F. EVANS.
Marion F. Evans, of the firm of Evans & Cammack, retail druggists at Marion, is one of seven children, born to Owen and Martha A. ( Price) Evans. He is an Indi- anian by birth, born near Spiceland, October 15, 1864. In his younger days he attended the common schools and at the age of seven- teen was made assistant recorder for Henry county. He remained in the recorder's office three years, at the expiration of which time he went south, combining pleasure and busi- ness on the trip. After satisfying his curi- osity he returned and accepted the position of assistant postmaster at Marion, the postmas- ter being J. A. Gauntt. He remained in the postoffice about four years. Being familiar with the county records he was appointed deputy recorder in Marion under Mr. Lil-
libridge. After serving some two and one- half years he embarked in the drug business in Marion, as a member of the firm of Briles & Evans. Some time after this partnership was formed, Charles Briles, the senior part- ner, died, and Mr. Evans continued the busi- ness alone for three years.
He then sold out and, in partnership with W. T. Cammack, engaged in business on the corner of Washington and Third streets, in May. 1900. This firm is one of the most popular of the city, carries one of the largest and finest stock of drugs to be found in Grant county, and it is safe to say that they have the largest business of any firm in the county. The store is well appointed, the fixtures are of the highest grade and ar- ranged with care, making the corner of Third and Washington a popular resort indeed. Their store contains everything known to the drug trade, in addition to which the usual novelties and a beautiful soda fount- ain, along with the handling of cut flowers, make the store very attractive.
Mr. Evans makes a specialty of the pre- scription department and commands the ma- jor portion of the business in Marion in that line. In politics Mr. Evans is a stanch Republican, while fraternally he is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias, and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of Grant county.
WILLIAM J. CROKE.
More than at any previous time in the history of our country the conditions of the social life are being studied and analyzed that a reasonable solution may be arrived at whereby the advancement of the human race
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may be assured, many of the present detri- mental surroundings be ameliorated, a better and broader civilization be secured and the happiness of the human race be guaranteed. For two hundred years thinkers have worked and thought and wrote along this line; the analysis of society by Rousseau, Voltaire and Pestalotzi, in France, resulting in many attempts to reorganize society. Fourier es- tablished the community idea, which was tried in various forms and by different men, the Oneida community being a notable ex- ample of the effort in America. The Brook- dale Farm, in which some of the brightest men of the country participated, and the ef- forts of Robert Dale Owen, in our own state, but illustrated the tendency of the human mind to desire a change and to work toward its ideals. Generally the results of these efforts have proven disastrous, the scope be- ing to narrow, not taking in those very ques- tions that are constantly at work with a direct bearing upon the daily lives of the masses. From communism and trade union- ism has grown socialism. Anarchy, as it is generally understood, is destructive in its tendency. Properly understood it is tending to the right ends. Henry George, with the application of a clear intellect, brushed away much of the shadow that darkened this so- cial question, making it stand out in strong perspective that the intelligent student may get at the pith without having reason ob- scured by the cobwebs of mysticism.
Without going deeply into all the funda- mental truths that underlie socialism we will advance a step to the organization of the political movement that has for its basis the correction of some of the evils from which society now suffers. Social Democracy stands for the rights of man. The French 48
Revolution was based on the rights of man. It is now sought to revolutionize society by the peaceful means, through the reasoning faculties of thinking and rational beings; not to dethrone the present Omnipotence en- throning reason, as was done in France and making it a god, but to consider those great questions that most nearly affect society and apply reason and logic to a solution. As applied to the questions affecting municipal existence Social Democracy holds that those public utilities, made valuable only by the use of the public, rightly belong to the pub- lic. That all work done for the public should be done by the public. A few men in Marion have advocated these ideas, some of them being elected to positions on the city council on the strength of their advocacy of these questions. Among this number is William J. Croke, councilman from the Fourth ward, who was chosen to that position at the April election of 1900.
As a member of the council Mr. Croke has repeatedly advanced the social ideas for which he stands, several others of the body agreeing with him in many points, some, even, going beyond him in the effort to the practical solution and application of the principles involved. He is a member of the Committee on Ordinances, and also of the one on Claims. The city now owns its electric light plant, the water works and a crematory for the consumption of garbage. The same argument that justifies public ownership of these, and no one now ques- tions the advisability of such ownership, will carry the same idea to the ownership and operation of street railways and telephone systems, and, in fact, to all of those fran- chises made valuable by the use of the pub- lic. The construction of all streets, pave-
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ments, walks, sewers, etc .. comes under the same principle, and the development along this line in other cities emphasizes the im- portance of the movement. The recent fight of the gas trust in Chicago but shows to what extremes monopolies will go to impose upon the public when allowed the latitude that a franchise generally carries with it. As the strength of trusts and monopolies in- creases, the need and absolute necessity of the general adoption of this plan becomes more apparent every year. This is the log- ical outcome of the tendency of the present social conditions, a peaceable and reasonable revolution, the result of which will assuredly be the betterment of the human family.
For several years Mr. Croke has been a close student of the economic questions, hav- ing carefully reviewed the history of all so- cial and educational movements. Being a fluent and ready speaker he has often been called upon to elucidate the conditions that confront the common people before the gatherings of representative men, both mixed and organized.
Mr. Croke was born in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, December 24, 1867, of Irish pa- rentage, his father being an iron-worker. At the age of fourteen he began to work as a glass-finisher and passed in succession through the various steps of advancement during the course of several years until he had acquired the trade of a glass-blower. He worked as a chimney blower at various places until the fall of 1893, when he came to Marion with the Evans Glass Company. being one of the blowers at the opening of the factory. He still remains with that com- pany, being one of their most trusted and reliable employes. He early took a deep in- terest in organized labor and became a mem-
ber of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union, in which he has filled all the posi- tions of honor and responsibility in the local Union No. 60. This local union dates from November, 1893, the charter having been brought from Pittsburg at the coming of the workmen to start the Evans Company. There are now five local unions in Mar ion the membership being short one thous- and.
The glass trade is separated into five divisions-the window, the flint, the green glass workers, the flatteners and the cutters -having a total enrollment of nearly two thousand at Marion. This association of glass-workers numbers about seven thou- sand six hundred in the United States, and his selection as the representative to the annual or National Association has brought the local union rather prominently before the general body. It also afforded him the broader study and association so necessary to the sound understanding of any important proposition. He was, in 1895, sent as a representative to the Annual Fed- eration of Labor Committees which met at Denver.
With the advantage given him by care- ful study to the great labor questions and their bearing on the social movements now in process of evolution, Mr. Croke is a very suitable adjunct to the city council. where the very ideas can most properly be given practical trial. Contact with the world and a well-digested knowledge of the principal features of our complicated existence strengthen him in the application and ex- tension of the principles of Social Democ- racy, the judicious use of good, hard com- mon sense being absolutely necessary as the test of any innovation.
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HIRAM COOPER.
Hiram Cooper conducts a first-class livery business at Fairmount, Indiana, where he has a new barn centrally located and first-class rigs are always on hand. He was born in Madison county, Indiana, August 2, 1844, being a son of Isaac and Cynthia Ann (Blake) Cooper. His education was obtained in a pioneer school, which he at- tended from thirty to forty-two days each year during his boyhood and youth, and to attend this school he had to walk two and a half miles. When not in school he aided in the work upon the farm and thus helped clear a tract of three hundred and twenty acres which his father had entered in 1832.
When the Civil war came on Hiram Cooper offered his services as a volunteer soldier, but was rejected on account of hav- ing lost some teeth from the effects of a kick of a horse. He lived on the home farm until 1875, when he purchased a tract of eighty acres, which he improved and tilled until 1883, when he traded for property in Elwood which he subsequently lost on account of imperfect title. He then pur- chased a butcher shop in Frankfort, sup- plied meat to the citizens for ninety days, then sold out and invested in a small livery stock in Frankfort. This business he con- .ducted about five years, then removed to Fairmount and continued the same business six years, when he sold out and returned to Frankfort; about one year later he again came to Fairmount, where he is now located and where for twelve years he has met with marked success. His horses and vehicles are always in good condition, and as he caters to the wants of his customers his popularity increases and his business ex-
pands each year. In 1900 he erected a new barn on Washington street, which is well appointed, centrally located, and he is ever ready to supply his patrons with such turn- outs as they may desire.
December 24, 1865, Mr. Cooper was united in marriage with Mary Seward, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Love- less) Seward, and seven children have been born unto them, viz .: Otto, deceased; Ar- dilla, now Mrs. William Webb, of Frank- lın; Harriet, at home ; Josephine, now Mrs. E .. Phillips, of Franklin ; Rolly D., of Fair- mount ; Arthur D., at home; and Olie F., of Alexandria. In politics Mr. Cooper affil- iates with the Democratic party and while at Franklin was elected city marshal. He has held membership in the Independent Order of Red Men and the Knights of Pythias, but at present is non-affiliating. His religious home is in the Christian church.
Isaac Cooper, father of Hiram Cooper, was born at Point Pleasant, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1796, and was a son of a Virginia planter who did service during the war of 1812. Isaac Cooper was twice married, first to Miss Stephens, who bore him three children-Hannah, now Mrs. Burt Martin, of Markleville, Indiana; Mar- garet, now Mrs. John Hudson, resides in Iowa; and William, who was a resident of Anderson, but is now deceased. Isaac next married Cynthia Ann Blake, and in 1832 came to Indiana and settled in Madi- son county, where he was one of the earliest pioneers. The red men still roamed the forest and were not at all times friendly to their white neighbors, and the early settlers never knew how soon they would fall victims to their treacherous acts. The Davis mas-
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sacre occurred on his farm; seven people were slain at this time and their bodies buried in one grave. This grave was pre- served and cared for as long as Mr. Cooper owned the farm. He died in 1872, and his wife, who was born in 1820, died in 1898. They were the parents of six children : Hy- ram: Isaac: Sarah E., now Mrs. Joseph Rider : Loretta was the wife of Henry Mar- kell; John is deceased; and George resides at Markleville, Indiana.
JESSE M. BALLARD.
The subject of this biography is a na- tive of Grant county and was born on a farm within three miles of the city of Marion on the 13th of July, 1861. His life has thus far been spent in Grant county, if we except temporary absences for business or pleasure.
Jesse M. Ballard is the only representa- tive of the family name now living. He was the only son born to James and Emily (Riggs) Ballard. early settlers of Grant county, and natives of the Hoosier state. Ilis father was a descendant of English stock established in the Virginias, probably before Revolutionary times. Though it is not definitely known that they were partic- ipants in the struggle for American inde- pendence, it is nevertheless a historical fact that the name Ballard figures prominently in the annals of that great struggle.
James Ballard, the father of our subject, was a farmer and respected citizen of Centre township, Grant county, in the ante-bellum days, and entered the service of his country during the great Civil war. He was a mem-
ber of the Fortieth Indiana Infantry, and was stricken with disease from exposure incident to camp life and died at Huntsville, Alabama, March 18. 1864. The immediate cause of his death was pneumonia. His widow later married, in 1869, Irvin Love, a prominent farmer of Grant county, now de- ceased. Two children were born to her first marriage to two to the second. The first family are Jesse M .. the subject, and his sister, now Mrs. Honora Hawkins, a widow residing on North Boots street in this city. Her late husband. C. M. Hawkins, was post- master of Marion at the time of his death. The mother's second family comprised two sons, George B. and Orville Love. The last named died in childhood from the effects of a kick from a horse, and George B. is a prominent well-to-do farmer in Washing- ton township. Mrs. Ballard survived until April 12, 1882.
The subject of this sketch remained at the maternal home until he attained his sev- enteenth year, employed in working upon his step-father's farm. Up to this time he had not made rapid progress in his educa- tional work, since the country schools were restricted to four or five months a year. On leaving home, however, his aspirations for more liberal education were gratified through his own efforts. For some years he worked by the month as a farm hand, spend- ing his savings in attending school. Finally he began teaching and followed that avoca- tion regularly for eight years.
When C. M. Hawkins was appointed postmaster of Marion he chose our subject as his deputy, and he was thus employed at the time of Mr. Hawkin's death. Without any particular maneuvering or political wire pulling the appointment as postmaster came
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to Mr. Ballard, apparantly as recognition of superior merit and faithfulness in a sub- ordinate position.
May 1, 1893, he received the appoint- ment as deputy postmaster, and April 16, 1896, he was commissioned as postmaster, holding that position until the 15th of April, 1899. In the meantime political supremacy had changed hands and Mr. J. L. Brad- ford, the present incumbent, succeeded to the office.
The family home was established in Marion in September, 1893. and has been here continuously since, occupying a hand- some residence at No. 225 North Washing- ton street. On leaving the office Mr. Bal- lard turned his attention more closely to huis farming interests, having a fine farm of cne hundred and forty acres in Washington township. At the same time he became in- terested in the stock business, buying and shipping, and also became identified with a more extensive and general line of business, i. e., the wholesale meat trade. This is an enterprise of great importance and which gives employment to a number of hands in the various departments of buying, slaught- ering, cold storage and shipping dressed nieats. Many of the local meat markets get their supply from this source, while outside shipments assume considerable proportions. Though the busiest of busy men Mr. Bal- lard is cordial and open-hearted, ever ready to greet a friend or entertain a stranger.
The marriage of J. M. Ballard took place September 4. 1883, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary L. Lomax, at that time a teacher in the public schools of Grant county. She is a native of LaPorte county, Indiana, and a daughter of Alfred and Mary (Anderson) Lomax. Miss Lomax was edu-
cated in her native county and is a graduate of the LaPorte high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have two children, Miss Emily and Alfred J., both students in the Marion high school. Mrs. Ballard and the children are members of the Episcopal church.
Mr. Ballard has always maintained his allegiance to the farming interests, and is at present the president of the Grant County Farmers' Institute. This is a society of semi-literary character supported by the state, having for its purpose the advance- ment of agricultural interests through the influence of public addresses and papers on topics relating to various subjects of interest to the hearers. Much good has been accom- plished in later years through the Farmers' Institute, the existence of which seems to be quite general throughout the more intel- lectual sections of farming communities.
Of the social orders he holds member- ship in the I. O. O. F. and in the I. O. F., the latter a beneficial order. He is an active and influential Democrat, though in no sense an office seeker. But he wields potent influ- ence in the councils of the party, both local and general.
Mr. Ballard is widely known as a breed- er of fine Duroc Jersey swine an:l handles the Dickerson Delaine Merino sheep, having now a large flock: also feeds cattle for the market and introduced the use of commercial fertilizers in this county and has sold large quantities of the same.
ANSEL ROGERS SMITH.
Ansel Rogers Smith, ex-surveyor of Grant county, resides in Marion, where he was born April 29, 1857, being a son of Ephraim and Rachael (Overman) Smith.
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Ephraim Smith was born in Ohio in 1821, but came to Grant county when a young man and became a storekeeper. He was a man of many excellent traits of char- acter and soon won the esteem of his fel- low citizens who honored him by electing him as the first surveyor of Grant county and served two terms, during which time he attended to his duties to the satisfaction of lis constituents and they as a further re- ward elected him county treasurer in 1854, and subsequently was engaged in business in Fairmount and other towns and also served as postmaster at Fairmount, Amboy and Wheeling; finally settled at Fairmount, where he served as city clerk until advanced years compelled him to give up active pur- suits.
Ephraim and Rachael Smith became the parents of eight children : Eli and Jesse are deceased; Caroline is the wife of Harvey Howard, of West Liberty, Indiana; Martha M., wife of Marcus D. Ellis, of Salem, Oregon ; Emma is dead; Mary is the wife of Winfield S. Swan, of Broken Bow, Ne- braska; Ansel R. is the subject of this sketch ; Clarkson D. is a civil engineer at the city of Marion. The mother of this family died in 1860. He has lived a moral, upright life, never indulged in intoxicating bever- ages or tobacco, thus leaving a record worthy of mention.
Ansel R. Smith attended the common, city and Normal schools and was well fitted for his future career. At the age of twenty he became a teacher and followed this pro- fession until 1881, and while teaching also served as deputy county surveyor under E. C. Murray and L. M. Overman. In 1890 he was elected county surveyor and served two years, then served as assistant civil en-
gineer for the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad Company one year, when he was appointed to take charge of the en- gineering work at the Soldiers' Home, a position he still holds, and in connection with which he served two terms as county sur- veyor, being elected in 1896 and again in 1898.
He was married in Marion, in 1887, to Julia, daughter of Daniel and Ellen Dailey, and they reside at No. 630 West Fifth street.
Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias.
WILLIAM L. SLODERBECK.
To him who supplies the greatest relish to the tables of the good liver is due at least some credit as a benefactor, even though the motive that moved his action and enterprise be primarily his own living and the comfort and advancement of his family. The mod- ern table is not considered well supplied, even in the depth of winter, if not provided with some of the product of the grower of winter vegetables. This is an important in- dustry not known to the people of a genera- tion ago, but that now adds materially to the luxury of the living of the better class. All through the eastern states, notably about New York and Boston, hundreds of glass covered houses are devoted exclusively to the cultivation of lettuce, radishes, cucum- bers and other vegetables, thousands of dol- lars being invested and the services of hun- dreds of men being needed to their proper care and cultivation. The most prominent representative of this industry at Marion is William L. Sloderbeck, whose greenhouses at the junction of Twenty-sixth street and
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Valley avenue afford nearly all the lettuce grown during the winter season. The estab- lishment and growth of this industry under adverse circumstances afford food for reflec- tion, fully as much as the product affords food for the epicure. The proprietor was born in Franklin township, Grant county, January 12, 1858, his parents being Daniel and Nancy (King) Sloderbeck, who kame from Champaign county, Ohio, early enough to enter government land, and both of whom died at Marion, he being seventy-six and she sixty-five years of age.
With none of the modern advantages of education or assistance, but ever having to contribute to the needs of his parents' grow- ing family, young William had upon attain- ing his manhood absolutely nothing but the will and ability to do an immense amount of hard work, to which he had been dil- igently reared from the tenderest years. Seeking work, he found it upon a section of railroad, at which he continued for some months, managing to save a little something from small wages. Later securing a place with a glass company as a common laborer he gave his duties that devotion that won for him the friendship and good will of his associates and employers.
Mr. Sloderbeck was married July 12, 1884, to Miss Mary Zeller, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Benholz) Zellar, who were of Scotch and Dutch ancestry respectively. He was for upwards of twenty years in the employ of Joseph Hulley as a machinist and died at the age of sixty-four, while the mother still resides near her daugh- ter. Securing some six acres of land, Mr. Sloderbeck set the most of it to small fruits, which he attended by working before and after daylight, continuing his labor with the
Mississinewa Gas Company, scarcely losing a day in the six years he remained in their employ. Being blessed with a most sensible and hard-working wife and by the forced ex- ercise of the strictest economy and frugal living, he managed to make some progress, meeting every payment as it came due. Hav- ing as keen an insight into the needs of the future as the average man, he readily saw the demand for a supply of winter vegetables, and under the advice of others began to de- vote something of his efforts to the pro- (luction of lettuce, his first efforts in this direction being in the winter of 1892. He kept within his own resources, the ingenuity displayed in the fitting of his first green- house being of an order that excited the commendation of those who were watching his course. While he had been denied the advantages of education, he had all the na- tive wit and resource that displayed a high order of intellect, and it is safe to say that all the tact and wit of which he was pos- sessed were necessary to the preparation and fitting of that first house. While not a me- chanic, he found that he could do anything essential to the building, or the installation of the system of hot-water heating, the re- sult being the complete work of his own hands. The output the first year was about four tons, for which he found ample de- mand, not only at home but in other cities, so that the necessity was at once apparent that more and larger buildings were needed. He had risked a great deal to make a suc- cess, mortgaging his first crop to carry the matter through. He now has two 20x70 and one 20x90-foot buildings under glass, all well fitted with the needful piping for heating by either hot water or steam, and having a capacity of producing from two to
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