USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume I > Part 20
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Dr. Rose is a member of the Methodist church and
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Mrs. Rose is a Catholic .. They are both highly respected and regarded in all circles as among the best people, as well as the most influential, in Greene county.
FRANCIS LEWIS EDWARDS.
Francis L. Edwards was bom at Bloomfield, Indi- ana, August 29, 1839, the son of Lewis Baker Edwards, who was born August 14, 1796, on Long Island Sound, New York, and who married Caroline Bennett, of Mas- sachusetts. The subject's grandfather was Henry S. Ed- wards, who was born April 24, 1768. He came from the East to Bloomfield, Indiana, in 1837, having brought his family through the forests from New York in wagons. He married Sally Baker. He settled on eighty acres of land where the subject of this sketch now lives in the southern part of the city of Bloomfield. It thien had an unfinished cabin on it, but only a little clearing had been done. He was a tanner and shoemaker as well as a farmer. He had the misfortune to lose his eyesight shortly after coming to Greene county. Lewis Baker Ed- wards came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1819, first on a visit. He was the third son of Henry Edwards, who had ten children. The others were Sally, Anna, Charles, Henry, Esther, Daniel, Alfred, Reuben and Samuel.
The subject's father married Marcia Starr, Sep- tember 15, 1825. She died December 6, 1836. He next married Caroline Bennett, May 13, 1838, who died September 22, . 1845. He then married Sarah Van
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Vorst, November 11, 1846, . who died February 26, . 1856. His last wife was Charlotte Spain- hower, who died July 16, 1879. The subject's father died December 20, 1878. He had one child by his first wife, Sarah Starr; Francis L. Edwards was the only child by his second wife. The following were by his third wife: Caroline, wife of Riley Spainhower, of Bloomfield, Indiana; Sarah C., who married Fred Whit- taker, both now deceased; John H., who was drowned in White River June 7, 1874. There were no children by his last marriage.
Lewis Baker Edwards, who was educated in the public schools, learned the printer's trade at Buffalo, N. Y., and went to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he worked for some time on newspapers. He owned several newspa- pers, from time to time managing "The Luminary," "Farmer," "The Merchants' Advocate" and "The Re- publican." His first wife died in Ashtabula in 1833 and he went back to New York state, where he married the second time, and shortly afterward came to Green county, Indiana, where he stayed with his parents, taking care of them until their death. He was one of the first school teachers of the county. He was also associate judge. He was first a Democrat and later a Republican, and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, being well known and highly respected, for he was always very active in Sunday school and church work.
Francis L. Edwards had only a limited education in the common schools. He lived with his parents until De- cember 9, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Fifty- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was drilled at -
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Gosport and was sent to Missouri, and was in the siege of New Madrid, helped capture Island No. 10, joined the expedition to Fort Pillow and later to Corinth, Mis- sissippi, having been on a raid through Mississippi to Oxford and back to Memphis, where he spent the win- ter. He joined Sherman's army at Milliken's Bend and was in the entire Vicksburg campaign. He helped cap- ture Jackson, Mississippi, and the flag of his regiment was the first to float over that city. He was at Corinth during the battle there and later was in Grant's army at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was in the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge. He spent the following winter at Hunts- ville, Alabama, and in the summer guarded the railroads in 1864. In October of that year he joined Sherman's army on the march to the sea, was in the Carolina cam- paign and before Richmond, and was in the grand review at Washington, D. C., July 21, 1865.
After the war Mr. Edwards farmed for several years, but has been retired since 1896. He built his present beautiful home on South Washington street, Bloomfield, Indiana, in 1902. The subject has always been a stanch Republican and he and his wife have long been members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Lovell H. Rosseau Post, No. 326, Bloomfield. He was quar- termaster of the post for eleven years, and has also served as chaplain, adjutant and commander.
Mr. Edwards was married to Elizabeth H. Scott, December 24, 1873, who was born February 24, 1847, in Parke county, Indiana, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Dinsmore) Scott. Joseph Scott was the first male child
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born in Greene county, Indiana. His wife was born in Virginia, June 31, 1816. He was born December 16, 1821, the son of William Scott, of North Carolina, who came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1819, and settled near Bloomfield. He secured some wild land, cleared it and made a home, where he and his wife lived and died. He also worked as a blacksmith. Joseph Scott was in the Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company C. later heavy artillery, serving three years.
The following children were born to William Scott and wife: John, Joseph, Gilbert, Patsy, Sallie. Joshua, Washington, Samuel, Andrew, Polly and an infant. The children of Joseph and Mary Scott were: Henry C., who was killed at Antietam, being a member of the Four- teenth Indiana Regiment; Mary O. married Jesse Craw- ford, of Sullivan, Indiana; Harriett, wife of Francis L. Edwards; Sophelia Ann died in 1853: Sarah C. died in 1861; George W., printer, living in Chicago, and an in- fant. Tlie subject and wife have one son, Lewis, who was born March 6, 1876, and graduated from the high school at Bloomfield in 1890. He married Alta Ethel Terrell, of Bloomfield, August 22, 1906. He is employed at that place. They are both members of the Methodist church and have one son, Lewis Baker.
WILLIAM C. BENNETT.
William Calvin Bennett, late of Bloomfield, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 13, 1844. and .
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entered into rest at Bloomfield, Indiana, May 5, 1907. His father, Macabees Bennett, was a native of Connect- icut, while his mother was born in Ohio, her parents hav- ing been early settlers in that state. In 1854 Macabees Bennett was called hence, and the widow, with her fam- ily, removed to Greene county, Indiana, settling in Taylor township, where she ended her days. The task devolved upon her of raising to maturity a family of seven chil- dren, and to this noble duty she addressed herself with all the vigor and fortitude she was able to command. How well she performed her obligations is revealed by the fruits of her labors. Many hardships and privations were endured, but through it all she maintained an opti- mistic spirit and at no time was the note of discourage- ment to be heard.
William C., our subject, was ten years old when his father died, and he manfully entered into his share of the work necessary to maintain the home. He thus re- ceived the wholesome discipline afforded by the perform- ance of these duties, and received such education as could be obtained in the neighboring district schools.
At the age of sixteen he began to lay plans for the superstructure of life, and attended normal school at Bloomfield, following this by teaching school for two or three winters. In the meantime his thoughts became directed toward the nursery business, and his deep in- terest in the subject soon led him to make a close study of the industry. The scientific side of the business held a strong fascination for him, and although his means were quite limited, he secured a few acres of land in Taylor township, and upon this he made the modest be-
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ginning of an industry which he succeeded in developing to a magnificent climax of excellence. Success was bound to follow his thorough, progressive and energetic efforts, and to the small patch of ground first obtained he made subsequent additions, until the domain of eight hundred acres was needed for the work, and became known as the Rose Hill Nursery, famed far and wide throughout the state.
Mr. Bennett was a most indefatigable worker, hav- ing an investigative spirit and broad views. These won for him not only unusual financial success, but a most commendable host of friends. He did not belong to any church, but contributed liberally to all the demands made of him, finding, as he thought, something worthy in them all.
On June 21, 1877, Mr. Bennett was married to Jen- nie Phillips, a native of Greene county, Indiana, and the daughter of Alvin and Sarah (Hattabough) Phillips. The latter was born at Salem, Indiana, and the former at Bedford. Alvin Phillips came to Greene county early in life, farming until his retirement to Bloomfield, where he and his wife both died of pneumonia within the space of a few hours in March, 1904. They were buried in the same grave, an event which impressed itself indelibly upon the minds of the relatives and friends, forming as it did a most fitting close to lives of deep and lasting de- votion. They were members of the Baptist church, and were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them. They were the parents of the following children : Angie. widow of William Gordon, and now living in Bloomfield ; Jennie, widow of our subject, and Edmund H., who has charge of the old homestead in Taylor township.
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Alvin Phillips was a soldier in Company A, Ninety- seventh Indiana Regiment, and served three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett became the parents of nine children : Effie, wife of Nathaniel Ledgerwood, of Pas- adena, California ; Lula, wife of Isaac Isenogle, of Wash- ington, Indiana; Cora, Verda, Blanche, Leola, Barney and Clarence, all at home; one child died in infancy.
In 1905 Mr. Bennett's health failed and a trip to California in an attempt to recuperate his failing strength proved of no avail, and he went the way of all the earth, closing a most commendable and praiseworthy career. The widow and family have their home on West Me- chanic street, Bloomfield, but Mrs. Bennett still main- tains the management of the Rose Hill Nursery.
He left one of the largest estates in the county. He was a Republican in political belief and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The following is taken from the press of Bloomfield under date of May 10, 1907 :
"Death claimed one of the most prominent and use- ful citizens of Greene county last Sunday afternoon when William C. Bennett passed away at his home on West Mechanic street after an illness covering a year and a half. Although born in the neighboring state of Ohio- the birthplace of many excellent Greene county citizens- yet all the years of his manhood were spent in this county, and spent not merely in building up a highly successful business, but in carving for himself a name that shall endure-a name that was the synonym of honor, sobriety and integrity.
"His devotion to his family was beautiful. His
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happiness was perfect only in their presence. And to con- tribute to their happiness was his highest ambition. And his devotion was manifested not merely in a generous provision for their material wants, but in a wealth of af- fection which he lavished upon every member of his household.
"He was a generous supporter of the church and took a deep interest in every religious movement. He was always public-spirited. Whatever looked toward the betterment of the community in which he lived al- ways had his hearty support and sympathy.
"In his death the county has lost one of its most sub- stantial citizens. By careful management, wise fore- sight and a close application to business he achieved suc- cess, and at the time of his death he was one of the wealthiest men in Greene county. And he had the sat- isfaction of knowing that gain came to him not by grind- ing down others or by dishonest means, but by fair and honest treatment of his fellow men.
"The remains lay in state from eight till two o'clock Tuesday and many called to get a last look at the fa- miliar features of one whom all had honored. A pro- fusion of flowers came from relatives and friends, and the burial outfit was the richest and most expensive ever seen in Bloomfield.
"The funeral services were held from the family res- idence at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. W. H. Wylie, in the presence of a large assem- bly of sorrowing friends, and the remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Bloomfield cemetery."
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JOSEPH A. STRAUSER.
Joseph A. Strauser, the son of Daniel Strauser and Leah (Altland) Strauser, was born August 24, 1842. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio. Daniel Strauser moved with his father George in 1836 to Wayne county, Ohio, and George died there. Daniel married then and later moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he farmed until 1888. In that year he moved to Greene county, Indiana, and lived with the subject of this sketch until his death in 1889. His wife died in Ohio. He held several offices and was a Demo- crat and a member of the Reformed church.
Joseph A. Strauser was an' only child. He was ed- ucated in the common schools of Stark county, Ohio. In 1882 he came to Greene county, Indiana, and settled in Fair Play township, where he secured one hundred and twenty acres of land and lived there for eighteen years. Then he sold his farm and came to Richland township and bought thirty-nine acres where he now lives. It was known as the old Timmons place. He conducts a general farming and fruit raising industry. He married in February, 1866. His wife was Mary A. Spangler, of Stark county, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. P. J. Span- gler, a minister of the Reformed church in that section for over fifty years.
Mr. Strauser has four children. William is farming in Fair Play township. He married Lizzie Daubenspeck ; Minnie married Fernando Rodocker, a farmer of Fair Play township, Greene county; Frank is also farming in Fair Play township. He married Nettie Rampley ; Leah married Charles Rampley, of Fair Play township.
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The subject of this sketch has always been a farmer, but he has also found time to work at the gunsmith's trade, being a very fine workman. In fact, he can make almost anything in that line. He keeps abreast of the times by miscellaneous reading and he is a good talker on current topics. He has a large circle of warm friends throughout Greene county. He is an independent voter and is well versed in politics.
Joel Strauser, an uncle of the subject, came to Greene county, Indiana, from Ohio in 1858 and settled in Center township. He got possession of some wild land and by clearing and otherwise improving it soon had a comfortable home. He was a successful farmer. In 1888 he moved to Washington township. In 1900 he went to Tennessee and died there. He was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Greene county.
JAMES MILLIARD VEST.
Although the early opportunity of James M. Vest, a well known farmer of Richland township. Greene county, Indiana, to prepare himself for life's business was not by any means pronounced, he seized what there was and has been successful. He was born April 18, 1858, in Taylor township. He received what education he could in the country schools and lived at home until he was married, November 17, 1881, to Dora Rogers, of Guernsey county. Ohio, born March 17, 1859. She was the daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Cale) Rogers, who moved near Sols-
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berry, Indiana, in 1866 and farmed until their death. James M. Vest and wife have four children, namely : Clyde, born June 14, 1882, who married Stella Shepherd April 8, 1905; he is a farmer in Richland township, his native county ; they have one child, Opal; Cleather, born June 14, 1884, is the wife of Emmitt A. Quillen, a farmer and teacher of Richland township. He is the son of Christopher D. and Mary (Haywood) Quillen. They have four children, Merl, Elaine, Victor and Malcolm. Frank R. Vest, born March 26, 1890, and Parmer, born November 22, 1893, live with their father, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Vest located in Richland township, in 1881, where he has since resided. He has a sixty-acre farm well improved and very productive. In 1903 he formed a company known as Vest & Quillen, for the pur- pose of building macadamized roads. Since then he has been doing an extensive business. He is a loyal Repub- lican and a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, Lodge 6449, of Park, Indiana, in which he has held all the offices. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Mineral City, Indiana.
George Washington Vest was the father of the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born February 28, 1822, a son of Littleberry Vest, a native of Virginia, whose family came to Owen county, Indiana, in 1821 and lo- cated near Spencer, where Littleberry Vest remained until 1839, when he went to Missouri, working at the blacksmith trade near St. Louis. He and his wife, whom he married in Virginia, were the parents of ten children, namely: Serenia, William, Sarah, Berry, Jackson, Joshua, George, Fred, two died in infancy. George W. Vest remained at home until he was nineteen years old,
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and in 1839 married Eliza Barker, who died in 1847. They had four children-William, of Mineral City, Indiana ; Sa- rah married Penn Lancaster and resides in Kansas City ; Mary, who married John Mclaughlin, died at Eureka Springs, Arkansas ; Obitee, deceased, who married Nancy O'Donnell. Mr. Vest married a second time March 3, 1850, Polly Ann Allen, of Rush county, Indiana, a daugli- .er of Andrew and Elizabeth (Krustenberry) Allen. They had six children-Jane, Hiram, Ellen, Sarah, Polly Ann and James. Mr. Allen's second wife was Polly Am Rumley. They had ten children, namely : Elizabeth, William, John, Obitee, Francis, Elias, Emma, Calvin, Stephen and an infant. His third wife was the widow of LaRule Melton. His fourth wife was Sarah Fuller. They had four children-Sherman, Melinda, Al- bert and Frank. George W. Vest had eight children by his second wife, namely: Oliver, deceased; Eliza Ann, living at Bedford, Indiana, who married George Graf- ton ; Andrew Jackson, a farmer of Arcola, Illinois ; James M., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who first mar- ried William Angelo, and then married James Mood; she is deceased; Charles, a farmer in Richland township, Greene county, Indiana ; Thomas, deceased ; John, a car- penter, living at Worthington, Indiana.
George W. Vest was a blacksmith by trade. He lived at Scotland, Indiana, for several years. He enlisted as a private in 1862 and was with Sherman in many hard battles. He was discharged in 1865 while a member of the Ninety-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, Company A. After the war he returned to his old home and farmed, trapped and bought furs until he died. April 4, 1905. Both he and his wife were members of
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the Christian church from their youth. He was a Re- publican and was well known throughout Greene county.
ALFRED LYSANDER BROOKS.
Alfred L. Brooks, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Benjamin and Eliza (Rust) Brooks, and was born December 15, 1833, in Greene county. The father came from New York state and the mother from Ken- tucky. His parents both came to Indiana when they were children and were married at Mooresville, Morgan coun- ty. They removed to Vincennes and later came to Bloom- field, where he did in 1840. His wife lived until March 1, 1892. Five children were born to them-Alfred, our subject ; Caroline, Lucinda, Finley and Selina-all of whom are deceased. Alfred was a cooper by trade, and worked at it until he entered the army in 1861, joining Company H, Thirty-first Indiana Infantry, at Owens- burg in August of that year, and served with distinction for three years. He was in the fiercest of the fights at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Fort Henry. After the last engagement he was taken sick and sent to the hospital · at Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained for several months. He never fully recovered health and strength, yet he rejoined his regiment, and being assigned to lighter work, served to the end of his enlistment, the full three years. In June, 1857, he was married to Nancy E. Brock, a native of Lawrence county, born November 28, 1838, and the daughter of Newton and Martha ( Mills) Brock, both natives of Tennessee. They came to Indiana when children, coming in a wagon, though the children walked most of the way. Both parental families came
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from the same locality and settled in Lawrence county. Newell used to flatboat on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in an early day. He later came with both families to Greene county, where he engaged in farming until to- ward the close of his life, when he retired. He died in 1872, and in 1895 his wife followed him. They were members of the Baptist church. They had eight chil- dren-Nancy, Ephraim, deceased; Josephus and John, each of whom died in the army; David, twin brother of John, lives in Bloomfield; Elizabeth, deceased; Roena, who lives in Switz City and is the wife of Aaron Hen- nón; James died in childhood.
To Alfred L. Brooks and wife were born four chil- dren. Benjamin F. married Lizzie Webber, who died in October, 1896. To them were given two children, Prince Bismarck and Artillus; Lucinda, wife of James L. Mat- tox. They live in Linton and have two children, Fay and Wilburn M .; Lillie May, wife of William F. Dean. They have four children, Francis C., Alfred, Wilburn H. and Newell Watts; George, who married Maggie Skinner and is living in Jasper, Dubois county.
Mrs. Brooks, the widow of our subject, is living in Bloomfield with her daughter Lillie, on North Washing- ton street. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.
ELMER ELSWORTH NEAL.
The march of progress and improvement is acceler- ated day by day, and in view of unforeseen exigencies, each successive movement seems to demand men of wider intelligence, broader views and greater discernment than
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did the preceding. Successful men must be live men in this age, bristling with activity, and the lessons of biog- raphy may be far-reaching to an extent not superficially evident. There can be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of any man as they affect his public business and social relations, in view of which it is eminently proper in this connection to call attention to one of the leaders of industry in Greene county, whose large business inter- ests, executive capacity and noteworthy success in various important enterprises, have won for him a conspicuous place among the notable men of his day and generation in the southern part of the Hoosier state. It is both grati- fying and profitable to enter record concerning the career of such a man, and in the following outline sufficient will be said to indicate the forceful individuality, initiative power and sterling character, which have had such a de- cided influence in making their possessor a leader in en- terprises requiring the highest order of business talent, and to gain for him wide publicity among those who shape and direct policies of far-reaching consequences.
Elmer Elsworth Neal, than whom no man in the southern part of the state is more widely or favorably known, was born November 21, 1870, in the town of Ja- sonville, being the son of Henry T. Neal, a biography of whom appears elsewhere in these pages.
Young Neal received his education in the schools of Bloomfield, and some idea of his record as a careful and painstaking student may be obtained from the fact of his having completed the high school course and received his certificate of graduation at the early age of seventeen years. Inheriting a natural aptitude for business, we find
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him, shortly after leaving school, filling the important and responsible position of weighmaster for the Summit Coal Company, which post he held three years and then en- tered the general store of Neal Brothers, at Linton, where he remained until 1893. In that year he went to Chicago to take charge of the coal yard of the Dugger, Neal & Luhnow Coal Company, which was established a short time prior to the time indicated at 520 West Lake street, but after two years in that capacity he accepted a position with the T. C. Loucks & Company, wholesale jobbers of coal, taking charge of the city sales department, which he filled for a period of three years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the firm.
The death of his father at the expiration of the time . indicated made it imperative for Mr. Neal to return to Bloomfield to act as administrator on the paternal estate, the duties of this undertaking requiring his time and at- tention until 1899, when the business was satisfactorily adjusted and everything connected therewith closed. In the latter year Mr. Neal took charge of all his father's in- terests except the coal business, and in partnership with T. J. Ogara, of Chicago, purchased the interest of F. M. Dugger, his father's former associate, and reorgan- ized the Summit Coal and Mining Company, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars, the subject being elected secretary and treasurer of the concern, also gen- eral manager, which important positions he has since filled, as mentioned in a preceding paragraph.
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