USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 23
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
tions of his career as a lawyer, Mr. Weems found time to continue some journalistic work. He has always taken an active part in political affairs, being a loyal Repub- lican. He served as secretary of the Knox county Re- publican central committee for two terms and was a well known figure in all of the gatherings of Republicans for many years.
The subject was appointed deputy oil inspector for the second congressional district of Indiana and four years later he was reappointed for another term of four years. At the Republican county convention in 1902 he was renominated for the legislature, and he made an ac- tive canvass of the county. Although he was defeated. he made a splendid race, and reduced the Democratic majority from one thousand to two hundred.
The subject is a well known secret order man. He belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Royal Arcanum, Modern Woodmen and the Noble Order of Buffaloes. He filled two terms as national recorder of the last named order and was the first editor-in-chief of "The Buffalo," the official organ of the order.
Robert F. Weems was married June 16, 1884, to Minnie Cassady, a teacher at Oaktown, Knox county, Indiana. Two children have been born to this union- Chester F. and, Caroline L. The former is a sophomore (1908) in the University of Indiana and the latter is a teacher in the city schools at Linton, Indiana. Both are graduates of the high school at Vincennes.
At present the subject of this sketch is devoting most of his time and attention to "The Worthington Times," of which he is editor and proprietor. It is a semi-weekly,
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
established in 1853, and it has a large job printing de- partment. Mr. Weems purchased this paper in July, 1905, at once becoming editor and manager. There were two papers in that town then, but the other left the field two years later, leaving "The Times" the en- tire field. Mr. Weems has greatly improved both the mechanical appearance and the editorial quality of this paper since he assumed its management, and its circu- lation has rapidly increased.
The subject and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian church, and they are among the most fa- vorably known people in Worthington and vicinity.
Mr. Weems is recognized as a local historian at Vincennes. He wrote a history of Vincennes which was published by Hardacre & Company which has been pro- nounced both authentic and entertaining. This history was adopted by the board of education and a copy was placed in every school room in Knox county.
SIMEON GRAY, M. D.
This well known physician and surgeon, who prac- tices his profession at Worthington and throughout the northern section of Greene county, has achieved honor- able distinction in the line of his calling, and by com- mon consent is accorded a high place among the suc- cessful medical men of the part of the state in which he resides, having gained the confidence of the public as to build up a large patronage and gained for himself
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
more than local repute in a section of Indiana noted for the high order of its medical talent. Dr. Gray comes of good old colonial stock, and traces his lineage back to a remote period in the history of New England, where his paternal ancestors lived a number of years prior to the War of Independence. The great-grandfather Gray joined the patriot army at the beginning of that struggle, was in Washington's command at Boston when the hos- tilities commenced, and fell in the battle of Bunker Hill. Ephraim Gray, the doctor's father, was a native of Or- ange county, and when a young man married Phoebe Scott, of Shelby county, Kentucky, a near relative of Gen- eral Winfield Scott, and a lady of many sterling qualities of head and heart. Ephraim Gray was born while his parents were en route to Indiana. The family settled in Lawrence county, where he was reared a farmer, which occupation he followed until his death at the age of fifty- three. Mrs. Gray survived her husband and departed this life at Bloomfield at the ripe old age of seventy-six years. Of the ten children born to this estimable couple. the doctor is the fourth in order of birth and the only one living in the town of Worthington.
Dr. Simeon Gray is a native of Indiana and was born in Springville, Lawrence county, April 20, 1847. His early life, under the wholesome influences and active duties of the farm, was conducive to healthful moral dis- cipline and well rounded physical development, and in the district schools, which he entered at the proper age, he laid the foundation of the substantial intellectual train- ing which he subsequently acquired while preparing for his professional career. Having decided to make the
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA,
healing art his life work, he began his preliminary course of reading at the age of eighteen, and after spending three years under the direction of a competent preceptor he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he prosecuted his studies and researches with commendable zeal for two years and then began the practice of his profession at Hobbieville, Greene county, Indiana. After spending two years at that place and winning well merited success as a general practitioner, he sought a wider field for the exercise of his talents in southern Kansas, where for a period of eight years he devoted his attention very closely to his chosen calling, with the result that he soon acquired a good patronage.
Disposing of his interests in the West he returned to Indiana and located at Worthington, where during the past twenty-nine years he has ministered to the ills of suffering humanity, his name being known in nearly every family circle within a radius of many miles from his place of residence.
His career since engaging in the practice of medi- cine has been steadily progressive and, as previously stated, his series of continued advancement have been re- warded, not only with professional success of a very high order, but also with financial emolument that has made him independent and one of the solid men of the community in which he lives.
Politically Dr. Gray supports the principles of the Democratic party, being a student and thinker. His wide range of reading has made him familiar with the leading questions and issues of the day, on all of which
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his opinions carry weight and command respect. He has served as secretary of the county board of health, of the town board, and for a period of three years was president of the local pension board, besides serving for some time as Indian agent at Colville, Washington, prior to the ad- mission of that territory to statehood. In matters reli- gious he is a Methodist. He is one of the leading spirits of the Greene County Medical Society, in which from time to time he has been honored with important offices.
May 16, 1866, the doctor was happily married to Jane Louder, of Lawrence county, Indiana, daughter of Hiram and Sallie Louder, the union being blessed with children, as follows: Walter E., born September 23, 1867, is in the railway service and resides at Terre Haute, having a wife and two children; Maggie, born May 17, 1871, is deceased; Earl E., also deceased, was born October 24, 1874; Everett H., born April 4. 1876. is engaged in the coal business as Sturgis, Kentucky, be- ing unmarried : Lizzie, whose birth occurred on the 17th of August, 1878. married John H. Griffith, of Worth- ington, and died in 1899, leaving a husband and one child to mourn her loss. Edith, the youngest member of the family circle, born March 30, 1886, is still an inmate of the household and her mother's assistant in the manage- ment of the home. In addition to his own children the doctor and wife have taken to their home their little grandson, Lyle Gray Griffith, whose mother died when he was three and one-half years old, being at this time ( 1908) nine years of age, an intelligent lad with a prom- ising future. The uplifting influence of this worthy sub- ject is far reaching.
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
EDWARD E. MILLER.
The present is essentially a utilitarian age and in every avenue of activity the young man of practical ideas is very much in evidence. To his thorough training and wisely directed energy are the leading industries of the country largely indebted for their continuous success and solid financial standing, and in this connection it is a compliment honorably earned to give fitting recognition to a young man of the type suggested, whose abilities have achieved commendable results, and whose influence in business circles has done much to advance the varied interests of his town.
Edward E. Miller, cashier of the Commercial State Bank, of Worthington, was born December 6, 1876, at Point Commerce, Greene county, Indiana, being the old- est of three children, whose parents, Fred N. and Flor- ence (Brown) Miller, were also natives of the Hoosier state. The former was born in the county of Greene, the latter at Spencer, Indiana. The subject's paternal an- cestors were Carolinans. His Grandfather Miller left the south when a young man and located at Point Com- merce, Indiana, where he engaged in the milling busi- ness, having learned the miller's trade in his native state. He was a man of industrious habits and sterling worth, contributed largely to the material development of the community in which he resided, and after a long and use- ful life was called to his reward in the year 1873. The maternal antecedents of the subject were natives of Indi- ana. The grandfather, Fred T. Brown, was judge of the common pleas court in Owen and Greene counties for a
50
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
number of years, and among its most highly respected cit- izens. In addition to the subject, Fred N. and Florence Miller had a son by the name of Carl F., now a resident of Urbana, Illinois, where he holds a position in the lab- oratory department of the University of Illinois, and a daughter by the name of Jessie, who married J. T. Molt, also a resident of that state.
Edward E. Miller was reared in the county of his birth and enjoyed liberal educational advantages, at- tending the public schools until completing the prescribed course of study, graduating from the high school at a comparatively early age, after which he obtained his first experience in practical affairs by accepting a position with his uncle, James E. Miller, who was engaged in the grain business at Worthington. After five years in this capacity and after the death of his uncle, he became book- keeper in the Commercial Bank of that city, which place he held for one year, when he was promoted to the more responsible position of cashier, the duties of which he has discharged in an able and eminently satisfactory manner for a period of seven years, during which time he has achieved marked prestige as a financier, being not only familiar with the varied details of the banking busi- ness, but also manifesting a lively interest in whatever tends to the advancement and general prosperity of the community.
Mr. Miller possesses sound discretion and well-bal- anced judgment, has borne an influential part in shaping the policies of the institution with which he is connected and to him, as much as to any other, is due its undimin- ished credit, and continuous growth in public favor. He
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
is also secretary for the Greene County Building, Savings and Loan Association and the Greene County Telephone Company. An accomplished accountant and able finan- cier, his manifold duties are so systematically arranged as to cause him little inconvenience, while as head of one of the most important departments of the bank, his rec- ord has ever been honorable and upright. While making every other consideration secondary to his business af- fairs, Mr. Miller has not been unmindful of the duties of citizenship, as is manifested by the interest he has ever taken in the public welfare, all enterprises having for their object the good of his fellow men finding in him an earnest advocate and liberal patron. While not a politi- cian in the strict sense of the term, he is well informed on the leading questions of the times, and as a Repub- lican has contributed not a little to the success of his party. Fraternally he holds membership with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and since becoming iden- tified with the same has passed all the chairs in the local lodge to which he belongs, besides adding much to its numerical strength and making his influence a tangible good in the community. Mr. Miller is a believer in re- vealed religion and makes his life conform to the faith which he professes, for a number of years having been an influential member of the Episcopal church, and at the present time holds the position of treasurer in the Worth- ington parish.
The Commercial Bank of Worthington, with which Mr. Miller is identified, was organized in the year 1892 as a private enterprise with a capital of eight thousand dollars, the following well-known business men being the promoters : James E. Bull, Otto F. Herold, Thomas C.
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Owen and C. C. Ballard. Later Messrs. Bull and Owen purchased the interests of Messrs. Herold and Ballard and became exclusive proprietors of the enterprise, which, under their joint management, grew steadily in public favor and in due time took high rank among the lead- ing local institutions of the kind in the southern part of the state. Still later Mr. Owen disposed of his interests to Isaac Bilderback, who subsequently, on the death of Mr. Bull in 1901, sold out to Mrs. Bull and daughters, following which, in 1906, it was reorganized as a state bank, with an increased capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, with Joseph Moss, of Linton, as president, and B. B. Mitten, vice president, since which time the bank has become one of the leading institutions of the kind not only in Worthington, but in Greene county, its standing being second to no other local bank in the state, and its management under the capable and conservative business men who now constitute the official board and directorate affording the best evidence of its continued success and prosperity.
Following are the officials in 1908: Joseph Moss, president ; B. B. Mitten, vice president : E. E. Miller, cashier : directors, Julia A. Bull, Vernie I. Bull, Joseph Moss, B. B. Mitten and E. E. Miller.
The following is self-explanatory :
· BANK STATEMENT.
Report of the condition of the Commercial State Bank at Worthington in the state of Indiana, at the close of its business on May 14, 1908:
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts $89,192.80
Overdrafts 2,328.19
Other bonds and securities 6,182.08
Furniture and fixtures 1,000.00
Due from banks
21,632.37
Cash on hand
6,911.27
Cash items
792.54
Current expense
148.34
Total
$128,187.59
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock-paid in
$25,000.00
Surplus 1,500.00
Undivided profits
1,212.91
Exchange, discounts, etc
594.22
Demand deposits 99,880.46
Total
$128,187.59
STATE OF INDIANA, COUNTY OF GREENE, SS :
true.
I, E. E. Miller, cashier of the Commercial State Bank, do solemnly swear that the above statement is E. E. MILLER, Cashier. . Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 21st day of May, 1908. FRED E. DYER, Notary Public.
My commission expires January 24, 1912.
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
JOSEPH WRIGHT GREEN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Greene county, Indiana, May 5. 1875. His father, William L. Green, was born in Washington county. Indiana, in 1824. but his mother. Elizabeth (Grimm) Green, was born in Ohio. On the paternal side our subject's grandfather was a native of North Carolina, while the grandmother hailed from Delaware. William L. Green, Joseph's fa- ther, was a graduate from the Cincinnati Eclectic Col- lege of Medicine, and began the practice of his profes- sion at Graysville, Illinois, continuing there for six years. He then followed his profession for eighteen years, there purchasing in the meantime a farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon which he made his home in 1860, con- tinuing in active work at medicine for twelve years longer. At this time he met with an accident which pre- vented further professional work. He remained on the ·farm until 1905, whereupon he removed to his residence at Worthington, and where he died in 1908, at the age of seventy-four. His worthy companion in life, Elizabeth (Grimm) Green, bore him six children, five of whom are still living.
Alice, born in 1869, is deceased, leaving two chil- dren : Alonzo was born in 1872, and now resides at Lin- ton, Indiana. Our subject was the third child in the order of birth ; Oren B. was born in 1878 and has his home in Worthington: Byron was born in 1880 and is the father of one child: Sophrona, born in 1883, who is at Redlands, California, having charge of the local tele- phone exchange.
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Two uncles of our subject, Lewis Green and John A. Green, saw much active service in the Civil war, hav- ing taken part in many of the hard fought contests.
Joseph W. Greene, whose name introduces this bi- ography, was educated in the public schools of Worthing- ton. For two years he attended the State Normal at Terre Haute, and taught for five years in Greene county and four years in Edgar county, Illinois; also attended one year at State Normal at Normal, Illinois, and one year at State Normal at Charleston, Illinois. He then en- tered mercantile work at Linton, Indiana, remaining there for one year, after which he conducted a similar business for two years at Elnora, Indiana. He then be- came a traveling salesman and after one year of life on the road he came to Worthington. Here, in conjunc- tion with his brother Byron, he opened up a grocery and meat market, and this they are engaged in at the present time. The firm has built up a splendid trade, having es- tablished a good reputation for fair and honest dealing, as well as progressive business methods.
In 1895 Mr. Green was united in marriage to Ethel Coke, who was born in Worthington, being the daughter of William and Sarah (Hatfield) Coke. She is a mem- ber of the Christian church, and takes an active interest in the advancement of the best interests of the community.
Mr. Green is an Odd Fellow, and his quiet tempera- ment and unassuming manner have given added force to his effectiveness as a force in the lodge. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, having served as venerable counsel. In politics Mr. Green is a believer in the fundamental principles of Jeffersonian Democracy.
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
THADDEUS HOMER DUGGER.
The worthy and enterprising subject of this brief review was born in Jackson township, Greene county, September 2, 1853. He worked on the home place and attended the rural schools until he was twenty years old. In 1877 he married Lucy M. Landis, who was born Octo- ber 6, 1861, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Dr. B. F. Landis, who came to Greene county, Indiana, and settled in Jonesboro, where he practiced medicine for several years and where he and his wife both died. They were the parents of six children - Sarah Elizabeth, de- ceased; John D., living in Linton, a merchant ; Charles L., of Linton : Joseph, deceased ; Lucy M., wife of subject ; Anna Belle, deceased. After his marriage the subject lived in his native community until 1888, when he came to Richland township, and bought a half interest in eight hundred and twenty acres of land. He now has seven hundred and twenty acres of land and there are one htin- dred and fifty acres in Jackson township. He carries on general farming on an extensive plan. He raises large numbers of Polled Angus cattle and deals extensively in mules, horses and Poland China hogs, Barred Plym- outh Rock. Buff and White Plymouth Rock chickens, and a fine variety of turkeys. He is regarded as one of the most successful farmers in his community. He is a staunch Republican and a member of the Christian church.
Mr. and Mrs. Dugger had eight children, namely : Bertie and William Everett, both deceased: Marion Gar- field, who married Lulu Cox. He is a farmer living in Richland township. Greene county. Indiana. They have
MR. AND MRS. THADDEUS H. DUGGER.
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
one child, Helen. Roscoe L., who married Clone Lutz. They have one daughter, Mina. He is a farmer and in the telephone business. Thomas is a student in the Univer- sity at Valparaiso. Benjamin Harrison is farming at home. Curtis Mckinley died in infancy. Eunice is at home.
Thomas Dugger was the father of the subject of this sketch. He married Sabra Floyd, a native of East Ten- nessee, and came to Jackson township, Greene county, in an early day, and engaged in farming. He was a Repub- lican and a member of the Christian church. He passed away in 1872, his widow surviving until 1905. They had the following children : Sarah Ann, living at Bloomfield, Indiana ; she married J. L. Oliphant, now deceased ; Hes- ter who married Ambrose Meredith, deceased; she now lives at Dugger, Indiana; F. M., of Bloomfield, Indiana ; Elizabeth J., who married O. B. Richardson, of Bloom- field; Nancy, living at the same town, the wife of J. T. Lamb; Mary and Susan, twins, both died in infancy; William works in the mines at Dugger; Thaddeus Homer, the subject of this sketch.
They are members of the Christian church and esteemed throughout the community for their personal traits, which are of a high order.
DAVID WETNIGHT.
The large measure of success achieved by the well- known subject of this review and the influential and honorable position to which he has risen among his fel-
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
Moet men Whodichte the strong mentality and well-balanced with which he is endowed. Few in a much danger de icame accomplished such signal results of st depressed alles personality on the public and it is a bestowed to class him with the i far-sighted men who have given char-
Greene county and high moral : the populace The Wemight family had its origin in Germany and ted in the United States by Jacob Wet-
subject's grandfather, why settled in Many- years ago He wes a potter by trade and E Comed the cathing to the end of his admotion. Of his Gasthof ergibt children. Samuel Wemight, father of Dagje was the Best bren Samuel Wennight married att withse parents came from Germany and
- Maryland, where the Father of Mrs. Wemight at the trade f shremaking. Samuel and Lydia had a family of Sourceen children, eight sons aghters. all but two of whom are living. David
The father. a man of Male character and steeling with, was a zealous worker the German Reformed ched ani for years held the Ecelli Reapon in the local congregation. towhich he and Re write belgel He spent the entire life in Maryland and ched there March ad nord, at an advanced age. David Weenight was born in the above state Sep- member of best. and remained under the parental roof Ettaining his majority. attending school at inter- mais during his childhood and youth and when old e ugh to tum his labor to account worked as a farm
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GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
hand among his neighbors. In 1872 he came to Indiana. and during the four years ensuing found employment as a farm laborer near Cambridge City, at the expiration of which time he rented a farm not far from Indianapolis. where he lived for a period of eight years. He next em- barked in general merchandising at Brazil, which. not proving successful. he discontinued at the end of four years and in 1898 opened a general store in Jasonville. Greene county. Disposing of his stock about eighteen months later he again turned his attention to agriculture. which he has since pursued with success and financial profit. owning at the present time a farm in Greene coun- ty. one in Daviess county and two in the county of Owen. his real estate in the aggregate amounting to one thou- sand acres. the greater part under cultivation and highly improved and all under his personal management.
Mr. Wetnight is a farmer of advanced ideas and modern methods. familiar with the soils. the productive- ness of which he maintains by judicious rotation of crops and in addition to agriculture he is also quite extensively engaged in the raising and selling of live stock. The im- provements on his farms are first class in every particular and he spares no expense in keeping his land up to the higest standard of fertility. expending every year large sums for artificial fertilizers. besides clovering quite ex- tensively. Recently he has given considerable attention to horticulture, and now has a number of acres in fruit. making a special of apples. pears and peaches, which he raises in large quantities and of the finest varieties. In all of his undertakings he displays clear judgment and rare forethought. and his success has been such as to
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
since followed with most encouraging success. As already indicated, Mr. Dempsey displays distinctive ability as a newspaper man, wielding an elegant and trenchant pen, is eminently fair in discussing the leading questions and issues of the times and his influence in strengthening the local Democracy and shaping the policies of the party has been fruitful in salutary results. His career thus far has been eminently honorable and praiseworthy and the conspicuous place to which he has risen in his chosen field of endeavor may be taken as an earnest of still greater achievements and a more extended sphere of usefulness in years to come.
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