USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume III > Part 13
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Like all public-spirited and enterprising men, Mr. Buck takes an abiding interest in politics, and for a num- ber of years he was earnest in his support of the Repub- lican party. While still a Republican as far as the basic principles of the party is concerned, of recent years he has inclined somewhat toward Prohibition, believing the liquor traffic to be the crying curse of the times, an ulcer-
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ous plague spot on the body politic, to be gotten rid of only by the most drastic measures, which means the ab- solute prohibition of the manufacture and sale of all kinds of intoxicants. In 1903 he was appointed to the office of justice of the peace and has discharged the duties of the position ever since, his court being one of the most popular of the kind in the county, but few of his deci- sions suffering reversal at the hands of higher tribunals. He is an active worker in the Masonic Brotherhood and the Independent Order of Good Templars, and for sev- eral years he has held the position of chaplain in Lieuten- ant Yakey Post, No. 19. Grand Army of the Republic, at Linton.
Mr. Buck's domestic life dates from 1860, on June Ioth of which year was solemnized the ceremony which united him and Mary Lay in the bonds of holy wedlock. Mrs. Buck is a native of Grant county, Indiana, where her parents, John W. and Clarissa ( Bradfield) Lay, re- sided for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Buck are the par- ents of six children, whose names are as follows: Mag- gie J., Dollie A., Triphena T., Clarissa P., Mollie F. and Ada P., four of whom are living, to-wit: Mrs. Maggie Brown, of Indianapolis: Triphena: Clarissa, wife of E. L. Twing, an attorney of Toledo, Ohio, and Ada, now Mrs. Oliver E. Glenn, of Little Rock, Arkansas. Nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Edgar B. Allen and his sister Ada, have been members of Mr. Buck's family since the death of their mother, Mollie F. Allen, who departed this life February 17, 1903. their ages being fifteen and thirteen years, respectively.
In many respects Mr. Buck has been and is still a
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remarkable man. Notwithstanding his long and stren- uous life, filled to repletion with good to his fellow men, he is remarkably well preserved and full of vigor, car- rying the weight of his seventy-one years with the ease and equanimity of one of half his age. Indeed, he is one of the youngest old men to be met with in any part of the Hoosier state, retaining the full possession of his faculties, physical and mental, keeping in close touch with the times and familiar with the leading questions of the day, besides mingling with the young people of the city, taking part in their pastimes and sports and sympathiz- ing with them in their troubles, fancied or real. Al- though active all of his life and a diligent worker in his various spheres of endeavor, he has also been a lover of innocent amusements and a willing participant in the same, which fact accounts for much of his popularity among the people with whom he mingles. As an evi- dence of his faith in himself and belief that his labors are by no means ended, Mr. Buck, on the 3d day of March, 1908, was admitted to the Greene county bar, being the oldest man ever admitted to the practice of law in the county, and it is doubtful if in the entire state there can be found a parallel instance. That he may be successful in the legal profession is the earnest desire of his numerous friends and acquaintances, and that he will be few doubt.
HON. DANIEL W. McINTOSH.
The subject of this article, one of the prominent and well known lawyers of Greene county, Indiana, was born
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on a farmi not many miles distant from his present Time, and has been a resident of this county all his life. bis birth occurring on the 15th of July. 1869, he being a son of John and Sarah ( Crum) McIntosh. The father is de- scended from the same family as William J. McIntosh. whose sketch appears in this volume. The father of the subject and his four living sons were all born in High- land township, the former on the 10th of February, 1834. He was a successful farmer, and never engaged in any other business pursuit. He was a soldier during the Civil war, as were three of his brothers-Thomas, Perry C. and William-the first and last named having lost their lives in the service, or as a result of it.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Joseph McIntosh, a native of Bath county, Kentucky, who came to Indiana in 1821 in company with his father's family, and located near Old Point Com- merce, on the east side of White river near the mouth of Eel river. The tradition is silent as to the number of souls who made this hazardous voyage, but it is under- stood that the father, mother and several sons embarked in a "pirogue" on the Licking river in Kentucky, floated down that river to the Ohio, thence down that stream to the mouth of the Wabash, up the latter by "poling." and continued on up the White river to their destination, as designated above. Grandfather's wife was a Miss Todd, a cousin of Abraham Lincoln's wife. She was of Ger- man and Scotch lineage, and the McIntoshes are pure Scotch. The family in America are no doubt of the same lineage as General McIntosh, of Revolutionary fame. He was later a congressman from Georgia. It is a deplor-
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able fact that, until within recent years, no effort has been made to preserve or verify American genealogy, and the best informed people are as ignorant of their ancestry as are the uneducated.
In later life John McIntosh, the subject's father, pur- chased his old parental homestead in Highland township, and he died in Beech Creek township on the 19th of April. 1900. His wife, Sarah Crum, was born in Franklin township. Owen county, Indiana, March 3, 1835, and died the same month and day as her husband, just twenty- seven years previously.
These were the parents of five children, one of whom died in infancy, and the others are all living. The eldest of the family is Perry A., a farmer and builder, now liv- ing at Worthington, this county : John W. is a veterinary surgeon in practice at Vilas, Owen county ; Samuel N., twin brother of Daniel W., is a merchant and postmaster at Vilas. He was a teacher for a number of years in young manhood. A noticeable characteristic in his fam- ily is the fact that none of the four brothers weighs less than two hundred pounds, and one weighs two hundred and sixty. All except Daniel are over six feet in height, and he is five feet eleven and one-half inches. The fam- ily are proverbially Democrats in political preferences, and were Missionary Baptists from time immemorial. The subject of this article sustains his religious affiliations with New Hope church, the religious home of his par- ents, in Franklin township, Owen county. He was edu- cated in the common schools of his native county and at normal schools, where he prepared for teaching. Like many other young men, he made the teaching profession
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a stepping stone to other professional attainments. He was employed as a teacher for several years, during which time he prosecuted the preliminary studies in law under the tuition of Hon. Cyrus E. Davis, of Bloomfield. This preliminary work gave him a credit of eighteen months at the Indiana Law School, Indianapolis, where he re- mained one-half year, though he was in practice following this two and one-half years before entering Indianapolis College of Law. Completing his college course he was admitted to the bar in 1895, and located in Linton for the practice of law on the 12th of August, 1899. In October following that date he was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney of Greene county, and served two years and two months in that capacity, when the term of his principal expired. During this period of two years in the prose- cutor's office Linton became a city, and Mr. McIntosh was elected city attorney and assisted in organizing the city government under the new regime, holding both of- fices. He was re-elected city attorney, but by reason of a temporary breakdown in health he was obliged to re- sign the honors thus conferred. He was out of practice about a year and a half, during which time he returned to college, and was graduated in June, 1903. Returning to practice, he was again elected city attorney, and served in all five years in that office.
Mr. McIntosh was married September 19, 1906. when Nellie J. Matthews became his wife. She is a daughter of John P. and Sarah Matthews, of Hanover township. Jefferson county, Indiana. She is a lady of education and refinement, and was a teacher in her na- tive county for several years. For three years previous
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to her marriage she was employed as a teacher in the city schools of Linton, and here is where her acquaintance was formed. Mrs. McIntosh was educated at the Val- paraiso Normal School.
A little mite of humanity came to bless this happy union on the 30th day of October, 1907, and little Sarah Nellie has become a permanent fixture in the domestic circle. To her is entrusted the perpetuation of the ma- ternal names of two generations and three families. Mrs. McIntosh is a member of the United Presbyterian church and of various social and literary societies. The family sustains high social relations in the city of their adop- tion, and Mr. McIntosh has attained high standing in his profession. He is a genial and pleasant gentleman, a firm believer in the future of Linton, and public-spirited enough to assist in every way possible in bringing about the future greatness of his native county. Of the frater- nal societies he is an Odd Fellow, holding his member- ship in Newark Lodge. No. 467. his old home of boy- hood days.
WILLIAM COLEMAN.
William Coleman, the present efficient chief of po- lice of Linton, was appointed to the force in 1906, and has served as chief since that time. Mr. Coleman is fre- quently highly spoken of in connection with his office. and the present peaceful condition of the city is largely due to his untiring watchfulness. He came to this place from Worthington, Indiana, where he held a similar po-
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sition for seven years. He achieved marked success in a business capacity as a butcher, working for more than twenty years at that trade, which he learned in Ins native town, Bowling Greene, Clay county, Indiana, in which village he first saw the light of day August 7, 1860. Con cerning his ancestry the first known seems to have come from Germany. His father and mother lived for many years in Miami county, Indiana. His father died many years ago in his fifty-sixth year in the house in which the subject was born. The mother now lives with a sis- ter. Mrs. Ederly, at Brazil, Indiana. Another sister. Mrs. Mary Stewart, also lives in the same town. Mr. Coleman is the only son and the oldest member of the family. He was united in marriage in 1882 to Susie Marley, of Clay City. The result of this union was three children, all boys; Harry, the oldest, died at the age of sixteen, in 1898. Orville and Willie live at home and both have lucrative positions with the Linton's Supply Company as meat cutters, as well as being trusted with much other of the company's business. They are two exemplary sons, trustworthy, having never given their parents a moments' worry or uneasiness. A person of Mr. Coleman's ambition and energy would soon attract the attention of the fraternal world, and so the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows soon appealed to him and he first united with the order at Worthington, No. 137. transferring his membership to Unity Lodge, Linton, on his removal to the latter place, where he soon found room to use his fraternal powers, and his fellow members soon found a place for his name on their official roster. He is now past grand master and representative of the Grand
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Lodge of Indiana from his home lodge. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Coleman is yet in the prime of life, untiring in his efforts, and retains the confidence of his fellow towns- men, so that the future of his life is full of hope that greater achievements are in store for him.
LEWIS WILLIAM WARNER.
Lewis William Warner, the subject of this biog- raphy, has played well his part as a citizen, his course having been characterized by industry, a progressive spirit and good management, also by that broad-minded policy which takes cognizance of the general as well as the individual welfare. Such are the men who are emi- nently entitled to representation in a publication of this nature, and it is with pleasure that we incorporate a re- view of the life history of the honorable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph.
Lewis W. Warner was born in Wright township. Greene county, December 13, 1869, the son of John F. Warner, a high-class citizen of Germany, who came to America when a young man, settling on a farm in Wright township, Greene county. The subject's mother was Christinia G. Miller, in her maidenhood a daughter of Daniel Miller. She is a native of Germany, where she was born August 28, 1843, and represents that nobler and sturdier class of citizens from alien lands who have done so much to uplift the industrial, civic
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and social atmosphere of America. The children of this union besides the subject of this sketch are Saloma, liv- ing in Chicago; John, living in Clay City, Indiana ; George F., living in Chicago; Mary, the wife of Ted Salanaki, of Chicago; Christinia, wife of John Hinds, of Clay City. Three children died in early life.
John F. Warner first saw the light in Germany. September 8. 1839, and was brought to America early in life and lived on a farm in Wright township, Greene county, Indiana, for some time, later moving to Middle- bury, Clay county, where he was engaged in the retail meat business for about three years, making a good liv- ing out of this venture, but, believing that better oppor- tunities were to be found at Clay City, he moved there- to and lived until his death in 1887, leaving behind him a clean record and a good name.
The mother of our subject is making her home with her daughter at Clay City.
Lewis W. Warner, our subject, lived on his father's homestead until the death of the latter, when he mar- ried Mary A. Sleigle, daughter of Lewis Sleigle, of Clay City, a native of Germany. the wedding ceremony hav- ing been solemnized October 19, 1887. One child born to this union died in infancy.
Mr. Warner came to Linton about 1901, having been in the employ of J. E. Wesson in the meat busi- ness, where he remained for three years. He then went into the meat business for himself on West Vincennes street, later removing to North A street, then back to West Vincennes street, and in May, 1908, located at 84 North Main street, his present place of business. He
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has one of the finest equipped meat markets in the state. few better or more up-to-date. It represents an invest- ment of fourteen thousand dollars, being a model in every respect, and was built and arranged under the direction of the subject, who has certainly mastered every detail of his line of business, not only knowing all the "ins" and "outs" of buying and selling. keeping a fresh stock of meats constantly on hand, etc., but he also knows how to secure the best trade of the city and surrounding com- munity and how to retain it. Since coming to Linton he has won recognition as a progressive and substantial business man as well as a splendid and highly esteemed citizen.
HON. WILLIAM G. MOSS.
.No history of Greene county would be complete if it did not contain a biographical sketch of the late Hon. William G. Moss, who was one of the conspicuous citi- zens of Greene county during his long and useful life. Mr. Moss was born in Washington county, Indiana, No- vember 19. 1822, and was the fourth son in a family of fourteen children born to Aquilla and Sarah ( Harrah) Moss, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. While the subject of this sketch was but five years old his parents moved to Greene county ( 1822). and settled on the "Nine-mile prairie." on the farm now belonging to James H. Humphreys. At that time there was but one other house in Greene county, west of White river. In this backwoods pioneer country as it was at
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that time William G. Moss grew to manhood amid the primeval forests. Owing to this fact his schooling was limited to a three months' term each year for only a few years. He had to walk three miles through the snowws to an old-fashioned log school house, warmed with a fire- place, stick and mud chimney, puncheon benches for seats. greased paper for windows, books to correspond and teachers no better. The big boys of the school had to cut the wood to keep up the fires to keep the house warm. Notwithstanding these great disadvantages and limited education, Mr. Moss, by great force of natural ability. rose to be one of the leading and most prominent citi- zens of Greene county. He was noted from one end of the county to the other for his ready wit and great hut- mor. Had he have had the advantages of education he would have been the equal to Mark Twain as a humorist.
In 1841 he was married to Jeannette, the daughter of Joseph and Mary ( McBride) Rector, who were na- tives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina, and came to Greene county in 1841. To this union ten chil- dren were born, as follows: Joseph. Sarah M. (now Mrs. T. A. Turner), Nathaniel ( deceased), Stephen, Bar- ney S., Rebecca A. (now Mrs. Alex Beasley), Andrew M. (deceased). Charles MI. ( deceased), Mary E. (now Mrs. Josh Neal), and Julia R. (now Mrs. George Hum- phreys).
Mr. Moss died January 30, 1899, and his wife fol- lowed him to the spirit land August 7, 1901.
In politics Mr. Moss was a Democrat and was hon- ored by his party by being elected sheriff of Greene county in 1856. re-elected in 1858. elected to represent
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Greene county in the legislature in 1860, and in 1864 was re-elected sheriff of Greene county for the third time, being the only man who ever filled this office three terms.
Mr. and Mrs. Moss were both members of the Bap- tist church, and Mr. Moss was a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry. During his lifetime he was known perhaps to more men in Greene county than any other citizen. He was universally loved, respected and hon- ored by all who knew him. His sterling, honest, strict integrity and genial, jovial disposition, high character as a man, a neighbor, a citizen and an official endeared him to the hearts of his fellow citizens in such a way that his memory will last as long as they live.
JOSHUA BENTON CURTIS.
Constituting the elements of good citizenship are three cardinal virtues-industry, integrity and morality. Without these plain and simple virtues no man can justly claim distinction as a good citizen.
The subject of this brief review is Joshua B. Curtis, of Linton, whose character is typical of the virtues here designated. Coming from that great army of toilers who represent the brain and sinew of the land, and who, after all, constitute the creative capacity and the true man- liness and worth of a community, he stands today, by dint of his own endeavor, a man of honor and ability among his fellow townspeople.
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Mr. Curtis was born in Spencer, Owen county, In- diana, April 5. 1864. His father, Samuel W. Curtis, also a native of Owen county, was a lawyer. His mother was Geralda (Campbell) Curtis, a native of Missouri. Of seven children born to this union four survive, being besides the subject. Wesley. Jennie and Emma, all of whom reside at Brazil, Indiana, where the mother also resides, the father having died there in 1889.
Joshua B. Curtis attended the common schools when a lad and made his home with his father at Brazil until he came to Linton about twenty years ago. He was employed by various coal companies in the capacity of an expert blacksmith and machinist, until he established his present business of blacksmithing and general re- pairing. He is located on A street, southwest, where he has a large and well equipped shop, employing several helpers. As a skilled and competent workmen he stands second to none in his class, and he enjoys a large and lucrative trade.
Mr. Curtis was married in 1898 to Maggie Kieth, of Linton, and is the father of two interesting children. Leonard, aged nine, and Samuel, aged four.
His fraternal associations are uniform rank and en- dowment rank of the Knights of Pythias, and the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. He affiliates with the Baptist church.
CHARLES FRANKLIN GOOD.
The farmer who now succeeds possesses much scien- tific knowledge concerning the best methods of producing
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trups, the needs of different cereals and of the elements which should be found in the soil. Rotation of crops is practiced and in carrying on the work today improved farm machinery is used which a few decades ago was totally unknown. Mr. Good is a representative of the modern agricultural class of Greene county and. in all that he does or participates in he illustrates the broad and practical life of the farmer. Although he is yet a very young man he has shown a marked ability in man- aging a farm, and unless something unforeseen inter- feres he will be one of the leading agriculturists of the county in course of a score of years.
Charles F. Good was born in Stafford township. Greene county, Indiana, November 13, 1878, his worthy parents being Jacob and Mary (Ramsey) Good, whose home was blessed with six children, four of whom sur- vived infancy. They are Charles F., our subject : Wil- ham H., a farmer, of Stafford township: Clara E., wife of Oliver Williams, of Stafford township; and Maggie, wife of Daniel Page, of Linton.
The subject spent his boyhood days attending the common schools in his native community, having ap- plied himself as best he could, and gained a fairly good practical education, as any one would soon judge from a conversation with him. In the fall of 1900 Mr. Good was happily married to Sarah J. Moore, daughter of Jesse G. and Sarah J. Moore, who was born and reared in Sullivan county, Indiana, where she. also, received serviceable common school education. Two bright chil- Tren have been born to this union. Virgil and Pearl.
The subject took up farming in Sullivan county,
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which he successfully followed for a period of three years, but, desiring to return to his native township. coul believing that better opportunities existed there tirar m Sullivan county, he returned to his native township nad bought sixty acres of excellent land, where he now lives and successfully farms, raising a diversity of crops and fine stock of all kinds, especially Poland China hogs, black Polled Angus cattle and other good breeds, as his judgment directs. He mined coal one year, then re- mained on his farm.
Mr. Good has traveled considerably, and, being a man who observes things, has reaped great good from this source. Both he and his wife are much liked by their neighbors and are highly respected by all who know them. Mrs. Good is a member of the Christian church.
GEORGE W. WELLS.
George W. Wells, attorney and counselor at law, Linton, is a native of Jackson county, Indiana, and one of five children whose parents were John R. and Jane Wells. both born in Indiana, the father in Washington county, the mother in the county of Jackson. These parents were married in Brownstown, Indiana, in 1874, and lived on a farm in Jackson county until the father's death, which occurred on July 2, 1901, at the age of fifty-four years. He was the leading agriculturist in the neighborhood in which he resided, owned one of the best and most high- ly improved farms in the county and achieved signal suc-
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cess in the calling to which his life and energies had been devoted. He was also a man of irreproachable character, known and greatly respected, and his death was felt as a personal loss in the community where he was so highly esteemed. Mrs. Wells, whose birth oc- curred in the year 1848, and bore the maiden name of Jane Paris, survives her husband and is living at this time on the home farm with her children. The family of John R. and Jane Wells consisted of two sons and three daughters, the oldest of whom, William, aged twenty-nine, is a farmer, having charge of the home place and looking after his mother's interests; George W .. of this review, is the second in order of birth, after whom comes Ivy, a stenographer. in the city of In- dianapolis: Laura, and Vina, the younger members of the circle are still with their mother.
The Wells family is of German origin and was first represented in America by immigrants, who settled in Pennsylvania at a very early period. The subject's grandfather, was born in that state and lived there until about 1835. when he migrated westward to Washing- ton county, Indiana, where he met the lady who became his wife, removing shortly after his marriage, to Jackson county, which continued to be his home to the end of his days.
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