USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume III > Part 24
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Susan P. Wycoff, also born and reared in the county of Switzerland, is the doctor's mother. By her marriage with the Rev. Mr. Hyde she had six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Loren A., whose name in- troduces this sketch ; R. Scott, pastor of Hanscom Park Methodist Episcopal church, Omaha, Nebraska; the Rev. Preston S., a minister of the Methodist church, at the
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present fime principal of the Philander Smith College, BL Niani Tal, India, where he has spent seven years in mis- sionary educational work; Edna Blanche, now the wife of Thomas Staver, of Indianapolis; Gertrude is with her parents, attending school, and Will Cumback died in childhood.
Dr. Loren A. Hyde was born March 26, 1870, at East Enterprise, Switzerland county, and received his early mental discipline in the schools of his native place. Subsequently he finished his literary education in Moore's Hill College, and after a preliminary course of reading entered the Medical College of Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1897, and while a student he was un- dler the watchful care of Dr. L. H. Dunning, of Indian- apolis, as preceptor, immediately thereafter beginning to practice his profession in Indianapolis, where he continued until 1902. In the latter year he left the capital city and came to Linton, where he formed a partnership with Dr. B. . \. Rose, the oldest physician in the place, and since the above date he has built up a very satisfactory and lucrative practice, devoting special attention to diseases of the eye, ear and throat, for treatment of which he fitted himself by long and critical study and research under the direction of some of the most eminent specialists of the day. While successful in the general practice he has been eminently so in the special lines, his services being in great demand by sufferers from the ailments mentioned, and ere long he will doubtless devote his entire attention to the branches of the profession for which he has made such careful and painstaking preparation. Dr. Hyde is a very busy man and the amount of good he has already accomplished for suffering humanity is incalculable.
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He is no longer under the necessity of attending pu the wide range of practice which his firm has built up, but confines his attention very largely to office work. whither numerous patients afflicted in the manner indi- cated are wont to come for special treatment. The doctor has a clear field in his special lines, and his succe -- heretofore bespeaks for him a future of great promise and usefulness.
Dr. Hyde is a Mason of high standing, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Linton, the Royal Arch Ma- sons and the Council of Royal and Select Masters in In- dianapolis, being high priest in the chapter with which he holds membership. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; also the Greene County Medical Society. of which he served as president in 1906: the State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association, and in religion was reared a Methodist, holding at this time the office of treasurer in the church at Linton.
On March 12. 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Hyde and Maim Heizer, of Indianapolis, daugh- ter of C. C. and Nancy Heizer. Mrs. Hyde was born, reared and educated in the above city and her parents still reside there. She is one of a family of four daughters, whose names are as follows: Eva B., Mrs. Sarah E., Jackson and Nettie, wife of Austin Mendenhall. Eva, the only unmarried one, being principal of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Indianapolis, which position she has held for the last twenty years.
Dr. and Mrs. Hyde have one son, Cecil Will Hyde, aged sixteen, and a student in the Linton high school.
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JAMES T. ROACH.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Sullivan county, Indiana, and the eldest of three sons who con- stituted the family of William O. and Mary Roach, the father born September 1, 1843, at Bruceville, Knox coun- ty, and the mother in the county of Sullivan, September 28th of the year 1845, her name prior to her marriage having been Mary Brodie. William C. Roach, a mechanic by occupation and a man of many sterling qualities, de- parted this life in 1901, at Linton, in which city his widow still resides. Their second son, William C. Roach, a farmer, and representative citizen, of Sullivan county, is a man of family, having a wife and two children; Em- mons, the youngest son, is unmarried and lives with his mother in Linton, being by occupation a bricklayer.
The subject's father and grandfather served in the late Civil war, the former in Company D. Thirty-first In- diana Infantry, the latter as captain in the Forty-third Regiment, both seeing much active service and earning honorable mention for meritorious conduct on the field of battle. The father, who was promoted to sergeant of his company, was several times wounded and finally died from the effects of an injury received by the explosion of a shell, having been paralyzed several years prior to his death. Grandfather Roach served with distinction to the end of the war, and later moved to Anderson county, Kansas, where he became prominent in local politics, rep- resenting that county in the legislature at the time of his death.
James T. Roach, whose birth occurred on the 3d
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day of July, 1867, was reared in his native county and received a practical education in the schools of the same. While still a mere youth he worked with his father, who was a bricklayer, and in due time mastered that trade and became a very rapid and efficient mechanic. On attain- ing his majority he engaged in brick masonry upon his own responsibility, later contracted for work at various places, and in 1897 came to Linton, where during the ensuing years he followed his trade very extensively. erecting in that time a number of the city's most preten- tious business blocks, and public buildings, to say nothing of the large amount of work done in the construction of less imposing structures and edifices. During the twenty years which he devoted to his chosen calling he not only achieved success and reputation as a first-class workman and master builder, but by industry and prudent manage- ment accumulated a handsome property and placed him- self in independent circumstances. Owing to an accident by which he was permanently disabled Mr. Roach, in 1901, was obliged to discontinue his operations as a me- chanic and retired from business, since which time he has lived amid the quiet of his home and city, in the enjoy- ment of the fruits of his swell-directed labors. He has always taken an active interest in public and political af- fairs, and in 1906 was elected, on the Republican ticket. county commissioner for a term of three years, the duties of which responsible trust he has discharged ably and conscientiously, with an eye solely to the public good. He is one of the Republican leaders in Greene county, influ- ential in the counsels of his party and an active participant in the deliberations of conventions and other assemblages,
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and to him as much as to any one man is due the suc- cess of the ticket in not a few hotly-contested campaigns. He is treasurer of Lodge No. 560, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Linton, and a leading member of the local lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he holds the title of past grand and past capital potentate in the encamp- ment. His religious faith is represented by the Methodist Episcopal creed, to which his wife and family also belong.
April 22, 1892, Mr. Roach and Miss Ella Woodward were united in the bonds of holy wedlock, the marriage resulting in the birth of one child, Raleigh O. Roach, who first saw the light of day on October 19, 1893. Mrs. Roach's family were among the old and highly esteemed settlers of Sullivan county. Her father, George Wood- ward, a soldier in the Civil war and a most excellent and enterprising citizen, died in the year 1892, as did also his wife, the two deaths occurring within ten days of each other. George and Julia Woodward reared a fami- ly of three daughters, Lettie, wife of Charles Beck, of Sullivan county : Rosa, deceased, was the wife of William Goodman; and Mrs. Roach.
FRANKLIN RAMSEY.
One of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Greene county and holding distinctive prestige as an in- telligent and enterprising man of affairs, is Franklin Ram- sey, the subject, who is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Orr) Ramsey, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, re-
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spectively. Paternally he is descended from an add and eminently respectable family of the former state, and his maternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, where his birth occurred January 26, 1839, having first seen the light of day in the town of Lisbon. Mr. Ramsey was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native county and early learned to appreciate the dignity of honest toil. During the winter seasons of his youth he attended the district schools, devoting the re- mainder of the year to labor in the fields. After re- maining at home until old enough to begin the struggle of life upon his own responsibility he turned his atten- tion to any kind of honorable effort that he found profit- able, and thus in various ways was he employed until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted July 6, 1861, in Company C, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, later in the First Heavy Artillery, with which he saw much act- ive service during his military experience of five years. participating in a number of sanguinary engagements, notably among which were the siege of Port Hudson and the actions at New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Spanish Fort and the capture of Mobile. While at the front he ever bore himself as a brave and gallant soldier, was strict in the discharge of every duty and never shirked a responsi- bility, however arduous. He entered the army as a pri- vate, but subsequently was promoted sergeant of his com- pany, and at the expiration of his period of service, Jan- uary 10, 1866, was discharged with an honorable record, of which he feels deservedly proud.
Mr. Ramsey became a resident of Indiana in 1854. and since that year has been identified with the material 78
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interests of the county of Greene. Returning from the army he engaged in agricultural pursuits on rented land for a period of four years, and during the three years en- suing devoted his attention to the lumber business, in which his success was encouraging. At the expiration of that time he began dealing in grain, and was thus en- gaged for six years, when he again resumed farming, pur- chasing and improving a fine place, which now embraces an area of six hundred acres. He gave this his personal attention until retiring from active life in 1886, and changing his residence to Bloomfield. As an agriculturist Mr. Ramsey ranks with the most enterprising and pro- gressive in Greene county, and his splendid farm, with its commodious buildings and other substantial improve- ments, has long been recognized as one of the most beau- tiful and desirable rural homes of the township in which it is situated. In addition to tilling the soil he raises con- siderable stock. His success in this important branch of farming yields no small share of the handsome income which has placed him in independent circumstances. His home in Bloomfield is also a finely situated dwelling, well supplied with modern improvements, and being sur- rounded by all the comforts and conveniences which ample means can suggest, his present mode of life leaves little or nothing to be desired.
Mr. Ramsey is a Democrat in politics and for many years has been an active and influential participant in pub- lic and political affairs. In recognition of important serv- ยท ices rendered his party he was three times elected to the office of township trustee and later served two terms as clerk of the Greene county circuit court, in both of which
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capacities he discharged the duties incumbent upon him in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned and made a creditable record as an able, painstaking and obliging official.
In September, 1880, Mr. Ramsey entered the mar- riage relation with Mrs. Eliza J. West (nee Denny), a native of Pennsylvania, widow of the late Thomas West, who has borne him two children, Frank and Dollie. The former was born February 20, 1882, received a good edu- cation in the schools of Greene county, and at this time is one of the leading farmers of the township in which he resides. He married Miss Bertie Combs, also of the coun- ty of Greene, and is the father of two sons, who answer to the names of Luther and Franklin. Dollie Ramsey is now the wife of Lester Mansfield, of Greene county, to whom she was married on November 13, 1905.
JOHN LYMAN MORGAN.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a widely known farmer and stock raiser, and the son of George C. and Lydia (Gannon) Morgan and half-brother to Henry C. Morgan, whose biography appears elsewhere in these pages. He is a native of Greene county, Indiana. and dates his birth from February 23, 1863. He was reared under excellent home influences, enjoyed the ad- vantages of a common school education in his youth, and later became a student of Notre Dame University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Master of Arts, class of 1881.
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After completing his university course Mr. Morgan became associated with his father in buying and shipping live stock, to which business he has since devoted his attention, and in which his success has been truly remark- able, as is indicated by the magnitude to which his opera- tions have grown and his wide publicity in business circles throughout the entire United States and Canada. Mr. Morgan has literally grown up with the live stock busi- ness, and in all matters pertaining thereto his judgment is practically unerring and his experience such as to make him an authority. He has long been considered one of the shrewdest judges of cattle and hogs in the state, and in the leading markets of this country his name is as well known and as highly esteemed as that of any other dealer, in addition to which he has also established an honorable reputation as an enterprising and far-seeing business man in several foreign countries, to which he makes large ship- ments from time to time. A man of broad mind, pro- gressive ideas, with a penchant for large undertakings, he has made his influence felt among the leaders of his calling in all the great commercial centers of the Union, and today in the cities of New York, Buffalo, Chicago, etc., there is no man whose judgment in the matter of live stock commands greater respect or whose opinion carries more weight.
In addition to his large and steadily growing busi- ness in live stock Mr. Morgan is also interested quite ex- tensively in real estate, owning valuable farming and grazing lands in Indiana and other states, the subject's holdings in Greene county alone amounting to two thou- sand four hundred acres. valued at one hundred
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dollars per acre. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank at Linton. While it is true that Mr. Morgan, on starting in life, received material assistance from his father, it was not until the latter had fully satisfied himself as to the young man's ability and judgment to manage his own affairs success- fully that there was turned over to him the section of land which constituted the basis of his fortune, and to which he has since added until, as already indicated, he now owns four times that amount. His plans have ever been carefully formed, and in carrying them into effect he has seldom if ever failed, and only in very rare in- stances has his judgment been at fault. His ability to foresee the outcome of present arrangements and action is remarkable. While his financial success has been com- mensurate with the energy and enterprise with which he has prosecuted his business affairs, his reputation for fair dealing in all his relations with his fellow men has ever been such as to gain for him unbounded esteem and honor.
A Democrat in his political views and interested in good government, he is not a partisan, much less an of- fice seeker, preferring to devote his time to his business affairs, and to be known by the simple title of citizen. He has traveled quite extensively over all parts of the United States, meeting all classes and conditions of people. This practical experience, with his fine scholastic training, tending to broaden his mind and give him enlarged con- ceptions of life and duty and to make him an all-around well informed man.
Mr. Morgan in the year 1892 entered the marriage relation with Anna Hayes, who was born in Washing-
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ton, Indiana, and educated in the schools of that city and in St. Rose Academy at Vincennes, having been grad- uated from the latter institution in 1884. She has borne her husband the following children : Ilene, aged thirteen years, Mildred, eleven years old, and John H., who bears his four years with becoming grace and dignity. At this time Mrs. Morgan is residing temporarily in Indianapo- lis in order to give her children the advantages of the schools of that city.
Mr. Morgan is a gentleman of pleasing presence, and companionable to those with whom he has business rela- tions. He is essentially a busy man, but not to the extent of losing sight of social amenities or becoming narrow, being popular with a large circle of friends in his own and adjoining counties and a true gentleman in all the term implies.
COL. ADEN G. CAVINS.
Perhaps no man who has ever lived in Greene county was more highly esteemed while living or more sincerely mourned in death than Col. Aden G. Cavins, who was in deed and truth Greene county's "grand old man." Uni- versally admired by men in all walks of life, he was a splendid type of a gentleman. His was a spirit dominated by the highest ideals of service and sacrifice, an illustrious example of temperate living, unflinching honesty and ab- solute fidelity to every obligation of citizenship. Rich in his wealth of knowledge and ripe with the experience of
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years, he seemed an essential personality to his com- munity.
Colonel Cavins was born in Lawrence county, In- diana, October 24, 1827, the son of Samuel R. Cavins, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He grew to boyhood on a farm and secured only a limited education in the common schools of his locality. In later years he entered Asbury, now, De Pauw University, where he took a three years' course. He then entered the University of Indiana at Bloomington, where he gradu- ated from the law department in 1849. He practiced law in Bloomfield, Indiana, until 1858, when he went to Ne- braska City, Nebraska, where he practiced law and was elected to the legislature. At the outbreak of the Civil war he returned to Bloomfield, and after recruiting a company for the Fifty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, he was commissioned captain of Company E in November, 1861. He went to the front and re- mained until the war ended, passing through some of the most hotly contested battles and hardest campaigns. He was with General Pope on his expedition to New Ma- drid, Missouri, in 1862, and after Island No. 2 was evacuated he went with his regiment to Pittsburg Land- ing. He took part in the siege of Corinth. For his dis- tinguished service in 1862 Governor Morton commis- sioned him major of the Ninety-seventh Regiment, In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and in December of the same year he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel of his regiment. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg. At Jackson, Mississippi, his horse was killed by a cannon ball. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge.
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From there he went to the relief of Burnsides at Knox- ville. Later he took part in the bloody engagements at Resaca, Dallas and New Hope church. In June. 1864. his regiment had the honor of capturing seven hundred Confederates, including a large part of the Thirty-first Alabama Regiment, with its field and staff officers. At Kenesaw Mountain he led his regiment and at Atlanta his command captured the Fifth Tennessee Regiment. which had killed General McPherson. Later he was present when many hard-fought engagements occurred. and remained in command of the Ninety-seventh Regi- ment from Goldsborough until he arrived at Washington City at the close of the war, where he was mustered out with the rank of colonel.
After the war he resumed the practice of law with his brother, Col. E. H. C. Cavins, at Bloomfield, and was eminently successful. Several years later he retired and led a quiet life with the companionship of his books and the society of his friends. He was a staunch Republican and in 1880 was the presidential elector for the second congressional district and in 1892 was his party's can- didate for appellate judge. He was a loyal member of the Masonic fraternity and a regular attendant at all its meetings.
Colonel Cavins was twice married. His first wife was Julia Taylor, whom he married in 1851. She died in 1854. Two sons were born to this union-Charles, de- ceased, and Edward, who is living. Later he married Ma- tilda Livingston, who bore him eight children, namely : William L., Frank, Mrs. Margaret E. Henderson, of Bloomfield. Indiana : Mrs. Lelia N. Baughman, of Evans-
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ville, Indiana. and Mrs. Josephine D. Torr, of Greenetis- tle, Indiana, and Hugh L., Alden L. and Lee, deceased.
As a lawyer Colonel Cavins was second to none in southern Indiana, and his high precepts of duty have kept many men out of costly litigation. He was the peer of any advocate at the local bar. As a soldier his militant spirit was at its best, and his renown was such as to com- mand recognition from men high in the ranks during the war. As a citizen he was straightforward in all his meth- ods, courageous in his public expressions and benevolent in his daily associations. As a neighbor he was kindly. considerate and generous.
Colonel Cavins was broad and intellectual and pos- sessed a wonderful memory. He especially liked to recite the stirring events of the world's wars. He was a close student of history and standard literature and seemed never to forget anything after he had carefully read it. He was a brilliant conversationalist.
He was a man that all could unite in honoring and in whose death all felt a common sorrow-not because he was all things to all men, but because he was always a plain, sincere, honest man.
NATHAN V. SLINKARD.
Nathan V. Slinkard was born in Cass township. Greene county, Indiana, one mile southeast of Newberry. March 28. 1837. He is the son of Henry and Margaret Ann (Storms) Slinkard, the former a native of North
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Carolina and the latter a native of Ohio. Henry was the son of John Slinkard, a native of Germany, who first set- tled in North Carolina after coming to America. He came in a very early day to Kentucky and then to Indiana, settling in Greene county, being a pioneer there, where he lived on a farm until his death. Henry, the father of the subject, was ten years old when John Slinkard, the subject's grandfather, brought him to Greene county, Cass township, where he worked as a farmer and later pro- prietor of a mill on Slinkard creek, later called First creek, and he lived there until his death. His wife was the daughter of John Storms, a native of Ohio, but came to Indiana in pioneer days, locating on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Slinkard were the parents of the follow- ing children: Moses and John S., both deceased: Na- than, the subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, deceased ; Joan, widow of Sanford Webster: Frederick, living in Linton, Indiana: William, living in Cass township. Greene county, Indiana, on a farm : Alexander, who lives near Bedford. Indiana: Martha, deceased: Amanda. the wife of John Chandler; Margaret Catherine, deceased. Henry Slinkard was a Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
Nathan V. Slinkard has spent his entire life in Cass township, Greene county, Indiana. He was raised on a farm and got a meager education in the old-fashioned sub- scription schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old. He learned the miller's trade, and was also a good mechanic. He also learned the carpen- ter's trade and the bricklayer's and stonemason's trade. He farms and still works some at all of these. He has
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been living in the town of Newberry, Indiana, for forty- three years.
The subject was married April 14. 1863. to Sarah Edwards, who was born in Knox county, Indiana, No- vember 14. 1840. She was the daughter of Hugh Cam- eron Edwards and Nancy ( Ward) Edwards, both natives of Daviess county. Hugh Edwards was a farmer, who spent most of his life in Knox county, where he died. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Wil- liam, who died in the army: Sarah, wife of the subject of this sketch ; Harrison and Joshua, both deceased, hav- ing died in childhood: Eliza, the wife of a Mr. Fry ; Thornton and Mary, both deceased : Lemuel, who is living in Monroe City, Knox county, Indiana. He is a school teacher. Hugh Edwards was a Republican. He and his wife were both Presbyterians.
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