USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 43
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p400. Last line, Matthew Brown f. Roster, soldier, buried in Ind. v.1,
GEORGE W. PHARES.
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wife, was born in Ireland and emigrated to South Carolina with his parents, when he was ten years old, and had nine brothers. He became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in 1839 aged eighty-six years. His wife, Jane Jones, of Welsh descent, died in 1841, aged eighty-nine years. Eight of the children, David, Robert. Samuel, John. Catherine, Nancy. Elizabeth, and Sarah, came to Ohio in 1803, and settled in Hamilton county. Isaac Phares, who was born in 1781. died in 1842. Paulina Holbrook was born May 4. 1804. in Stokes county, North Carolina, and was the daughter of a slave owner. She died in May. 1879.
George W., youngest of the children of Isaac and Paulina ( Holbrook) Phares, was born in Union township. Shelby county, Indiana, October 25, 1840. He rose to be a man of wealth and prominence in his township, where he was regarded as one of the most successful farmers. He served as Trustee of his township for five years and as one of the solid citizens was consulted whenever a movement of importance was on hand. Reared a Baptist, he be- came a member of the Methodist church at Pleasant Hill in 1874, and at the present time is affiliated with the First Methodist Episcopal church at Shelby- ville. March 5. 1867. he married Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary ( Miller) Varling, the former born at Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, July 3. 1810. Mary Miller was born at Hanover, Germany, March 1, 1811. Peter came to Amer- ica in 1832, worked for a while as a laborer in Cincinnati, entered eighty acres of land in Marion township. Shelby county, Indiana, and later settled on the same. By occasional purchases he increased his holdings until at the time of his death in 1876 he owned four hundred eighty acres. Mary Miller came to Ohio in 1834. when she was twenty-four years old, and married in 1835: she died February 9. 1885. She was the mother of nine children : Phillip, born January 12, 1836, died March 5. 1852: Elizabeth, bort: October 14, 1837, died August 21. 1869: Henry, born December 15. 1840, died in the army. December 27, 1862 : Mary, born September 13, 1842: John, born February 12, 1844: Michael, born December 15, 1845: Jacob, born September 23. 1848; Catherine, January 3. 1851. George, the third in order of birth, was born May 7. 1839, died March 23, 1879. George W. Phares and wife were the parents of the following children : Mary Catherine, born January 2. 1868, married Alonzo Rhodes. December 17, 1885 ; she has one daughter. Grace. John Wil- liam, a practicing physician and surgeon of Evansville, was born December 28. 1868: he married Louisa Houghland in September, 1901, and they have one little daughter named Mary Louise. . Henry Elsworth Phares, born July 1, 1870, is also a physician : he married Gertrude Carney in April, 1899, and they have one daughter named Frances. ( See sketch of Dr. H. E. Phares elsewhere in these pages. ) The next in order of birth was a daughter, who died soon after her birth which occurred October 29. 1873. Millie A., born October 4, 1874, died December 10, 1874. Carrie Frances, born February 26
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: 27, 18;6, married Dr. W. W. Tindall on June 25. 1903. and they lave one son, William. ( See sketch of Doctor Tindall. ) Nora Belle, born January 14. 1878. married Charles Plummer. April 12. 1899; they had one child. Florence Irene, who died in early childhood.
George W. Phares remained on his farm until 1901, when he retired and removed to Shelbyville, where he is spending the evening of his days at a pleasant home on Sonth Harrison street. He owns five hundred fifty aeres of land in Marion township, and enjoys high standing in the business and agricultural world.
ALVERNIS S. WILLIAMS.
Alvernis S. Williams, often called "Vernis." was a natural born gentle- man, one who seemed never to lose his temper, and who was polite and genial on all occasions. There never was a more devoted husband. never a more affectionate father. His friends love best to recall him at his hospitable home. He appeared proof against ordinary forms of trouble, of which he had his share, always meeting difficulties with a smiling face and a brave heart. Al- vernis S. Williams was born at Laurel. Franklin county. Indiana, March 16. 1848. His father. W. W. Williams, removed to Indiana and became a well known figure in Franklin county, of which he was Sheriff. After obtaining his common school education at Laurel. A. S. Williams engaged in the drug business at Cincinnati, and spent twenty years in that city. May 16. 1884. he located at Shelbyville, and a few years later established the Mutual Building and Loan Association, with which he was connected as secretary tintil the time of his death, which occurred in 1904.
On January 3. 1874. Mr. Williams married Elizabeth Crump, of Louis- ville, Kentucky. Mrs. Williams is active in church work and along other lines of social endeavor. wherever she made her abode. She became a charter member of the Women's Club and councillor of the American History Club. After the Gordon Children's Home was established. Mrs. Williams was made one of the Board of Lady Managers, and has devoted much time to carrying out the aims of this great charity. Long a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. she has been active in all its auxiliaries and devoted to pushing for- ward in every possible way the church's efforts in behalf of educational and reformatory causes. Carll B. Williams, her only son, was born at Newport. Kentucky, November 16, 1881. Naturally gifted in art he turned his atten- tion to newspaper sketching and soon became an expert in that line, and for seven years has been with the Cincinnati Enquirer, now holding the position of art editor on the Enquirer. On May 6, 1904. Carll B. Williams married Mary, daughter of James and Catherine ( Gordon) Teal. of Shelbyville. He
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has three children, Vernis Teal. born March 1. 1906: Katherine Gordon, horn August 13. 1907. and Caroline Elizabeth, born November 10, 1908. Mr. Williams and his family are residents of Covington, Kentucky.
MRS. ELIZABETH G. BILLMAN.
The name of Gordon will always be pleasantly remembered in Shelby county owing to the public-spirited and progressive character of those who have borne it. This is especially true of Leonidas Gordon, who developed fine estates, accumulated large property interests and became a factor of im- portanee in the development of the county. Of like quality and near neighbors were the Billmans, and it was quite in accord with the fitness of things that such families and estates should be united by marriage. The Indiana branch of the Gordon family was founded at Metamora, a small place on the canal near Laurel, in the county of Franklin. From there Leonidas Gordon came to Shelby county, before the Civil war, and after running a mili at Marion with success. afterwards became a prosperous farmer on a valuable estate near Shelbyville. He married Julia Ann Pond, also of Metamera, and by her had six children, of whom four are living. Among the latter is Elizabeth G., who was born in Marion township. Shelby county, Indiana. March 20, 1852. She was reared and educated in her native locality and on February 8, 1870, was mar- ried to Charles Billman, son of an old pioneer family, who became prosperous after coming to this section. His father, Michael Billman, was a native of Alsace. Germany. but came to America in 1829, when a young man, and here met Magdalena Eckert. also of German birth, to whom he was subsequently married. Of the nine children of this union only three are now living, to-wit : Lee. Lizzie and Mrs. Maria Wells. of Chicago. Charles Billman after farming for many years bought the Shelby Mills, but died two years after taking possession. He was the father of six children. of whom five are still living : Otto. the eldest. married Emma Yarling. and has one daughter; Anna, the eldest daughter. married J. O. Yarling, has three children and resides on a farm two miles east of the city: Edward is a commission merchant in Cin- cinnati: Emma. the second daughter, who remains at home with her mother. is a student of art in water colors and displays an unusual degree of talent. Elmer, the youngest child. is a partner with his brother Otto in the mill.
This property, which is very valuable, has in its time made fortunes for several men. Established in the early forties by the Elliott family, it has ever since been one of the institutions of Shelbyville and Shelby county. The power, originally water. has long since given away to machinery run by electric dynamos. The engine is of one hundred and forty horse power, and the
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capacity of the mill is two hundred and fifty barrels a day. The corn crib holds twenty thousand bushels in ears, the wheat elevator nearly thirty thou- sand bushels, and the mill proper three thousand bushels. Fully one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat and three hundred thousand bushels of corn are consumed each year. A large exchange business of flour for wheat is done with farmers, and great quantities of corn and bran and shorts are dis- posed of for feed. The brands of flour handled are the "Favorite." the "Cres- cent" and the "Silver Spray." all very popular and widely known and in constant demand.
Mrs. Billman, who takes a mother's natural pride in her children, has good reason to be proud of them as worthy descendants of noble sires. She had them all carefully educated in the common and high schools of Shelbyville, and all of her sens are well equipped for the responsible duties thrown upon them in the management of valuable properties. Elmer, who is unmarried, makes his home with his mother. and devotes his working hours to the mill with a view of thoroughly mastering this important business in all its details.
MRS. HANNAH ELIZABETH BAKER.
A lady of beautiful character and sterling worth, Mrs. Hannah Elizabeth Baker is well and favorably known in Shelbyville, and the high esteem in which she is held by her neighbors and friends bears testimony to the many excellent qualities of mind and heart which gained for her the worthy place in the social circles of the city which she now holds. Hannah Elizabeth Kendall was born October 10, 1836. in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, being a daughter of William and Hannah ( Elder ) Kendall, who were also natives of that state. and for many years residents of the county of Cumberland, where the an- cestors of both branches of the family settled in an early day. William Ken- dall, whose birth occurred in the year 1808, was a miller by trade. Shortly after the death of his wife he left his three children (two died in infancy ) in the care of friends and came to Shelby county. Indiana, where he operated a mill on Blue river for a number of years and met with encouraging success in business affairs. He married in this county his second wife who bore him seven children. and in 1853. at the age of forty-five. after a residence of seven- teen years in his adopted state, died. Mrs. Kendall was deprived of a mother's loving care and guidance when but seven days old, after which she was taken to the home of her mother's friends where she was tenderly nurtured and grew to young womanhood, the recipient of many kindly favors. having been adopted by James and Margaret Coyle, of Juanita county. Pennsylvania, who proved parents indeed to the orphan, and spared no pains in rearing her to a life of
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usefulness. For various reasons she was unable to attend school until her tenth year, but possessing a strong inquiring mind and a love of books and study, she made up for this deficiency by learning to read at odd times, and while still a mere child, eagerly pursued every book, magazine and paper to which she could lay her hand : soon acquired a knowledge of many subjects, so that at the beginning of her school life she was not only as far advanced as those whose education experience far exceeded her own, but better informed. In October, 1837. she came to Indiana and after attending for some time the schools of Franklin and Shelbyville, she became quite proficient in her studies and earned an honorable reputation among the best students of that institu- tion. Returning to Indiana after completing the high school course, she ac-, cepted a position in the schools of Edinburg, where she taught one year and subsequently taught in Hendricks township and Sand Hill Ridge, and achieved marked success in her educational work.
On July 23. 1865. Miss Kendall was united in marriage with Samuel R. Baker, a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred June 26, 1825. Mr. Baker's antecedents were Germans, and among the early im- migrants to Pennsylvania, from which state his mother moved to Indiana many years ago. and settled in Shelby county, Indiana, the father having died in Pennsylvania, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. When a young man. Samuel R. Baker learned carpentry and became not only a proficient but a very skillful workman. He followed contracting very suc- cessfully for a number of years and today in many parts of Shelby county as well as adjoining counties, numerous large barns, fine residences and other buildings stand as monuments to his excellence as a mechanic. He served in the Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteers in the late Civil war, participated in a number of campaigns and battles, and acquitted himself honorably as a brave and fearless defender of the National Union. He was a drummer in Capt. E. E. Finns' Company H, Sixty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was en- rolled the 5th of August. 1862, and was discharged the 9th of March, 1863. at Nashville, Tennessee, for reasons of disability.
A Methodist in his religious belief. he demonstrated his faith by a life removed as far as possible from the evils that contaminate and degrade man's better nature, and in all of his relations with his fellow citizens he was gov- erned by the principles of honor and rectitude which bespeak the devoted Christian and high-minded gentleman. This worthy citizen had a host of warm friends to whom he was sincerely attached, and by whom his death on the 22d day of December, 1902, was felt as a great personal loss.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker reared a family of four childen, the oldest of whom. a son by the name of John, is a farmer of Shelby county. N. W. Baker, the second in order of birth, lives with his mother, whose interests and comfort are his principal considerations: Grant W. Baker. the third son, who also
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resides under the parental roof. is a lawyer by profession. After receiving his preliminary education in the public schools he added two years' work in the State University at Bloomington, and there prosecuted his legal studies for two years in the law department of the University of Michigan. at Ann Arbor. Ora E., the youngest member of the family and only daughter. enjoyed an excellent education during childhood and youth in the town of Brookville, and is still a member of the home circle and her mother's capable helper in conducting the same.
JACOB H. DEITZER.
The Clerk of the Shelby Circuit Court and one of the enterprising men of the city in which he resides is Jacob H. Deitzer. He was born in Shelby county, Indiana, January 31. 1855. As the name indicates, he is of German lineage, and in his veins flows the blood of a long line of sterling ancestry whose history is intimately associated with that of the Fatherland. His parents, Valentine and Elizabeth ( Fox) Deitzer, natives of the Grand Duchy of Baden-Baden, came to the United States in early life and settled in Shelby county. Indiana, where their marriage took place in April. 1854, following which they set up their domestic establishment in Shelbyville. Valentine . Deitzer conducted a meat market for a number of years and earned the repu- tation of an industrious, capable and thoroughly reliable business man. He was also engaged for some years as a stationary engineer besides turning his hands to various other occupations from time to time. He died in Shelby- ville in the month of October. 1867. at the age of forty-one; his widow, who is still living, has reached the advanced age of eighty-three years, and occupies the same home in which she began housekeeping over a half century ago.
To Valentine and Elizabeth Deitzer were born seven children, the subject of this sketch being the oldest of the family : Minnie, who became the wife of John L. Springer, died in the year 1892: John died in childhood : Peter is cus- todian of the Carnegie Public Library in Shelbyville; Louis lives in the state of Louisiana, and two children died in infancy.
Jacob H. Deitzer spent his early life in Shelbyville, where he first saw the light of day and received the rudiments of an education in the public schools. By reason of his father's death, which occurred when the lad was but twelve years old, he was obliged to terminate his educational experience in order to look after the interests of his mother and the younger children, who then depended upon him for their support. On the 26th day of July, 1868, Mr. Deitzer entered a printing office and after becoming proficient in the trade, accepted a position in a newspaper office. to which trade he devoted his attention for a period of twenty-two years, working for different papers dur-
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ing that time and becoming proficient in the work in its every detail. At the expiration of the period indicated he started a job printing office and built up a large and lucrative patronage and earned an honorable reputation as a capable printer and enterprising business man.
Mr. Dietzer has always manifested a commendable interest in the pros- perity of his native city, and from time to time has been honored with im- portant official positions by the municipality. In 1900 he was made a member of the Board of Education, and it was during his incumbency that the Carnegie Library building was erected and opened to the public, his efforts in making this splendid enterprise possible being as influential as those of any other man. While holding the above position he was nominated by the local Democracy for Mayor, and after being elected to the latter office, severed his connection with the board at the expiration of two and a half years, in order to enter upon his duties as the city's chief executive. Mr. Dietzer's official career met the high expectations of his friends and fully justified the wisdom of his election. He proved an able and conscientious executive. Among the several public improvements inaugurated and carried into effect during his term was the building of the fine hall in which the business of the municipality is conducted, his interest in this and other commendable enterprises doing much to promote the progress of the city and make it what it has since become, one of the most important industrial and commercial centers in the southeastern part of the state. As stated in a preceding paragraph Mr. Dietzer is a Democrat, and as such he has been a leader of his party in Shelby county for a number of years, and as a reward for valuable political services he was nominated in 1906 for the important office of Clerk of Shelby County Circuit Court. and triumphantly elected the same year. Since taking charge of this office he has added to his reputation as a capable, judicious and courteous public servant, and it is uni- versally admitted that the position has never been more ably or worthily filled. First position held was Deputy Internal Revenue Collector for Shelby county under Cleveland's administration from 1884 to 1888.
Mr. Dietzer was one of the original stockholders in the Citizens' Natural Gas Company, of Shelbyville, and is now serving as president of the organi- zation ; he is also a stockholder and leading spirit in the Shelbyville Sprinkling Association, besides being interested in various local enterprises which make for the advancement of the city and welfare of the populace. He has been twice married. the first time in November, 1874. to Ada Bruce, daughter of Dr. L. M. Bruce, who departed. this life in August. 1885. after bearing him two children, both of whom died in infancy. On the first day of January. 1887. he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Lena Metzger. daughter of Silas and Mary Metzger, of Shelbyville, the union being blessed with two sons. Fred J., born July 1. 1893. and J. Frank, whose birth occurred on October 16, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Dietzer are active members of the First Presbyterian church of Shelbyville.
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Mr. Dietzer is an enthusiastic friend of secret fraternal work and belongs to quite a number of orders, being a member of the Masonic brotherhood. in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree and Mystic Shrine. The fol- lowing includes the various lodges and orders with which he is identified at the present time, namely: Shelby Lodge. No. 28. Free and Accepted Masons : Shelby Chapter No. 20. Royal Arch Masons: Shelby Council. No. 3. Royal and Select Masters: Baldwin Commandery. No. 2. Knights Templar: Naar- mah Chapter. Order Eastern Star: Shelby Lodge. No. 39. Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Shelbyville Encampment. No. 162. Independent Order Odd Fellows : Canton Lodge. No. 4. P. M. : Chillon Lodge, No. 129. Knights of Pythias: Kiowa Tribe. No. 199. Improved Order of Red Men: Chief- tains League. No. 3. Improved Order of Red Men: Frank Talbert Camp. No. 85. Sons of Veterans : Orentes Court. No. 77. Tribe of Ben Hur : Shelby- ville Lodge, No. 457. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Shelbyville Camp. No. 3372. Modern Woodmen of America. He has not only been in- trusted with important official positions in nearly all of the above organizations. but by reason of his connection therewith, has attained to high standing and influence in their councils and become widely known in fraternal circles throughout the state. In all of his relations with his fellow men he endeavors to put into practice the principles upon which they are based, and his life af- fords a striking example of the value of their teachings and influence.
FRANK BASS.
A well known and progressive citizen of Shelby county, whose career has been such as to entitle him to a representation in this work along with others who have contributed to the development of this locality, is Frank Bass, wh) was born in Marion township. Shelby county. October 18, 1861. the son of Lewis and Minerva E. ( Rhodes) Bass, the latter the daughter of John and Perlina ( Hodge) Rhodes. Lewis Bass was a life-long resident of Marion township. He was the son of Henry and Judah ( Fox) Bass, who were both natives of North Carolina, where their marriage occurred. Soon afterwards in 1818, they emigrated to Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1821 came on to Shelby county, being among the early settlers, and they lived here the rest of their days, being among the earliest pioneers of Marion township. They were people of much sterling worth. as was also the father of the subject of this review, who became well known in this county during his long and useful life. John Rhodes, the maternal grandfather of Frank Bass, was born in North Carolina. March 26. 1800, the son of Adam Rhodes, who was of German parentage, and also a native of North Carolina, where he grew to manhood
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and then married Susan Fox. In 1821 Adam Rhodes brought his family to Shelby county, Indiana, the journey being made overland. and was a long and hazardous one, but successfully made. His son, John Rhodes, here married Perlina Hodges, daughter of Jesse and Rebecca ( Fisher ) Hodges, Jesse Hodges being from Virginia and Rebecca Fisher from Kentucky. John Rhodes, grandfather of Frank Bass, was a very prosperous man, having owned over eleven hundred acres of land when he died.
Frank Bass is a member of a family of seven children, four of whom. three brothers and one sister, have died. Those living are: Frank : Elva, wife of Will A. Yarling, whose sketch is to be found on another page of this work : and Milton Bass, who lives on a farm near the old homestead in Marion town- ship, where he owns about one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. Ile married Abbie Rhodes, of Rush county, Indiana. They have an adopted daughter, a cousin's child that they took to raise as one of their family. Her mother was in like manner reared by Milton Bass' mother.
Frank Bass is a well educated man, keeping well abreast of the times, and is interesting in his conversation : after attending the common schools he at- tended Hartsville College, in Bartholomew county, for one year, then taught school a year, after which he studied for one year at Franklin College, after which he taught for some time, then attended Valparaiso University, and in 1885 graduated from the Bryant and Stratton Business College in Indianapolis. In all these institutions he made a very commendable record for scholarship, having applied himself in a most careful manner to his studies. He began teaching again, enjoying his former success, becoming widely known as an educator of ability, and his services were in great demand. He followed this profession until January 1. 1891. when he went to work in the office of the Shelbyville Cabinet Company, which failed in 1895. after which he worked in the office of the Cerealine Manufacturing Company, at Indianapolis. for a time, but in August. 1807. he returned to Shelbyville and entered the office . i the Spiegel Furniture Company, with which he has been connected ever since. having charge of the company's books ard giving the utmost satisfaction in the same owing to his innate business ability, his careful schooling and his fidelity to duty.
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