USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 47
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J. P. Myers, who was the second child and oldest boy of his father's family of nine, was born at Bucyrus, Ohio, October 29, 1867. and was only a year old when his parents moved to the farm. The educational facilities were poor during his carlier years, but later there was an improvement, and young Myers at nineteen years of age succeeded in getting a license to teach. The money thus made enabled him to attend the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the summer of 1893. While at this school his experience in the Bible class and the preaching of George A. Smith turned his attention towards religion, and in 1890 he decided . to join the ministry. The money panic at that period compelled him to resume teaching temporarily, and while conducting a term at Holgate, he preached half the time in the Presbyterian church, both for the good he could do and the practice, and this experience confirmed his original resolve to join the hosts of Christ. A post-graduate course at Ada of two terms prepared Mr. Myers for Hiram College, where he spent his time from 1895 to 1897, grad- uating in the spring of the last named year. After leaving college he took charge as pastor of a southside church at Lima, Ohio: from there he went to the Central church at Muncie, Indiana, to which he devoted three years and then assumed pastoral control of North Park church at Indianapolis. After attend- ing Butler College for two years and obtaining a Master of Arts degree, he went to New Carlisle. Indiana, spent two years at Chicago University and ob- tained a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He accepted a pastorate at Painesville, Ohio, but resigned after two years on account of the ill health of his child.
The next move was to Paulding, in the same state, for two years during which time he built a fifteen thousand dollar church, eighty per cent. of the cost prid in before the plastering was put on the walls. Removing to Portsmouth, Ohio, misfortune overtook him in the shape of ill health for himself and the death of his son, on September 13, 1907. January 25th, of the same year, Mr. Myers came to Shelbyville and assumed the pastorate of the First Christian church. to which he has devoted his time ever since. Being always an ardent student he has accumulated a good library, the books of which are well thumbed. and
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their contents mastered to an unusual degree. His only lodge connection is with the Knights of Pythias at Paukling. Ohio. The membership of his pres- ent church is about seven hundred, with a Ladies' Society of one hundred, with Miss Hattie Bass as president. There are more than four hundred enrolled in the Sunday school, of which Ben T. Smith is superintendent. Mrs. ERvy is president of the C. W. B. M. There is an organized men's Bible class with an enrollment of one hundred. under the presidency of John M. Brown. The congregation owns a lot in the southeastern part of town valued at two thousand dollars, where it is proposed to erect a mission church. The church is a modern building with a seating capacity of one thousand, including the auditorium and Sunday school room.
Mr. Myers married Florence E., daughter of 'Squire and Anne ( Gled- hill) Spencer. of Cleveland, Ohio, a lady of education and special accomplish- ments, she being a fine elocutionist. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born three sons, John H., born at Indianapolis. August 4. 1901. died six years later in Ohio: Spencer Weldon. the youngest child, was born September 15. 1905. while the parents were living in Paulding, and David McLean, born February 16. 1909. Mr. Myers is full of energy and enthusiasm, works constantly for the good of the church, has genial manners and other qualities which have made him one of the most popular, as he certainly is one of Shelbyville's most progressive ministers.
CHARLES AUGUSTUS WHITE.
A fine sample of the Englishman turned American is Charles A. White. the popular music dealer, choir leader and all-around good fellow, of Shelby- ville. His father. Jeremiah Butts White, was an expert stone-mason, and long held the position of foreman in a quarry. He afterwards worked at his trade in London and became well known to all engaged in his line of business. As he was born in 1818 and died in June, 1908, a little calculation will show that he rounded out a life of the unusual length of ninety years. He married Sarah Winter, also a native of England, who bore him seven children before her death in 1864. Charles A. White was born at Plymouth, county of Devon- shire, May 11, 1855, and was but nine years okl when he lost his mother. He attended a private school in London, but found it necessary to work at a ten- der age and when only fifteen years old we find him apprenticed to a stone- . mason. He gave up the job, however, at the end of a year to follow an elder brother to America, who reported better opportunities for him in this country. This brother, whose name was Harry, had emigrated in 1872 and was working as a stone-mason at Buffalo. Charles went direct to that city after landing in New York. and after his arrival resumed his studies for a while, but in the
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following year engaged in the summer hotel business at Fairpoint, as the pres- ent assembly grounds on Lake Chautauqua were then known. Later he went to Dunkirk. New York, in the same occupation with Mr. Gerrans, a fellow Englishman. The following year he returned to Fairpoint and took charge of the Palace Hotel, at a good salary. That fall he went to Winnipeg to spend the winter with his brother, who was doing contract work in the Canadian city. His next employment was as cashier for a large hotel at Toledo, Ohio, where he spent three years and was then compelled by sickness to give up his position. After recuperating he returned to Toledo and engaged in the music business as traveling salesman for Thomas McGregor, with whom he remained for three years. In July, 1885. Mr. White remove 1 to Shelbyville and engaged in the music business on his own account and since then he has been one of the fixtures as well as one of the features of the city. In the course of years he has established a fine trade and become conspicuously identified with the musi- cal, religious and social life of Shelbyville. Being a musician and fine singer. he has been in demand at all the local functions calling for these talents, and has often figured in the amateur concerts, light operas, etc. In March. 1887. under the pastorate of the beloved Doctor Hughes, Mr. White united with the Presbyterian church, took charge of the church choir and brought it to a high state of efficiency. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and for a number of years has been organist for Chillon lodge. He assisted in or- ganizing a number of lodges in the surrounding towns of the county, and always is a popular figure at their banquets and celebrations. He was a chorister for the Sunday school union of Shelby county when first organized. and for years has had charge of the musical features of their meetings in the county, leading in the singing and helping to make a success of their yearly conventions. Mr. White has a talent for musical composition, besides being an excellent executant. and has written some pieces that enjoyed extensive popularity : in fact, he comes from a family of singers, his near relatives being well known in England as performers, and in boyhood he enjoyed advantages. both by precept and example, for obtaining an education in his chosen pur- suit. Mr. White has sold about nine hundred instruments, and his trade is now larger than at any previous time. At 86 West Taylor street Mr. White's hospitable home has long been headquarters for musicians and the fraternity, local or foreign are genially entertained when they call.
November 1. 1882. Mr. White married Tena, daughter of Samuel Nor- ton, a contractor and builder at Jefferson. Ashtabula county, Ohio. Mrs. White was the youngest of seven children, and but six years old when her widowed mother. Emeline ( Rush) Norton, moved to Toledo. In June. 1903. Mr. White, accompanied by his wife, enjoyed a delightful visit to his old Eng- lish home. after an absence of thirty-three years. He received a royal welcome from his surviving brothers and sisters as well as many friends of his boyhood
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days. In 1906 he and his wife spent the winter in California, fitting vaca- tions after a life devoted strictly to business for so many years. He well de- served the success he has achieved, as there is no more genial. wholesome or accommodating man than Charles A. White.
LOUIS E. WEBB.
The printing fraternity has no finer representative or more competent workman than Louis E. Webb, who has mastered his trade by going through every step from office boy to sole proprietor. Even in boyhood he established a reputation for steadiness, sobriety and reliability, which has proved the basis of a character that has commended him to all of the many employers under whom he has worked. He has always taken a pride in his business, was ever anxious to show "clean proofs." and to do well whatever was entrusted to his hands. He is a son of Robert L. and Caroline ( Mason) Webb, well known citizens of Shelbyville for many years, natives of Fayette county. Robert L. was pushed out on the world in boyhood and compelled to weed his own row with little help from others. He was in the livery and hotel business at various points, met with the usual successes and reverses of those hazardous callings. and died in 1905 at Terre Haute, where he had lived for some years. His wife preceded him to the grave, having died in 1904. They had five chlidren, Mollie, the eldest daughter, married Charles A. Ross, formerly a popular travel- ing salesman of Shelbyville, but at present in the wholesale grocery business at Indianapolis Catherine, for some years a favorite in Shelbyville society. married John Edward Beggs, manager of the Commercial Distilling Company, at Terre Haute, but died some years ago, leaving four children. Stella L. is a kindergarten teacher at Terre Haute, and assists in caring for the children of her deceased sister. Ross, the fourth child, died in infancy.
Louis E. Webb, the surviving son, was born at Brownsville. Indiana, November II, 1866, and obtained his first schooling at Mattoon, Illinois, but later was in the public schools of Milton, Indiana, for five years. After his father's removal to Shelbyville in 1881, he continued his studies in the schools of that city and in the following year made his first step towards a business career as office boy in the Volunteer office. He soon won the good will of the foreman, proprietor and editor by his kindly disposition, his excellent man- ners and strict attention to his duties. When in the summer of 1884 the same force moved over to the Republican office, to become a part of its mechanical and editorial force. Mr. Webb was given a place at the case, and for many years thereafter was one of the trusted employes of the Shelby Printing Company. Eventually he went to Detroit and spent three years as a printer
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in the office of the Free Press, where he made good wages and added largely to his knowledge of the printing business. His next employment was at In- dianapolis, from which place he went to Terre Haute, but soon came back to the capital city, and after a short stay returned to Shelbyville. Accepting a position in .Powell's job printing office he put in the next thirteen years as principal printer. and most of the time was in charge of the office. When Jacob H. Deitzer was elected Clerk of the county, Mr. Webb bought his job office, and for three years has been conducting business on his own account. The work he turns out is of the highest grade, covers pretty much the whole field of job printing and finds ready sale all over the county. Methodical, con- scientious in all his transactions and thoroughly honest. no man enjoys more highly the confidence and esteem of the community. For many years promi- nent in Odd Fellowship, and especially interested in its work. he won distinc- tion as captain of the Degree Staff of Shelby Lodge. No. 39. in a world's contest on two different occasions, at Indianapolis in 1901 and Des Moines, Iowa, in 1902. As a recognition of his merit he was presented by the members with a beautiful gold watch neatly engraved with the emblems of the order. and this he cherishes as a precious souvenir. In addition to the Odd Fellows. Mr. Webb holds membership in the Elks and Ben Hur lodges at Shelbyville.
February 11. 1891. Mr. Webb married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard D. and Teresa A. Flaitz. the former for many years a well known butcher and stock-buyer of Shelbyville. Mr. and Mrs. Webb had only one child. who died in infancy.
JOHN WESLEY HENRY.
Shelbyville has gained much by the accretion to her population of that solid type of citizen known as the retired farmer. They represent what is the most worthy part of our citizenship, made up of men who have achieved sitc- cess in agriculture, thus benefiting themselves, the county and the state. With abundant resources, accumulated as the result of long lives of industrions activity and good management they moved into the county seat for rest and comfort, adding to its wealth and buttressing all movements which lead to growth and development. It is a man of this kind to whom this sketch is de- voted, and no worthier type was ever made the subject of a brief biography. It was in 1825 that our subject's grandfather. John Henry, left his home in Harrison county, Kentucky, to seek a new residence in the young, growing state of Indiana. He located with his family in Johnson county, near Wil- liamsburg on land purchased from the government. He died a few years after establishing this new home but left descendants who worthily perpetunited his name. One of his sons, named Jackson, born on the old farm in Kentucky.
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was about ten years old when the migration was made into the country north of the Ohio. About 1847 he bought a farm in Sugar Creek township. Shelby county, near Boggstown, which is still in possession of his son. In 1850 he married Mary A. Willard, a native of Shelby county, and born in 1832. She was the daughter of Henry and Malinda ( Webb ) Willard, who came from the vicinity of Jonesboro, Tennessee, in 1830. Jackson Henry and wife were the parents of four daughters and one son. the only one of the former now living being Mrs. Allie Gritten, of Franklin, Indiana.
John W. Henry, the only son, was born on his father's farm near Bogg's- town. Shelby county, Indiana, November 24, 1854. Besides attending the pub- lic schools of the vicinity he had the advantage of a term at Franklin College. but immediately after laying down his books, resumed the agricultural pursuits that had absorbed practically all the active years of his life. The only inter- mission was in 1884. when he purchased the store of Smith. Lee & Company. at Boggstown, conducted it with success for a year and was then compelled to abandon his mercantile venture on account of ill health. Though he had a large trade and was making money, he sold out in 1885 and returned to his old pursuits on the farm. In 1893 he purchased a home in Shelbyville on the corner of Colescott and Tompkins streets and moved into the city for perma- nent residence. He still owns two hundred forty acres of land, for which he has refused one hundred twenty-five dollars an acre, and is situated to enjoy life to the best advantage possible : in fact, he leads what may be justly con- sidered the most ideal of all lives. Fond of travel he has been able to gratify his desire to see new places, thus adding to his store of knowledge by one of the most agreeable of educational processes. He has visited a large part of the United States, besides Cuba. Mexico and other countries. Usually he spends his winters in the South, returning to the North in the late spring refreshed from the journey and stored with new subjects of conversation.
October 11, 1877. Mr. Henry married Hannah J., daughter of John and Hannah (Watson) Cushing. The parents were English people who came over about the year 1850, and spent two years in New Jersey before coming to Shelbyville. In 1871 they located in Sugar Creek township and since then have made their homes there. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry four children have been born, one of whom died in infancy, the survivors being Myrtle E., Pearl, . and Claude. Pearl is the wife of William Jeffries, and resides at North Mad- ison, Indiana. Claude married Montie Sandifer, and is a resident of Marietta, where he teaches school in winter and follows other occupations in summer. Myrtle E. is at home. Mr. Henry is a member of the Modern Woodmen, Red Men and Eagles.
Mrs. Henry died July 29, 1897. and on August 17, 1898, Mr. Henry mar- ried Emma Holmes : she died August 24. 1904, left one child. Josie, born April 7, 1902. January 25, 1905. Mr. Henry married Mary E. Spencer.
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WILLIAM W. TINDALL, M. D.
The popular young physician who bears this name is one of a numerous and widely distributed family connection whose genealogical tree riris well back into Shelby county's pioneer period. Job D. Tindall, who was born in Scott county, Kentucky, June 17. 1820, came to Indiana in 1835 and settled with his father on a farm in Washington township. Job D. Tindall married Sussana Warner, October 9. 1845. She was born in November. 1828, and died August 28. 1902.
He died in October. 1901. aged eighty-one years. His son. Alexander W. Tindall, was born in Washington township. July 30. 1851. and. like his an- cestors before him devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. November 25. 1875. he married Nancy Bassett, who was born February 10. 1855. her parents being Sylvester and Susan ( Monroney) Bassett. Her father was born March 26, 1814, in a boat that was carrying his parents down the Ohio river on their journey from New York to Indiana. He became a prosperous farmer in Marion township, and one of the best known men in Shelby county. He died in March. 1902. Susan Monroney was born April 19. 1818. in Dearborn county. Indiana, and died April 23. 1899. Their marriage occurred December 23, 1837. Alexander and Nancy ( Bassett) Tindall had three children : Charles. now deceased. was born March 11. 1883. Marie, born March 7. 1893. is at home with her parents.
William W. Tindall. oldest child and only living son of the family, was born in Shelby county. Indiana. September 9. 1876. His early years were spent upon the farm and he finished his preliminary education in the district and Shelbyville schools, then taught school four years in Washington town- ship. He attended the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati. beginning September 10. 1899. and was graduated April 14. 1903. As soon as he ob- tained his degree the doctor "hung out his shingle" at Carthage. Rush county, and applied himself to the practice of his profession at that point for three years. In the spring of 1906 he removed to Shelbyville and opened an office in room 3. Akers and Teal building, where he is ever ready to give attention to all callers in his line. Doctor Tindall is a member of the Pension Board of Examining Surgeons, and examines for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, and also the Modern Woodmen.
June 25, 1903. Doctor Tindall married Carrie F., daughter of George W and Mary Phares, prominent residents of Shelby county. ( See sketch of George W. Phares.) George was born October 25, 1840. and Mary ( Yar- ling) Phares was born September 13, 1842, and they became the parents of seven children. Mrs. Tindall being the sixth in order of birth. Doctor and Mrs. Tindall have one child, William R., who was born in Carthage, Indiana. October 21. 1904.
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LESLIE C. SAMMONS, M. D.
An examination of the records shows that the family of this name is de- scended on both sides of the house from early settlers in Indiana and Michigan. and that its members have figured creditably in various communities, both in war and in peace. We first hear of Cookborn Sammons, a native of Jasper county, who was killed in battle while fighting as a soldier for the Union during the Civil war. His widow. Emily Sammons, is still a resident of Dowagiac, Michigan, at the advanced age of ninety years. There were two marriages by the old soldier and two sets of children, three by the first wife and two by the second. Among the first was Adelbert Sammons, who was born in Cass county, Michigan. February 25. 1854. He became a farmer after he reached maturity, and has devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits, his present residence being at Dowagiac. He married Etta Mechling, who was born in Cass county. Michigan. March 9. 1856, of parents originally from Pennsylvania. Her mother's name was Heaton, a member of a family at Elk- hart, Indiana. Her paternal grandmother had two brothers in the Civil war, both of whom escaped without serious injury and are still living. Abraham Heaton is a resident of Cass county. Michigan, and his brother William lives in South Bend, Indiana. John Mechling, only brother of Etta, is a farmer by calling and a resident of Cass county. Adelbert and Etta Sammons had three children, Richard G. is a resident of Shelbyville, and the local representative of the Watkins Medicine Company ; Noma, the only daughter, married Ben- jamin McCleary, a farmer, and resides at Dowagiac.
Leslie C. Sammons, eldest of the family, was born at Vandalia. Cass county, Michigan, December 1. 1876. He attended the district schools in youth, but after his father's removal to Dowagiac in 1888 he had the benefit of the high school. from which he was graduated in 1895. Meantime he had been studying for two years in the office of Doctor Herkimer, and he re- mained there as a student and assistant until October 1. 1896. at which time he entered the Chicago Homeopathic College. After a two years' course in this institution he attended lectures for twelve months in St. Louis. returning during vacations to study with Doctor Herkimer. April 4. 1899, he finished his preliminary education by graduation in the Homeo- : pathic Medical College of Missouri, at St. Louis, and in May of the same year he located at Shelbyville. For ten years he has occupied the same office in the Dorsey block, and has enjoyed a constantly increasing practice. He is skillful both in surgery and therapeutics. in fact, is a modern physician. up-to-date in methods, attentive to duty and ready at all times to render ser- vice to the suffering. He is a member of the International Congress on Tuber- culosis, and does much work in this special line. Out of twenty-seven cases treated by Doctor Sammons during a period of eleven months: only five
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failed of recovery, and these were due to subsidiary complications, such as heart failure. Doctor Sammons is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias. Ben Hur. Protected Home Circle No. 402. and the Independent Order of Foresters.
July 25. 1899, Doctor Sammons married Sadie C., daughter of Thomas and Nancy ( Hurtle ) Lilley, of Cass county, Michigan. Mrs. Sammons is the youngest of three daughters. Their father is a prosperous farmer of Cass county. Doctor Sammons has steadily grown in popularity since he became a resident of Shelbyville, and is recognized as one of the most promising of the city's young physicians. He has all the elements of success, not the least being sociability, genial address and capacity for making friends.
H. JAY ROOT.
The career of the well known gentleman of this review is an interesting one, for it shows what a man of determination, perseverance and fortitude may accomplish, although handicapped by none too favorable environment in his youth, for he has surmounted obstacles one by one, and has achieved definite success. H. Jay Root was born at Milan, Indiana, September 7. 1866, the son of Calvin J. and Elvira Root. When he was six years old his parents moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he remained until July 22, 1895. Mr. Root was educated in the common schools of Grand Rapids. When thirteen years old he went to work in a factory, making axle grease boxes at ten cents per hundred, a very poor remuneration for the amount of work required. but the lad displayed grit and continued at this until something better presented itself. His next employment was at the Bissel Carpet Sweeping Company's plant. the first furniture company in which he worked. He remained with this firm for a period of four years, during which time he learned much about that special line of business which has been of great subsequent benefit to him. He then went with Berkey & Gage, furniture makers, where he began learning the furniture business. He was later emplyoed by the Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company, having worked on a machine for four and one-half years when he was put in full charge of the factory. He was then only twenty years of age. but he was eminently successful in this responsible position. After remaining in charge of that factory for one year he went with the MI. L. Sweet Furniture Company as general superintendent and manager. Four and one-half years later Mr. Sweet decided to close out his business on account of his advanced age, and Mr. Root wound up his affairs and locked the doors of the plant.
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