USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 5
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Urus F ... who is number four in the foregoing list of children. was born in old Addison (pow Shelly) township. Shelby omity. In liana. September 18. 1871. After the usual routine in the country schools, he spent two years at
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Danville, Indiana Central Normal College, and began teaching in his native county when twenty-one years old. His pedagogic experience lasted ten years. or until 1902, and was confined entirely to Shelby county. In 1897 he began the study of law, reading during the intervals of school in the office of Tindall & Tindall, and one year with Attorney Isaac Carter. He finished his prelim- inary preparation by a year's attendance at the Indianap dis Law School, and was admitted to the bar October 8, 1900. Subsequent to this he took a course in the Indiana Law School, from which he was graduated May 29. 1901. in a class of forty-two. During the winters of the two years following he taught school and continued his law studies at intervals in the office of Thomas B. Adams. In 1903 Mr. Tindall opened an office in rooms 1 and 2. over the Shelby National Bank, where he has since continued to practice. Being a hard worker, of steady habits, and strictly attentive to business, it would not be a great risk to predict for Mr. Tindall a most popular and prosperous career. His fraternal relations are with the Old Fellows and Masons, his membership being in Lodge 197 of the former at Waldron, and Lodge No. 28 of the latter at Shelbyville. His wife, as well as himself, is a Rebekah, being members of Lodge No. 52 at Waldron.
June 7. 1893. Mr. Tindall married Laura Maud Means, daughter of Joha L. and Elizabeth Means, a well educated lady and former teacher of music, of Shelbyville. They have one son, Glen M., born June 21, 1894.
WILLIAM N. BASSETT.
The subject of this sketch stands out clear and distinct among the repre- sentative men of his county and state, and by reason of forceful personality and large success in material things, he has gained a conspicuous place in the community and is today a leader of thought and in no small degree a moulder of opinion among those with whom he mingles.
William N. Bassett, a leading farmer and stock raiser of Hanover town- ship, was born in Shelby e unty. Indiana. September 2, 1863. being one of the seven children of James M. and Clara (Norval) Bassett, both parents na- · tives of the county . f Shelby and still living as are also six of their children- Hays Bassett. the only member of the family deceased. departed this life at the age of eleven years in 1805.
The early years of William N. Bassett, spent in close touch with nature on his father's farm, were conducive to vigorous physical and mental growth. and while still a mere lad he learned the lesson of industry and frugality, which. with a spirit of self-reliance, had a marked influence in developing a well- rounded character and fixing his future course of life. He helped clear the
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WILLIAM N. BASSETT.
زيز وم
MRS. W. N. BASSETT.
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home place and cultivate the same, and after finishing the common school branches entered the schools of Shelbyville where he made rapid and sub- stantial progress in his studies. Remaining under the parental roof until at- taining his majority, he contributed his full share to the support of the fam- ily, but at the age of twenty-one he severed home ties to set up a domestic es- tablishment of his own, choosing for his companion and helpmeet in the land- able endeavor, an intelligent and popular young lady by the name of Ona M. Salla, to whom he was married on the 23d of November. 1884.
After his marriage Mr. Bassett engaged in agricultural pursuits, which with stock raising has since demanded his attention, meeting with marked success in his- vocations and as already stated. forging to a leading place among enterprising and influential men of the township. Since early manhood he has taken an active part in public affairs, and frem 1901 to 1905. inclusive, he served as Trustee of Hanover township, during which period he was un- tiring in his efforts to advance the interests of his jurisdiction and prove an able and conscientious official. He administered the duties of his office with credit to himself and to the acceptance of the people, stood for public improve- ments and in addition to his many other functions, erected three modern school-houses, besides improving many miles of highway.
Mr. Bassett owns a fine farm of three hundred and thirty-eight acres in all, one mile north of Morristown, and is well situated as far as material wealth is concerned, being in independent circumstances. Mr. Bassett's home farm consists of two hundred and forty acres situated one mile north of Morristown, range 7 east, section 1; twenty-two and one-half aeres north in section 6. and thirty-seven and a half acres in section ;, and thirty- eight acres in range &. east. In addition to cultivating his own place. he looks after the interests of the A. R. Keaton farm of two hundred and fifty acres, and. until recently, devoted a great deal of attention to buying and selling live stock, from which he derived no small portion of his income. By reason of partial disability caused by an injury from a rail- road accident, he discontinued the stock business, and since that year has given his time to grain farming and dairying, both of which have resulted greatly to his financial advantage and added very materially to the ample competence now in his possession. Mr. Bassett is president of the Ripley Farmers' Tele- phone Company : also president of the Riverside Gas Company, and is trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Bassett is staunchly Republican in his political allegiance and an in- fluential party worker. being well read on the leading questions of the day. thoroughly posted on all the leading issues and fully abreast of the times on all matters of local and general import. Like the majority of public-spirited men, he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge, at Morristown; the Greenfield Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and the Eastern
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Star, at the former place, with which his wife and two daughters are also identified. Mrs. Bassett being now on her third year as worthy matron of the organization. In addition to the above. Mr. Bassett is an active worker in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed all the chairs in subordinate lodge and encampment: he is also connected with Warren Lodge. No. 196. Knights of Pythias, at Morristown, in which he has been honored from time to time with every office within the gift of the Brotherhood, besides holding membership with the Improved Order of Red Men. In religion he has strong convictions and decided views. being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a contributor to its missions, benevolences and other lines of work. Mrs. Bassett is also a member of the same religious body, and is deeply in- terested in the growth of the local church to which she belongs.
Mr. and Mrs. Bassett are the proud parents of two intelligent and ac- complished daughters and me manly son. the oldest of the number being Mary E., whose birth occurred on the 12th day of December. 1885. After graduating from the common schools, she entered the Ohio College of Music and Oratory at Cincinnati, from which she was graduated with an honorable record as a musician and elocutionist. Miss Bassett has a high reputation in both these accomplishments and now holds the position of instructor in the Young Ladies' College of Music and Elocution at Franklin, Kentucky. Mar- garet E .. born September 17. 1887. received a high school education at Morris- town, and in 1908 was graduated from the Central Normal College at Danville. with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts : meantime she taught very successfully in the district schools, and since finishing her course in the above institution has devoted her attention to educational work in Hancock county. A young lady of fine mind and superior intellectual attainments, she has already achieved a creditable reputation in her chosen field of endeavor. and bids fair to rise to still higher achievements and become one of the ac- complished and brilliant teachers of the state.
James N. Bassett. the youngest of the family, was born February 19. 1892. and, like his sisters, takes kindly to books and study. being a student of the Morristown high school and in the third year of the course. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have taken great interest in their children and have spared neither pains nor expense in providing for their educational training. Their efforts have been heartily appreciated as the above records attest. and the satisfaction of knowing that the children have co-operated in bringing about results so commendable is greater by far than if unbounded material wealth had been placed at their disposal. The family occupies a prominent position in the best social circles of the community.
While Mr. Bassett has not pursued the art of money getting. he has by no means under-estimated the value of material wealth as a means to honor- able ends, and the keen interest he has ever taken in the welfare of those de-
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pendent upon him as well as his efforts to promote the common weal of his fellow men indicate the high ideals and noble purposes he has ever had in view, not withstanding which he has not been unmindful of those things which make for physical comfort and advancement as the ample fortune. conserva- tively estimated in excess of forty thousand dollars, abundantly attests.
Melvin and Margaret ( Campbell) Salla, parents of Mrs. Bassett. were prominent residents of Shelby county, the father for many years a leading citizen. influential politician and successful farmer of Brandywine township. where he owned a fine farm of two hundred and five acres, besides valuable property in Shelbyville and elsewhere. Both husband and wife are dead. but their memory is affectionately cherished by a grateful posterity, who have ever aimed to maintain undimmed the honor of the family name. Mrs. Bas- sett was born August 18. 1868, and received a liberal education in the public schools and Oldenburg Academy, being one of the accomplished ladies . f Shelby county, whose beautiful character and many admirable qualities have made her the idel of her household. besides winning a warm and permanent place in the affections of her many neighbors and friends.
ALLEN G. FESSENBECK.
An enterprising farmer of Brandywine township, and one of the repre- sentative citizens of the community in which he resides. is Allen G. Fessenbeck. a native of Shelby county. Indiana, and a son of Lewis Alexander and Lydia (Allen) Fessenbeck, the father born in Germany, the mother in Massachusetts. Lewis A. Fessenbeck came to the United States with his mother when about sixteen years old, and during the four years ensuing lived in New York City. removing at the expiration of that time to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained until his twenty-fourth year. About 1847 or 1848, he came to Shelby county. Indiana, and locating near the Ray church in Brandy wine township. engaged in the mercantile business in that locality, conducting for some years a gen- eral store and at intervals hauling products and other salable articles to Cin- cinnati, where he purchased his goods, making the trip to and from that city with a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen and mne horse. the latter used as a Icadler of the triple team.
After doing a fair business for several years in that locality Mr. Fes- senbeck disposed of his stock of merchandise and bought a farm in Proviy- wine township, on which he lived about six years, when he traded for the land which his sen now owns and which at that time was heavily timbered. and with few exceptions very much as nature had created it. In due season he cleared the land. made a number of substantial improvements. and as the
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
years went by added to its value until it became one of the best and most desirable farms in the township, which reputation it still sustains.
Mr. Fessenbeck was a man of great industry, and by well directed efforts and superior management accumulated a comfortable competency, being in easy circumstances and among the well-to-do citizens of the township at the time of his death. Ile was a Democrat in politics, and a leader of his party in Brandywine township. serving one term as County Commissioner, and for many years was an influential member of the Methodist Protestant church. He departed this life in 1881. when a little past seventy-four years of age. and with his faithful wife and companion, was laid to rest beneath the quiet shades of the old Center cemetery.
Mrs. Fessenbeck was a daughter of Nathaniel Allen, of Massachusetts. who made the long journey from that state to Shelby county in a one-horse wagon, his daughter being about six years old when the family arrived at their destination in the newly settled township of Brandywine. She preceded her husband to the grave by about eighteen months, being something in advance of seventy-one years when called to the other world. The children of this estimable couple, six in number, were as follows: John K .. of Clark county. Illinois : Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Jacob. James and Allen G .. all deceased except John K. and the subject of this sketch.
Allen G. Fessenbeck was born near his present place of residence, in Brandywine township. February 26, 1852, and grew to maturity on the farm. with the rugged duties of which he early acquired a very practical knowledge.
Shortly after engaging in agriculture for himself. Mr. Fessenbeck was united in marriage to Martha .A. Weir. daughter of Samuel and Maria Weir. of Brandywine township, a union terminated by the death of Mrs. Fessenbeck. September 20. 1886, at the early age of twenty-eight years. Later, on January 17, 1894, he contracted a matrimonial alliance with Mrs. Emma Ray Hasler. who was born in Shelby county on the 11th day of November, 1865. the daughter of William and Elizabeth Ray, the former deceased. the latter living in Shelbyville. Mr. and Mrs. Fessenbeck have one child, a daughter. by the name of Orpha Glen, who was born on February 25, 1896, and who is her mother's companion and assistant in managing the household. By her previous marriage with Mr. Hasler. Mrs. Fessenbeck had a son. Earl, whose birth occurred March 9. 1889. and who departed this life October 15. 1908.
Mr. Fessenbeck has devoted his life toragricultural pursuits, with the result that he is now well situated. as far as material wealth is concerned, owning a finely improved farm, and in addition thereto a sufficient amount of this world's goods to enable him to enjoy life and have no concern for the future. A Dem- ocrat in politics and a firm believer in the principles of his party. he has never sought nor desired public honors. although well fitted by nature and training to fill any office within the power of his fellow citizens to confer upon him. He
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has an abiding faith in revealed religion, and has for many years heen con- nected with the Methodist Protestant church, and a member of the board of trustees of the congregation to which he and his wife belong.
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HARRY LEONARD GOODWIN.
The insurance business in Shelbyville has an able and enterprising repre- sentative in the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. Harry L. Goodwin, a native of Shelby county, was born in Hendricks township. April 15, 1864, being a son of Martin and Elizabeth A. (Snyder) Goodwin, the father also a life-long resident of this county, the mother born in the county of Bartholomew. 'The Goodwins came to this part of Indiana in an early day and were among the pioneer settlers of Hendricks township, where James Goodwin. the subject's grandfather. entered. at the age of nineteen, a tract of land which he partly cleared and improved and is now in possession of George Snyder. James Goodwin was born in Ohio, but left his native state when a mere youth and spent the greater part of his life in Shelby county. Indiana, dying a number of years ago on a farm in Hendricks township. which he redeemed from the wilderness. His wife, Patsy Landingham, came from North Carolina and was a woman of estimable character. She bore her husband the following children: William, who lives in Morristown: John. also a resident of that place: Martin, father of the subject of this sketch ; Mariah, wife of Louis Ray, of Fairland, this county : Mrs. Amanda Layton. (deceased) ; Celia, who married John W. Warble, and died in Shelby county : William, who is living a retired life at Morristown. Mary and Eliza died in early life.
Martin Goodwin was born on January 6, 1841. about two miles west of Shelbyville, grew to manhood on a farm and in due time became a man of in- telligence and sound judgment. He conducted his farming operations so as to reap the maximum results from the labors. When a young man he married Elizabeth A. Snyder, who was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, in the year 1841, and who bore him two children, the son whose name appears at the head of this article, and a daughter, Hattie, now the wife of Harry A. Hage- man, of Shelbyville, and the mother of three children. The father of Mrs. Mar- tin Goodwin was a North Carolinian, her mother. Magdalena Lambert, having been born in Pennsylvania. Her grandfather Lambert came to America as an English soldier and deserted the army in Canada, and with the aid of a good horse succeeded in making his escape to the states, but not until experi- eneing many hardships and dangers. not the least of which was the swimming of the St. Lawrence river, a distance of two miles, ere reaching the land of
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safety. The Lamberts became widely and favorably known in various parts of the United States, several of the family achieving distinction in public life. Hon. Weldon W. Lambert, of Columbus, Indiana, being a second cousin of the mother of the subject of this review. Mrs. Martin Goodwin was one of a family of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, five of the former and four of the latter still living, including Mrs. Goodwin, who resides two miles from Shelbyville.
Harry L. Goodwin was reared to agricultural pursuits and remained with his parents until twenty-six years of age on the home farm, attending at intervals during his minority the Montgomery school in Brandywine township. where he made substantial progress in his studies. Later he took a business course in an Indianapolis commercial college, and after farming one year for himself, opened an insurance office in Shelbyville, where he has built up a large and satisfactory patronage: his business is fire, life, accident and other lines of insurance, comparing favorably with that of any of his competitors in this part of the state.
Mr. Goodwin's office is in the Knights of Pythias building and is one of the best known business places in Shelbyville, and among his patrons are many of the representative men of the city and county. Since engaging in his present line of endeavor his advancement has been rapid and he now carries some of the heaviest risks on property in the city, besides doing an extensive business among farmers of this and other counties, to say nothing of his success in writing life insurance. a department in which he is without a rival in the territory to which in the main his efforts are confined.
In addition to insurance Mr. Goodwin is identified with various local enterprises, owning a half interest in the Shelbyville Monument Company. which was organized in 1903, being secretary and treasurer of the company. and in other than his official capacity contributing to its growth and pros- perity. He also holds the position of secretary with the Shelbyville Building and Loan Association, which was established March 14. 1908, and which. though but a little over a year old. has already done a splendid business and forged to the front among the leading enterprises of the kind in Southern Indiana.
Mr. Goodwin belongs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 129. and the . Uniform Rank. No. 139, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he supports the Democratic party and while deeply interested in its success and familiar with the leading questions and issues of the times, he has never sought publicity or official honors. His parents being members of the Lutheran and Methodist churches, he was reared under religious influences and is now identified with the latter body. being a member of West Street Methodist Episcopal church. and Mrs. Goodwin is a member of the First Methodist Epis- copal church of Shelbyville.
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Mr. Goodwin married Mayme Powell, a native of Shelby county and one of the three children of Henry and Mary F. ( Cotterman ) Powell, the father a cabinet manufacturer of Shelbyville and one of the city's most estimable citizens. Mrs. Goodwin was reared and educated in the city where she now lives and is the mother of two children. a daughter, Mary F., who died in in- fancy, and a son by the name of Earl Maxwell, who was born on August 21. 1907.
ANDERVILLE SHAW.
In the following lines an attempt is made to set forth briefly and suc- cinctly the leading facts in the career of a gentleman who has been much in the public view and whose success in two important fiekls of endeavor has gained for him the esteem of his fellow citizens in Shelby county and an hon- ored standing in the profession to which his attention is now being devoted. Anderville Shaw, attorney-at-law, belongs to one of the ofil and well known families of Shelby county. He was born February 5. 1863. in Hendricks township. which is also the native place of his father. Jesse Shaw, whose birth occurred on the family homestead in 1840. The subject's grandparents moved to Shelby county from the East in an early day and were among the substantial and well-to-do people of Hendricks township, the grandfather, William Shaw, an intelligent and prosperous farmer, doing much to pro- mote the material interests of his community. Jesse Shaw was reared on the home farm, and in due time became one of the leading agriculturists and influential citizens of his township. He served two years as Township Trustee, eight years as Justice of the Peace and for a period of six years was a member of the Board of County Commissioners, besides taking an active in- terest in the welfare of the county in other than official capacities. For many years he has been one of the leading Democrats in this part of the state, but his success must be attributed to his progressive ideas as a tiller of the soil. be- ing at this time one of the enterprising farmers of Hendricks township, where he owns a fine estate of three hundred and forty acres of highly improved land en which are some of the best improvements in the country.
Esther Cochran, wife of Jesse Shaw, is also a native of Hendricks town- ship, where her parents settled a number of years ago, moving to this county from Ohio. She has borne her husband nine children, seven of whom sur- vive, namely: Mrs. Martha Tucker, of Shelby county: William R. is mar- ried and is the father of eight children ; Anderville, of this review ; James, who lives on the home farm in Hendricks township: Thomas H., a resident of Shelbyville, whose wife, formerly Hattie Stoughton, has presented him with one child; Alice, who married George Phillips, a merchant in the village of
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Bengal. this county, and Mrs. Gertrude Luther, whose husband is a farmer of Brandywine township, and who is the mother of three children.
Anderville Shaw was reared on his father's farm and until the age of twenty-one deveted the winter months to study in the district schools and the reminder of each year to labor in the fields. He remained with his father. assisting with the work of the farm until attaining his majority, and then en- tered the Central Normal College at Danville. Indiana, which he attended during the spring and summer terms for several years, teaching in the public schools in the winter time.
Mr. Shaw was an enthusiastic teacher, and during the four years spent in the country schools there was a wide demand for his services from many districts in his own and other townships. At the expiration of the period in- dicated he took charge of the graded school at Smithland. Hendricks town- ship, where he served as principal for two years and subsequently accepted a similar position at Sang Hill. in Jackson township two years, and later at Mount Auburn one year, thus spending nine years of his life as teacher.
In the year 1893 Mr. Shaw was elected superintendent of the public schools of Shelby county, which office he filled with marked ability and suc- cess for two terms, having been chosen his own successor in 1895. After serving four years in this important position and introducing a number of re- forms and bringing the schools of his jurisdiction to a high standard of effi- ciency, he came to Shelbyville and entered the office of Hord & Adams, where he pursued the study of law until his admission to the bar. following which he practiced with his preceptors for several years, remaining with them from 1897 to 1955, inclusive. In connection with his profession he does a large loan, abstract and probate business, but since 1905, when he removed to the K. of P. building. he has devoted his attention mostly to the law. in which he has quite an extensive clientele. During the past six years he has been at- torney for the Mutual Loan and Savings Company, of Shelbyville, which has a capital of one million five hundred thousand dollars, and is one of the largest and most prosperous enterprises of the kind in the county, not a little of its success being due to the judicious counsels of the legal adviser.
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