USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume II > Part 19
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Mr. Harbaugh was born in Boone county, Indiana, in 1864. He is a son of Ellis E. and Melvina F. Harbaugh, both parents natives of Hamilton county, this state, where they grew to maturity, were educated in the early- day schools and were married and later settled near Sheridan, Boone county, purchased a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres and on this spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1905 and the mother in 1891. They were the parents of six children, namely : Mrs. Alpha Wallace and her hus- band live on a farm near Sheridan; Mrs. Emma Elder lives at Sheridan,
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where her husband is engaged in the live stock business; Mrs. Rosie Mc- Kenzie and her husband live on a farm in the northeastern part of Boone county ; Charles O. is married and lives on a farm in Boone county ; John E. is farming in Hamilton county, Indiana; and Thomas G., of this sketch. After the death of our subject's mother, Ellis E. Harbaugh married, about 1904, Amanda Rains, of Hamilton county, and to this second union one child was born. The widow is still living in Hamilton county. The Harbaughs are of German descent.
Thomas G. Harbaugh was reared on the home farm in his native com- munity and he received his early education in the public schools. In 1885 he married Emma L. Simpson, who was born, reared and educated in Boone county, she being a daughter of William Simpson and wife, one of the highly respected old families of this locality.
After his marriage our subject farmed six years in his native vicinity, then moved to Tipton county, where he farmed six years, after which he removed to Hamilton county, where he purchased eighty acres, his first land. Remaining there two years, he returned to Boone county and located on his present farm in Clinton township, two miles east of Mechanicsburg, and here he has since carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and has met with ever increasing success. He owns one of the best improved and most desirable farms in the county which consists of three hundred and twenty acres and which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation and improvement. He has remodeled his dwelling into a large. comfortable house and has erected two substantial barns and other. good outbuildings. He is one of the most extensive and best known stock men in the county and is regarded as an exceptionally good judge of all kinds of stock and no small portion of his annual income is derived from this source. At this writing, he has on hand eighteen thousand dollars' worth of high- grade live stock, eighty-five head of sheep, fifty-seven head of horses, forty- six head of cows and one hundred and fifty head of hogs and this is about an average of what he always keeps in the way of live stock. Perhaps no one of the county handles more stock than Mr. Harbaugh.
Four children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Blanche died when two years old; Lula is unmarried and lives at home; Gurnie E. is also single and has remained with her parents; Ara E. is the wife of Frank Blubaugh, a farmer of Clinton county, Indiana.
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Politically, Mr. Harbaugh is a Democrat, as was his father before him, and while he is interested in public affairs, he never fails to do his part as a good citizen when questions of local public improvements are concerned ; he has never sought political office or leadership. He and his family attend the Christian church at Mechanicsburg.
CHARLES D. UMBERHINE, M. D.
It seems that it is not so much the different things which men do as the way and spirit in which they do them, that makes the greatest difference between men. Labor and service are invested with dignity only when the individuals who perform them are brought into a true and responsible rela- tion to them. It is the person who dignifies the work. If he exists, or sup- poses himself to exist, only for his drudging tasks, they share in his degreda- tion. Only as the individual is lifted into something of the dignity of true, responsible, personal life can his duties and work assume new and higher meanings. This is true just because it is not the duties which impart to them their meaning, but the purpose, spirit and way of doing them. One of the successful physicians of Boone county, who has dignified his profession in which he ranks high in this locality is Dr. Charles D. Umberhine, of Wash- ington township.
Dr. Umberhine was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 30, 1862. He is a son of Dexter W. and Nancy M. (Gustin) Umberhine. The family is of Scotch-Irish and English descent. Our subject was four years old, when, in 1866, he moved with his parents to Thorntown, Indiana, where they lived until 1881, when they moved to Mechanicsburg, Boone county, where our subject and his mother established their home, the father having died pre- viously. He devoted his life work to publishing city directories.
Dr. Umberhine received his early education in the common schools, and later entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1885. Soon thereafter he returned to Mechanicsburg and has since been practicing his profession in Washington township. He has enjoyed a large and lucrative business from the first, which has increased with advancing years until he now ranks among the lead- ers of his profession in this locality, having continued studying he has kept
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well abreast of the times and has had splendid success as a general practi- tioner.
Our subject was married in 1884 to Ina M. Barnhart and to this union seven children were born, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Ethel M., Jessie M., Lloyd, Rush D. and Emil. Four of these children live at home. Jessie M. is the wife of Jesse L. Hall, their marriage having oc- curred June 13, 1911. Mr. Hall is a carpenter by trade and lives at Frank- fort, Indiana: he and his wife have one child, Joyce, now two years old. Lloyd Umberhine is connected with a general store in Mechanicsburg, having formerly owned a half interest in the same. Our subject has a half brother. Walter G. Reagan, who is engaged in the grocery business in Lebanon and there the doctor's mother now lives: her second husband was Jesse S. Reagan.
Politically, Dr. Umberhine is a Republican and ·fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen, in both of which he has filled all the chairs; and religi- ously belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. His children all belong to the same church. They were given good educational advantages and the entire family stands high in the various circles of the community.
JOHN T. BROWN.
One of the most difficult literary tasks is to write an unexceptionable chronicle of a living man. If the life is worthy of record there is always danger of offending that delicacy which is inseparable from merit, for even moderate praise, when it meets the eyes of its subject is apt to seem fulsome. while a nice sense of propriety would not be the less wounded by a dry ab- stract containing nothing but names and dates. To sum up a carecr which is not yet ended would appear like recording events which have not tran- spired, since justly to estimate the scope and meaning of a history it is im- portant that we have the closing chapter. In writing biographical notice, therefore, the chronicler from the moment he takes up his pen should con- sider the subject as no longer among his contemporaries, for thus he will avoid the fear of offending by bestowing praise where it is merited and escape the risk of giving but a fragmentary view of that which must eventually be
JOHN T. BROWN
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taken as a unit. At some risk, therefore, the writer in this connection ad- dresses himself to the task of placing on record the life and character of a man who, by the force of strong individuality, has achieved more than ordin- ary success in the world's most important field of endeavor-agriculture, and by sheer force of individuality has won for himself an enviable position among the leading citizens and is the most influential politician of the locality honored by his citizenship. This word setting has to do with John T. Brown, of Clinton township, Boone county, Indiana.
Mr. Brown was born in Center township, this county, September 17, 1870, and is a scion of one of our sterling old families, being a son of George W. and Martha E. (Toone) Brown, both natives of the state of Kentucky, the father born in the year 1820 and the mother's birth occurred in 1826. They grew to maturity in the old Blue Grass state, received such educational advantages as the early day schools afforded and there they were married and established their home, but removed to Indiana in 1854 and located in Center township, Boone county, and here became well established on a good farm.
John T. Brown grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy until he was eighteen years of age. He attended the public schools and a private school in Kentucky, but the major portion of his education has been obtained in later years by wide and per- sistent home study and by contact with the world until he is today an ex- ceptionally well informed man. When young in years he began life for him- self by engaging in farming with his brother-in-law, Sid Fielder. In 1898 he purchased forty acres in Perry township, Boone county. It was improved land and he went in debt for it. Going to work with a will and managing well he made a success in operating this land and in due course of time was out of debt. In 1902 he traded for eighty acres in Clinton township to which he removed. It was a well improved place, on which stood a good brick house and substantial outbuildings; the land was also well tiled. Mr. Brown has made other improvements and now has one of the choice farms of the township, which he is managing in a highly satisfactory manner, carrying on general farming and stock raising, especially hogs. He believes in keeping everything about his place in ship-shape and in farming under twentieth century methods.
Mr. Brown was married November 28, 1891 to Cora Underwood, who
(49)
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was born April 28, 1875. She is a daughter of Gideon and Eliza Ann (Neal) Underwood, both natives of Jennings county, Indiana, where they spent their earlier years, but removed to Boone county in an early day. The death of the mother occurred in 1900, but Mr. Underwood is living in Madison, this state.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, namely: Lillian E., born April 29, 1892, married Oren Eaton, a farmer of Clinton township, Boone county, and they have three children, Melvin, John M., and Elwood; Randall E., born March 15. 1894: Gladys J., born April 16, 1896, married Jesse Hoffman, a farmer of Clinton township, this county, and they have one child. Flora L .: George G., born January 25, 1898; Annie A., born Septem- ber 2, 1900; Ester S., born December 23, 1904; Bernice, born June 18, 1906; Milo T., born February 14, 1910; and Neal, born September 20, 1913. These children are all living at home with the exception of the two married daughters.
Politically, Mr. Brown is a stanch Democrat and has long been an active worker in the ranks and one of the local leaders in public affairs. He is now incumbent of the office of township assessor, the duties of which he has most faithfully discharged, and in the campaign of 1914 was a popular candidate for the office of county recorder on the Democratic ticket, and his election was predicted by all from the first owing to his popularity and high standing as a citizen. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are active members of the Christian church, in which he has been a deacon for a period of thirteen years, and was superintendent of the Sunday school for five years. He and Mrs. Brown are excellent people, hospitable, neighborly and are well liked by all who know them.
MANSON HEAD.
Among the men of Boone county who have performed well their parts in the affairs of this locality is Manson Head, now living in retirement, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to say that this county has been honored by his citizenship, for he has achieved definite success through his own efforts and is thoroughly deserving of the proud American title of self-made man, the term being one that, in its better sense, cannot but appeal to the loyal
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admiration of all who are appreciative of our national institutions and the privileges afforded for individual accomplishment, and it is a privilege, ever gratifying in this day and age, to meet a man who has had the courage to face the battles of life with a strong heart and steady hand and to win in the stern conflict by bringing to bear only those forces with which nature has equipped him, self-reliance, self-respect and integrity.
Mr. Head was born in Rush county, Indiana, January 27, 1829, in a log cabin. He is a son of S. C. Head, who was born in New Hampshire in 1801, and he was a son of Nathaniel Head, also a native of that state. This family is of English descent. Nathaniel Head came west in an early day and his death occurred in Ohio. S. C. Head grew to manhood in that state and from there moved to Kentucky. He married Malinda Ponge. He de- voted his life to farming, spending some time eight miles from Indianapolis, in Marion county. He came to Zionsville in 1857, where he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of the following children, four of whom died in early life, namely : Roxanna, Meranda, Manson, Truxton, Burton, Carr, Almira, Jane, Martha, Marinda, Levi, who was a soldier in the Civil war is living in Zionsville. The father of the above named children reached the advanced age of eighty-one years, and the mother died at the age of seventy-two.
Manson Head grew up on the home farm and he received the usual meager education of those early days. He found plenty of hard work to do, such as clearing, splitting rails and grubbing. He was married in 1851 to Elizabeth Daudensteck, who was born in Marion county. She is a daughter of Peter Daudensteck. Her mother was Ruth Newhouse before her marriage. They are both now deceased.
After his marriage Mr. Head purchased a sixty acre farm on which he spent six years. then came to Zionsville and went into the mercantile busi- ness, maintaining a general store in which he prospered and became one of the leading merchants here. He always took an interest in political affairs and served as township trustee and as county commissioner.
Ten children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Marinda Jane, Albert G., Winfield is deceased; Rose, Mary, Gregory, Ida, Emma is deceased ; Anna, Cora is deceased. The wife and mother passed away on October 13, 1876, at the age of forty-five years.
Politically, Mr. Head is Republican. He belongs to the Masonic order,
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Knights Templars and Commandery of Indianapolis, having attained the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Chapter at Lebanon, being master of same thirty-six years. He has been a Mason for sixty-two years. He has served as a member of the local school board for years, and he has done much for the cause of education, religion and temperance. He has been very successful in a business way. He was a merchant here for years. He owns valuable town property and an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on the interurban line. On his farm is a good residence and other buildings and it is well improved and productive. He works a fine garden for exercise. He has the good will and respect of all who know him for his life has been a useful and exemplary one.
CHARLES GODFREY.
The late Charles Godfrey, farmer and stock man of Clinton township, Boone county, enjoyed distinctive prestige among the enterprising men of this locality during a past generation, having fought his way onward and up- ward from a modest beginning to a comfortable position in his neighborhood and in every relation of life his voice and influence were on the side of right as he saw and understood the right. He was always interested in every enterprise for the welfare of the community and liberally supported every movement calculated to benefit his fellowmen. Although the last chapter in his life drama has been closed by the "angel with the backward look and folded wings of ashen gray," who called him to a higher sphere of action, his influence is still felt for good in the community long honored by his resi- dence and he is greatly missed by the many who knew him as a neighbor and friend, for he was a man in whom the utmost confidence could be reposed, scrupulously honest in all his dealings with his fellow men, always making good his promises, was kind and obliging, especially to the unfortunate and was a man whom all respected.
Mr. Godfrey was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, May 15, 1827. He was a son of James Godfrey, who served in the Revolutionary war under General Washington and he grew to manhood in his native community and there received such educational advantages as the early day schools afforded.
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When a young man he worked at various things in Ohio, his last year there being spent in running a canal boat on the Ohio canal. He then came to Indiana and located south of Kirklin, Marion township, Boone county, rent- ing a farm on which he remained two years, then purchased it and lived there ten years longer. He then moved to Mechanicsburg, Boone county, where he spent a year, after which he moved to Clinton county and rented a farm for five years, then moved to Center township, Boone county, and rented a farm two years, then moved a short distance south on another farm where he remained about ten years, then bought eighty acres in 1882, in Clinton township and here spent the rest of his life and developed an excellent and well improved farm and carried on general farming and stock raising suc- cessfully. This farm is located three and one-half miles east of Mechanics- burg and is considered one of the best farms in this section of the county.
Mr. Godfrey was married in Ohio, in 1851, to Joanna Meeks, a daugh- ter of Joshua and Susan (Richardson) Meeks. She was born August 31, 1833. Mrs. Godfrey grew to womanhood in Ohio and there received a com- mon school education. Her ancestors were Irish, while those of her hus- band were Scotch. Mrs. Godfrey had five uncles who fought in the war of 1812, under Gen. William Henry Harrison and all were killed in the famous battle of Tippecanoe, in November, 1811, and they are buried in Tippecanoe county, Indiana.
To Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey six children were born, five living at this writing, namely : Mrs. Melissa Campbell, lives on a farm in Clinton town- ship; Charles Clay died December 28, 1902, at age of forty-seven years; John W. married Jannie Smith, and lives on a farm in Boone county ; Susan married George Allen, a rural mail carrier, and they live in Iowa; James married Nancy Regan and they live in Thorntown, Indiana; Jeremiah is unmarried and lives at home and helps his mother look after the home farm which they keep rented out. He and his mother are members of the First Christian church of Scotland, Clinton county. Politically, the son is a Repub- lican.
The death of Charles Godfrey occurred April 5, 1904, almost seventy- eight years of age. Mrs. Joanna Godfrey passed away October I, 1914, and is buried in Scotland cemetery, near Kirkland, Clinton county, Indiana, by the side of her husband.
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MORRIS RITCHIE.
Holding distinctive prestige among the enterprising citizens of Boone county is Morris Ritchie, well known manufacturer and substantial business man of Lebanon, whose record here briefly outlined is that of a self-made man, distinctively the architect of his own fortunes, who, by the judicious exercise of the talents with which nature endowed him, successfully sur- mounted an environment none too auspicious and rose to the position he now occupies as one of the most progressive and influential men of affairs of the locality honored by his citizenship, having been true and loyal in all the relations of life, standing as a type of that sterling manhood which ever commands respect and honor. He is a man who would win his way in any locality in which fate might place him. for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and business tact, together with upright principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenever they are rightly and per- sistently applied. Mr. Ritchie is a creditable representative of one of the sterling old families of the Hoosier state, running back to the Blue Grass state on the paternal side and he seems to have inherited many of the sturdy traits of his forebears.
Mr. Ritchie was born July 30, 1861, in Boxley, Hamilton county, Indi- ana. He is a son of Andrew Washington Ritchie and Martha Ann (Sims) Ritchie. The father was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, and the mother was a native of Rush county, Indiana. Andrew W. Ritchie was a young man when he removed with his parents from Kentucky to Boone county, Indiana. He left Boone county when still a young man and went to Boxley. Hamilton county, Indiana, and there married and followed merchandising until his death, which occurred in April, 1863. His widow survived a half century, dying February 15, 1913, aged eighty years, at the home of our subject in Lebanon. Besides our subject there was another son and a daugh- ter in this family.
Morris Ritchie lived in Boxley until he was thirteen years of age and there he attended the public schools. In September, 1874, the family moved to Lebanon, the mother having married William W. Sims in the meantime. Mr. Ritchie continued his education in the schools of Lebanon, lacking one year of graduating from the high school. He then clerked in a grocery store for some time and in 1880 began the grocery business for himself, continuing
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the same until 1898; then, having secured a good start in a business way, he turned his attention to the produce business, buying and shipping in large quantities to the eastern markets. This he followed until 1899. In January, 1900, he took up the retail lumber business, also furniture manufacturing, the firm being known as Campbell, Smith & Ritchie. They were successful from the start and soon had a rapidly growing business. In 1907 they in- corporated as the Campbell, Smith, Ritchie Company, which partnership continues to the present time. Mr. Ritchie became secretary, which position he still holds, and the pronounced success of the company has been due in no small measure to his able management and judicious counsel. In 1910 the company abandoned the retail lumber business and since then has devoted its entire time to manufacturing, the celebrated "Boone Kitchen Cabinet" being its specialty, and they have had a great demand for same throughout the country, large consignments being constantly shipped to various states and the -demand is rapidly growing. The firm also manufactures other specialties, all of a high grade and superior quality and workmanship. The plant is a modernly equipped and convenient one and a large number of skilled artisans are constantly employed. This is one of the most widely known and important manufacturing concerns in this section of the state. Mr. Ritchie has been very successful in a business way. He is president of the Boone County State Bank, being one of the organizers of the same in October, 1911, and he has been its president since that time, its marked suc- cess and pronounced prestige being due to his ability and foresight as a financier, the people of Lebanon and vicinity reposing the utmost confidence in his integrity, business acumen and keen discernment.
Politically, Mr. Ritchie is a Republican and has long been active and influential in public affairs. In November, 1904, he was elected county com- missioner and assumed office January I. 1906, serving one term of three years in a highly commendable manner. He has been a leader in the party organization at various times and for the past six years has been chairman of the city organization and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. His acquaintance is state-wide and his counsel is often sought by party leaders and candidates.
Mr. Ritchie has been twice married, first on May 6, 1886, to Gertrude Cory, a daughter of John L. and Lydia (Grusch) Cory, of Lebanon, formerly of New Carlisle, Clark county, Ohio. To this first union four children were born, namely : Russell, who is engaged in business with his father; Helen is
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at home : Lowell is a student in Purdue University ; Marion is at home. The wife and mother was called to her eternal rest June 16, 1906. On August 20, 19II, Mr. Ritchie married Zora Schulmire, a daughter of John W. and Emma Schulmire, of Lebanon, an old family of this county. To this second union two children have been born. John Morris died in infancy, and Martha Elizabeth Ritchie, born July 20, 1913.
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