USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 34
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John W. Ayres was married to Caroline Tinkle, who was born in Democrat township, Carroll county, in 1852, the daughter of Isaac Tinkle. Mrs. Ayres was reared on the farm. Her parents had come from Ohio to Indiana. Caroline Tinkle's paternal grandfather had come from Germany.
To John W. and Caroline (Tinkle) Ayres were born nine children, seven of whom are now living, as follow: Flavius J., the subject of this sketch; O. R., of Flora, Indiana; Loretta, who married Charles Maggart, of Southport, Marion county, Indiana; Daisy, the wife of U. B. Thompson, an undertaker, of Burlington; Mildred; John G., a merchant of Russiaville, and Clayton F., who is unmarried and lives at home with his mother.
Flavius J. Ayres was reared on a farm in Democrat township and attended the district schools of the neighborhood, where he received a good common-school education. After attending school until nineteen years old he worked at home on the farm with his father until his marriage.
On April 17, 1890, Flavius J. Ayres was married to Ella F. Smith, the daughter of Jacob Smith, and a native of Democrat township. Mr. and Mrs. Ayres have been the parents of five children, four of whom are now living: Una, the wife of Cecil Thompson, a farmer of Democrat town- ship; William H., also a farmer; Verla, who is at home, and Lois, who is also at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Flavius J. Ayres are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ball Hill. Mr. Ayres is a member of the offical board and a liberal supporter of the church. He has served as superintendent of the Sunday school. Although nominally a Democrat, Mr. Ayres has never been active in political affairs.
JOSEPH GREEN.
Among the self-made men of Rock Creek township Joseph Green is one of the reliable, honest men of the community, who has progressed from an humble station in life to that of a successful agriculturist of Carroll county, where he has the reputation of being one of the most industrious farmers of his district, and one who has earned all he now possesses entirely through his own efforts.
Joseph Green, farmer, Burrows, Indiana, was born on February 29, 1856, in Adams township, Carroll county, and is a son of Jesse and Lucinda (Redenhour) Green. At the age of nine years he was thrown upon his own resources and lived with a family named Mullendore until he was
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twenty-one years of age, during which time he received the magnificent sum of one dollar for his services. He was thoroughly instructed in farm work, and when he arrived at manhood he left home and worked by the month until he was thirty-two years of age, during which time he had saved up twelve hundred dollars, and now owns one hundred and sixty-five acres of fine farm land. Politically, Mr. Green is a Republican.
Joseph Green was united in marriage on September 5, 1877, with Laura Clark, daughter of Samuel and Virginia (Johns) Clark. She was born on February 22, 1866, in the same house in which Joseph Green was born. Her education was neglected, as she had but little opportunity to attend school. After their marriage, Mr. Green rented a farm in Adams township, where they lived three and one-half years and then bought thirty-six acres where he now lives, and as the result of deserved prosperity was enabled to increase his acreage until he became the owner of his present fine place, all of which he made without any outside assistance. Mr. and Mrs. Green have four children, Roy, aged twenty-one years; Mary, aged seventeen years; Russell, aged fourteen years, and Walter, aged six years.
Mr. Green is one of the quiet, unassuming and honorable citizens of Carroll county.
MILROY JUSTICE.
Milroy Justice, farmer, Burrows, Indiana, was born on November 30, 1862, in Cass county, Indiana, and is a son of James and Mary (Shortridge) Justice. He was reared on a farm two and one-half miles north of Bur- rows, receiving his education at the public schools and remaining at home until he was twenty-two years old. He has been prosperous throughout his agricultural career, and is the present owner of eighty-five acres of fine farm land in Cass county, located one and one-half miles northeast of Burrows. Politically. Mr. Justice is a stanch Republican, but has never been active in local politics. Both Mr. Justice and his wife are members of the Christian church at Burrows, in which he fills the offices of elder and deacon. Fra- ternally, he belongs to Burrows Lodge No. 495. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand, and a member of grand lodge. Mr. Justice owns stock in the Burrows State Bank.
James Justice, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on August 22, 1809, and died on August 11, 1893. His father was John Justice. James Justice was twice married, and by his first marriage was the father
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of ten children, Martha, John, Joseph, James, William, Joshua, Clara, Anna, Caroline and Bettie. By his marriage, secondly, to Mary (Shortridge) Justice, a native of White county, Indiana, he had the following children : Jerome, Frank, of Logansport, Indiana; Larinda, who became the wife of William Shaffer, of Burrows; Parker Justice, who lives in Winnepeg, Canada; Jessie, Harriet and Milroy.
John Justice, the paternal grandfather, was a son of James, whose father was Matthew Justice, a native of Ireland, and the emigrant ancestor of the Justice family of America. He came to the United States at a very early date. He had seven sons, all born in America and all of them were in the War of the Revolution.
Milroy Justice was united in marriage, April 8. 1885, with Mary E. Dixon, daughter of John and Drusilla (Brown) Dixon. She was born on November 18, 1864, in Rock Creek township. Carroll county, and was edu- cated in the district schools. Mr. and Mrs. Justice reared an adopted daughter, named Helen Black, who is now the wife of George Buck, and resides at Hoagland, Indiana.
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John Dixon, father of Mrs. Milroy Justice, was a native of Indiana, where he died on November 26, 1865. His wife, Drusilla (Brown) Dixon. was born in Carroll county and died on January 26. 1907. They were farm- ers and were the parents of four children: Amy. born on August 8, 1863, became the wife of Parker Justice; John E., of Burrows; Mary E., and an infant.
Mr. and Mrs. Justice hold the respect and friendship of a large circle of friends in Carroll county.
THOMAS L. COOPER, M. D.
Thomas L. Cooper, physician, Deer Creek, Indiana, was born on February 2, 1883, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John W. and Lyda E. (Hamilton) Cooper. He was reared on a farm and received his early education in the district schools of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, after which he became a student in the Grove City College, and from there he entered the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he took the full four-year course in the medical department, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Through a competitive examination, he served for fourteen months as resident physician of the Presbyterian Hospital at Pitts-
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burgh, after which he located and practiced for three years at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
On February 28, 1915, Doctor Cooper came to Carroll county and located at Deer Creek, where he has already established a very promising practice, and has associated himself with the County and State Medical Societies. Politically, Doctor Cooper is a Republican, but has never taken any part in local politics. Fraternally, he belongs to the Phi Rho Sigma society of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Thomas L. Cooper was united in marriage in 1912 with Edith S. Dillon, daughter of Margaret E. Dillon, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was born in Pittsburgh and received her early education in the common schools and later attended the state normal school, of which she is a graduate, and was a teacher for ten years in the public schools of Pennsylvania. Both Doctor Cooper and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
Doctor Cooper is young and ambitious, is a man of high principles, and both he and his wife have already won many friends in the community.
JOHN WILKINSON.
A man's reputation is the property of the world, since the laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being either submits to the controlling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, con- trols, guides and affects the actions of those with whom he comes into con- tact. The reputation of John Wilkinson, a well-known real estate and insurance dealer of Flora, Indiana, and the proprietor of a loan business, not only is unassailable, but his life is a model of uprightness and integrity.
Mr. Wilkinson is a native of Cass county. Indiana, born on September 14, 1852. His parents were Elias and Jane (Simmons) Wilkinson, the former of whom was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, November 9, 1811, and the latter in Ohio. When he was a young man. Elias Wilkinson immi- grated from Virginia to Ohio, where he was married. After his marriage he and his bride came to Carroll county. Indiana, settling here about 1830. He entered land in Rock Creek township and here he and his wife lived for many years. Subsequently, however, they moved to Cass county, Indiana, near Logansport, where he lived until the time of his death. He was a member of the Methodist church, a class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a Republican in politics. Elias Wilkinson died in
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July, 1878, and his wife six years previously, in 1872. They were the par- ents of six children, of whom only two, Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph St. Clair, of Logansport, Indiana, and John, the subject of this sketch, are living. The deceased children are: Isaac, who gave up his life in defense of his country during the great Civil War; Nancy, the wife of Joseph McGuire; Mary, the wife of William McGuire, and Dama, the wife of William Howell.
John Wilkinson was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of Cass county. He lived at home with his parents until attaining his majority. At that time he started in life without the aid of wealthy friends and without money of his own.
On September 21, 1876, when he was twenty-three years old, John Wilkinson was married to Lillie B. Moore, a native of Carroll county, Indiana, born on March 27, 1852, and the daughter of Alex Moore. After their marriage, Mr. Wilkinson rented his father's farm for some years. In 1896 he came to Flora. Indiana, and engaged in the real-estate and insur- . ance business. He has been very successful and enjoys a large patronage in Carroll county.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have been the parents of two children, Zua M., the wife of Bern Gerard, of Deer Creek township, and Jesse L., a graduate of the Flora high school and of Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa. He is a minister in the Christian church and is now located at Glasgow, Montana.
John Wilkinson is a member of the Masonic lodge at Camden and a Republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the First Christian church at Flora. Both are regular attendants and liberal supporters of the Christian church.
FRANK P. GRONINGER.
The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now directed has long been known, by the citizens of Rock Creek township, as a man of sound business principles and is well and favorably known throughout Carroll county, and especially in Rock Creek township, where he has delivered Uncle Sam's mail since 1902.
Frank P. Groninger, farmer and letter carrier on rural route No. I, Burrows, Indiana, was born on October 20, 1861, in Rock Creek township, and is a son of George and Margaret (Martin) Groninger. He was reared
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on a farm and received his early education at the public schools of the dis- trict, after which he attended .Valparaiso University, at the end of which course he began teaching school and followed this vocation for seven years. Mr. Groninger is the owner of forty acres of land, where he lives, located two and one-half miles west of Burrows, Indiana. He took the civil service examination in 1902, when rural route No. I was established in his district, at which time he began carrying the mail, and is still in the service. Politi- cally, he is a stanch believer in the policies of the Republican party, while his religious membership is with the Presbyterian church of Burrows, of which he is one of the elders. He is a member of Rockfield Lodge No. 301, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and a member of the encampment, and is a past chief patriarch, and also a mem- ber of the grand lodge.
George Groninger was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, as was also his wife, Margaret (Martin) Groninger. They both grew up and were married in that state, and came to Carroll county, Indiana, in 1848, via Evansville and Terre Haute, and thence up the Wabash and Erie canal to Lafayette, locating in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, where they bought land and spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Groninger dying in 1868, and his wife, October 1, 1902. They were both earnest members of the Presbyterian church and were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living in 1915, as follow: Elmira Groninger is unmarried; Irwin is married and follows farming in Rock Creek township; William A. is also a farmer of Rock Creek township; Priscilla became the wife of Aaron Gregg, of Lafayette, Indiana; Ella is the widow of Nelson Van Grundy, of Delphi, Indiana; John lives in Rock Creek township on a farm; Emma J. is the wife of Elmer Kilander, of Logansport; Belle became the wife of E. L. Goldsby, of Arkansas; Frank P. is the subject of this sketch.
Frank P. Groninger was united in marriage on April 24, 1894, with Addie McCain, daughter of Samuel and Amanda (McDonald) McCain. She was born on August 28, 1866, near Delphi, Indiana, and is a graduate of the teacher's course at Valparaiso University. Six children have come to bless this union : Florence, a graduate of the public school, and is now a student at high school; Charles, who graduated from the public school, and is also attending high school; Margaret and Adaline; one child died in infancy and Paul M. died at the age of nine years.
Mr. Groninger is a prompt, methodical man of business, and has always pursued a course of fearless honesty in his dealings with his fellow men.
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PERRY JOHNSON.
Perry Johnson, farmer, Camden, Indiana, was born on March 28, 1849, in Carrollton township, Carroll county, and is a son of Allen and Susan (Sloan) Johnson. He grew up on a farm, deprived of the advantages of attending school, and at the age of sixteen years started out in the world, without a dollar, to earn his own living. His first employment was at wood cutting and ditching, which he worked at by the month, and at the age of twenty-one he made his home with Mahlon Robinson, remaining with him until twenty-eight years old, when he was married and moved to his own farm of forty acres in the woods, which he cleared, drained and improved, to which he has added, until he now owns one hundred and six acres of fine farm land. Politically, Mr. Johnson has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party, and for many years took an active interest in politics, serving twice as trustee of Washington township, and was never defeated when running for office. Fraternally, he is a member of Morris Lodge No. 477, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is the oldest member, having joined on February 6, 1875. is past grand, and a member of the grand lodge, and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekah Lodge. Mr. Johnson is a large stockholder in the Deer Creek Co-operative Tele- phone Company, of which he held the office of treasurer for a number of years.
Allen and Susan (Sloan) Johnson, parents of the subject of this sketch, were natives of Virginia, where they grew up and were married prior to coming to Indiana. They located in Carroll county on a rented farm and cleared leased ground. Mr. Johnson was always a poor man, but a hard worker. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of twelve children, only two of whom are living in 1915. Perry and Warren.
Perry Johnson was united in marriage on October 28, 1875, with Malinda Stephens, daughter of Samuel and Malinda (Smith) Stephens. She was born on February 6. 1852. in Washington township, Carroll county. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born three children, only one of whom is living in 1915, Alice B., born on September 6, 1877. She was graduated from the public schools and afterward became the wife of Pearl Campbell, a farmer in Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of six children, Elsie, Orvil. Leona, Dorothy, Opal and Lloyd.
Samuel Stephens, father of Mrs. Perry Johnson, was a native of Penn- sylvania, and his wife, Malinda (Smith) Johnson, was a native of Ohio.
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where they were married, coming later to Indiana and locating in Wash- ington township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters.
Mr. Johnson is genial and unassuming in manner and is classed as one of the influential farmers of his locality.
MAHLON D. ROBESON.
Mahlon D. Robeson, retired farmer, Deer Creek, Indiana, was born on August 31, 1843, at Lafayette, Indiana, and is a son of Andrew and Nancy (Stambaugh) Robeson. He grew up on the farm and attended the district schools of Jackson township, attending only during the winter months, as his services were needed at home during the summer seasons. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the end of the war. At the close of the war he returned to Jackson township, this county, and resumed his agricultural vocation. He now owns two hundred and twelve acres of splendid farm land in Washington township and five acres in Deer Creek, Indiana. Mr. Robeson has always been a stanch supporter of Repub- lican principles and has been active in local politics, holding a membership on the Washington township advisory board. Both Mr. Robeson and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he is one of the trus- tees. His fraternal alliance is with Mt. Zion Lodge No. 211, Free and Accepted Masons.
Andrew Robeson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, as was also his wife. Nancy (Stambaugh) Robeson. They were married in their native state and came to Indiana in 1835. locating near Dayton, Indiana, where Mr. Robeson was employed in a woolen-factory for a number of years, at the end of which time he rented a factory building near Camden, Indiana, and conducted a factory of his own, which he afterward sold out and moved to a farm in Jackson town- ship, where he died. In politics, Mr. Robeson was a Republican, always . taking an active interest in local politics, and served as trustee of his town- ship for two terms. His religious views were with the Evangelical Lutheran
. church. To Mr. and Mrs. Robeson were born eight children, only three of whom are living in 1915, Mahlon D., Pharis, a retired farmer, residing at Camden, and Plato, also a retired farmer of Camden.
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Mahlon D. Robeson was united in marriage on September 13, 1866, with Minerva Edschker, daughter of William and Matilda Edschker. She was born in Carroll county, Indiana, and was educated at the district schools. This union has been blest with five children, only three of whom are living in 1915: Alice, who was graduated from the public schools, and became the wife of John P. Hinkle, of Washington township; Alfaretta, graduated from the public schools, and became the wife of Charles E. Rice, of Wash- ington township, and Leroy, who also graduated from the public schools, and was later united in marriage with Anna Downham, and lives in Wash- ington township. Wade died aged ten years, and William A. died, aged thirty years.
Mr. Robeson is very modest and retiring in his manner, and because of his genuine worth is held in high esteem in his community.
MONROE MARTIN.
Monroe Martin, farmer, Camden, Indiana, was born on August I, 1858, in Jackson township, Carroll county, and is a son of Andrew J. and Jane A. (Mabbitt) Martin. His early youth was spent on his father's farm and his education was obtained by attending the district schools during the winter, his services being required in connection with the farm work during the summers. He was married at the age of twenty-three years and started out for himself on a rented farm, which he afterward bought. He was very poor at the beginning of his business career, but was a hard worker and a good manager, all of which has resulted in his present splendid home place, situated in Jackson township, three miles northeast of Camden, and consisting of one hundred and twenty-two acres of good farm land, known as "White Barn Farm." Mr. Martin owns altogether over two hundred acres. Politically, Mr. Martin has always voted the Democratic ticket, and has shown his public spirit by serving on the advisory board of the town- ship. He belongs to the Baptist church, of which he has always been an active member and a liberal supporter. He took a prominent part in the organization of the Co-operative Telephone Company, of which he is the manager, and owns considerable stock in the company.
Andrew J. Martin, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on March 10, 1828, in Butler county, Ohio, and came with his parents to Indiana in 1832, settling on the old Martin homestead, where he spent the
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remainder of his life. His wife, Jane A. ( Mabbitt) Martin, still lives on the old home farm. Mr. Martin was reared to young manhood on the home farm, located east of Camden, which he afterward purchased. This farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added two acres, and was also the owner of other valuable property at the time of his death, which took place in 1906. Politically, he was a stanch Democrat, while his religious sympathies were with the Baptist church. Fraternally, he was allied with the Mt. Zion Lodge No. 211, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were the parents of seven children, of whom those living in 1915 are: Monroe; Mary E., who is single; Charles, also single; Jesse, a retired farmer, living at Camden, Indiana, and Anna B., who is the wife of William Stumbaugh, of Camden.
Monroe Martin was united in marriage on August 10, 1881, with Martha Lennon, daughter of Robert S. and Sarah J. (Caldwell) Lennon. She was born on July 8, 1858, in Cass county, Indiana, and was reared in Carroll county, where she was educated. To this union have been born two children. John R., born on September 13, 1882, who was married to Anna Ringer, and now lives on his father's farm. They have two children, Julia and Ernest. Ellen J., born on October 24, 1884, is the wife of Harlin Fox, and lives on the old Robert Lennon homestead, where he is a successful agriculturist. They are the parents of two children, Mary Jane and Law- rence Benjamin.
Mr. Martin is a man who is well known in Jackson township, where both he and his wife have a large number of sincere friends.
W. H. LESH.
The Lesh family have been prominent in the public life of Carroll county, Indiana, for almost a century, Jonathan Lesh having settled in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana, shortly after the state was admitted to the Union in 1816. W. H. Lesh is a man who, for nearly a half century, has been an honored and respected citizen of the county. Formerly a farmer, he engaged in the livery business in Flora some twenty years ago and continued in that business until he embarked in the real-estate and loan business, in which he was engaged at the time of his election as county treasurer in November, 1912. He is numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Carroll county, and the definite recognition of his
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worth as a man and a citizen was fittingly bestowed in his triumphant elec- tion to one of the most responsible offices within the gift of his fellow citizens.
W. H. Lesh was born on November 4, 1857, in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana, on what is known as the old Lesh homestead, where his grandfather, Jonathan Lesh, had settled in early pioneer days. W. H. Lesh is a son of Baltzer Benjamin and Eliza A. (Clippinger) Lesh, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Cass county, Indiana, respectively. His paternal grandparents were Jonathan and Rachel Ellen Lesh, both of whom came to Indiana from Pennsylvania. Baltzer B. Lesh was a farmer by occupation, having come to this county with his parents from Pennsylvania, and settled with them on the I.esh homestead then situated on a prominent stage line. Baltzer B. Lesh subsequently located on a farm in Cass county, Indiana, about a mile and a half from the old homestead, and there he lived until his death in February, 1904. His widow is still living. They were the parents of nine children, of whom one, Rachel Ellen, the third born, who was the wife of John Hines, is deceased. Almeda is the wife of John Benner, of Clinton township. W. H. is the immediate subject of this review. Jennie M. is the wife of F. M. West, of Rock Creek township. Margaret A., is the wife of Samuel Stewart, a farmer of Rock Creek township. Nancy Madison is the wife of John McCormick, of the Carroll County Trust Com- pany. A. L. is a farmer living in Rock Creek township. J. H. is engaged in the livery business at Camden, Indiana. Ziba S. lives on the farm in Cass county.
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