History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 48

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803

USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 48

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JOHN C. ODELL.

John C. Odell was born in Carroll county, Indiana, December 6, 1838. He is the eldest son of James Odell, Jr., and was raised on a farm. He received a common-school education at the country school, and in the Delphi public school. He attended the Battleground Collegiate Institute, under Prof. F. H. Staley, in 1858 and 1859. He attended the Asbury University in 1860 and 1861. He taught school in Camden in 1872 and 1873. In 1863 and 1864, he was the editor and publisher of the Delphi Weekly Times.

In April, 1865, John C. Odell was married to Euphemia Noland, of Virginia, who died in October, 1866. He was deputy clerk seven years, and was admitted to the Carroll county bar in November, 1879, and has been engaged in the practice of law to the present time. He was elected prosecuting attorney for the thirty-ninth judicial district in 1896. Since then he has served eleven years as the deputy prosecuting attorney for Car- roll county, and occupies that position at the present time.

Mr. Odell was married, secondly, to E. R. Noland, of Virginia, a sister of his first wife, September 11, 1873. Five children have been born to this union; three died in infancy, two are living, namely: Charles N. and Josephine R. Mr. Odell is a member of the Delphi Baptist church,

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JOHN C. ODELL.

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and a member of Carroll Lodge No. 174, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He enjoys a large acquaintance in the county and state. He has been the secretary of the Old Settlers' Society of Carroll county since 1882.

WILLIAM H. EVERMAN.

In the career of William H. Everman, who for many years has been identified with the various interests of Carroll county, Indiana, we find many qualities which win success in the battle of life. The splendid success which crowns his efforts may be attributed to self-reliance, independence of mind and careful management of his own personal business. A veteran of the Civil War, he has discharged well his obligations to his country, to his home, and to his neighbors. Because of the success which has attended his efforts and of his high personal character, he is clearly entitled to rank among the representative citizens of Carroll county.

William H. Everman, a retired farmer and merchant of Burlington, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on November 21, 1840. He is the son of Andrew and Neaty (Gardner) Everman, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter of whom was born in North Carolina. Each located in Putnam county, Indiana, where they grew up and where they were married. In 1847 they emigrated to Iowa, but returned to Indiana and settled in Burlington township, Carroll county, in 1858. Here they spent the remainder of their lives. The late Andrew Everman was an active worker in the Christian church and active in the educational affairs of the township. He was also active in politics and served one term as trustee of Burlington township. Andrew and Neaty (Gardner) Everman had twelve children, of whom two sons served in the Civil War. Six are now living, as follow : William H. is the subject of this sketch; Andrew M. is a retired merchant of Burlington; B. W. is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal school and Indiana State University and occupies a chair in the Academy of Science of San Francisco; Nancy A. is the wife of Senator James M. Beck, of Burlington township; Dora B. is unmarried; Ida M. is the wife of S. W. Barnard, of Burlington.

Reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of the Hawkeye and Hoosier states, William H. Everman worked at home until he was past twenty years old, when he enlisted in Company F, Twentieth Indiana Volun-

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teer Infantry on July 23, 1861. He served until October 1, 1862, when he was wounded while fighting valiantly before Richmond. He was discharged on October 6, 1862, and came home, but in August of the next year re-enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving until March, 1864, when he was finally discharged.

Mr. Everman then returned to Burlington and was married on Feb- ruary 14, 1867, to Isabelle M. Cooke, a native of Cass county, Indiana, born on November 30, 1840. Mrs. Everman was educated in the country schools of Carroll county. She and her husband had four hundred dollars with which they started life. Although Mr. Everman was engaged in the general mercantile business, when he was married he and his bride bought a part of his father's farm. They met with success in farming and soon became well-to-do in this community ..

Charitable by impulse and interested keenly in all religious works, Mr. and Mrs. Everman contributed half of the expenses in erecting the new Christian church at Burlington in 1908, and are still liberal supporters of the church. For many years Mr. Everman was trustee of the church. Until 1884. Mr. Everman was identified with the Republican party but, being an invincible foe of the liquor traffic and the licensed saloon, in 1884 he identi- fied himself with the Prohibition party and has supported this movement ever since. Four years later, Mr. and Mrs. Everman retired and moved to Burlington, Indiana, and in 1891, they sold their farm. Fraternally, Mr. Everman is a member of Samuel Stewart Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, at Flora.

CHARLES F. MARTIN.

Mr. Martin, the subject of this sketch, is an excellent farm manager, and for this reason he has been given the entire management of the home place. Although young in years, his ability and knowledge equal, and in many instances excel, these qualities in many of those who have had a life- time experience in agricultural pursuits.

Charles F. Martin, farmer, Camden, Carroll county, was born on Feb- ruary 14, 1888, in Carrollton township, and is a son of William and Emeline (Keck) Martin. He attended the public schools of the district, after which he spent one year at high school at Deer Creek. Since his marriage, Mr. Martin has had charge of the home place, and is the proprietor of the "Fair View Farm," consisting of eighty acres, situated in Washington township,

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and also owns one hundred and fifty-three acres in Carrollton township. Mr. Martin is a stanch Democrat, but has never taken an active interest in politics. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church at Deer Creek. His fraternal alliances are with the Mt. Zion Lodge, at Camden, Indiana, and the Morris Lodge No. 477, Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Deer Creek, Indiana.

William Martin was born in 1833, in Carrollton township, and died in 1908. His wife, Emeline (Keck) Martin, was also a native of Carrollton township. They were the parents of two children : Minnie M. Martin, who graduated from the public schools, and is living at home unmarried, and Charles F., the subject of this review.

Charles F. Martin was united in marriage on November 4, 1914, to Lulu Downham, daughter of Harry B., and Rella ( Yerkes) Downham. She was born on October 23, 1890, in Washington township, and graduated from the public schools of Deer Creek.

Harry B. Downham, father of Mrs. Charles M. Martin is a farmer of Washington township.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin are quiet, unassuming people, and enjoy the friendship of the entire community in which they reside. Their beautiful home is located on route No. 1, Camden, Indiana.

JOHN F. JERVIS.

Since his entire life has been spent in Democrat township, Carroll county, Indiana, John F. Jervis needs no introduction to the people of Car- roll county. His life has been devoted, not only to fostering his own inter- ests, but to the welfare of the public generally. He is an honorable repre- sentative of one of the esteemed families of this section and a gentleman of high character and worthy ambitions, one who has filled no small place in the public life. He is a splendid type of the intelligent, up-to-date, self-made American and is regarded as one of the very best business men of which Carroll county can boast. As a citizen he is abreast of the times and com- mands the unqualified respect of the community where he lives. The director of the Cutler Telephone Company, he owns five hundred acres of land, and keeps a high grade of live stock on the farm and has mastered all of the details of improved methods of farming.

Mr. Jervis, who resides on rural route No. I, out of Cutler, Indiana,

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was born in Democrat township, November 26, 1863. He is the son of Isaiah and Rebecca (Campbell) Jervis, the former of whom was born in Butler county, Ohio, October 17, 1824, and who was the son of Thomas and Mary (Patty) Jervis, natives of Maryland. Thomas and Mary (Patty) Jervis each came to Butler county, Ohio, with their parents and were mar- ried in Butler county. Upon immigrating to the Hoosier state, they located on the present site of West Indianapolis as early as 1830. There they entered a tract of land, which was subsequently cleared and improved. Upon selling out in Marion county, Indiana, they moved to Carroll county and located in Democrat township, where they lived until their deaths. He died in 1882, and his wife about 1873.

Isaiah Jervis was sixteen or seventeen years of age when his parents moved to Carroll county. He followed different occupations until the break- ing out of the Mexican War, when he enlisted as a soldier in an Indiana Company and served until the end of the war. In 1848 he returned to Car- roll county and the next year, was married to Rebecca Campbell, the daugh- ter of John and Martha (Walker) Campbell. John Campbell immigrated from Kentucky to Tippecanoe county in 1828, and, three years later, moved to Carroll county. Indiana, settling on a farm in Democrat township. He was a tanner by trade and operated a tanyard at what was first called Xenia and later Horseshoe Bend, north of Cutler. Martha (Walker) Campbell lived to be ninety-two years old. Her daughter, Rebecca (Campbell) Jervis, who was born in 1830, died in 1914. Of the ten children born to Isaiah and Rebecca (Campbell) Jervis, three are now living, Martha, the wife of Thomas Larkins, of Frankfort, Indiana; John F., the subject of this sketch ; and Luella E., the wife of Edward Reef. of Democrat township.

Born in Democrat township. reared on a farm in this township and educated in the common schools, John F. Jervis remained at home until his marriage. March 11, 1886, to Elizabeth J. Gee, a native of Democrat town- ship, born on January 13, 1867. Mrs. Jervis was reared on a farm and was the daughter of Benjamin and Malissa (Fee) Gee, old settlers in Car- roll county. Benjamin Gee was born in Butler county, Ohio, who came to Carroll county about 1829, with his father Andrew Gee, and his mother. Elizabeth (Meadow) Gee. After Mr. and Mrs. Jervis were married, they began life on a farm and, for a few years, rented land. They moved to their present farm in April, 1895, and have lived here ever since, a period of twenty years.

Mr. and Mrs. Jervis have five living children, Marvin V .. a graduate of the Cutler high school, who married Mayme Allen; Leonard, a graduate

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of the common schools; Herbert, Florence and Mary, all of whom live at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Jervis are members of the Baptist church at Rossville, Indiana. Mr. Jervis is one of the trustees of the church and the whole family. in fact, are active in religious work. Although identified nominally with the Republican party, John F. Jervis has never been especially active in political affairs. May we not believe that his large success as a farmer is due, in a considerable degree, to the fact that he has avoided politics and has applied himself diligently to farming.

ISAAC N. LANDES.

At no other time in American history has the influence of good men been needed in politics more than today. The issues of war and peace are vital to the welfare of our nation as well as to the rest of the world powers, who need a great example, not of unpreparedness, but of wisdom. Every voter needs to be well informed on each question before him, that his decisions may be for the good of his own community.

Such a citizen is Isaac N. Landes, of Carrollton township, Carroll county, Indiana, wise in his decisions, clear in his calculations and firm in his convictions. He is an enthusiastic worker in the ranks of the Republican party and lends his ardent support, to the election of all party candidates who are worthy of office. Born on October 17, 1867, he has always displayed that leadership, indispensable to success. Isaac N. Landes is the son of Fred and Nancy E. (Ewing) Landes; Fred Landes, in turn, being the son of Felix Landes, who came from the East at an early date, with his father and several brothers, and settled in Indiana. Felix Landes was a Christian gentleman belonging to the Presbyterian church and was a stanch Repub- lican, strong in his views. Felix Landes, his brothers and father, settled on the banks of Deer Creek.

Fred Landes, son of Felix Landes, was born in this same township and it was here that he married and reared his family. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools, after which he became inter- ested in farming and purchased land for himself. Nancy Ewing, whom he married, was an orphan who lost her mother when she was only seven years of age and was deprived of her father's protection when only a child of nine years. She was very fortunate in having grandparents to love and shelter

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her, and her grandfather, Richard Dunkin, who lived on Michigan road, Car- rollton township, educated and provided for her. To the union of Fred Landes and Nancy Ewing were born four children: Isaac N., W. S., a farmer of Carrollton township, Indiana; Ella, who is married and living on the home place, and Everett, who died when a boy of eleven years.

The boyhood of Isaac N. Landes was spent on the home place, and it was in this township that he received his common school education, after which he taught for four years. Four years of this work was sufficient to inspire him with a desire for a vocation more to his liking and with this end in view, he purchased the farm where he now lives, located one and one half miles northwest of Darwin, Indiana, and consisting of one hundred acres. On January 23, 1895, he was united in marriage to Effie E. Eiken- berry, daughter of Henry D. Eikenberry, who lives three miles east of Flora, Indiana, in Monroe township.

Isaac N. Landes and Effie E. (Eikenberry) Landes are the parents of one child, Larry Fred, now in fourth year of high school and an excellent scholar. Mr. Landes and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Wheeling, Indiana, and are active in its support and advancement. It has been the men and women of progress, in all ages, who have made their nation's history and each contribution to progress, however small, is of value. Isaac N. Landes has contributed largely to the progress of his community and thereby benefited the nation.

THEO C. CURTIS.

If we could but bring humanity to deal with genealogy as it deals with other subjects, how much more thorough would be our records. It is true that biographers are generally interested more or less in family genealogies, but it is the individual members and descendants who derive the actual bene- fit therefrom. The Curtis family, from whom the subject of this sketch has descended, is a fine old pioneer family of Ohio, and is of Irish lineage on the maternal side.

Theo C. Curtis, retired farmer, Flora, Carroll county, was born August 29, 1844, in Burlington township, and is a son of Jesse and Jane V. (Watt) Curtis. He was nine years old when he came to Carrollton township, and all his early youth was spent at farm work, and his education was obtained by attending the public schools during the winter months, after which he

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took a course in a business college at Lafayette, Indiana. In selecting his life work, Mr. Curtis decided upon agriculture, which he has followed until very recently, when he retired from an active business life. He originally had eighty acres of land, to which he has continued to add until he now owns one hundred acres, all in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Curtis was originally a Republican, but now gives his support to the Prohibition party. Religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are members of the Presbyterian church at Wheeling, Indiana.

Jesse Curtis, father of our subject, was born in Ohio, and his wife, Jane V. (Watt) Curtis, was a native of Ireland, and came with her parents to America when eight years old. They settled in Ohio, where she grew to womanhood and was married. Mr. Curtis and his wife settled in Burling- ton township, Carroll county, and about 1858, they moved to Carrollton township, on the Michigan road, about five miles north of Burlington town- ship, spending the remainder of their lives there. He at first owned eighty acres, and afterward purchased eighty acres more in Burlington township, which he sold, and purchased a half section in Carrollton township, one hun- dred acres of which is now owned by Theo C. Mr. Curtis was a Repub- lican, and in religion he belonged to the Presbyterian church. Jesse and Jane W. (Watt) Curtis were the parents of four children, William, deceased; Theo C., Jerome and Rebecca, all of whom are dead but Theo C. By his first wife, Mr. Curtis had two children.

Theo C. Curtis was united in marriage, December 20, 1865, to Mary J. Wilson, who was born June 6, 1845, in Decatur county, Indiana, and came with her parents to Howard county in 1847, where she lived on a farm until she was married, receiving her education at the district schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were born two children, Martha Esta, a graduate of the public schools, who became a teacher in the public schools of the county, after which she became the wife of George O. Billings, and lives in Howard county. Indiana; they have one child, Mabel B. Bertha Curtis was married to Harrison W. Barbee, a merchant of Wheeling, Indiana. She is an active member of the Presbyterian church, and her sister, Martha Esta takes an active part in the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Barbee had one son, Ockle, who was reared in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, living there from the time he was three months old until he was twenty-four years of age. He graduated from the public schools at Flora, and is also a graduate of the Flora high school, and now has entire charge of the farm for Theo C.

Mr. Curtis has lived an upright life, and has always believed in the principles of "live and let live," and is enjoying a peaceful, quiet life, such as can only come from proper dealing with brother men.

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DAVID H. HARDY.

To the man who has made such an agricultural success as that achieved by the gentleman who is biographically recorded in the following pages, is due greater credit and a more extended history than can be accorded in the pages of this volume. Mr. Hardy has made a concentrated study of his vocation, and possessing splendid business ability he has aided materially in shaping his financial interests to a satisfactory issue.

David H. Hardy, general farmer and stock raiser, Burrows, Indiana, was born on February 7, 1843, in Washington township, Carroll county, on the place where he now lives. His early education was secured at the dis- trict schools, and he later entered the normal school at Kokomo, Indiana, after which he returned to the farm, buying three hundred and seventy-five acres of his father's home place, and now owns a splendid tract of four hundred and fifteen acres of fine agricultural land, located in Washington township, on rural route No. I, Burrows, Indiana, where he is eminently successful in his farming and stock-raising interests. His efforts in pro- ducing nothing but purebred animals has resulted in his possessing some of the finest stock in Carroll county. Politically, Mr. Hardy is a life-long supporter of Democratic policies, but has never taken an active interest in politics. He is a member of the Rock Creek Presbyterian church at Bur- rows, Indiana.

Hugh Hardy, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and his wife. Rosanna (Hamaker) Hardy, was born in Dauphin county, in the same state, and went with her parents to Lewis- ton, Miflin county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hardy and his wife grew up and were married in Mifflin county. and lived there until 1838. where he followed both farming and the carpenter's trade. He later settled at Deer Creek. this county, moving here in wagons, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres, a part of which David H. Hardy now owns. Mr. Hardy and his brothers farmed together, and probably owned twenty-five hundred acres of land at one time in this locality. To Hugh and Rosanna (Hamaker) Hardy were born three children, namely: Anna Eliza, who became the wife of J. W. Bean. of Logansport; Alfred H., who was killed at the siege of Jack- son. Mississippi, in the Civil War. in Company A, Forty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry; and David H. The death of Hugh Hardy occurred in December. 1892, and that of his wife, in September, 1883.

David H. Hardy was united in marriage, November 29. 1864, with

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RESIDENCE AND FARM BUILDINGS OF DAVID H. HARDY

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MR. AND MRS. DAVID H. HARDY

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Elizabeth A. Martin, daughter of William D. and Jane (Patton) Martin. She was born on January 20, 1843, in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, and obtained her education at the public schools of the district. To this union were born six children: Lula, who became the wife of William Quinn; Emma, who was married to William Arnold, of Indianapolis; Walter T., a graduate of Wabash College, where he took a course in law, and is now judge of the superior court at Hammond, Indiana; Julia, who was married to Melvin Irelan, and is now a widow; Leroy M., who lives at home, and is married to Ethel Rice, daughter of John Rice of Washington township; Anna B., is a graduate of the high school and lives at home. She also attended school at Valparaiso and at St. John's, Indianapolis, since which time she has been teaching.

Throughout his continued success Mr. Hardy has never been too much engrossed in the art of accumulating wealth to also increase his list of sin- cere friends, with whom he has become deservedly popular.

ADAM WECHT (HARRY W. STOCKTON).

Adam Wecht, a prosperous truck farmer residing on rural route No. 2, out of Cutler, Indiana, is a native of Cass county, Indiana, born on June 2, 1872, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Fornoff) Wecht, both of whom were born in Germany and who came to America. They were married at the age of eighteen and twenty-one years, respectively, and settled in Logans- port, Indiana. Jacob Wecht was a butcher and by his marriage to Elizabeth Fornoff had five children, three of whom are now living, as follow : Adam, the subject of this sketch; George J. Wecht, of Logansport, Indiana; Anna Wecht, who is unmarried and who lives in Indianapolis. The mother, Elizabeth (Wecht) Franco lives in Indianapolis.

Jacob Wecht died when their son, Adam, was a lad of two years. He was subsequently reared by Barker and Candace Stockton. Mr. Stockton lived at Burlington and there Harry W. attended the public schools, grad- uating eventually from the high school. After completing the high school course, he engaged in the barber business, traveling through the cities of eighteen states. He went West to the state of Washington in 1901, and when he landed there had only fifty cents in money. He was engaged in the nursery and land business for eleven years and during the period was able to save considerable money. He made one visit to Burlington while

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still a resident of the state of Washington, but finally returned and for five years was engaged in the restaurant business. He had returned from Wash- ington on account of the poor health of his foster-mother, for whom he cared after his return to this state. At her death, he received ten acres of land, which he afterwards laid out into lots, known as the Harry Stockton's addition to the town of Burlington. In the meantime, he had been engaged in the poultry business for some four years. After platting the Stockton addition, he purchased the ten-acre tract of land where he now lives and which he has greatly improved. Mr. Wecht divides his time between truck farming and working in the serum plant.

On November 24, 1914, Adam Wecht was married to Mattie P. Kelley, the daughter of Jacob Kelley. Mrs. Wecht is a member of the Baptist church.

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History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 48

Author: John C. Odell Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 803

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803