USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 55
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Educated in the district schools of Clay township, Carroll county, Indiana. Paul Burkhalter remained at home with his parents until June 3, 1873, when he was married to Mary C. Gheres, and to this union were born four children, Irvin, Cora, Charles and Ida. Irvin married Cynthia Mellin-
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ger, and they have one daughter, Ruth. They live on the home farm. Cora is the wife of William M. Campbell, of Clay township. Charles W. lives near Frankfort, Indiana. He married Pearl Shedron, who is deceased. Ida is the wife of William Snyder, of Indianapolis. The mother of these chil- dren, Mrs. Paul Burkhalter, died on May 29, 1915. She was a member of the Reformed church, as is also her husband.
Mr. Burkhalter has been a member of the Clay township advisory board, having been elected to the position as a Democrat. Although inter- ested in casual way in politics, Mr. Burkhalter has devoted most of his time, energy and talent to farming. He is a good man and a good citizen and one who is well known in this township.
HENRY J. BUTZ.
One of the strong, self-reliant and determined characters of Clay town- ship, Carroll county, Indiana, who served two terms as treasurer of Carroll county and one term of six years as trustee of Clay township, is Henry J. Butz. He is an unassuming man, but his great force of character, his zeal and his energy naturally place him in the front rank of the leading citizens of this county. He has lived an honorable and industrious life, both private and public.
Henry J. Butz was born on January 19, 1856, in Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, and is the son of Tilghman and Eliza (Newhart) Butz, both of whom were natives of Lehigh county. They were married in that county and, after living there for some years, came to Carroll county, Indiana. Tilghman Butz was a carpenter in the early part of his life, but he had grown to manhood on a farm and for some years operated a grist-mill in Lehigh county. He sold the mill in 1863 and brought the family to Carroll county. They settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Clay township, where both father and mother spent the remainder of their lives. They had three children, two sons and one daughter, of whom two, Samuel and Magdelina, are deceased. The former died in June, 1913, in Carroll county, and the latter died at the age of two years. Henry J. is the only living child. Mr. Butz's parents were members of the Reformed church and died in this state.
Henry J. Butz was educated in the common schools of Clay township. He lived at home with his parents until September 13, 1877, when he was
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married to Lucy A. Sheigley, a daughter of Robert and Sarah (More) Sheigley, who had two children, Lucy A., the wife of Mr. Butz, and Mor- ton C. Sheigley. The father of these children, Robert Sheigley, was drowned in the explosion of the "Sultana," while returning home after having been paroled as a prisoner of war. After his death, his widow mar- ried James Gray. They had three children, all of whom are living. Shelby G. lives in Cass county ; L. D. was the second born, and Elizabeth F. lives at home. Mrs. Sarah ( More) Gray died on October 18, 1898.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Butz have had five children, four of whom are living, as follow: Ward T., Harvey M., William J. and Faith E. Ward T. married Grace Ely. They have one son, Gordon Ely. They live in Erie, Pennsylvania. Harvey M. married Lennie Thomas, and they have one son, Henry Thomas. William J. is at home. Faith E. is also at home.
Mr. Butz owns two hundred and twenty-five acres of well-improved land and makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Butz are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Butz is a Republican in politics. He was the first Republican ever elected in Clay township as trustee. He served also as treasurer of Carroll county and has filled several minor positions of trust and responsibility. Not long ago he was appointed supervisor in Clay township by a Democratic trustee, although Mr. Butz himself is a Republican. He is held in high regard by the people in Clay township and, of course, is very well known because of the public position he has filled with so great credit.
FRANK P. LYONS, M. D.
The physician is indeed a benefactor to mankind, for to him, more than to any other man, is entrusted the safety, the comforts and, in many instances, the lives of those who are placed under his care. Dr. Frank P. Lyons is not only a well-known physician and surgeon of Flora, Indiana, but he is a "live wire" in the commercial development of Flora and vicinity. Having been one of the promoters of the incorporation of the town of Flora and the president of the first board of trustees, there is no man living in Carroll county who has contributed more to the development of this sec- tion of the county than Doctor Lyons. He is interested in most of the com- mercial and financial enterprises of the community and is a genius, both for
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organization and execution. He is president of the Flora Telephone Com- pany, a stockholder in the First National Bank and a member of the firm of Charles T. Minnix & Company, contractors. Moreover, Dr. Frank P. Lyons is a farmer and owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in this county, which he oversees in connection with the other business interests- and the demands of his profession.
Dr. Frank P. Lyons, one of the leading citizens of Flora, and a popu- lar physician and surgeon, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, October 26, 1852. His parents were George and Eunice (Maple) Lyons, the former of whom was born in Fayette county, Indiana, September 1, 1825. He was- the son of Abraham Lyons. Abraham Lyons came to Fayette county, Indiana, when a lad. He married a Miss Veach, near Elquina, and was one of the pioneers of Fayette county. The marriage ceremony was performed by Squire Wilson in 1819. Abraham Lyons was a merchant at Lyons Sta- tion. He and his wife were the parents of eight children.
George Lyons was reared on a farm near Connersville, Indiana, and received a good common-school education in the public schools of the county. Of the children born to George and Eunice (Maple) Lyons, only three are living at the present time, Dr. Frank P., the subject of this sketch; Emma, the widow of A. B. Smith, of Iola, Kansas, and Alice, the wife of Lewis Ray, of Sims, Indiana. There were four other children, two of whom died in infancy.
Frank P. Lyons was reared on a farm in Fayette county, Indiana, and was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood, but he had better educational advantages than most boys of his day and generation, having been permitted to attend the high school at Converse. Afterward he became. a teacher and taught several years in the schools of Randolph and Howard counties, Indiana. In the meantime, he attended the Northern Indiana Nor- mal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, and, after he had taken up the study of medicine, continued teaching for some time. Having entered the medical college of Indiana University, he was graduated with the class of 1881 and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began the practice of medi- cine at Kokomo, Indiana, where he remained for less than a year. After- ward he located at Wheeling, Carroll county, where he practiced medicine for eleven years. In 1893 Doctor Lyons came to Flora and has practiced here ever since. He is a member of the Carroll County Medical Society, the Indiana State and American Medical Associations.
In 1876 Frank P. Lyons was married to Julia Billings, a native of Decatur county, Indiana, and the daughter of John T. Billings. Mrs. Lyons
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received a liberal education in the public schools of Howard county. Doctor and Mrs. Lyons have two living children, Millie, a graduate of the local high school, is the wife of Daniel G. Cromer, of Flora, and Esther, who was graduated from the Flora high school in 1915. Emma, who was a graduate of the high school, is deceased; one child died in infancy and one at the age of fourteen years.
Dr. and Mrs. Frank P. Lyons are members of the Baptist church. Doctor Lyons is not only one of the deacons of the church but also one of the trustees. Fraternally, he is a member of Flora Lodge No. 605, Free and Accepted Masons, and is also one of the trustees of the lodge. In a strictly partisan sense, Dr. Frank P. Lyons is not a politician, but, in a larger sense of the word-from the standpoint of public service-not only is he a politician, but he is a most capable and active one. Everybody in Flora and vicinity knows Dr. Frank P. Lyons and everyone admires him for his worth as a man and a citizen.
ADAM RODENBARGER.
Adam Rodenbarger, a native of Tippecanoe county and a well-known retired farmer of Clay township, where he owns eighty acres of land, is the son of Wolfgang and Margaret (Swona) Rodenbarger, both of whom were natives of Germany and who emigrated to America early in life. They were married in New York and, after coming west, located in Clay county, Indiana, where they remained for some time. They then removed to Tippe- canoe county and finally to Ross township, Clinton county, in 1860. There they owned one hundred and fourteen acres of land and lived until their death. Wolfgang Rodenbarger died in March, 1895, and his wife one year later, in March, 1896. They were devout members of the Lutheran church.
To Wolfgang and Margaret (Swona) Rodenbarger were born six chil- dren, two of whom are deceased. The children were John, Catherine, David, Hannah, Adam and Leah. John, the first born, whose widow is now living in Pyrmont, died in 1912. Catherine is the wife of Charles Pantle, of Deer Creek township. David died at the age of fourteen years. Hannah is the wife of John Fogle. They live in Rossville and own the old home- stead. Adam is the subject of this sketch. Leah is the wife of William Fogle, of Clay county.
Adam Rodenbarger was born on January 12, 1858, in Tippecanoe
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county and was educated in the common schools of Ross township, Clinton county, Indiana. He lived at home with his parents until November I, 1881, when he was married to Margaret Neher, a daughter of Henry J. and Nancy J. (Lewis) Neher, natives of Virginia and Clinton county, Indiana, respectively. They were married in Clinton county, Indiana, Henry J. Neher having come with his parents to Ross township from the Old Domin- ion state. Mrs. Rodenbarger's father died in 1906 and her mother in 1912. Both were members of the Progressive Brethren church. They had four children, Ellen, Margaret, Rilly and Manson. Ellen married Wade Thomp- son, of Delphi. Margaret is the wife of Mr. Rodenbarger. Rilly is the wife of Charles Shank. of Cambia, Clinton county, Indiana. Dr. Manson Neher is a resident of Utah.
To Mr. and Mrs. Adam Rodenbarger have been born five children, Willard, Mertie, Iva, Artus and Opal. Willard is a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. Mertie is the wife of Art Cauble, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Iva is the wife of Austin Lemmer, of Indianapolis. Artus lives in Chicago. Opal lives at home with her parents.
Mr. Rodenbarger owns eighty acres of well-improved land in section 9, of Clay township, but since 1907 has been living retired on the farm.
Mr. Rodenbarger is a Democrat and served two terms as supervisor in Clay township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rodenbarger and daughter are mem- bers of the Baptist church at Owasco.
JOSEPH L. GRANTHAM.
Joseph L. Grantham, a widely-known retired farmer of Delphi, Indiana, is the scion of a prominent family of Carroll county. His father, John Grantham, was judge of the probate court of Carroll county from 1842 to 1850. From his mother, who was a native of Wales, Mr. Grantham has inherited perhaps his enterprise and thrift, which have been important fac- tors in his most successful career. Having inherited a part of his father's farm of two hundred and sixty acres in Adams township at the death of his father, on October 25, 1851, he purchased the interest of the other heirs and still owns the old homestead, today one of the most magnificent farms in Carroll county.
Born in Carroll county, March 29, 1832, Joseph L. Grantham has been a resident of the county all of his life. He was born in Deer Creek town-
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ship about four years after his father had emigrated to Carroll county from Virginia. Having lived at home until twenty years old, he worked at farm work at thirteen dollars a month for two years, saving his money and accu- mulating a good-sized "nest-egg." In two years he not only had considerable money laid aside but also had good clothes, which he had bought and paid for. In the meantime he had purchased a two-year-old colt on credit, but he was soon able to pay for it and later sold the colt for seventy-five dollars, making a profit of thirty-eight dollars. He then bought another horse for seventy dollars and sold it for one hundred and two dollars, making a profit of thirty-two dollars. This was Mr. Grantham's start in life. Shortly afterward he began farming on the old home place, to which he succeeded by inheritance, and purchase at his father's death and was continuously engaged in farming until 1913, when he rented out the farm and moved to Delphi, where he purchased a nice home.
Mr. Grantham's parents were John and Sarah (Jeffries) Grantham. Judge John Grantham was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, and his wife in Wales. The father died on October 25, 1851, at the age of fifty-one, and the mother on March 15, 1840. They were the parents of five children, William, deceased; Sarah Ann, deceased, who married Simon Swalle; Joseph L., the subject of this sketch, and two who died early in life.
Mr. Grantham's paternal grandfather was the father of six children, Joseph, Louis, John, Moses, Eliza and Polly. His maternal grandfather, who had come to America from Wales, served in the Revolutionary War and was killed in the battle of Bunker Hill, leaving two daughters, Sarah and Lydia, the former of whom was Mr. Grantham's mother.
On October 25. 1855. Joseph L. Grantham was married to Rachel A. Shaffer, the daughter of George and Lorraine (Edmunds) Shaffer. Four children have been born to this union, Emma Belle, Mary Ella, Lewis and Anna. Emma Belle died when a little more than a year old. Mary Ella died in 1897 and was the wife of Wilson Coble. Anna was born on March 25. 1865, and died on August 7, 1880. Lewis is a well-to-do farmer and lives in Delphi. He married Elizabeth Million and has two children, Luther and Wilbur. Mrs. Grantham was born on January 22, 1834, and died on March 8, 1914, at the age of eighty years.
Mr. and Mrs. Grantham lived together for fifty-eight years. They were both members of the Church of God. Mrs. Grantham was a native of Carroll county, having been born in Deer Creek township. Her parents had come to Ohio in pioneer times. They were the parents of eleven children,
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Lavina, Charlotte, Martin, John, Rachel A., Sabina, George, Alonzo, Laura, James and one who died in infancy.
Although Mr. Grantham is an ardent Democrat and has served as justice of the peace for one term, he has never been an office seeker. As a matter of fact, Joseph L. Grantham has been too busily occupied with the business of farming. Moreover, he has been too keenly interested in home and domestic life and has never especially cared for a public career. Today he is one of the most highly respected citizens of Carroll county.
EDWIN A. SPANGLER.
Dealing in general merchandise, Edwin A. Spangler represents one of the substantial business enterprises of Deer Creek, where he has, through upright and straightforward dealings, placed himself beyond the pale of anxious concern in regard to his financial success. His long years of experience in his vocation have given him a valuable understanding of the worth of each line handled in his well-stocked store, where his customers are served with courteous promptness.
Edwin A. Spangler, general merchant, Deer Creek, Carroll county, was born May 20, 1872, in Washington township, and is a son of Henry and Naomi (Schaff ) Spangler. He received a good education at the public and high schools, after which he entered Indiana University, where he took a scientific course, covering a period of two years. After finishing his edu- cation, Mr. Spangler taught school for two years, and then engaged in his present business. Politically, he is a Republican, while his religious mem- bership is with the Lutheran church, of which he officiates as one of the trustees. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Morse Lodge No. 477, at Deer Creek.
Henry Spangler, the father of Edwin A., was born in Butler county, Ohio, spending his youth on a farm, and was married prior to coming to Carroll county, Indiana, to which union four children were born, Mary, Lydia, Eliza and John. Mary, deceased, became the second wife of S. P. Zeck; Lydia died in young womanhood; Eliza was the first wife of S. P. Zeck, and John died when a young man. Henry Spangler was married, secondly, to Naomi Schaff, and Edwin A. Spangler was the only child born to this union. Henry Spangler died when Edwin A. was but three years old, and Mrs. Spangler spent the remainder of her life in Deer Creek.
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Edwin A. Spangler was united in marriage on April 1, 1906, to Lillie Clark, daughter of Matthew I. and Lavina (Tinkle) Clark. She was born on October 2, 1880, in Democrat township, Carroll county, Indiana. Four children have been born to this union: Charles C., now in his eighth year and a student of the public school; Donavan, who is four years old; Arthur, who is in his third year, and Frieda Ruth, who is in her first year.
Mr. Spangler was originally associated in the mercantile business under the firm name of Spangler & Lenon, which was changed at the end of three years to the partnership name of Spangler & Jones, under which the busi- ness is carried on at present, and which, through careful attention to every detail, is a representative business of Deer Creek.
SOLOMON ULREY.
Solomon Ulrey, a prosperous farmer of Clay township and the pro- prietor of one hundred and seventy-one acres of land, which his father entered from the government in 1832, is a native of Clay township and was born on the farm where he now lives, June 28, 1852.
Mr. Ulrey's parents were Jacob and Susan (Ulrey) Ulrey, the former of whom was born near Dayton, Ohio, November 1, 1809, and the latter in the Buckeye state, April 13, 1811. They were married in the Buckeye state and in 1832 immigrated to Clinton county, Indiana, entering the land which the son now occupies in that year. In 1833 Jacob Ulrey built a house on the farm and spent the winter in a cabin which had no floor. He erected practically all of the buildings on the farm, but in late years these have been replaced by others. He owned at one time about three hundred and twenty acres, most of which he cleared before his death. He died on July 10, 1882, and his wife died on December 21, 1872. Both were members of the Brethren church. Jacob Ulrey was a stanch Republican.
Jacob and Susan Ulrey were the parents of ten children: Esther, born on January 19, 1832, in Ohio, married Samuel Foutz and both are now deceased; John, March 1, 1835, in Carroll county, is deceased; Catherine, November 19, 1837, is the widow of Daniel Metzger, of Clay township; Hannah, March 30, 1840, married Leonard Wagoner and lives in Clay township; Jacob I., March 20, 1842, lives in Troy, Montana; Susan, Janu- ary I, 1844, was first married to David Simmons and, after his death, to John Root, who is now deceased, and she resided in Shawnee, Oklahoma,
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with her children until her death on October 30, 1915; Samuel, June 22, 1846, is deceased; Stephen, August 1, 1848, is deceased; Barbara, Novem- ber 27, 1849, is the wife of Benjamin Reppert, of Clay township, and Solo- mon, the subject of this sketch.
Solomon Ulrey was educated in the district schools of Carroll county and lived at home with his parents until April, 1879, when he was married to Susan Ulrey, the daughter of John and Esther (Shively) Ulrey, who were born near Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Ulrey's parents moved to Carroll county about the same time as her husband's parents. She has borne her husband three children, Albert Ervin, who was born on February 20, 1880, and lives at home; Ida Isabella, July 13, 1881, and died in infancy, and Lula Ellen, August 17, 1883, and married John W. Root, of Tippecanoe county.
Mr. Ulrey owns one hundred and seventy-one acres of land, all of which is well improved, a part of the tract entered in 1832 by his father. Not long ago he built a commodious house and a substantial barn on the farm to replace those erected by his father. Until the last year or two Mr. Ulrey has been heavily engaged in the cattle business.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Ulrey is a member of the Brethren church, as is also his wife and family. One would have to go very far to find a citizen of Clay township who is more highly respected than Solomon Ulrey; to find a man who has done more for the agricultural progress and prosper- ity of this section than he. He has a host of friends in Clay township and is well known throughout Carroll county.
ALFRED W. LIVINGSTON.
Among the prosperous farmers and older citizens of Democrat town- ship, Carroll county, Indiana, is Alfred W. Livingston, who, although a little more than past the prime of life, has lived in this section of Indiana for more than fifty years. He owns one hundred and forty acres of land three-quarters of a mile from Prince William on the Prince William and Delphi pike.
Alfred W. Livingston was born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1857, and is the son of John and Nancy (Silverthorn) Livingston, the former of whom was born in Huntington county and the latter in Juniata county, Pennsylvania. The Silverthorns came originally from Holland and Alfred W. Livingston, the subject of this sketch, is a representative of the
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fourth generation of the family in America. The Livingstons are of Irish .descent.
John and Nancy (Silverthorn) Livingston were married and lived in Pennsylvania until about 1862, when they immigrated to Indiana. They lived for a few weeks at Star City and, after that, at Michigantown from April to August, 1862, when they purchased a farm near Rossville, in Clin- ton county, a tract of eighty acres. There they lived until their deaths. Alfred W. Livingston lived on that farm for thirty-one years. He pur- chased the farm after his father's death and erected new buildings. Some years ago Mr. Livingston purchased a tract of eighty acres, a part of the farm which he now owns and occupies. Since that time, however, he has added sixty acres and now owns altogether one hundred and forty acres.
On January 18, 1884, Alfred W. Livingston was married to Louisa Ball, the daughter of Jacob and Mahelia Ball, of Carroll county, Indiana. Mrs. Livingston's father was a native of Ohio and came to Indiana at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. Livingston have been the parents of seven chil- dren : John, who lives on a farm near Prince William; Frank, who lives in Clay township, Carroll county; Lucy, who lives at home with her parents; Dale, who married Anna Hufford, the daughter of John Hufford, and lives on a farm in Clay township; Lloyd, who is deceased; Russell, who lives at home, and Adrian, who also lives at home.
Mr. Livingston is a Republican in politics, although he has never taken any special part in the councils of his party. He has devoted his life rather to farming and to the interests of the farm. He has a host of friends in Democrat township, where he is well known.
JAMES J. REEDER.
James J. Reeder, former trustee of Carrollton township, and at present the clerk of the Carroll circuit court, is truly a self-made man, having made his own way in the world since he was fifteen years old. He is a man who knows what it is to perform hard and exacting labor, having, at an immature age, begun work in a saw-mill, where he remained for two and one-half years. Until recent years, he was a farmer and a very successful one. After his election as trustee, he was, successively, in the automobile business, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Camden, and manager of the Farm- ers Grain and Supply Company. The personal qualities which have made
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JAMES J. REEDER
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MRS. LILLIE REEDER
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JAMES J. REEDER
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MRS. LILLIE REEDER
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