USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County Indiana : From its earliest settlement to the present time with biographical sketches and reference to biographies previously compiled, Volume II > Part 35
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Mr. Stanton is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Chris- tian church since he was twenty-eight years old. He was married on November 25, 1875, to Priscilla A. Justice, and they are the parents of three children, as follows: Nellie, the wife of George Kistler; James J., a practicing physician of Logansport, of whom more extended men- tion is made elsewhere in this work; and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
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DR. JAMES J. STANTON was born in Logansport, Indiana, on July 9, 1880, a son of Anderson B. and Priscilla A. (Justice) Stanton, and the grandson of Eli and Eunice (Barnard) Stanton, concerning these ancestors appropriate mention being made in the sketch devoted to Anderson B. Stanton, in other pages of this work, so that further details with regard to the parentage of Dr. Stanton are superfluous at this juncture.
Dr. Stanton was reared on his father's farm, to a large extent, and he was an attendant of the schools of Logansport during the winter seasons. In 1899 and 1900 he was a student at Hiram College, in Hiram, Ohio, and in September, 1901, entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which he was duly graduated on June 2, 1905. For one year following his graduation he was occupied as house physician at Mckeesport (Pa.) hospital, and on September 1, 1906 the young doctor opened an office in Logansport. He has since continued here in active practice. He conducts a general practice, with special attention to surgery, and in the years that he has been identified with the professional life of Logansport, he has acquired a pleasing reputation for efficiency and progressiveness which makes his future success a well assured fact.
Dr. Stanton is a member of the county and state medical societies, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also retains membership in the Nu Sigma Nu, his college fraternity.
The doctor was united in marriage with Miss Jean Murray, of Logans- port, on June 22, 1910.
JOB SMITH. It requires very few words to tell of hopeful pioneers settling in a forest and with energy attacking the subjugation of the land and developing cultivated and productive farms thereby, but this outline is but a superficial covering for some of the most trying expe- riences through which men and women have bravely and triumphantly passed and which deserve to be remembered. The first log cabin of the Smith family in Indiana, was built in 1836, in Bethlehem township, Cass county, after a space had been cleared, by William R. Smith, on his timbered tract of 240 acres, to which he and his wife had come after weeks of tedious travel from an eastern state. In all probability it was but poor protection at first against the elements and possibly the Indians and wild creatures of the forest, but its comforts were increased as time went on, family life developed and expanded, and within its walls were born and reared the three children of the family. The Smiths were pioneers in every sense of the word, the ancestry belonging to Scotland, and as typical of that land their sturdy independence and moral qualities made them leaders and organizers of the stable institu- tions and promoters of good government in the section which they had selected as their home. Among the worthy representatives of this family is found Job Smith, of Bethlehem township, who for many years was engaged in farming here, and who still resides in this township. Mr. Smith was born October 28, 1841, in a log cabin on the farm which he now owns, and is a son of William R. and Amanda F. (Simpson) Smith, and a grandson of Job Smith and James Simpson. His parents
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were natives of New Jersey, and were married in Ohio, in which state they lived for about twelve years, and then, in 1836, made their entrance into Indiana. They continued to be residents of Cass county until their deaths, and were numbered among their township's substantial and highly respected people. They had four children, namely : Job; James, who married Amanda Campbell; Rachael, who married Joseph Champ ; and Hannah, who died at the age of five years.
Job Smith received only meager educational advantages in his youth, the district school being two miles from his home and the school term lasting only three months in the winter, but he was an intelligent and ambitious youth, made the most of his opportunities, and managed to gain a good education. On completing his studies, he was engaged in teaching for two years, and then turned his attention to farming, which occupied his attention throughout the balance of his active career. He is now the owner of 133 acres of well-cultivated land, on which he erected all of the present substantial buildings, and this is known as one of the valuable properties of his township. For the past eight years he has lived a retired life, having been afflicted with blindness. He has been a life-long member of Spring Creek Christian church, of which he was deacon for many years. Mr. Smith is highly regarded in his locality, being known as a kind neighbor, an honorable business man, and one who has always been true to his friendships.
On January 16, 1868, Mr. Smith was married in Miami county, Indiana, to Miss Emmeline Code, daughter of Powell and Lydia (Carlisle) Code, the former of whom died in 1878 and the latter in February, 1904. Mrs. Smith's parents came to Indiana from New York state, and settled in Miami county at a very early date, first erecting a log cabin, and later replacing it with a more modern struc- ture. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Christopher, who married Sallie Murden : John, who married Caroline Charles; Ira, who remained single and died at the age of thirty-nine years ; Angeline, who married James Hallock ; Josephine, who married Henry Lewis ; and Emmeline. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had the following children : Omar T., born February 8, 1869, who married Daisy Lawrence; Nora E .. born February 8, 1872; Ego, born January 14. 1875 ; Milo J .. born February 19, 1877; Laurie, born March 17, 1880, who married Edith White; and Elmer, born August 31, 1884, who died in July, 1908; and Bernice B., November 7, 1886.
GEORGE W. CONRAD. Many of the leading agriculturists of Cass county are residing on the farms on which they were born, and which, in their youth, they helped to clear from the virgin growth of timber. Life-long experience has given them a thorough knowledge of soil and climatic conditions, and this has aided. them materially in gaining the position of prestige that they now hold. In this class stands George W. Conrad, of Bethlehem township, experienced farmer and well-informed citizen, whose entire career has been spent within the limits of Cass county, where he has gained and maintained the esteem of his fellow- citizens through strict integrity and honorable dealings. Mr. Conrad was born on his present property, a part of the old Conrad homestead, February 8, 1867, and is a son of Stephen G. and Margaret (Cowel)
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Conrad. His grandfather, David H. Conrad, was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent, and came to Indiana in 1840, locating in Cass county, where he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits up the time of his death. Stephen G. Conrad was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was a young man when he accompanied his parents to Indiana, here assisting his father in the work of the home farm until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company F, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. On his return from the war, he resumed his agricultural operations, in which he was employed during the remainder of his active career.
George W. Conrad received a district school education, and was reared to the occupation of agriculturist, which has been his vocation throughout life. In his boyhood and youth he worked so faithfully for his father, that on attaining his majority he was given eighty-five acres of land, and to this he has continued to add from time to time, as his finances have permitted, until now he is the owner of 210 acres. The present buildings were all erected by Mr. Conrad and his father, but have been greatly improved during the son's residence here, and the land, heavily wooded at one time, is now all under the plow and yields abundant crops. Mr. Conrad has kept abreast of the times, and takes advantage of all the improvements and inventions which have been brought about by invention and discovery. He has not entered politics except as a voter for Democratic principles and policies, but has never failed to support movements for good government, and those measures which affect his township or its people have always had his intelligent attention. With his family, he attends the Methodist church, where for some years he has held an official position.
On September 6, 1890, Mr. Conrad was married to Miss Dora M. Bray, of Fulton county, Indiana, and they have had six children, as follows: Russell L., Harry N., Thelma B., Ethel G., Edith M. and Ida Pearl. The members of the family are highly esteemed in the community where the name has stood for integrity and probity for nearly three- quarters of a century. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad is known as "Walnut Glenn Homestead."
IRA B. MAUDLIN is one of the well established and prosperous farming men of Bethlehem township, where he has made his home for many years-practically since his infancy, for the old home of his parents is located in this township, where they located in 1864. Farming life has always been his portion, and in it he has demonstrated a measure of ability and capability sufficient to win him a place among the more prominent men of his community.
Born in Kewanee, Fulton county, this state, Ira B. Maudlin is the son of Benjamin and Abigail (Woolf) Maudlin, who were the son and daughter of Edwin Maudlin and Jonas Woolf. They came to Bethlehem township in 1864 and here the father ended his days, death claiming him in 1898. The mother yet lives, and is a member of the household of her son, Ira B. of this review. and has reached the age of eighty-two years. The old homestead of the Maudlin family is located one mile south of Fletcher's lake in this township, where the father first acquired the ownership of one hundred and twenty acres of land and built a
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log house for the shelter of his young family. The land was covered with a dense growth of timber, which the passing years saw give place to rolling fields that enriched their owner in a comfortable degree. The old log house still stands there, as a monument to the industry of its builder. Four children were born to these parents-two sons and two daughters. Amos, the eldest son, was twice married, first to Irene Beattie, and later to a Mrs. Rosa Landis. Marguerite married George Hollenback; and Hannah died about 1880.
Up to the age of twenty-seven years Ira B. Maudlin remained at home, and performed his share of the work of the home place. As a boy he received certain advantages of schooling, somewhat limited it is true, but as good as the average country youth of his day received, and he has made good use of such learning as he did acquire in those early days. He was born on January 29, 1863, just prior to the time when his parents moved to their Bethlehem township farm, so that his earliest recollections begin with that old place. May 29, 1889, Mr. Maudlin was married, and he settled then on his first independently operated farm. This was a place of seventy-five acres, and adjoined his father's place. It boasted a small frame house, which he improved from time to time and built on as occasion made necessary, and is today a fine old farm house. He added to his land holdings until he had a total acreage of one hundred and fifteen acres, and there he remained until 1911, when he removed to his present fine place of one hundred and five acres. The farm is under an excellent state of cultivation, has fine new buildings, and is in every way suited to the convenience and wishes of the family. May 29, 1889, Mr. Maudlin married Miss Ida Frushour, the daughter of George and Charlotte (Rowan) Frushour, and they have one son, George B., who was born on November 19, 1890. He received his diploma from the public schools in 1906 and then entered the Media High School of Bethlehem township for two years. In 1908 he entered the literary and commercial department of the Marion Normal at Marion, Indiana, for one term and then was a student in the Logansport High School. He is a practical agriculturist and assists his father on the estate. Mrs. Maudlin is a native of Cass county, born May 23, 1862, and reared and educated in her native county. Mr. Maudlin erected a lovely home in 1911, which is heated by furnace, has acetylene light and is finished in hardwood. The homestead is known as "Oak Lawn."
Mr. Maudlin has long been a prominent man in his township, and has been identified with much of its public life. He was a trustee of his township from 1904 to 1908, and gave excellent service in that office. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fletcher's Lake, and he has long been a trustee and a steward of the church.
DAVID N. JAMESON has been a resident of Cass county since 1853. in which year he migrated from his native state, Ohio, and settled in Clay township. He was a boy of twelve at that time, and since then he has been identified with the history of this part of the county, in a more or less prominent and significant manner. Though he began his independent career without other assets than his native ability and
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determination, he is today well established in a worldly way, and is one of the comfortably situated farming men of Bethlehem township.
Born in Ashland county, Ohio, on March 27, 1841, David N. Jameson is the son of John and Minerva (Nickols) Jameson. The father, John Jameson, was the son of Albertus Jameson, and the family was long identified with the history of Ohio in the years of her earliest growth and development. The mother of the subject was born in Ashland county, Ohio, and she died when her son, David, was a small boy. The father died in March, 1857. He came to Cass county in 1853, bringing his family with him, and settling in Clay township, and there he spent the remainder of his life.
John Jameson was married three times and by his marriage to Miss Minerva Nickols there were three children born, but David N., the sub- ject, is the only child living of the three different marriages, and he was the oldest of the three born.
When David N. Jameson was fifteen years old he went to live with an older brother, and he remained there for five years, or until the out- break of the Rebellion. With the first intimation of war, he enlisted in the army and served until 1863, when he was honorably discharged. Three months of his time he was with the Ninth Indiana, the remainder of his period of service being spent in the Twenty-ninth Indiana Regi- ment. Following his return from the war April 16, 1863, Mr. Jameson married Mary E. Metsker, the daughter of David and Margaret (Edgar) Metsker, who with his wife died in the year 1849. After the marriage of Mr. Jameson, he settled in Cass county on his present farm, and here he has since resided, carrying on an active agricultural business in the community, and his seventy-five acres of fine land is regarded as among the best in the county. The place, as it stands today, repre- sents years of the most arduous toil, with much of disappointment, as well as much of prosperity and happiness as the reward of his efforts. He built primitive log cabin buildings on the place where he first took possession, and with the passing of time the farm took on a pros- perous and well-kept appearance that spoke well for the industry and effort of its owner.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jameson. The eldest, Samuel Edgar, died in 1892, when he was thirty years of age. The other, John W., married Gertrude Fergus, and they have seven chil- dren, named as follows: Edith, Charles, Glenn, George, John L., Frank and Louise. All this fine little family are living, and their grand- parents find much pleasure in the contemplation of their growth and development. Mrs. Jameson is a native of Cass county, born September 21, 1842, and she was the eldest of four children, one son and three daugh- ters born to David and Margaret (Edgar) Metsker, but is the only sur- vivor of that family. She was educated in the common schools. Mr. Jameson has been a teacher in the Sunday school for twenty years, also superintendent.
The family are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Jameson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Jameson is known as "The Sunny Crest Grange."
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JAMES CHIENEY. Among the notable men whose careers were in large part spent in Cass county, and the county-claims for the honor and dis- tinction of its citizenship, the late James Cheney was one of the most successful as a banker and business man. He came to Cass county before the war and was for many years identified with financial affairs of such importance that he had more than local prominence, and was a well known figure in the banking circles of New York city. His death occurred at Fort Wayne, Indiana. December 13, 1903, and his remains now rest in the Logansport cemetery.
James Cheney was born in Sutton, Vermont, December 15, 1817, and was of English and New England stock. His parents were Roswell and Abigail (Willard) Cheney. His mother was a relative of Frances E. Willard. The father was a contractor in Vermont and after finish- ing his common school education, James Cheney went into the same busi- ness and assisted his father for a number of years. He left New Eng- land when a young man and in 1840 located in Toledo, Ohio, and in 1856 came to Cass county.
The late James Cheney organized at Logansport one of the branches of the old Indiana State Bank, and served as cashier of the local institu- tion. From that time until his death he was closely identified with the larger interests of financial and business affairs. In 1859 he engaged with Mr. Uhl in the milling business and subsequently was in the real estate business. He removed from Cass county in 1871 to New York city, where he was known as a banker and in the stock and bond business. He held a seat for a number of years on the New York Stock Exchange and was connected with the National City Bank and with the Farmer's Loan and Trust Company. A fact of his business career which is specially noteworthy is that he was one of the organizers and builders of the first Atlantic cables during the decade of the fifties.
The late Mr. Cheney was affiliated with the Masonic order, and his church was the Presbyterian. On May 1, 1842, he married Miss Nancy B. Evans, of Defiance county, Ohio, where she was the first white child born. Her father was Pierce Evans. The children of the late James Cheney and wife, three daughters and one son, are mentioned as follows: Mrs. Alice Knight of Fort Wayne; Mrs. Helen Kimberly, of Wisconsin ; Mrs. Mary C. Nelson in Logansport; and Willard Roswell Cheney of California.
HENRY S. MURDOCK, of Cass county, has had a more varied career than usually falls to the lot of the average man. If the story of his life was properly written, it alone would make an interesting volume of reading. Mr. Murdock was born December 10, 1835, at Clinton, Michi- gan, and is the only survivor of a family of six children born to Tilson and Fannie (Blossom) Murdock, who were natives of Vermont, and of Scotch ancestry. The father was a farmer, but for the most part, worked at carpentering. He moved to Clinton, Michigan, at a time when the country was in a most primitive condition, and there passed the remainder of his days.
The boyhood of Henry S. Murdock was passed in a manner not unusual in those days, and in the course of his early years acquired the rudiments of an education in the district schools of his native com- munity. When old enough to begin to work, he secured a place clerk-
James Cheney
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ing in a general store at Clinton, and was there employed for several years. His mother and married sisters having removed to Logansport in the intervening years, Mr. Murdock in 1853 came to this city, the canal furnishing his mode of travel from Toledo. Here he began clerking in the store of Thomas Stevenson, his brother-in-law, a general stock of goods being on hand at this place, including linsey-woolsey, delaine, calico, ginghams and all the required dry goods staples com- mon to the times, as well as complete lines in other branches. About the year 1856 he began clerking for his brother, Andrew J. Murdock, who had embarked in a merchandise business at the corner of Fourth street and Broadway, but in 1860, in partnership with Joseph McGaughey, he began in the general dry goods business for himself. When he left for the war a brother-in-law, Jacob H. Hicks, took his place in the firm, with the understanding that on Murdock's return he was to pay
simple interest on invoice. This arrangement was serupulously carried put. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventy-third Regiment Indiana Infantry and the rendezvous was at South Bend. He was made orderly sergeant. They left there August, 1862, and went to Kentucky. For a time his command was stationed in Kentucky and Tennessee, but the first real engagement in which he participated was the battle of Stone river. Following this he became a part of Colonel Straight's com- mand, which steamed down the Cumberland river to the Ohio river, thence to Paducah, where the brigade was provisioned, and from there to Eastport, Mississippi, via the Tennessee river. Here the command disembarked and were deployed as cavalry to resist the rebel general, Forrest, who was threatening to break through. The history of the capture, imprisonment and escape of Colonel Straight has been told in history and story. Mr. Murdock was captured May 3, 1863; he was incarcerated first in Libby prison, where he was relieved of all his valu- ables and where he remained for one year. He was then confined in another prison across the river for a short time, after which he was taken to Macon, Georgia, and from there to Charleston, South Caro- lina. At this place he was in three different prisons, and at one time was exposed to the fire of Federal gunboats at Morris Island three miles distant. From Charleston he was taken to an open camp at Columbia, and while here succeeded in making good his escape in December, 1864. By traveling at night and "laying up" in the daytime, getting food from negroes and directions from the few loyal men he encountered. he succeeded in getting two hundred miles near the Union lines, but was finally recaptured near Pickens, North Carolina courthouse, taken back to Columbia Camp-then taken to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was exchanged in March, 1865. After a brief visit home, he rejoined his command in Northern Alabama, but the war by this time was virtually at end, and until his final discharge in July, 1865, with the rank of First Lieutenant, he was employed at guard duty.
Following the close of the war Mr. Murdock resumed merchandising in Logansport, with his brother, Andrew J., as a partner, thus continuing for nineteen years. Andrew J. Murdock then became president of the First National Bank, and Henry S. Murdock continued in the merchan- dise business until 1900, since when his time and attention have been occupied in looking after his private property interests.
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Such, in brief, is the career of Henry S. Murdock. Much could be said of intense interest to embellish these plain statements, but lack of space prevents.
In 1868 Mr. Murdock was married to Miss Emma Woods, who died in 1870, leaving one son, Harry W. Murdock, of Lockport, New York. In 1874 at Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Murdock married Theodosia Owens, who died in 1900, leaving four sons: William O., Karl F., Charles E. and J. Fred.
Mr. Murdock is a Republican and although one of the party's staunch followers he has never sought office. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
JAMES McTAGGERT was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, August 15, 1824, and was one in a family of five sons and three daughters born to John and Rose (McGovern) McTaggert. The father, John McTaggert, was a teacher, land agent and collector, and his children received rather better than average educational advantages. James McTaggert passed his youthful days at home and while a young man he spent a year in Scotland, working at whatever honest employment he might turn his hand to, and returning to his home in Ireland in 1847. The unhappy con- ditions existing then in Ireland caused him to turn to America as a place where he might prosper better than in his native land, and the winter of 1847 found him aboard a sailing vessel bound for New York, and after a journey of seven weeks he landed in America. It chanced that aboard the vessel were some of his Irish acquaintances who were bound for Logansport, Indiana, and they induced him to accompany them to that point, a decision he was not slow in arriving at, as he had set sail with no objective point in mind, other than that he intended to come to America. They made the trip from New York by Hudson river to Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, by lake to Toledo, and from that place down the Erie canal to Logansport. The spring of 1848 found the little party from Ireland arriving at Logansport, and during a part of the summer ensuing Mr. McTaggert was occupied at farm work, receiv- ' ing a stipend of fifty cents per day. He found employment for a time in helping to build the old seminary, after which he became a canal boat captain. He was industrious and ambitious, and he frugally saved every possible penny from his earnings until he was able to buy a horse and cart. With this capital he began doing contract work, the excavating of cellars and basements being his line of work. From that he branched ont into street contracting, and from time to time added new ventures to his enterprise. Mr. MeTaggert built the macadam work on Fourth street between Market and Broadway, and this was the first macadamized street in Logansport. Among other contract jobs which he handled, was the building of a section of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1856 Mr. McTaggert gave up contracting and turned his attention to the grocery business, locating at the corner of Fourth street and Broadway. He owned the property where his store was located and here he continued in a thriving grocery business until 1871, when he sold the store, and in 1872 engaged in the retail clothing business on Market street. In 1882 he retired from active business pursuits, and he died on April 28, 1886.
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