USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 49
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vid and Nancy (Pinkerton ) Morrison; parents natives, respectively, of Orange County, N. Y., and Fayette County, Ind Mr. Morrison was one of the early settlers of Harrison Township, and died in April, 1877; Mrs. Morrison is still living at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Mr. Manly's second marriage was blessed with the birth of one child-Mary Julia Manly.
STEWART T. McCONNELL, a son of Dr. James B. and Sarah D. (Stewart) McConnell, was born in Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, on the 16th of October, 1836, the third of eleven children. His early educational privileges were such as the public school sys- tem of the day afforded, and in no sense meager. At a later period, feeling that deeper draughts from the fountain of knowledge were essential to prosperity in the professional world, he entered upon a scientific and classical course, in which he attained to a good degree of proficiency. Impressed with a strong desire to enter the legal profession, he embraced every opportunity to cultivate those facul- ties which were deemed requisite to successful practice in the future; hence, while yet a mere youth, he manifested great fondness for forensic disputation and acquired considerable skill in the usages incident thereto. His early purpose to become a lawyer was realized soon after his removal to Logansport, where, after a course of read- ing under the instruction of Messrs Pratt & Baldwin, eminent in their profession, he was admitted to the practice of law in Decem- ber, 1861. He at once opened an office in this city, and has since remained here, actively and successfully engaged in the labors incident to his profession. His habits of industry, with other qual- ities which guarantee ultimate promotion, have tended to enlarge the area of professional advancement, and he stands to-day among those ranking highest in legal attainments. At the opening of the war of the Rebellion he took an active interest in the movements preparatory to the common defense, and would have enlisted in that ser- vice but for an accident which so crippled him as to unfit him for duty. Mr. McConnell was never a politician, but has always acted for the. promotion of interests best calculated to advance the public good. His experience as a teacher in the public schools, prior to entering the legal profession, gave him an interest in the cause of popular education, which henceforth governed his impulses in that direction. He was married, April 3, 1860, to Miss Louisa Gibson, daughter of Robert Gibson, an early settler of Cass County. The issue of this marriage has been four children, but one of whom is now living. His wife died in the summer of 1884. He was again married in the spring of 1886, to Mrs. Eloise (Landis) Stuart. 3 Mr. McCon- nell's higher intellectual faculties are supplemented by strong com- mon sense and a resolute will, and their effect in oratory is heightened by the charms of a fine dignified presence and earnestness of manner. MAJ. S. L. McFADIN, Logansport. Samuel McFadin, the
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father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was a native of Bedford County, Penn. He moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he married Mary Graybill, a native of Washington County, Penn., in the year 1825. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. John Wright, father of John W. and Williamson Wright, of this city. Mr. McFadin and his faithful wife have long slept the sleep which knows no waking. Their son, Samuel L. McFadin, was born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, October 4, 1826, on the banks of the Hockhocking, and in the vicinity of " Mount Pleasant," or "Standing Stone," as it was called by the Indians-a romantic spot, beautifully described by Emerson Bennett in his story, "The Forest Rose;" a land of rocks and hills, where the laurel, mountain tea and birch bark abound. In April, 1839, he came with his parents to the flowery prairies of Indiana, and settled on a farm a few miles north of Logansport. For a number of years he worked on the farm, and then entered upon an apprenticeship as a carpenter. After acquiring proficiency in that trade, he began to apply his knowledge to practical use, and there are still a number of buildings in this city which attest the excellence of his workmanship-notably Israel Johnson's warehouse and Philip Pollard's residence. In the year 1846, during the war with Mexico, he enlisted with the Cass County Volunteers, and was elected corporal of his company, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. The record of this company is a brave one, and one of which the survivors are justly proud. In 1850 he began the study of law with the late Hon. W. Z. Stuart, and in the same year became a candidate for the State Legislature, in opposition to the late Hon. D. D. Pratt, but was defeated in the race. Two years later he received the Democratic nomination for prosecuting attorney, and at the following election received a handsome majority over his opponent, filling the office faithfully for a term of two years. In 1856 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas, and served in that capacity four years. He filled the responsible office of mayor of the city of Logansport during four terms; was repeated- ly chosen to represent his county in the State Legislature, and while serving in that capacity during the session of 1869, was re-elected mayor of the city of Logansport. He resigned his seat in the Legis- lature, and returned home to assume the duties of that office. In 1876 he was elected clerk of the Cass Circuit Court, and ex officio clerk of the superior court of Cass County. He became a member of Tipton Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., in the year 1849, and is still an active working member of the fraternity. Throughout his official life he has discharged his duty with commendable fidelity, and has proven himself worthy of the confidence of his fellow-citizens and competent to fill the offices bestowed upon him.
JOHN W. McGREEVY, prominent member of the Logansport bar, is a native of Hamilton, Ohio, and the son of John and Mary
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(Gookin) McGreevy, of Ireland. He was born October 5, 1847, and passed his youthful days in his native city, in the schools of which he received a good education, graduating from the high school be- fore his twentieth year. He early determined to make the legal profession his life work, and after attaining his majority entered the law office of Messrs. Milligan & Christie, in Hamilton, where he pursued his studies for about one and a half years. At the end of that time 1868 he went to Delphi, Ind., and resumed his reading under the instruction of Dailey & Graham, with whom he remained until the dissolution of the firm in 1871, at which time he effected a partnership in the practice with Mr. Graham, which was continued until the fall of 1875, having moved to Logansport in the meantime. He was elected deputy prosecutor in 1878, and in 1885 was elected county attorney, the duties of which position he has discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner until the present time. Mr. Mc- Greevy has made a creditable record as a lawyer, and is in the en- joyment of a large and lucrative practice in Cass and other counties. He wields a political influence for the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in all measures having for their object the public good. He is a member of the Catholic Church, with which he has been identified all his life, and at the present time is president of the A. O. of H. of the State, having been elected to the position in 1884, and re-elected in 1886. Mr. McGreevy was married, August 19, 1885, to Miss Sarah C. McTaggart, of Logansport, to which union has been born one child-John.
SAMUEL MCGUIRE. Mr. McGuire is a native of York County, Penn., where he was born February 15, 1828. His parents, William and Susan (Lynch) McGuire, were natives of Pennsylvania also, and of Scotch-Irish lineage. Mr. McGuire's grandfather, Peter McGuire, came from Ireland during the Revolutionary war, and was one of the early settlers of York County. The subject received a practical literary education in the schools of his native State, and early learned paper-making, which business he carried on for his father until reaching his twentieth year. He came to Indiana about the year 1848, settling in Tippecanoe County, where, in 1848, he en- gaged in teaching, a profession he followed until 1865, spending ten years in the schools of Tippecanoe and Carroll Counties and two years in those of Cass County. He abandoned teaching in 1865, and en- gaged in the insurance business, which he has since successfully con- tinued, representing at the present time some of the largest and most reliable companies in the United States. Mr. McGuire was married, in August, 1856, in Carroll County, to Miss Martha F. Sterrett, who departed this life March 14, 1879. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. McGuire: James S., Henry W. (deceased), Ellis L., Samuel D., Edward C., Joseph W., Rodney S. and Geo. (deceased). Mr. McGuire is well read in general literature,
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and has contributed a number of poems to magazines and different periodicals. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he has been identified for thirty-eight years; belongs to the Masonic order, and in politics supports the Republican party.
JAMES H. McMILLEN. Mr. McMillen was born in Noble Township, Cass County, June 16, 1835, and is the eldest son of Andrew and Rosanna (Harper) McMillen, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Robert McMillen came to Indiana in 1827. and is one of the oldest settlers of Cass County now living. [ See sketch in Noble Township. ] James McMillen was raised a farmer. and received a fair English education in the common schools, sup- plemented by a two years' course at Hanover College, where he made rapid progress in his various studies. In August, 1862, he volunteered in the United States service, and served as lieuten- ant until mustered out, June, 1863. On leaving the army he returned to Cass County, and engaged in the clothing business, at Logansport, with W. H. Standley, and continued the same for a period of two years. He disposed of his interest at the end of that time, and engaged in gardening, which he has since successfully continued. Mr. McMillen was married, November, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John McMillen, of Cass County, a union which has been blessed with the birth of four children-three of whom are living: John E., Charles S. and Bessie M. Mr. Mc- Millen is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and was orig- inally a Know-nothing. He is a courteous gentleman, and one of Cass County's worthy citizens.
JOSEPH T. McNARY, attorney at law and real estate agent, is a native of Harrison County, Ohio, and son of James and Harriet (Thompson) MeNary, bothi parents born in Washington County, Penn. . Mr. McNary was born September 26, 1850, and received his rudimentary education in the schools of Bloomfield, Ohio, supple- mented by a course in Union College, from which institution he graduated in 1864. He came to Cass County in 1865, and one year later went to Tipton County, where for the greater part of two years he was engaged in teaching, pursuing his legal studies in the mean- time. He began reading law at Peru, Ind., in 1868, with O. P. Blake, and in connection with the legal profession dealt largely in real estate in that city until 1870, at which time he came to Logans- port, where he has since resided. He was admitted to the Cass County bar in 1872, and from that time until 1876 was in partner- ship with his brother, John R. McNary, the firm doing a general legal and real estate business, both of which were conducted with financial profit. Since the latter date he has been alone, and at the present time transacts a more extensive real estate business than any other man or firm in the county. Mr. McNary is an active politi- cian, voting with the Republican party, and since 1881 has been a
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member of the city council, in the deliberations of which body he has taken a prominent part. October 7, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Belle Thompson, of Wabash County, Ind.
H. J. McSHEEHY, editor and proprietor of the Chronicle, was born in Lafayette, Ind., in 1856. He graduated in the schools of his native city and in 1870 went to New York, where he graduated in both grammar and high schools-in the latter was first in a class of sixty-eight. He was for eight months purser of the steamship "City of Richmond," plying between New York, and Liverpool. and for competency in that capacity received a first-class Lloyd's certifi- cate, the first one ever given to a person only eighteen years of age. He was for eighteen months on the New York Herald staff, the greater part of which time he spent on the Herald yacht as marine reporter. He spent one year in Europe for the book firm of D. Appleton & Co., of New York, compiling statistics for Picturesque Europe. He came to Logansport in 1875 for the purpose of re- porting Col. Ingersoll's speech, and was induced by friends to re- main and start a paper. He acted upon the suggestion, and in April, 1875, the first number of the Chronicle was issued. Mr. McSheehy's career at Logansport presents a series of continual suc- cesses and the paper has a large and constantly increasing circula- tion. Financially the Chronicle has surpassed the expectations of its founder as well as its friends, and now has property valued at several thousand dollars clear of all debts.
JOHN C. MERRIAM, son of Isaac F. and Cyntha (Conant) Merriam, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Massa- chusetts, was born in the town of Brandon, Rutland Co., Vt., on the 9th of January, 1819. His educational privileges in early life were limited-the best his opportunities afforded-yet, of that practical character which enabled him, at the age of sixteen years, to commence his mercantile career, as clerk in a small store at Brandon. He was thus occupied during a period of less than eight years, receiving only a moderate compensation. With these earn- ings and savings, with his fellow-townsman, Henry Martin, in the month of August, 1843, he came to Logansport. Soon after Mr. Martin opened a store here and young Merriam was employed as clerk. In the spring of 1844, Mr. Martin started a branch store at Monticello, White County, and placed Mr. Merriam in charge. In 1845 he entered into a business partnership with Isaac Reynolds, which continued until some time in the early part of the year 1848, when he severed his connection with Mr. Reynolds and returned to Logansport. Upon his return a new mercantile firm, composed of William Chase, George P. Smith and himself, purchased the stock of goods of the late firm of Taber & Chase and became their suc- cessors in business. In 1853 the old firm of Pollard & Wilson was dissolved, and Thomas H. Wilson, of that firm, with Mr. Merriam,
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Elihu S. Rice and Meredith H. Thomas, formed a new partnership, under the name of Wilson, Merriam & Co. In addition to the stock belonging to the firm of which Mr. Merriam was a member, they bought that of Pollard & Wilson, thus uniting the stock and energies of the two old firms. This firm continued in business until the withdrawal of Mr. Thomas, some time in 1856, and the subsequent retirement of Mr. Wilson, when the firm was again changed, Mr. John E. Howes purchasing an interest. Messrs. Merriam, Rice & Howes remained together until 1865. At that time E. S. Rice purchased the interest of Mr. Howes, when the old firm name of Merriam & Rice was resumed. In 1871 Mr. E. L. Metzger became a partner, and the firm name was changed to Merriam, Rice & Co. Business was continued under this name until 1878, when Mr. Merriam and Mr, Rice bought out Mr. Metz- ger's interest in the business. In 1880 they sold the dry goods de- partment to Keller, Trautman & Co., and continued the hardware department till March, 1884, when E. S. Rice and son, Frank M. Rice, took the stock of goods and continued in the business as E. S. Rice & Son. In July, 1845, Mr. Merriam was united in marriage with Miss Aurora N. Holton, a native of Vermont. The issue of this marriage was four children: Caryl C., Julia L., Minnie C. and John A. The father of Mr. Merriam was a physician, and con- tinued to practice his profession in Brandon, his native town, until the time of his death, which occurred in 1856. His mother con- tinned to reside in Brandon, and died in June, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
PETER W. MOORE. The subject of this sketch was born in Sandusky, Ohio, February 13, 1857, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Glora ) Moore; both parents natives of Ohio. He passed his youth principally in Lafayette, Ind., to which city his parents moved when he was but one year old. His primary education was received in the literary schools of Lafayette, and he later completed a business course in Kennedy's Commercial College, after which he engaged as book-keeper for a wholesale confectionery house, contin- uing in that capacity for a period of three years. In 1878 he came to Logansport and engaged in the wholesale and retail liquor busi- ness, which he has successfully followed, owning, at the present time, a handsome property and one of the best business houses in the city. Mr. Moore was married, in 1884, to Miss Mary Dolan, daughter of William Dolan, of Logansport.
FRED W. MUNSON, attorney at law, was born in Logansport December 7, 1846, son of Stephen and Eunice (Avery) Munson, natives, respectively, of the cities of Chester and Westfield, Mass. When three years old Mr. Munson was taken by his parents to Albany, N. Y., in which city he enjoyed superior educational advan- tages, graduating from the Albany Classical Institute at the early
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age of seventeen. Immediately, on quitting school, he engaged with a firm in the manufacture of shoes at Albany, and two years later became a partner in the establishment, and remained identi- fied with the same until 1878. He discontinued the business that year, returned to Logansport, and began the study of law with Stew- art McConnell, under whose instructions he continued until admitted to the bar in 1879. Since the latter year he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, and at the present time is in the enjoyment of an extensive and lucrative business. He stands high professionally, and is still in the prime of life, with probably many years of usefulness before him. His marriage was solemn- ized August 26, 1869, with Miss Emma Carter, of Logansport, the amiable and accomplished daughter of Chauncey Carter, deceased. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Munson, viz .: Edna A., Mary F. and Eunice H. Mr. Munson is a Republican in poli- tics, and, with his wife, belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
ALPHEUS MYERS, M. D., a prominent physician of Logans- port, is a native of Lancaster County, Penn. Owing to the death of his father he was left, while quite young, to rely in a great measure upon his own resources, which responsibility had a tendency to develop those qualities of mind which have rendered his subsequent life so successful. He attended the common schools of his native county until his nineteenth year, and then became a student of Granville College, in which he took a two years' course, making substantial progress in his various studies in the meantime. On quitting school he engaged in the real estate business, and continued the same with fair success until he removed to this county. He began the study of medicine in 1847, and subsequently entered the Ec- lectic Medical College of Ohio, from which institution he holds a diploma of graduation. He afterward graduated from Bellevue Hos- pital, New York, and has in all three diplomas which attest his thor- ough knowledge of all the details of his profession. He located in the practice of his profession in this city in the year 1852, and since that time has made a creditable record in the treatment of chronic diseases, which he makes a specialty, having taken hundreds of cases given up by other physicians. The Doctor has a large and lucrative practice, and stands foremost among the successful medical men of this part of the State. He identified himself with the Ma- sonic fraternity in 1850, joining Tipton Lodge, and is also an active member of the I. O. O. F. He is a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for public honors.
CHARLES R. O'DONALD, junior member of the firm of Hall & O'Donald, is a native of Rochester, Ind., and the eldest son of Vincent and Harriet (Lawhead) O'Donald; parents born in the cit- ies of Peru and Indianapolis, respectively. C. R. O'Donald was
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born November 12. 1858, and received his educational training in the Peru city schools, supplemented by a two years' course at Notre Dame University, South Bend, which institution he entered at the age of eighteen. On quitting school he became deputy sheriff of Miami County, under his father, and subsequently (1880) became traveling salesman for the publishing house of Willard N. Hall, Logans- port. He severed his connection with Mr. Hall in 1881, followed the retail book business until 1882, at which time he became identi- fied with the Equitable Life Insurance Company, with headquarters at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1884 he became a partner with Mr. Hall under the firm name of Hall & O'Donald, and is still connected with the house. Mr. O'Donald was married, September 7, 1881, to Miss Fannie Fetter, of Peru, a union blessed with the birth of two children: Charles A. and Harriett E.
WALTER A. OSMER, civil engineer, son of William and Mary Osmer, is a native of Kent, England, and dates his birth from No- vember 7, 1847. When but six years of age his parents removed to the United States, and from that time (1853) until his nineteenth year he was a resident of the city of Grand Haven, Mich. His ru- dimentary education was obtained in the schools of the above city, supplemented by a course at Olivet College, Olivet, Mich., of which institution he was a student for a period of two years. Having early manifested decided taste for civil engineering, he began tbe study of the same in 1868, and such was his proficiency in the pro- fession that, in 1870, he was employed as civil engineer on the De- troit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad, with which company he re- mained until 1872. In 1873 he engaged in the same capacity with the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and subsequently on the Erie, in the employ of which company he continued until the fall of 1864. He then accepted a position on the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railroad, discharged the duties of the same until 1875, when he was elected city engineer of Logans- port, an office he has filled by successive re-elections to the present time. He was elected county surveyor in 1878, and is the present incumbent of that office. Mr. Osmer is a skillful engineer and in his profession has much more than a local reputation. He was president of the Indiana Civil Engineers' Association, from 1881 to 1885, and at the present time is chairman of the Indiana Division National Council of Engineering Societies of Public Works. Mr. Osmer is a Democrat in politics and takes an active interest in the deliberations of his party in Cass County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken a number of degrees, in- cluding that of Sir Knight. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Miss Ella F. LaRose, of Logansport, a union blessed with the birth of two children: Fred and William.
DR. DANIEL L. OVERHOLSER, is a native of Lancaster
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County, Penn., and the son of Isaac and Mary ( Landes) Overhol- ser. Mr. Overholser's ancestors came originally from Germany, and were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Martin Overholser was a native of Lancaster County, where he died many years ago. The Doctor was born December 9, 1835, and received a good English education in the schools of his native county. At the age of nineteen he came to Logans- port and began the study of medicine with his uncle D. W. Landes, under whose instruction he continued for a period of two years. At the end of that time he entered the Eclectic Medical In- stitute at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in May, 1857, taking a partial course in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in the mean- time. After graduation he began the practice of his profession at Naperville, Ill., where he remained about one year, returning to Logansport at the end of that time. He went back to Illinois in 1859, and while there turned his attention almost exclusively to the profession of dentistry, which he practiced for some years in the towns of Lockport and Morris. He returned to Logansport in 1869 and engaged in the practice of dentistry, which he has since carried on, and in which he has met with the most encouraging success. Dr. Overholser was first married, October, 1859, to Miss Mary A. Redd, of Logansport, who bore him three children: Ella, de- ceased; William F., graduate of Ann Arbor University, Michigan, and at present a partner with his father, and Edwin L. Mrs. Over- holser died May 5, 1874. The Doctor's second marriage was sol- emnized July, 1875, with Mrs. Kate (Teter ) Hetherington, of Ham- ilton County, Ind., which union has been blessed with the birth of two children: Wiley L., born in 1876, and Bertha M., born in 1879. Dr. Overholser is a zealous member of the Methodist Church, and was a delegate to the General Conference held at Philadelphia in 1884. He is an active worker in the Sunday-school and a Prohibi- tionist in politics. He is at the present time the Prohibition candi- date for the State Senate, and is making a brilliant canvass of the county in support of the principles, which he holds to be the only solution of the much discussed whisky question.
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