USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 51
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and forbearing, and never inflicted upon others a recital of his own troubles. He, in common with all mankind, tasted of the bitter waters of affliction. The icy hand of death was laid upon a devoted wife and two young men, his only sons. He was twice married- in 1839, to Miss Sophia J. James, of Rising Sun, Ind., by whom he had four children, only one of whom-a married daughter-now survives. He was again married, in 1865, to Mrs. James D. Warren, who still survives. Although he never sought literary honors, his tal- ents could not pass unappreciated, and in 1872 Hamilton College con- ferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D. He was frequently solicited to address literary societies, but invariably declined. This was always a source of regret to his friends, as he was recognized as a master of the English language, and his literary contributions demanded attention. In his religious views he was a Unitarian; he believed in God and the future life; his creed was to do right and treat all men with equal consideration. His last act was to dictate the article for the Star to which we have previously alluded.
WILLIAM DUDLEY PRATT, proprietor of the Logansport Journal, daily and weekly, and Sunday Critic, was born in Lexing- ton, Ky., June 9, 1851. His father, Rev. William M. Pratt, of the Baptist Church, was born in New York, and his mother, Miss Mary Dillard, is the daughter of the late Rev. Ryland T. Dillard, of Lexing- ton, one of the very few Union men who were in Lexington at the outbreak of the Rebellion. W. D. Pratt attended Transylvania College at Lexington, Ky. After finishing the course there, his father's family moving to Louisville, he was given the position of teller in the bank of George W. Norton & Co., of that city, which he filled for several years. In 1873 he left Louisville and went to Denver, Col., where he engaged in business for a year. In 1874 he was offered a business position in Logansport. He came here as manager of the Weekly Journal, to which he soon added a daily paper. In 1882 Mr. Pratt purchased of D. P. Baldwin the daily and weekly Journal, and also embarked in the newspaper publishing business at Indianapolis. In 1884 Mr. Pratt started the Sunday Critic, a non-political weekly. He is now the proprietor of a very flourishing newspaper business, and one that is daily increasing. Mr. Pratt is a stanch Republican, as were his ancestors on both sides. He is a public-spirited gentleman, taking a great interest in all that pertains to Logansport. He is a married man, and the father of several children.
JEHU Z. POWELL, M. D. Dr. Powell is a native of Cass County, Ind., born in Bethlehem Township August, 1848, and is the son of Jacob and Martha (Troutman) Powell, natives, respect- ively, of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Powell, was a farmer by occupation, came to Cass County a number of years ago, and departed this life in Bethlehem Town-
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ship. Dr. Powell was reared on a farm, and received his rudiment- ary education in the country schools, and later attended the Logans- port High School and Academy, in both of which he made rapid progress. In 1870 he entered the literary department of Ann Arbor University, in which he took a thorough course, graduating in 1874. His early inclination and the one ruling purpose of his life was the thorough mastery of the medical profession, and his successful practice testifies the energy with which he has pursued his calling. He completed the medical course at Ann Arbor in 1875, and in the summer of the same year took post-graduate's course in the Long Island Hospital, after which he located at Logansport, where he has since resided, in the active practice of his profession. He enjoys a large and lucrative business, and is considered one of the leading medical men of the county, belonging to both the county and State medical societies, in the deliberations of which he takes an active part. Politically, Dr. Powell is an un- flinching Republican, but has never been an aspirant for official honors. He has been twice married; the first time in 1875, to Miss Mary Leffel, who died May, 1877. His second marriage was sol- emnized in 1881 with Mrs. Louisa F. Ewing, of Logansport, who is still living.
LEMUEL S. PURCELL. The subject of this sketch was born in Urbana, Ohio, February 12, 1828, and is the only son of Alfred and Mary ( Hill ) Purcell, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Ohio. Mr. Purcell spent his youth in Urbana, received a good English education in the schools of the city, and at the age of fourteen went with his parents to Muscatine, Iowa, where he pursued his stud- ies until eighteen years of age. On quitting school he engaged to learn the saddlery and harness trade, at which he served a four years' apprenticeship, after which he followed the business about one year. In 1851 he engaged as brakeman on the old Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad, and one year later abandoned railroad- ing and began selling goods in Urbana, Ohio, which business he continued until 1853. From 1853 till 1856 he was ticket and freight agent at Urbana for the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Rail- road, and in the latter year engaged in farming, which he carried on with fair success until 1858. He then returned to railroading, and from 1858 until 1864 served as conductor on what is now the Pan Handle Road, running between Columbus and Indianapolis. In 1864 he left the road, and again engaged in agricultural pursuits in Champaign County, Ohio, but four years later, left the farm for his former business, and from the year 1868 until 1872, was fuel agent on the same line, upon which he had previously run as con- ductor. He was road-master on the same division from 1872 till 1874, and from 1875 until the present time has held the respon- sible position of stock, fuel and claim agent for the Chicago.
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St. Louis & Pacific Raiload, with headquarters at Logansport. Mr. Purcell is a painstaking official, and during his long period of railroading has had the unbounded confidence of his employers. He has been three times married; the first time in May, 1853, to Miss Amanda Powell, of Champaign County, Ohio, who died in 1858. Two children were born to this union: William W. and Elijah Purcell. Mr. Purcell's second marriage was solemnized in 1861, with Mrs. Celestine (Chapman ) Howard, of Vermont, by whom he had two children; Harry C. and Charles H. Mrs. Purcell departed this life in the year 1877. In May, 1882, Mr. Purcell was married to his present wife, Mrs. Sarah Siddons Greene. Mr. Purcell is a Republican in politics but not a partisan in the sense of seeking office.
HENRY RAMER, retired farmer, is a native of Germany and the son of Conrad and Barbara ( Moots) Ramer. He was born De- cember 5, 1809, and remained in his native country until twenty- five years of age, at which time (1834) he came to the United States, and settled in Somerset County, Penn., where he worked as common laborer until his removal to Cass County, Ind., in 1842. He was raised on a farm, received a good education in the schools of his native country, and has always been a great reader and an in- telligent observer. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Washing- ton Township, this county, locating there when the country was an almost unbroken wilderness. He purchased land from the Govern- ment, and going to work with a will soon had a good farm under successful cultivation. Mr. Ramer was a man of great industry, and by strict attention to business and the exercise of that economy, by which he has always been characterized, succeeded in accumu- lating a comfortable competence for his declining years. He visit- ed his native country in 1875, and upon his return retired from active life and moved to Logansport, where he has since resided. Mr. Ramer has been three times married; the first time in Decem- ber, 1833, to Miss Anna Schwalm, of Germany, who bore him sev- eral children, the following of whom are living, to wit: Matilda, Justice, Henry, William, Louisa, John and Caroline. Mrs. Ramer died in the year 1863. Three years later Mr. Ramer was again married to Miss Louisa Ritter, also a native of Germany, who de- parted this life in 1872. February 10, 1876, Mr. Ramer was married to his present wife, Mrs. Catherine (Smith) Groh. Mrs. Ramer was born in Buffalo, N. Y., and is the mother of six children by her previous marriage, viz .: George, Mary, Frank, John, Christina and Lizzie Groh. Mr. and Mrs. Ramer are work- ing members of the Presbyterian Church, with which they have been identified for a number of years. In politics Mr. Ramer is a supporter of the Democratic party.
WILLIAM A. RANNELLS, dealer in books and stationery,
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postoffice block, was born in Rochester, Fulton Co., Ind., September 15, 1850, son of James W. and Barbara (Billman) Rannells; par- ents natives of Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish and German lineage, re- spectively. Mr. Rannells came to Logansport in 1862, was educated in the city schools, and at the age of thirteen began clerking in the dry goods house of J. W. McGaughey, where he remained until 1867. He then engaged as salesman with J. J. Puterbaugh, dry goods merchant, and subsequently secured a position with the firm of Merriam & Rice, in whose employ he continued until the year 1875. In the latter year he established his present business, books, stationery, etc., which he has since continued with the most encour- aging success. Mr. Rannells is a member of the I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Logan Greys, the oldest military company in the State, in which he holds the position of first sergeant. He is a Re- publican in politics, but not a partisan in the sense of seeking office, never having asked or sought political preferment of any kind. In January, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Black, daughter of A. Black, of Logansport. They have one child-Edna.
WILLIAM REED (deceased). Mr. Reed was born in Miami Township, Cass County, on the 22d of June, 1834, and was a son of Abraham and Nancy (Cox) Reed, natives, respectively, of New York and Obio. Abraham Reed was born near the city of Pough- keepsie, N. Y., October 12. 1799, immigrated to Ohio in an early day, and in 1826 came to Indiana and settled near the Tippecanoe battle ground, Tippecanoe County. He came to Cass County about the year 1830, and one year later entered land and made a farm five miles east of Logansport, in Miami Township, where his death oc- curred September 1, 1846. Nancy Reed was born near Dayton, Ohio, June 4, 1800, and departed this life, at her home in Miami Township, October 8, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Reed were the parents of seven children, the subject of this sketch being the sixth in num- ber. William Reed grew to manhood in Cass County, and at the early age of nine years was apprenticed to learn the printer's trade with Samuel Hall, of Logansport. He soon became a proficient printer and followed the business all his life, working in a number of offices in Indiana and other States. He served three years in the army as member of Company F, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and dur- ing his period of service participated in a number of bloody engage- ments of the Southwestern campaigns. After his discharge he re-
turned to Logansport and resumed his vocation, which he followed until his death, April 16, 1884, being at the time one of the oldest and best known "typos" in Indiana. He was twice married; the first time to Miss Elizabeth Inman, of Logansport, by whom he had one child, Ione, living at the present time in Chicago. Mrs. Reed died shortly after the birth of her child. Mr. Reed's second mar- riage was solemnized May 8, 1872, with Miss Jane Berry, daughter
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of Henry P. and Mary (Shaffer) Berry, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Cass County. One child has been born to this marriage: Willard, born March 13, 1873.
SAMUEL B. RICHARDSON, real estate and insurance agent, son of Thomas and Nancy ( Braden ) Richardson, was born in Wash- ington County, Penn., on the 8th of May, 1824. Mr. Richardson traces his ancestry back, through several generations, to England, in which country Mark Richardson appears to have been a man of con- siderable note many years ago. Several members of the family came to the United States in an early day and were among the first residents of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject was Richard Richardson, son of Thomas R. Richardson, whose father, Thomas Richardson, was the son of Mark Richardson above men- tioned. The father of our subject, Thomas Richardson, Jr., was one of the earliest settlers of Cass County, moving here in 1831, and locating in Clay Township when the county was an unbroken wil- derness. Thomas Richardson was a carpenter by occupation, and worked at his trade for a number of years in Logansport. He was overseer of the poor in an early day, and in 1858 was elected city treasurer, the duties of which position he discharged for four years, having filled the office two terms. He was a man of moral worth, highly respected by all who knew him, and departed this life in 1873, at the age or sixty-eight years. Samuel B. Richardson was but seven years of age when his parents moved to Cass County, and from that time to the present he has been an honored resident of the same. His educational training was exceedingly limited, attend- ing school but three months after his twelfth year, and he early learned the carpenter's trade with his father, at which he worked for a number of years. In June, 1846, he enlisted in Company G., Cass County Volunteers, for the Mexican war, and served with the same until the following year. For about one and a half years after leav- ing the army he was not engaged in any active employment on ac- count of poor health, but in 1848-49 he accepted the position of pa- tern maker for the manufacturing firm of Knowlton & Kendall, continuing the same until 1852. He then engaged in contracting and building, and four years later purchased a half interest with William Aldrich in the foundry machine shops and woolen-mills, which was continued until 1858. In that year Willard G. Nash became a partner, and the firm of Richardson & Nash continued un- til 1868, at which time Mr. Richardson purchased the entire inter- est and had sole charge of the enterprise until 1870. During that period he built a great deal of machinery, including two paper-mills, in the construction of which he suffered heavy loss, owing to the high prices then prevalent. He operated one of these mills during the years 1869-70, and in the latter year engaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he has since continued. On the 8th of
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May, 1851 he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Bemus- darfer, of Ohio. Mr. Richardson stands high in Masonry, having taken thirty-two degrees. He is a charter member of Logansport Council Royal Select Masons, and also of Orient Lodge, and St. John Commandery, No. 24, K. T. He identified himself with the Methodist Church in the spring of 1843, and has been a consistent member ever since, and has filled all official positions in the church, including superintendency of the Sabbath-school. He was originally a Whig in politics, and cast his first vote in 1848 for Gen. Scott. On the dissolution of the above party he joined the Republican ranks, and has since voted that ticket.
ALLEN RICHARDSON, third son of Thomas and Nancy ( Bra- den ) Richardson, was born in Preble County, Ohio, November, 1830; was raised to manhood in Cass County, being but one year old when his parents moved here, and his early education was limited to the public schools of that day. At the age of fifteen he began working at the carpenter's trade, learning the same under his father, and continued it in Logansport until 1873, doing a very extensive busi- ness in the meantime. He then became president of the Banking Company of Logansport, now the State National Bank, and dis- charged the duties of that position until 1877. On severing his con- nection with the bank he resumed his business of contracting and building, which he carried on until 1883. In that year he took charge of the Windsor Hotel, of which he is at the present time pro- prietor. He was city treasurer of Logansport in 1869-70, aside from which office he has held no elective position in either city or county, never having been an aspirant in that direction. Mr. Rich- ardson stands high in Masonry, having taken a number of degrees including that of Sir Knight. He is a Republican in politics, but, in no sense of the word a partisan. On the 20th of February, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Capron, of Livingston, N. Y. Three children have been born to this marriage, only one of whom, Carrie, is now living.
NATHAN RIDINGER, tailor, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June, 1825, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Davis) Ridinger, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ridinger's paternal ancestors came from Germany and were among the early residents of the "Keystone State." On the mother's side he is descended from English ances- tors, her people having been early comers to one of the Eastern States. At the age of fifteen, Mr. Ridinger began learning the tailor's trade, at which he served a five years' apprenticeship, and in which he acquired great proficiency. He worked as journeyman in different cities until 1848, at which time he opened a shop of his own in Lafayette, Ind., where he continued until 1862, when he re- moved to Delphi. He remained in the latter place a short time, and in 1863 came to Logansport where, with the exception of three years
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spent at Andrews, Ind., he has since resided, working at his trade. During his residence in this city, Mr. Ridinger, by strict attention to business and probity of character, has gained the esteem and con- fidence of all who know him, and in all his relations he has sustained the reputation which has characterized him through life-a courte- ous gentleman. He votes in conformity with the Republican party, belongs to the Masonic order, and in religion is a Universalist. In May, 1854, he married Miss Lavina Pettit, of Ohio. Their children were eight in number: Alice, Lizzie (deceased), Simon F., Lou, Clara, Effie, Minnie and Myrtle (deceased).
GEORGE W. RODAFER was born in Logansport September 6, 1844, and is the eldest son of James and Euseba (Thompson ) Rodafer, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. James Roda- fer was born of German parentage and came to Cass County in the year 1837. He was a stone-mason by trade, and died in Logansport March 29, 1867. Mrs. Rodafer came to Logansport in 1839, and is still living. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his na- tive city, in the public schools of which he acquired a practical English education. In February, 1864, he volunteered in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry, enlisting in Com- pany K, and continuing with the same until the close of the war. He participated in a number of engagements, including the battle of Franklin, Tenn., and the different battles of Sherman's celebrated Georgia campaign. At the close of the war he returned to Logans- port, and resumed the lathing and plastering trade, which he had pre- viously learned under David Plank, and which he followed with good success until 1879. In that year he opened a second-hand store, which he has since continued. His place of business is on the cor- ner of Fourth and Market Streets and his stock is the largest of the kind in the city. On May 25, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Kranke, a native of Germany, and daughter of J. H. Kranke, at the present time a citizen of Logansport. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodafer have been born three children, all living. Mr. Rod- afer is a Democrat in politics.
NATHAN OLIN ROSS, lawyer, now a resident of Peru, Ind., was born in Boone County, Ky., on the 14th of September, 1819. His father was William O. Ross, a native of Windham County, Conn. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Wilson. She also was from Boone County, Ky. Although the subject of this sketch first saw the light in that land renowned for chivalry, he may well be claimed as a representative man of the Hoosier State, his father having moved to Decatur County, Ind., in 1821, when Na- than was but two years of age. As there were in those early days, no wagon-roads, much less a prospect of railroads, a pack-horse was their only mode of conveyance. In a country, log schoolhouse, near where the town of Greensburg now stands, Mr. Ross obtained the
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rudiments of an education. In1838 his father settled upon a piece of wild land near Wabash, Ind., and Nathan, then a lad of eighteen, with his younger brother, commenced clearing it for a farm. As Mr. Ross, the elder, was possessed of a knowledge of the law, it would not seem strange that the boy, who showed a desire for study, should find his inclination also point that way. The task assigned him by his father was to split 200 rails per day; that done, he might study. Thus, after a hard day's work, the young man, having gathered hickory bark to make a brighter glow, pored over his book by the firelight on the hearth during the long winter evenings, often so ex- hausted he would fall asleep over the self-imposed task. "Where there is a will there is a way," is a maxim of which the life of Mr. Ross is an exemplification to the youth of the present day, and a valuable one. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1839, being then but twenty years of age. Thus he speaks of himself: " I had no instructor in my studies, and my knowledge of the law was ex- ceedingly imperfect, so much so that, in giving advice, I was gov- erned more by my instincts of justice than by legal maxims." Ex- tending his general education by a short term at Wabash College, Crawfordville, Ind., he was ready to enter upon his professional career. At this period he resided with his father, about two and a half miles from Wabash, when he pleaded his first case, his father being the opposing counsel. The justice of the young man's cause, coupled with his earnestness, won the sympathy of the community, and he was successful. His father then suggested that he seek a new location, which he did, settling in Peru, Ind., in 1839. Here he was married, in 1841, to Mary Minerva Ewing, of Peru, and here he has resided for forty years, devoting himself almost exclusively to his profession, in which he now stands in the front rank. Atthe age of twenty-eight or twenty-nine, in 1848, Mr. Ross was elected a member of the State Legislature, representing Miami County in that honorable body. He was again elected in 1865 to the same posi- tion, serving the State with commendable zeal and unswerving in- tegrity. Mr. Ross is warm-hearted and upright in his dealings, and is very much attached to the associations that elnster around the family hearthstone, possessing a sympathetic nature. almost wo- manly in its generous impulses and depth of affection. His politics and his religious belief, like his profession in life, he has never changed. In the former he has been and remains a life-long Dem- ocrat, while the old school Presbyterian Church has always held his creed. He is decidedly Calvinistic in his views. Ten children have been born to him, five of whom are still living. The youngest son, George E. Ross, is practicing law with his father.
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G. E. ROSS, conspicuous among the successful lawyers of the Logansport bar is George E. Ross, native of Peru, Ind., and son of Judge N. O. and Margaret Ross. Mr. Ross was born January 15.
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1858, and at the early age of fourteen entered Wabash College, where he pursued his studies three years, making rapid progress during that time, almost completing the sophomore course. On quitting college he entered the law department of the State Univer- sity, where he remained a limited period, and then read law with his father until April, 1877, at which time he was admitted to the bar, being then but nineteen years of age. His first case, that of Harvey vs. The Peoples' Bank, was tried in the superior court at Logansport in the fall of 1878, he appearing for the plaintiff, and Judges Dykeman, Winfield, McConnell and his own father for the defense. Against this array of legal ability Mr. Ross made a gal- lant fight, and, the jury failing to agree upon a verdict, the case was taken on change of venue to Miami County, where the young attorney was more successful, gaining a complete victory for his client. The case was then appealed to the supreme court, which also rendered a decision in his favor. Mr. Ross has made a credit- able record as a lawyer, is an elegant and able speaker, and, in con- sequence of his determination to adhere to his profession, gives prom- ise of a brilliant future. He has been for eight years assistant solicitor for the Pan Handle Railroad Company, and in his general practice does an extensive business in the courts of Cass and other counties of northern Indiana. He is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, and at the present time chairman of the County Central Com- mittee. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Martha J. Boice, of Goshen, Ind.
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