USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 52
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J. J. ROTHERMEL, county recorder, was born in Bavaria, Germany, the 8th of October, 1857, and is the son of Peter and Elizabeth Rothermel, natives of Germany. The first eight years of his life were passed in his native country, and at the end of that time, in 1865, he came to the United States. His educational train- ing was received in the public schools of Logansport and Hall's Business College, and at the age of eighteen he engaged as clerk with the Huffman Bros., and later worked in the same capacity for Wm. Dolan & Co. He remained with the latter firm until 1881, at which time he established a grocery house on Spear Street, which he still owns and operates. In 1883 he opened the large grocery store on the corner of Broadway and Fifth Streets, which is now one of the most prosperous business houses in the city. In November, 1882, Mr. Rothermel was elected county recorder, making the race as the regular Democratic nominee, and defeating his competitor by a majority of 644 votes. Mr. Rothermel is a notable example of what energy and determination can accomplish in the face of ad- verse circumstances. Beginning life in an humble sphere, he has succeeded, by diligent application, in building up a substantial busi- ness, and winning for himself an honored place in the estimation of the public.
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JOHN ROUSH, retired farmer and prominent citizen of Lo- gansport, was born March 14, 1818, in Union County, Ind., and is the oldest son of Jacob and Sarah (Cook) Ronsh, natives, respec- tively, of Pennsylvania and Ireland. Henry Roush, grandfather of subject, was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, his ances- tors immigrating to the United States from Switzerland many years ago. Jacob and Sarah Roush came to Indiana as early as 1818, and settled in Union County, where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. John Roush was raised on a farm, and received in boy- hood and early youth a sufficient education to qualify him for his contemplated field of labor. agriculture, which he early chose for his life work. He came to Cass County in 1851, and located in Deer Creek Township, near the present site of Young America, where he engaged in farming, and where he resided until 1872. In that year he abandoned active life and moved to Logansport, but nine years later returned to the farm, where he remained a short time, moving back to the city in the spring of 1881. Soon after returning he pur- chased a boot and shoe store, which he operated for a period of five years, since the expiration of which time he has not been actively engaged in any business enterprise. As a farmer and citizen Mr. Roush has always been regarded as one of the representative men of Cass County. He is a good financier and careful business man, and by diligent application and economy has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence. He was married, January, 1851, to Miss Martha J. Hunter, of Hamilton, Ohio, and daughter of Thomas and Clarissa (Laughlin) Hunter, who moved from Ohio to Union County, Ind., in 1836. Mrs. Roush is a lady possessing many ami- able traits of character, and is highly respected for her moral excel- lence, being an active member of the Christian Church, to which she has belonged many years. Mr. and Mrs. Roush have had seven children, the following of whom are living, namely: Thomas J., David L. and Albert A. Mr. Roush is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for official honors, preferring the hum- bler sphere of private citizenship.
OLIVER B. SARGENT. The gentleman whose biographical sketch is herewith presented is a native of Washington County, Penn., and son of John H. and Sarah J. Sargent. Mr. Sargent's paternal ancestors came from England in colonial times and were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania, his great-grandfather, John Sar- gent, moving to what is now Washington County when that part of the State was the undisputed possession of the red man. He was a daring hunter and Indian fighter, and took an active and gallant part in many of the bloody struggles between the settlers and their savage enemies. His son, John Sargent, Jr., grandfather of subject, was born in Washington County about the year 1769, and was a farmer by occupation. He was raised amid the stirring
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scenes of frontier life; was a man of considerable local prominence in his native county, and died in the year 1856. John H. Sargent, father of O. B., was born in Washington County, Penn., in the year 1812. He was raised a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits until 1851, at which time he engaged in the mercantile business at the town of Bellville, where he continued until his death, June, 1857. His wife, Sarah J. Sargent, was the daughter of Joseph Baker, who came from England with his father, Aaron Baker, before the war of Independence, and settled in Lancaster County, Penn. Joseph Baker was a farmer by occupation, and with his wife, Sarah Baker, belonged to the Society of Friends, of which they were both active members. He died in Washington County, Penn., about the year 1853. Sarah J. Sargent was born in Washington County, Penn., in the year 1819, and is still living, her home at the present time being in Fulton County, Ind. Oliver B. Sar- gent is the third of a family of four children, and dates his birth from the 16th of September, 1843. He received a good education in the schools of his native county, graduating at an early age from the high school of Washington, after which he began life as a car- penter, a trade in which he soon acquired great proficiency. He came to Logansport, Ind., in 1858; worked at his trade until December, 1862, at which time he entered the army, enlisting in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged June 29, 1865. He served as a private, but a part of the time was assistant in the commissary department. After his discharge he returned to Logansport, and the same year went to Minneapolis, Minn., in which city he worked at the car- penter's trade until 1868. He came back to Logansport the latter year, resumed his trade until 1870, when he engaged with the Pan Handle Railroad Company, with which he has since been identified. He began working in the shops at Logansport as a mechanic, but in 1873 was promoted time-keeper of the car department, the duties of which position he discharged until 1885. In that year he became book and time-keeper for the entire force employed in the shops at this place, and fills that important and responsible position at the present time. Mr. Sargent is an accomplished business man, fully alive to the interests of the company by which he is employed, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is an active member of the F. & A. M., being a thirty-second degree or Scottish Rite member, and has been honored with the highest posi- tion within the gift of the chapter and council. He is at the present time Grand Captain of the Guard in the Grand Council of the State. He has been twice married; the first time, in November, 1865, to Miss Maria Cox, of Baltimore, Md., by whom he had one child: Carlton H., born January 1, 1867. Mrs. Sargent departed this life on the 27th of April, 1879. The second marriage was solemnized
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March. 1883, with Miss Mary Cox, sister of the former wife. Mr. Sargent is an uncompromising supporter of the Republican party, and takes an active part in local politics.
MORRIS SELLERS. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a native of Cass County, Ind., born in Clay Township February 22, 1838. He is the fifth son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Ward ) Sellers, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and German descent, respectively. Joseph Sellers was born in the year 1793, and in an early day immigrated to Preble County, Ohio. where he lived until he removed to Cass County, Ind., at a time when Logansport was a remote Indian trading post. The year after his arrival he moved into the wilds of what is now Clay Town- ship, where he cleared a farm and where he lived until the year 1548. He began the practice of law in 1835: removed to Logan- sport in 1848, and died here in 1879, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-six years. Morris Sellers was raised on a farm; received but a limited education, attending school in all but four months; hence it may be said, with propriety, that he is not an educated man in the accepted meaning of the term, yet thoroughly skilled in the details of business, such as is only acquired by years of practical experience. At the age of eighteen he began working at the carpenter's and joiner's trade under Richard Richardson, and with the exception of three months in the army continued the voca- tion until 1868. He enlisted (1863) in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, but on account of physical disabilities, was discharged at the expiration of the time above mentioned. In 1869 he engaged as clerk in a grocery house at Kokomo, Ind .. and in latter part of the same year opened a business house of his own at the same place, which he continued about three years, doing a successful business in the meantime. He returned to Logansport in 1878, and in partnership with his brother. Joseph Sellers, opened the present large grocery house, which they still carry on. Their place of business is on the corner of Twelfth and Market Streets, and the firm is one of the most successful in the city, having a reputation much more than local. Mr. Sellers was married, in 1864, to Miss Cynthia Sutherland, of Logansport, a union blessed with the birth of one child-May Sellers. Mr. Sellers is a Republican in politics and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
DAVID B. SHARP, boot and shoe merchant, and son of Sam- uel H. and Elizabeth ( McNitt) Sharp, was born in Harrison Town- ship. Cass Co., Ind., April 10, 1845. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and were among the early settlers of Cass County, moving here in 1835, and settling in Harrison Township, where they still reside. David Sharp was raised to agricultural pur- suits, received a practical education in the common schools, and began life for himself as a farmer, a business he followed until
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1884. In December of that year he purchased of Henry Bruner the large boot and shoe store, of which he is at the present time proprietor. Since coming to Logansport Mr. Sharp has built up an extensive business, and he can be appropriately classed among the successful merchants of the city. He is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he has been identified all his life, and votes with the Republican party. He was married, February 14, 1871, to Miss Margaret Medsker, of Wooster, Ohio.
ISAAC SHIDELER, a prominent business man of Logansport, was born in Clinton Township, Cass County, on July 22, 1835. He is the youngest of a family of nine children born to George and Elizabeth (Neff) Shideler, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. George Shideler was born of German parentage, and was among the early comers to Cass County, settling in Clinton Township about the year 1832. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, and departed this life on December 23, 1875. Isaac Shideler was raisedl to agricultural pursuits, and received his edu- cational training in the schools of the county, which he attended at intervals until early manhood. He began life as a farmer, and in July, 1862, entered the army, enlisting in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, 100-days' men, with which he remained until the expira- tion of his period of service, when he returned to Cass County and engaged in the clothing business at Logansport in partnership with G. R. Thomas. The firm continued until 1867, at which time Mr. Shideler purchased his partner's interest, and continued the busi- ness very successfully until the year 1882, building up one of the largest mercantile houses in the county during that time. Mr. Shideler has been one of the most active and energetic business men of Logansport, and is now the possessor of a handsome compe- tency. His has been the experience of all enterprising men, alter- nate success and reverse, the former predominating, and he is now classed among the substantial business men. He is not a politi- cian, yet holds [strong convictions as to true political duties and upon all those questions of morality which, more or less, enter into politics. He votes with the Republican party, but has never sought official honors at the hands of his fellow-citizens. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in religion exercises the right of pri- vate judgment, being bound by no church ties.
ALEXANDER R. SHROYER, wholesale grocer and prominent business man of Logansport, was born in the town of New Castle, Henry Co., Ind., on March 4, 1840. His parents, Henry and Es- ther ( Hoover) Shroyer were natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Wayne County, Ind., and of German-English extraction. Mr. Shroyer's educational training was received in the common schools of his native county, and at the age of seventeen he became sales- man in a dry goods house at New Castle, in which capacity he con-
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tinued until his twentieth year. He then entered the First National Bank of New Castle as book-keeper, and one year later came to Logansport and engaged in the grocery and jobbing trade in part- nership with L. H. Hicks and D. C. Elliott. This firm continued until 1871, when Hicks retired, and A. L. Pogue became a partner, and the firm, known as Elliott, Pogue & Shroyer, lasted until 1879. In the latter year J. T. Elliott purchased an interest, Pogue retir- ing, and the house is at present known as that of Elliott, Shroyer & Co. This is one of the most successful wholesale houses in northern Indiana, and the business is constantly increasing. Mr. Shroyer takes the first rank in this city as an energetic business man. He is watchful and systematic in all his transactions, and is noted for his financial ability and for his prompt and honorable dealing. He has accumulated a handsome competency by untiring industry and unswerving integrity. He is in strong sympathy with the Republican party, and is recognized as one of its standard bear- ers in Cass County. Mr. Shroyer was married, January 12, 1864, to Miss Helen E. Clift, of New Castle. Two children have been born to the marriage, viz .: Fannie and Lottie.
J. B. SKINNER, of the firm of Demoss & Skinner, hatters and gents' furnishers, is a native of Adams Township, Cass County, and son of Daniel P. and Rebecca ( Ballou) Skinner. Mr. Skinner's paternal ancestors were natives of North Carolina; his grandfather, Thomas Skinner, emigrating from that State in an early day to Ohio, where he lived until the year 1837. In the latter year he came to Cass County, Ind., and settled in the wilds of what is now Adams Township, locating the farm now owned by a son, Richard Skinner. Thomas Skinner was a man widely and favorably known for his many excellent qualities, and died at his home in Adams Township in 1879. His wife, Amelia (Cox) Skinner, was born in Tennessee, and departed this life March 22, 1870. Daniel P. Skin- ner, second son of the above, was born in Ohio June 24, 1824. He accompanied his parents to Cass County in 1837, and from that date until the time of his death was an honored and highly respected citizen of the same. He was raised a farmer, and grew to manhood in Adams Township, where, with the exception of a short time spent in Miami County, he resided until 1865. In that year he purchased a beautiful farm in Clay Township, and lived upon the same until his death, which occurred January 22, 1882. He was twice mar- ried; the first time to Miss Rebecca Ballou. daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Pearson) Ballou, of Ohio, who bore him the following children: Amanda (deceased wife of Stephen Melinger), Milton R., J. B., Marilla M. (wife of Samuel F. Demoss ) and William S. Mrs. Skinner died in June, 1873, and his second marriage was sol- emnized with Miss Amanda Bell, who bore him one child, Emma. In all his transactions in life Mr. Skinner sustained the reputation of
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a thoroughly honorable and consciencious man, and against his integrity and honesty no word of suspicion was ever uttered. He was an active member of the Christian Church, and did much in a quiet way toward the moral and religious development of the com- munities in which he resided. J. B. Skinner was born April 28, 1853. He was educated in the common schools of the county; passed the first nineteen years of his life upon a farm; and in 1872 began to learn the harness-maker's trade at Logansport. He worked at the same for only a limited period, and in the fall of the above year engaged with the Singer Sewing Machine Company at Peru, where he remained for a period of one year. In the spring of 1874 he accepted a clerkship in the postoffice at Logansport, the duties of which position he discharged until 1874. He then severed his connection with the postal service, and engaged in the mercan- tile business at the town of Tampico, Howard Co., Ind., in partner- ship with S. M. McCoy, whose interest he subsequently purchased. He continued at Tampico until the spring of 1882, at which time he came to Logansport, and, in partnership with S. F. Demoss, estab- lished his present business house on Pearl Street, which he has since operated. Messrs. Demoss & Skinner carry a large and com- plete stock of gents' furnishing goods, and are in the enjoyment of a large and constantly increasing trade. Mr. Skinner was married, April 19, 1877, to Miss Sallie McCoy, daughter of S. M. and Sarah (Robbins) McCoy. To this marriage have been born the following children: Huldah G., Crete, Bessie and Earl C.
ANTHONY F. SMITH is a native of Harrison County, Ind., born on the 13th of December, 1817. He is the fifth of the nine children of James and Nancy (Furtad) Smith, both natives of Ken- tucky, the father of English ancestry and the mother of French. His father left Harrison County about the year 1821 and moved to Crawford County, Ind., until 1828, when, in October of that year, he came to Cass County upon the solicitation of Gen. Tipton, at that time Indian agent, and through his instrumentality was appointed Indian blacksmith. After his removal to this place he was located on the south side of the Wabash River, nearly opposite the present dam. At the election held in April, 1829, for the choice of officers to carry the act of organization into effect, he was elected a member of the first board of commissioners of Cass County. He was a min- ister of the Baptist faith, and frequently conducted services for that people, at the time and after the organization of the First Baptist Church in Logansport. His death occurred in April, 1831, and that of his wife in March, 1833. The opportunities possessed by Anthony F. of attending school early in life were meager, but such as they were he made the most of the situation, and, with the prac- tical advantages obtained by a deputyship in the county clerk's of- fice with Col. Duret in 1832, he became an accurate and capable
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business man. He remained in the clerk's office here until in Au- gust, 1836, when he went to Fulton County, then just organized, and made that county his home during the succeeding twenty-nine years, his chief business being connected with the Rochester Mills. In the meantime, however, at the session of 1845-46, he represented Fulton, Marshall and Stark Counties in the lower house of the State Legislature. Upon his return he was elected judge of the probate court of his county, and held that position until 1850, when he was elected county clerk and recorder, and held the office until 1856. In 1865 he left Fulton County and moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where he engaged in the undertaking business, remaining until 1868, at which time he returned to Logansport, after an absence of thirty-one years. Subsequently he served one term as criminal judge in the city of Logansport, and afterward became deputy clerk under S. L. McFadin, acting as such deputy from the organization of the superior court of Cass County to its close; then becoming court clerk in the Cass Circuit Court; in all of which positions he served the people faithfully. On the 5th of April, 1837, he was married to Miss Amanda M. Chamberlain, daughter of Alexander Chamberlain, the first permanent white settler in Cass County. The issue of this marriage was nine children, of whom two, James and George, are still living. His wife, the mother of these children, died on the 29th of January, 1868, in Minneapolis. He was again married, on the 15th of April, 1868, to Mrs. Mary Ann ( Barron) Heth, daughter of Joseph Barron, who came to this county as a permanent settler in 1827. Mr. Smith is a member of the A. F. & A. M., having received the degrees conferred in the lodge, chapter and council of that honorable fraternity. In politics he is a Demo- crat. As a citizen he stands high in the estimation of all; honest, capable and faithful in the discharge of every duty.
WILLIAM H. SNIDER. Conspicuous among the successful business men of Logansport is William H. Snider, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., March 2, 1837. His parents, Frederick and Mary (Smith ) Snider, were natives of Warren County, Ohio, but early moved to Indiana, settling in Wayne County about the year 1832. William H. Snider received in the common schools of his native county the rudiments of a practical education, supplemented by a course in an academy, where he made substantial progress in the higher branches of learning. In 1861 he volunteered his serv- ices to the General Government, enlisting in the Eleventh Ohio In- fantry for the three months' service, and at the expiration of that time joined Company F, Ninety-fourth Ohio Regiment, with which he served three years, participating in a number of engagements dur -. ing that time. He was first made lieutenant of his company, later was promoted to the captaincy, and in the last year of his service was commissioned major of his regiment, a position he held when
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mustered out. In 1866 he came to Logansport and engaged in the queensware trade with James F. Morris, and the firm thus estab- lished did a thriving business until the year 1871. In that year Mr. Snider purchased his partner's interest, and has since continued the business alone, his house, at the present time, being one of the largest and most substantial of its kind in Indiana. He carries a very elegant and complete stock of queensware, cutlery, etc., and in addition to his large retail business carries on a successful whole- sale trade in Indiana and other States, his house being represented on the road by competent salesmen. Mr. Snider has met with a success such as few men attain in a much longer life. Not only has he been successful in the acquisition of wealth, but has manifested a commendable purpose in the use of it, which does not always ac- company the talent for gaining it. Every movement of public en- terprise or private benevolence finds in him a ready assistant. He is one of Logansport's representative men, and in business circles enjoys much more than a local reputation. He is an active worker in the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degree of Sir Knight, and belongs to the G. A. R. Mr. Snider was married, October 16, 1871, to Miss Mary Jeroloman, of Logansport, and daughter of Dr. George M. Jeroloman, deceased.
WILLIAM H. STANDLY was born in Bourbon County, Ky., April 6, 1821, and is a son of Moses and Jane ( McNary) Stand- ly, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky. Moses Stand- ly left his native State when the subject was but one year old, im- migrating to Indiana, and settling in Carroll County, about one mile and a half east of Delphi, being one of the earliest settlers in that section of the country. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a fine scholar, and for a number of years worked at the carpenter's and millwright's trades. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and departed this life, in Texas, in the year 1860. Will- iam H. Standly was educated principally under his father's instruc- tion, and grew to manhood amid the active duties of farm life. He came to Logansport in 1864 and engaged in the clothing business, which he carried on until 1869. In that year, with several others, he established the People's Bank, of which he subsequently became president, a position he retained until the suspension of the bank, in 1877. Since 1877 he has been engaged in different vocations, living at Logansport. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, with which he has been identified since its organization. Mr. Standly was married, October 14, 1849, to Miss Morilla Kistler, of Cass County.
JAMES STANLEY, sheriff of Cass County, was born in Fay- ette County, Ind., on the 5th of October, 1822. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Smith) Stanley, were natives of South Carolina, which State they left in an early day, immigrating to Indiana about
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