USA > Indiana > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Indiana : With historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Volume II > Part 23
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Mr. Boyer belonged to the Improved Order of Red Men at Pickard Mills and is the oldest member of the lodge at the present day. He was also a great Granger. Politically, Mr. Boyer is a Republican and at one time in his carlier day was very conspicuous in state politics.
CLARENCE G. SNODGRASS.
Clarence G. Snodgrass was born April 25, 1887 in Kirklin township, this county, the son of Garrett and Laura (Bridgford) Snodgrass. The father was born in 1838 in Hancock county, Ind., and all of his active life followed farming successfully. He was a prominent Republican and was interested in the affairs of the Christian church. He died October 18, 1907. The mother was born October 7, 1851, in Marion county, Ind., and she is still living in the town of Kirklin. Three children were born of the union: Clarence G .; Robert, born March 26, 1891, a graduate of Wabash College, now an assist- ant professor there ; and Mary, born December 18, 1893, now living with her mother.
Our subject was married May 9,. 1909 to Ethel Fulkerson. She was born in Clinton county, Nov. 17, 1890, the daughter of Charles and Flora (Isgrigg) Fulkerson and received a good common and high school education
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in her youth. Two children have been born to our subject and wife: Vera, February 28, 1910, and Vangel, April 1, 1912.
After finishing the common schools in Clinton county our subject at- tended Purdue University, and then removed to take up farming in Clinton county. His course while in Purdue was the agricultural one, which has an international reputation. At present he lives on his mother's farm in Kirklin township, comprising about three hundred and twenty acres, two hundred and forty acres where he lives, and the remainder near Cyclone, Ind. Of the two hundred and forty, one hundred and sixty are tillable, the balance being in good pasture and second growth timber. The place is well tiled and fenced, and the home is of the most modern. Of the ciglity acres near Cyclone, all is tillable but sixteen acres. Aside from general farming our subject raises and breeds stock.
He belongs to the Masonic Order of Kirklin and religiously is a member of the Christian church. Politically, he belongs to the Republican party.
WILLIAM STEPHENSON.
In the death of the late William Stephenson, president of the Bank of Rossville and one of Owen township's leading agriculturists, Clinton county lost one of its most energetic men of affairs, who, through a long lapse of years was prominent in the various circles in which he moved and whose potent influence for good will continue to pervade the lives of those with whom he came in contact. As the day, with its morning of hope and promise. its noontide of activity and accomplishment, its evening of completed and successful efforts, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of this good and honored man. His career was a long, busy and use- ful one, fraught with much good to himself, his family and to humanity, and his memory will long be revered by those who had occasion to be associated with him in business, public or social life. His activities in a material way added to his individual prosperity and to the welfare of the locality of his choice. Devoting the major part of his time and attention to the further development of his industrial interests, he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but preserved his faculties and the warmth of his heart for the broadening and helpful influence of human life, being to the end a kindly, genial friend, neighbor and gentleman whom it was a pleasure
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WM. STEPHENSON, DECEASED
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to meet and who, in every respect, deserved the high esteem in which he was universally held.
William Stephenson was born November 8, 1840, in Butler county, Ohio, where he spent his earlier years, received his education and remained until after the close of the Civil War, when he removed to Clinton county, locating in Owen township, where the rest of his life was spent. He was a son of Samuel and Jane (Stewart) Stephenson, both natives of Ohio, where they grew up, were educated and married and spent their lives, having never come to Indiana. The family of Samuel Stephenson and wife consisted of eight children, all now deceased but one; they were named as follows: Jolin. William, our subject : Jefferson, James, Robert, Alexander, Nancy, the only one living, and Emma.
William Stephenson began life for himself as a school teacher which he followed with much success for a period of fourteen years, during which his services were in great demand. When the Civil War came on he proved his courage and loyalty to the Union by enlisting for service in the federal army, in which he proved to be a gallant and faithful soldier. His military career is given in detail in the sketch of Morton Stephen, son, appearing on another page of this volume.
William Stephenson was married on October 2, 1866, to Emeline J. Brown, who was born in Carroll county, Indiana, where she grew to woman- hood and received her education and lived until her marriage. The date of her birth was October 16, 1848, and she was a daughter of Samuel and Let- „tie M. (Sibbit) Brown, natives of Lehigh county, Pa.
To William Stephenson and wife five children were born: Samuel and · Belve Retta, both deceased, and Morton, Lillian and James.
Mr. Stephenson went to housekeeping in Carroll county and he farmed there about eight years, then came to Owen township, Clinton count. locat- ing where his son, James Stephenson now lives and he continued farming and stock raising on a large scale the rest of his life, becoming one of the leading general agriculturists of the county, at the time of his death. Jan- uary 10, 1912. He owned at that time a well improved and valuable estate of four hundred and fifty-seven acres, all in Owen township and in one body. He built his own home, a large, modernly appointed and cozy dwelling, equipped with electric lights and other modern conveniences, where his widow now lives, owning one hundred and sixty acres roundabout. He was also president of the Bank at Rossville, which he assisted in organizing, was also a director in the bank at Sedalia which he helped organize.
Politically, Mr. Stephenson was a stanch Republican and active in local
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party affairs. He was elected to a term as representative in the state legis- lature in 1892, and filled this responsible office with credit and satisfaction to his constituents. He was a worthy member of the Presbyterian church, and belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic at Rossville. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic Order at Rossville and the Knights Templars at Frankfort, and, according to those who knew him well, he evidently tried to carry into his everyday life the practical usage of the high principles taught by this time-honored fraternity.
Mrs. Stephenson is a lady of refinement and her beautiful home is known to her many friends as a place of hospitality of an old-time flavor and she has a host of warm friends throughout the locality.
FRANK GOSSARD.
A history of the loyal native sons and representative citizens of Clinton county would not be complete should the name that heads this review be omitted. During a useful and successful life he has labored diligently, not only to promote the interests of himself and family, but also those of the general public, being one of those neighborly, altruistic, generous-hearted men whom to know is to admire and respect. It is to such men that this locality owes its rise from the primeval prairies to one of the choice agricultural sec- tions of the Hoosier state.
Frank Gossard was born March 17, 1866, in Johnson township, Clinton county, and was the son of Jacob and Sarah (Vanorsdall) Gossard. The father of our subject was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in January, 1826, and he moved to Indiana before his marriage. He now lives with a daughter in Tipton county, this state. His life, in the main, was spent in fårmning. In 1849 he traveled to New York; taking a boat there he sailed to Panama, crossed the isthmus, caught another boat and went up to California in search of gold. Unsuccessful as were many others, he finally returned home after two or three years to Ohio. The mother was born in Ohio in the year 1836. and still lives in Tipton county with a daughter. Sixteen children were born to them; the eight still living are : Mary Holmes, Oliver, Frank, Ada Finney, James, Artie, Hattie and Harry.
Our subject, Frank Gossard, received his education in the common schools of Johnson township and immediately afterwards "went back to the
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soil," so to speak, beginning an agricultural life. Farming has always been his main occupation, although he was connected for a while with the poultry business in Illinois. At one time Mr. Gossard raised Poland China hogs and Red cattle on a very extensive scale ; cattle and hog feeding being a specialty with him. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of excellent soil in John- son township, all of which is tillable, well tiled and adequately fenced. Mr. Gossard built his home, which is modernly appointed in every respect. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Randolph county, on which land our subject's oldest son lives at this time.
On September 18, 1887, Mr. Gossard was married to Olta Welshons, who was born in Johnson township, Clinton county, in June, 1870, the daugh- ter of Daniel and Tamer (Overman) Welshons, who were farmers of the community. Mr. Gossard's wife received a common school education in her youth. Six children have been born to them, namely: Bernard, Charlotte, Garrett, Ralph (deceased), Marcus, and Frank, Jr., (deceased).
Fraternally, Mr. Gossard belongs to the Masonic order at Scircleville, and is also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. Politically, he is a Republican. He ran for county clerk in 1910, but was defeated along with the rest of the ticket.
MRS. MARIAH SCOTT.
In the development of a county there are many forces. Primarily the people within the borders determine the progress, but other minor elements, such as resources, fertility of land, navigability, climate, and topography, are great factors. To take up this primal factor, the people, history has been apt to dwell more emphatically on the men. True they have shouldered the responsibilities, and fought and labored for a home, but behind them there has been an inspiration, a stimulus, in the person of the woman. She has endured the same hardships and faced the same dangers, adding a touch of loving-kindness which lightened the burdens of the pioneer, and made life worth living. Such a woman in the development of Clinton county has been Mrs. Scott, whose life we take pleasure in sketching briefly for the benefit of posterity and the inspiration to the noble women who will yet live.
Mrs. Scott was born July 19, 1842 in Sugar Creek township, and was the daughter of John C. and Elender (Ward) Amos. Her father was born
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in the state of Kentucky and moved to Indiana before his marriage. Ile was a farmer all of his life and voted the Republican tieket. At one time lie was a trustee of Sugar Creek township. The mother was also a native of Ken- tucky and died in August, 1896. The father died in 1891. Both parents re- ceived the education given by the limited schools of their youth, and lived happily and long in the midst of prosperity. Eleven children comprised the family, three-our subject, John B., and Thomas still living.
Mrs. Scott received a common school education, supplemented by the training of a good and careful home. On March 21, 1875, our subject was married to John Cunningham, who was born in Randolph county, Ind., in 1842, and he died in 1882. Just one child, Grace, was born to them, April I, 1877, in Sugar Creek township. After a common school education she mar- ried, November 17, 1896, Andrew J. Merrill, who was born in Clinton county, July 5, 1875. Mrs. Scott now lives at her daughter's home. To her daugh- ter there have been born eight children : Paul, September 8, 1897; Von, April 6, 1899; Lily M .; April 3, 1900; Carl, May 18, 1902; John, July 4, 1905; William C., July 23, 1907: George, September 25, 1909; and Charles, Octo- ber 1, 1911. They carry on general farming on their estate of eighty acres, and the land is very fertile and tillable, producing a good yield every year. Mr. Merrill belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the whole family attend the Baptist church. 1
Mrs. Scott was married the second time to Samuel Scott, born in Marion county, Ind., in 1842. He was a butcher and stock trader by trade. He died February 4, 1893.
Both of Mrs. Scott's husbands served throughout the Civil war and each made an enviable record.
JAMES M. FLETCHER.
Under the old-fashioned method of grain farming the rush of work was limited to a few months of the year, and the labor was made easier by the use of farm machinery .. Under the new diversified farming. and especially be- cause of the care of more live stock, farm work demands the farmer's whole time the year round ; and consequently social life, in spite of rural telephones, has declined. The biggest problem nowadays is to get sufficient help. Women's work on the farm has been eased by running water, washing machines, and
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many things, but on most farms it is still necessary for the women to help with the general chores and some take part in the work of harvesting the crops in the rush season. One of the farmers of Forest township, Clinton county, who has so carefully studied out the problems of modern farming as to eliminate much of its drudgery for both himself and the women folks of his family is James M. Fletcher, who seems to make a good living at the minimum expenditure of labor.
Mr. Fletcher was born on March 9, 1871, in the above named township and county, and here he has been content to spend his life. He is a son of Thomas B. and Susan ( Ransopher) Fletcher. The father was born in 1843, and he was brought, when a child, to this locality where he grew to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as the early day schools afforded, and here he has lived ever since, being now a resident of Johnson township. The farm which he developed he also cleared, bringing it up from the virgin natural state. He has devoted his entire life to farming. Politically he is a Democrat. The mother of our subject was born in 1844, coming to Clinton county, Ind., in early life. She, too, received a limited schooling. She is still living .. Nine children have been born to Thomas B. Fletcher and wife, namely : Mandy, Molly, Cora, and James M. of this sketch, all living ; and John, Effie, Milly, deceased, and two others who died in infancy.
James M. Fletcher grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with his share of the work. He received a common school education. On Feb- ruary 3, 1896, he was united in marriage to Dove Adair, who was born in Clinton. county in 1871. She is a daughter of James W. and Myra (Burgett) Adair, both of whom are still living. Here Mrs. Fletcher grew to womanhood and received a common school education.
To our subject and wife nine children have been born, namely : Dayton, Virgil and Vernal, born March 6, 1899; Ethel, Mamie: Kenneth, born June 22, 1904; Lena, Edith and James Lester.
Mr. Fletcher has always engaged in farming in his native township. He owns one hundred and thirty acres, all tillable but about five acres, which is in pasture and. timber, and his place is well tiled and otherwise well improved. He makes a specialty of raising Jersey cows, Duroc hogs, draft horses and Plymouth Rock chickens.
Fraternally Mr. Fletcher is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Forest and the Improved Order of Red Men at Scircleville. Politic- ally he is a Democrat.
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JOHN WILLIAM WELLMAN.
The pioneers of Clinton indeed taught well. Another of the younger generation of agriculturists who has learned well the lessons of thrift and in- dustry from his fathers is the subject of this short review. Mr. Wellman has accomplished great things during the comparatively few years he has been en- gaged in his vocation, and it is reasonable to suppose that he will, in the future, earn even a larger and better reputation for labor well placed. He is representative of the best class of the community which we call Clinton county, and to his friends, neighbors, and business acquaintances, he bears a name for altruism and charity, though stern if the occasion demands.
John William Wellman was born August 10, 1872, in Sugar Creek town. ship, Clinton county, and is the son of John M. and Nancy Ann (Ray) Well- man. The father was born in Rush county, Ind., and later moved to this place, taking up the work of farming, which he followed the rest of his life. He was a Democrat before the election of Benjamin Harrison, but at that time became a Republican, and remained so until his death in 1900. The mother was a native of Clinton county, and her worthy and beautiful life extended over the period from 1834 to 1890, fifty-six years. Both the parents received common school educations in the pioneer schools, which were mostly de- . scribed by the word experience. Seven children were born of the union : James A., George (dec.), Sarah E. (dec.), Charles. Jolin W., Thomas J., and Eliza I.
John William Wellman attended the common and high schools, and then began to teach school in Sugar Creek township. He also taught in Johnson township, this county. After tiring of the pedagogic life, Mr. Wellman set- tled down to farming and has successfully carried on the same ever since, with general breeding in addition, paying particular attention to fine Shire horses. He owns seventy-four acres of very tillable land in this township, and has it all well tiled. The beautiful home on this land is the handiwork of Mr. Wellman himself.
Our subject was united in marriage on September 3, 1908, to Idona Keever, who was born November 10, 1881, in Johnson township, Clinton county, and who is the daughter of Samuel J. and Helen (Merritt) Keever. Mrs. Wellman received a common school education, and taught school about twelve years prior to her marriage. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wellman.
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Our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically is a Democrat.
JOHN WILLIAM HART.
A history of Clinton county can point with no more pride to any of its sons than the subject of this brief review, John William Hart. Born of par- ents who came to this county when the land was covered with heavy timber and wild animals and Indians were the inhabitants, Mr. Hart retains those qualities which his forefathers possessed and enabled them to combat the many privations incident to settling a virgin country. Our subject has won the esteem of his fellowmen by following the dictation of the Golden Rule in every phase of life. Ilis business, social, moral, and intellectual qualities are worthy of emulation by all, and it is safe to prophesy that, in the years to come, when he will be known as an old man, that his name will rank well up in the record of merit and accomplishment.
John William Hart was born November 13, 1847, in Kirklin township, Clinton county, and was the son of John G. and Harriet ( Wallace) Hart. John G. Hart was born in December, 1820, in the state of Pennsylvania, and moved to Indiana in 1837, settling in Clinton county. He followed farming all of his life, and was very successful. He was a Republican politically. The mother, who was Harriet Wallace, was a native of the Old Domniion, being born in Virginia. She first moved to the state of Ohio, and then later came to Clinton county, in company with her parents. She died June 15, 1872. The father died April 20, 1880. Five children were born of the union : David, Syrenis, Perkins and Cora, all deceased, and John W., our subject. John G. Hart was married the second time to Mary Dunn, and Cora was the child by this wife.
John William Hart had the advantage of a good common school educa- tion in his early days, and settled down to a farming life immediately after leaving school. He owns one hundred and seventy acres of fertile and tillable land in Sugar Creek township; twenty acres of which is slightly inferior, but valuable nevertheless. The place is well tiled and he has made his own im- provements, which are of a high order. Mr. Hart carries on general farming and breeding. He has retired from active work on the farm, and spends his time in managing. Politically, Mr. Hart is a Progressive.
On November 21, 1872, our subject was married to Frances Wright, who was born September 15, 1853, in Sugar Creek township, Clinton county. She
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is the daughter of John R. and Allie Wright, both of whom were from the state of Virginia. Mrs. Hart's sister, Daisy Bowls, lives at the home of John WV. Hart.
The union of our subject and wife has been withont issue.
WILLIAM P. BOYD.
One of the business men of Colfax, Clinton county, who has learned the secrets of success in life is William P. Boyd, proprietor of a livery, sale and feed stable, also a dealer in carriages, buggies and wagons, a man widely known about the county and respected by all, for his dealings with his fellow men have ever been above board, straight from the shoulder out and based on the highest standards of business ethics, so that his patrons and customers are always well satisfied with the treatment which he uniformly accords them; in short, he believes in the old adage of living and let live. While pass- ing through life he does not believe in laboring solely for his own agrandise- ment, but in giving a neighbor a helping hand occasionally, which is the true . spirit of brotherhood and the true source of happiness.
Mr. Boyd was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on a farm, August 4. 1851, and he spent his boyhood years on a farm, assisting with the general work there, and during the brief winter months he attended the common schools of this locality. He is a son of John Boyd and wife. The father, born in Ohio in 1829, spent his life in general farming and stock raising, and was an honest, industrious man who was liked by all his neighbors. In 1853 he removed with his family to Clinton county, when our subject was two years old, and settled in a heavily timbered section, establishing there the future home of the family. He set to work with a will, being a man of grit and perseverance, and, in due course of time, he had cleared his land, had a good productive farm under cultivation and was raising an excellent grade of live stock. There the parents of our subject spent the balance of their lives, the father dying there in July, 1900, at the age of seventy-one years, the mother, in Lafayette, Ind., in the year 1907, at the age of seventy-six years. Five children, one son and four daughters, were born to John Boyd and wife.
The subject of this sketch devoted the earlier years of his life to general agricultural pursuits and met with a large measure of success from the start. He was owner of a finely improved and productive farm of one hundred and forty acres, three miles east of Colfax, known as the Valley Stock Farm, and
W. P. BOYD AND FAMILY
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which was regarded as one of the choice farms of that section of the county, and abundant harvests repaid Mr. Boyd annually for his toil and good man- agement. But finally deciding to enter the business arena he removed to Colfax a number of years ago and is now operating one of the most popular livery, feed and sale stables in this section of the country, being well equipped in the way of horses, buggies, etc., to accommodate the traveling public. He is also a dealer in buggies, wagons and carriages, handling an excellent line of standard makes on which he has built up a wide and constantly growing trade with the surrounding country. His barn is near the Union station and convenient to the business center of Colfax. It is thirty-six by sixty feet, with an addition of fifty by sixty feet. His carriage room is twenty by sixty feet. His aim is always to give hi smany customers honest and satisfactory treatment, his prices and terms always being reasonable.
Mr. Boyd was married in February, 1901, to Della Phillips (nce Isen- barger), who was born in 1857 in Clinton county, and is a daughter of George and Annie Isenbarger. Mr. Boyd had formerly been married to Marion Phillips.
To our subject and wife one son has been born, Charles A. Boyd, now fourteen years of age. Opal Davis also lives with them.
Politically Mr. Boyd is a Democrat, and is a member of the Church of God. Physically he is of large proportions, being five feet and eight inches tall and weighing two hundred and ten pounds, but is very active and a good business man and popular in Clinton county, where he has lived practically all his life.
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