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 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
"Judge Claybaugh: After telling of his industriousness and of how he impressed every one as being possessed of a vigorous individuality, Mr. Claybangh said: 'From the time I first knew him-many years ago-to the day of his death, he was a man whose word was never doubted. If he be- lieved he was right on a certain question he stayed with that question and went up or down with it.' Mr. Claybaugh then referred at lengthi to the drainage law, of which Mr. Morrison was the father, and tokl of how it not only added wealth to the community, but health also. In the old days chills and fever were very common and the death rate was high by reason of the vast swamps that were everywhere, but which were drained by reason of the passing of the Morrison drainage law. 'I remember of his kindness to me when I was a boy. He would take me by the hand and say : "Joseph, how
741
CLINTON COMA TY, INDLIN.A.
are you getting along ?' Or. "I hear I von make a speech the other Jas ond I want to compliment you. Keep on in your work, etc. Judge \ 'la baugh then read the names of Leander MeChurg. John Barner, B. K. Higinbothan, Mareclus Bristow. Perry Gard, Allen E. Paige, Samnel H. Doyal. J. V. Sims. Truman II. Palmer, Henry Y. Morrison, and said : 'All of these were my associates. When I look around now there is not a single man living who was here when I came to the bar. When a man dies the public estimate is generally the correct estimate of v. b; t the man was.' In conclusion bol,, e Claybaugh read the address delivered by Henry Y. Morrison at the John Barner memorial meeting."
ALEXANDER G. CUNNINGHAM.
The subject of our sketch, Alexander G. Cunningham, has made his name known in Johnson township by his agricultural and business ac- complishments and he is regarded highly by all of his friends. Mr. Cun- ningham comes from a pioneer family who settled in Clinton county about the middle of the last century, and cultivated a farm where our subject now lives in contentment and material prosperity.
Alexander G. Cunningham was born in Johnson township. Clinton county, in a log cabin on the farm where he now resides. The date of his birth was December 11, 1853, and he was a son of Willia and Elizabeth (Goodnight) Cunningham. The father was a native of the Old Dominion, being born in Virginia in 1806. He first moved to Ohio, living there until his marriage in 1850, and then coming to Clinton county. He passed from this carth on April 1, 1864. The mother was born in 1820 in the state of Ohio and died October 20, 1907. The father and mother could not obtain a very liberal education in their youth. The father followed farming all of his life, also the trade of the miller, and voted the Republican ticket. Ten children were born of the union: Martha J. (dec. ), Sarah C. (dec. ), James A., William II. (dec. ), Mary A., Elizabeth F., A. G., Louisa B. (dec.). J. W. (dec.), and S. W.
Alexander Cunningham attended the common schools of Johnson town- ship, this county, in his youth, and then took up agriculture, which he has followed continuously until the present time. At one time he raised Poland- China hogs on an extensive scale, and now keeps a few of the Duroc variety, also a good breed of Jersey cattle. Ilis wife raises chickens. Our subject counts a total of one hundred and fifty acres in his hollings, nearly all of
1
MR. AND MRS. A. G. CUNNINGHAM.
7 15
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
which is tillable. The land is well tiled. fenced, and has the latest mig Re- ments. Politically, Mr. Cunningham is a Republican.
On November 26, 1888, Mr. Cunningham was married to Mary E. Hargrave, who was born August 27, 1867, in Rockingham county, North Carolina, the daughter of Nathaniel and Matilda ( Powers) Hargrave. Her f: her is a native of Virginia, born there December 1, 1837, and now lives along his children. The mother was born in North Carolina in March, 1812, and died May 6, 1898. The father was a Democrat all of his life, and served four years in. the Confederate army in the Civil war. He was the father of eleven children: Susan, Mary, Thomas II., John F., Joseph M., Ida W. (dec.), Della M. (dec.), Dora B., Robert A. (dec. ), Arlis M. (dec. ), and Grover S.
To our subject and wife there have been born eight children: Clarence, June 7, 1890, now in Purdue University; Frank W., a high school graduate and a student in agriculture at Purdue University, October 25, 1892, now at home; John G., April 27, 1895; E. Grace, June 14, 1897; Roy A., August 21, 1899; Eugene H., October 7, 1901, died March 30, 1904: Harvey, December II, 1903, died March 26, 1904, and Glenn W., born June 16, 1907.
MARTIN V. UNGER.
In every life of honor and service to the public we find a great amount of interesting incidents, yet in presenting the career of a person in written form, much of the interesting matter is superfluous, and has to be eliminated, and only the salient points given. So, in writing the account of Mr. Unger, one of Clinton county's most influential and public spirited citizens and agri- culturists, no attempt shall be made to recount all the points in his worthy and useful life, nor recite every incident, for it is deemed that only a few of them shall be sufficient to prove that he is eminently worthy of a place in this volume along with his fellows of high standing. The family of Unger has been a notable and large one in the county, and an unusually strict record has been kept by each generation. It is our pleasure to reproduce portions of the compilation published by the family, showing the early history of the family.
George Unger, the great, great grandfather, of the fifth generation, was born in Germany. He emigrated to this country in the latter part of the seven- teenth century, and settled in Pennsylvania where he lived to a ripe old age. His son, Nicholas, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Morgan county, West Virginia, where he was married to Elizabeth Hullinger.
746
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
"The Unger family up to this time were of small stature, but the Hill- ingers were a large people, and the descendants from that time have been large. To this union were born eight children -six boys and two girls, as follows: Daniel, John, Henry, Nicholas, George. Washington, Mary and Catherine, of whom we have no record excepting two, Washington, who lived in West Virginia to a good old age, and George, the fifth son, who was born February 18, 1706. He stayed under the parental roof until he was called to serve his country in the war of 1812 When he returned home he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Bailey, December 25, 1817. To this union were born fourteen children-eight boys and six girls, as follows: John, Mary Jane, Nicholas, Henry, Hannah, George W., Thomas, Lonisa, Samuel, Mariah Elizabeth, Andrew J., Rachel and Martin Van Buren. In the fall of 1836, tln father and mother, with thirteen children ( Elizabeth having died in Virginia ) started with a four-horse team, in an old-fashioned Virginia wagon, that would hold fifty-five bushels of corn, with a ridge pole eighteen feet long, in search of a better place in which to rear their children and give them a start.
Their intention was to go to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, but the roads were so muddy, and having been already four weeks on the road, they were obliged to stop in Clark county, Ohio, where they lived for three years. Dur- ing this time two of the children, Nicholas and Rachel, died, and one son was born. In the fall of 1837, with his brother, Washington, and Nathan Cump- ton, the father started West to look at the country. Their mode of traveling was on horseback. Not being suited, they failed to purchase land, and in a short time returned to his family in Ohio. Again in the fall of 1838 he went West, on the same horse he rode the first time. He went to Carroll county, Indiana, where, of Peter Duncan, he purchased land four miles north and three-quarters of a mile east of Burlington. After which, he again returned to his family in Ohio. In the fall of 1839, with his wife and eleven children hie set out for their new home in the green forests of Carroll county, with the same horses and wagon they brought from Virginia. The father was taken sick, and not being able to ride in the wagon, had to ride on horseback. They made the trip of one hundred and ninety miles in two weeks. They settled in the green forest, and in about two weeks they had built a cabin, and having moved into it, they were once more at home. In the following summer he took sick and never recovered. He died on the 28th of June, 1840, leaving his wife and eleven children to mourn his death. The mother lived on the farm for about twenty years rearing all the children to be men and women, and lived to see them all married. A short time before she died she went to live
747
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIAN.1.
with her daughter, Louisa, where she died on the igth of September, 1860, leaving ten children-seven boys and three girls.
"From this union, there are at the present time, about two hundred de- scendants, who meet every two years on the first Sunday in September .* * * "
Our subject, Martin V. Unger, was born October 8, 1857, being the son of George and Elvira (Maggart) Unger. George Unger was the son of George and Elizabeth (Bailey) Unger, who were mentioned in the intro- ductory paragraphs of this sketch. Our subject's father was born May 28, 1825, in Morgan county, West Virginia, and died on December 20, 1892, in Clinton county, Indiana. He was married to Elvira Maggart on March 13, 1851, and she was born January 12, 1828, and departed this life February 28, 1896. In 1866 George Unger was elected to the office of magistrate and was re-elected four successive terms of four years each. In 1886 he was drawn on the United States jury. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Middlefork Lodge, No. 304. Nine children were born to the union, namely: Sarah E., John, David, Martin V., Nancy J., Calvin, Eliza E., and Oliver C.
Martin V. Unger received a good education in the common schools of his day in Warren township. Later he attended the Lebanon, Ohio, Normal one term, and the six weeks' Normal at Frankfort and Russiaville. Using his education to the best advantage, he taught school for four years in Forrest and Warren township. He then took up active farming and contimied very successfully until 1907, at which time he removed to the city of Frankfort. He still manages the farm, however, from his home there. The farm of three hundred acres is situated in Warren township, and is in the very best condi- tion-well tiled, fenced, improved, very tillable, and covered with the most modern structures, including an excellent barn.
Mr. Unger was married to Lydia S. Harmon on November 2, 1879. She was born September 19, 1859. Fifteen children have been born to this union, nine of whom are now living. They are: Iva Blanche, born April 2, 1882, now the wife of II. Jacoby of Cutler, Indiana ; Grace M., born June 25, 1883, the wife of E. Boynesworth of Cutler; Robert J., born April 29, 1886, now of Warren township; Lloyd M., born February 3, 1888, thirty-second degree Mason, Warren township, married August 4, 1913, to Hannah Brookie of Cutler, Ind .; Elva M., born February 18, 1885, studying to be trained nurse in Indianapolis; Roy, born June 20, 1893, on farm; Sylvia C., born May 30. 1895, in Frankfort high school; Artie I., born April 20, 1898, in school, and Helen, born April 8, 1905, in school.
748
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Politically, Mr. Leger is a Democrat, and he served as Drainage Com missioner for Clinton county for a term of two years.
Mr. Under i- Worshipful Matter of Middlefork Lodge. No. 301. I en and Accepted Masons, and is a thirty second degree member, also member of the Knights Templar. Murat Shrine, and has filled all offices in the Blue Lodge.
GEORGE SMITIL.
No people that go to make up an cosmopolitan civilization have better habits of life than those who have originally come from the great German empire, or are descendants of these people. They are all distinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end alone make that country great. When, with these two qualities, is coupled the other quality of sound sense, which they, as a race, seem to possess in large degree, there are afforded such qualities as will en- rich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated humanity.
Among the second generation of Germans in Clinton county is George Smith, of Frankfort, well-known veterinary and public official and one of our worthy native sons, his entire life of sixty-five years having been spent here, and he is a representative of two of the sterling pioneer families of this locality.
Mr. Smith was born at Rossville, Clinton county, January 27, 1848. He is a son of John H. and Ann (Dehner) Smith, both born in Germany, from which country they emigrated to the United States with their parents when young in years and here they grew up and were married. finally locating in Rossville, where John H. Smith opened a harness shop. in 1832, and con- tinued in this business until 1852, being one of the first to engage in this line of endeavor in this section of the state. The country was sparsely settled and little improved when he came here. In 1852 he went into the general mercantile business in which he remained a few years when he sold out and took up farming, buying one hundred and sixty acres in 185.1. where part of Rossville now stands, This he operated successfully until 1865, when he sold out and moved to Kentland, Newton county. Indiana, where he purchased eight hundred acres and farmed on an extensive scale until his death, which oc- curred there in 1869. He had divided his eight hundred acre farm into cighty acre tracts, giving each of his ten children an eighty. They were named as
749
CLINTON COLATS, INDIANA.
follows. Lucas, dief in infancy; Mary, died when nineteen years of age; Elizabeth, died in po'1; Henry 1 .. , died in 1968; Joseph H., lives in Omaha, Nebraska; George, of this review; Sophia, lives in Portland, Oregon; Care- line, lives in Omaha, Nebraska; John A., lives in Indianapolis; Amandla, lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The death of the mother of the above named children occurred in 1900 at Omaha, Nebraska, where she was miling her home. The father tool much interest in public affairs and for son time was justice of the peace and also trustee of Jefferson township, Newton county. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious matters a Catholic.
George Smith grew up in his native county and received a good public school education. Ile then began farming, which he continued for some time after his father's death, and also at intervals between terms of office. In the fall of 1873 he went back to Rossville, where be bought a general store, re- maining there until the spring of 1885, enjoying a good trade with the sur- rounding country. A great deal of his attention was directed to the practice of his profession from 18885 until 1899, in which year he was elected county clerk, which office he held for four years. At that time he moved to Frank- fort, where he purchased property and there he still resides. Before moving to the county seat he was trustee of Ross township for a period of eleven years. He was city councilman in Frankfort in 1905. He has been county chairman of the Democratic party during three campaigns. He has been treasurer of the Clinton County Fair Association since its organization. As a public servant he has been very popular with his constituents, performing his various duties with great fidelity and conscientiousness.
Mr. Smith is now practically retired from active life, however, he looks after his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Union township. Politically he is a loyal Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Ren Men, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor.
Mr. Smith was married to Elenora Rose, daughter of Uriah and Eliza- beth (Masters) Rose, who located on a farm in Clinton county in 1866. To Uriah Rose and wife these children were born: Mrs. Mary Smith, of Ross- ville; Tamzen Gaddis, of McCune, Kansas; Elizabeth Douglass, of Orlando, Kansas; William W., of Ross township, this county; Josephine, who died in 1890; Elenora, wife of Mr. Smith, of this sketch ; and two children who died in infancy.
To George Smith and wife four children have been born, named as fol- lows: Ralph is cashier of the American National Bank, of Frankfort; he is
750
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
married and has one daughter, Louise: G. Adrian, cashier of the Rossville Bank, at Rossville, Indiana; is married and has three children: George Ed- ward, Marguerite and Rosemary. Frank E. is a successful physician of Chi- cago; Caroline, the youngest child, is at home with her parents.
J. M. R. HENDRICKS.
Those who know well J. M. R. Ilendricks, successful farmer of War- ren township, Clinton county, will tell you that he is a man of courage, self- reliance and of the utinost integrity of purpose, as a result of which he has during his entire life stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and friends and is therefore deserving of a place in the pages of this book.
Mr. Hendricks was born on July 25, 1861. in Ross township, Clinton county, Indiana, and he lias been satisfied to spend his life in his native com- munity, although long a resident of another township than that in which he first saw the light of day. He is a son of Samuel and Henrietta (Fink) Hendricks. The father was born near Rossville, Clinton county, in 1830, and his death occurred in 1902. The mother was born in Germany, and her death occurred in 1869. She had come west with her parents when young and here, in Clinton county, met and married Mr. Hendricks and they spent their lives on a farm, and to them five children were born, three of whom are still living, namely: Dorothy is deceased, William L. is living, J. M. R., subject of this sketch; Eldo L. is the youngest.
The gentleman whose name heads this article grew to manhood on the old homestead and there did the usual chores commonly assigned to a lad on the farm. During the winter months, when he became of proper age he at- tended the neighboring school in his district, also supplemented his public school education by studying at Ladoga and at Valparaiso, Indiana, and was therefore well equipped to enter life for himself, so far as education was con- cerned.
On November 1, 1891, Mr. Hendricks married Jennett Walter, who was born in 1866 in Warren township, Clinton county, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Steele) Walter, both parents being now deceased. They spent their active lives on a farmn.
To our subject and wife three children have been born, namely: Ruth A ..
751
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
born December 29, 1892; TIilda Il., born May 27, 1895; Mary M., born October 10, 1899.
Mr. Hendricks has always been a farmer. He removed from Ross town- ship to Warren township in 1876. He is owner of one hundred and seventy acres, about fifty acres of which is not under cultivation. The rest is pro- ductive and well improved and well tiled. The fifty acres mentioned is in woods pasture. He carries on general farming and breeding and feeding of farm animals. He has a good set of buildings on his place and is very com- fortably fixed in every way.
Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Frankfort and the Masons at Beard. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and politic- ally is a Democrat. He was elected trustee of Warren township in 1894, and served nearly five years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He was elected county com- missioner in 1908 and served three years with his ustal fidelity and satisfac- tion from January 1, 1910.
GEORGE L. THOMPSON.
Everywhere in our favored land are found men who have worked their way from comparatively humble beginnings to leadership in diverse avenues of endeavor and to positions of trust as custodians of the people's interest. Such an one is the well known gentleman whose name is the caption of this article, George L. Thompson, successful business man at Frankfort, signally fortunate in commercial affairs, and ranking with the capable and conscien- tious men of Clinton county.
George L. Thompson was born in Michigan City, Indiana, on March 2, 1860, and was the son of Charles C. and Martha (Nosworthy) Thompson. Charles Thompson, the father, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1837 and came to the Hoosier state in the 50's, and went into the contracting business, which he conducted successfully until his death on August 5, 1865. Mrs. Thompson, the mother of our subject, died on January 3, 1870, after a life of much usefulness to herself and to her acquaintances.
George L. Thompson received a common school education and then went into the First National Bank of Michigan City a short time, then took a position with the Ford-Johnson Chair Company as bookkeeper, which place he held for a period of six years, his long retention being ample proof of his
-
752
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIAES
work. He next move to Frankfort, Indiana, and bought the old J. F. Morgan Lumber Yards in company with his father-in-law, C. O. Denning, and this establishment has since been under the name of the Deming Thomp- son Company. It is capitalized at twenty-five thousand dollars and woupies one solid square in the heart of the city.
Mr. Thompson was married on January 16, 1882 to Mary F. Deming, and two children has been born to the union- Coy C. and Frank D., both of whom are associated with their father in the lumber business.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is an Independent, and has never sought pub- lic office or emolument. Religiously. he is a Methodist, and fraternally is a Mason, York Rite and belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
L. BRUCE MOORE.
No history of Clinton county, purporting to give the life records of the men who helped make the country and county what it is today, men who battled heroically against greater odds than we of today can conceive, men who were self-sacrificing and long-suffering, would be complete were there failure to make proper mention of the Moore family. Father and on have led and are leading careers which should be an incentive to others, for they are characterized by a high sense of honor, indomitable courage and inde- fatigable industry, and thus they have done much good in the community honored by their residence.
L. Bruce Moore was born on February 16, 1854, on a farm south of the city of Frankfort, and was the son of William and Sarah ( Pauley) Moore.
William Moore was a native of the Buckeye state, having been born in Ohio in the year of 1828, the son of Robert and - (Jenkins) Moore, Robert having come to Clinton county in the carly 30's and farmed there until his death in 1866. William Moore came to Clinton county before his father, and in company with an aunt. After remaining here for a short time. he decided to depart for Iowa, in hopes that the country of that state would be more productive. He evidently found to the contrary, because he enlisted in that state in the American army which invaded Mexico. He served val- iantly throughout the war with the greasers, under the command of General Winfield Seott. After the closing of hostilities, Mr. Moore returned to the North, to Clinton county, Indiana, and entered upon a farming career,
.
L. B. MOORE.
753
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIAN.1.
which he continued until within a few years of his death in 1896. He was a Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
L. Bruce Moore, our subject attended the common schools, and re- ceived a fairly good general education, the deficiencies of which he afterward made up by home reading and observation. At the age of sixteen years he began teaching school in the winter months, and in the summer days he worked on the farm. When he had reached the age of maturity, twenty-one, he removed to Thorntown, Ind., with his parents, and for a period of cight years he worked at the fire insurance business there. He then went to Leha- non, Ind., and took up the same line of business, spending another eight years there, years attended with unusual success. Ile next came to Frank- fort, this county, and conducted a coal business until 1900, when he gave it up in order to fill the office of township trustee, where he is now serving a term of two years.
Politically, Mr. Moore is a Republican. Fraternally, he is identified with the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Moore is a justice of the peace in Thorn- town.
FRANCIS B. SIMS.
One of the most conspicuous of Clinton county's pioneers was Francis B. Sims, who succeeded, during his long and useful life, in building up a great prestige in this community. He was altruistic and energetic in all affairs he undertook, and there was no man of the county who shared more of the com- mon esteem and admiration which is the reward for the man of accomplish- ment. He has passed into the other world, but behind him, he left many ex- amples of his efficiency as a business man. He was one of that vast army of young men who left their homes during the Civil War and donned the blue to save the Union.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.