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 40
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Francis B. Sims was born near the town of Middlefork, Clinton county, on the 7th of February, 1840, and was the son of Stephen and Nancy ( Creck) Sims. Stephen Sims was born in Cooke county, Tennessee, November 24, 1792. He was a son of William and Amelia ( Russell) Sims. William Sims was a son of William and Martha Sims, and was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, May 14, 1760, his parents being of Scotch lineage. Unto the mar- riage of William and Amelia ( Russell ) Sims was born the following children : Rush county, where he resided till the death of his wife in 1834, at which Larkin, Mary A., Joshua, James, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, Stephen, Thomas, Anna, Martha and Lewis. The death of the mother of these chil-
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
dren occurred in 1820, and four years later the father married, for a second wife. Fear Sturdivant, whose death occurred in the year 1840. From his native state, William Sim removed in the year 1784, at which date he became a pioneer of Cooke county, Tennessee, where he resided till the year 1811, at which date he removed to Franklin county, Indiana, where his death of- curred August 27, 1845. His occupation was that of farmer, Ile was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served under General Washington. This sturdy pioneer and patriot was equally distinguished as a Christian. When the Methodist Episcopal church was really in its infancy in America, he became a member of this organization, and thereafter till death he remained a zealous and active member His son, Stephen Sims, father of our subject, was nine- teen years of age when he removed with his parents from Tennessee to In- diana in 1811. The family settled near Brookville. In the year 1813. Stephen married Elizabeth MeCarty, who was born at North Bend, Hamilton county, Ohio, in the year 1797, to which place her parents had only a short time previously removed from Baltimore county, Maryland. They subsequently removed to Brookville, Indiana, where the daughter married Mr. Sims. Hler father also was a soklier in the Revolutionary War. She bore her husband the following named children: Amelia, Rebecca, James N., William, John F .. Cicero, Mary J., Larkin, Sarah, Jesse, Lewis, Martha A., and William S.
For a short time after his marriage Stephen Sims resided in Franklin county, then removed to Connersville, Fayette county, and from there to date he removed to Boone county, and settled near Middlefork, where he con- tinned to reside. He died January 16, 1863. The parents were life-long mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father held many positions of honor and trust. Like his father he was first a whig in politics and upon the organization of the Republican party be became a Republican. For years he was justice of the peace, and while residing in Boone county he served as property appraiser ; for two years he was an associate justice of Boone county. He also served as a school commissioner of Rush county for five years, and in 1850 was a delegate to the Indiana constitutional convention. In all these positions he discharged his duties with fidelity and creditable ability. He was of ordinary education, but of general intelligence and unusual mental energy. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and in every sense of the term was one of the pioneers of Indiana. He was twice married and was the father of nine- teen children by both marriages. He began life as a mechanic, and having a large family to support, amidst the privations of a new country, he acquired only a limited estate, and his children, as they grew to maturity, were com- pelled to resort to their own resources.
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Our subject, Francis B. Sims, removed to Forest after thirty -five years spent in working on a farmi, and at the latter place he established a brick vard. Later he took his brick business to Flora, Indiana, and continued with the saine success as he had met with at the beginning.
On March 2. 1861, Mr. Sims was married to Lucy Cochran, who was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, on January 25, 1845, the daughter of Aaron and Laura (Morrison) Cochran. The family of the Cochrane was one of the Largest and best known of that section of the state, Aaron Cochran having come to that county from New York state in the Ho's. To Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Cochran there were born four children: Marietta, wife of George Trapp, of Elwood: Lucy A., wife of Francis B. Sims, of Frankfort: John Wesley, who at the age of eighteen enlisted in the Union army and died in Indianapolis of the measles; and Sarah F., wife of John W. Guthridge, of Frankfort. After the death of Mrs. Cochran, Aaron Cochran was again united in marriage to AAdaline Walters, and of this union were born five chil- dren: William, Monroe, died in August, 1910: Walter, Cynthia A., wife of ' A. Eikenberry, and India, wife of Charles Blair, all of Forest, Indiana.
Our subject, Francis B. Sims, was always a devout worker in the Metho- dist church, and he never hesitated to contribute to any enterprise which meant the betterment of his home community. During the war, Mr. Sims served in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, and, according to the testimony of his former comrades, he was a valiant and courageous soldier. Mr. Sims was one of the kindest and most generous men, giving liberally of his money and time to worthy people or en- terprises. He donated brick to build several churches. Besides his family, he was survived by one sister, Mrs. Naomi Brooks, who resides in Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Sims were born the following children: Laura L., wife of Charles A. Ashpaugh, of Frankfort : Naomi Amelia, wife of James L. Moul- der, of New Richmond; Della Lenora, wife of A. A. Flora, of Denver, Cole- rado, October 30, 1911, and Wallace Virgil, born July 15, 1887, and died March 15, 1888.
WENDELL B. MONTGOMERY.
The interests of modern life are so varied and complex and so wide in their influence that it requires a high standard of intelligence as well as thor- ough technical training and executive ability of a superior order to manage successfully the many lines of industry which are today the pride and boast
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of the present century of progress and prosperity. This is essentially the age of the practical and nearly everywhere the man of ideas, judgment, discern- ment and leadership is pretty much in evidence. Great things depend upon great minds for their direction and the world is beginning to realize that the present generation is constantly developing leaders and captains of industry that not only make their influence an active and potential force in the world of affairs, but in a very large measure become the directors of progress in their respective spheres of endeavor. Such an individual must know and understand the widely diversified conditions of his country, the habits of the people, their methods of work and trade, their degree of intelligence, as well as their prejudices it he would become a forceful factor of the body politic and a true leader of the industry over which he has control.
Such a man is the well-known subject of this review, one who by the vigor of his personality and mastery of his calling has risen rapidly from a position as teacher in the public schools until he is now the manager of one of the largest and most important manufacturing plants in the city of Frank- fort, Indiana. Wendell B. Montgomery is an Ohio man and proud of his native commonwealth. He was born in the city of Cleveland, September 10, 1873, the son of O. J. and Hattie (Shoemaker ) Montgomery, both of whom are now living on a ranch near Great Falls, Montana, and have unbounded faith in the future growth and prosperity of the great northwest.
Young Wendell enjoyed exceptional educational advantages as he grew up, having first finished the public school branches which supplemented by an attendance of several terms at Oberlin College and a business course in Bryant and Stratton's Commercial College, Chicago, eminently fitted him for the course of life he was subsequently to pursue and in which his success has been such as to make him one of the rising men of his day and generation in the city of his residence.
After finishing his academic and business training he taught school for several years, but not satisfied with the prospect of devoting his life to edu- cational work, he finally discontinued the profession and engaged with the New Washington Brick and Lumber Co., Washington, D. C., of which he was soon made manager. This place he filled with credit to himself and the satis- faction of his employers until 1905, when he- severed his connection with the enterprise and came to Frankfort, Indiana, where he has since held the po- sition of manager of "The National Handle Factory," a post of great re- sponsibility and trust in which he has demonstrated unusual ability as an executive and leader of men.
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Since engaging with the enterprise over which he now exercises control, Mr. Montgomery has been untiring in his efforts to promote its interests and add to its efficiency, in both of which his success has been signal and marked. The building has been enlarged and otherwise improved and the practical reconstruction of the works, together with the installment at intervals of ma- chinery of the latest and most approved pattern have so increased the capacity of the plant as to afford facilities for a business that has grown in magnitude with each recurring year and where proportions at this time bespeak still greater enlargement in the no distant future, in order to meet the constantly growing demand for the output. It is needless to state that the success of the plant and its high standing in industrial circles is largely due to the ability and oversight of the n mager who is familiar with every detail of the business and spares neither time nor pains to make it one of the leading manufacturing establishments of the kind in the state.
In addition to his interest in the large and growing enterprise with which identified, Mr. Montgomery has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen, as is indicated by his active participation in all laudable movements for the material, social and moral advancement of Frankfort and the general welfare of Clinton county. A reader, a thinker and a close observer, he has kept in touch with the trend of thought on the leading public questions and issues of the day and in politics is an ardent supporter of the Progressive Republican party, by which he was recently honored by being nominated for the office of mayor of his city, for which position he is now making an active, and, from indications, what promises to be a successful canvass. He is well liked by the people whose interests he has ever had at heart and should he be elected, will doubtless give Frankfort one of the ablest and most popular administrations in the history of the city. He is a gentleman of pleasing presence, courteous to all with whom he has relations, business or otherwise, and his friendships are limited only by the number of his acquaintances. In secret and fraternal work, he is likewise active and popular, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Travelers' Protective Association, in both of which his influence has had much to do in making the respective organiza- tions realize the purposes for which intended.
In December of the year 1893, Mr. Montgomery was happily married to Miss Mary Ulmer, an estimable young lady of Bluffton, Indiana, who has borne him five children, namely: Hilliard, Ruth, Wendell B., Jr., Mildred and Beth, who, with their parents, constitute an interesting and happy family circle.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIA.1.
RUSSELL ALLEN.
One of the bonede Eveterans of the greatest civil war which history records, and a venerable citizen of Washington township. Clinton county, who has long ranked among our best and most enterprising farmers is David Allen. a man who would be appreciated as a citizen anywhere, for he is a believer in hard, persistent work quid honorable dealings with his fellow men and at the same time is patriotic and public-spirited, having done much for the general improvement of the locality of his residence, both in a material and moral way, advocating right living and purity in politics. His place, known as Wal- nut Grove Farn, is located in Section 14, of the township above mentioned, and is a model in every respect. This place has been very skilfully and ably managed of recent years by his son, Russell Allen, a worthy son of a worthy sire, who seems to have inherited many of the commendable traits of his father, and he has spent his life on this farm, having been born here in 1873. The place contains two hundred and seven acres and it lies five and one-half miles from Frankfort.
David Allen, ex-county commissioner, was born also on this farm, in a log house, in 1840, and he is a son of Stephen Allen, who was born in 1799, in Ohio, and he came to this county in 1830 among the pioneers, and developed the farm by hard work from the virgin soil. He was a son of Phillip Allen, of Scotch-Irish descent. The family lived in Butler county, Ohio, for several generations and there Stephen Allen grew to manhood and married Mary Ross, who was also a native of that county, and there the elder Allens lived and died. Stephen Allen spent the rest of his life in Clinton county, Indiana. and was a well-known and highly respected citizen among the early settlers. His family consisted of eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely: Andrew J., deceased ; John, deceased; Elizabeth, Mrs. Rachael Groves, David, Almeda, Major and Smith B. The mother of these children died at the age of sixty-five years, while the father reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years. Politically he was a Republican, and in 1856 he voted for General John C. Fremont. He and his wife were both members of the Christian church.
David Allen was reared on the home place, and, growing up in pioneer times, he had plenty of hard work to do. He received a meager education in the old-time schools of his day. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company 1., under Col. William Wilson, of Lafayette. Our subject was soon sent to the far South and was stationed at Bridgeport, Alabama. Ile was honorably
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discharged in 1864, after which. he returned home and resumed farming. Some years ago he served as commissioner of Clinton county with much credit to himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. When twenty-one years of age he married, in November, 1871, Eliza M. Clark, who was born in Jefferson, this county, and there reared and educated. She is a daughter of John M. Clark, who came to Clinton county in 1836, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in Colfax.
Russell Allen grew to manhood on the home place here and he did his share of the work when growing to manhood. He received a good practical education in the schools of Frankfort. Upon reaching manhood he married Lettie Lane, daughter of a prominent pioneer family here. She was born on the old Lane homestead and here grew to womanhood and was educated in the schools of Frankfort. She is a daughter of Jesse Lane, mentioned on other pages of this work.
To our subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Frances, deceased ; Walter, Florence and David, Jr. Mr. Allen owns one of the choice farms of his township, which place consists of one hundred and eight acres, well improved and carefully kept. He has a good set of buildings and always keeps an excellent grade of live stock.
DAVID B. HORLACHER.
One of the chief concerns of every man in the productive period of life is to accumulate sufficient means to care for himself and his family in old age. Many men start out with the best of intentions, but err in business ji Igment and find themselves penniless in their declining years. . Others seem to be followed by unfortunate circumstances classified under the general heading of "hard luck." There are now many people whose advancing years should entitled them to freedom from life's strenuous duties who are com- pelled to work hey, id their strength for the necessities of life.
One of the citizens of Clinton county who while yet young and husky is laying by a competency to insure his old age free from want is David B. Horlacher, farmer of Washington township, a man who is a creditable repre- sentative of one of our old families, his paternal grandfather, Levi Horlacher. having been one of the early day hotel inen here, keeping a tavern in Jeffer- son as far back as the thirties, which was a favorite stopping place for people passing to the western countries. David Horlacher, father of our subject.
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has also been a well known man in the la dity since the picker das. full sketch a hum will be found by the sand ron another page of this work
The immediate subject of this review was born in this comme m Febru ary 24. 187; of the old herrchenel sheikh 1 his 'all change of die wa 1. when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the district schools. He remained on his father's farm mutil he was twenty-eight years of age. In January, 1902, Mr U d'aller married Elva M Bailey, daughter of Samuel Bailey, one of the substantial farmers of Perry town hip. Mrs. Horlacher's mother is still living, being eighty years of age. Our subject and wife have one daughter. Evalyn Lavina, who was born February 25, IQ10.
Mr. Horlacher owns a farm of two hundred three and two-thirds acres. He has two substantial sets of buildings, one set being erected this year. IIc is owner of a standard make automobile. Also is stockholder in the American National Bank and owns stock in the Clinton Grain Company.
Fraternally, Mr. Horlacher is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Colfax.
WILLIAM FREAS, SR.
It is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this re- view a man who has led an active and eminently useful life and by his own exertions reached a position of honor and trust in the line of industries with which his interests are allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, in recording such a life history, as the public claims a certain property nterest in the career of every individual and the time invariably arrives when it be- comes advisable to give the right publicity. It is with a certain degree of sat- isfaction that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon such a record as has been of the subject who now comes under this review. William Freas, Sr., of Frankfort, is a man of high standing and influence in the in- dustrial cireles with which he is identified.
William Freas, Sr., was born October 7, 1850, in Allentown, Pa., and was the son of John and Rachel (Brown) Freas. John Freas was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and came to America in the early '40's with a brother. By trade he was a steel worker. In 1868 he settled in Rossville, Clinton county, and later bought a farm five miles west of Frankfort, farm- ing the same until his death in 1882. Mrs. Freas died in 1896.
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WM. FREAS, SR.
MRS. AMANDA E. FREAS, DECEASED
H. E. FREAS
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
William Freas, Sr., spent his early years, until he was twenty-two years old, on a farm. He then went to Sedalia, where he stacked lumber for the New York Limber Company, and five years later, in 1877, he came to Frank- fort and worked for Good & MePherson in the liquor business. He stayed with this firm a very short time, then worked for Nathan Fletcher nine years. In 1882 he went into partnership with Frank Lancaster in the liquor business on North Side square, and here he remained two years. At that period he branched out for himself. In 1888 he went to Chicago, but was only engaged in business there for a period of six months, then came back to Frankfort and bought the block where the Freas Brothers are now located. Their place is known as the Elite Cigar Store, and the brands of stock kept are the best that can be obtained in the country and abroad. Our subject re- tired from active business in 1907. Mr. Freas is one of the stockholders of the First National Bank. Politically, he is a Democrat, and religiously a Lutheran. In fraternal matters lie is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Travelers' Protective Association.
Mr. Freas was married, on August 25, 1872, to Amanda E. Burns, who was born in Allentown, Pa., on October 18, 1851, and was the daughter of John and Caroline (Kreutzer ) Burns. IIer parents came to this county and settled three and one half miles north of Frankfort. Her father followed farming until within a few years of his death, when he moved to Frankfort. Mrs. Freas died on September 6, 1905. She was the mother of two children: William M., Jr., and Harvey E.
William Freas, Jr., was born on May 29, 1873, and in his youth re- ceived a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years he went into the cigar business on West Washington street, and here he stayed until 1898, when he began work for his father in the liquor trade. In 1907 he opened a small cigar store at his present location, in partnership with his brother. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Louisville, Ky., and in political life is a Democrat. Mr. Freas holds mem- bership with the Lutheran church.
William Freas, Jr., was imited in marriage on August 9, 1903, to Helen D. Hineburger, who was born in Rossville, Ind., April 17, 1875, the daugli- ter of Joseph and Rosa (Seigfried) Hineburger. Joseph Hineburger was born in Yorkville, Ind., Angust 6, 1851, and came to Clinton county when twenty years of age. He settled in Rossville, and in 1878 came to Frank- fort, where he worked as a carriage maker, and later worked in the grocery trade, which he has followed over since. Mrs. Hineburger was born near Schnecksville, Pa., on July 19, 1855. Both parents are living in this city on
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South Jackson street. Mrs. Freas, by her first marriage, was the mother of two children, namely: Mrs. Max Fowler and Horace.
Harvey Freas was born September 9, 1876, and attended the common schools of Clinton county. He also graduated from the Frankfort high school in 1897. In the year of the Spanish-American war he enlisted in Company 1, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry under Captain D. F. Allen. Harvey was commissioned commissary sergeant of the company. In St. Louis he was transferred to the band of the same regiment and was made a sergeant of the band. His service included cigh- teen months in the Philippines, and every duty he was commanded to do hie did with the utmost fidelity. In igor he was honorably discharged from the army. Ile worked for his father in the liquor busin s in Frankfort until he went into partnership with his brother in the cigar trade.
Fraternally, Harvey Freas belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Spanish-American War Veterans. He casts his vote for the Democratic candidates, and attends the Lutheran church.
In 1904 he was married to Mamie Cohee, a daughter of William and Jennie (Taylor) Cohee. Mrs. Freas lived only two years, dying on March 25. 1906. In November, 1007, Mr. Freas was married again, to Tracey Keene.
The present cigar store of the Freas brothers was opened in April, 1912. The store is one of the finest of its kind in the state, being fitted with Opal- Onyx cigar fixtures, and a full line of cigars, tobaccos, and confections is carried.
JAMES L .. HORLACHER.
A farmer when he has raised his crop has performed only half his duty : the other half is selling, which determines his profit for the year's work. It is just as important for the agricultural producer to know what the markets are as it is for the lumberman, to coal and ore producers, or the manufacturer to know what his goods are worth in the market and what competition he must meet in his selling. One of the progressive farmers of Washington township, Clinton county, who not only understands raising good crops but also how to get the best prices is James L. Horlacher, representative of an old family here.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDLINA.
Mr. Horlacher was born on the old homestead in this township. on May 27. 1870. Ile is a son of David Horlacher, deceased, who, for many years Was one of the locality's leading agriculturists. He was born in Ohio, a son of Levi Ilorlacher, who kept a tavern in the early days. The family came to Clinton county in 1840. Levi Horlacher was born in Lehigh county. Pennsylvania, at Allentown, and was a son of Abraham Horlacher, who died in that state. Levi first went to Ohio, where he married, later removing to this county. He grew up in Pennsylvania. He was a tailor by trade. He married Rebecca Brelsford, a native of Ohio. They came to this county in a wagon and kept a tavern for some time at Jefferson in the early days. They moved to a farm in 1848, and there they spent the rest of their lives. They had five children, namely: David, father of our subject; John, who was a soldier in the Civil war, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, is deceased : Annie E. is deceased: E. M. is deceased; and Clark. the youngest. The father of the children lived to be seventy-eight years of age. The mother also reached an advanced age. Politically, he was a Democrat, and was a member of the Lutheran church.
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