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 44
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Joseph H. Steckel lived in Tippecanoe county two years, then came to Mulberry, Clinton county where he has since resided, and where he has been successfully engaged in the grocery, meat and livestock business during the past twenty-three years. He has a reputation for industry and honesty.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steckel : Emma F. at home with her parents; Rev. Lloyd W., a prominent minister in the Lutheran church, an] now located at Plattville, Wisconsin, was educated at the Lutheran College of Greenville, Penn., and at the Lutheran Seminary of Chicago; one child who died in infancy; Pearl B. the wife of C. Burns, of Madison township; Malinda wife of Lawrence Clendenning, of Madison township.
Politically Mr. Steckel is a Republican and has been a frequent dele- gate to various conventions of his party. He owns a modern well -- furnished nine-roomed house in Mulberry, which is a frequent gathering place for thic many friends of the family.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
FRANCIS G. COVELY.
That the career of such a man . Francis G. Covely, well known retired farmer, of Mulberry, Clinton county, besides being treasured in the hearts of relatives and friends, should have its public record also, is peculiarly proper because a knowledge of men, whose substantial reputation rests upon their attainments and character, must exert a wholesome influence upon the rising generation. We transmit the chronicle of such a life with the hope of in- stilling into the minds of the rising generation the important lesson that honor and industry will have their rewards in due course of time.
Mr. Covely was born August 31, 1847, in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He is a son of David and Mary (Gery) Covely, both parents natives of the Keystone state and of German descent. David Covely was a son of William Covely, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, where his ancestors settled in very early days, having emigrated from Germany. David Covely was born in 1820 in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where all his life was passed and where his death occurred in 1892. His widow is also deceased. To David and Mary Covely sixteen children were born. the subject of this sketch being the first in order of birth. The names of the others are as fol- lows: David, Sarah, the wife of Edwin Bower; William (deceased), Mary, the wife of James Sallada ; John, Michael, Joseph, Matilda, the wife of James Grice; Henry, Caroline (deceased), Jerry, and four that died in infancy.
At the carly age of fifteen years Francis G. Covely began life for him- self. working at any honest labor his hands found to do. After his twenty- first years he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade, at which he be- came a skilled workman. In 1870 he became a resident of Clinton county, locating at the village of Mulberry, where he carried on his trade for eight years, after which he engaged in farming on rented land until 1880. In that year he purchased his present farm of eighty acres in Washington township, upon which he has made many substantial improvements, including a fine house and barn. His place is under a very successful state of cultivation.
Mr. Covely was married November 17, 1872, to Mary Freas, daughter of John and Rachael ( Brown) Freas. The father was a native of France and the mother was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. John Freas came to America when eighteen years old in company with a brother, who died in Clinton county in 1888. His widow is also deceased. The following are the names of the nine children born to John and Rachael Freas: Samnel,
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Thomas, William, John, Mary, Lena, married to Henry Green: Susan, wife of Ilenry Gary ; Emma, wife of Edward Lipp, and Ella, wife of Walter Suit.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Covely have been born the following children : William (deceased), Gertrude, Rachael and John. His grand- children are Francis, Ralph and Frederick Covely: Marvin Mohler and Flor- ence Covely.
Mr. Covely affiliates with the Democratic party, and he belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men, holding membership with Dakota Tribe, No. 42, of Frankfort.
Mr. Covely is a man of fine character and high social standing in the community, popular among his neighbors and fellow citizens. For a number of years he has been an active member of the German Reformed church, of which his wife is also a member, and she is esteemed by her many friends as a lady of intelligence and piety. The family left the farm in 1912 and moved to a pleasant and modernly appointed residence in Mulberry, and our sub- ' ject and wife are here spending their declining years in quiet and comfort. surrounded by every convenience. and their pleasant home is known to the many friends of the family as a place of hospitality and good cheer.
ADDISON FREDERICK COHEE.
Life is pleasant to live when we know how to make the most of it. Some people start on their careers as if they had weights on their souls, or were afraid to make the necessary effort to live up to a high standard. Others, by not making a proper study of the conditions of existence, or by not having the best of all trainers, good parents, are side-tracked at the outset and never seem thereafter to be able to get back again on the main track. Much de- pends on the start, just as it does in a race. The horse that gets the best start, all other things being equal, will almost invariably win the race. So in the race of life; if you are properly started with suitable grooming, such as good educational and home training. you will lead in the race in after years and enjoy your existence. Such home influence were thrown around Addison Frederick Cohee, well known itizen of Frankfort, Clinton county. Both father and mother were always known to be people of sound principles and exemplary habits, and at their deaths, many years ago, there was no word of
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reproach spoken by anyone, and they left a name revered by all their many friends.
Mr. Cohee is the cion of one of our earliest pioneer families, his grand- father having settled in wilds of this locality over eighty years ago. He was born in Michigan township, Clinton county, October 16, 1875, and is a son of William A. and Katie E. (Cline) Cohee.
Benjamin Cohce, the paternal grandfather, was born in the state of Delaware, September 10. 1788. Ile was a son of Benjamin and Rachael (Dill) Cohce. The family came to Butler county, Ohio, in an early day and from there the grandfather came to Clinton county, Indiana, in 1830 and settled four miles northwest of Frankfort, when this county was covered with dense woods, in which only a spot here and there had been cleared. Here Benjamin Cohee worked hard and prospered, owning eventually a good farm of two hundred and forty acres, on which he spent the rest of his life, dying here on January 7, 1863. He married Rebecca Wilson January 4, 1821. She was born in Delaware, January 9, 1803, and her death occurred on March 4. 1868. William A. Cohee, our subject's father, was born June 7. 1853. in Jackson township, Clinton county, and here he grew to manhood and de- voted his life to farming. He and Kate E. Cline were married December 24. 1874. His death occurred August 17, 1878, when still a young man. His widow survived until in February, 1895. Politically, he was a Republican, and he belonged to the Methodist church.
Addison F. Cohee grew to manhood in his native county, and he received a common school education. He began life for himself by working for the Clover Leaf Railroad four years, then he worked for the Indiana & Illinois Light Company, and the City lighting plant at Frankfort, and during the past ten years he has filled the position of wire chief for the Central Union Telegraph Company, discharging his duties in an eminently satisfactory manner, as might be surmised by his long retention. He is an expert in this line of work and is careful and painstaking.
Politically, Mr. Cohee is a Republican, but has never been active in public affairs.
On April 4, 1900. Mr. Cohee was married to Jessie Ghere, a daughter of Jacob T. and Anna Ghere, a highly respected family of Jackson township, Clinton county, where Mrs. Cohee grew to womanhood and was educated.
Mr. Cohee has a beautiful and tastily furnished home in East Walnut street, Frankfort, and he also owns a valuable and highly productive farm of two hundred and forty acres in Kirklin township.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
GROVER CLEVELAND BAILEY.
Although yet a young man, Grover Cleveland Bailey, owner of Maple Heights farm, in Perry township, Clinton county, has proven himself to be capable of successfully carrying on a general farming and stock raising busi- ness with the best of his fellow tillers of the soil in this locality, for, in the first place he is a persistent worker, is always donig something and in the second place he is a thinking man, laying his plans well, carefully considering every phase of his business. His methods of farming and his strong nature would give promise of large success in the future in his chosen vocation.
Mr. Bailey is a descendant of one of our highly honored pioneer families and he was born on the old homestead in Perry township on November 10, 1884, the son of Silas Bailey and wife. Here he grew to manhood and was taught the valuable lesson of general farming that has stood him so well in hand after he took up the serious problem of life for himself. He received a good common school education in the schools of his neighborhood. On De- cember 13, 1905, he married Nola Belle Keyes, also a representative of one of our excellent old families, she being a daughter of Stephen Keyes and wife.
To our subject and wife four children were born, namely: Dorothy Lucile, Mary Elizabeth, Grace Louise and Mildred Druzilla. Mary Eliza- beth died at the age of five months and eighteen days. Mr. Bailey's farm of fifty-five acres, although small, is one of the best and most productive in the country, and it is always in ship shape and produces a very comfortable an- nual income. He has a modern eight-roomed house, well furnished and standing by a maple grove. His wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. Both our subject and wife are highly respected by all who know them and have a host of friends throughout the county.
Silas Bailey, mentioned above, is one of our well-to-do farmers and public spirited citizens and an honored veteran of the great Civil war. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, March 10, 1838, was a son of William Bailey, a native of Virgina, in which state the Baileys have resided since the old Colonial days. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. This family has proven them- selves to be stanch American citizens and have always been ready to fight in our wars and uphold the law. Silas Bailey enlisted in the Eighty-sixth In- diana Volunteer Infantry in 1862 and served for three years in a faithful and praiseworthy manner, taking part in a number of important campaigns and hard-fought battles and skirmishes, never showing the white feather in
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
any of them. Ile served under General Rosecrans, fighting under that great commander at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and others; also served for a time under General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, and was in the memor- able march to the sea.
Silas Bailey married in 1858 Elizabeth Deford, who was born in In- diana and who died at the old Bailey homestead in this county, November 19, 1912. To this union were born eleven children, of which only five are living : Sarah, Ollie, Effie, Pearl and Grover.
Silas Bailey is the owner of two hundred and seventy-two acres of pro- ductive, well improved and desirable land in Clinton county, and has for many years carried on most successfully general farming and stock raising on a large scale. He has an attractive home, large, good barns.
The Baileys are loyal Democrats in their political affiliations.
JOHN SMITH MOORE.
It is proper that the descendants of the old settlers, those who cleared the land of the primitive woods, would see that the doings of the earlier years are fittingly remembered and recorded. It was said by one of the greatest his- torians that those who take no interest in the deeds of their ancestors are not likely to do anything worthy to be remembered by their descendants. John Smith Moore, well known farmer of Madison township, and one of Clinton county's oldest native born citizens, is a scion of one of the pioneer families' of this locality, many of whose worthy characteristics he seems to have in- herited for he believes in keeping busy and in doing what he can in furthering the interests of his community, at the same time so guarding his conduct as to merit the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He grew up amid early-day conditions and has lived to see great changes take place here, of which he talks most interestingly.
Mr. Moore was born on the farm where he now resides, his birth occur- ing in a log house, now used as a barn. The date of his birth is January II, 1844. He is a son of Zeb Moore, who was born in Ohio. The paternal grandfather was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a native of Pennsylvania. Zeb Moore grew to manhood in Ohio on a farm and there he married Nancy Mitchell, also a native of Ohio. Her people, who were Scotch, came from
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Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day. The death of Zeb Moore occurred when his son, John S., of this sketch, was two years old, leaving also two other children and a widow, a daughter named Anna. The brother, George Moore, was a soldier in the Civil war, making a fine record; he was killed a number of years ago by an interurban car, leaving a widow and five children. The other child of Zeb Moore died in carly life. The mother of our subject was twice married, her second husband being John Leech. by whom two children were born, Albert and Jane, the latter marrying a German and they live in Towa. The death of the mother of John S. Moore occurred at the age of sixty-seven years.
John S. Moore was reared on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received such education as the old-time schools afforded, attending the log school house in his community.
Mr. Moore was married on November 30, 1871, to Cordelia E. Parks, who was born December 30, 1848, near Kokomo, Indiana, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Thomas Parks, who was born in one of the Eastern states, from which he came to Indiana in an early day. He was twice married. Four children were born to him by his first marriage and three by his second, mother of Mrs. Moore. His last wife was known in her maidenhood as Margaret Leech, who was born in Rockland, Rockbridge county, Virginia. of Scotch ancestors. Her death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-two years at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Cordelia Moore.
One daughter was born to John S. Moore and wife, whom they named Nettie Margaret : she married Wildey N. Jacoby, of Madison township, this county. They have four children, Claude Maurice, Florence Ruth, Edith Cordelia and William Smith.
John S. Moore ha devoted his life to general farming and has kept the old home place well improved and well cultivated, and the buildings well re- paired. He has always provided well for his home. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, of which he has been a steward for twelve years. He is a man exceptionally well versed in the Scriptures. He has spent all his life of seventy years on the homestead, which lies two miles east of Mulberry on the interurban railroad. He is known for his honesty, hospitality and neighborliness.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
WILLIAM H. NORRIS.
No man of a past generation in Clinton county was held in higher esteen than the late William II. Norris, who, now that life's fitful fever is over, is sleeping serenly in "the windowless palace of rest." His memory will long be revered by the vast eirele of friends and acquaintances who in life admired him, for he was a man in whom ali took a delight owing to his sterling hon- esty, his charitable nature, his patriotism and his readiness to help in the furtherance of any movement looking to the general upbuilding of the com- munity. He was a son of a pioneer in Clinton county and he himself grew 11p amid pioneer environments. We owe much to such men as his father. who came here when the land was little more than a wilderness, and, work- ing long and hard, redeemed the fertile fields and the fine farms which we of today enjoy and which are now so valuable. We can never say too much regarding these splendid, brave and courageous pioneers who literally took their lives in their hands and, not counting the cost, east their lot in the new country, away from the pleasant hearthstones of their childhood and the advantages of civilization.
William H. Norris was born May 6, 1841, on the old homestead, near Morris Chapel, Clinton county, and he spent his entire life on the home farm. He was a son of Abram and Mary Norris, a well known early-day couple who by their close application established the permanent home of the family here when the country was new. They have both been long deceased. Their family consisted of eleven children, all now deceased but two, Mrs. Edward Ewbank, of Clinton county and Mrs. Edward Wilson, who lives in the city of Frankfort.
William H. Norris grew to manhood on the home farm and there he found plenty of hard work to do in assisting his father develop the place. He received such educational advantages as the early-day schools afforded. He always engaged in general farming and stock, raising on the home farm and was very successful, keeping the farm well improved and under an excellent state of cultivation, and the buildings well repaired. At his death he owned one hundred and ten acres of fine farm land.
Politically he was a Republican, but never sought political office. Fra- ternally he was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and he be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Norris was married on December 21. 1876 to Sarah J. Fudge. a
W. H. NORRIS, DECEASED
SARAH J. NORRIS
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
daughter of Moses and Mary ( Harnsbarger) Fudge. These parents were early settlers in Clinton county. ' They cleared the wild land and developed a good farm, like the Norrises, and Mr. Fudge owned an excellent farm one hundred and sixty acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1877, at the age of sixty-nine years, he having been born in 1808. His wife who was born in 1810, died in 1885 at the age of seventy-five years. They were inem- bers of the United Brethren church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Norris two children were born : Lawrence, living three miles east of Frankfort on a farm, married to Pearl Moore, has a daughter. Ruth; and Ethel, wife of James Branstetter, a farmer of Warren township. this county, has six children : Maurice, Fay, Vern, Eldo, James and Ruthi.
Mrs. Sarah J. Norris is one of a family of five children, all now deceased except herself and Mrs. D. L. Brant, of Frankfort. Mrs. Norris owns hier own home in Frankfort and lives alone. She has an interest in her late litis- band's farm, also that owned by her father. She is a woman of pleasing personality, kind, genial and helpful, well liked by her many friends. .
The death of William H. Norris occurred on April 13, 1897. after a lingering illness, and he was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery, Frankfort.
DR. I. S. EARHART.
Dr. Isaac S. Earhart, son of George and Susannah Earhart, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1840, and is the second in a family of six boys. His father came to Madison township, Clinton county, in 1850, and settled on a farm one mile east of what is now Mulberry. Dr. Earhart went to the common schools until he was eighteen years old, and then entered the aca- demy at Battle Ground, which at that time was a large and flourishing school. After attending this school for three years he entered Wabash College, but was soon drafted for service in the army. His father hired a substitute, and, . instead of re-entering college, he taught school and read medicine with Dr. Davis, of Tippecanoe county. He attended three courses of lectures at the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, and was graduated in March, 1866. In April of that year he began practice at Mulberry, and here he has con- tinued ever since.
Mulberry was at that time a crossroads village of seven houses. The old
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plank road was yet visible ; there was not a mile of gravel road nor a bridge in Clinton county. The work of practice was done on horseback. Malaria, pneumonia, erysipelas, and intestinal troubles were the diseases prevalent at that time. There were bad sanitary conditions, poor houses, poor people with large families,-and poor pay.
In 1873 Dr. Earhart married Miss Josephine Osterday. They have two children : Henry O. and Troy W. Troy W. is a surgeon in Ancon Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone. Dr. Earhart and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has never figured in politics nor belonged to any secret orders. In 1892 he took a post graduate course at Chicago.
In the half century of his studies he has seen the practice of medicine develop from a rude and superstitious state to the highest degree of science, with its fine method of diagnosis, medication, and sanitation, and its mar- velous results in surgery.
WILLIAM B. COMBS.
William B. Combs was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 22, 1822. His father, John Combs, was a native of New Jersey, who, in 1811, moved west with his family and settled on a farm in Butler county, Ohio, near the city of Hamilton, where the subject of this sketch was born. William began working on the farm at a very early age and was engaged in the occupation of farming during his whole life. In the winter seasons he attended the dis- trict school and acquired a common school education, but the farm work often interfered with regular attendance, even in that season.
He remained on the farm helping his father until 1852, when he mar- ried Susan P. Richardson, of Hamilton, Ohio. Soon afterward he and his young wife moved to Clinton county, Indiana, arriving on November 8, 1852, where he purchased a farm about two miles southeast of Mulberry, on which he located and remained to occupy it till his death, which occurred in October, 1878.
He cleared his land without assistance, erecting first a log cabin, which was subsequently replaced by a large new residence. His support was always given to the Democratic party. He was always an active friend of education and benevolent enterprises, and was a member of the O'id Fellows, Masons and Good Templars Lodges.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
DESSIE A. CATRON.
Clinton county, Indiana, was especially fortunate in the character of her pioneers, who, save in rare instances, possessed the pluck, fortitude and courage of the true Anglo-Saxon -- that race which, apparently, delights in difficulties, because thereby opportunities are afforded to conquer them, and these people seem to have been born conquerers, subduing whatever lies in their pathway to a broader and better civilization. The founders of this county were brave, strong-armed, far-seeing, law-abiding. God-fearing citi- zens, patriotic and true to their native land, and condescending in the dis- charge of their every duty toward their fellow men. One of our worthiest pioneer families was the Catrons, of which Dessie A. Catron, farmer of War- ren township, is a worthy descendant.
He was born in the above named township and county, on October 3. 1869. He is a son of Jacob L. and Helen A. (Thomas) Catron. The father was born July 20, 1845, in Warren township, Clinton county, and here he grew to manhood and attended the early-day schools. When a young man he began farming and is still active, owning a good farm in his native town- ship. His wife was born February 25, 1850, also in this county, and she. too, is still living, having spent her life here and attended, in ber girlhood, the common schools of her vicinity. Andrew Catron, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born in Greene county, Tennessee in 1822 and there he spent his earlier years, finally removing to Clinton county, Indiana, where he was an early settler and where he worked hard developing the home farm. His death occurred in April, 1897. His wife was born in eastern Tennessee in 1828 and her death occurred in October, 1903. Our subject's maternal grandfather, P. K. Thomas, married Eliza Merrick.
Six children were born to Jacob L. Catron and wife, four of whom are still living, namely: Dessie A., of this sketch; Bessie A., married a Mr. Steward; Luella M., Sarah C., Ora, and Thomas A.
Dessie A. Catron grew up on the home farm, and, being the eldest child he found all the work his hands could do as soon as he became old enough. Lois M. Kelly, who was born in Michigan township, this county, October 22, 1869, and here she grew to womanhood and received a public school educa- tion. She is a daughter of William and Eunice (Layton) Kelly, both natives of Clinton county, where they grew to maturity, were educated in the early schools and were married and here established their home. Mr. Kelly is still living, but his wife is deceased. She was a sister of William Layton, a
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