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 59
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After his marriage Mr. Harshman began farming in Madison township, tilling the land of the farm on which he was born. Five years later he moved
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to Washington township and subsequently bought forty-five acres; he has never lived more than a mile from his birthplace. He has a very productive place on which stands a large well furnished house, good outbuildings, bank barn with modern conveniences and a one-hundred ton silo. Ile handles some thoroughbred Jersey cows and registered Hampshire swine.
Two children were born to our subject and wife, namely: Myrtle L., born February 6, 1891 ; she is one of the county's successful public school teachers, now teaching at Jefferson ; she was graduated from Mulberry high school in 1911 and also attended school at Teachers' College of Indianapolis. Louis P. was born February 20, 1892. has also been given a good education, having graduated in the same class with his sister. e was employed at the Farmers' Bank of Frankfort for two years, but now is a student in the pre- medical department at Indiana University.
Mr. Harshman and his family are members of the Jefferson United Brethren church. The uprightness and integrity of the character of Mr. Harshman are too well known to most of the residents of this county to re- quire any words of culogy at our hands. A man who has witnessed the vari- ous stages of improvement through which Clinton county has passed in a half century, who has always been amongst the foremost in the adoption of meas- ures to promote such improvements, can not fail to be loved and respected by all who share the advantages secured to them by himself and those as- sociated with him in taking the initiatory steps for this advanced civilization.
THE INDIANA LIGHTING COMPANY.
The Indiana lighting Company is an institution in the city of Frankfort. The company is founded on the most stable basis, and is consequently award- ed the patronage of the citizens of the city in a most unhesitating manner. The company was originally organized in 1885 as the Frankfort Gas Com- pany. In 1893 it was transferred to the Indiana Natural Gas and Illuminating Company, and upon the failure of the natural gas supply in Indiana, was changed to the name of the Indiana Lighting Company. It is, in form, a stock company. Sixteen men are employed by the company, and the plant itself covers two and one-half acres of ground, with five thousand square feet of floor space. Besides the actual making of the gas, the company carries in stock at their offices a full line of fixtures and lights, adapted to the gas which they manufacture. This stock includes various styles of lights, gas
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irons, heaters and the well-known "Jewel" line of stoves. As a matter of courtesy and efficient service, the company keeps all the gas lights in the business houses of Frankfort in good condition, keeping them clean and sup- plied with new mantles. Besides supplying Frankfort with artificial gas, the Indiana Lighting Company furnishes the city of Lebanon with gas, it being pumped there under twenty-five pounds pressure. About fifteen hundred con- sumers are located in Lebanon, and residents are supplied all along the line between Frankfort and Lebanon. The company has lines in all the streets of Frankfort and fifteen hundred consumers there are patrons of the company.
Nearly six hundred carloads of oil and about the same amount of coal is used every year in the manufacture of the gas. The crude oil and decom- posed oil is the essential feature of the industry. The gas proper is made by firing the coke and then spraying the crude oil over the same. The gas in the mains of Frankfort has an average pressure of three and one-half ounces.
MURRAY HART.
Among the younger generation of agriculturists of Clinton county the name of Murray Hart occupies a prominent position, because of the many qualities he has already exhibited in perpetuating the good work done here by his forefathers, the pioneers of the early day when the first work in farming consisted in felling the trees of the forest and so clearing the ground. Mur- ray and his brother, John A., known as Abe, work together, and their friends speak of them as the Hart brothers, giving each equal praise for their in- dustrious, and excellent manner of running the affairs of the home place, be- queathed to them by their worthy father.
.Murray Hart was born November 22, 1885, in Sugar Creek township, Clinton county, Indiana. He is the son of David E. and Mary (Cobb) Hart. David Hart is a pioneer and native of the Hoosier state, having been born December 5, 1840. The mother comes from the Quaker state and was born there on August 31, 1845. She still resides on the farm in Sugar Creek township. David Hart was a farmer, and a successful one, having started life with nothing, and ending his life with one hundred and ten well-im- proved acres of farm land, which is classed as among the best in the county. Politically he was a Republican. Eleven children were born to his wife, eight of whom are living. Those eight are: Dora, John A., Wesley, Edward, Effie, Milo, Silvia and Murray.
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Our subject received his education in the common schools and in the high school. Most all of his life has been spent in farming, and as yet he has not seen fit to marry. The old home place in Sugar Creek township is the farm he lives upon, there being ninety acres of undivided land, all tillable, and which could be casily tiled. The latest and best improvements make up the complete farm. The mother and one brother, John .A., live with our sub- ject, and they are known in the business world as the Hart brothers.
John A. Hart was born in Sugar Creek township, where he now resides, received an education similar to that of his brother and then engaged, for a period of two years, in teaching school, when he engaged in farming, which vocation he has followed all his life in conjunction with stock raising. He was united in marriage with Miss Orfa King, who was born in Kirklin town- ship, this county, the daughter of William King. Two children have blessed this union, viz: Okle and Floris. For years John and Murray were engaged in the breeding of horses, handling all breeds of draught horses, and then they sold out in the spring of 1913 and entered upon their regular vocation of farm- ing.
Murray Hart is a member of the Masonic Order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; is a Presbyterian, and votes the Progressive ticket. John A. is also a Mason and Odd Fellow, but is a member of the Christian church.
FRANK W. BARNETT.
One of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of Union township, Clinton county, who is deserving of special mention in a work of this nature, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, a man who believes in keeping his farm in as good a condition and appearance as any of his neighbors and one who also believes that it is his duty to assist in the gen- eral upbuilding of the community, thus he is always in favor of better roads, bridges, public buildings, law enforcement; in fact, whatever makes for the public weal in his township and county.
Frank W. Barnett was born May 26, 1868 in Kirklin township, Clinton county. He is a son of William J. and Anna (Williams) Barnett. The father was born in Putnam county, Indiana, and his death occurred some eighteen years ago. The mother of our subject was born in Tipton county, Indiana, and she preceded her husband to the grave by about two years. William J. Barnett was a farmer and stock trader About twenty-eight years ago he left
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the farm and moved to Frankfort and served as treasurer of Clinton county for two terms on the Republican ticket with much satisfaction to his con- stituents. His family consisted of seven children, only two of whom are now living, Mrs. Cannie O. Phillips, and Frank W., of this sketch.
Frank W. Barnett grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked when a boy. He attended the district schools in his neighborhood, later the Frankfort high school and received a very practical education. Mr. Barnett was married June 22, 1892, to Zona Ball, who was born in Jack- son township, Clinton county, in 1869. She is a daughter of John and Dora (Major) Ball. Here she grew to womanhood and received a common school education, also attended high school. Six children have been born to our sub- ject and wife, all of whom are living a tthis writing. They were named as follows : Eulalia, married Claude Thompson ; Hortense, Dolores, Anna, Will- iam J. and Theodore Arlin.
Mr. Barnett remained on the home farm until he was eighteen years old, in Kirklin township, and then moved to Frankfort, where he finished his schooling, and then worked in his father's office in the court house, who was at that time county treasurer. After his marriage he went into the grocery and meat business in Frankfort, then engaged in farming and trading. About nineteen years ago he moved to a farm in Center township, where he lived three years and from there moved to Union township, where he now lives. He owns one hundred and fifty-five acres of good, tillable land, which he has placed under modern improvements, building his own home. He has taken much interest in public affairs, and since moving to Union township he has served a term as treasurer of Clinton county in a highly acceptable manner to his constituents. For the last four years he has been in the contracting busi- ness in connection with farming, under the firm name of Snider & Barnett. They have been very successful, handling some large jobs in various places, in gravel and stone road work. Our subject also devotes considerable at- tention to the dairy business, maintaining one of the most sanitary, up-to-date and desirable dairies in the county, keeping eighty-five head of fine Jersey cows. He feeds large numbers of hogs, and raises draft and driving horses, which, owing to their excellent breeding, find a very ready market. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of his township. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and fraternally he be- longs to the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men, all of Frankfort. He attends and supports the Methodist Epis- copal church.
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ABRAHAM A. McCLAMROCH.
Notable among the citizens of Clinton county is Mr. McClamroch. He is notable because he has added to the community a quantity of activity directed for the good of the community, as well as for himself, and his interest lias ever been in co-operating with his fellow citizens. To such men a locality, whether it is a county or a state, owes its prosperity and success, and Clinton county is to be complimented upon having so many enthusiastic citizens, rep- resented by a type in Mr. McClamroch. The family of McClamrochs have been prominent in Clinton since the pioneer days, and, indeed, it was to some of the sturdy menfolk of this family that the county is indebted for her safe journey through the dubious days when homes were hewn from the forests.
Abraham A. McClamroch was born on a farm near Kirklin, this county, on January 14, 1867, and was the son of Robert and Elizabeth ( Holcraft) McClamroch. Robert McClamroch was born in Butler county, Ohio, Octo- ber 24, 1834, and was the son of Thomas and Nancy McClamroch. Mr. Mc- Clamroch's genealogical record could be traced back through several genera- tions to Scotland, from which country his great great grandfather emigrated to America many years ago and settled in North Carolina. His great grand- fathers, James McClamroch, was a native of North Carolina, and there mar- ried Elizabeth Cornell, who became the mother of several children, the names of whom are as follows: Thomas, father of Robert; James, John, Mrs. Martha J. Longfellow, and Mrs. Sarah Beal. Thomas McClamroch was born in August, 1808, in North Carolina, grew to manhood on a farm in Butler county, Ohio, where his parents settled close to the year 1809, and was there united in marriage to Nancy Baldridge, who was born in Ohio, Novem- ber 15, 1815. The parents of Mrs. McClamroch were Daniel and Sarah (Woods) Baldridge, both natives of Ohio, and members of old and highly respected families of Butler county. After his marriage Thomas McClam- roch engaged in farming, which he carried on in Ohio until 1838, at which time he emigrated to Indiana, locating in Boone county, where he purchased a tract of wild land, from which he afterward cleared and developed a good farm. He possessed abilities of a trader of high order, and soon became the owner of over six hundred acres of land. In 1849 he moved to Indianapolis, from which time until his death, December 15, 1859, he lived a life of re- tirement.
Robert McClamroch, the father of our subject, was brought by his par- ents, when he was four years old, to Boone county, Indiana, and here he spent his youthful days, assisting his father with the work on the farm, and
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receiving as much education as the common schools could afford, and he attended them during the winter seasons until his twenty-first years. He then took a position with the Big Four Railroad as a bridge repairer, which he held for about four years, and then married and engaged in farming on the old home place in Boone county. He continued successfully his farming until 1860, in which year he removed to Indianapolis, but stayed there only a short time, returning to farm life in Clinton county, purchasing a farm in Kirklin township, where he lived until 1891. In 1874 Mr. McClamroch became inter- ested in the banking business in Frankfort, and was identified with the Farmers' Bank, first as director, and in 1881, as president. He moved to Frankfort in 1891, and there departed from this life on the 22nd of January, 1900.
Robert McClamroch's marriage to Elizabeth J. Holcraft occurred on February 7, 1858, and to that union there were born the following children: Mary F. Smith, Charles B., Thomas, deceased; Abraham, our subject ; James, Nancy Fritch ,and Grace Lucas. Mrs. Elizabeth McClamroch's death oc- curred on November 8, 1896.
Abraham A. McClamroch received a good common school education and attended the Frankfort high school for a time. He entered Purdue Uni- versity in the year after leaving high school and graduated from there in 1889, having taken the full course in mechanical engineering. He spent one year in Texas on a ranch, and in 1891 became an employe of the Wallace Manufacturing Company. In 1893 he went into the grocery business with J. F. Kramer. In 1895, in company with his partner and W. M. Shafer, he engaged in the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of W. M. Shafer & Co. He is also associated with his brother, under the firm name of the Frankfort Hotel Company, and are now operating the Coulter House.
The Wallace Company was, in 1875, known as W. W. Wallace & Son, and for eight years continued as such. J. A. Kramer bought a half interest in 1883 and then it was known as the Wallace Clay Crusher and Stone Separator Company. In 1887, Marvin, Booher & Price bought out Mr. Kramer, and then organized the Wallace Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of Positive Feed Tile and Brick Machines. In 1891 R. P. Shanklin bought the Wallace interest, and ran the plant with W. R. Cunningham as superintend- ent. In 1890 Robert McClamroch and D. A. Coulter became stockholders, and now make brick and tile making machinery and accessories, also general casting work for the Clover Leaf railroad shops, and general repair work. In 1907 Abraham A. McClamroch became active manager of the Wallace
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Manufacturing Company, since which time the business has experienced a steady growth.
Abraham McClantroch was married in 1892 to Viola Holmes, who was born in Sugar Creek township, this county. Two children were born to the union, Robert and Elizabeth, and they are both deceased.
Fraternally, Mr. McClamroch is a member of the Masonic Order, and has attained the thirty-second degree. He also is a Knight Templar. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is a brother in the Kappa Sigma fraternity, having joined the Purdue chapter.
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WESLEY MORRIS.
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Clinton county within the pages of this book, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests are identified with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name appears above, perculiar interest attaching to the fact that he has lived in many states and has selected Indiana as his last and best. Mr. Morris is a valuable addition to the locality and county, and contributes greatly to the presperity of the community.
Mr. Morris was born June 29, 1860, in Clark county, Ohio, and moved from there when twenty-five years of age to Kansas. From that state he went to Illinois, and to this place in 1906. He was a son of William and Marinda (Dixon) Morris; the father was born March 24, 1841, in Springfield, Ohio, and died in Illinois in 1902; the mother was born May 15, 1838, in Union county, Ohio, and is still living. The father was a farmer and a Re- publican. Five children were born to him, namely: Wesley, Scott, William, Walter and Harrison.
Wesley Morris received a common school education, and then took up farming, which he has followed ever since. On December 22, 1887, he was married to Ella Richards, who was born in Floyd county, Indiana, on June 13, 1868, the daughter of William and Barbara (Engleman ) Richards. Her father was born January 22, 1842, in Floyd county, Indiana, and died in August, 1895. Mrs. Morris received a common school education. Three chil- dren were born to the union: Elmer, born July 21, 1890, and married to
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Jewell Duun; Wilbert, born October 4, 1895, and Lorin, born October 31, 1900.
Mr. Morris owns one hundred and fifty-five acres of land, all of which is tillable. The land is well improved in every way, and Mr. Morris built his own home thereon. He raises Short Horn cattle and Duroc hogs, also Percheron horses, and Plymouth Rock chickens.
Politically, Mr. Morris is a Republican, and religiously is a member of the Presbyterian church.
CHARLES S. DAVIS.
If everyone would resolutely determine to look upon the bright side of things, the world would be far happier and considerably better off. There is supposed to be a silver lining to every cloud, so the poet Riley, proposed that we should turn all our clouds wrong side out. There are many people who will say that it is cheap and easy for one who has been successful to utter such an opinion, but it might be interesting to them to know that when one achieves and arrives at success it is even harder to look upon the bright side of things, than it was in the days when one possessed little of this world's goods. One of the successful citizens of Forest township, Clinton county, who has always made it a point to be optomistic and to scatter sunshine along life's pathway is Charles S. Davis, well-known farmer, now living in retire- ment.
Mr. Davis was born July 12, 1867, in this township, then a part of John- son township. He is a son of John A. and Anna (Norman) Davis. John A. Davis was a successful general farmer and stock dealer, and was one of our shrewdest money makers, a man of keen foresight and sound judgment, yet possessing strict honor and integrity. He became the owner of six hundred acres of valuable land in this locality and was long an influential citizen here. He has been deceased a number of years.
To John A. and Anna (Norman) Davis five children were born, four of whom are still living: Charles S., of this sketch; Lowell H., Martha (dec.), Norman O. and Mary.
Charles S. Davis grew to manhood on the home farm, where he spent his boyhood days in much the same manner as other country boys. He re- ceived a good common school education, attending Frankfort high school for awhile.
Mr. Davis has been twice married, first on September 11, 1881, to Sadie
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Dale, who was born in the autumn of 1865 in Howard county, Indiana. She was a daugliter of Frances M. and Rachael ( Ratcliff) Dale. Mr. Dale was a native of Ohio from which state he came to Clinton county, in an early day and established the future home of the family. The death of our subject's first wife occurred on December 24, 1905, without issue. On February 14, 1912, Mr. Davis married Ethel Gibbs, who was born in Hancock county, In- diana, May 18, 1885. She is a daughter of John S. and Sarah ( Bristo) Gibbs, both also natives of Hancock county. There Mrs. Davis grew to womanhood and received a common school education. Of this last union one child has been born, Milo Dale Davis, whose birth occurred on May 1, 1913.
Mr. Davis began farming when a young man and has continued in this line of endeavor to the present time with uninterrupted success. He is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable and productive land, all tillable but about twenty-five acres. The place is under a high state of im- provement and cultivation. His father built the residence and outbuildings, all of which are substantial and convenient. Our subject has added other im- provements. He buys and feeds large numbers of hogs annually. Although he still resides on his farm, he rents the land, merely overseeing its operation in a general way.
Mr. Davis is a Democrat, but has never been active in politics. He be- longs to the Masonic Order, lodge at Forest, also the Knights Templars. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church and is superintendent of the Sunday school.
DAVID C. LOVELESS.
One of the enterprising and public-spirited men of Colfax. Clinton county, who is doing a great deal in fostering the substantial growth of the city is David C. Loveless, who, although a comparatively recent comer, has proven himself in league with all good movements for the betterment of the place. Being a man of exemplary habits and of friendly demeanor he has won a wide circle of friends and is one of the men of the locality of which this history treats, who is deserving of special mention within its pages.
Mr. Loveless who is one of the trustees of Colfax, in fact, chairman of the board, was born in Milford, Iroquois county, Illinois, in 1855. He is a son of a farmer, Benjamin Loveless, who was born in Ohio. The mother of our subject, who was known in her maidenhood as Mary J. Crutcher, was
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a native of Illinois, in which state her parents were pioneers, having re- moved there from Ohio. The parents of our subject are both deceased, the father having died at Frankfort, Ind., at the advanced age of seventy-nine years; the mother passed away when sixty-four years of age. Their family consisted of six children, an equal number of sons and daughters. Politically, the father of the above named children was a Republican, and religiously, he belonged to the German Baptist church, as did also the mother. They were noted for their piety and industry. They established a good home and gave their children good advantages in every way.
David C. Loveless was reared on the old home farm in the Prairie state and there he worked hard when a boy. He received an education in the common schools of his locality, which has been supplemented by long years of home reading and by actual contact with the business world. He began farming when young in years and continued to engage in general agricultural and stock raising pursuits with continuously gratifying results until five years ago when he removed to Colfax, Ind., where he has a good home, and is enjoying the comforts of life, prepared to spend his declining years in ease. He has been engaged since coming here in the real estate business, and has been very successful, having made many important trades, and he always has listed for sale some of the best properties in Colfax and Clinton and Boone counties. He is an excellent judge of property values, especially farms, and is often consulted regarding good, safe investments in farming and city property.
Mr. Loveless was married in Montgomery county, Indiana, on June I, 1875, to Catherine C. Saidley, a lady who comes of an excellent family and who has been a good helpmate in every way. She was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and was reared and educated there, near Clark's IIill. She is a daughter of John Adam Saidley, who was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- many, being eleven years of age when he emigrated with his parents to the United States. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. His wife was known in her maiden hood as Rebecca J. Bowers, who was a native of the state of Pennslvania. The parents of Mrs. Loveless are both now deceased, teh father having attained the ripe old age of eighty-five years. Ile was a member of the German Baptist church. His family consisted of eight chil- dren, five sons and three daughters: Isaac, Joshua, Jesse, Wiliam, Frank, Mary, Anna and Catherine C., the latter, the wife of our subject, having been the youngest in order of birth.
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