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 61
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David Lanum, manager of a lumber yard at Colfax and justice of the peace there, was born in Boone county, Indiana, September 30, 1857. IIe is a son of Thomas S. Lanum, a pioneer of Boone county, where he became very comfortably established through his industry and perseverance, known for his rugged honesty and hospitality. He is still living, being now at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. The mother of our subject was known in her maidenhood as Catherine Maroney, a native of Boone county, this state where she was reared. Her death occurred in 1861, when our subject was four years old. She was a member of one of the early pioneer families of that section of the state, who removed there from Ohio. Two children were born to Thomas S. Lanum and wife, David, of this review, and Ozias, deceased.
David Lanum grew to maturity on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy. He received his education in the com- mon schools of his neighborhood and in the Lebanon Academy, but most of his education has been obtained by home study and by actual contact with the business world. He taught school for a period of eighteen months when a young man, but not particularly fancying this field of endeavor abandoned same. He turned his attention to the mercantile business which he followed from 1879 to 1881 in Colfax, building up a large and ever growing business with town and county by reason of his good management, honest and court- eous treatment of his customers. He always carried a good and carefully selected stock of goods. In 1881 he went to Templeton, Ind., and engaged in the tile and mercantile business until 1884, when he returned to Colfax and was in the mercantile business till 1895. He then accepted a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale house in Inidanapolis, of agricultural im-
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plements, his territory extending practically all over the United States, hav- ing included forty states. He remained with this firm for a period of ten years, giving his employers eminent satisfaction in every respect and being regarded as one of the most trusted and capable employees, and he greatly increased the prestige of the company wherever he went, besides winning a host of friends from coast to coast. Finally tiring of the road and desiring to spend his declining years in quiet and at home, he resigned his position with the implement company in 1908 and returned to Colfax where he lias since been in the employ of the local lumber company.
Mr. Lanum was married in 1881 at Zionsville, Ind., to Mary J. Brad- burn, to which union one son and one danghter were born, the son dying in infancy, unnamed. The daughter's name was Beulah May, who died April 12, 1910, when twenty-six years oldl. She became very active in Sunday school work and was known for her charity, hospitality and was admired by all who knew her. She was a worthy member of the Christian church.
Politically, Mr. Lanum is a Republican and he has long been more or less active in the ranks. He lias been justice of the peace for one year, and is discharging his duties in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to ยท the Masonic order, Oxford lodge, No. 190, also the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 415, in which he was first chancellor commander elected in 1895. Personally he is a man of imposing presence, being over six feet in height and weighing two hundred pounds. He is a frank, obliging and genial and makes friends easily.
JAMES ALLEN SPARKS.
An old and highly respected resident of Perry township, Clinton county, is James Allen Sparks, one of our early settlers, a man who has lived to see great changes take place in this locality, and he has by no means been an idle spectator, always doing his full share of the work of development in a material, civic and moral way, taking great pride in the upbuilding of the same. He talks most interestingly of early day conditions and of the chang- ing times. He has devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits and has met with a fair measure of success all along the line, and, having lived as near as it is possible for mortals to live by the Golden Rule, he has always enjoyed the respect and confidence of his neighbors.
Mr. Sparks was born in the year 1838. He comes of an old and in-
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dustrious family, established a number of generations ago in the East. He is a son of Thomas Sparks, who was born in Ohio, he a son of Richard Sparks, also a native of the old Buckeye state, the last named having been a son of James Sparks, a native of Ireland, from which country he emigrated to America in the Colonial days and became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, fighting with the patriots for independence, and from that day to this his descendants have been known for their patriotism and public spirit. To Richard Sparks the following children were born: William, Joseph, James, died in Ohio; Thomas, Allen, Robert, Polly, Margaret and two other daugh- ters who died in early life. The mother of our subject was Martha Loveless before her marriage. She was a native of Ohio, a daughter of Benjamin Loveless and wife, the latter being known in her maidenhood as Catherine Besley. The mother of our subject was a woman of fine character. gentle, kind, neighborly, hospitable, and she proved to be an excellent helpmeet
To Thomas and Martha Sparks eight children were born, namely; Allen, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Emeline, Minerva, Joseph, Franklin, John Henry, and one who died in infancy.
James Allen Sparks grew to manhood on the home farm where he had considerable hard work to do when he became of proper age. He received such education as the old-time schools afford, in the log cabin school houses, equipped with puncheon seats and floor, a fireplace and greased paper for window panes. During the Civil war he was one of the militia and served for a short time in the army in repelling Morgan's raid into Indiana and Ohio. In starting out in life for himself he worked about his native community for a time, then went to Indianapolis where he remained a short time, then went on to Illinois, but it was not long until he returned to Indiana and here he has since resided. He has a good farm in Perry township, Clinton county, which he has kept well improved and well cultivated and here has met with much success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a good home and good outbuildings. He lives three miles east of Colfax. He is a lover of good horses and keeps some excellent ones.
Mr. Sparks was married on April 5, 1865, to Maria Wainscott, a native of Kentucky, of an old family of the Blue Grass state, and there she was reared and received an education similar to that of our subject. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, of Colfax. He be- longs to the United Brethren church as does also his wife. He is a trustee in the same and is active in church affairs.
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SAMUEL H. RAMSEY.
It is no wonder that success has come to Samuel W. Ramsey, owner of an excellent farm known as Orchard Hill, in Section twelve, Perry town- ship, Clinton county, for he has worked persistently and along well estab- lished lines from his early youth, and all the while has dealt honorably with his fellow men, who, in turn have accorded him every respect. He has studied carefully the conditions of soil, seed, climate and all phases of natural and artificial conditions that the successful husbandman must know if he achieves more than mediocre success.
Mr. Ramsey was born in Mercer county, Illinois, near Keithsburg, March 18, 1860. He is a son of Thomas P. Ramsey, a native of Preble county, Ohio, who came to Indiana when a boy, received his education in the common schools, and after his marriage moved to Illinois for a while and followed farming. He married Mary Jane Gilmore, who was born, reared and educated in Clinton county, Indiana. She was a daughter of Eli Gilmore and wife, Mr. Gilmore having been a native of Virginia, a representative of an old Southern family that has lived in that state for many generations. Mr. Ramsey later in life moved from the Prairie state to Clinton county, Indiana, and here his death occurred in Frankfort. His wife, mother of our subject, died in early womanhood, at the age of fifty-five years. Eight children were born to Thomas P. Ramsey and wife, of whom three sons and two daughters are living, namely :. Samuel H., of this sketch; Nettie, James, Edward and Ada. The parents were exemplary Christians and were well liked and re- spected by all their neighbors wherever they lived.
Samuel H. Ramsey was a small child when his parents brought him to Clinton county, Indiana, where the father rented a farm on which our subject grew up and assisted his father with the general work when he be- came of proper age. He received a fairly good education in the public schools. When twenty-six years of age he married Martha Crick, daughter of Jolin and Eliza (Sparks) Crick, both parents being now deceased. Mrs. Ramsey's father was a soldier for the Union during the Civil war, having served faithfully in Company I, Eighty-Sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mrs. Ramsey grew to womanhood in this county and here received a public school education.
Mr. Ramsey carried on general farming and stock raising, and his place is well kept at all seasons. He raises a good grade of sheep, horses`and other live stock. Besides his own place he and his sons often farm a large tract of land adjoining their own land. Mr. Ramsey has a modern ten room house,
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neatly furnished and surrounded by a tastily kept lawn, ornamented with trees and flowers. He has an up-to-date gasoline engine which pumps his water, turns his washing machine and does many things about the home in a labor saving way. He has a fine orchard, which he knows how to make produce excellent fruit in abundance.
Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey have the following children: Ella, Laura, the latter being the wife of Rolla Buchanan ; Russell R., Ross Crick, Clay A., Wil- liam Gilmore and Roberta E.
Politically, Mr. Ramsey is a Republican of the progressive type, he ha's never been an office seeker or very active in public affairs, except to boost any movement for the general good. Mrs. Ramsey is a member of the United Brethren church.
McCLELLEN FICKLE.
It is a delight to look over the well kept, well tilled and productive farm of McClellen Fickle, of Washington township, Clinton county. We here see results of scientific twentieth century farming and if a talk is had with Mr. Fickle many things may be learned in regard to successful general farm- ing and stock raising, if one be a novice, for he is a gentleman who has made "system" his watchword for many years and leaves no stone unturned where- by he may improve conditions on his place.
Mr. Fickle was born on the old home place in this county, October 22, 1861, during the first year of the great Civil war, and he was named for Gen. George B. McClellen, who was for some time in command of the Army of the Potomac. He is a son of James Fickle who was born in Pennsylvania, where he spent his earlier years, and from which state he first removed to Ohio, later coming to Clinton county, Indiana. He was a son of Edward Fickle, also a native of Pennsylvania.
James Fickle grew up on the home farm and received such educational training as the early-day schools afforded. Upon reaching manhood he married Sarah A. Fickle, who was born in Ohio, and who was a daughter of William Fickle, a well known Clinton county pioneer, who at one time owned twenty-one hundred acres of land, being one of the largest land owners of his day and generation in this county. Six hundred and fifty acres was in Wild Cat valley and some on Two-Mile Prairie. The death of James Fickle occurred at the age of fifty-two years. His widow reached the age of seventy years. Their family consisted of the following children: William C., of Colfax, and McClellen, of this review.
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Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm and he was educated in the common schools. When twenty-six years old he married, on November 13, 1887. Minnie J. Anderson, daughter of George W. and Mary (Coltrain) Anderson, both now deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fickle the following children have been born, ten in all: Otto, Melvin, Claude, Flossie, Iva, Ledger, Orville, Wilma, Hazel and , Opal.
Mr. Fickle owns a finely improved and productive farm of one hundred and ninety-eight acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising. He has an excellent set of outbuildings and an attractive dwelling, well furnished.
He was elected trustee of his township in 1908, with a good majority, and he has discharged the duties of the office in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.
THOMAS WATT MASTERS.
The class of people who are most helpful and influential in any county are those who persistently follow a chosen vocation, who make an effort to discharge the duties of good citizenship while laboring for their own advance- ment ; who attend to their own business, thus being too busy to attend to that of others; who work on steadily from day to day, taking the sunshine with the storm. Such people are always welcome in any community and any country. They are wealth producers, and Clinton county is blessed with many of them, among which is that of Thomas Watt Masters, one of the most prominent citizens of Rossville, president of the Rossville Bank, and . extensive agriculturist and an honored veteran of the Civil war.
Mr. Masters is descended from sterling old German and Scotch-Irish ancestry, who have been worthy citizens of the United States since back in the old Colonial days. Christopher Masters, grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and he resided in Lancaster county where he engaged in the manufacture of gun barrels for the army during the war of 1812. His family consisted of ten children, an equal number of sons and daughters. From there he removed to Indiana in a very early day, locating in Fairfield, Franklin county. He was a blacksmith by trade and a very skilled workman, however, he bought a mill in Fairfield and land in that vicinity where he passed the remainder of his days. Before leaving his native state he had
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worked a great deal with a trip hammer and forging iron. He was active in the affairs of the Methodist church. He died when about eighty years of age. His son John Masters, father of our subject, was born August 5, 1805, and he received a meager education in the pioneer schools. He learned the blacksmith's trade under his father. Upon reaching manhood he married in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Susannah Harris, and to them eight chil- dren were born, six sons and two daughters. The first four were born in the above-named county, and the last four in Franklin county, Indiana. In 1835 Mr. Masters moved to Franklin county. He purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land there and followed farming and blacksmithing. By thrift and economy he added to his original purchase until he owned three hundred acres of valuable land two miles from Fairfield. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church, in which he was both steward and trustee, and he was class leader for many years. He was a useful and influential man in his neighborhood. He reached the advanced age of eighty- five years, dying on his farm on January 31, 1891. His wife was born in February, 1807, and died April 1, 1887, at the age of eighty years.
Thomas W. Masters, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born June 26, 1838, in Franklin county, Indiana, near Fairfield, on his father's farm. There he grew to manhood and received a common school education. When the war between the states began he enlisted at Connersvville, Fayette county, in Company L. Forty-first Regiment, September 18, 1861, for three years or during the war, under Capt. Isaac Walker and Colonel Bridgeland. He was then twenty-three years old. He saw much hard service, taking part in many battles and skirmishes in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and Mis- sissippi, including the battles of Shiloh and Corinth. His regiment was captured at Hartsville, Tenn., by Gen. John Morgan, only one lieutenant and six men escaping, they having been on detached duty, Mr. Masters being one of them. Later the regiment was paroled and sent back to Indianapolis where the men were remounted and armed. They were in a number of skirmishes while scouting in the vicinity of Gallatin, Tenn. They fought at the battle of Chattanooga and in all that campaign, then participated in the memorable Atlanta campaign, taking part in the battles of Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Rocky Face Ridge, Chattahoochee River and the battles in front of Atlanta. While there his term of enlistment expired and he re- turned with the rest of the regiment to Indianapolis. The regiment was ordered to turn over its horses and saddles and to draw sixty rounds of ammunition, as trouble was expected in southern Indiana. They were re- tained eight days at Indianapolis, and honorably discharged October 4, 1864.
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Mr. Masters at once returned to Fairfield and on January 3, 1865, he married Susannah Haywood, a daughter of Joseph and Ann ( Crandell) Haywood. Joseph Haywood was a substantial farmer near Fairfield where he settled in an early day. The Haywoods were an old Maryland family, of English and German ancestry. Joseph Haywood settled in Franklin county when a young man, was married there and became the father of twelve chil- dren, an equal number of sons and daughters. Three of the sons served in the Civil war, Elisha, Thomas and Jonathan, the first two named serving in the Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Thomas being out three years and was in many battles; Elisha died in Indianapolis of the measles. Jona- than enlisted just after the last call for troops. The father died during the war at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a member of the Friends church and was a good, peaceable man. 1
The month following his marriage Mr. Masters came to the vicinity of Rossville, Clinton county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he has resided continuously to the present time, successfully en- gaged in general farming and stock raising. He built here a substantial residence and made other important improvements. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church in which he is a trustee. Politically, he is a Republican, and he has served three terms as township trustee. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has long been regarded as a leader in local affairs.
CHARLES E. MEYER.
One of the enterprising and public-spirited business men of Colfax, Clin- ton county, who has worked hard and managed well and dealt honestly with his fellow men, thereby deserving the material success which has come to him in so large a measure is Charles E. Meyer. Men like him are true repre- sentatives of the type that are making our modern cities what they are --- progressive, important and as good places as possible to live in.
1 Mr. Meyer who is widely known as a tile manufacturer, was born in Edgar county, Illinois, near the city of Paris, on a farm, October 21, 1877. He is a son of M. C. Meyer, a native of Darke county, Ohio. The mother of our subject was Mary E. Davis before her marriage. To this union nine children were born, four sons and five daughters. The mother died in Clarke county, Illinois. The father spent his life engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits in Illinois, reared his large family in comfort and respectability,
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giving them proper educational advantages and care, and he still lives in Frankfort.
Charles E. Meyer was reared on the home farm and there worked when a boy. He received his education in the public schools. For some time he resided in Brockton, Ill., where he was in the employ of a Mr. Lee, one of the proprietors of a tile factory, and he there learned the various phases of tile manufacture. Finally he came to Colfax, Ind., and took a position with a local tile plant as foreman, the duties of which he is still discharging in a manner that is entirely satisfactory to his employers, for he is a careful, painstaking workman and understands thoroughly all parts of the business. He has resided in Colfax ten years and is well known to the business world in this locality. His fourteen years as an expert tile burner has made it pos- sible for the local plant to turn out a superior product which is finding a wide and ready market.
Mr. Meyer was married in 1896 in Clarke county, Illinois, to Margaret Rush, who was reared in Clark county, Illinois. To this union six children have been born, namely: 'Lovina, Ola, Edna, Leota, Rachael, and one son, Henry ; they are all living but Henry, who died in infancy.
Fraternally, Mr. Meyer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias, having passed the chairs in the latter and is active in lodge work. He and his wife belong to the Christian church. Mrs. Meyer is a member of the Royal Neighbors. She has two brothers and two sisters.
Our subject and wife have a neat new five room cottage, well furnished. Politically, Mr. Meyer is a Republican and he takes considerable interest in public affairs, especially in the general upbuilding of Colfax, being at present a member of the city council, and a member of the local board of trustees. As an official he has done much to show that the people were wise in selecting him for their servant in a public capacity.
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EDMUND O. SILVERTHORN.
It is not everyone who can make a success raising horses. Nature seems to endow some with the ability to properly judge, raise and train a horse, while most people are comparative failures in this line of endeavor; but most everybody admire a well-bred, well-groomed horse, whether driver, runner, saddler or draft, and one the things that has always added zest to
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"the pomp and circumstances of war" has been the magnificent chargers which officers ride. Clinton county, Indiana, has long been noted for her splendid horses and many of her citizens have become widely known as horsemen and have accumulated handsome competencies by a judicious handling of these animals. One such man is Edmund O. Silverthorn, of Ross township, proprietor of "Quality Stock Farm."
Mr. Silverthorn was born January 31, 1872, in Ross township, Clinton county. He is a scion of an old and sterling family, early settlers of Ross township. He is a son of Joseph Silverthorn and wife. The mother of our subject, who was known in her maidenhood as Anna Eliza Pence died in Pennsylvania where she went on a visit, at the age of forty-two years. Robert Silverthorn, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania and a scion of an English family. Joseph Silverthorn was born in Pennsylvania where he spent his earlier years, emigrating to Wisconsin and after a few years to Indiana locating in Clinton county. In early manhood he married Anna Eliza Pence, a daughter of Abner and Eliza Pence. Her death occurred in 1886, leaving three children, Laura, Edmund O. and Maud. Joseph Silverthorn devoted his life to general farming and stock raising and was one of the leading stockmen of his community, and on his farm was his son Edmund O. reared, and he received a good common school education and at the high school at Rossville. On October II, 1893, he married Venora Bozworth, who was born in Owen township, Clinton county, July 4, 1874, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools of her community and the high school at Frankfort. She is a daughter of John S. and Belle (Haggard) Bozworth, well known citizens of Owen township, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. To our subject and wife, three children have been born, namely: Joseph B., born August 19, 1894; Lavonne, born July 13, 1896, married Okes Deeds and they live in Carroll county, Indiana, and John E., born June 20, 1909.
Early in life, Mr. Silverthorn took up farming for a livelihood and has continued this line of endeavor to the present time, specializing in live stock. He has been very successful and is now owner of one of the choice farms of Ross township, a mile and a half east of Rossville, which is regarded as one of the leading horse farms in Indiana and many visitors, from far and near, are unstinted in their admiration of the fine horses found here at all seasons and also in their compliments of its enterprising and thrifty owner. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres, under modern improve- ment and a high state of cultivation, and on it is to be seen a splendid group of substantial buildings, including a beautiful dwelling and large barns, all
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