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 7
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The parents of these children belonged to the United Brethren church. The father was a Republican.
Taylor Harshman grew to manhood on the home farm, and there he worked when a boy, during the vacation period, attending the public schools in the winter months. He engaged in teaching for a period of ten years, giv- ing eminent satisfaction, his services being in great demand. When twenty- four years old, in 1872, he married Chri. tie MeNeal, daughter of Alexander MeNeal. Her death occurred in 1893 at the age of forty-six years. She was a worthy member of the United Brethren church. She left three children, Ora M., of Perry township; Mary B., and Everett of Blackwell, Okla.
Mr. Harsliman, in 1897, married Margaret Nichols, who was born, reared and educated in Clinton county. She is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Harshman) Nichols. Her father died at the age of eighty years and her mother died when sixty-seven years old. They had four children: Mar- garet, who married Mr. Harshman; Mrs. Mary M. Clark, of Washington township, and Ann Eliza Routh (dec.).
Mr. Harshman has a well-kept and valuable farm, a pleasant ten- room house and he keeps a good grade of live stock. Politically, he is a Republican.
JAMES McCLAMROCH.
At five o'clock Sunday morning. April 1, 1906. Mrs. James McClam- roch, of Frankfor .. received a telegram from San Francisco, Cal., announe- ing the death of her hush nd just seven hours earlier. The news spread about the town rapidly and was the source of profound sorrow to the many friends of the deceased. The cause of Mr. McClamroch's death was a complication of pneumonia and paralysis. He was only thirty-six years of age when he died, and his demise was one of those universal losses that is felt in every fiber of a community. He was what you might justly term a young Napoleon in finance. Entering at an early age the Farmers' Bank in Frankfort, he manifested those brilliant qualities that under the stimulus of ample opportunity have made men famous in the financial history of the
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country. He unquestionably had the genius for vast enterprises, and had he lived to the maturity of his powers there is every reason to believe that his achievements would have ranked him with the nation's most famous financiers.
James McClamroch was born in Kirklin township, October 29. 1869. Ile was the son of the late Robert MeClamroch, and the early years of his life were spent on his father's farm. Ilere he acquired his familitr sim- plicity of taste and manner that one gets only in close association with nature. The time spent in the fields is never wasted. The wide horizons that bound them give us more expansive views intellectually. Mr. McClamroch always thoughit that he was the better banker for first having been a farrar. In going from one vocation to the other he followed in the footsteps of his father, one of the most popular and influential men known in the history of Clinton county.
The McClamroch family moved from the country homestead to Frank- fort when James was quite young, which gave him the advantage of attend- ance in the local schools and graduation with the class of 1888 from the high school. He then went to Purdue University and after a course there took the position of bookkeeper in the Farmers' Bank, in which his father was largely interested. At the time of his death he was cashier of the bank and a thorough master of the banking business. He knew well the infinite detail of finance and it was through his comprehension of its minutiae that he grasped the full scope of it. He was one of the powers in the business world that know their occupation from the ground up. Besides his con- nection with the Farmers' Bank, Mr. McClamroch was also interested in the Central Energy Telephone Company, the Frankfort Water Works Com- pany, W. M. Shafer & Co., wholesalers, the Wallace Manufacturing Com- pany, the Clinton Hotel, the Frankfort Brass Company and the Union Title and Guarantee Company. In addition to this varied and extensive local con- nection he was interested in oil wells in Delaware county and factories at Logansport and Anderson and owned large tracts of land in Indiana and Texas. Such extent and intricacy of ownership for one so young indicates unmistakably to an intelligent observer those faculties that in effecting vast combinations have revolutionized the whole industrial world.
On March 1. 1893, Mr. McClamroch was united in marriage to Miss Ivy Spencer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Spencer of Frankfort. The issue of this union is three sons-John, Robert and James. In his religious affiliation Mr. McClamiroch was a member of the Christian church.
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in which he was a leader and contributed with extraordinary liberality to its advancement. He was a Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite, and was one of the most active and eminent members of the Masonic lodge in Frankfurt. After all is said. perhaps the most eloquent tribute to his memory is that in his business transactions, which were many and of much magnitude, he was scrupulously honest and generous even beyond the point of exact justice. His ideals were of the pure and lofty type, and he lived up to them as nearly as a man can come to the perfect pictures of his imagination.
HENRY HERBERT THOMAS.
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, one who has identified himself with the best interests of the county and city of his home.
Henry Herbert Thomas was born in Tipton county on a farm, August 18, 1848, and was the son of Minor L. and Cynthia (Jeffrey) Thomas. Minor L. Thomas was born in New York state in 1816 and was the son of David L. and Phoebe Thomas. They came from that state to Fayette county, Ind., being among the earliest settlers to this part of the state, and lived the usual hard life of the pioneer. David L. Thomas departed this life in 1862 and his wife, our subject's grandmother, died in 1858.
When the national horizon was obscured by the ominous clouds of the Civil war, Minor L. Thomas was running a saw and grist mill in Windfall. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company T, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Thomas served valiantly during his active life in the army, but after the long and arduous siege of Vicksburg, in which he participated, he was seized with the dreaded swamp diarrhoea. He barely reached home, for three days after his arrival he was called to his death. His wife died in 1859.
Henry Il. Thomas attended the district schools until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he began work on the farm, dividing his time be- tween that occupation and teaming. His next step was into the stock busi-
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ness and in this vocation he made a great success, remaining in the same about fifteen years. From 1876 until 1887. Mr. Thomas was in partnership with J. IT. Fear, then went into the who', ale produce business, which he followed until 1906. In 1880 he was elected county clerk of Tipton county, and so he abandoned his business during the term of his office. However, in 1888. he was back in the produce business with j. H. Fear, and in 1907 he sokl out his interest in the firm. In igor he was elected joint representative of Tip- ton and Clinton counties, and served in that capacity to the full satisfaction of his constituents who had given him the office. In foto he was a council- man-at-large in Frankfort, but resigned after serving two years. Mr. Thomas now owns an excellent and well entre el farm i 200 acres in Montgomery county and 240 acres in Iloward county, Ind. Besides the business interests mentioned, he is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank, and is interested in the Frankfort Loan and Trust Comapny and the Frankfort Heating Company. Politically, he is a Republican, and has been very promin- ent in the work of the party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, and in religious affairs is a Methodist.
In 1878 Mr. Thomas was married to Henrietta Free, the daughter of Randolph Free, of Alexandria, Ind., who was a cabinet maker by trade. Both of Mrs. Thomas' parents are dead.
ELI MARVIN.
The present generation of Clinton county was never more honored and benefited by the presence of any man than that of Eli Marvin, capitalist, financier, friend, neighbor and gentleman. He was a noteworthy example of the American business man at his best, and in his sad death his community lost a whole-souled, altruistic, amiable man, one of noble manhood and high ideals. In introducing the life details of Mr. Marvin's life, it is highly proper that we should quote the words of the Frankfort Crescent, written from an intimate knowledge of the man and his life :
"The light of a great spirit went out when death won the victory. There never was a soldier who went to death with greater fortitude. Eli Marvin, facing almost sure death, never gave up the fight. The last three days, though suffering intense pain, this noble character did not waver. He felt that the one chance of an operation was worth the fight and he faced the crucial moment bravely.
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"Indiana has few men that will be as greatly missed as he who was taken. He was endowed by nature with gifts possessed by but few, being a natural orator, a brilliant Conversationalist, a splendid companion and a Christian gentleman. Thoroughly conversant with the Bible, the lowly Nazarene had no greater defender. There are many who have received a Christian inspiration from this forceful character, and many are they who have been the better for the life that has just passed. No man greater loved his God than he and none had the touch of sympathy for his fellowman in a greater degree.
"Eli Marvin never gave up. His whole life in business brought out this characteristic strong]: Many lange Business deals, given up by associates as impossible, were forced to a successful conclusion by the indomitable will of this man. As he lived, so did his soul pass to the unknown. He had no complaints to make : though suffering indescribably he kept that energy that gave the physicians confidence in performing the last test. Nature, however, was exhausted. The long fight against death did not impair the will, though it did destroy the body.
The state has lost one of its distinguished citizens ; Frankfort a man who has been to the fore in every improvement for the city's welfare; the friends, one who cannot be replaced, and the sorrowing family a devoted husband. an indulgent father and a loving brother.
"Like all great characters, Eli Marvin was beyond criticism of the errors of mankind. Ile realized the imperfections of humanity and his breadth of mind did not permit the analysis of the frailities of human nature. Death could have taken no one where the sting would have been more deeply felt. or the loss mere sincerely mourned."
Eli Marvin was born in Boone county, Indiana, on August 9, 1850, and was a son of the late Senator Henry M. Marvin. Mr. Marvin's birth oc- curred at Northfield, in the county mentioned, and his early years were spent upon a farm. He attended the county schools and later was student in the Professor Hopkins school at Ladoga. After completing his education Mr. Marvin began to teach school himself in Boone and Wayne counties, but did not continue in this occupation very long. During the early years of his life Mr. Marvin treasured the ambition to become a lawyer, and, with this pur- pose in view, read law at Buffalo, New York, with his great-uncle, Legrande Marvin, and was admitted to the bar of that state shortly before coming to Frankfort. However, he never practiced the profession, as he became active- ly engaged in business immediately upon his arrival in Frankfort.
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Mr. Marvin began active service in the commercial field before coming to Frankfort. In partnership with Adolphus Wysong he was engaged in the hardware busine -- it White town, Indiana, and the firm was very successful in every way. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Marvin and S. C. Booker engaged in the hardware business in Frankfort and in 1884 the firm again sold out to J. II. Coulter and G. T. Dinwiddie.
Mr. Marvin was actively engaged in the business of the Wallace Manu- facturing Company, and was one of the first directors of what is now the Clover Leaf railroad, when it was a narrow gauge. He aided in building the road, giving of his time and money to the enterprise. Ile was interested also in the gravel road- of the county, and he was very successful in getting the farmers interested in and supporting the construction of them. At the time of his death Mr. Marvin was a director of the Indiana Southern Railway Company.
Mr. Marvin was the builder of the water works in Frankfort, which is known as one of the best and most complete plants in the state. He also built the water works plants at Green Bay. Fort Howard and Waukesha, Wisconsin, all of which he sold. He then engaged in the telephone business, taking over the plant built here by Mr. Murphy, of Indianapolis, and he was also the organizer of the Central Energy Telephone Association and was president of this company at the time of his death. He was instrumental in the building of the Indianapolis Southern railroad, running from Indianapo- lis to Swiss City, the line later being sold to the Illinois Central corporation. During the last years of his life Mr. Marvin was interested in the building of electric lines.
In the building of water works systems Mr. Marvin was associated with George H. Norman, of Newport, Rhode Island, a financier and capitalist. Mr. Marvin was a member of the board of control of the Central Hospital for the Insane at Indianapolis; he held the place of treasurer of the board. and had been a member ten years at the time of his death. The Indianapolis and Newcastle fraction line was over three-fourths completed at this time. Mr. Marvin was singularly successful in all of these undertakings, and it can be attributed to nothing but his high business sense and his indomitable will power. He was not the type of capitalist who made money by the blood of others; he was the opposite, for he never believed in extortion of any kind. and gave to every man his proper wage and treatment. These characteristics made him one of the most popular men of Clinton county, and everybody was his friend. Mr. Marvin departed from this earth on July 25. 1909.
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Mr. Marvin began active service in the commercial field before coming to Frankfort. In partnership with Adolphus Wysong he was engaged in the hardware busines at White town, Indiana, and the firm was very successful in every way. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Marvin and S. C. Booker engaged in the hardware business in Frankfort and iu 1884 the firm again sold out to J. II. Coulter and G. T. Dinwiddie.
Mr. Marvin was actively engaged in the business of the Wallace Manu- facturing Company, and was one of the first directors of what is now the Clover Leaf railroad, when it was a narrow gauge. He aided in building the road, giving of his time and money to the enterprise. Ile was interested also in the gravel road. of the county, and he was very successful in getting the farmers interested in and supporting the construction of them. At the time of his death Mr. Marvin was a director of the Indiana Southern Railway Company.
Mr. Marvin was the builder of the water works in Frankfort, which is known as one of the best and most complete plants in the state. He also built the water works plants at Green Bay, Fort Howard and Waukesha, Wisconsin, all of which he sold. He then engaged in the telephone business, taking over the plant built here by Mr. Murphy, of Indianapolis, and he was also the organizer of the Central Energy Telephone Association and was president of this company at the time of his death. He was instrumental in the building of the Indianapolis Southern railroad, running from Indianapo- lis to Swiss City, the line later being sold to the Illinois Central corporation. During the last years of his life Mr. Marvin was interested in the building of electric lines.
In the building of water works systems Mr. Marvin was associated with George H. Norman, of Newport, Rhode Island, a financier and capitalist. Mr. Marvin was a member of the board of control of the Central Hospital for the Insane at Indianapolis; he held the place of treasurer of the board. and had been a member ten years at the time of his death. The Indianapolis and Newcastle traction line was over three-fourths completed at this time. Mr. Marvin was singularly successful in all of these undertakings, and it can be attributed to nothing but his high business sense and his indomitable will power. He was not the type of capitalist who made money by the blood of others ; he was the opposite, for he never believed in extortion of any kind, and gave to every man his proper wage and treatment. These characteristics made him one of the most popular men of Clinton county, and everybody was his friend. Mr. Marvin departed from this earth on July 25. 1909.
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On November 25, 1875, Mr. Marvin was married to Eliza Jane Snyder, a daughter of one of the promising families in the county. One son, Le Grande, survives him. Mr. Marvin was one of four boys and five girls, only two of whom, Jesse and Charles, survive. Mrs. Marvin is still living in the city of Frankfort. Mr. Marvin was a member of the Methodist church since he was seventeen years of age, and in every way his life was a Christian one. Fraternally, he belonged to the Masonic Order. the Knights Templar, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Marvin was also a mein- ber of the University Club at Indianapolis.
JESSE ELSWORTH RYAN.
Among the citizens of Frankfort who are now in the prime of life and enjoying a success won by honest effort and fortitude, is the subject of this sketch, Jesse E. Ryan. He is recognized by all who know him as being a man of high quality and excellent ideals. He is descended from a sturdy pioneer family, and has many inherited characteristics of thrift and energy which have insured the success he has made. Mr. Ryan has been versatile in his years of activity, having tried different vocations before he selected the tailoring trade as a life work. It was a wise choice for Mr. Ryan, for he has made good, and is an aid to the community, not only through his trade, but by hearty co-operation in whatever movement for the public good he may be asked to join.
Jesse E. Ryan was born in Washington township, this county, on Octo- ber 13. 1863, and was. the son of Jesse and Priscilla (Anderson) Ryan. Jesse, his father, was born in the state of New York in 1805, and in com- pany with several brothers came to Clinton county in the later twenties and settled in Washington township, there following the trade of the black- smith until 1885, when he retired from active life. He died in 1895. Dur- ing his life he was a Democrat politically, and religiously belonged to the Christan church. Mrs. Ryan died in 1871.
In his youth our subject received a good common school education, and then began the study of photography, thinking to take the same up as a life work. After four or five years spent in this manner he entered business as a mercantile salesman, continuing as such for twenty-five years. In 1910 he established his present business on south side square. His business as a tailor is supplemented by a repairing and cleaning department. In I911 he moved
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his shop to West Clinton, and in January, 1913. he moved to his present location in the Gilbert block. Here he has a large floor space, and he carries a complete and appropriate line of suitings. Mr. Ryan originated the suit club in Frankfort.
Fraternally, Mr. Ryan is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian, and in politics is an Independent.
On June 25, 1907, he was married to Nellie Wolf, a native of Chicago. There have been no children born to this union.
FRANCIS M. HENDRICKS.
The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden traits of mind, character and courage, designed to increase the pride of their family and their community, and it is to be regretted that the people, as a whole, are not more intimately acquainted with the history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found men of every occupation known to human art. The subject of this sketch is distinctly one of the fore- most citizens of Kirklin township and Clinton county, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellowmen for enterprise, integrity and honor.
Francis M. Hendricks came into this life on September 27, 1859, in Kirklin township, Clinton county, being the son of Nathan and Sarah (Hunter) Hendricks. The father was born May 8, 1820, in the state of Virginia and moved to Ohio, where he lived until 1855, then traveled to his present home in a covered wagon. Later, he went to Iowa, but found the opportunities in that state not so good as the county which he left, so he returned to this locality, and continued his trade of farmer and cabinet maker, at which he was a success. He was a Democrat in politics, and fra- ternally belonged to the Masonic order. The mother was born September 17, 1820, and died April 17, 1905; the father died April 7, 1877. Twelve children graced the name of Hendricks, namely: Milton, John, Benjamin, Sarah Jane, three unnamed, Lewis, Charles, Francis, Hattie and Olive. Francis and Lewis are the only one still living.
The subject of our sketch received a common school education in Kirk- lin township, and then took up farming, which he has followed ever since. JIe owns two hundred and ninety-five acres of tillable land in the township. All but ten acres are well tiled and otherwise improved. He has one of the
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MR. AND MRS. F. M. HENDRICKS
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handsomest and best equipped homes m Clinton county. It contains all the modern improvements, including a vacuum cleaner in every room.
Mr. ITendricks married, on April 17. 1874, Hattie Roush, born October 17, 1864. in Clinton county, the daughter of Nathan C. and Elizabeth (Neaves) Rouslı. Her father was born October 8, 1834 in Clinton county, Ohio, and moved to Indiana when a boy. He still resides in this county. Ile served valiantly through the Civil War in Company G, Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In this connection, it must be mentioned that Mr. Ilend- ricks had three brothers in the war: Benjamin was killed while in uniform, and Milton died soon after returning. Mrs. Hendricks, mother, was born in Henry county, Kentucky, on June 6, 1841, and when eleven years of age came to Indiana on horseback with her parents She was one of five chil- dren, including Howard, Fanny, Walter, and Willard. She received a com- mon school education.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks one child has been born-Morris G. His birth occurred July 5, 1886. He received grade and high school training, and later attended both Indiana University and Purdue University. He was mar- ried to Georgia Thompson on April 17, 1912, a girl born in Illinois on De- cember 24, 1886.
Our subject declares allegiance to the Democratic party, but does not seek public office. His interest in his farm and family has prevented him from joining any fraternal organizations.
HOWARD HARSHMAN.
This might well be called the age of successful young men, for it is no doubt true that men succeed earlier in their life work now than in past gen- erations. It is not uncommon now to find men retired at middle age, whereas his father and grandfather were compelled to work on to the end unless the infirmities of old age compelled them to cease. The biographer does not presume to offer an explanation. One of the well known citizens of Clinton county who has achieved a definite degree of success at an early age is Howard Harshman, the present able and popular county recorder, a man who has ambition not only to succeed in life but at the same time to confer some degree of good on his home community.
Mr. Harshman was born in Perry township, Clinton county, May 17, 1870. He is a son of Martin V. and Ann Eliza (Henderson) Harslunan, (28)
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handsomest and best equipped homes in Clinton county. It contains all the modern improvements, including a vacuum cleaner in every room.
Mr. Ilendricks married, on April 17, 1874, Hattie Roush, born October 17, 1864. in Clinton county, the daughter of Nathan C. and Elizabeth (Neaves) Roush. Her father was born October 8, 1834 in Clinton county, Ohio, and moved to Indiana when a boy. He still resides in this county. IIc served valiantly through the Civil War in Company G, Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In this connection, it must be mentioned that Mr. Hend- ricks had three brothers in the war: Benjamin was killed while in uniform, and Milton died soon after returning. Mrs. Hendricks, mother, was born in Henry county, Kentucky, on June 6, 1841, and when eleven years of age came to Indiana on horseback with her parents She was one of five chil- dren, including Howard, Fanny, Walter, and Willard. She received a com- mon school education.
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