USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
Mr. and Mrs. Callahan are members of the Christian church. In politi- cal affairs, Mr. Callahan is a strong Republican. He owns one hundred acres of land, one mile west of Odon, in Madison township, where Mr. Callahan and his family live. They are among the best-known citizens of Madison township, in which locality Mr. Callahan is respected for his indus- try, his good management and his kind-hearted, genial disposition.
449
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
7
OLLIE GILLIATT.
If a resume were to be written of the successful and influential business men of Steele township, Daviess county, Indiana, the name of Ollie Gilliatt would occupy a high position. Mr. Gilliatt has added to his natural business ability a wealth of common sense. He is a young man who understands thoroughly all of the interesting details of business principles, and is thor- oughly capable of executing any plans which he has previously laid out. Mr. Gilliatt has won for himself a reputation of rare integrity. His cour- teous, affable nature, favored with a fund of keen analysis, have won for him countless friends and growing patronage among the good people of his community.
Ollie Gilliatt, a prosperous and enterprising young business man of Plainville, Indiana, was born near English, Crawford county. He is the son of J. H. and Sarah (Crems) Gilliatt, the former a native of Orange county, Indiana, and the latter a daughter of David Crems, who was an old-time blacksmith and a farmer in Crawford county. Ollie Gilliatt's grandfather was Harvey Gilliatt, a native of Virginia, born near Lynch- burg, who married Amanda Leach, of Kentucky, when they came to Indi- ana and were among the early settlers of Orange county. Both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children were: Leach, Samuel, and James.
J. H. Gilliatt and his wife are both living near Hyatt Station, Indiana. He is a farmer and owns ninety-seven acres of land. They are members of the United Brethren church. Of the eight children born to J. H. and Sarah Gilliatt, Ollie, the subject of this sketch, was the second. The others were Darinda, Leona, Ottis, Myrtle, Maudie, Harvey and Hazel. Mandy and Hazel are deceased.
Ollie Gilliatt was educated in the common schools of Daviess county and at the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. He did not grad- uate, however, from the latter institution. He taught school in Daviess county for four years, and since that time has been engaged in many dif- ferent business enterprises. Since 1911, Mr. Gilliatt has been associated with Ernest Kilhon, a well-known banker of this county, in the operation of a general store at Plainville. Since 1909 Mr. Gilliatt and Mr. Kilhon have also been associated together in operating a canning factory. Mr. Gilliatt. however. is a heavy shareholder in the Plainville Flouring Company.
(29)
450
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Ollie Gilliatt was married to Catherine Henderson, the daughter of Seth Henderson, a native of Ireland, who came to this country early in life and who was married after his arrival in this country. To Ollie and Cath- erine (Henderson) Gilliatt three children have been born, Opal, Olene and. Lenore, who are all living at home.
Mr. Gilliatt owns a comfortable home in Plainville, where he and his wife and family live. His experience as a teacher in Daviess county nat- urally accentuated his interest in educational affairs, and in 1909 Mr. Gil- liatt was elected trustee of Steele township, serving for six years, or until 1914. He made a splendid record in this office and is given credit for greatly improving the standard of the Steele township schools. He is popular with all classes of people and is especially popular with the teachers of this town- ship who worked for six years under his direction.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilliatt and family are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Gilliatt is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
JOHN D. MONTGOMERY.
It is a well-authenticated fact that success comes as a result of legiti- mate and well-applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a course of action when once decided. Success is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and never courts the loafer. Only men who have diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of John D. Montgomery, it is plainly seen that the success which he enjoys has been won by those commendable qualities which will win suc- cess anywhere or in any vocation. His personal worth has gained for him the high esteem of many people. Mr. Montgomery, however, is a modest man and lays no great claim to accomplishment or personal achievement, though by virtue of his own perseverance and intelligence he has succeeded in many things.
John D. Montgomery was born in Barr township, Daviess county, Indi- ana, on October 2, 1858. He is a son of Valentine B. Montgomery and Harriett (Wathen) Montgomery, the former of whom was a native of Washington county, Kentucky. Valentine B. Montgomery's wife died in 1903. She was the daughter of Ceda and Rose Spalding of Kentucky, the
45I
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
former of whom was related to Archbishop Spalding, also to Catherine Spalding, one of the founders of Loretta Academy in Kentucky.
John D. Montgomery's grandfather was James Montgomery, who is thought to have been born in Maryland, where the Montgomery family orig- inated. James Montgomery was a farmer who came to Barr township, Daviess county, in 1816, and located on what is now known as the Doctor McPherson farm. James Montgomery entered this land from the govern- ment and lived there the remainder of his life. In 1856 he fell dead while chopping down a tree. James Montgomery was a member of the Catholic church. He married Ann Howard, and to this union were born eight chil- dren, Mrs. O'Brian, Valentine B., Rose Ann, Josephine L., Mary E., James, William and John.
Valentine B. Montgomery, the father of John D., reecived very little education during his early life. For a time he was engaged in farming, and owned three hundred and twenty acres of land in Barr township. Later he engaged in the mercantile business with Patrick Larkin at Mt. Pleasant. While in this business he was captain of the boat that carried their mer- chandise up and down the river. After a time he left the merchandise busi- ness and engaged in pork packing for twenty years. He was the father of six children, Henry and Frank W. are deceased; John D. is the subject of this sketch. The other children are Mary E. and Sadie F .; James W. Mont- gomery lives in California, and is in the insurance and real estate business. He married a Miss Rose, who was the daughter of Senator Rose of Cali- fornia. Senator Rose had the reputation of owning some of the finest race- horses in the world. Mary and Sadie are unmarried and live on the Mont- gomery homestead farm.
After John D. Montgomery passed through the common schools of Daviess county he attended Notre Dame University for three years, soon after which time he was married to Rose Disser, the daughter of Michael Disser, of Barr township, the latter of whom was a farmer and an ardent member of the Catholic church. He was born near the Rhine river in Germany.
To John D. and Rose (Disser) Montgomery five children have been born. The eldest, Ambrose and Mary, are deceased. The other three chil- dren are: Frank, Cletus and Corinne. Of these children, Cletus is living at Hammond, Indiana. He married Thresa Kuntz, and they have one child, John, who is named after his grandfather, John D. Montgomery. The other two children are unmarried and live at home.
452
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. Montgomery has recently gone into the drug business at Mont- gomery, Indiana. In the earlier part of his life he taught school in Daviess county for seven years, during two years of which time he was principal of the schools at Cannelburg, in Barr township.
Mr. Montgomery is a Democrat, served as surveyor of his county at one time, and was very successful in this office. He and his wife and family are members of the Catholic church.
CHARLES A. BANTA.
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Daviess county would be incomplete without specific mention of the influential and popular farmer, Charles A. Banta, of Steele township. Mr. Banta is a well-known farmer who has been active in politics and who has been a tower of influence in the community where he lives. He is a member of one of the old and highly esteemed families of this township, and for many years has been a public- spirited man of affairs. He has impressed his individuality upon the com- munity and added luster to the honorable name which he bears. Mr. Banta has always been actuated by a spirit of fairness in his dealings with the world in general, and has left no stone unturned whereby he might benefit his own condition as well as that of his friends in this favored section of the great Hoosier commonwealth. Straightforward and unassuming, genial and obliging, Charles A. Banta enjoys the good will and respect of a wide circle of friends throughout this part of the state of Indiana.
Charles A. Banta, a farmer of Steele township, was born on February 29, 1868, in Daviess county, Indiana. He received a good common school education, and when a young man performed the usual tasks which fall to the lot of the farmer boy.
Charles A. Banta is the son of Abraham T. and Eliza Ann (Stephens) Banta, the former of whom was born on December 31, 1823, in Daviess county, and who died on July 24, 1904, and the latter of whom was born on May 10, 1830, and who died on May 25, 1887. They were married on October 2, 1845. Abraham Banta was an active member of the Christian church at Bethany, and was an elder in the church at that place. He was also a soldier in the Civil War. To Abraham and Eliza Ann (Stephens) Banta the following children were born: Elizabeth Jane, on December 20, 1847, died on August 16, 1849; William W., October 8, 1849; Susan Dell, September 27, 1851; Martha Ann, December 18, 1853, died in 1899; Glen
453
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Dora, May 19, 1859; Henry B., October 21, 1862; Sarah Etta, May 22, 1865, died on November 2, 1895; Charles A., February 29, 1868, and Thomas S., March 25, 1871.
The grandfather of Charles A. Banta and the father of Abraham Banta was Henry D. Banta, an early settler in Barr township, Daviess county. He was born in 1790, and died on September 20, 1875. Henry Banta's wife was born on April 30, 1812, and died on January 20, 1877.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Banta was married to Ida M. Shanks, a daughter of Edward J. Shanks, a farmer of Washington township, Daviess county. The marriage took place on March 31, 1889. Mrs. Banta was born on May 8, 1870. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Banta began house- keeping on the old E. J. Shanks farm in Washington township. In 1893, they moved to Steele township, near Plainville, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, southwest of that place, which farm Mr. Banta purchased from James Rink. Later Mr. Banta purchased what is known as the old Booker farm, comprising forty-nine acres. Subsequently, he purchased ten acres from the Rumner farm, and still later, bought one hundred and ten acres of what is known as the Van McHenry farm. Mr. Banta now owns a total of three hundred and twenty-nine acres, and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. It is obvious that Mr. Banta has been very successful from the fact that he has been able to acquire so many farms in a comparatively brief period.
The marriage of Charles A. and Ida M. (Shank) Banta has been blessed with the birth of one son and two daughters, as follow: Noah F. was born on June 8, 1890. He was killed at the age of nineteen in a run- away accident; Garnetta B., June 13, 1897, and Mary B., October 8, 1901.
The father of Mrs. Charles A. Banta, as heretofore noted, was Edward J. Shanks, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on November 14, 1830, and died on November II, 1888. He was one of the early settlers of Daviess county, and also one of those men who went to the gold fields of California, in 1850. He worked four years in the gold mines where he made his start in life. After he returned home, he was married to Celina G. Arison, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1857. She was born in 1838, and died on August 12, 1879. To them were born one son and six daughters, Sarah Catherine, on January 10, 1860, died on January 17, 1864; Emma Jane, October 17, 1861, died on January 10, 1864; John Franklin, March 15, 1863; Mary Elizabeth, April 3, 1866; Laura Belle, April 24, 1868; Ida May, May 8, 1870, and Anna Martha, January 24, 1873.
454
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
The father of Edward J. Shanks was H. N. Shanks, who was born in 1802, and who died on October 4, 1852. The mother of Edward J. Shanks was Sarah Jordan Shanks who was born in 1805, and who died on Febru- ary 5, 1885.
Charles A. Banta, the immediate subject of this sketch, was elected trustee of Steele township in 1904, and served for four years, until 1908. In that year he was elected a representative in the Indiana State Legislature from Daviess county, and served for two years as a Republican. In 1914, Mr. Banta was again elected trustee, and is now serving in this capacity in Steele township.
The prominence of Charles A. Banta extends beyond the boundaries of Steele township. He is well known throughout Daviess county, not only for his activity in politics, but as one of the substantial farmers of the county. He is a man of strong political convictions, yet a man who is admired and respected by an appreciative people.
OLIVER WALKER.
A review of the life of Oliver Walker must of necessity be brief and gen- eral in its character, since to enter fully into the interesting details of Mr. Walker's career, touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He has filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited business men of his day and has been an important factor in the growth and development of Barr township's agricultural and com- mercial interests. He is a representative of that sterling type of the world's workers who has furnished much of the bone and sinew of the county and added stability to our country and its institutions. Yet, in spite of his many activities, he has never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but has preserved his faculties and the warmth of his heart for the broadening and helpful influence of human life.
Oliver Walker is a plain, honest business man of affairs, who was born in Daviess county on August 16, 1865, the son of Joseph D. and Margaret (Compton) Walker, the former of whom was born in Daviess county, and the latter in Mt. Pleasant, Indiana, the daughter of Joseph Compton.
Ignatius Walker, the paternal grandfather of Oliver Walker, was a native of Virginia. While a resident of that state, he operated a flat-boat,
455
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
but after coming to Daviess county, he began farming and was one of the earliest settlers. He was a member of the Catholic church and was mar- ried to Mollie Ann Masters.
Joseph E. Walker, the father of Oliver Walker, was educated in the common schools of Daviess county. He was a young man at the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving two years, during which time he was seriously injured and came home much impaired in health. Joseph E. Walker was a man of considerable influence in his community and served as justice of the peace of Barr township for many years; he was a member of the United Brethren church, and died on November 3, 1896, at the age of sixty-three. The children born to Joseph E. and Margaret Walker were Oliver, the subject of this sketch; Anna, who is now living at Montgomery, Indiana; Jennie, who lives at Vincennes; Lewis, who lives at Linton,, and Isabella, who is a nun.
After receiving a common school education, Oliver Walker has, through- out his life, been interested in farming. More recently he became inter- ested in the banking business, in which he has been active for the past eight years. For the first five years of that time he was a heavy stockholder in the Montgomery bank, which institution went out of business three years ago, which bank was succeeded by the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Montgomery, Oliver Walker being chosen as its first president. This bank has a flourishing business among the farmers and business men of Barr township.
Oliver Walker was married to Catherine Lanham, the daughter of Levi Lanham, a farmer of Barr township. Two children have been born to this union, both of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Walker owns eighty acres of land in Barr township just on the edge of Montgomery and, while he is active in the bank, also finds time to direct the operations on his farm. From 1893 to 1903 Mr. Walker con- ducted a saw-mill and lumber business. Previously he was a contractor and builder for about ten years.
There is nothing about the manners or demeanor of Oliver Walker which is in the least pretentious. He is a plain business man of keen dis- crimination and far-sighted business judgment. For all of these reasons, he has proved a very efficient and popular president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, and during which time that institution has enjoyed a sea- son of unrivaled prosperity. Mr. Walker deserves to rank as a representa- tive citizen of Daviess county.
456
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOSEPH E. KETTERY.
Success in this life comes to the deserving. It is an axiom demon- strated by all human experience that a man gets out of this life what he puts into it, with a reasonable interest on the investment. The individual who inherits a large estate and adds nothing to his fortune cannot be called a successful man; he that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value is successful in proportion to the amount he adds to his possessions ; but the man who starts in the world unaided and, by sheer force of will, controlled by correct principles, forges ahead and at length reaches a posi- tion of honor among his fellow citizens, achieves success such as repre- sentatives of the two former classes can neither understand nor appreciate. To a considerable extent the subject of this sketch is a creditable repre- sentative of the class last named-a class which has furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of our govern- ment and institutions. Joseph E. Kettery had the good fortune to be born of worthy parents, and this was his first great start in life.
Mr. Kettery was born on February 7, 1873, in Madison county, Indi- ana. He is the son of Jacob and D. M. C. (Foust) Kettery, the former of whom was born on August 2, 1848, in Wayne county, Indiana, and the latter in 1851, in Tennessee, the daughter of Joseph Foust, a farmer of that state. Jacob Kettery was educated in the common schools, and through- out his life was a farmer. The first part of his life was spent in Madison county, this state, the last twenty years of which have been spent in Daviess county. He died on February 23, 1900, while his wife, the mother of Joseph E., is still living in Plainville. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been active in the work of this church through- out her life. Her deceased husband was also a member of this church. He was a Democrat, and owned eighty acres of land in Bogard township. This is the farm upon which Joseph E. Kettery now lives.
The grandfather of Joseph E. Kettery was Joseph Kettery, Sr., a native of Germany, who came to America, before his marriage, with one brother. After arriving in America they were separated and never again saw each other. Some of the present generation of Ketterys have learned that the missing brother settled in Madison county, Indiana, and the other brother in Orange county, Indiana. Joseph Kettery lived in Madison county and was among the first settlers of that county. He owned one hundred and sixty acres there. His children were John, Joseph, Jacob, Lydia, Jane, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary and Elizabeth are the only living children.
457
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Joseph E. Kettery was educated in the public schools and, early in life, spent three years in railroad work. At the age of thirty-four, or in 1910, Mr. Kettery came to Daviess county to his present farm.
On December 15, 1897, Joseph E. Kettery was married to Laura F. Hardy, who was born on December 15, 1875. She was the daughter of Francis and Hannah (Sparks) Hardy, of Daviess county, where they are farmers. They are devoted and prominent members of the United Brethren church.
To Joseph E. and Laura F. (Hardy) Kettery four children have been born, Ruby May, Pearl Angeline, Ruth Sunshine and Earl Elsworth.
Mr. Kettery owns eighty acres of land in Daviess county and also farms the farm which his mother owns. He own a large amount of per- sonal property and a share in his mother's estate. Fraternally, Mr. Kettery is a member of the Ben-Hur tribe.
WILSON S. SMILEY.
Well-defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in attaining a true measure of success. In following the career of one who has won success by his own efforts, there comes into view the strong individuality which made such accomplishments possible and there is thus granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have made Wilson S. Smiley one of the prominent and successful farmers of Van Buren township, Daviess county, Indiana, have also won for him the esteem of his fellow citizens. His career has been one of well- directed energies, strong determinations and honorable methods. He has filled a large place in the political, civic and moral life of his community. and has especially done very much in behalf of the educational standards of Van Buren township, which he served for six years as trustee.
Wilson S. Smiley was born on February 20, 1857, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. He is the son of Abner G. and Esther B. (Bair) Smiley, the former of whom was born in Tuscarawas county and died in 1908, at the age of seventy-eight years, and the latter of whom was a native of Ohio, whose parents came from Pennsylvania.
George Smiley, the grandfather of W. S. Smiley, was a native of Ohio,
458
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
where he has lived during his entire life. He was a farmer and a devout member of the Lutheran church.
Abner G. Smiley, the father of W. S., was educated in the common schools and, as a young man, worked in a store at Winfield, Ohio. Later he entered into partnership with the owner of the store, and after a few years lost all of the money he had saved in this venture. He then took his family to a farm in Tuscarawas county, where he succeeded so well that he was able to purchase eighty acres of land. He paid for this farm in small installments of five and ten dollars each, until the debt was all paid off: Subsequently this farm was sold and he undertook to purchase a much larger one. His neighbors who owned the farm, however, refused to sell it to him because it was thought that he could not pay for it and was entirely too big an undertaking. At this time Abner G. Smiley declared that there was land in other states, and brought his family to Daviess county, Indiana, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Van Buren township. This farm is still held by the Smiley family. The last eight years of Mr. Smiley's life he lived retired in Odon. He was never physically strong, but was possessed with great energy and was a hard worker always. He was a member of the United Brethren church and was a liberal contributor to the support of this church. He was an ardent Demo- crat. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Payson, W. Seward, Royland, R. P. and Wallace. Of these children, Payson married Angeline Bigler, of Van Buren township; Royland married Clara Darks and lives in Washington; R. P. first married Sarah Trueblood and later Mary Oliver; he lives on the old homestead. Wallace is unmarried and lives in Odon with his mother.
Wilson S. Smiley was educated in the common schools and taught two terms in Van Buren township. He was married, at the age of twenty-two, to Emma Danner, who died on June 15, 1911, at the age of fifty years. She was the daughter of Joseph and Amelia (Vandever) Danner. Joseph Danner was a farmer in Van Buren township. By this marriage five chil- dren were born, Curtis, Irwin, Addie, Eva and Raleigh. Of these children, Curtis lives in Indianapolis, and married Emma Hall; Irwin married Myrtle Kelsey and lives in Van Buren township; Addie married E. W. Montgomery and lives at Bedford, Indiana; Eva and Raleigh are still single.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.