USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 52
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Aaron W. Lockwood was born on September 4, 1872, in Barr town- ship, Daviess county, Indiana. He is the son of Seymour B. and Phoebe J. (Houghton) Lockwood, the former a native of New Rochester, New York,
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born on August 29, 1826, and the latter a native of Mt. Pleasant, Martin county, Indiana, born on February 29, 1836.
The paternal grandfather of Aaron W. Lockwood was Aaron Lock- wood, and his children were Phoebe, Katie and Dottie, by his first marriage. By his second marriage, to Catherine Houghton, there were three children: Enni, Eula and Clay. He died in 1897, at the age of ninety-one years, and his second wife died on June 2, 1913, at the age of ninety years. The maternal grandfather of Aaron W. Lockwood was a native of Davis county, Kentucky, and a pioneer near Mt. Pleasant, Martin county, Indiana, where he was a merchant. He was engaged in the packing business in Martin county.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Lockwood was at one time a state senator. He owned the Houghton ferry near old Mt. Pleasant. He was a very prominent man during his time and was very successful in business. He was an active and influential member of the Christian church and an ardent Republican.
Seymour B. Lockwood, the father of Aaron W., was educated in the public schools of New York state. He came to Mt. Pleasant, Indiana, when a young man and worked in the store of Mr. Houghton. Later, he engaged in business with another man, under the firm name of Lockwood & Gibson. Subsequently, he came to Daviess county, Indiana, where he owned a farm, and died here in 1880. His wife died on September 3, 1887. He was a Republican in politics. His wife was a devoted member of the Christian church. They had twelve children: Catherine, deceased; Inęz E .; Horace H., deceased; Jesse S .; Anna Laura; Greeley ; Glenn, deceased ; Ora,, deceased; Odell, deceased; Delano, deceased; Aaron W., and Lewis Brooks.
Aaron W. Lockwood was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of Daviess county, Indiana. He was engaged in the livery business at Loogootee for some years and subsequently worked in a hardware store for John Hibner. Later, he-purchased an interest in the store known as the John Hibner Hardware Company and has been a traveling salesman for the International Harvester Company for a considerable period.
Mr. Lockwood was married on March 4, 1893, to Minnie Baker, who was born in Daviess county, Indiana, February 4, 1873. She is the daugh- ter of William D. and Melvina (Alford) Baker, the former a native of Virginia, born on October 1, 1848, and the latter born on February 16, 1853. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Lockwood were Isaac and Elizabeth (Bagnal) Baker, both of whom lived and died in Virginia. Mrs. Lock- wood's maternal grandparents were John W. and Margaret (Bennett)
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Alford, both natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Reeve township. Both died at Alfordsville, Daviess county. Mrs. Lockwood's father, William D. Baker, was a blacksmith. He and his wife live at Loogootee, Indiana. They were the parents of nine children, Mamie A .; William Franklin; Rolla M .; Margaret I .; Clara B., deceased; Hugh G .; Byron; Lilbert, deceased, and Helen.
To Mr. and Mrs. Aaron W. Lockwood six children have been born: John B., born on January 15, 1895, who is a graduate of the Loogootee high school and now working for the International Harvester Company ; Bessie, born on October 25, 1897, who is a student in the high school at Washington; Eva, born on September 23, 1899; Gordon, born on February 26, 1901; Muriel, born on September 13, 1903, and died in infancy, and Charles Aaron, born on December 29, 1908.
In politics, Aaron W. Lockwood has been a Republican all his life. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the United Commercial Travelers. Religiously, Mr. Lockwood and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ALONZO A. LANE.
The strong, earnest men of a people are always public benefactors. Their usefulness in the immediate specific labors they perform can be defined by leaps and bounds, but the good they do through the force they put in motion and through the inspiration of their presence and example, is im- measureable by any finite gauge or standard value. The gentleman, whose name introduces this sketch, is a man of that type. Although well known and highly esteemed, he is averse to any notice savoring of adulation, and prefers to let his achievements, rather than the fulsome praise of the chron- icler, speak for him. Every life, however, if properly known, contains more or less of interest, and the public claim a certain property interest and right in the career of every citizen, regardless of his achievements or the station he has attained. In placing before the reader the brief review that follows, due deference is accorded the feelings of the subject, in conformity with whose well-known wishes the writer will endeavor to adhere strictly to facts and omit, as far as possible, complimentary allusions, at the same time real- izing that the latter have been honorably earned and should form no small part of a like sketch in which it is sought to render nothing but what justice and meritorious recognition demand.
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Alonzo A. Lane was born on September 12, 1863, a few miles south of Salem, the county seat of Washington county, Indiana, and is the son of Richard and Ellen (Lowery) Lane. Subject's paternal grandfather was Richard Lane, who was born in the state of Tennessee in 1813, and his paternal grandmother was Jane (Martin) Lane, also a native of Tennessee and born in the year 1811. The former was at one time a merchant, but believing that his vocation was to preach the gospel of religion, he studied for the ministry and was later ordained a minister in the Christian church and assigned to the town of Martinsburg, Washington county, Indiana. To the union of Richard and Jane (Martin) Lane five children were born, as follow : Cynthian, who died at the age of five years; Martin; Ruphus, who married Angie Glenn; Richard, subject's father; Allen K., who married Sarah Kelsey and who was a practicing physician in Odon, Daviess county, for forty-five years, now retired, and John Albert, who married Emma Gardener.
Subject's father was born in Martinsburg, Washington county, Indiana, in the year 1840. He attended the neighboring schools and remained under the parental roof until about the time of his maturity, and then engaged in farming in the county of his birth. About the year 1880, he decided to move to Daviess county, Indiana, where again he took up farming and continued agricultural pursuits for the rest of his life. To Richard and Ellen (Lowrey) Lane were born four children, Alonza Albert; Arthur W., who lives in Odon, Daviess county; Luetta, the wife of James Car- roll, who lives in Odon; and, Harvey, who is married and lives in Odon. Subject's father and family are members of the Church of Christ, to which they lend their earnest assistance. Politically, Mr. Lane has always been a true advocate of the principles of the Republican party.
Alonzo A. Lane spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and received his preparatory education in the township schools of Washington and Daviess counties, Indiana, and later attended normal school. At Bloom- field, Greene county, this state, he began teaching school, and continued in that. profession for a period of ten years. He was assigned to one of the township schools in Madison township, in Daviess county, where he taught for six years ; at a later date, he was assigned to the school in Odon, Daviess county ; he taught in three summer normals in Odon between winter terms. He discontinued teaching after four years in Odon schools. Following this, Mr. Lane formed a partnership with Mr. Lowery Cooper, who was a manu- facturer of hardwood lumber and wagon-dimension stock, consisting of spokes, rims, etc., in the town of Odon and remained in that business for
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three years. After that, he bought a one-third interest in a local flour-mill in Odon and bought further interests until he owned three-quarters of this property. He then sold a quarter of his interest back to the miller, and, at the present time, is interested to the extent of an equal partnership. Mr. Lane bought a farm consisting of two hundred and sixty-five acres of fine land situated in Elmore township, Daviess county, bordering on the west fork of the White river, and this land he rents for cultivation purposes. In addi- tion to the interests mentioned, he is also the owner of the Lane Poultry Company, of Odon, which makes a business of dealing in poultry, butter and eggs, and they also deal in the buying of hides and pelts. Mr. Lane is a member of the Bloomfield (Indiana) Building and Loan Association, and acts as the agent in this locality for that association. He is interested in the Elnora Grain Elevator Company, of Elnora, this county, and also acts as president of the First National Bank in Odon.
Mr. A. A. Lane was married to Minnie Garten, December 22, 1899. She was born on February 4, 1870, and is the daughter of Capt. Z. V. and Sarah E. (Smith) Garten. Captain Garten was born on November 18, 1829, and is the son of James Garten and Lydia (Gray) Garten. James Garten was born in the year 1788, and in his early days was a farmer in this state. Later, he married Lydia (Gray) Garten, as his second wife, who was born in 1806. To the first marriage, which was with Betsie Sears, there were two children born, Cyrena and Nancy B., and to the second union there were five children, Jane, Eliza, Zimri, James H., and Mary Ann, deceased.
Captain Garten spent his boyhood days with his parents and was educated in the subscription schools of the neighborhood. He spent four terms in these schools. When he arrived at the age of twenty-three, the Civil War was being waged, and in answer to the call of President Lincoln, he enlisted on August 15, 1862, and was assigned to Company C, Ninety-first Indiana Volunteer Regiment, and commissioned as captain. In a fierce engagement with the rebel forces, near Atlanta, Georgia, he was severely wounded in the left leg on September 29, 1864, and was honorably discharged. Returning to Odon, this county, he engaged in farming on a tract of land in Madison township, Daviess county, and which he afterwards purchased. This tract originally contained two hundred eighty-eight acres. At various times, por- tions of this land have been sold until now there remains but one hundred sixty-eight acres, which he still owns, but does not cultivate, having retired from active work in 1905, and now resides in the town of Odon. Captain Garten's wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Daniel J. and Catherine (Woody) Smith, and gave birth to a son, Walter Clarence, who is now married to
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Elizabeth Crooke. They have four children: Bessie, Frank, Mage and Robert; they were also the parents of a daughter, Minnie, the wife of the subject of this review, who was born on February 4, 1870.
Alonzo A. Lane and Minnie Garten were married on December 22, 1889, and to them were born three children, as follow: Charles, born on December 24, 1890, who is the present manager of the Lane Poultry Company, since he left Purdue University; Nellie, who was born on November 28, 1893, attended college in Oxford, Ohio, and now resides at home, and Edith, born on February 23, 1900, and who resides with her parents. The family, includ- ing Mr. Lane, are stanch members of the Christ church, of Odon, and to this denomination lend hearty support. Politically, Mr. Lane is identified with the Republican ranks, and, while not an active worker in politics, he has served his community as school trustee for the past nine years and occu- pied the office of town clerk for one term. Personally, Mr. Lane is a broad- minded man of wide acquaintance and bears the reputation of being abso- lutely upright and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men. Quiet and unassuming in disposition, his great influence is felt throughout the community, and he is known to be a man firm in his convictions and upholds only those things that make for the material and moral good of the public.
HARRY H. CROOKE.
The best history of a community or state is that which deals most with the lives and activities of its people, especially those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed them- selves in a position where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life and who has achieved a career of marked success in the business circles of Daviess county, and in the agricul- tural affairs of this county. His name, which all men who know him like to honor, on account of his upright life, stands for thrift, industry and enter- prise. -
Harry H. Crooke was born 'at Odon, then called Clarksburg, in 1867, and is the son of Howard and Anna (Culner) Crooke, the former of whom was probably a native of Lawrence county, Indiana, and the latter a native of England. The paternal grandparents of Harry H. Crooke were Ollie and Nancy Crooke, of Virginia, who immigrated to Kentucky in an early day
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and later to Lawrence county, Indiana, where they entered land and estab- lished a home. They reared a large family and the last years of Ollie's life were spent at Odon. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Crooke were Steven Culmer and wife, natives of England, who came to America and first settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Later, they moved to Lawrence county, Indiana, and were pioneer farmers.
Howard Crooke, the father of Harry H., was educated in Lawrence county, and settled on Clark's prairie, near Odon, immediately after his marriage, and remained here until his death. He was a farmer, although his home was in Odon. In December, 1890, he opened the first bank in Odon. It was a private bank and was operated until his death, in 1895. He owned several farms and was a justice of the peace for many years. Howard Crooke was an active and enthusiastic worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and at one time made the race, on that ticket, for state senator, but was defeated by a slight margin. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Howard and Anna Crooke had five children, Mrs. Sarah Burrell, Mrs. Fannie Culmer, Mrs. Margaret Smiley, Mrs. Lillie Edgin and Harry H., the subject of this sketch.
Harry H. Crooke was educated in the schools at Odon and at Indiana University. After leaving the state university at Bloomington, he returned to Odon and entered the banking and real estate business. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank at Odon and is a director in this bank. He also organized the Odon Realty Company in 1905 and he is secre- tary and treasurer of this organization. Mr. Crooke is also interested in farming. He is engaged all the time in buying and selling land and looks after his own agricultural interests.
Harry H. Crooke was married in 1890 to Maggie Mason, of Odon. To this union twelve children have been born, Hazel, Lela, Mason, Oren, Frank, Edith, Martha, Howard, Harry, Jr., Ned, Elizabeth and Joseph. All of these children are still living.
Harry H. Crooke served six years as postmaster of Odon, from 1906 to 1912. In 1905 he was elected to the Legislature from Daviess county and served one term. Throughout his life, Mr. Crooke has been identified with the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. Few men in this section of Daviess county are better known than Harry H. Crooke, and few men are more deserving of the confidence, esteem and good will of their neighbors and friends than is Mr. Crooke. He is possessed of a practical interest in all public improvements in this part of Daviess county. Mr. Crooke is well known throughout the county and has a host of friends.
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LESTER LEE.
The "back-to-the-soil" movement, which is becoming so popular in all parts of the country, has no more devoted champion than the progressive and energetic young farmer whose name heads this brief biographical sketch. Reared on a farm and then attracted by what, many are foolish enough to claim, is the larger and the freer life of the city, he soon became disil- lusioned and has found great comfort and happiness in the life he at present is living on a small farm, which he is operating with much success and every prospect of enlarged opportunities. It is such young men as this that con- stitute the chief hope of the country, and it is fitting that in a history of Daviess county there should be presented a biographical reference to his life and to his experience, in trying both the rural life and then the urban life, and his decision to return to the life of the farm. The biographer, therefore, with pleasure, invites the reader to this modest sketch of the career of the young man whose name is noted at the top of this article.
Lester Lee was born in Decatur county, Indiana, November 4, 1874, the son of David R. and Sarah H. (Pearce) Lee, both natives of Decatur county, the former of whom was born on September 7, 1850, and the latter born on September 7, 1851.
David R. Lee is the son of John and Anna (McCoy) Lee, both of whom were natives of Mason county, Kentucky, the former born in 1809, and the latter born in July, 1811. John Lee was the son of Gashum Lee, a native of the state of New Jersey, who migrated from that state into Virginia, thence to Kentucky and thence to Decatur county, Indiana, where his memory, as one of the pioneers of that county, still remains. John Lee came into Indiana from Kentucky with his parents in the year 1819, and thus became one of the pioneers of Decatur county. He grew to manhood there, married Anna McCoy, and reared his family in that county, farming prac- tically all his life, though in his later years he clerked in a store in the village of St. Omar. He died in 1862, his wife surviving him many years, her death not occurring until the year 1895. They were prominent members of the Baptist church and were active in all good works in their neighborhood, where the memory of their goodly lives survives to this day. John Lee was an active participator in the public life of his community. He was an ardent Republican and took an earnest interest in the affairs of that party.
To John and Anna (McCoy) Lee there were born thirteen children: William; Lodema; Lewis, who died in his youth; Eda; Manuel; Nancy ;
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Jessie ; John T .; Sarah; Lloyd; David; Charles W., and one who died in infancy. The numerous progeny of these children, today, make the Lee family one of the most widely represented and best known in this part of the state.
David R. Lee, son of John and Anna (McCoy) Lee was reared on the paternal farm in Decatur county, acquiring an excellent education in the then well-organized schools of that county, and as a young man started farming in the neighborhood in which he was reared. He was married in Decatur county to Sarah H. Pearce, the date of the nuptials being January 9, 1874, and there all but one of his children were born. Thinking to better his con- dition, David Lee moved from Decatur county to Daviess county in 1883, but after an experience here of eighteen months, moved back to Decatur county, where he continued farming until the year 1889, when he returned to Daviess county, settling in Washington township, where he has made his home, living since 1893 on his present farm of thirty-one acres in that township, he and his wife being among the best-known persons in their neighborhood, and held in the highest regard by all. Sarah H. Pearce, whom Mr. Lee mar- ried, is the daughter of William M. and Charollete A. (Avery) Pearce, pio- neers of Decatur county, to whom were born five children, the others being : Mary F., Herman A., Amanda and William W.
To David R. and Sarah H. (Pearce) Lee were born six children, as follow : Lester L., the immediate subject of this sketch, who married Mary Cuskaden; Lawrence H., born on February 25, 1877, who married Mary Emerling; Carlton M., born on July 17, 1880, unmarried and lives at home with his parents; Lottie A., born on February 12, 1884, married Joseph R. Westhafer, now deceased, by whom she had one child; Allen L., who lives at home and is a teacher in the Longfellow consolidated school; Orla H., born on July 30, 1887, died on September 9, 1891 ; Charles M., born on October 20, 1890, married Glenn Potts, and has one child, a son, Edgar L. The Lees are members of the Methodist church and the father and sons are all Demo- crats, taking an active part in the political affairs of the county, being deeply interested in all matters relating to the welfare of the community.
Lester L. Lee was educated in the public schools of Washington town- ship, and as a young man started working on the farm. In 1909, he left the farm and began working in the railway shops in the county seat. ·One winter of such form of service, however, proved sufficient for him and he returned to the more wholesome life of the farm, on March 13, 1902, moving onto his present small farm of twenty-five acres near the city of Washington, where he and his small family are living in comfort and hap-
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piness, being very well circumstanced and independent of the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune."
To Lester L. and Mary (Cuskaden) Lee one child has been born, a daughter, Lelia L., a bright little girl, who is the delight of the lives of her parents and the light of their happy home.
Mr. Lee is a progressive young man, an excellent farmer and is well. known and popular in his neighborhood. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, the Modern Woodmen and the Eagles, and takes a hearty interest in the affairs of these several fraternal societies. He has been actively interested' in the political affairs of his home township and county, and from the year 1908 to 1914, served the county very acceptably as township assessor.
FRANK KRAMER.
One of the well-known saloon keepers of the city of Washington,. Daviess county, Indiana, is Frank Kramer, who was born in this county, April 23, 1883. Mr. Kramer was reared in Washington and educated in the public and parochial schools of this city. For eight years he has been. engaged in the saloon business in Washington, and is now located at 31I West Main street. In politics, Mr. Kramer is a Democrat. He and the members of his family are all associated with the Catholic church. Mr. Kramer was married in 1904 to Stella Kidwell, a native of Washington, who was born in 1883. She is the daughter of John and Barbara (Dant) Kid- well, both of whom are natives of Washington, Indiana. John Kidwell is now living retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kramer three children, Mary, Harold and Bernard, have been born.
Frank Kramer is the son of Louis and Mary (Hack) Kramer, the for- mer a native of DuBois county, born on February 3, 1848, and the latter a. native of Cincinnati, born on January 2, 1853. Louis Kramer was educated in the public schools of DuBois county. He was identified with the Demo- cratic party and affiliated with the Catholic church. For many years he was. a coal miner, later a mining engineer, and still later a prospector. His wife died on February 8, 1891, and he now lives retired in Washington, Indiana. He and his wife had nine children: Helen, deceased; George; William, deceased; Henry J. : Catherine; Frank; John; Albert, deceased, and Ernest.
The paternal grandfather of Frank Kramer was Peter Kramer, who married Kate Lechner. Peter Kramer was born in Germany in 1814, and'
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his wife was born in that country in 1825. Peter Kramer came to DuBois county when only nine years old. He grew to manhood in this county and engaged in the mercantile business. He also owned and operated a small packing house and was very successful. His only child was Louis Kramer, the father of Frank Kramer. Peter Kramer died in 1849, after which his wife married Miles Schuler. Two children were born to this marriage, Mary and Kate. Peter Kramer and his wife were members of the Catholic church.
Frank Kramer's maternal grandfather was a native of Germany, who married Victoria Hack, and they came to Jasper, DuBois county, early in life and here he died. His wife died in 1899. The paternal grandmother of Frank Kramer, Kate Lechner, was the daughter of Frank Lechner, who came to DuBois county in 1832, and settled in Jasper, where he died at the age of eighty-eight years.
The Kramer family has, therefore, been identified with the history of Daviess and DuBois counties, Indiana, for many years. The members of this family have been hard working, industrious citizens, devoted to the interests of their families and to the welfare of the community. Frank Kramer, the subject of this sketch, is no exception to the history surround- ing the lives of his father and grandparents.
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