USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 64
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During the year 1904 Thomas E. Resler was married to Ethel Martin, a daughter of Doctor Simon and Sarah E. (Brumfield) Martin, and to their union three children have been born, Fred S., on February 10, 1906; Dorothy Eunice, March 22, 191 I, and Florence, November, 1913, died January 1, 1914.
Dr. Simeon Martin was a son of Joseph and Nancy (McCray) Martin, and was born on April 29, 1852, near Little Eagle Creek, Marion county. His paternal grandparents, by first marriage, were William and Jane (Hall) Martin, the former a native of Pennsylvania, who spent most of his life in Ohio as a farmer, but in his declining years, was a resident of Indianapolis. His first wife gave birth to the following named children: John H .; Joseph; Ambrose S .; Ezra J., a university graduate; William; Phoebe J .; Lucinda. The second wife was Elizabeth Goldsberry, who gave birth to Colvin and Ella. Doctor Martin's father, Joseph Martin, received his early education in the public schools of Newton, Ohio, and farmed his entire life, coming to Indiana in the year 1835 or 1836, locating in Marion county, where he farmed on the land known as Haughville and which is now a part of the city of Indianapolis. It is said that he broke the ground and did the first plowing immediately west of the present site of the state capitol building at Indian- apolis. He was twice married, the first time to Nancy McCray, who was born in 1825, in Connersville, Fayette county, who gave birth to two chil- dren, Simeon, subject's father-in-law, and Sarah J., who married Frank P. Wier and lived in Morton county, Kansas. The second marriage was to Minerva Messersmith, a daughter of Peter Messersmith, who gave birth to a son Richard, who died in infancy, and Luetta B., who married D. A. Castleman and resides in Indianapolis.
Dr. Simeon Martin was educated in a public school that formerly occu- pied a portion of the ground where Crown Hill Cemetery is located in the city of Indianapolis; later he attended school in Mount Jackson, an Indianapolis suburban town, then attended Battle Ground College and Commercial Institute for two years. After these years of schooling, he decided to teach and was a professional school teacher for nine years. He was married in 1877, to Minnie Caterson, a daughter of James P. Caterson, who was a Mexican War veteran and captain in the Civil War of 1860-1865. To their union was born one child, William, who died at the age of one year; his mother died in the year 1881. Doctor Martin's second wife was Sarah E. Brum- field, a daughter of Nathan Brumfield, and to this union were born Eva, who died in infancy ; Ethel, subject's wife; Lulu, who died at the age of fourteen
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years, and Nora. After Doctor Martin discontinued teaching, he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Indianapolis, where he began the study of medicine and graduated in the year 1883, then established him- self as a practitioner, first in the town of White Lick, Boone county, where he remained a year, then went to Daleville, Delaware county, where he remained four years, and again removed to the town of North Salem, Hendricks county, and continued to practice for the following fifteen years. He bought a farm from Robert W. Mason, consisting of one hundred and sixteen acres in Elmore township, Daviess county, after which he purchased sixty acres more and now owns one hundred and seventy-six acres of what is known as the Old Mason farm, situated about half way between the towns of Odon and Elnora, and where he now lives. He is an active member of the Christian church, a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, and is now serving the county as a Republican member of the county council. He is highly esteemed by all who know him.
Thomas E. Resler is an ardent advocate of the progressive principles of the Republican party, but does not take any active interest in politics. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and favors the belief of the United Brethren church and lends his support to that denomination. Personally, he is one of the popular young men of the community and par- ticularly noted for his genial disposition, aggressiveness in the promotion of all meritorious enterprises tending to the welfare of the community, and, socially, is most hospitable, wins friends easily and, among the wide acquaint- ยท ance which he enjoys, he has many warm and loyal supporters.
LEVI W. WEAVER.
Levi W. Weaver needs no introduction to the people of Daviess county, since his entire life has been spent in this community, a life devoted not only to promoting his own interests, but also the welfare of his neighbors. He is a man representative of one of the esteemed families of this section and a gentleman of high character and worthy ambition. He has held no small place in the public view and is a splendid type of the intelligent, up-to-date, self-made American. He is regarded as one of the very best business farm- ers in Elmore township. As a citizen, he is progressive and well abreast of the times. Mr. Weaver enjoys the confidence of all of his neighbors, by whom he is highly respected.
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Born on March 9, 1875, in Elmore township, Daviess county, Indiana, Levi W. Weaver is the brother of Jacob C. Weaver, whose life history is told elsewhere in this volume, and the son of Abraham and Fannie (Bar- key) Weaver, the former of whom was born in Mason county, Kentucky, on January 21, 1840, and died on July 20, 1908, and the latter born in 1841 in Ontario, Canada, died on August 14, 1906. Levi Weaver's grand- father was Jacob Weaver, a blacksmith, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, who married Charlotte Kinneman, also a native of that place. They were married in Pennsylvania, but subsequently moved to Kentucky, where they only resided a short time, when they removed to Indiana, set- tling in Madison township, Daviess county, at which place Jacob Weaver followed his trade the remainder of his life. He owned a farm of eighty- five acres, and was a devout member of the German Lutheran church.
Abraham Weaver, the father of Levi Weaver, was educated in the sub- scription schools of Daviess county and obtained only three months' school- ing before he had arrived at the age of twenty-one. This education, how- ever, he supplemented by home study and became a well-informed man. teaching school for four years. He was a builder and contractor and did most of his work in Greene, Martin and Daviess counties. He owned a farm of two hundred and ninety-five acres in Elmore township, was a Democrat in politics and a member of the United Brethren church.
Levi W. Weaver was one of three children born to his parents: Jacob C., whose history is given elsewhere, and Christina, who was born in 1870 and died in 1875.
Educated in the public schools of Elmore township, Daviess county, Indiana, Levi W. Weaver, after leaving the public schools, took a business course and went to Illinois, remaining there for twelve and one-half months, during which time he completed the course of stenography and typewrit- ing. After leaving the business college he began farming on the tract of land where he now lives in Elmore township. He has lived upon this farm continuously since that time, the farm consisting of one hundred and fifty acres at the present time. Mr. Weaver does general farming and stock raising and is an extensive breeder of the large type of Poland China hogs.
Levi W. Weaver was married in 1899 to Catherine S. White, the daugh- ter of James M. and Mary J. (Wood) White. To this union one son, Rob- ert Donovan, has been born. He was born on September 3, 1901.
James M. White was born in Virginia, but removed to Kentucky and from that state to Illinois, where he was a farmer in Clark county. For the last twenty years he has lived a retired life in Westfield, that state. The
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children of James M. and Mary J. White were: William T .; Flora V .; Catherine S .; Lillian, deceased; Garett W., deceased, and Emma L. James M. White was the son of Garett and Martha (Marr) White, who were. natives of France and who immigrated to this country.
Levi W. Weaver has been a hard worker, an industrious farmer and a good manager. In the broader sense of the word, Mr. Weaver considers himself the steward of the wealth and property which have been placed in his. hands. He is interested in all public enterprises, a progressive, up-to-date citizen, thoroughly in sympathy with the spirit of the generation in which he is living. From many standpoints he is to be considered a representative- citizen of Daviess county.
WILLARD BOWMAN.
In the brief sketch of any living citizen it is difficult to do him exact. and impartial justice. Not so much, however, for the lack of space or words to set forth the familiar and passing events of his personal history, as for want of the perfect and rounded conception of his whole life, which grows, develops and ripens like fruit to disclose its truest and best flavor only when it is mellowed by time. Daily contact with a man so familiarizes- us with his virtues that we ordinarily overlook them and commonly under- estimate their possessor. It is not often that true honor, public or private -that honor which is the tribute of cordial respect and esteem-comes to man without a basis of character and deeds. The world may be deceived by fortune and by ornamental or showy qualities without substantial merit and they render to the undeserving the short-lived admiration, but the honor which wise and good men value and which lives beyond the grave. must have its foundation in real worth, for "Worth maketh the man." Not a few men live unheralded and almost unknown beyond the narrow limits of the city or community wherein their lots are cast, who yet have in them, if fortune had opened to them a wider sphere of life, the elements of char- acter to make statesmen or public benefactors of world-wide fame. Com- pared with the blazon of fame which some regard as the true stamp of greatness, there is a lowlier and simpler and yet truer standard whereby to judge them and to fix their place in the regard of their fellowmen. During a life of more than fifty years in Daviess county, Indiana, the people have had an opportunity to know what manner of man Willard Bowman is. Tes- timony is ample that he is a good citizen in the full sense of the term and
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worthy of honor and public trust. He is at present an intelligent farmer and one who, by dint of his intelligence, has accumulated a personal fortune.
Willard Bowman was born on March 13, 1859, in Brown township,. Martin county, Indiana. He is the son of Michael and Mahala (Sulsor) Bowman, the former of whom was a native of Martin county, Indiana, and the latter a native of the same county and the daughter of Michael Sulsor. Michael Bowman was a son of Pleasant Bowman, a native of Tennessee,. who came from that state when a young man and settled in Martin county. He was a farmer there and very successful during his life. Pleasant Bow- man and wife had nine children, John, Michael, William, Howard, Cynthia, Susannah, Margaret, Hannah and Sarah Ann. Pleasant Bowman's wife was, before her marriage, Sally Raser.
Michael Bowman, the father of Willard Bowman, was educated in the public and subscription schools of Martin county. He was a well-educated man for his day and generation. He started farming in Brown township, Martin county, and farmed there all of his life. . He was principally engaged in farming and stock raising, and owned about two hundred acres. of land. During the winter season he engaged in buying furs, and also. dealt some in the buying and selling of live stock.
'The children of Michael and Mahala Bowman were Martin, who mar- ried Malinda Atkins; Milton, who married Cynthia A. Osborne; Willard, the subject of this sketch; Nancy Jane, who married John Sims, deceased; Sarah Alice, who married Absalom Sharpless, deceased.
Michael Bowman and family were active and devout members of the- Baptist church. He was a Democrat and was trustee of Brown township, Martin county, at the time of his death.
Willard Bowman was educated in the public schools and especially at the Welsh school in Brown township, Martin county. His education did not cease, however, when he finished attending this school, for he prac- tically educated himself by studying at night after doing a hard day's work. He began farming when a very young man, first about 1881 in Cameron township, Martin county. About 1885 he came to Daviess county and located in Madison township, farming there until 1910. In that year he traded for the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he now owns in Elmore township. He still has fifty acres, however, in Madison township. Mr. Bowman does general farming and stocking raising. During his entire life he has bought and shipped horses and mules to Atlanta, Georgia, and at one time was heavily interested in this business, although he has not
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been active in it for several years. He ships some stock, however, at the present time.
Willard Bowman was married first to Laura Osborn, the daughter of James and Jane Osborn, and to this union two children were born, Edith, who married George Dillon and has three children, Mable, Sheldon and Frederick, and Grover, a farmer of Knox county, who is unmarried. After the death of Mrs. Bowman, Mr. Bowman was married to Sally A. Hastings, the daughter of Joseph and Addie (Sims) Hastings. By this second marriage one child, Paul, was born, on March 27, 1895. He is living at home and graduated from Odon high school on April 29, 1915.
Willard Bowman is a Democrat. In 1896 he was elected sheriff of Daviess county and served for three years. During the. last ten years he has made nine trips to Arkansas on hunting expeditions. Mr. Bowman is commonly called "Governor Bowman" and is well known throughout Daviess county. He is a great lover of sports, especially hunting, and has a small pack of registered dogs that he takes with him to Arkansas on his hunting trips. At home he hunts foxes and other game. There is an unusual coincidence in the family birthdays. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman's birthdays, the birthday of one daughter, two sons and a grandchild all fall on the same day of the year.
ALBERT MALONE.
When one pauses to consider the enormous influence for good that must have been exerted by the conscientious, talented and well-trained man in a service of more than a quarter of a century in the school room, the thought inevitably arises leading up to the conclusion that here perhaps has been exercised one of the most potent factors in the development of the neigh- borhood in which such service has been extended that can be imagined. What a wonderful thing it is to have had in charge the educational training of the countless youth who have been placed under the gentle care of the conscientious teacher whose service has extended over such a period as here set out. The far-reaching influence of such a service can never adequately be estimated. It easily is conceivable that in an indirect way this influence may reach all corners of the earth, for in a quarter of a century there no doubt passes before a district school teacher youth who, in their after experi- ences, literally do reach the uttermost parts of the earth. There is no gain-
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saying the local influence of such a service, however, and in the northern part of Daviess county there is to be found no one who will deny to the gen- tleman whose name introduces this interesting biographical sketch, the honor of having touched and influenced the lives of more of the youth of that sec- tion of the county than any other person in it. Since the year 1888 Albert Malone has been a teacher in the schools of Elmore township, and in that time has endeared himself to all, old and young alike. He has had the honor and the pleasure of receiving under his scholastic care the children of those who once were pupils under his charge, and, reasonably enough, may ex- pect yet to receive into his charge even the grandchildren of some of his original pupils. This is indeed a form of public service that is worth while, and the biographer takes particular pleasure in inviting the attention of the reader of these pages to the following brief and modest review of the life of the well-known Daviess county teacher here referred to.
Albert Malone was born in Madison township, Daviess county, Indiana, on November 1, 1867, the son of Frederick and Martha C. Leon (O'Sul- livan) Malone, the former of whom was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on July 5, 1843, the son of Elias and Susannah (Freed) Malone, natives of Ohio, the latter of whom also was born in Ohio, the daughter of Robert and Mary O'Sullivan.
Elias Malone, who was born in Ohio, where he grew up as a farmer, came to Daviess county about the year 1850, and settled on the farm in Madison township on which his son Frederick now resides and on which he spent the rest of his life. He was a man of forceful character, upright and energetic, who quickly became one of the most prominent and influential men in that part of the county. He and his good wife were active in all movements having to do with the betterment of local conditions and were admired and respected by the citizenry throughout that region, the memory of their good deeds being cherished by many thereabout to this day.
To Elias and Susannah (Freed) Malone there were born nine children: Frederick, Samuel, John, Henry, Jacob, Mary, Catherine, William and Amy, the descendants of whom today form a quite numerous family, many men and women of large influence in their respective communities being included in the list.
Frederick Malone, the father of the immediate subject of this interest- ing biographical review, was but seven years of age when his parents moved from Ohio to this county, therefore practically his whole life has been spent here. He grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Madison township, (43)
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receiving his education in the excellent district schools of that neighborhood and still lives on the home farm, which for many years has been in his name, which is a well kept property of ninety acres, practically every foot of which is in a state of excellent cultivation. Mr. Malone is not only an excellent farmer, but a citizen of worth, whose influence in the community in which he so long has lived is ever exerted for good, so that he is recognized as one of the leading citizens of that section. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in which faith they reared their children, and are warmly interested in the various beneficences of the congregation to which they are attached. Mr. Malone is a Democrat and, though never included in the office- seeking class, is deeply concerned in all matters relating to good government, and takes a good citizen's interest in the campaigns of his party.
To Frederick and Martha C. Leon (O'Sullivan) Malone seven children were born, as follow: Albert, the subject of this sketch; Elias, who mar- ried Eva Ketcham; Leonard, who married Dossie Graham, to which union two children have been born, George and Ruth; Mary, who married Sheri- dan Todd; Grover C., who married Mattie Graham; George, who died in infancy, and Day B.
Albert Malone was reared on the home farm, receiving his elementary education in the district schools of Madison township, later attending the high school at Odon, supplementing this course of instruction by a course in the normal school at Mitchell, Indiana, which was followed by a course in the college at Hartsville, this state. Thus admirably equipped for the pro- fession of teaching, to which he had decided to devote his life, Mr. Malone, in the year 1888, began in the district schools of Elmore township, and has been teaching ever since. His winters thus occupied, Mr. Malone has, dur- ing all this time, devoted his summers to farming, and owns a fine tract of one hundred and thirty acres in Elmore township, where he makes his home and where he built an excellent and comfortable house in 1914.
In 1890 Mr. Malone was united in marriage to Ada E. Dillon, daugh- ter of Wesley Dillon, a member of one of the old families of this county, further genealogical details of which may be found by turning to the bio- graphical sketch of F. D. Dillon, presented elsewhere in this volume. To this union there have been born two children: Ellis, who was born on Feb- ruary 23, 1891, was graduated from the Elnora high school, attended the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute, and is now following his father's example and is teaching school in Elmore township. He married Hattie Hastings and has a very pleasant home. Lyman, the other child, died in infancy.
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Mr. Malone is not only one of the oldest teachers in Daviess county, but-and this is stated without fear of offending his confreres on the county educational board's staff of teachers-one of the best liked. Certainly in the neighborhood in which for so many years he has been teaching there is none to gainsay his popularity, and the people of that part of the county will be quite content to have him continue for many years to come the course he so ably, and with such gratifying results, has followed during the past quar- ter of a century or more. He and Mrs. Malone are members of the United Brethren church at Mud Pike, and are earnestly interested in all the good works of the neighborhood, very properly being regarded by all as among the leaders in the social development of their community. The Democratic party claims Mr. Malone's allegiance and he takes a thoughtful and intel- ligent interest in the political questions of the day, his counsels being received with grave consideration by the party managers in his part of the county.
This veteran school teacher is a man whom all delight to honor, and it surely may be said of him that his good works long will live after him in the lives of the children upon whom his warm personality has been im- pressed and who have been so beneficently influenced by his teachings.
JACOB C. WEAVER.
The gentleman to whom attention is directed in this review has at- tained pronounced prestige by reason of natural and acquired ability. He takes a deep and abiding interest in everything which pertains to the mate- rial advancement of the township, and every enterprise intended to promote the welfare of Daviess county is sure to receive his hearty support. He is rated as one of the progressive citizens of Elmore township and the high respect in which he is held by all classes of people is a deserved compliment to an intelligent, broad-minded and most worthy man.
Jacob C. Weaver was born on July 27, 1868, in Elmore township, Daviess county, Indiana. He is the son of Abraham and Fannie (Barkey) Weaver, the former of whom was born on January 21, 1840, in Mason county, Kentucky, died on July 20, 1908, and the latter born in 1841 in Ontario, Canada, who died on August 14, 1906. Abraham Weaver was the son of Jacob and Charlotta (Kinneman) Weaver, both of whom were natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Jacob Weaver was a blacksmith by trade. He and his wife were married in Pennsylvania and
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later moved to Kentucky. After living in Kentucky for a short time, and when his son Abraham was three years old, they moved to Indiana, settling in Madison township, Daviess county. He worked at his trade in this town- ship during the remainder of his life. Jacob Weaver owned a farm of eighty-five acres. He was a member of the German Lutheran church.
Abraham Weaver, the father of Jacob C., was educated in the subscrip- tion schools of Daviess county, but the opportunities for obtaining an edu- cation were meager and he attended school only three months before he at- tained his majority. After that he educated himself largely by home study and was enabled to obtain a license as a school teacher and taught school for about four years. Subsequently he took up farming and building under contract. He did contract building in Greene, Martin and Daviess counties. He owned the farm of two hundred and ninety-five acres where Jacob C. Weaver now lives, which is located in Elmore township, the house on which property was built by Abraham Weaver. He was a Democrat and a mem- ber of the United Brethren church, was a charter member of the Mud Pike church, in Elmore township, and a trustee of this church. Abraham and Fanny Weaver were the parents of three children: Jacob C., the sub- ject of this sketch; Christina, who was born in 1870 and who died in 1875, and Levi W., March 9, 1875, married Catherine S. White.
Jacob C. Weaver, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools in Elmore township and in the normal school at Odon. He obtained a good education and, after completing his preparation, began farming in Elmore township. Mr. Weaver at first rented land, but now owns one hun- dred and forty-five acres, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has owned a farm since 1908, built a large silo in 1914, and has found this a very great aid in his farm activities. Jacob C. Weaver is a man who believes in both public and private improvements, and is engaged in making repairs and changes on his own farm practically all the time.
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