USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 92
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ing school alone. His position with the faculty of the University of Michi- gan, he having occupied the chair of embalming in that excellent institution since 1911, has proved a means of extending his influence as a scientific embalmer into all parts of the country, and there are few hygienists who enjoy a better established reputation along this particular line than he.
Mr. Askin is a member of the Tabernacle Presbyterian church at Indi- anapolis and is held in high esteem among his large circle of friends in the capital city. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, retaining his membership in the lodge at Clifty, this county, of which lodge he became a member during his residence in the Forest Hill neighborhood, and in the affairs of which he continues to take a warm interest. He also is a member of the Masonic order, his membership being held in Mystic Tie Lodge at Indianapolis, and he also is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and of the Improved Order of Red Men, in the same city. Mr. Askin is president of the Decatur County Association of Indianapolis and is one of the prime movers in the annual meetings of that society, these meetings, held in one or another of the pleasant parks with which the capital abounds, prov- ing a season of rare enjoyment and fellowship to all the numerous Decatur county folk who make their home in Indiana's chief city. He is very popu- lar with all the members of the Decatur colony there and enjoys their high- est confidence and esteem.
WILLIAM H. MIERS.
Having resided all his life on the farm on which he was born, in Clay township, this county, few men in that part of Decatur county are better known than William H. Miers, the genial owner of "Tanglewood Farm," one of the most progressive and popular men in his vicinity, a brief and mod- est biographical sketch of whom it is a pleasure for the biographer to present at this point in this history of the prominent families of Decatur county.
William H. Miers was born on the farm on which he now lives, in Clay township, Decatur county, Indiana, August 31, 1853, the son of John L. and Rebecca (Braden) Miers, the former of whom was born in 1842 and died in October, 1912, and the latter of whom was born in 1839 and died in October, 1913. John Laughlin Miers was a native of Virginia who came to this county at an early day and became one of the best-known pioneers of the Clay township section of the county. He married Rebecca Braden, daughter of
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Jack Braden, a Kentuckian, who came to this county at an early period in the settlement of the same and was prominent in the pioneer life of the com- munity in which he located. John L. Miers was one of the most prosperous and influential residents of Clay township in his day and generation. He became the owner of three hundred acres of land, which he brought to an excellent state of cultivation and was regarded as one of the most substan- tial citizens of the county. For two terms he served as township trustee of Clay township and his enterprising and public-spirited administration of that office undoubtedly did very much toward advancing the best interests of the township and in the establishment of the present stable conditions therein. He was highly reputed throughout that part of the county and his recent death was the occasion for much mourning on the part of his many friends. The death of his widow in the following year was none the less the occasion of mourning, for she, too, was held in the highest respect thereabout, having been a woman who ceaselessly went about doing good.
To John L. and Rebecca (Braden) Miers were born six children, Thomas, James and Oscar, all now deceased; Herschell, who lives on the Goff farm, in Adams township, this county; Mrs. Della Ford, of Greens- burg, this county, and William H., the immediate subject of this sketch.
William H. Miers received his education in the schools of Clay town- ship and was reared to the life of the farm. He inherited a portion of the home farmn, including the homestead, and added to this inheritance by buy- ing an adjoining tract, bringing his place up to its present acreage, one hun- dred and eighty acres ; all of which he has brought under excellent cultiva- tion, and on which he has made numerous and substantial improvements. The home on "Tanglewood Farm" is a pretty and comfortable brick cottage, trimmed in green, and the outlying farm buildings surrounding the big yellow barn are in keeping with the general well-kept appearance of the place, the whole presenting a fine picture of substantial farm life. Mr. Miers takes much pride in his livestock, particularly in the fine breed of his Percheron and Belgian horses and his Shorthorn and Jersey cattle.
In January, 1879. William H. Miers was united in marriage to Lida Graham, daughter of John G. Graham, a one-time well-known farmer of Clay township, this county, a large landowner in that township and in Bartholomew county, this state, who died some years ago at Hartsville.
To William H. and Lida (Graham) Miers seven children have been born, namely : Ray, who farms a part of the Anderson farm, married Ethel Anderson and has three children, Dale, Margaret and Marion; Merle, house- keeper for her uncle at Hartsville; Oscar, who lives three and one-half miles
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northeast of his father's place, married Eva Worlden ; Mrs. Nellie Wildman, who lives on the home farm, has one child, a son, Van Pierce; Sherman, a traveling salesman for the Heinze Company ; Wayne, who lives at home, and Gladys, a stenographer, living at Indianapolis.
Mr. and Mrs. Miers are members of the Christian church and take an active and earnest part in the good works of their community, being regarded as among the leaders in all movements designed to elevate the standards of living thereabout. Mr. Miers is a Democrat and takes a good citizen's part in the political affairs of the county, though never having posed as an active politician. He is interested in all matters of good government, however, and is looked upon as one of the most substantial and dependable men in that part of the county.
JOHN C. HAYS.
Not only are the business interest of Decatur county well represented, but in the main they are under capable direction. The merchants of the county are enterprising, energetic and up-to-date, their stores generally being well-stocked and operated along modern lines. Among these merchants there are few who have a wider reputation for enterprise and energy than the affable gentleman whose name the reader notes above. No town in the county is better located than the pleasant village of Burney, in Clay township, the country thereabout being one of the very garden spots of Indiana. Wealthy and prosperous farmers give to the neighborhood an air of sub- stantiality most impressive to the casual visitor at Burney and the well-kept appearance of the delightful village bespeaks the enterprise and thrift of the inhabitants thereof. The business of the town is conducted by enterprising and energetic men who are devoted to the best interests of the whole com- munity and who are constantly striving to advance the general welfare of that section of the county. Among these merchants none is better known than John C. Hays, proprietor of the popular general store at Burney, and it is a pleasure for the biographer to call the attention of the reader at this point to some of the salient points in Mr. Hay's interesting career as a mer- chant and as a public-spirited citizen. Beginning practically with nothing, Mr. Hays entered upon his career as a merchant at Burney fourteen years ago, and in that time has built up one of the most successful and popular general merchandise stores in the county. "Satisfied customers" ever has been his motto, and the popularity his well-stocked store enjoys throughout
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the entire western section of the county as well as in the adjacent sections of Shelby and Bartholomew counties affords ample evidence that, in the direc- tion of his constantly growing commercial interests, he ever has been faithful to this motto. Mr. Hays is one of the most enthusiastic boosters of Clay township and the village of Burney and ever is found in the lead in any movement designed to promote the best interests of that section of the county. Possessed of exceptional business ability, Mr. Hays has built up a trade of which any merchant in a town many times the size of Burney might well be proud, and is very properly regarded as one of the most enterprising and sub- stantial citizens of the county. He has learned the valuable secret of being able to adapt his business to the territory which it is designed to cover, early in his experience having added to the motto above mentioned the equally efficacious phrase : "Quality, not quantity." By keeping his select and com- pact stock constantly replenished. Mr. Hays is able to cater to the discriminat- ing trade of that section with the best and most up-to-date goods, thus con- tinually making good the first part of his motto relating to "satisfied custom- ers." Mr. Hays maintains a motor-truck huckster service which covers the entire region embraced in his territory of trade and spares no effort to accommodate and satisfy his customers, his enterprising ways and obliging manner having gained for him the undivided friendship of the whole region.
John C. Hays was born in Clay township, Decatur county. Indiana. on June 12, 1874. son of Judson and Mary E. (Jones) Hays, prominent resi- dents of that township. Judson Hays was a pioneer tilemaker of Decatur county, his tile-kiln in Clay township being one of the most important indus- tries thereabout. Not only was the clay of that section of the county well adapted to the purposes of tile-making, but Mr. Hay's careful and scientific study of the processes .of tile-making lent to his product a quality which caused it to be much sought by farmers throughout this whole region and thousands of acres of well-drained land hereabout have been greatly increased in value by the discriminating and intelligent use of the product of this once well-known kiln. Judson Hays died in 1895, the death of his widow occurring not long thereafter. Both were most estimable people and their passing was deeply mourned hy many.
To Judson and Mary E. (Jones) Hays were born seven children, namely : Flora, who married Will Pumphrey, of this county; Dora, who married Jacob Kuntz: John C., the immediate subject of this sketch; Mamie, who married Clarence Maze: Gertrude, who married Tilden Knouse; Katie, who married Walter Skinner, and Karl, who lives at Detroit.
J. C. Hays was reared on a farm and for a time was an assistant to his
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father at the tile-kiln, but did not attempt to continue the operation of that plant at his father's death. Fourteen years ago he engaged in the general merchandise business at Burney and has been very successful. Starting with a sall stock, but with a practical knowledge of the needs of his trade, he gradually increased the scope of his business until now he has a thriving trade, covering a wide territory. His commercial methods from the very start were enterprising, his desire to give the very best service possible lead- ing him to employ only the best and most approved agencies for the promo- tion of his trade. The straightforward and direct manner appealed to his customers immediately and it was not long until he was prospering as he deserved to prosper. These conditions continued and now Mr. Hays is regarded as one of the most substantial merchants in the western part of the county.
On December 24, 1895, John C. Hays was united in marriage to Mattie Edwards, who was born in Kentucky, the daughter of Daniel Edwards, who now lives at Columbus, this state, and to this union two children have been born, Lory and Mrytle Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Hays are members of the Baptist church and take an earnest interest in the good works of the com- munity, being regarded as among the leaders in all movements helpful to the general welfare.
Mr. Hays is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to the political affairs of the county, though never having been included in the office-seeking class. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Burney and is one of the leaders in the affairs of that lodge. Genial, affable and accommodating, he is one of the most popular men thereabout and has hosts of warm friends.
WEBSTER HOLLAND HOLMES.
Among the former residents of Decatur county who now are success- fully engaged in business in the state capital, few are better known or have a more popular following among old friends in this county than Webster H. Holmes, a prominent building contractor, formerly of Horace, this county, now living in Indianapolis, where he has been quite successful in his building operations.
Webster Holland Holmes was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on June 7. 1856, the son of the Rev. William and Elizabeth (Cowgill) Holmes, old and honored residents of that section of Ohio. Rev. William Holmes, a
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"local" minister of the Methodist church, was born in New Jersey in Sep- tember, 1808. He grew to manhood in that state and then migrated to Ohio, locating in Clinton county, where he engaged in farming and where he spent the rest of his life. He was one of the best-known "local" ministers of the Methodist church in that part of Ohio, and for over fifty years was engaged in preaching the Gospel, to him ever a labor of love, for "local" ministers of the Methodist church received no compensation for their services in those days. Three of his sons served their country faithfully and well as sol- diers in the Union arm during the Civil War and the family was highly honored and respected throughout that whole section of the state. William Holmes was a member of an old family in New Jersey, his father being of sound Colonial stock, and his first wife, who, before her marriage, was Katherine Brouse, was also of an old family in that section.
Rev. William Holmes married, secondly, Elizabeth Cowgill, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, daughter of William Cowgill, a pioneer of that section of Ohio, of Scottish descent. Mrs. Holmes was a most excel- lent woman. She lived all her life in Clinton county, both she and her hus- band spending their last days on the farm near Sabina, Ohio, within twelve miles of the point where she was born.
Webster H. Holmes received his education in the district schools of his native county in Ohio, this schooling constantly being supplemented by the sound admonitions of his godly father and mother. Upon reaching man- hood he engaged in farming and for twelve years was thus engaged in the neighborhood of his home. In 1887 he moved to Morgan county, Ten- nessec, where he remained for a year, engaged in the lumber business, at the end of which time he moved to a farm near Williamstown, Kentucky. on which he lived for three years. In 1891 he moved to a farm five miles south of Greensburg, in this county, and became a general building con- tractor, his operations in that line being extended to various parts of the county. This venture proving successful, he later moved to the village of Horace, this county, where he remained until 1906, in which year he moved to Indianapolis, seeking a wider field 'for his building operations, and has been quite successful in the capital city, being well recognized and respected among the master carpenters of that city.
On October 19, 1876, Webster H. Holmes was united in marriage at Hillsborough, Ohio, to Martha E. Marsh, who was born on October 13, 1856, and to this union five children have been born, Aura A., Jessie L., Oscar W., Ilo (deceased) and Daisy.
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are members of the Methodist church and their
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children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Holmes retains his member- ship in the Knights of Pythias lodge at Greensburg, and continues to take a warm interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in the general affairs of the county in which he formerly made his home. He and Mrs. Holmes are quite popular in the considerable Decatur county colony at the state capital and are held in the highest esteem by their many friends.
CLAY ALEXANDER.
Clay Alexander is a representative farmer, liveryman and stockman of Clay township. In his life he has outstripped many of those less active on the highway of life and during the last decade, especially, has made a con- siderable amount of money in the various enterprises in which he has been engaged. He is a man of unfailing integrity and one whose word is gen- erally recognized as being as good as his bond. He owns a farm three miles south of Burney and is engaged in the livery, feed and sales business in Burney.
Clay Alexander was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, on June 8, 1862, son of A. J. and Charlotta ( Steward) Alexander, the former of whom was a native of Butler county, Ohio, born in 1839, who came to Indiana when he was eighteen years old, settling in Bartholomew county. He later owned eighty acres of land near Hartsville, but traded this for one hundred and sixty acres of land in this county, to which he moved and there spent the remainder of his active business life. Charlotta Steward, who was born in Ireland, came with her parents when six years old to America. They settled in Bartholomew county, Indiana, where she was married to A. J. Alexander and by industry, economy and shrewd management, she and her husband became prosperous farmers. Clay Alexander was about thirteen years old when his parents came to Decatur county and he lived on the old Alexander homestead south of Burney, in Clay township, until he was twenty-seven years old.
At the age of twenty-seven, Clay Alexander was married to Mollie Elliott, daughter of James Elliott, after which he moved to Hartsville where for a time he was engaged in various callings. Later he rented a farm for a year and then moved to Burney where he engaged in teaming and kindred work for fifteen years. At the end of that time, Mr. Alexander built the livery barn in Burney, which he still owns. He has been in the hay, straw,
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feed and livery business since that time and has a flourishing patronage in this county. He buys large quantities of hay and straw and ships it to distant points, after bailing. For ten years he has been an extensive dealer in horses and about three years ago purchased eighty acres of land three miles south of Burney. This farm is operated by a tenant and its chief products are corn and clover ; he is also a breeder of hogs.
Clay Alexander is a stanch Republican and one of the leaders of his party in Clay township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge in Burney. Mrs. Alexander is a member of the Baptist church. She is the local correspondent of the Greensburg Daily News and for thirteen years had charge of the Independent Telephone Company's plant at Burney. Mr. Alexander is one of the solid and substantial citizens of Decatur county and for the past ten years has made a remarkable record in business. Both he and his wife are well liked and respected by the people of the community in which they live.
CHARLES E. REMY.
In agricultural circles in Decatur county, few names are better known than that of the gentleman whose name the reader notes above and few men in the county have constructed their careers on a more solid foundation than has he. Recognized as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers in the county, Mr. Remy also is known as a public-spirited citizen to whom every movement looking to the betterment of general conditions in his home county is welcome. finding in him an earnest and influential supporter. Mr. Remy brings to his farm work an active intelligence, stimulated by the best schooling and grounded on the fullest and latest information relating to the most modern methods of tilling the soil and, in consequence, has prospered as he deserves to have prospered. A native of this county, of as fine stock as ever made its influence felt here: his father a physician of note and power in his day, his grandfather a pioneer minister of the Baptist faith, whose influence in southern Indiana still goes on, even to the third and fourth generation, Mr. Remy very properly may be regarded as one of the leaders in the community life of Decatur county, and the biographer takes much pleasure in presenting at this point a brief review of his life.
Charles E. Remy was born on a farm in Marion township, Decatur county, Indiana, six miles south of the town of Greensburg, on July 15, 1869, the son of Dr. AAlfred S. and Anna M. (Kluge) Remy, the former of whom
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was born near the town of Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, and the lat- ter of whom was born in Pennsylvania.
Alfred S. Remy was born on October 4, 1819, the son of the Rev. James I. Remy, a native of South Carolina, of French Huguenot stock, a pioneer minister of the Baptist faith in southern Indiana ; a man who exerted a powerful influence for good throughout the region round about Brookville, where for many years he lived and labored. Rev. James I. Remy married an Adair and one of the children of this union, Alfred S. Remy, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, became a physician, who practiced his profession for many years in this county, at the same time carrying on exten- sive operations as a farmer. Dr. Alfred S. Remy was a graduate of Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati and for a time following his graduation prac- ticed his profession in Jennings county, this state, later coming to Decatur county, locating in Marion township, where he bought a farm of one hun- dred and seventy-one acres, to which he later added one hundred and forty acres, making three hundred and eleven acres in all, forty acres of which lay in Jennings county.
Doctor Remy was twice married. To his union with Almira Jane Scoby, who was born on December 24, 1821, and who died on May 6, 1862, there were born four children, Dr. Alfred S. Jr., born on January 1, 1847, who died in 1880; Henry, born on October 30, 1850, who resides at Con- cordia, Kansas: Mary Ellen, who died on September 21, 1852, at the age of one year, and Orlando Ellsworth, born on April 4, 1861, who is a resident of Denver, Colorado. Upon the death of his wife, Almira, Doctor Remy mar- ried, secondly, Anna Kluge, who was born at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 26, 1839, and who died in this county on October 28, 1898, to which union two children were born, Charles E., the subject of this sketch, and . Emma Catherine, the latter of whom was born on September 27, 1867, and died on September 25 of the next year. The father of these children died on March 31, 1890, having been a man of much influence in his day and generation.
Charles E. Remy received his elementary education in the district schools of his home township in this county, supplementing this schooling with a course in Hope College. He then entered upon his career as a farmer and for years lived on the home place in Marion township. He bought the interest of the other heirs in his father's estate and added to the home farm until he now owns four hundred acres of choice land in that part of the county. In connection with his work as a general farmer, Mr. Remy has given considerable attention to the breeding of live stock and has cultivated
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only the best strains of stock on his farm. In 1909 Mr. Remy retired from active farm life and moved into Greensburg, where he has a very pleasant home. He still gives close personal direction to the affairs of his farm and is keenly alive to all the advancements in the present-day science of agri- culture.
On September 23, 1891, Charles E. Remy was united in marriage to Catherine Lowe, who was born in Decatur county, the daughter of Samuel T. and Martha Lowe, also natives of this county, to which union two chil- dren were born, one who died in infancy, and Edith, who married Charles Martin, of Greensburg.
Samuel T. Lowe, who was born in this county in November, 1835, for many years was one of the most prominent and influential residents of Marion township. He was a farmer on a large scale and was known through- ·out this section as a successful stock buyer, being also a large shipper of mules. He was an ardent Democrat and was actively interested in the political affairs of the county. For many years he served as trustee of Marion township, his services in that connection proving of large value to the public. His father, Jonathan Lowe, was one of the early pioneers of this county, a native of Kentucky who came to Indiana at an early day in the settlement of this section, first settling in the Paoli neighborhood, but later coming to Decatur county, entering government land in Marion township. He died in 1836, leaving to his widow, who was Elizabeth Whitman, previous to her mar- riage, the duty of rearing a considerable family, most of the children of this family still being young at the time of their father's death. This duty she performed with the energy of the true pioneer mother and was able to add to the family's holdings by the additional entry of land in her own name. Samuel T. Lowe reared a large family and in his later years moved to South West City. Missouri, where his death occurred in March, 1913. His widow is still making her home in that city.
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