USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 60
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A hundred-page volume has been written concerning the life and the works of Francis M. Roots and it is all so fascinating and instructive that strangers, as well as those who knew him well in life, lay down the book reluctantly, wishing there were more of it. The ancestors of Francis M. Roots, thought to have been of French Huguenot descent, came from Balby, near London, and were among the earliest settlers of the colony of Massa- chusetts. The subject of this memorial sketch was of the sixth generation in direct male descent from Josiah Rootes, who emigrated from England and settled in the Massachusetts colony in 1634. Among the descendants of this Josiah who were the direct antecedents of Francis M. Roots, native ability, the desire for education, tireless industry, with a deep religious conviction controlling all, have been dominant characteristics.
Francis M. Roots was born at Oxford, Ohio, October 28, 1824, a son of Alanson and Sylvia (Yale) Roots (the latter a member of that family of Yales from which sprang Eli Yale, the founder of Yale University), who had emigrated from Charlotte, Vermont, in 1824 and had settled at Oxford, where Alanson Roots set up a woolen-mill, which became a big institution for that time and place. At an early age Francis M. Roots became thoroughly familiar with every department of the mill and even from boyhood his mechanical bent of mind was finding an outlet in constant efforts to improve the processes of milling. His local schooling was supplemented by a short course in Miami University. At the age of nineteen he received a religious awakening that proved a dominating factor in all his later life and he united
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with the Presbyterian church. When he was twenty-one years of age he was sent out by his father with a wagon to visit the sparsely settled districts of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, selling goods and making collections, and thus enlarged his experience. In the summer of 1846 Alanson Roots and his son, Francis M. and Philander H., secured the right to the water power carried in that portion of the canal from Connersville to Cambridge City and in Connersville, on Sixth street, at the west side of the canal, erected a large, four-story frame building for a woolen-mill and equipped the same with the best machinery obtainable for that purpose at that time. In the meantime, Francis M. Roots continued to make his headquarters at Oxford, though most of his time was spent on the road with his goods wagon. Letters written to his sister at various times during that period of travel are filled with expressions of love and thoughtfulness for those at home, his love of nature and his constant striving to live the true, earnest life of a Christian.
After locating at Connersville Francis M. Roots became engaged to marry Esther E. Pumphrey and being thus filled with a laudable ambition to have something more of a competency before asking her to share his lot, made the long overland journey to the newly-discovered gold fields of Cali- fornia. It has been noted that upon starting on this venturesome quest Mr. Root's greatest misgiving was not of the physical perils he should encounter, though they were real and many, but he was most concerned lest he should be spiritually and morally injured by the unavoidably close asso- ciation with the lawless characters that also were flocking to the gold fields. Space here will not permit the recounting of his experiences, his sadness at parting from home friends, his adventures and how he won the respect and friendship of his associates and his influence over them, although the incidents of that trip alone would furnish material for a good book. Mr. Roots was more fortunate than many in his quest for gold and found a claim that paid. Having worked that claim to. his satisfaction he started home, by way of Panama, in May, 1850, and on October 8 of that same year was united in marriage to the lady for whose welfare he had undertaken the long trip across the continent. It may be mentioned in passing that on going on their wedding trip to Mammoth Cave, Mr .. Roots and his bride were all night going by through stage from Cambridge City to Indianapolis, with horses changed every ten miles, for at that time even the best roads in the state were full of quagmires.
Following his marriage Francis M. Roots lived at the old home in Oxford until his father died on October 16, 1851. After that the mill at Oxford was discontinued and he moved to Connersville, where his brother, Philander H. Roots, had been living for several years, in active management
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of the milling interests of the family at that point. In 1853 a New School Presbyterian church was organized at Connersville and in 1856 the brick building at Seventh street and Central avenue was erected. It has been said that the physical and spiritual history of that church is largely a biography of Francis M. Roots. He and his brother, Philander, worked on it with their own hands, and although it has since been remodeled and modernized, some of their work is still to be seen there. From that time forward Francis M. Roots held one or more positions of responsibility and activity in the church and Sunday school. When he was elected an elder he remarked with deep feeling that he considered it more honor to be an elder in the Presby- terian church than to be President of the United States. After the removal of F. M. Roots to Connersville the business of the two brothers at the woolen-mill was carried on energetically and with success. Mr. Roots was of a mechanical and inventive turn of mind and his improvements of the looms and other machinery of the mill from time to time had been productive of the most gratifying results, both in the way of greater production and in the saving of labor. About 1859 the two brothers became engaged in devising an improved form of water-wheel to take the place of the old one which was providing the motive power for the mill. After years of effort and experiment they found their device was not practicable as a water- wheel, but was an excellent device for a positive-pressure blower. They took out their first patent on this blower in 1866 and calling the same the Roots positive-pressure blower.
In 1869 the Roots brothers took a trip to the leading industrial capitals of Europe in the interest of their blower patents and by much effort and the exercise of constant tact succeeded in introducing their invention in England and on the continent. In 1872 F. M. Roots and his wife, together with a small party, went by railroad to California, visiting in comfort the places Mr. Roots had reached in the days of his young manhood only by slow, toilsome travel and through many perils. By this time Mr. Roots had severed his connection with the woolen-mills and was giving his undivided attention to the upbuilding of the blower factory. In 1874 the two brothers again went to England, France, Germany, Austria, Saxony, Wurtemburg, Alsace and Belgium. While in Ghent, on his fiftieth birthday, F. M. Roots wrote a letter to his wife in which he reviewed his life's unremitting strug- gle, the many high hopes of youth that were unfulfilled and the resolute determinations that had been blocked by undreamed-of obstacles. In that letter he so well expressed himself in simple words of deep feeling and great longing, the sincere outpouring of an honest and ardent heart, that the letter is worthy to be preserved as a classic. In 1876 the Roots brothers were
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foremost among the exhibitors in the machinery section at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia and received a gold medal for excellence of workmanship and adaptation of invention to mechanical uses. Philander H. Roots died in 1879. In 1881 F. M. Roots so impoved the blower that the improvement amounted to a new invention and in August of that year he took another trip to Europe in that behalf. In 1882 business necessities and a new patent for a rotary pump induced him to take another trip to Europe.
It was in 1873 that, in connection with his brothers, Philander H. and Guernsey Roots, and his friends, Charles Mount and William Huston, F. M. Roots bought up the capital stock of the First National Bank of Connersville. Philander H. Roots was then made president of the bank and continued in that position until his death, a period of six years, after which F. M. Roots was made president and so continued until his death, the affairs of the bank being uniformly prosperous under his wise administration. In 1888 the pres- ent handsome bank building was erected at the corner of Central avenue and. Fifth street. Mr. Roots also was for seven years president of the Con- nersville Furniture Company, organized in March, 1882, for the manufac- ture of bedroom furniture. There, as at the bank, the meetings of the direc- tors during his administration were always opened with prayer, and if a peculiarly difficult problem arose Mr. Roots would say, "Well, gentlemen, let us take this matter home with us and lay it before the Lord for His guidance. We shall then know better how to manage it." As is well known, the Roots business enterprises were successful, and the furniture factory became one of the largest in Indiana.
Francis M. Roots was called to his eternal home on October 25, 1889, just three days before his sixty-fifth birthday. Although it is customary to say, "He is dead," yet his influence still lives in Connersville. His widow survived him for nearly thirteen years, her death occurring on August 22, 1902.
JAMES HERON.
In the memorial annals of Fayette county no name is entitled to better remembrance than that of James Heron, who died at his home in Conners- ville in 1876 and whose widow is still living in that city, one of the honored and most highly respected old settlers of this county. James Heron was a native of Maryland, but had been a resident of this county since the days of his boyhood and had consequently been a witness to and a participant in much of the more substantial development of Connersville during the period
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which marked the beginning of that city's permanent industrial expansion. Though he lived only to middle age, being taken from the community by death just in the prime of his busy and active life, he had done much for the development of the community in which he took so earnest an interest, and his memory is cherished by all who hold the history and traditions of this county closely to heart.
James Heron was born in the city of Baltimore in June, 1824, and was but twelve or thirteen years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents and settled in the vicinity of Connersville in the year 1837. His parents, James and Barbara (Kevan) Heron, were natives of Scotland and upon coming to this country located at Baltimore, where the elder Heron engaged in the dry-goods business and was thus engaged for years, becom- ing a very successful merchant and being regarded as a quite well-to-do man for that period. His health failing, he was advised to seek relief in the free, open life of what, by Easterners, was then regarded as the "wilds" of the West. With this object in view he disposed of his mercantile inter- ests in Baltimore and with his family made the long trip by stage out to Indiana. When the stop was made at the old Claypool tavern at the south- ern edge of what is now the expanding city of Connersville both Mr. Heron and his wife were so charmed with the location and the possibilities of the same for carrying out the purpose of their journey Westward that they made inquiries as to whether the place was for sale. Upon being advised that it was, James Heron offered the owner ten thousand dollars, cash "in hand," for the farm and straightway entered upon the ownership of the same and there established his home. With the city man's notions of farm- ing he introduced some innovations in his methods of managing his place and became known in the pioneer community as "the gentleman farmer." James Heron was just beginning to see his way clear to the successful fruition of his plans as a farmer when death overtook him, his decease occurring about two years after his settlement in this county, as a result of injuries received while loading hay. He was a native of Wigtonshire, Scotland, and had been an extensive traveler, having crossed the ocean seven times. His widow continued to manage the farm, reared her children there and there spent the rest of her life, living to the great age of eighty- six years, one of the most honored pioneer residents of this county. The elder James Heron and his wife were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, James, Alexander, Samuel, Nathan and William and Helen, who married George Hibben, of Chicago.
As noted above, the junior James Heron was about twelve or thirteen
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years of age when he came to this county with his parents and upon the death of his father about two years later, as the eldest son, much of the responsibility of helping his mother continue the management of the home place fell upon his youthful shoulders, a trust which he faithfully performed until presently his brother, Alexander, relieved him of that responsibility, becoming the farmer, while he engaged in mercantile pursuits in the then rapidly developing city of Connersville. James Heron seemed to have inherited his father's native ability as a merchant and business man and for years was actively identified with several of the leading business con- cerns of Connersville. In connection with the Caldwells he became heavily interested in the pork-packing business and helped to build up a large indus- try in that line in his home town, the firm doing business under the name of the White Water Caldwell Pork-Packing Company. The packing house was situated at what is now the intersection of Fifth street and the Big Four railroad, a site now occupied by the Andrea theater, and the slaughter pens were located on the river bank in East Connersville, at the point now occupied by the bathing beach. James Heron was but fifty-one years of age at the time of his death on June 17, 1876, but he had performed a great service to the community by reason of his activity in helping to develop Connersville's industrial life, and his memory is not forgotten. He was a Democrat and was a member of the Masonic fraternity.
On May 8, 1855, James Heron was united in marriage to Caroline McCarty, who was born on a pioneer farm three miles south of Brookville, in the neighboring county of Franklin, on the grounds where the first land entry in that county was made, a daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Logan) McCarty, who were among the most influential pioneers of that community. Enoch McCarty was a son of Benjamin and Sarah, or "Sallie" (Conner) McCarty. natives of North Carolina, who settled in Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, and later came to Indiana, settling in Franklin county during Terri- torial days. Benjamin McCarty was appointed first judge of Franklin county, under the territorial administration, and made the first land entry in that county, May 25, 1803, and built the first log cabin in Franklin county. His first act as a judge was to appoint commissioners to take charge of the school lands of the county and to dispose of them for the public good. Judge McCarty and his wife spent their last days on their pioneer farm in the vicinity of Brookville and it was there that Enoch McCarty grew to manhood and later established his home. Enoch McCarty became one of the most active and influential men in Franklin county. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature, was a member of the first
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state constitutional convention and continued his legislative service after the state was erected. He also served the public in a local way and was, at one time and another, elected to nearly every office in the gift of the people of Franklin county, including that of judge of the court. He became a large landowner and both he and his wife lived to ripe old age. In their later years they moved to Brookville and there their last days were spent. Enoch McCarty's wife, who before her marriage was Elizabeth Logan, was a daughter of William and Jane (Buchanan) Logan, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and the latter a full cousin of President James Buchanan, and who became pioneers of Franklin county, this state, and there spent the remain- der of their lives. William Logan was a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War and became one of Franklin county's substantial and influential citizens. To Enoch McCarty and wife thirteen children were born, Sarah, Jane, Franklin, Monroe, Jonathan, Alfred, Mary, Desde- mona, Caroline and Catherine (twins), Milton, Helen and Thomas J. Jona- than McCarty, a brother of Enoch McCarty, was a soldier during the War of 1812, and Monroe McCarty, a brother of Mrs. Heron, received a com- mission as a colonel during the Mexican War and commanded a regiment in General Scott's army.
To James and Caroline (McCarty) Heron three children were born, Katharine, James M., a well-known manufacturer of Connersville and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and Noreh. Katharine Heron completed the course in the Connersville public schools and later attended the Wesleyan University at Cincinnati. She has been an extensive traveler, has visited nearly all points of interest in this country and in 1890 made a comprehensive tour through Europe, including all points of chief interest on the continent, as well as in the British Isles and the Scandinavian peninsula. Miss Heron has written quite exten- sively concerning her travels, her articles for publication having attracted much attention, and she has for years given her most earnest attention to all movements having to do with the cultural activities of her home town. She was secretary and treasurer of the local library board at the time the Connersville public library was erected and continues as a trustee of that institution. Miss Heron was the organizer of "The Merry-go-round," Con- nersville's leading social club; is a member of the Wednesday Club and was a charter member of the "A. D. O. U." She also organized the Con- nersville Humane Society and has been of large influence in this community in the way of securing to orphaned or neglected children proper home influences. Noreh Heron married Samuel M. Johnson, of Portsmouth,
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Ohio, and has five children, Heron M., Emma K., Sherrard Mc., Kanyon M. and Karleene.
Mrs. Caroline Heron is a member of the Presbyterian church, as was her husband, and has since the days of her girlhood taken an earnest inter- est in church work. Despite the fact that she is now well past eighty-seven years of age, Mrs. Heron retains her mental and physical vigor to an extraordinary degree and continues to take the liveliest interest in current affairs. Her long residence in Connersville and her earlier residence in the neighboring county of Franklin make her life a veritable epitome of the history of this section of the state and there are few matters of importance relating to the earlier history of this section on which she does not retain a clear and most informative recollection.
DANIEL T. ROOTS.
Daniel T. Roots, of Connersville, capitalist and landowner, was born in Connersville and has lived there all his life, for many years one of the most active factors in the industrial and commercial development of that city. He was born on October 22, 1859, son of Francis M. and Esther E. (Pumphrey) Roots, both now deceased, who were for years accounted among the most prominent and influential residents of Connersville. In a memorial sketch relating to Francis M. Roots, presented elsewhere in this volume, there is set out at some length something of the distinguished service rendered by that gentleman during the days of his active career in Connersville, together with interesting details of his busy and useful life, and it is not necessary here to go into those details or to repeat the genea- logical information relating to the Roots family, the reader's attention being respectfully invited to that memorial sketch in this connection.
Upon completing the course in the public schools of his native city Daniel T. Roots entered Chickering Institute, a private school, at Cincin- nati, and after a course of four or five years there became practically con- nected with the large affairs of the P. H. & F. M. Roots Company, a his- tory of which concern is set out in the memorial sketch above referred to, and early learned the details of the management of that concern, one of the greatest industrial establishments in Connersville. He presently was made manager of the company's extensive plant and after the death of his father became president of the company, a position he retained for ten
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years or more. Mr. Roots formerly was a heavy stockholder in the Roots Company and still holds some of the stock. He also was a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the Connersville Furniture Company, of which his father for years was the president, and is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Connersville and was a member of the board of directors of that institution until recently, when he retired from activity in that regard. About ten years ago Mr. Roots sold most of his stock in the P. H. & F. M. Roots Company, the concern created by his father and his uncle for the manufacture of positive-pressure blowers, and invested in farm land, being now the owner of about four hundred acres of fine land just north of Connersville, extending north from the railroad bridge. Farm land adjoining that tract has sold for two hundred and twenty-one dollars an acre. Mr. Roots has ever been interested in the upbuilding of his home city and one of his most notable contributions to the same is the large office building, the D. T. Roots building, he erected on Central avenue.
On February 6, 1892, Daniel T. Roots was united in marriage to Irene Ellis, who was born in Harrison township, this county, daughter of Melvin and Harriet (King) Ellis, who moved from the farm into Connersville when she was about six years of age. For some time Melvin Ellis was engaged in the hardware and agricultural-implement business at Connersville and there he spent his last days. Mr. and Mrs. Roots are members of the Presby- terian church.
HON. MILTON TRUSLER.
It is probably not too much to say that no more enduring reputation ever was built up in Fayette county than that established by the late Milton Trusler, who for many years was regarded as one of the leading and most influential citizens of Indiana. For many years the head of the Grange in this state, Hon. Milton Trusler was one of the most useful pioneers in the movement for the improvement of rural conditions not only in Indiana but throughout the country at large, and he is generally recognized as having been the "father" of the present well-established system of rural mail deliv- ery in the United States. As a representative from this district to the state legislature and as state senator he for years occupied a responsible and useful position in the public life of Indiana, and his influence in behalf of the common welfare in that connection was fruitful of much good to the
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people of the state at large. A pioneer of the Everton neighborhood, he was the owner of a fine bit of farm property in Jackson township and made that his home until his retirement from the farm in 1894 and removal to East Connersville, where he spent his last days.
The Hon. Milton Trusler was a native Hoosier, a fact of which he was always proud. He was born on a pioneer farm in the neighboring county of Franklin on October 31, 1825, a son of Samuel W. and Martha (Curry) Trusler, the former of whom was a son of James Trusler, a Vir- ginian, who came to Indiana territory with his family about the year 1812 and settled near the Fairfield settlement in Franklin county, where he de- veloped a good farm and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring about 1840, he then being eighty-two years of age. James Trus- ler was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War and was a man of strong individuality, influential in his community and suc- cessful in his operations. He and his wife were earnest Methodists and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these chil- dren, five sons and two daughters, and the descendants of this active pio- neer now form a numerous family in this part of the state.
Samuel Wilson Trusler, son of James Trusler and father of Milton Trusler, was born in Virginia on July 9, 1795, and was about seventeen years of age when his parents came out here into what then was the "wilds" of Indiana Territory and settled in Franklin county. There he presently married and made his home until in 1830, when he moved up into Fayette county and settled on a farm in Jackson township, where he spent the remainder of his life, a substantial farmer, the owner of a well-developed farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and an active and useful citizen, who, as township officer and as school officer, did much for the develop- ment of Jackson township in the early days. Samuel W. Trusler died at his home in Jackson township on August 4, 1846, and the homestead place passed to his son Milton.
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