USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
Dr. Samuel F. Johnson also was a native of this state, born near Boon- ville, in Warrick county, and received his medical education in the college at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he was graduated in the late fifties. He began practice at Rockport and was thus engaged there when the Civil War broke out. He went to the front as captain of a company in the Sixty-fifth Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and presently was promoted to the posi- tion of major surgeon of the regiment, serving in that capacity with that command until the close of the war. Upon the completion of his military service Doctor Johnson returned to Rockport and continued the practice of his profession the rest of his life. Dr. Samuel F. Johnson was one of the leading Republicans in Spencer county and served that county as county treasurer and was later elected to the state Senate and was afterward returned to the Legislature as a member of the House of Representatives, serving in both branches of the General Assembly with distinction.
Reared at Dale, Dr. J. H. Johnson received his elementary schooling in the schools of that place and supplemented the same by a course in the high school at Rockport, being graduated from the same in 1890. He then attended the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute for four years, at the end of which time he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville and after an attendance of two years there went to Chicago, where he entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, and was graduated from that
701
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
institution in 1895. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Johnson returned to Rockport and there opened an office for the practice of his profession, remain- ing there until his removal, in 1905 to Connersville, where he ever since has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession, having built up an extensive practice in that city and surrounding country. In 1907 Doctor Johnson took a post-graduate course at the Louisville Medical College and has ever kept abreast of the modern advances in his profession. He is a mem- ber of the Indiana State Homeopathic Society and for some time has been serving as supreme medical director of the Puritan Life and Annuity Insur- ance Company.
In 1905 Dr. J. H. Johnson was united in marriage to Ella Lake, daughter of Wallace I). Lake, a member of the well-known Lake family in this county, further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have been born, a son, Earl, and a daughter, Margaret.
SIMON DOENGES.
Simon Doenges, postmaster of Connersville and former manager of the Connersville Ice Company, was born at Lawrenceburg, this state, July 14. 1870, and has lived in Indiana all his life. His parents, Simon and Amelia (Kring) Doenges, the latter of whom is still living, were born in Germany, but became residents of this country in the days of their youth, their re- spective parents having come to the United States and settled at Lawrence- burg, this state.
The elder Simon Doenges was a young man when he came to the United States in 1852. The vessel on which he sailed was wrecked in a storm and the passengers were compelled to take to the boats in midocean. They pres- ently were picked up by another vessel, but were one hundred and fifty-two days in making the passage, on account of storms and contrary winds. The food gave out and starvation was staring them in the face before they finally reached port. Simon Doenges had been trained as a stationary engineer in his native country and long followd that line after coming to Indiana. Not long after locating at Lawrenceburg he took a contract for furnishing cord- wood to the railway company for use in the locomotives, that being in the days of the old wood-burners, and carried out the contract with considerable profit. For years he worked as a stationary engineer at Lawrenceburg and then moved to Connersville, where he spent his last days, his death occurring
70.2
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
in 1900, he then being seventy years of age. His father died in Germany and his mother came to America with her children and spent her last days at Lawrenceburg. Among these children, besides Simon, were Christian Doenges and Mrs. Goebler, of Indianapolis. Simon Doenges's widow is still living in Connersville, being now past eighty-two years of age. Her parents, who came to this country from Germany, also spent their last days in Law- renceburg. Among their children, besides Mrs. Doenges, was Mrs. Char- lotte Lyendecker, of Indianapolis.
The junior Simon Doenges was reared at Lawrenceburg, the city of his birth, and attended school there until he was fourteen years of age, when he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade and presently became an expert cabi- net maker, following that vocation for about eighteen years. Years ago he began working in the cabinet department of the plant of the Indiana Furniture Company at Connersville and was not long thereafter made foreman of the same, from which position he was presently promoted to the position of superintendent of the plant, and while serving in this capacity was elected councilman from the first ward of the city of Connersville, being the first Democrat elected to that office in twenty-five years, but one Democrat having served twenty-five years prior to that time. In 1906 Mr. Doenges, in com- pany with others, purchased the plant and equipment of the Connersville Ice Company and in the subsequent reorganization of that company he was elected secretary-treasurer and general manager and was thus actively engaged until his appointment to the office of postmaster of Connersville by President Wilson in 1914. Upon the arrival of his commission as postmaster Mr. Doenges entered upon the duties of that office and is now serving the public in that important capacity. He still retains his interest in the Connersville Ice Company, however, and is a member of the board of directors of the same. Mr. Doenges is a Democrat and has for years taken an active interest not only in local political affairs, but in the political affairs of the district and state. He is a member of the Indiana Democratic Club and has a wide acquaintance among the leaders of his party throughout the state.
On July 11, 1889, Simon Doenges was united in marriage to Sophia Dentlinger, who was born at Batesville, Indiana, daughter of Louis and Margaret. Dentlinger, natives of Germany, the former of whom 'died at his home in Connersville in 1913 and the latter of whom is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Doenges are members of the Presbyterian church and take a warm inter- est in church affairs, as well as in the general social activities of their home city. Mr. Doenges is a Mason, affiliated with Warren Lodge No. 15 at Con-
703
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
nersville, and is likewise a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Knights of Pythias, of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and is connected with the Travelers Protective Association, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes an active interest. Mrs. Doenges is one of the ten children born to her parents and five of whom are still living, those besides herself being Pauline, Louisa, William and Otto Dentlinger.
DR. A. T. SWEETLAND, D. C.
Dr. A. T. Sweetland (Chiropractic), who has been following his pro- fession at Connersville with much success since 1912, was born in the city of Chicago on February 24, 1882, but has been a resident of this state since the days of his childhood. . He is a son of Le Roy B. and Anna A. Sweetland, the former of whom was born in Dryden, New York, and the latter at Toronto, Canada.
Le Roy B. Sweetland was reared at Dryden, New York, and there received his schooling. His mother was a school teacher and he early turned his attention to teaching, in time becoming the principal of the schools in his home town, remaining there until he moved to Chicago, where he took employment with the Chicago & Erie Railroad Company and was thus employed there until he was transferred to Huntington, Indiana, where he remained in the employ of the same road the rest of his life, a period of thirty-five years, his death occurring in a railway accident in 1912. His widow is now making her home in Los Angeles, California.
Dr. A. T. Sweetland received an excellent scholastic foundation for the practice of the exacting profession he is following. He was but a child when his parents moved from Chicago to Huntington and he grew to man- hood in the latter city. Upon completing the course in the high school there he entered the Palmer School of Chiropractic at Davenport, Iowa, and upon completing the course in that institution received his degree in 1912. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Doctor Sweet- land, located at Ft. Wayne, this state, but after a short time there moved to Connersville, where he opened offices in the McFarlan block and where he ever since has been located, having built up an excellent practice.
Doctor Sweetland is one of the most enthusiastic chiropractors (ki-ro- praktor-from the Latin, meaning to work by the hands) in the country,
704
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
having been led to take up this form of the healing art by reason of a most remarkable experience. For twenty years the Doctor was totally blind in his right eye. He received treatment by some of the most noted eye specialists in the country, expending for such service no less than five thousand dollars, without securing a particle of relief, and finally accepted the declaration of the specialists that his was a hopeless case. The blindness presently extended to the other eye and for eight months he was totally blind. His attention then being called to the remarkable instances of cure being effected by chiro- practic, he began taking a course of adjustments under the direction of a skilled chiropractor and before two years the sight of his eyes was restored, nor has he had a recurrence of the trouble that so long blighted his life and his prospects. The Doctor's studies in chiropractic were directed by Dr. D. D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, at the latter's school in Davenport, and in view of the amazing effects of the treatment in his own personal case, he naturally is an ardent and devoted advocate of this school of drug- less healing and has become recognized as one of the most skilled practitioners in that line of practice in the middle West. His practice is constantly extend- ing as people come more and more to realize the efficacy of the form of treatment provided under chiropractic and his offices are well equipped for the practice of the profession to which he so ardently has devoted his life.
Doctor Sweetland married Lottie England, a daughter of J. O. Eng- land, and has one child, a son, Leroy W. Sweetland.
PROF. CLAUDE L. TRUSLER.
Prof. Claude L. Trusler, superintendent of schools of Fayette county and one of the most popular officials in the court house, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Jack- son township on November 21, 1878, son of Samuel Frederick and Orpha Jane (Sims) Trusler, both of whom also were born in this county and who are stil lliving here, influential residents of the Everton neighborhood.
Samuel Frederick Trusler is a son of Milton and Isabella (Thompson) Trusler, natives of Indiana and pioneer farmers in Jackson township, this county. Milton Trusler was a son of James Trusler, of Virginia, who was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, and he had two brothers, Nelson and Gilbert Trusler, who were officers in the Union army during the Civil War. Milton Trusler and his wife spent their last
CLAUDE L. TRUSLER.
705
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
days in this county, honored pioneer residents of the same. They were the parents of eight children, those besides Superintendent Trusler's father, the second in order of birth, having been Anna, Laura, Henry, Sidney, Ira, Juanita and Nina. The mother of these children was of English descent, the founder of her branch of the Thompson family in this county having been Joseph D. Thompson, who settled in Jackson township, this county, about the year 1820. He was descended from Maurice Thompson, of Hampshire, England, who at one time was governor of the East India Com- pany. Samuel F. Trusler grew to manhood in Fayette county and married Orpha Jane Sims, who was born in Columbia township, this county, daugh- ter of John and Nancy (Collins) Sims, also natives of this state, representa- tives of pioneer families, and who spent their last days in this county, where they reared a large family John Sims was a farmer and blacksmith and owned a farm in Columbia township. Samuel F. Trusler has always been a farmer and is the owner of a well-kept farm of about ninety acres in Jackson township, where he and his wife are very pleasantly situated. Two children were born to them, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Maude, who married John Kennedy, of Dunrieth, in the neighborhooing county of Henry.
Reared on the paternal farm in Jackson township, Claude L. Trusler received his elementary schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age. Upon completing the course in the Jackson township high school he entered the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, and was graduated from that institution, after which he entered upon his teaching career and was engaged as a teacher in the high school at Everton and later as a teacher in the high school at Alquina, and was thus engaged until his election in June, 1907, to the office of superintendent of schools of Fayette county, a position which he has held ever since and in the exercise of the functions of which office he has done much to advance the cause of education hereabout. Professor Trusler has a wide acquaintance among educators throughout the state and his close personal interest in the schools under his charge has done very much to increase the efficiency of the schools of Fayette county.
In 1899 Claude L. Trusler was united in marriage to Estella Jerman, who also was born in Jackson township, this county, a daughter of W. C. and Cora (Gwaltney) Jerman, substantial farmers of that township, now living at Everton. W. C. Jerman and wife have five children, of whom Mrs. Trusler was the third in order of birth, the others being Roy, Bessie,
(45)
706
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Curtis and Robert. To Professor and Mrs. Trusler four children have been born, Jean, Noel Milton, Helen and Yale Nelson. Mrs. Trusler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Professor is a member of the Universalist church. In his political views the Professor is a Repub- lican and, fraternally, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, affiliated with the lodge of that order at Everton. The Truslers have a very pleasant home at Connersville and take a warm interest in the general social activities of their home city.
JOHN B. McFARLAN, JR.
John B. McFarlan, Jr., president of the People's Service Company of Connersville, secretary of the McFarlan Realty Company of that city and in other ways identified with the commercial and industrial affairs of his home town, was born in Connersville and has lived there all his life. He was born on November 7, 1866, son of John B. and Lydia C. (Jackson) McFarlan, the former of whom was born in the city of London, England, and the latter in Cincinnati, Ohio, both now deceased, who for many years were regarded as among the leaders in the social, religious and industrial life of Conners- ville and further and fitting reference to whom is made in a biographical sketch relating to Charles E. J. McFarlan, elder brother of the subject of this sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume.
Upon completing the course in the Connersville public schools the junior John B. McFarlan entered Oxford University, at Oxford, Ohio, and after a course of two years there became engaged with his father in the business of manufacturing buggies at Connersville ; was presently made a partner with his father in that business and remained thus connected until the time of his father's death. The elder John B. McFarlan was for many years recog- nized as one of Connersville's most far-seeing citizens and was one of the most active factors in the industrial development of that city. One of the most notable evidences of his foresight was the encouragement he gave to young men to build homes of their own, paying for the same in easy install- ments, being content to accept second mortgages in the case of worthy appli- cants for homes. That company, under the present direction of the McFarlan brothers and their sister, Maria J. McFarlan, is still continuing in business at Connersville and the junior John B. McFarlan is secretary of the same.
707.
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
The McFarlans also are heavily interested in the People's Service Company of Connersville, successor to the old Connersville Natural Gas Company, and the junior John B. McFarlan is president of the same. He also is the owner of a fine farm in the neighboring county of Rush and in recent years has given much and careful attention to the management of the same, having developed there one of the best farm plants in that part of the state. Mr. McFarlan is a lifelong Republican, but has never been a seeker after public office.
On October 12, 1910, John B. McFarlan was united in marriage to Nellie Brown, who was born and reared in Connersville, daughter and only child of George M. and Ada (White) Brown, both of whom were born in this county and have for years been well-known residents of Connersville. George M. Brown is a son of George W. and Hannah ( Yingling) Brown, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany, who became early resi- ' dents of Fayette county and here reared a considerable family, their children having been George, Charles, William, Andrew, Fred, Alfred E., Maggie and Jennie. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of Hamilton White and wife, also early residents of Fayette county, who were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Brown being Elizabeth, India, Fred and Robert White. Mrs. McFarlan is a member of the Methodist church and both she and her hus- band give their earnest attention to the general social activities of their home town.
JOHN LOCKHART.
One of the well-known and successful retired farmers and stockmen of Connersville is John Lockhart, who was born on Williams creek, in this county, on February 19, 1828, the son of Moses and Elizabeth (Reed) Lock- hart, natives of the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively.
Moses Lockhart was born in Adams county, Ohio, where he received his education in the common schools, grew to manhood and was married. After their marriage, he and his wife established their home in the Buckeye state, where they resided for a time and in 1811 came to Indiana and located in Fayette county, on Williams creek. Mr. Lockhart entered land of the gov- ernment in Connersville township and he and his wife at once started to make a home for themselves and those dependent upon them. This section of the country at that time was, for the most part, a wilderness, covered with the heaviest of timber. The task of clearing the farm and preparing the land for
708
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
the future crops was no easy one, and it was only with a firm determination and a firm will that this early pioneer was successful in his task. A rude log cabin, common to the district and the times, was erected and in this the little family resided for some years. A small tract was cleared and the first crop planted and later harvested, and thus the family were able to live for another year, or until another crop could be raised. Much game was obtained in the forests and fish from the rivers and streams and thus the settler of those days lived and worked. For a number of years, chopping, logging and burn- ing was the order of the day. In time the farm became developed and improved, and where once grew the big trees of the forest, grew the golden grain, and the rude cabin was replaced by a more commodious and substan- tial structure. Here Mr. Lockhart engaged in general farming until the time of his death in 1832. His wife survived him and lived to the age of eighty.
Moses and Elizabeth Lockhart were the parents of the following chil- dren : Thomas, Robert, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Elisha, Nancy, Allison, Rolston, Mary Jane, John, Moses and one who died in infancy. Thomas is now deceased and Robert died in Louisiana; Elizabeth was the wife of Moses Burnett; the other children, with the exception of John, are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart originally were members of the Baptist church, but later united with the Christian church, and were always active and prominent in church work, substantial supporters of the local society. Mr. Lockhart was identified with the Democrat party and had much to do with the early civic life of the county. He was a man of much force of character and his advice and counsel was of much value at the time of the organization of the township and the county, after the state was admitted into the Union.
John Lockhart received his education in the early schools of his township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where he remained until his mar- riage. The life on the farm in those days was not such as the boy of today enjoys. Much of the territory was yet undeveloped and there was always much work that a lad could do. Yet, with all the hardships and privations, the youth of those days were trained in a way that well fitted them for the lives that they were to lead. For the most part they were manly, upright and industrious. They were taught the spirit of independence and morality. A social circle was developed that brought much good to the people of the community. All were, for the most part, on an equity, and there was little discussion as to who were the social leaders; other than the fact that they were honest and fearless men and women.
709
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
It was on February 18, 1859, that John Lockhart was united in mar- riage to May Susan Dora, who was born in the state of Kentucky, and who came to Fayette county in 1855, and here she made her home until the time of her death on December 13, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living: William, Elizabeth and Rebecca. William M. Lockhart is a well-known and successful grocer in Connersville ; Elizabeth is the wife of T. E. Murphy, a substantial farmer of Fairview township, this county, and Rebecca is the wife of Albert Chris- man, a well-known and prominent attorney at Connersville. These living children of the family are all prominent in their respective localities. have splendid homes of their own, and they and their families are all held in the highest regard and esteem by the people who know them.
After his marriage Jolin Lockhart and his wife lived on the old home place for one winter, and then purchased a farm of their own, one mile west of Poplar Grove, where he and his wife lived for forty-five years. The farm they developed and improved, and there met with much success as general farmers and stockraisers. In 1903 he and his wife retired from the more active duties of life and moved to Connersville, where Mrs. Lockhart died and where Mr. Lockhart still resides. He has sold a part of his large farm, but still owns one hundred and twenty-seven acres in Connersville town- ship. He was an excellent farmer and took much pride in the upkeep of his fine farm and in the care and attention that he gave the splendid stock that he always kept on the place.
Mr. Lockhart has long been identified with the Republican party, and has always taken a keen interest in local affairs. He was ever interested in the development of the schools of the county, and for a number of years served as a school director, always looking to the best interest of the school and the children. His wife was an active member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and Mr. Lockhart was always a liberal supporter of the local society. During his life as a young man he taught public school and singing school. Much of his education he gained through his own efforts, for he was always a great reader and student, and. today is well posted on all cur- rent events. For one of his years he is unusually active, and has many inter- esting tales to tell of his early life in the county. His general disposition and his ability to tell of many of the interesting events of former days has made for him many friends throughout the county. His life has been an active one and he has seen many changes in the district during his life in this section. He recalls that when he was a lad, the greater part of the country
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.