USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 70
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It was in 1869, at Milton, in the neighboring county of Wayne, that L. T. Bower was united in marriage to Harriet A. Zell, who was born in that village, daughter of John and Anna (Wallick) Zell, both of whom were born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they were married, coming thence to Indiana and locating at Milton, where for years John Zell was engaged in the blacksmith business, later becoming a hardware merchant, giving particular attention to blacksmiths' supplies. John Zell and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom two are still liv- ing, Mrs. Bower having a brother. Henry Zell. of Ft. Wayne, this state. To L. T. and Harriet A. (Zell) Bower six children were born, of whom but two are now living, Genevieve Adella, who married Arthur Darling, of Big Rapids, Michigan, and has one child, a son, Edson Bower Darling, and Claude C. Bower, who is now located at Pontiac, Michigan. Claude C.
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Bower married May Wright, who died, leaving one child, a son, Robert, and he later married Mrs. Irene Teeter. L. T. Bower died at his home in Connersville on June 10, 1912.
JOHN G. POWELL.
John G. Powell, proprietor of the corner hardware store at Connersville, is a native of the neighboring state of Ohio, born at Granville, one of the most beautiful college towns in Ohio, August 10, 1872, son of William R. and Rachael Ann (Jones) Powell, both of whom were born in Licking county, Ohio, and the former of whom is still living on the farm in the immediate vicinity of Granville, where he and his wife started housekeeping in the early days of their married life. His wife died on Christmas morning, 1898. They were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, William Franklin Powell, who is farming the old home place, and a sister, Minnie, who also continues to make her home there.
Reared on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Granville, John G. Powell completed his schooling in Dennison University at that place and upon leaving college became employed in the hardware store of William Geachs & Son at Granville, and was thus engaged for something more than three years, at the end of which time he transferred his services to the hardware store of Jones & Sons at that same place, and was engaged there for three years. He then went to Toledo, where for some time he was employed in a wagon-works and later in Johnson Brothers' furniture store. His health then failing, Mr. Powell made a comprehensive trip through the South, visiting all the Southern states, and after a year of travel returned to his old home at Granville and served there as township assessor for a couple of years. He then spent a year in California, returning then to Granville. where he resumed his former position in the hardware store of Geachs & Son, remaining there until in March, 1910, when he bought his present store in Connersville and has ever since been engaged in business in the latter city. Mr. Powell's store, which is situated at the southeast corner of Central avenue and Fifth street, was established prob- ably forty years ago and was owned by Joseph M. Webster & Son when Mr. Powell bought it. Mr. Powell handles a general line of hardware, stoves and agricultural implements and has one of the best-stocked stores in his line in eastern Indiana. Mr. Powell also owns a pleasant home at 1306 North Central avenue and he and his wife are very comfortably situated there.
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It was in 1907 that John G. Powell was united in marriage to Maude Finley, who was born in Iowa and whose father died about the time she was born. Her mother, Letitia Finley, later moved to Illinois and at Oneida, that state, was married to J. W. Ronald, who owned a farm in Delaware county, Ohio, the Ronalds making their home on that farm until they presently moved to Delaware, where Maude Finley was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Powell. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Powell is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. While living at Granville he served for some time as a member of the city council of that place.
WILLIAM NEWKIRK.
The late William Newkirk, organizer of the Connersville Furniture Com- pany and founder of that company's extensive manufacturing plant, for years one of the most important industrial concerns in eastern Indiana, was a native of the old Keystone state, but had been a resident of Indiana since the days of his boyhood. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1828, a son of Jacob and Julia (Burt) Newkirk, natives of New Jersey, who later came to Indiana, becoming early settlers of this county, and whose last days were spent in Connersville.
Jacob Newkirk for some years was engaged in business in Philadelphia as a hatter, later moving to Cincinnati, where for a time he was engaged in the hotel business. He also was a manufacturer of shoes. In 1834 he came up into Indiana with his family and located at Connersville, presently moving from that place to Harrisburg, a few miles north, but in later years returned to Connersville and there he and his wife spent their last days, honored pioneer residents of this county. They were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch having been Francis, Louise, Emily, Azell, Julia and Charles, none of whom are now living.
William Newkirk was about eight years of age when his parents came to Fayette county and his schooling was completed in the schools of Harrisburg. As a youth he was a great reader and the lines of his education were much wider than those offered in the schools of that period. When little more than a boy he began clerking in the Frybarger store at Connersville and there laid the foundation for his successful mercantile career. After several years of experience as a clerk Mr. Newkirk embarked in business for himself, starting a store at Bentonville, in this county, but presently returned to Connersville
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and there opened a hardware store, which he successfully conducted for several years, or until he conceived the organization of the Connersville Furni- ture Company, he having early recognized the advantage that a furniture fac- tory in Connersville would possess. Upon the organization of this company Mr. Newkirk was elected president of the same and thereafter gave his whole time to the development of the concern which has meant so much for the industrial development of Connersville, until failing health compelled his resignation and retirement from business. Upon his retirement Mr. Newkirk continued to make his home in Connersville. His death occurred at Daytona, Florida, where he had gone to spend the winter, on December 9, 1911, he then being eighty-three years of age. Mr. Newkirk was for many years an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and twice was elected a delegate from the local conference to the general conference of that church. An earn- est supporter of DePauw University, he was for years a member of the board of trustees of that sterling old sectarian institution and during much of that time served as the president of the board. Few men in this community were better or more favorably known throughout Indiana than was William New- kirk and at his passing he left a good memory, for he had done his part well.
William Newkirk was thrice married. His first wife, Mahala Hansen, died in Connersville, without issue. He then married Matilda Demerist, of Dayton, Ohio, who also died without issue. In June, 1882, Mr. Newkirk was united in marriage to Ida L. McIntosh, who was born in Connersville, daughter of James C. and Elizabeth (Martindale) McIntosh, both now deceased, the former of whom also was born in Connersville and the latter in the city of Indianapolis. James C. McIntosh, who for years was one of Connersville's most prominent lawyers, began practice in that city following his graduation from old Asbury (now DePauw) University, and for some time was asso- ciated in practice with Samuel W. Parker, later maintaining his office alone, and continued in practice in his home city until his death in 1880. He was an ardent Republican and was active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, who survived him many years, her death occurring on November 16, 1916. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, those besides Mrs. Newkirk, the second in order of birth, being as follow: Horace Parker McIntosh, a retired officer of the United States navy, now living in Washington, D. C .; James M. McIntosh, a banker, of Indian- apolis, president of the National City Bank, and Charles Kenneth McIntosh, a banker, of San Francisco, California.
To William and Ida L. (McIntosh) Newkirk two children were born, daughters both, Elizabeth, who married Carl P. Houghton, a mechanical
1
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engineer, of Connersville, and has one child, a son, Horace N., and Helen Louise, who married Herbert McFarlan and is now living at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mrs. Newkirk has a very pleasant home at 319 Western avenue, Connersville, and Mr. and Mrs. Houghton and their son make their home with her.
ADAM SCHOENHOLTZ.
Adam Schoenholtz, a well-to-do retired grocer of Connersville and one of the best-known residents of that city, is a native of Germany, born in the Rhine country on August 3, 1853, a son of Frederick and Katherine (Geiler ) Schoenholtz, natives of that same country. He lived in his native land until he was seventeen years of age, when, in 1871, he came to the United States, arriving at the port of New York on August 1, 1871. Some years before, in 1866, his brother, Fred Schoenholtz, had come to this country and was engaged in the bakery business at Connersville. Adam Schoenholtz had been trained to the trade or a tailor and his brother, Fred, met him at Cincinnati and there secured for him a place in a tailor shop, where he remained until 1875, when he came on up to Connersville and rejoined his brother.
Upon coming to Connersville Adam Schoenholtz secured work in the establishment of William H. Beck, who was operating a clothing store and tailor shop in that city, and was there engaged when, on March 3, 1882, he married Kate Weisel, of Connersville, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and who was but a baby when her parents, Henry and Wilhelmina (Uhl) Weisel, came to the United States in 1855 and located at Cincinnati, whence, in 1865, they moved to Connersville, where Henry Weisel continued his trade as a cooper. About 1878 Henry Weisel started a little grocery store at the northwest corner of Eighth street and Western avenue, at that time on the very outskirts of Connersville, believing that the natural increase of popu- lation out that way soon would make that a good trading point. Mr. Weisel started the store merely as an investment, installing his daughter, Kate, as manager of the same; he continuing his vocation as a cooper. After Mr. Schoenholtz's marriage his wife continued to conduct the store, which by that time was making quite a success, and as business improved Mr. Schoenholtz got in the way of bringing his tailoring work home with him in order that he might be of assistance to his wife in the store. Business continued to improve and presently he gave up tailoring and thereafter devoted his entire attention to the store. On August 5, 1885, he bought the store from Mr. Weisel and
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thereafter he and his wife continued to conduct the same for thirty-three years, or until they sold out and retired from business on January 1, 1915, since which time they have been "taking things easy," enjoying the ample reward of their long and diligent application to business.
Mr. and Mrs. Schoenholtz are earnest members of the German Presby- terian church, of which Mr. Schoenholtz has been a member of the board of trustees since 1878 and of which he has been treasurer for the past fifteen years. He also is a member of Guttenberg lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and of the Improved Order of Red Men, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.
SAMUEL S. MERRIFIELD.
Samuel S. Merrifield, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Harrison and Posey townships, this county, now living retired at Conners- ville, was born at Laporte, Indiana, August 14, 1838, son of Roberts and Eliza Jane (Shipley) Merrifield, who were married in Connersville in 1832. Roberts Merrifield was a lawyer and shortly after his marriage established himself in practice at Laporte, where he remained for several years, at the end of which time he moved to Marion, this state, and was there engaged in the practice of law until his death in 1842, leaving a widow and four chil- dren, of which latter the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Charles.
Following the death of her husband Mrs. Merrifield returned to Fay- ette county with her children to make her home with her brother, Charles E. Shipley, at Connersville, and in 1844 moved with him to a farm in Har- rison township, this county, and it was on that farm that Samuel S. Merri- field grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the old Broadus school house. From the days of his boyhood Mr. Merrifield was a valuable help to his uncle in the labors of improving the farm and upon his uncle's death his mother received eighty acres of the place. As the elder son, the management of the place fell upon the shoulders of Samuel S. Merrifield and he remained there, farming the place for his mother, until his marriage in 1865, when he located on a farm in Posey township, where he remained until 1871, in which year he moved to Indianapolis, where for eight years he was engaged in the coal business with his brother, Charles Merrifield. He then returned to Fayette county and took over the home place in Harrison township, the
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place now comprising the south half of Roberts Park, and farmed there until 1912, when he retired and moved to Connersville where he and his wife have since made their home and where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Merrifield is the owner of a quarter of a section of well-improved land in Posey township, besides other property, and is very comfortably circum- stanced.
As noted above, it was in 1865 that Samuel S. Merrifield was united in marriage to Harriet Huston, who was born at Bentonville on December 9, 1838, daughter of Jolin and Mary Huston, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union were born three chil- dren, Roberts, Alice and Charles, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Merrifield are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken an active interest in church work. Mr. Merrifield is a Republican and has always given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs.
ROY CLINTON MCKENNAN.
Roy Clinton McKennan, manufacturing chemist and head of the Maxine Company at Connersville, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of Connersville since the days of his boyhood. He was born at New Holland, Illinois, December 28, 1880, son of S. O. and Flora (Lucas) McKennan, both natives of Indiana, now residing at Connersville, where the former has been engaged in business since the early nineties.
Roy C. McKennan was about eleven years of age when his parents moved from Illinois to Connersville and he was graduated from the high school in that city in 1896. He then entered Purdue University and was graduated from the pharmacy department of that institution in 1900, immediately there- after forming a partnership with his father in the drug business at Con- nersville, that connection continuing. under the firm name of S. O. McKen- nan & Son, until 1912, when Roy C. McKennan engaged in the manufacture of a dental specialty which he had compounded and to which he gave the name of "Maxine." He formed a company for the manufacture of that preparation, the Maxine Company, which is very successfully engaged in manufacturing and marketing "Maxine" to the dental trade. Mr. McKen- nan also is a stockholder in several other local enterprises and is treasurer of the Home Loan Association of Connersville, a position he has held for about ten years.
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On February 1, 1905, Roy C. McKennan was united in marriage to Madge Kensler, who was born in Connersville, daughter of P. H. and Isabel (Morrison) Kensler, and who also was graduated from the Conners- ville high school, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Isabel Flora. Mr. and Mrs. McKennan are members of the First Methodist church and Mr. McKennan is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
JOSEPH R, MOUNTAIN, M. D.
Dr. Joseph R. Mountain, dean of the medical profession in Connersville, having been engaged in practice in that city longer than any other physician now practicing there, is a native of Michigan, but has been a resident of this state and of Connersville for nearly twenty years. He was born at St. Johns, Michigan, September 15, 1871, son of Robert S. and Cecelia M. (Pruden) Mountain, both natives of the state of New York, who moved to Howell, Michigan, in 1872, remaining there until about 1887, when they returned to St. Johns.
Doctor Mountain received excellent scholastic foundation for the prac- tice of his exacting profession. He was about a year old when his parents moved to Howell and was about fifteen years of age when they returned to St. Johns, his elementary schooling thus having been secured partly in the former place and partly in the latter. In the fall of 1892 he entered the Uni- versity of Michigan, starting in the scientific course, and the next year went to Chicago, where he was engaged in teaching school, as a means of securing further funds for his maintenance in the university. In the fall of 1894 he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan and was gradu- ated from that institution in 1898, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. During his college course, Doctor Mountain practically made his own way, acting as a tutor in other departments of the university during much of his term, acting also as demonstrator in laboratory work and in his senior year was assistant instructor, under Dr. J. M. Martin, in diseases of women and children, serving later as an interne in the hospital under Doctor Martin, this later practical experience being of more value to him than a post-graduate course.
Upon receiving his diplomia Doctor Mountain returned to St. Johns and was there engaged in practice until January 19, 1899, when he located
R. Manuti M. D.
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at Connersville, where he ever since has been engaged in practice. During one or two of his vacation periods while in college he had clerked in a drug store at Connersville and was then so greatly taken with the place that when he was free to settle down definitely he chose that city as the scene of his practice. Doctor Mountain has been very successful in his practice and is one of the busiest practitioners in eastern Indiana, the demands upon his professional services keeping him going constantly. He keeps fully abreast of the latest advances in the practice of his profession and his office is usually well equipped, this equipment including one of the most complete X-ray out- fits in Indiana, a valuable adjunct both to diagnosis and therapeutics. In 1913 he took a post-graduate course in London and Paris, in the former place giving his special attention to physical diagnosis, and in 1915 took another post-graduate course in New York City, giving there his special atten- tion to the X-ray. Though the period of Doctor Mountain's practice in Con- nersville has not yet covered twenty years, he has been there longer than any other physician now in active practice in that city and therefore very properly may be called the dean of his profession in Connersville. He is a member of the Fayette County Medical Society, of the Union District Medical Society, an organization older than the Indiana State Medical Association, of which later he also is a member, and is likewise affiliated with the American Medical Association, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes an active interest. The Doctor gives his close attention to the general business affairs of the city and is an active supporter of all movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare. He helped to organize the Central State Bank of Connersville, established in March, 1907, and was a member of the first board of directors of that institution. He is likewise interested financially in several other local enterprises and is a member of the board of directors of the Elmhurst School for Girls.
On October 16, 1900, Dr. Joseph R. Mountain was united in marriage to Elizabeth C. Clark, who was born and reared in Cincinnati, a daughter of Frazee and Margaret (Arthur) Clark, and to this union two children have been born, both sons, Joseph C. and Francis B. Doctor and Mrs. Mountain are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work. Mrs. Mountain is one of the leading members of the Carey Literary Club and is otherwise interested in the city's cultural activities. The Doctor is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Indianapolis ; a Knight Templar,
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affiliated with the commandery at Connersville, and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ( Murat Temple), at Indian- apolis. He also is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Improved Order of Red Men and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.
VIRGIL J. BARKER.
Virgil J. Barker, proprietor of a hardware store at Connersville and one of the best-known merchants in that city, is a native son of Fayette county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm two miles east of the city of Connersville on June 15, 1876, son of Barton and Mary (McCann) Barker, both now deceased, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in this county.
Barton Barker was born in Lincolnshire, England, and was but eight years of age when his parents came to this country and located on a farm in this county, east of Connersville, where they spent the remainder of their lives and where he spent his early manhood. There he married Mary McCann, who was born in Jennings township, a daughter of James and Barbara (Dary) McCann, who had come to Indiana from western Virginia about the time Indiana was admitted to statehood and had settled in the woods, not far from the junction of Fall creek and White river, building a cabin at a point now occupied by the Claypool Hotel, in the very heart of the city of Indianapolis ; but coming to the conclusion that that locality never would amount to anything moved over to Conner's settlement and after looking about a bit established their home in Jennings township, this county, before 1819, and remained there on the farm now known as the old Spivey farm, three and one-half miles east of Connersville, for a number of years, at the end of which time they moved to a farm north of East Connersville, where they spent the remainder of their lives. After his marriage Barton Barker continued to make his home east of Connersville for some years, at the end of which time he moved to Harrison township, where he lived until old age, when he retired and moved to Conners- ville, where he spent his last days, his death occurring there on April 4, 1913. His wife had preceded him to the grave about eighteen years, her death having occurred on June 6, 1895. Barton Barker was an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served for four years as a member of the Sixteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during which service he was wounded three times,
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once in the arm, once in the leg and another time a bursting shell deafened his left ear. Mr. Barker was mustered out as a non-commissioned officer. For three years during his residence in Connersville he served as chief of police of that city.
Virgil J. Barker grew to manhood on the home farm and completed his schooling in the schools of Connersville, graduating from the high school there in 1895. He then spent a few years on the farm with his father and then became employed with the hardware, furniture and undertaking firm of Thomas L. Smith & Son, at Connersville, and remained with that firm for thirteen years, at the end of which time he bought the hardware and stove department of the concern, the same having been conducted by Carl Smith, son of Thomas L. Smith, and has since been the proprietor of the same, oper- ating a very well-conducted and amply-stocked store, dealing in all kinds of shelf hardware, stoves, ranges, paints, oils, harness, blankets and farm imple- ments, and is doing very well.
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