USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 72
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Samuel O. McKennan was twenty-one years of age when his parents moved from Indiana to New Holland in Logan county, Illinois. In 1877 he engaged in the drug business at that place, remaining thus engaged in that town until 1892, when he returned to Indiana and engaged in the drug business at Connersville, owning a store in the McFarlan block, and was thus engaged there for nineteen years. During that time he was made secretary of the Home Loan Association of Connersville, a position which he still occupies and to the duties of which of late he has been devoting the whole of his attention, the expansion of the association's business in recent years requiring the constant attention of the secretary. Mr. McKennan is a Demo- crat and during his residence at New Holland served for four years as post- master of that place, under appointment of President Cleveland, and also served for six years as clerk of his home township.
On March 25, 1880, Samuel O. McKennan was united in marriage, in Clinton county, Indiana, to Flora Lucas, who was born in that county on December 9, 1858, daughter of Clinton and Julia (Richey ) Lucas, natives of Ohio, the former of whom died in 1864 and the latter of whom is still living and who were the parents of four children, those besides Mrs. McKen- nan having been John, Charles and Marm. The Widow Lucas married, secondly, John Wainscott and to that union were born four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. McKennan have two sons, Roy C. and Jesse T. Roy C. McKennan is engaged in the manufacturing business in Connersville. He married Madge Kensler and has one child, a daughter. Jesse T. McKennan; who also is married, is a traveling salesman and makes his home in Chicago. Mr.
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and Mrs. McKennan are members of the Presbyterian church at Conners- ville and Mr. McKennan has been chorister in the Sunday school of the same for twenty-three years. He is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, of the Improved Order of Red Men, of the Modern Woodmen and of the Knights of the Maccabees and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.
CHARLES MONEYHON.
Charles Moneyhon, president of the Connersville Lumber Company at Connersville and one of the best-known business men in that city, is a native of Kentucky, born on a farm in the immediate neighborhood of Augusta, that state, October 6, 1871, son of Alfred N. and Anna (Weimer) Money- hon, both of whom were born in that same state and who are still living on their well-kept farm of two hundred and forty acres in the Augusta neigh- borhood.
Alfred N. Moneyhon is a son of Patterson and Elizabeth (Cabler) Moneyhon, natives of Kentucky, whose last days were spent in Bracken county, that state, and who were the parents of eight children, George W., William H., Alfred, Johnson, Hamilton, John, Henrietta and Lewis. Alfred N. Moneyhon married Anna Weimer, daughter of Lewis F. and Julia (Nichols) Weimer, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ken- tucky, who were the parents of ten children, George, William, John, Louis, Frank, James, Elizabeth, Josephine, Eliza and Anna. Lewis F. Weimer was a miller. Alfred N. Moneyhon and wife are members of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these chil- dren, namely: Julia, unmarried, who has taught school in her old home district for twenty-six years; Charles, the subject of this biographical sketch; George, also of Connersville: Ada, who is at home with her parents: Lida, wife of George Cablish, of Charleston. West Virginia : Nicholas, of Bracken county, Kentucky : Edith and Edna (twins), the former of whom is a teacher in the schools of Covington, Kentucky, and the latter of whom is the wife of Granville Richards, of Pineville, Kentucky, and two who died in infancy.
Charles Moneyhon. was reared on the paternal farm in Kentucky and completed his schooling in old Augusta College, from which he was gradu- ated in 1888. For four years thereafter he remained on the home farm and he then engaged in the lumber business at Augusta, acquiring a thorough
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knowledge of the details of that business. In 1903 he was made the manager of the plant of the Connersville Lumber Company at Connersville and moved to that city, where he ever since has made his home. The year following his connection with that concern he bought an interest in the company and in 1906 became the president of the same, a concern capitalized at thirty thousand dollars, and is now occupying that position, long having been recognized as one of the leading lumbermen in this part of the state. Mr. Moneyhon also is a member of the board of directors of the Fayette Loan and Savings Association at Connersville and in other ways has displayed his interest in the general business affairs of the city. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.
On September 30, 1898, Charles Moneyhon was united in marriage to Anna Hanson, who was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, daughter of Frank and Alice (Weldon) Hanson, also natives of that state, the latter of whom died at Augusta, Kentucky, in 1906, and the former of whom is still living, now making his home in Connersville. Frank Hanson is a son of John Hanson and wife, who died in Kentucky. Mrs. Moneyhon is the third in order of birth of the four children born to her parents, the others being Sarah, Florence and William. To Charles and Anna ( Hanson ) Moneyhon two sons have been born, Stanley and Charles, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Moneyhon and their elder son are members of the Christian church and take a warm interest in church work, Mr. Moneyhon being a deacon of the local congrega- tion. He is a Mason, a member of Warren Lodge No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons, and also of the Connersville lodge of the order of Knights of Pythias, and in the affairs of these organizations takes an active interest.
J. N. WHITEIS, D. O.
Dr. J. N. Whiteis (osteopath), who has been practicing his profession at Connersville since 1904. is a native of the state of Ohio, but has been a resident of this state ever since childhood, with the exception of some years spent in Missouri during the days of his youth. He was-born in Logan county, Ohio, April 19, 1856, a son of Boyd and Jane Whiteis, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Wales. Boyd Whiteis was a brick- layer and after a sometime location in Ohio moved to Indiana and lived in
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Cass and Fulton counties for some years, at the end of which time he moved to Missouri, where he spent the rest of his life as a farmer.
J. N. Whiteis was but a child when his parents moved from Ohio to this state and his early schooling was received in the schools of Cass and Fulton counties. He completed his schooling in Missouri and there learned the trade of painter, which he followed for about thirty years. After the death of his father he had moved back to Indiana and was living in Connersville when, in 1901, he entered upon the study of osteopathy and entered the Columbia College of Osteopathy at Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1902. Upon receiving his degree Doctor Whiteis returned to Connersville and opened there an office for the practice of his profession. In 1905 he took a supplementary or post-graduate course in the Bennett School at Lima, Ohio, and was thus enabled to add some valuable additional electrical equipment to his office paraphernalia. Doctor Whiteis is one of the oldest practicing osteopaths in this part of the state and during his prac- tice at Connersville has become widely known throughout this and adjoining counties, having built up an extensive practice.
In 1901 Doctor Whiteis married Emma Woodfield. He is independent in his political views and ever takes a warm interest in local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after office.
H. W. SMELSER, M. D.
Dr. H. W. Smelser, a well-nówn young phycician of Connersville, was born on a farm not far northeast of Rushville, in the neighboring county of Rush, September 4, 1891, a son of J. F. and Ida (Bowles) Smelser, both members of old families in that community. Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Rushville, he received his elementary schooling in the dis- trict schools of that neighborhood and then entered the high shool at Con- nersville, from which he was graduated in 1910. He then entered Earlham College and some time later entered the University of Indiana. After two years spent in the liberal arts department of the university he took up the work in the medical college of the same and was graduated from that institution, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1915, he having previously, in 1914, received his Bachelor of Science degree.
Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Smelser was appointed an interne at the Deaconess Hospital at Indianapolis and after a year of valuable
H. W. SMELSER, M. D.
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practice in that institution located, in 1916, at Connersville, where he since has been engaged in the practice of his profession. Doctor Smelser is a member of the college fraternities Phi Chi and Delta Upsilon and continues to take a warm interest in the affairs of the same. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Christian church. His wife is a member of the Methodist church.
It was on October 18, 1916, that Dr. H. W. Smelser was united in marriage to Frances Shera, a daughter of C. P. and Sallie ( Bennett ) Shera, of Laurel, Franklin county.
JAMES M. HERON.
James M. Heron, secretary and treasurer of the Rex Manufacturing Company of Connersville and formerly and for years one of the best-known merchants in that city, was born in Connersville and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 30, 1857, son of James and Caroline (McCarty) Heron, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Indi- ana, for many years well-known and influential residents of Connersville and the latter of whom is still living.
James Heron was born in the city of Baltimore and was but twelve or thirteen years of age when his parents, James and Barbara (Kevin) Heron, came to Indiana and settled on a farm in this county, one mile south of Connersville. The elder James Heron and his wife were natives of Scot- land and upon coming to this country located at Baltimore, where James Heron engaged in the dry-goods business and where he and his family remained until 1837. when they came out to what then was regarded as the "wilds" of the West and settled in this county. Here James Heron died two years later, in 1839. His widow survived him many years, living to the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of six children, James, Alexander, Samuel, Nathan, Helen and William. The junior James Heron grew to manhood on the home farm in the vicinity of Connersville and early became engaged in the pork-packing business, an industry with which he remained connected practically all the rest of his life, for many years secre- tary and treasurer of the White Water Canal Company. He married Caro- line McCarty, who was born at Brookville, this state, daughter of the Hon. Enoch McCarty and wife, pioneers of Brookville and among the most prom-
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inent early settlers of that part of the state. Judge McCarty was one of the early land agents in Indiana, was a member of the state's first constitutional convention, was for years judge of the court in Franklin county and was a large landowner. Both he and his wife spent their last days at Brookville, in Franklin county. They were the parents of a good-sized family. Caro- line McCarty was a twin, her twin sister, Catherine, dying young, however. She has besides three other sisters, Jane, Desdemona and Helen, and three brothers, Monroe, Milton and Frank. James Heron died in 1876, at the age of fifty-one years, and his widow, who still survives, is now past eighty- seven years of age. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, as was her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There are three of these children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Katherine, unmarried, and Nora, wife of Samuel Johnson, of Portsmouth, Ohio.
James M. Heron was reared at Connersville, the city of his birth, and received his early schooling in the schools of that city, supplementing the same by a course in Chickering Institute at Cincinnati, after which, in 1875, he began clerking in a shoe store in Connersville. About four years later, in 1879, he bought the store in which he had been engaged as a clerk and continued business at the southwest corner of Fifth street and Central avenue until 1903. A few years previous to this latter date, in November, 1899, he had become treasurer of the Rex Buggy Company at Connersville and thereafter devoted the greater part of his time and attention to the affairs of that company. presently becoming secretary and treasurer of the concern, which employed about three hundred persons and sold its product in all parts of the United States. In July, 1916, the Rex Buggy Company discontinued the manufacture of buggies and was reorganized as the Rex Manufacturing Company, Mr. Heron continuing secretary and treasurer of the same, and is now devoting its whole attention to the manufacture of sedan tops for automobiles and the painting and trimming of automobile bodies, the reorgan- ization of the business necessitating the employment of several hundred addi- tional persons in the factory. Mr. Heron is also treasurer of the Hoosier Castings Company at Connersville, secretary of the Central Manufacturing Company, in that city, and a stockholder in the Lexington-Howard Motor Car Company, one of the chief industrial concerns in Connersville. Mr. Heron is an independent voter and has ever given his close attention to the civic affairs of his home town, though never a seeker after public office.
On June 27, 1882, James M. Heron was united in marriage to Nancy Dolph, who was born at Paris, this state, daughter of the Rev. E. L. and
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Isabel ( Ault) Dolph, both now deceased, who were the parents of six chil- dren, those besides Mrs. Heron being Anna, Kate, Edward, William and May. Mr. and Mrs. Heron have two daughters, Nora, who married Joseph T. Mckinney, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Isabel, who married Frank B. Ansted, a well-known lawyer and manufacturer of Connersville. Mrs. Heron is a member of the Church of Christ ( Scientist) and Mr. Heron is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. They have a very pleasant home at 507 Western avenue and have ever taken an earnest interest in the city's gen- eral social activities.
ALBERT L. CHRISMAN.
Albert L. Chrisman, former clerk of Fayette county and one of the best-known lawyers practicing at the bar of the Fayette circuit court, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Harrison township, four miles north of the city of Connersville, December 17, 1871, son of Jesse and Catharine Chrisman, prominent resi- dents of that part of the county and further and fitting reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and received his elementary schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood. He later attended school at Rush- ville and then took a course in Valparaiso ( Indiana) University, after which he engaged in teaching in the public schools of this county and was thus engaged for seven years, at the end of which time he was appointed deputy county clerk, under William F. Downs. Upon the death of Mr. Downs he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the clerk and served the public in that capacity until the expiration of that term. In the meantime Mr. Chris- man had been giving his earnest attention to the reading of law and when he left the clerk's office he took up the systematic study of law in the office of Reuben Conner, and under that able preceptorship presently was qualified for practice and in 1907 was admitted to the bar. Following his admission to the bar Mr. Chrisman opened an office for the practice of his profession at Connersville and has ever since been thus engaged in that city.
In 1894 Albert L. Chrisman was united in marriage to Rebecca. Relle Lockhart. daughter of John Lockhart and wife, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have been born. John J. and Dorothy V. Mr. Chrisman is a Republican. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men.
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CHARLES MENMUIR.
Charles MenMuir, electrical engineer for the Roots Company at Conners- ville, was born at Cedarville, in Greene county, Ohio, January 6, 1863, son of James and Jean (Dick) MenMuir, natives of Scotland, who came to this country on their wedding trip, locating at Cedarville, Ohio, whence they later moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where they spent their last days.
James MenMuir was born and reared within twelve miles of Edinburgh. Following his marriage in 1856 he and his bride came to the United States and for awhile were located in New York City. Mr. MenMuir had been trained in the linen industry and in line with that form of training presently moved to Cedarville, Ohio, where he engaged in the buying of flax and was thus engaged there for years, becoming one of the well-known citizens of that community. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the ninety-day service, and served through that term of enlistment. He was one of a family of seven children born to his parents, the others having been Jonathan, Hannah, Charles, Robert, John and Mrs. Butcher. Of these children, John and Jonathan MenMuir also came to this country and settled in New York state. The parents of these children spent their lives in their native land, both living to ripe old ages, the mother living to the great age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Jean MenMuir was one of a considerable family of children born to her parents. One of her brothers, Walter Dick, came to this country and when the Civil War broke out enlisted for service in the Union army and went to the front with his regiment. He was not heard from afterward by his family and the presumption was created that his body fills a nameless grave on some battlefield of the South. From Cedarville, Ohio, James MenMuir and wife moved to Kearney, Nebraska, and there their last days were spent. They were reared in the Presbyterian faith, but upon coming to this country united with the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of nine children, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: John, of Kearney, Nebraska; Lyda, wife of Charles Keyes, of Springfield, Ohio; Mattie, of Anderson, Indiana; Ella, also of Anderson : James, of Colville, Washington, and three who died in infancy.
Charles MenMuir completed his schooling in the schools of Cedarville, Ohio, and then took up the calling of a stationary engineer, which he fol- lowed for a number of years, at the end of which time he turned his atten- tion to electrical engineering and since 1893 has followed that vocation, hav-
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ing become an expert electrical engineer. In 1900 Mr. MenMuir was made electrical engineer for the plant of the P. H. & F. M. Roots Company at Connersville and has since occupied that responsible position, making his home in Connersville, where he has become prominently identified with the general industrial life of that thriving city, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
On June 18, 1895, Charles MenMuir was united in marriage to Luetta V. Krom, who was born in Franklin county, this state, daughter and only child of William P. and Emma (Nolan) Krom, the latter of whom died when her daughter was four years of age. William P. Krom, who is now living at Richmond, this state, later married Mrs. Mattie E. (Burk) Chit- wood and to this latter union two daughters have been born, Jennie and Alice. William P. Krom is the second of the three children born to his parents, Charles Krom and wife, the latter of whom was a Goble, natives of New Jersey, the other children being Smith and Mary Krom. Mrs. Men- Muir's Grandfather Nolan and his wife were natives of Ohio and their last days were spent at Oxford, that state. Mr. and Mrs. MenMuir have one child, a danghter, Helen A. The MenMuirs are members of the First Meth- odist Episcopal church at Connersville. Mr. MenMuir is a member of Warren Lodge No. 15. Free and Accepted Masons, at Connersville, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that ancient order. He and his family have a very pleasant home at Connersville and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the city.
WILLIAM H. KING.
William H. King, a well-known and prominent retired farmer and an honored veteran of the Civil War, now living at East Connersville, this county, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, a son of John R. and Mary C. ( West) King, natives of Virginia, who located in the state of Ohio, where they were married. After their marriage they established their home on a farm, where they lived for many years, and where the father was a suc- cessful farmer and one of the well known men of his county. Mr. and Mrs. King continued to live in Ohio until the time of their deaths some years ago. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their lives were living examples of the true Christian man and woman. They were devoted to their family and were always interested in the moral improve-
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ment of the community in which they lived. They were the parents of the following children: Nancy Ann, William H., Wyatt C., George S. and Elijah Sanford. Nancy Ann is now deceased and Elijah Sanford and George S. are living retired in Clinton county, Ohio. Wyatt C. King gave his life in the defense of the flag of his country. He enlisted in Company C, Seventy- ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek and died at Kingston, Georgia.
William H. King received his education in the schools of Clinton county, Ohio, and was reared on the home farm, where as a lad and young man he engaged in farming with his father. He remained at home until 1862, when he offered his services to the government in the defense of the Union. He enlisted in Company C, Seventy-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was at once sent to Camp Dennison and later to the South where, he joined the Army of the Tennessee under General Hooker. He saw much active service and was at the battles of Peach Tree Creek and Resaca. On July 20, 1864, he was wounded in the hip, and was at first taken to the field hospital, and then to Nashville, after which he was transferred to the hos- pital at Jeffersonville before being returned to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he received his discharge, on May 30. Having received his discharge he returned to the old home in Clinton county and remained with his parents until the fall of 1867, when he was united in marriage to Mary C. Achor, of Highland county, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. King are the parents of three children, Cora, Nettie B. and J. Dillon. Cora is the wife of J. L. Kennedy, a well-known resident of Connersville : Nettie B. is at home and J. Dillon is now deceased, having died in February, 1916, at the age of forty-two years. He was a druggist at Terre Haute, Indiana, and was married to Eleanor Schonefeld.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. King located on a farm in Clinton county, Ohio. They purchased forty-eight acres, of splendid land and there they continued to live until some years later when they sold the place and purchased one hundred acres near Midland City, Ohio. That farm they developed and improved into one of the ideal farms of that sec- tion, and there Mr. King was successfully engaged in general farming and stockraising until 1882, in which year the family moved to Blooming Grove, Franklin county, Indiana, where a farm of two hundred and twenty-nine acres was purchased. Mr .. King there became one of the prominent and substantial men of the district and there he lived until 1903, when he sold the farm and moved to East Connersville, where he and his wife now reside.
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Mr. and Mrs. King have a beautiful home at 309 Vine street. They are devoted members of the Main Street Methodist Episcopal church, and are prominent in the general activities of their home city. Mr. King is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias.
Beginning life in a modest way, Mr. and Mrs. King have by hard work and close economy risen to places of prominence and have accomplished in their lives that which is worthy of emulation. Their lives have been well spent and today they are held in the highest regard by all who know them.
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