USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 128
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William W. Butler, the father of Amos W., was born in Brookville, March II, 1810. He moved with his parents to Hanover, Indiana. There he obtained his education and when grown returned to Brookville to look after his father's interests. Later he married there and engaged in mer- cantile life for himself. Although not strong physically he was active and had many interests which he successfully managed. He was prominent in all the activities of the community where he was born, spent most of his life and where he is buried. He died November 21, 1903. He married Hannah Wright, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, but moved to Franklin county, Indiana, with her parents at an early age, where she received her education.
Amos W. Butler attended the public schools in Brookville and entered Hanover College in 1877. Later he entered Indiana University and was grad- uated in 1894. Mr. Butler is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, the honor- ary scholarship fraternity and the Sigma Psi, the honorary scientific fra- ternity. He takes an active interest in educational and scientific affairs and in all social movements.
Indiana is proud to point to Amos W. Butler as one of her native sons whose fame has added to the prestige of this state and also to the prestige of the county where he was born.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
ANDREW J. ROSS.
Lincoln, reading law books at home by the light of the fire side, is paralleled by the case of Andrew J. Ross, who is a prominent attorney in Rushville, Indiana. Mr. Ross early determined to master the mysteries of the law and applied himself to his text books at home with very gratify- ing results.
Andrew J. Ross was born in Posey township on December 9, 1857, the son of Andrew J. and Catharine (Croddy) Ross, both of whom were born in Rockbridge county, Virginia. Andrew J., the elder, was educated in Virginia and probably partly in Indiana. He taught school for some time, and farmed as well; also for twenty years conducted a mercantile business in Andersonville, this county. He also practiced law locally with success, and was active in the ranks of the Democratic party. He was a member of Andersonville Lodge No. 96, of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Andrew J. Ross, Sr., at the outbreak of the Civil War, organized a company in the Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry and became the captain of the same, serving throughout the war. At the battle of Fort Donaldson he received a wound which later caused his death, at the age of sixty-four.
Andrew Ross, Jr.'s paternal grandfather, James Ross, of Rockridge county, Virginia, was a pioneer school teacher in Andersonville, Indiana. The maternal grandparents also were Posey township pioneers, coming to Andersonville in the early days and engaging in the cultivation of the soil.
Receiving such education as the local schools afforded, Mr. Ross increased his education by his own efforts and began to teach school, in the meantime reading law privately. For ten years Mr. Ross taught school, seven years in Franklin county, and three years in Rush county, although never far from Andersonville, which enabled him to live at home. In 1890 Mr. Ross began to devote his entire time to the practice of law, with the exception of a little time spent in farming. Mr. Ross practises in the four nearby counties, and maintains an office in Andersonville. On January I, [915, he opened a partnership with Judge McGee of Rushville, and a joint office is now operated there.
In 1879 Mr. Ross married Canzada A. Walters, of Andersonville, the daughter of Col. Dewitt C. and Harriet Walters, and to this union have been born two children, Glenna and Alex Clinton.
Col. Dewitt C. Walters was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, having enlisted as a private in the three months' service early
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in the war and later joining Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was promoted until he became lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, and served until the end of the war. Upon the close of the war Colonel Walters returned to Indiana and located at Greensburg, where his death occurred two years later. His widow lives at Andersonville. For twenty-one years Mr. Ross has belonged to the Andersonville Lodge of the Free and accepted Masons, while politically, he is active in the ranks of the Republican party, on whose ticket he has been elected township trustee. He has enjoyed an extensive and successful law practice, and both as a lawyer and a gentleman ranks high among the citizens of Franklin county.
WILLIAM KNAPP.
The inhabitants of Franklin county, Indiana, are essentially workers. As in all others of the agricultural counties of the state of Indiana, the inhabitants of this county in the main are engaged in farming. From the time the first settler felled the first tree in Franklin county and began to till the soil, the atmosphere of this section of the country has been one of toil and industry. Its material prosperity is second to none in the state in proportion to its population, as the bank accounts of its people will attest. This incessant toil and thrift have made its inhabitants, as a whole, one of the most prosperous and contented to be found anywhere. This is due in considerable measure to the large proportion of Germans who live here, and who have ever been noted for their untiring energy and thrift. A well- known citizen of German birth who has become prominent in the affairs of Franklin county is William Knapp, of Highland township.
William Knapp was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, July 1, 1849, a son of John and Sarah (Weret) Knapp, also natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. He is one of seven children born to this union, the others being Fredericka, Frederick, Minnie, Lewis, Carolina and Louise.
John Knapp, father of William Knapp, left his native land and brought his family to America, arriving in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the year 1852, his wife having died two and one-half years previous, when William Knapp was but six months old. The loss of his wife was felt keenly by John Knapp and he died in Cincinnati a year after his arrival at that place.
William Knapp, being of a very tender age when his father died, made
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his home with his eldest sister, who was then married. His early education was received in Hamilton county, Ohio, and after completing his schooling he engaged in farming, subsequently coming to Franklin county, Indiana, where he purchased forty-three acres of land in Highland township, buying this place in 1875. When he purchased this place there was a substantial residence standing, which he found suitable and has lived in the same ever since. He has constructed a number of other buildings, however, all of which are substantial and modern. He has devoted the most of his land to fruit-raising, in which industry he has attained an eminent position, raising a number of varieties of fruit.
In 1876 he was married to Mary Dorotha Meddel, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Geib) Meddel, both of whom were natives of Germany.
Jacob Meddel, father of Mrs. William Knapp, was born in Germany, a son of Jacob and Dorotha Marie (Schlemmer) Meddel, who lived in Hesse- Hamburg, Germany, where Jacob Meddel followed the occupations of farmer and weaver. He was married in Germany and came to America, bringing his family in 1846. The Meddels came to Franklin county, Indiana, and located in Whitewater township, later buying a farm of twenty acres in Highland township, on Trenton creek. This farm was improved and event- ually sold, the family moving to a tract of thirty acres located near South- gate. Jacob Meddel later sold this and moved to Highland Center, where he bought ninety-seven acres of land. On each of the farms he had owned he erected buildings and made substantial improvements. To him and his wife were born the following children: Elizabeth, Katherine, Jacob, John, Mary, Philip, Charles, Adam and Lewis and two others who died when young.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. William Knapp, Jacob Meddel, and his wife came to this country in 1846, by way of New Orleans, Louisiana, from which place they came to Franklin county. . He engaged in farming, and remained with his son, John, during the later years of his life. Their children were Jacob, Dora, John, Katherine and Elizabeth. Jacob Meddel was a soldier under Napoleon and died in 1858.
To William and Mary Dorotha (Meddel) Knapp have been born the following children: Emma Elizabeth, Mary Carolina, Louisa Rosina, Anna Margaret and William P. Mr. Knapp and family are members of the Pro- testant church.
William Knapp has served on the township advisory board and is just completing his third year as supervisor. He is popular among the leading persons of the county and is universally well liked among all who know him.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
CHARLES H. SWIFT.
There are many of the families of Franklin county, Indiana, whose his- tory is indelibly written in the record of the achievements that have given to this county much of the prominence it enjoys today. The sons and daugh- ters of this county have made their mark in all walks of life. Not a few of them have become persons of national and international importance. . To the nation Franklin county has furnished authors, soldiers and statesmen. There are some families of this county whose importance in the affairs of this community has never been a matter of question. Of these, the Swift family always has occupied a conspicuous place. The late Charles H. Swift was a member of one of the branches of the Swift family that has been identified with Franklin county affairs from the very earliest days.
Charles H. Swift was born in Blooming Grove township, Franklin county, January 21, 1868. His parents were John V. and Katherine (Rob- erts) Swift, both of whom were natives of the same township in this county in which Charles Swift was born.
The paternal grandparents of Charles H. Swift were John Swift and wife, natives of Maryland, who came to Franklin county at a very early date and located on a farm in Fairfield township.
The maternal grandparents of Charles H. Swift were Clinton and Lucinda (Rudicel) Roberts, who were natives of Maryland and Franklin county, Indiana, respectively. They were married in this county and con- tinued to live here until their death.
John V. Swift, father of Charles H. Swift, is a prominent retired farmer, now living in Fairfield township where he has resided during the past few years. He is a man of substantial means and is eminent in the social and civic affairs of this county.
Charles H. Swift was educated in the common schools of this county. A part of his earlier youth was spent on the home farm. He later was apprenticed to the carpenter trade, at which he worked for some time, divid- ing his time between his trade and farming. His activities were almost as a whole identified with Blooming Grove township, where he enjoyed a splen- did reputation.
In 1890 he was married to Lucy Ann Killen, a native of Madison county, Indiana, a daughter of John Wesley and Jane (Steel) Killen, who were born in the state of Delaware and Franklin county, Indiana, respectively. Jane (Steel) Killen was born on the farm that is still in the possession of Mrs. Charles H. Swift.
T
CHARLES H. SWIFT.
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The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Charles H. Swift were John and Anna (Jump) Killen, the former of whom was a native of Ireland who came to America when very young. He was married in Delaware, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Charles H. Swift were John and Bettie (Glenn) Steel, both of whom were born in Ireland, she in 1792. They migrated to this country before their marriage, Mrs. Steel having come with her brothers and father. They married after coming to Indiana. Bettie (Glenn) Steel, wife of John Steel, was the daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Garvin) Glenn.
Jane (Steel) Killen, mother of Mrs. Charles H. Swift, was the grand- daughter of Samuel Steel who came to Franklin county from South Caro- lina. He entered one-fourth section of land in the northeast part of Bloom- ing Grove township in 1819 which is still in the possession of his great-grand- daughter. Samuel Steel cleared and improved this land and erected a num- ber of substantial buildings. He had three brothers who accompanied him to this country from Ireland, but he was the only one of these to come to Indiana. Samuel Steel became a farmer of substantial means and lived in this county the remainder of his life.
John Wesley Killen, father of Mrs. Charles H. Swift, was educated in the local schools, supplementing this with a course at normal school. He began teaching school when eighteen years of age and followed this pro- fession for thirty years, at the same time residing on the paternal farm. He was a teacher by natural inclination and this not being a very remunerative profession in those days he divided his time with farming in order to aug- ment his income. He retired from active farming in 1891 and moved to Blooming Grove township, where he remained until his death, which oc- curred in 1897. The children born to his marriage were John, Lucy and Lillian and several others who died in infancy. He served as township trustee for several terms and was prominent in the public affairs of this county. Mr. Killen attended the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was an active member.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Swift were born the following children: Hallie, a graduate of the Brookville high school, who married Herman Kingery, of Blooming Grove township, December 25, 1913, and who has one son, Harry Elbert, born July 24, 1914; John Wesley, a carpenter of this county ; Bertha, a graduate of Brookville high school, age seventeen, who lives at home with her mother.
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During his lifetime, Charles H. Swift was a man of broad intellect and splendid attainments. He inherited many of the fine traits that always have characterized the Swift family in this county. He was popular among his wide circle of friends and his death was felt keenly by his family and many friends throughout the county. His widow, Mrs. Lucy M. Swift, is a most estimable woman and with her family is the center of a large social circle made up of loving and devoted friends.
ALFORD MERRELL.
After the War of the Revolution, when the American colonies won their freedom, there was a general desire to extend the domains of the new republic farther west. To make this possible it was necessary to settle the western territory and to defend it. The bravest only could do this and a steady stream of courageous and strong men and women began to move westward. Many of these left New Jersey and some of these settled in In- diana. Among those now living in this state, who are descended from the pioneers who left New Jersey, is Alford Merrell, of Cedar Grove.
Alford Merrell was born July 17, 1887, in this county, on his father's farm. He is the son of Arthur and Loretta ( Menear) Merrell, and was one of eight children, as follow : James, Ethel, Earl, Alford, Charles (deceased), Paul, Orvil and Florence. His mother was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Rogers) Menear, the former of whom came from Virginia. He was a son of Hiram Menear and was born in Pennsylvania. He died when his daughter was but seven years of age.
Arthur Merrell, father of Alford Merrill, was born on the old farm, in this county. His paternal grandfather was James Merrell, of New Jer- sey and his father was Jonathan L. Merrell. He attended school in this county and after leaving school continued to live on his father's farm. After marriage he engaged in farming for himself and at the time of his death had one hundred and eighty acres under cultivation. He was survived by his wife and seven children. James, married to Myrtle Biddinger, lives at Anderson, Indiana, and has three children, Lewis, Noble and Dorothy. Ethel married Eugene Brockney, of Springfield township, and has one child, Ellis. Earl, who lives in Whitewater township, married Emma Hicks and has one child, Fern. Paul married Hazel Gurr and lives in Springfield township, and Orvil and Florence live at home with their mother at Mt. Carmel.
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Arthur Merrell was one of three children of Jonathan Merrell, the others being Harriet, who married James Wear, and is still living in Springfield township, and Mary, who married John W. Fye, and lives at Brookville.
James Merrell, the paternal great-grandfather of Alford Merrell, was born in New Jersey and came to Indiana, where he located and cleared one hundred and sixty acres. He was married to a Miss Harrison and to them were born two children, Daniel and Jonathan, the latter of whom was the grandfather of Alford Merrell. James Merrell and wife lived on the farm in this county until their death. They were very highly respected and were a fine type of the early pioneer.
Alford Merrell was educated in the common schools of this county. He is the owner of about fifty acres and in addition farms one hundred and thirty acres, part of his farm consisting of the old homestead. On August 26, 1914, he was married to Carrie Evert, who was the daughter of James Evert. Mrs. Merrell belongs to the Methodist church at Mt. Carmel. There are many families to whose influence modern Indiana owes much and in particular to its early settlers, many of whom came from New Jersey. For generations the Merrell family has lent its influence and activity to the gen- eral good of this state and in this respect has followed in the footsteps of James Merrell, who left New Jersey as one of the vanguard of the pioneer settlers, and whose descendants today are regarded as among the most sub- stantial citizens of this county.
MARY F. SMALLEY.
Among the settlers who came to this county a great many years ago were the Smalley and the Rose families, who exerted a great influence in the pioneer days of Franklin county and whose descendants have always exer- cised a splendid influence on this community. Among the descendants of the Rose family is Mrs. Mary F. Smalley, who was Mary Rose before her marriage.
Mrs. Mary F. Smalley, widow of the late William L. Fremont Smalley, was born in Bath township, this county, February 2, 1864, the daughter of Isaac and Isabelle (Gant) Rose, and was one of seven children, the others being Abraham, Emma, Grant, Laura, Nellie and Katie. Of these Abraham married Elizabeth Bunn and lives on the home place. To them were born two children, Mary and Harry. Emma married William Hanna and lives
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in Ohio. Grant married Sally Hayword and resides in Union county, Indiana. To them were born four children, James W., Fern, Mary and Margaret. Nellie married John Doner, of Franklin county, and their children are Inez, Albert, Charles, Ellsworth and Grant. Katie married Brancon Mills, of College Corner, and their children are John, Isabella, George and Dorothy.
Isaac Rose, the father of Mrs. Mary F. Smalley, was born in Bath township in this county, the son of Eleazar and Rebecca (Elwell) Rose, who had two children, the other being Samuel, who married Emiline Smalley and to whom were born four children: Henry W., Stella, Bertha and Samuel. Isaac lived on his father's farm after a short schooling and assisted his father on the farm, sharing in the hard labor which was common to farming in those days. He married Isabella Gant, daughter of Britton Gant, and of a very old and prominent family of this county. They spent their last days on their farm and were very highly respected and esteemed. The Rose and Gant families were among the earliest settlers in this part of the country and were prominently identified with the development of this part of the state.
The grandfather of Mrs. Mary F. Smalley was Eleazar. Rose, a native of New Jersey, who early life that state and moved westward to Indiana. Here he met Rebecca Elwell to whom he was married. He settled on one hundred and seventeen acres of land, which he cleared of its heavy growth of timber and settled down to active farming which he followed for many years. He was an example of the finest type of the early settlers, strong and courageous, who entered into the development of this county with an indomitable spirit, a spirit which is still alive among the inhabitants of Franklin county. It is this pioneer spirit which has made America one of the greatest nations in the world and it is this spirit which has made Franklin county one of the most substantial counties of Indiana.
Mary F. Rose, in 1889, married William L. F. Smalley, who was the son of William Smalley, who was born in Pennsylvania. His grandfather was Abram Smalley, who was born in this country. William Smalley, the father of William L. F., married Harriet Cassidy and to them were born twelve children, Hanna, Mary Ann, John, Jones, Eliza, Emiline, Emily, Jane, Rozetta, Joseph, Isaac and William L. Fremont.
William L. Fremont, one of the twelve children of William and Har- riet (Cassidy) Smalley, was educated in the common schools of this county and was engaged in farming the greater part of his life. He was the owner of eighty acres of land which he devoted to general farming. He was mar-
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ried to Mary Rose, the daughter of Isaac Rose, October 9, 1889, and to this union were born four children, Fred, Belle, Harriet and Hazel. Mr. Smalley died October 8, 1912. He was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. His widow and children have continued operating the farm and have met with unusual success. ' The Rose and Smalley familes have been noted for generations as among the most substantial families in this part of the county and have the respect of all who know them by their honest and upright living. They may well call themselves among the first families of Franklin county.
MORRIS M. THOMPSON.
The occupation of the farmer is each day becoming more attractive to men who formerly thought only of mercantile pursuits. This is because farming has now developed into an exact science and many men who have the advantages of a finished education are now turning their attention to agri- culture. The modern farm of today requires brains of a very high order to operate it. Among those who have chosen farming as a vocation, instead of a mercantile or professional career, is Morris M. Thompson, of Springfield township.
Morris M. Thompson was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, December 21, 1887, the son of Dr. John A. and Lillian (Morris) Thompson, and was one of five children, the others being Lida, Margaret, Lillian and Janet, of whom Lida, Margaret, Lillian and Janet live at home.
Dr. John A. Thompson, father of Morris M. Thompson, was born on a farm in this township, the son of John and Mary (Jenkins) Thompson, to whom were born five children, as follow: James, William, Orpha, John A. and a daughter who died in infancy. Of these, James and William live in Iowa, Orpha died and John A. practices medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio. John A. Thompson was educated in the public schools of Mt. Carmel, where he graduated and later entered Earlham College, completing the course and securing his Bachelor of Arts degree. He then entered Miami Medical Col- lege, now included in the University of Cincinnati, and after graduation entered into the practice of his profession. He specializes in ear, nose and throat practice and is located at 628 Elm street, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he has been practicing his profession for thirty years. Aside from Doctor Thompson's professional activities and his interest in his family, he takes the greatest interest in the paternal farm. Doctor Thompson is a worshipper
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in the Universalist church, while Mrs. Thompson attends the Episcopal church.
John Thompson, grandfather of Morris Thompson, was one of the early pioneers of this county. He was a very energetic man and very public spirited. He took an active part in the early political affairs of the county and was a great advocate of good roads. He assisted in promoting and held most of the stock of the Scipio and Brookville pike, and championed the cause of good roads at all times. He lived in this county the greater part of his life, residing here for about seventy years. Mr. Thompson was a Democrat and was a firm believer in the principles of that party. He died in 1902.
Morris M. Thompson was educated in the Cincinnati public schools, later attending high school at Cincinnati. He then entered the University of Cincinnati, remaining there for two years. While at school he was de- voted to athletics. In 1907 he left school and for two years was employed by the Auto Motor Car Company and the Day-Purcell Company. He later entered the employ of the Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Company, for which he worked five years. In 1914 he returned to his father's farm in this county, which comprises one hundred and fifty acres, with the intention of installing a dairy equipment and devoting part of his time to dairy farm- ing. To this end he had the barn rebuilt last fall. Mr. Thompson's training has been such as to permit the greatest attainments in his chosen field and he no doubt will reflect credit on his very notable ancestry and will apply his knowledge to the enlargement and continued improvement of the farm that has been in his family for seventy-five years. Mr. Thompson is as yet unmarried.
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