History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 56

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 56

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).

583

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Benjamin H. West was a Democrat and an influential man of his com- munity.

The paternal grandparents of Doctor West were William and Mary (Hockins) West, his grandfather having been born in South Carolina. The great-grandfather of Doctor West was Robert West, a native of England, and an artist by profession, who came to South Carolina about 1780. Rob- ert West was a son of Benjamin West, who also came to this country and lived to one hundred and four years of age. Grandfather William West was a farmer, and removed from South Carolina to Franklin county, In- diana, about 1815, and settled on a tract of government land four miles south of Brookville. He continued to reside there until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-four. He was twice married, his second wife, Martha Findley, rearing Doctor West. All of the members of the family attended the Little Cedar Baptist church in Franklin county.

Grandfather West was much interested in fine horses and had a race track near his home, on which he trained his horses. Four children were born to William West and wife: Rachel I., who married T. T. West; Ben- jamin H., the father of Doctor West; John A., deceased, who was the post- master of Brookville at one time; and James L., who died several years ago in Iowa. The maternal grandparents of Doctor West were early settlers in Franklin county and located northwest of Brookville.

Doctor West was educated in Brookville during his boyhood days. His mother died when he was eight months of age, and his father when he was only eleven. His grandmother took him to rear when he was a babe in arms, but when he was thirteen years of age she passed away, and he was then taken by his guardian, John King, who gave him a comfortable home. In 1874 Doctor West began clerking in a drug store in Brookville, and in the following year he entered Indiana University, at Bloomington. In the fall of 1876 he became a student in the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, and in 1878 he purchased the drug store of Dr. John Gates, for whom he had for- merly clerked. He continued to operate this drug store in Brookville until 1889 and then decided to engage in the practice of medicine. Finally he sold the drug store and became a student in the Kentucky School of Medi- cine, being graduated from that institution in 1891. He was also a student in the Ohio Medical College for a time while preparing himself for the prac- tice of medicine. After being graduated, in 1891, Doctor West located in Kokomo, Indiana, and remained there three years. He then moved to Brook- ville, where he has since resided. In 1900 he started a drug store and still manages it, although he gives most of his time to the practice of medicine.

584

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

He started this store in order to give his son a chance to enter business, and the firm is known as J. F. West & Son. At the present time Doctor West's son is a clerk in the National Bank of Brookville.

Doctor West was married April 26, 1880, to Anna M. Adair. She was born in Brookville, Indiana, July 13, 1859, and is a daughter of John G. and Ellen (John) Adair, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Adair was presi- dent of the Brookville National Bank and owned a flouring mill in Brook- ville. Doctor West and his wife have one son, Frank A., who was born March 24, 1882. He was married November 16, 1914, to Alma C. Ratz.

Doctor West is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Encampment, and has filled all of the chairs in each of these lodges. He has also been a representative in the Grand Lodge in several of its annual sessions. Doctor West is a worthy scion of a family which has always stood for the best interests of the county, and his own career has been such as to reflect credit upon his sterling ancestors.

JOHN OTTIS ADAMS.

Indiana has a number of artists, the high quality of whose work is widely recognized. Four artists of the state have obtained more than state- wide reputations, among them being John Ottis Adams. He belongs to what has been called "The Hoosier" group of artists, the other three being Otto Stark, William Forsythe and T. C. Steele. Mr. Adams started to become an artist. He has been educated in the best art schools of Europe and is recognized today as being one of the foremost artists of the west.

John Ottis Adams, the son of Alban Housley and Elizabeth Strange (Thomas) Adams, was born in Amity, Johnson county, Indiana, July 8, 1851. His father was born in the same county in 1822, and died in 1894. His mother was born in Jennings county, Indiana, in 1838, and died in 1912.

The paternal grandparents of J. Ottis Adams were John and Margaret (Burnett) Adams, natives of Kentucky and pioneer settlers of Johnson county, Indiana. His maternal grandparents were Isaac and Margaret Thomas, natives of Kentucky.

Alban Adams was a merchant and farmer of Amity. He later removed to Florida, where he and his wife both passed away. Alban H. Adams and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian church.

John Ottis Adams received his elementary education in the public

585

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

schools of Franklin, Shelbyville and Martinsville, receiving his high school training in the latter city. He then became a student at Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, although he did not complete the course. In 1898 the college granted him the honorary degree of Master of Arts, as a rec- ognition of his ability as an artist.

From his earliest youth, Mr. Adams had shown artistic ability and, while still a youth, was fond of drawing. In 1872 he went to England in order to study art, and became a student of the famous South Kensington Art School at South Kensington, London. He remained there until 1874, when he returned to the United States. Later he lived with his parents at Seymour, but ,later .went to Martinsville and still later to Muncie, Indiana. During all of these years he was spending his time painting and improving his technique by constant practice at his easel. He lived in Muncie from 1876 to 1880, and while living in that city, painted many oil portraits. In 1880 he again went abroad. He became a student in the art schools of Munich, Germany, and remained in that city for seven years, most of the time studying and working in the Royal Academy of Art, of Munich. While in that city he was an active worker in the American Artists' Club, and for two years served as its president.

In 1887 Mr. Adams returned to the United States and settled in Mun- cie, Indiana, where he lived until 1898. He was married in that year and at once settled in Brookville, Indiana, where he has since resided. He rebuilt a fine old mansion on the banks of the east branch of Whitewater, which he has appropriately called "The Hermitage." His home is one of the most picturesque in the state and bears all of the earmarks of an artist's domicile. From his studio window he can look over as fair a landscape as can be found anywhere in the state and he frequently paints views from his own window.

In 1904 Mr. Adams was instrumental in establishing the John Herron Art School in Indianapolis, and for five years was its leading instructor. He then returned to "The Hermitage" at Brookville in order to give his sons a chance to grow up unhampered by the cramped conditions of city life. Since Mr. Adams has located in Brookville other artists have established summer homes here. Mr. Adams was a charter member of the Society of Western Artists, and has been the secretary and treasurer and president of that or- ganization. He is an honorary member of the Indianapolis Art Association.

It is not possible to indicate within the limits of this article the many honors which have come to Mr. Adams as a result of his artistic ability.

586

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Only a few of the more important ones are here enumerated. He received a bronze medal at the World's Fair at St. Louis in 1904 for the landscape "Irridescence," which is now hanging in the city library at Terre Haute, Indiana. He received the Fine Arts Corporation prize of five hundred dol- lars at Chicago, in 1907, on his landscape "Winter Morning," and later re- ceived a prize on the same painting at. Vincennes, Indiana. He was given the Mary T. R. Foulke prize of fifty dollars at Richmond, Indiana, in 1909, for the landscape, "A Winter Day." He received honorable mention at Buenos Aires, South America, in 1910, for his painting, "A Frosty Morn- ing." He is represented in the art galleries of the Herron Art Institute at Indianapolis; the Public Art Gallery at Richmond, Indiana; St. Louis, Mis- souri; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Evansville, Anderson, Muncie, Bluffton, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Marion, Bay City, Michigan, and the public library at Brookville, Indiana. His pictures may be found in many private collections. In 1915 Mr. Adams helped to decorate the second floor of the new City Hospital in Indianapolis, and the women's ward at the new hospital now contains some fine landscape work of his, which has occasioned much fav- orable comment.

Mr. Adams was married October 1, 1898, to Winifred Brady. She was born at Muncie, Indiana, and is the daughter of Thomas and Emeline (Wolf) Brady, both of whom are deceased. Her father was a general in the Civil War and later assistant postmaster-general of the United States. Mrs. Adams is also an artist of ability. She has studied in Drexel Institute at Philadelphia and in the Art Students' League at New York City. She is a member of the Women's Art Club of Cincinnati and an associate member of the Society of Western Artists. She particularly excels in still life painting. One of her paintings, "A Pot of Poppies," was exhibited in the Indiana building at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. Another of her paintings, "Golden Glow," has also been shown at many exhibitions and has been fav- orably noted by artists. Mrs. Adams takes a hearty interest in the work of her husband, and two more congenial people in taste and temperament would be hard to find. They have an ideal home and three interesting sons, John Alban, born September 19, 1900; Edward Wolf, born November 19, 1902; and Robert Brady, born July 19, 1904.

Mr. Adams is a man of genial manner, quiet and unobtrusive, and Brookville is glad to call him one of its citizens. In the spring of 1913, when the flood did so much damage in Brookville, the home of Mr. Adams partially destroyed, but he at once had it repaired.

587

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

CHARLES WILLIAM SCHWEGMANN.

Germany furnished a great many of the early settlers of Brookville, Indiana, and among the earliest of the German immigrants to settle in Frank- lin county was the Schwegmann family. They possessed the characteristic thrift and energy of the German race and have contributed greatly to the growth and advancement of Franklin county.

Charles William Schwegmann, who has long been prominent in the educational life of Franklin county, is a member of the Schwegmann family who early immigrated to Butler township, Franklin county. His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Catherine Schwegmann, both of whom were born in Germany, and who, in about 1855, left their native land and came to the United States. At that time there were many German families settled in and about Franklin county, among whom the Schwegmann family had some friends, if not some relatives. A short time after landing in this county, Joseph and Catharine Schwegmann proceeded to move to Franklin county. where they took up their residence in Butler township. At the time of their arrival they were about one hundred dollars in debt, but, possessing the German thrift and energy, they soon had this debt wiped out and were on the road to a competency. They' bought a farm and became what we would call well-to-do farmers. In Germany this branch of the Schwegmann family had achieved military distinction, a brother of Joseph Schwegmann having been killed at the Battle of Waterloo while serving under the famous General Blucher. Joseph Schwegmann died at about the age of eighty, his wife having died several years before.

The maternal grandparents of Charles W. Schwegmann were Nicholas and Catharine Witte, both of whom were born in Germany, and who, about the year 1855, immigrated to Westchester, Ohio. Like many of the settlers in that part of the country, they were attracted by the settlement at Olden- burg, Indiana, where they proceeded and established themselves on a farm. Here they prospered and lived the remainder of their days, Nicholas Witte meeting a very untimely death by suffering from a sunstroke while harvesting his crops.

Charles W. Schwegmann was the son of Joseph Schwegmann, who was born near Hanover, Germany, December 26, 1838, and Elizabeth Witte, who was born near Westchester, Butler county, Ohio, November 30, 1843. Jos- eph Schwegmann came to this country with his parents when he was a youth. He followed the occupation of a farmer during the greater part of his life

588

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

and, while handicapped by poverty in his youth, he has, by characteristic energy, collected enough of this, world's goods to insure a comfortable old age. He divided his five hundred acres of farm land in this county among his children and retired to a home at St. Mary's, Franklin county, Indiana, where he still lives happy and respected. In politics he has always given his allegiance to the Democratic party. He is a member of the Catholic church.

Charles W. Schwegmann grew up on his father's farm, receiving his early education in the district number one school, known as the Clear Forks school, in Butler township. This was supplemented by a two years' course at St. Mary's Institute, at Dayton, Ohio, after which he attended the Indiana State . Normal School at Terre Haute. Having always had the ambition to be an educator, he began to teach in Butler township, and continued teaching for eight years, when he was appointed deputy county auditor under Charles G. Reifel, and still very acceptably fills that position.

April 24, 1913, Mr. Schwegmann was married to Emma Pulskamp, the daughter of William and Clara (Mormon) Pulskamp, of Brookville town- ship, Franklin county. They have one son, Cletus, born April 27, 1914. Mr. Schwegmann is a stanch champion of the doctrines of Democracy and has always upheld the standard of that party in Franklin county. He is a Roman Catholic and has always been identified with the charities connected with that church in this county. Like most of the German families of the county, the Schwegmann family have contributed. their share to its general advancement and prosperity.

JOHN HART BISHOP.

The Bishop family is of English descent, the parents of John Hart Bishop both having been born in England. The family came to America in 1847, and at once located in Franklin county, Indiana, where since that time, the members of the family have been prominently identified with the history of the county. Mr. Bishop has been engaged in the furniture business for more than thirty years, and is now secretary and head salesman of the Brookville Furniture Company.

John H. Bishop, the son of Hart and Lois (Walker) Bishop, was born in Mount Carmel, Indiana, May 31, 1864. His father was born in Manchester, England, in 1823, and his mother was born in Radcliffe, a town about seven miles from Manchester, England, December 2, 1824. His

589

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

father died in this county in 1880, and his mother passed away in April, 1904. His parents reared a family of three children, Charles A., a fruit- grower, now living in LaGrand, Florida; Ella, deceased, the wife of Abram Fenton, also deceased; and John H., of Brookville.

Hart Bishop, the father of John H., was reared in England, and was married when only twenty years of age. He learned the trade of a reed- maker, that is, the making of reeds, which were used in the manufacture of cotton and silk. In 1847 Hart Bishop, his family and his parents, left England, and came to America, landing at New Orleans. They came across in a sailing vessel, which consumed forty-nine days in the passage, and during the latter part of the voyage they had nothing to eat except hardtack. From New Orleans they came by boat up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, and thence to Franklin county. Hart Bishop worked the first summer in the harvest fields of this county, and later en- gaged in wagon making. When he had saved enough money, he and his father went into the manufacture of reeds and continued, until his death in 1880, to follow that industry.

The paternal grandparents of John H. Bishop were Mr. and Mrs. Hart Bishop. His grandfather was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, Scotland, and when a young man went to England, where he became a manufacturer of reeds. He was sixty years of age when he came to America with his son, Hart Bishop and family. He died in Franklin county. The maternal grandparents of John H. Bishop reared a family of ten children, the mother of John H. being the youngest of the family. They were members of the Church of England, and Grandfather Walker was beadle of St. Thomas church, in his immediate neighborhood. The mother of Mr. Bishop was a Universalist.

John H. Bishop was educated in the public schools of Mount Carmel, and later entered the preparatory department of Indiana University. He remained in school there until his father's death in 1880, when he was compelled to leave school in order to work. While in the university he was a member of the Greek letter fraternity Phi Gamma Delta, and still retains an active interest in the fraternity.

After leaving the university Mr. Bishop went to work in the reed factory, which his father had left, and in company with his brother, Charles. managed it for about three years. In 1882 the two brothers came to Brook- ville and Charles A. established the Charles A. Bishop Furniture Company, manufacturing all kinds of fine furniture. In 1887 the name was changed to the Bishop & Tucker Furniture Company. John H. worked in the

590

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

lumber yards, and later among the machines in the factory. Still later he became shipping clerk and, in 1886, he went on the road as salesman for the company, and has spent part of every year since that time as salesman.

On January 1, 1908, the furniture company was reorganized under the firm name of the Brookville Furniture Company. The capital stock was yearly increased and several new stockholders were taken into the company. At the time of the reorganization, Mr. Bishop was made secretary of the company, a position which he is still holding. He spends about half of the year in the offices of the company in Brookville, and the remainder of the time he is on the road in the interest of the company. The factory now employs about seventy-five men, and manufactures some furniture which ranks among the best produced in the country. They make the de luxe bedroom suite, which has attracted much favorable attention. Nearly all of their fine furniture is made from mahogany and Circassian walnut.

Mr. Bishop was married April 20th, 1892, to Catherine Adair. She was born in Brookville, and is the daughter of John G. and Ellen (Johns) Adair. Her father was a banker, a flour mill owner, a farmer and an in- fluential citizen of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have no children.

In politics, Mr. Bishop has always given his hearty support to the Demo- cratic party, although he has never been an active participant in political affairs. He has always been much interested in Masonry, and is a mem- ber of the Scottish Rite and the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has belonged to this lodge since 1887. Mrs. Bishop is a member of the Methodist church.

LOUIS A. JONAS.

The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch has played no little part in the development of his native county. Coming from a fam- ily that has been identified for many years with this community, Mr. Jonas has acquired the position of one of its most substantial citizens. In his early manhood, he became an educator; later, positions of trust were bestowed upon him by the public, who realized his merit, and he is now numbered among the prominent attorneys of Franklin county.

His birth occurred July 31, 1870, in Cedar Grove, Franklin county, In- diana. He is one of twelve children, seven of whom lived to maturity. His parents are John A. and Caroline (Doecker) Jonas, both of whom are still

591

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

living. The former was born in Prussia, Germany, in August, 1831, and the latter was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1838.

The paternal grandparents were Peter Jonas and wife, both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1846, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. Peter Jonas was a builder of pipe organs, and continued this occupa- tion in his own home until an advanced age. He and his wife were members of the Roman Catholic church.

The maternal grandparents of Louis A. Jonas were natives of Hanover, Germany. Anselm Doecker brought his wife to Cincinnati, Ohio, about the year 1830. For many years he conducted a grocery business in Cincinnati, and during the Civil War he was a member of the Home Guard. His death occurred in Cincinnati. In the autumn of 1875 his wife located in Cedar Grove, where she engaged in the grocery business. They were both devoted members of the Catholic church.

Mr. Jonas' father was born in Germany and came to America with his parents when he was fourteen years of age. He learned the cigar-maker's trade in Cincinnati, and in 1869 moved to Cedar Grove, where he established and operated a cigar factory. For many years he was a traveling representa- tive of a tobacco house. He is now living retired in Cedar Grove. During the Civil War, at the time that Morgan's raids were striking terror to many communities of Indiana, John A. Jonas joined the famous band of "Squirrel Hunters" who were much dreaded by the enemy because of their unerring aim. Although at no time holding office his political allegiance was given to the Democratic party. However, he held the man before the party and cast one vote for Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. Louis Jonas received his early education in the public schools of Cedar Grove. Later he spent one term in the normal school, taking special work to fit him for the profession of teaching. He taught school for eight terms in Highland township, and in 1902 was elected to the office of clerk of Franklin county. He took the office February 12, 1904, was re-elected in 1906, when he served until 1912. Previously he had served as deputy county auditor from 1896 until 1904. He has always been active in the councils of the Democratic party.

In February, 1912, he was admitted to the bar, and since then has prac- ticed law in Brookville.

On August 29, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Meier. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Jacobs) Meier, both of whom are still living in Cedar Grove, Indiana. Louis Meier is a general excavating contractor.

592

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Mr. and Mrs. Jonas are the parents of ten interesting children : Frances, born May 23, 1895; Alma Caroline, born December 25, 1896; Louis H., born 1898; Charles C., born 1900; Evaline, Elnora, Henrietta, Arthur, Je- rome and Joseph.

Mr. Jonas and his family have always taken a zealous interest and active participation in the concerns of the Catholic church. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America and also gives his support to the benevolent societies of his church. Mr. Jonas stands ready at all times to give his finan- cial aid to those causes worthy of his support, and is regarded as a true friend in need. His friendship, once gained, continues strong and steadfast through life, and through his friendly interest and wise counsel many a fal- tering one has taken heart and continued the good fight.

JAMES DARE.

The virility of the people of America, particularly those of the west, and the strength of the institutions of our country largely is due to the foun- dation laid by the hardy pioneers who wandered west, enduring all sorts of privations and hardships to establish a cornerstone of civilization in the wilderness. Among the descendants of those who entered this part of the state of Indiana at a very early period in its settlement is James Dare, of this county, the son of John Jennings and Mary Ann (Cassidy) Dare, both of whom were born in New Jersey and who, when the subject of this biograph- ical sketch was four years old, moved to Franklin county, Indiana.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Dare, Patrick Boyle and Eleanor (Kent) Dare, came from Salem county, New Jersey, shortly after their mar- riage, coming overland to this vicinity. There were few improvements on the land in those days and hardship was the penalty all pioneers paid for their venture into the wilds. Shortly after coming to this section of the state the paternal grandparents of Mr. Dare moved to Bath township, Franklin county, and entered a claim on the site now occupied by their grandson, James Dare. They shared the privations common to pioneer life, and lived in a rudely- constructed shack until they could erect a log cabin. At that time they pre- empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, or a quarter section. Grand- father Dare cleared the land, which he cultivated successfully and also acted as a frontier guard, a very common form of public service in those days. He and his wife were regarded as among the most influential residents of the county at that early period and the memory of this good couple is cherished throughout the whole countryside.

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.

History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 56

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648