History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 72

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 72

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Doctor Morton has been twice married. His first matrimonial union was contracted May 8, 1871, with Frances R. Montgomery, who was born at Charleston, Indiana, a daughter of William and Ann Montgomery. Her death occurred January 24, 1882, leaving her husband with three children, Ethelwyn, Anna M. and Bertha E. Ethelwyn was born March 23, 1875, and now makes her home with her father. Anna was born May II, 1877, and became the wife of Charles T. Gordon, a foreman in the Root Blower Works of Connersville, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have two sons, Charles T., Jr. and Elliott Morton. Bertha was born June 9, 1879, and became the wife of Carl C. Anderson, a machinist of Marion, Indiana.

Doctor Morton was married, secondly, on December 27, 1905, to Hen- rietta R. West, who was born in New Jersey, a daughter of John Wesley and Elizabeth (Keller) West, also natives of New Jersey. The wife of J. W. West died when Mrs. Morton was a small child, and Mr. West later married Ann Likens, and located in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he became a foreman in the machine shops of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Mr.

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West died in 1879. Doctor Morton and his wife have no children of their own, although they have reared a boy, Oscar L. Allen, and given him the best of opportunities. He is now a student in Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, where he is taking a course in electrical engineering.

In 1905, Dr. Morton built a handsome residence on Main street in Brook- ville. He is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote all of his time to his dental practice. He has been an active worker in the Presbyterian church for many years, and is an elder of the local congregation. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, having been a member of this order since 1871. He also belongs to the Brookville Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

JASPER LOCKWOOD.

The first members of the Lockwood family to come to Franklin coun- ty, Indiana, located here in 1825, and since that time the various members of the family in the county have been actively connected with every phase of the history of the county. The late Jasper Lockwood was in the drug business in Laurel, Indiana, for nearly thirty years and for twenty years of this time was postmaster of the town. Early in life he studied medicine with the intention of following the medical profession, but never practiced, although his training for a physician made him an especially efficient druggist. He was long a prominent and influential factor in the life of his community and having gained his success through worthy means, he stood as an admir- able type of a self-made man, a man whose memory long will be cherished in that community.

Jasper Lockwood was born on the old Lockwood homestead in Laurel township, Franklin county, Indiana, September 2, 1861, and died at his home in Laurel, Indiana, September 28, 1913. He was a son of Isaac and Eleanor (Enyard) Lockwood, the former of whom was born in New York state in 1818 and died in this county in 1902, and the latter of whom . was born in Laurel township, in this county, in 1821 and died in 1885.

The paternal grandparents of Jasper Lockwood were Gerald Lockwood and wife, natives of New York state, of English descent. In about 1825 Gerald Lockwood moved from New York state to Franklin county, In- diana, and bought five hundred acres of land in the Whitewater valley in Laurel township. He was a school teacher and probably the best educated

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man in his community for many years. He taught school for several win- ters, farmed and became one of the most substantial men of the locality where he settled. Gerald Lockwood had two sons, Isaac, the father of Jasper, and Gerald, Jr., who went to Iowa and became one of the early set- tlers of that state.

Isaac Lockwood, the father of Jasper, was a small boy when the fam- ily located in Franklin county, Indiana. He grew to maturity on his fath- er's farm and when eighteen years of age bought part of the old home place and lived there the remainder of his days. He also was a school teacher for many years and all of his sons went to school to him. He was twice married, his first wife having been Ruth Ann Jinks, who died, leaving him with five children. He later married Eleanor Enyard and to his second union nine children were born. Ruth, the wife of Cyrus Allison of Con- nersville, Indiana, and Phoebe, the wife of George Utter of Connersville, are the surviving children of first marriage. Jessie, who married Daniel Dowdie of Marion, Indiana, and Frank, who is living on the old home place in Laurel township, are the only two of the last wife's children who are living.

Jasper Lockwood was reared on the old Lockwood homestead in Laurel township. He went to school to his father and early in life decided that he wanted to study medicine. With this in view he started to read medicine, as was the practice in those days, with Dr. Ford of Laurel and at the same time clerked in Lafayette Day's drug store. However, he soon decided that he preferred the management of a drug store to a professional career and when twenty-four years of age opened a drug store of his own in Laurel and took his brother George in with him as a partner. They continued together until 1895 and then Mr. Lockwood sold his interest in the store to his broth- er and in 1899 started another drug store in Laurel and continued to operate it until his death in 1913.

Mr. Lockwood was a lifelong Republican and always was deeply in- terested in the welfare of his party. He became postmaster of Laurel for the first time under President Harrison and served four years. At the be- ginning of McKinley's administration he again was appointed postmaster of Laurel and continued to hold his position until his death, filling the of- fice, in the two terms, for twenty years.

Mr. Lockwood was married November 12, 1881, to Harriet Warner, who was born in Metamora township, Franklin county, Indiana, a daughter of Martin and Phoebe (Murrey) Warner. Her father is now living at the age of eighty-one. Her mother died in April, 1913, at the age of seventy- seven years, seven months and two days. Phoebe Murrey was born in

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Metamora, Franklin county, Indiana, and was a daughter of Andrew and Emily Murrey, early pioneer settlers of Franklin county. Martin Warner was born near Blooming Grove, Indiana, and became a farmer early in life and has always followed this occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood reared a family of three children : Bert J., born December 20, 1882, is a mail clerk at Portland, Oregon, and married Helen Keller; George Isaac, born July 16, 1885, a farmer of Hillsboro, Oregon, who married Emma Scott, and Ada Clara, born February 18, 1892, married Paul Schultze of Laurel, In- diana. They make their home with Mrs. Lockwood. Ada was educated at the Elmhurst School for Girls in Connersville and is a talented vocalist.

Mr. Lockwood was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His widow is now residing at the old family residence which has been the family home since 1888. She is a. woman of refinement and greatly beloved by all who know her, her gentle ways and graces of manner having endeared her to all within her large cir- cle of acquaintances.

.FRANK GEIS, SR.

The honor of being the oldest business man in point of service in Brook- ville belongs to Frank Geis, who has been engaged in active business since 1869. In that year he established a harness shop here and year in and year out has seen him in his shop, and he is still engaged in business and working every day. Probably the fact that he is of German ancestry accounts for his energy, thrift and industry, for without exception the citizens of this county of German ancestry are excellent citizens in every way.

Frank Geis, Sr., the son of John Adam and Margaret (Knecht) Geis, was born in Highland township, Franklin county, Indiana, June 1, 1846. His father, now deceased, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and lived many years in this county, being an honored citizen. His mother also was a native of Bavaria, Germany, her birth having occurred there in 1825, and her death occurred in this county in 1897. John Adam Geis and wife were the parents of eight children, Barbara, deceased, who was the wife of Doctor Schum, of Kansas; Michael, who died at the age of fifteen; John, a brewer now living in Indianapolis, Indiana; Josephine, the wife of Mr. Schoetel- kotte, living near Cincinnati; Carl, the foreman of a harness shop in Cin- cinnati; William, who is a farmer in this county, and Anna, who died at the age of five years.

John Adam Geis was the son of Adam and Margaret Geis. The Geis

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family came to America in 1833, and Adam, the grandfather of Frank, died two years after the family located in Franklin county, while Grandmother Geis lived to be ninety-three years of age. When Grandfather Geis died in this county in 1835, he left his widow with seven small children. They lived in a rude log cabin and had only a few acres cleared, but nevertheless they persevered with true German persistence and cleared the farm and put it under cultivation. John A. Geis was reared on the farm and inherited part of it, later buying eighty acres; so that he had a farm of goodly proportions on which to live.

The maternal grandparents of Frank Geis were John and Mary Knecht, both of whom were born in Germany and married in their native land. In 1836 John Knecht and his wife came to America and located in Highland township, Franklin county, where they bought government land. Grand- mother Knecht died in 1852, and her husband later married a widow by the name of Herbert. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. In the latter years of his life he moved to Southgate, Indiana. His death occurred at St. Leon, Indiana. All the members of the family on both sides are Catholics. John Adam Geis and his wife and Frank Geis and wife celebrated their "golden" and "silver" weddings on the same day, June 12, 1895.

Frank Geis, Sr., was reared on his father's farm and received his educa- tion in the schools of his neighborhood. When he was fifteen years of age he went to St. Peters and learned the trade of a harness-maker under an uncle, Michael Geis. Later he bought his uncle's shop and operated it until 1867. In that year he went west and worked in several different cities, among them being St. Louis, Missouri. In 1869 he came back to Franklin county and located in Brookville, where he has since resided. He bought out the harness shop of T. C. Beeks, and still makes all of the harness which he sells, employing three men in his shop. He has a well-equipped store · and sells all kinds of leather goods. He has seen hundreds of business men come and go, year in and year out, but his shop is open for business week after week and year after year, and forty-six years, February 6, 1915, have elapsed since he first started on his career in Brookville. . It is certainly an honor to be the oldest business man in a town as long established as is Brookville, the county seat of Franklin being one of the oldest towns in the state.

Mr. Geis was married June 12, 1870, to Mary Margaretta Bower, who was born in Highland township, the daughter of Francis A. Bower, one of the early settlers of that township. Mr. Bower came from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Geis are the parents of six children, Frank, the assistant cashier of

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the Franklin County National Bank; William M., the local agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company ; George A., who works with his father; Albert, a life insurance agent at Indianapolis; Mary U., who is still at home, and Edward J., who is a merchant tailor in Brookville.

Mr. Geis and his family are all loyal members of St. Michael's Catho- lic church in Brookville. He is a member of St. Peter's Benevolent Society, and has been president of that organization since 1878. He has been sec- retary of the Brookville Building and Loan Association for more than thirty years. He has been a life-long Democrat and served for ten years as justice of the peace in Brookville, his magisterial decisions being regarded almost invariably as final in such civil cases as he was called on to adjudicate. He is a man who has made many close friends during his long residence in Brookville, the whole community holding him in the highest esteem.

HIRAM PIKE.

There are few citizens now living in Franklin county who remember the late Hiram Pike, who has been deceased nearly half a century. An enu- meration of the men who lived in Franklin county during the quarter of a century preceding the Civil war would find Hiram Pike one of the leaders of his community. Although a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambi- tion for public position or leadership, he contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of his community. His admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward, upright course of his daily life won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he moved. His children and his children's children are still living in this county and this brief summary of his life is but a feeble tribute to his worth as a citizen.

The late Hiram Pike was born in Kentucky in 1814 and died at his home in Laurel, Indiana, October 6, 1866. Owing to the many years which have elapsed since his death much of his paternal history has been lost. However, it is known that his father died when he was a small boy, and that his mother later married William Perkins. About 1824 William Per- kins and his family came to Fayette county, Indiana, and settled in Columbia township on the banks of White river. Emery Pike is now living on the farm which Mr. Perkins entered from the government that year, and on this same farm the mother of Hiram Pike lived to be ninety years of age. The full-blood brother of Hiram Pike was Levi, deceased, who was a farmer. The half-brothers and sister of Hiram Pike were, William Perkins, deceased,

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who was a farmer of Fayette county, Indiana; Harvey and Milton Perkins, both deceased, who went west, and Harriet, the wife of John Limpus.

Hiram Pike attended the district schools near his home, receiving part of his education in Kentucky and completing it in Fayette county, Indiana. He lived at home until he reached his maturity and then went to Laurel, Indiana, where he learned the tanner's trade under a Mr. Shultz. Later he worked in James Henry's tannery, and a few years later bought the tannery of Mr. Henry and operated it himself for twenty-five years. It was located where the present Big Four railroad depot is now standing. Mr. Pike was an active worker in the Methodist church and was on the official board of the church for many years. He was very liberal in his support of the church and was one of the pillars of the local denomination. In politics he was a stanch Whig.

Hiram Pike was married in 1838 to Alsie Jane Bryson, who was born at Laurel, Indiana, a daughter of James and Mary (Kinkaid) Bryson, both of whom were born in Kentucky. The Brysons came to Franklin county, Indiana, about 1805 or 1806, although Franklin county was not organized until several years afterwards. James Bryson took part in the War of 1812. Hiram Pike and wife were the parents of four children, Thomas Gibson, Amanda, Elizabeth Frances and Florence.

Thomas Gibson Pike died in 1912 at the age of seventy-two. He grew to manhood in Laurel, and he and his brother-in-law, Joseph Gosnell, later became partners in a drygoods store in that place, remaining together for fifteen years. Later in life he was justice of the peace. He married Emma Gifford.

Amanda C. Pike was born in Laurel township and after receiving her elementary education in the local schools attended the Wesleyan College at Cincinnati and also the Brookville College. She received a fine musical education and was considered one of the best pianists of her day. She was married in 1861 to Joseph Gosnell, who was born in Kentucky, near Paris, and who, when a youth, located with his parents in Rush county, Indiana. In 1869 he engaged in the dry goods business with his brother-in-law, T. G. Pike, and continued with him in business until 1886, at which time he sold his interest in the store and bought a large farm in Rush county. Later he moved to Rushville, Indiana, where he died in 1903. His widow is now living in Laurel with her sister, Mrs. Geyer. Mrs. Gosnell had one daugh- ter, Florence, who died at the age of fourteen.

Elizabeth Frances Pike was born and reared in Laurel. She was mar- ried March 1, 1866, to John F. Geyer. Mr. Geyer was born in Virginia, and came to Laurel when a small boy with his parents, William S. and

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Matilda Geyer. William S. Geyer had a dry goods store and his son, John F., grew up in the store and later became his father's partner. When his father died John F. Geyer continued the business until he was burned out. He then bought the Laurel Review and managed this paper for several years. On account of failing health he disposed of his interests in the newspaper business and retired from active life, and lived at his home in Laurel until his death April 6, 1903. Mr. Geyer was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a member of the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He helped to lay the cornerstone of the Methodist church at Laurel and was very active in all the work of the church at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Geyer were the parents of one son, Edwin F., who is now in the Government printing office at Washington, D. C., having been employed there for the past twenty years. Edwin F. Geyer married Pearl Winship.

Florence Pike, the fourth and the youngest living child of Hiram Pike, is the wife of Thomas Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Brown live in Indianap- olis, and are the parents of two children, William and Edna C., the latter of whom is the wife of Doctor Harris. Mr. Brown owns a fine farm in Laurel township, Franklin county.

After the death of Hiram Pike in 1866 the tannery which he owned and operated for so many years was destroyed by fire. Later his widow bought the Wesley Morrell home and conducted a hotel there for a few years. The two daughters of Mr. Pike, Mrs. Geyer and Mrs. Gosnell, make their home in this house, where they are living happily and comfort- ably, enjoying the esteem of all who know them.

THEODORE PORTTEUS.

Although not a resident of Franklin county, ex-sheriff Theodore Port- teus, of Marion county, Indiana, is closely identified with the history of this county, for it is here that his parents were born and here that his moth- er's people were prominent for so many years. Mr. Portteus was prominent far beyond the recognition that comes to most men. He enjoys the dis- tinction of having been elected sheriff of Marion county, Indiana, in 1912, after he had served a term as deputy sheriff, by the largest majority ever given to a Democratic candidate for office in Marion county.

Theodore Portteus was born July 24, 1859, two miles east of Mt. Carmel at a place called Sharpstown, the son of Anson and Malissa (Gold)

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Portteus. Anson Portteus was the son of David and Jane ( Abecrombe) Portteus. David Portteus was the son of David Portteus, Sr., who came from County Fermanagh, in north Ireland, and was born in 1798. He im- migrated to America with Thomas Portteus when he was eight years old and settled first in New York state. One year later he moved to Franklin county and took up a farm in Springfield township, near Mt. Carmel, near which place Theodore Portteus was born.

Anson Portteus was born in February, 1838, on the old homestead farm near Mt. Carmel. He attended the district schools near his home and after finishing his schooling, took up the management of the homestead farm. In 1861 he became a farmer in Boone county, Indiana, and remained there two years. He then sold this farm and moved to a farm two miles west of Acton, Indiana, where he lived until 1870 when he moved into Acton and was engaged in the mercantile business for two years. He then returned to the farm and stayed one year, at the end of which time he sold out and returned to Acton, where he again engaged in the mercantile business. In 1875 he sold this business and moved to Fowler, Indiana, where he engaged in the clothing business. Two years later his store was destroyed by fire and he returned to the farm near Acton, where he remained until 1886 when he moved to a farm in Grant county, Indiana. He remained on this farm until 1888 and then moved to Marion, Indiana, where he lived a retired life.

Anson Portteus was married in 1858 in Franklin county to Melissa Gold, who was born in 1843 in Franklin county. She was reared in this county and attended the district schools. Melissa (Gold) Portteus, the mother of Theodore, was the daughter of James and Katherine (Biddinger) Gold. James Gold was the son of James, Sr., and Martha (Webster) Gold. James Gold, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Franklin county in his youth with his parents. Martha (Webster) Gold, the wife of James Gold, Sr., was a sister of Noah Webster, the author of Webster's dictionary. James Gold, Sr., and Martha Webster eloped and were secretly married. They were the parents of two children, William and James. James Gold, Jr., was born in Franklin county, Indiana, and attended the district schools. He was a farmer and lived on the old homestead. He married Katherine Biddinger when she was sixteen years old. Later he left the old home farm and moved to Metamora, where he lived for twelve years, at the end of which time he moved to Chesterfield, where his death occurred. He was the father of ten children.

Theodore Portteus attended the schools in Fowler, Indiana, and after finishing school was married to Idah G. Woodington, the daughter of Sam- uel and Susanna (Cline) Woodington. Samuel Woodington, who was born

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about 1828, was the first white child born in Lafayette, Indiana. His par- ents lived in a tent and he was rocked in an old-fashioned wooden cradle. He was a cabinet-maker, receiving his training by serving an apprenticeship of seven years, and followed this trade the greater part of his life. In 1883 he went to Florida and there gradually worked into the business of making coffins, since he was a cabinet-maker. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in politics was a Republican. He was the father of four children.

Theodore Portteus was a farmer near Fowler, Indiana, until 1888, when he moved to Indianapolis and became a traveling salesman, which occupation he followed until 1904. In 1905 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Indianapolis city council and served until 1909. In that year he was appointed chief deputy sheriff of Marion county and in the fall of 1912 was elected sheriff, serving two years. The track elevation on east Wash- ington street in the city of Indianapolis, was the result of Mr. Portteus's earnest endeavors during his service as a member of the city council. In this and other public-spirited movements he received the support of the city and proved himself to be worthy of the confidence of the people.

Theodore Portteus is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of the Knights Templar and a Shriner. Mr. and Mrs. Portteus have four children, Mrs. Bertha Kuechler, who has three children and lives in Indianapolis; Anson S. Portteus, who is a lieutenant in the Indianapolis fire department, is married and has two children; Mrs. Mollie Little Cash, who has three children and lives in Chi- cago; Mrs. Edna I. Wallers, who also lives in Indianapolis.

Mr. Portteus now owns a prosperous mercantile business in Indianap- olis and is a large owner of real estate. While he was sheriff of Marion county he did much for the welfare of the prisoners. Among some of the important improvements he brought about in this direction was the starting of the first county-jail library. This library now comprises three hundred well-selected books. Mr. Portteus also started Sunday religious services for the good of the prisoners. He was kind to the prisoners under his charge and assisted many in getting a new start in life.

Franklin county has every reason to be proud of the distinguished serv- ices that have been performed by Theodore Portteus. He is a worthy son of this county and still has many close ties which bind him to the people of his native county, in the affections and regard of many of whom he holds to this day a very close place.

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EVAN JACKSON DEARMOND.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 72

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