USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 54
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
to Natchez, selling the corn at various points on the river. In young man- hood he went out for a trip down the river for his father on a flat boat of corn in company with David Fisher, Edwin Phillips, James Miller and David Lewis, and in all these operations he met with eminent success, and is today one of the solid and substantial citizens of his part of the county.
In 1870 Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage to Nancy Jane Ed- mondson, who was the daughter of William Edmondson, her birth occurring about fifteen miles west of Mount Carmel, Illinois. She was married prior to her union to Mr. Cunningham, but lost her hsuband by death soon after marriage, and their only child died when six months of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have been born two children, Margaret, wife of Richard Harrison, of Owensville, and they have one daughter, Della; Della, wife of Cord McReynolds, lives at Kansas City, Missouri, where Mr. McReynolds is yardmaster on a railroad.
Politically, Mr. Cunningham has been affiliated with the Democratic party all his life, and while taking an active interest in all public questions and honestly discharging his duties as a citizen in the civic life of his community, yet he has never been a seeker for public office, his business affairs and home life demanding his entire time and attention.
With few opportunities except what his own efforts were capable of mas- tering and with many discouragements to overcome, Mr. Cunningham has made an exceptional success in life and in his mature years has the gratifica- tion of knowing that the community in which he resides has been benefited by his presence and counsel. He has become well and most favorably known throughout his locality for his loyalty to truth, his uprightness in business, his public spirit and friendly disposition. He and his wife are among the most influential and popular citizens of their community, being abreast of the times in every way and always willing to give their time and substance, if need be, to further any movement looking toward the betterment of the locality where they reside, religiously, socially or educationally.
RICHEY SUMNERS.
Gibson county was not lacking in loyalty during the dark days of the Rebellion, when the ship of state was almost stranded on the rocks of dis- union, but contributed her full quota of brave and valiant men to assist in preserving the integrity of the government, prominent among whom was the well known gentleman and enterprising citizen whose name appears at the
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head of this review. Loyal to his country in its hour of peril and extremity, as was demonstrated on many bloody battle fields, he has ever been its stanch supporter in times of peace, and today there are few old soldiers of the county as widely and favorably known and none that can boast of a more honorable record. The ranks of the noble organization to which he belonged in the days of his youth are fast being decimated by the one invincible foe, and it is fitting that in every publication of the nature of this volume special tribute be paid to those who served during the greatest civil war known to history.
Richey Sumners, a retired farmer of Gibson county, was born January 28, 1843, in this county. He was a son of Thomas and Julia ( Montgomery ) Sumners. The father was born in Tennessee and came to this county in 1819, at the age of eight, with his parents, Joseph and Mary (Richey ) Sumners. The family settled about one and one-half miles southeast of Owensville, en- tering government land. They made the trip to this state in covered wagons, in true pioneer style, coming from along Duck river, between Murfreesboro and Franklin, Tennessee. After arriving here, they selected the land which they finally entered because it had a fine spring on it. Here they cleared a little land, hunted, fished and did but little farming. The present generation little understands the disadvantages under which our forefathers had to labor. Joseph Sumners and his wife both died about seven years after coming to this state, when their son, Thomas, was about fifteen years old: Upon the death of his parents, Thomas Suniners was bound out to Carlos Wilson, a tanner, and remained in his employ until he was twenty-one years of age. He continued in the employ of Mr. Wilson for five years after reaching his ma- jority and then launched out into the tanning business for himself. He built a tannery one-half mile north of Owensville and continued its operation for eighteen years, when he bought a farm, on which the subject of this sketch was born. He died in 1863. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born about four miles northwest of Owensville, in 1819, the daughter of Judge Thomas Montgomery and Katherine (Teel) Montgomery. Her father was judge of the circuit court at that time in Princeton. Indiana. She lived until 1860, when her death occurred on the home farm, about three years previous to her husband's death.
Richey Sumners was one of eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity, but only two are now living, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Anna Bell Baugh, of San Jose, California. When the Civil war began Mr. Sumners was but seventeen years of age, but, fired by the disloyal actions of the Southern states, his patriotism was stirred to action and he enlisted as a private in Company H, Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
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which command was assigned to service in the Army of the Cumberland and rendered valiant and faithful service in the campaign throughout Ten- nessee and Georgia. After reaching Atlanta in the summer of 1864, his corps was placed in the Army of the West, under Gen. George H. Thomas. He was then transferred back to Nashville, and from thence his division was sent into Mississippi and Alabama, and he spent the winter of 1864-65 in southern Alabama and Georgia. When the news of Lee's surrender was flashed across the country he was in Georgia. He had served for over three years, had been in some of the bloodiest conflicts of the war, had never shirked his duty in any particular and had come through all unscathed. Cer- tainly he was more fortunate than thousands and thousands of his fellow sol- diers. He was mustered out August 20, 1865.
Upon the expiration of his military service, Mr. Summers returned to Owensville, where he engaged in farming for three years, but, an opportun- ity presenting itself to purchase a stock of merchandise in Owensville, he went to that town and engaged in the mercantile business for three years. Seeing a better opportunity for financial investment in the lumber business, he sold his interests in the mercantile business and started a lumber establish- ment which he conducted successfully for twenty-five years, when he retired from active participation in business affairs. He was one of the original stockholders in the Owensville Banking Company and was for a number of years the president of the company. He continued in this capacity until three years ago, when he resigned.
Mr. Sumners was married in 1875 to Roxana Jaques, the daughter of William and Mary ( Pollard) Jaques. His wife's great-grandfather settled near Poseyville, Posey county, this state, where he entered a large tract of government land. In fact, at his death he had one section for each child. Mr. and Mrs. Richey Sumners are the parents of three children, two of whom are still living, Iva, the wife of Burr Stunkel. of Owensville, and the mother of four children, Dorothy, Mary, Charles and Martha; Richey, the only son, is still living under the parental roof.
Mr. Sumners, in his three score and ten years of continuous residence in this county, has endeared himself to a wide circle of friends. He is a plain, unassuming man, able and successful in all of his business affairs. He has contributed to all worthy objects which have for their purpose the better- ment of the community in which he has spent his whole career. His success has been attained by his steady persistence, sterling integrity and excellent judgment.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOHN Q. A. GOODMAN.
The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has accomplished. An enumeration of those men who have succeeded in their special vocations in Gibson county, and at the same time are impressing their personalities on the community, men who are conferring honor on the locality in which they reside, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, for he is an important factor in the professional life of his commun- ity. The success which has come to him has been the direct result of the salient points in his character and the sincere interest which he takes in all matters pertaining to the public good has won for him the high regard in which he is held by all who know him.
John Q. A. Goodman was born on a farm in Crawford county, Illinois, August 12, 1869, the son of Henry and Caroline A. (Legg.) Goodman. The father was a native of Ohio, born in the city of Cleveland on May 11, 1836. The mother was born and raised in Crawford county, Illinois, her birth oc- curring November 1, 1842. Previous to the birth of the subject of this sketch the father had settled on the farm in Crawford county, Illinois, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died March 2, 1887. The mother con- tinned to make her home in her native county, and passed away April 5, 19II. To the union of Henry and Caroline A. (Legg) Goodman were born four children, Marcus T., Amos N., John Q. A. and William C. Henry Goodman was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, serving as an elder for a number of years. In the tenets of this faith he reared his family, ever setting before them the example of his own sincere life, his honesty and integrity in all matters.
John Q. A. Goodman received his early education in the schools of Crawford county, Illinois. He passed his early life on the farm and the excellent physique he today possesses, together with a clear and well-bal- anced mind, is doubtless in a great measure due to the wholesomeness of those early rural duties. But important as agricultural pursuits are, Mr. Goodman was not satisfied. for he had within him the desire for a broader sphere of life, and in 1896 he took up the study of law. He brought to the study of his chosen profession a boundless and keen enthusiasm and succeeded so well that on January 5, 1898, he was admitted to the bar at Washington, Indiana. He had not, however, succeeded in finding a location suitable to his taste and,
JOHN Q. A. GOODMAN.
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with the desire of permanently locating, he came to Princeton on May 28, 1898, where he has since made his home and has inseparably identified him- self with the best interests of the community. He was admitted to practice in the United States circuit court at East St. Louis, Illinois, on November 7, 1906.
Mr. Goodman was married on April 20, 1902, to Flora E. Barcroft, of Lawrence county, Illinois, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fowler) Barcroft. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman have one child, John Leland, born Febru- ary 15, 1908.
Mr. Goodman had always identified himself with the Republican party, taking an active interest in its affairs, and when the New Progressive party sprang into existence he refused to accept its principles and took still more active interest in behalf of the old-school Republicans. His commanding figure is a familiar sight at political gatherings, and his style of oratory, clear and shrewd in its reasoning, concise and effective in delivery, has made him a favorite speaker at all campaign gatherings.
Fraternally, Mr. Goodman has confined his connection to the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious membership, together with that of his wife, is with the First Pres- byterian church of Princeton, in the affairs of which he takes a deep interest and to which he contributes generously of his time and means.
Mr. Goodman has the welfare of the community at heart and at all times can be counted on to give his ardent support to every movement having for its object the welfare of those about him. A man of sterling qualities, his honesty, his upright principles and genial disposition have won for him numerous friends throughout the community in which he lives.
JAMES V. AND CHARLES N. EMERSON.
There is nothing which stimulates a man to deeds of worth and a life of uprightness and reetitude more than the recollection of the strength of char- acter and examples of right living which have been shown by his forbears. In this respect Mr. Emerson is fortunate beyond the majority of men in being descended from a line of men who have been men of strength and influence, doing their duty well, whether in the peaceful pursuits of ordinary life or in positions of public life and public trust. A heritage of such a memory of the
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lives of one's forefathers is of more value than a heritage of material wealth. In the business affairs of Owensville, the subject of this sketch occupies a position of importance and among those who are today conserving the com- mercial and industrial prosperity of this community none occupy a higher standing among their associates than he whose name appears at the head of this review.
Charles N. Emerson, the son of James V. and Susan J. (Williams) Emerson, was born January 7, 1878, near Owensville. Gibson county, Indiana. James V. Emerson was born February 27, 1851, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Duncan) Emerson. Thomas Emerson was born near Cynthiana, in the southern part of Gibson county, the son of Reuben Emerson, who came from Kentucky in 1811, and settled on the farm where Thomas was born. Reuben had a brother, Jesse, who settled near where the subject was born, in 1809. Reuben entered his land from the government near the south line of Montgomery township in this county, and it was on this farm that Thomas was born. Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas, was born in Owensville, the daughter of Greenbury and Sarah (Roberts) Duncan. The Duncans came to the county in an early day, and the Roberts came from Carolina about the time the county was organized. Thomas Emerson followed the occupation of a farmer until old age, and after acquiring a comfortable com- petence, he moved to Owensville in the latter eighties, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
James V. Emerson grew up on the farm where he was born, securing his education in the district schools, and at the same time assisting his father in the duties of the farm life, thus early acquiring those habits of industry and perseverance which have characterized him throughout his successful career. In February, 1877, he was united in marriage to Susan J. Williams, the daughter of Simon and Lavina (Sharer) Williams, who are represented in the sketch of Dr. J. R. Williams, elsewhere in this volume. James Emerson and his wife went to housekeeping on a farm owned by Mr. Emerson and continued to reside there until 1882, at which time they moved to Owensville. In the following year he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and conducted this enterprise very successfully for more than twenty years, and by his industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods he followed, he won for himself not only the confidence of his fellow citizens, but a comfortable competence for his old age. About ten years ago he sold out this business to Perry Pritchett and retired from active life.
To Mr. and Mrs. James V. Emerson have been born three children : Charles N., the immediate subject of this sketch; Cora, the wife of Samuel B.
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Thompson, lives three miles north of Owensville, and has one daughter, Alice; Pearl married C. A. Voight, and lives at Catlin, Illinois, near Danville, and has one daughter, Olga.
Mr. Emerson and all of his family are members of the General Baptist church at Owensville and have always taken a very active part in all the af- fairs of that denomination. Through their church affiliations they have been the means of doing an unlimited amount of good in their community. Mr. Emerson has been for many years a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and is a valued and respected member of that fraternity.
Charles N. Emerson, son of James V. Emerson, has lived in Owensville since he was five years of age. He completed his common and high school education in that town, and then continued his educational career by a course in the Oakland City College, followed by a course in Millikan University, at Decatur, Illinois. While attending school, he began to teach in 1897 in the district schools of his county and taught three years, then, having qualified himself for high school work, he became the principal of one of the Princeton ward schools, where he taught for one year, later being principal of the Owensville school for two years. Mr. Emerson had uniform success in all his teaching experience and the profession lost a good instructor when he de- cided to leave the pedagogical profession and enter the banking business. In 1903 he entered the employ of the First National Bank, of Owensville, as bookkeeper, and by close application to his business he soon merited a pro- motion and became cashier in August of the following year, which position he has held since. His teaching experience and college training, combined with good sound business judgment, has made him a banker of the first rank.
Mr. Emerson has always taken an active part in the Democratic politics of his town and county, and his fellow citizens have shown their confidence in him by electing him a town trustee and he is now serving his second term as town clerk, and in his official capacity he has shown the same business ability which characterizes him in his financial dealings. In Masonic circles he is master of the Owensville lodge, a position which he has held for four years. He is also a member of the Royal Arch Masons at Princeton. Mr. Emerson is a type of the highest example of the young American business man, one whose integrity, strength of character and genuine worth have forced him into a position of respect in the community. . As a factor of the body politic he has performed well his every duty and no one questions his standing in this favored locality of the commonwealth of Indiana.
Charles N. Emerson was married in 1904 to Emma Stunkle, who was born at Haubstadt, the daughter of Ed. F. and Ellen ( Williams) Stunkle.
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Her parents were both born and reared east of Fort Branch, this county. Her father's death occurred in Owensville and her mother still resides there. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson move in the best social circles of Owensville, and their friends are in number as their acquaintances, for they enjoy the esteem and high regard of all with whom they come in contact.
MARTIN A. MONTGOMERY, M.D.
Fortunate indeed is the family which can trace its history back for more than three generations and there are very few that can do more than trace their genealogy back as far as four generations. The family history of the Montgomerys has been traced back in an unbroken line to the elev- enth century and investigation has shown its descendants by the thousands. They are found scattered over Europe and over many of the states in this country, and wherever they are found they rank among the best families in the community. Gibson county may count itself fortunate in having the descendants of one branch of this family living in its midst.
Thomas Montgomery, the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Martin A. Montgomery, was the original settler of that name in Gibson county. He was known as "Pretty Old Tom." He came to Gibson county first in 1804 and looked over the territory open for settlement and finally selected a tract of land for entering.
It is interesting to note briefly the origin of the Montgomery family. Their genealogy has been worked out along several different branches of the family and David B. Montgomery has spent several years in tracing back the branch of which he is an honored member. In 1902 he published a volume of his researches, in which he showed briefly the history of several thousand members of the family. The origin of the name is conjectural, but it is most likely from "Mons Gomeris" or "Gomers Mount." This name has been traced back through the descendants of the United States, back through Ireland, through Europe down near the Loretto in Italy. In the course of many generations the name has had no less than forty-three variations of spelling until the adoption of the present spelling. A direct line of descent has been traced back to Robert D. Montgomery, who died in 1261. Hugh Montgomery, the great-great-great-grandfather of Dr. Martin A. Mont- gomery, was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish descent, and he was the first member of this branch of the family to come to America and he became
LOSS OF PHYSICIAN AND GOOD CITIZEN
Dr. M. A. Montgomery Called from Active Life-Will be Greatly Missed
The death of Dr. Martin A. Mont- gomery is a severe and sad loss, not only to his family and relatives, but to the community at large. He was a man of action, kind and generous, one who loved his profession, and seemingly used it more for the help of others than for his own benefit.
Dr. Montgomery was a friend to every one. He always had a word of greeting or a cheering remark. Even in the sick-room he tried al- ways to bring a ray of sunshine.
Obituary
Martin Adolphis Montgomery, son of David B. and Nancy Jane Smith Montgomery, was born June 20, 1875, died October 19, 1918, age 43 years 3 months and 29 days.
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He professed a hope in Christ in March, 1889, during a revival meet- ing at the General Baptist church under the pastorate of Rev. Wilson Blackburn, assisted by Rev. J. R. Ed- wards. He joined the General Bap- tist church March 8, and was bap- tized May 19, of the same year.
hestead farm and of age the family moved to the place where he has His life has been one worthy of em- educated in the district schools of his township and ulation. He remained true to his the parental roof. When he reached his twenty-first
profession of faith in God and was always ready and willing to give freely of his means to support the church of his choice and gave liber- ally toward the support of other de- nominations.
Martin, as he was familiarly called by his friends and relatives, was a graduate of the Owensville high- school class of 1893. He graduated from the University Medical College at Louisville, Ky., in 1898, and be- gan the practice of medicine in Ow- ensville in April, 1898.
He was married to Josie Strehl, Oct. 1, 1899. To this union were born one son, Harold Martin, and a daughter, Maxine Lucile.
Dr. Martin was a very successful physician, going wherever called re- gardless of the time of night, condi- litions of roads or weather. Many imes when physically unable he re- ponded to the call of his patients, hus sacrificing his own health and omforts that the pain of others might be relieved if possible. Hi isits to his patients were like a ray sunshine. He was always cheer- il in the sick-room, even in the ost serious cases. By his genial sposition he won an unlimited num- r of friends, who will remember m for the good he has done. His tire life, a life of self-sacrifice,
was spent in this community, where he was loved and respected by all who knew him.
He leaves to mourn his death, be- sides his wife and two children, his aged father, one sister, Mrs. George R. Simpson, and a host of friends and relatives. Thus ends a very use- ful life. Let us bow in humble aub- mission to the will of God, who do- eth all things well and best.
Dr. Montgomery was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry April 26, 1915, passed May 7, 1915, and was raised to the sublime heights of a Master Mason May 14, 1915. Re- previous to his ceived the Royal Arch degree Aug. 22, 1916. He was true to his lodge and faithful to attend its meetings at all times when his business would permit. The Masonic order was sec- ond only to his church. Owensville Lodge No. 364, F. and A. M., feels that in his death they have lost a dear brother Mason and readily en- ter into the bitter sorrow of Brother Montgomery's family. As a lodge they feel that they have been made poorer by his death, but realize that the great, lodge above has been made richer in the addition of another members.
The funeral sermon was preached at the home in the presence of a host of his relatives and friends by his pastor, Rev. Claude Neal.
EISIE M. AYERS.
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family in this ved to Roanoke, ginia for Ken- Gibson county.
cated in Mont- and Montgom- the government, large families.
mis sketch, is the o served in the lartin A. Mont- ather being John was Walter C., as Montgomery, came to Gibson
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