USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 59
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JOHN OWEN.
The biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are in- structive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life. Apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate success, if not renown. The instances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justify the conclusion that self-reliance, with a half chance, can accomplish any object. The life of John Owen, the recent postmaster of Noblesville, Indiana, is an example in point, for, by his individual efforts, and close adherence to his every duty, he has overcome the obstacles en- countered on the highway of life and is now very comfortably fixed regard- ing this world's comforts and has at the same time won a reputation for right living among his fellow men.
John Owen, the son of James A. and Jane (Haworth) Owen, was born in a log cabin on a farm about four miles northwest of Noblesville on June 25, 1875. His father was a native of North Carolina and came to Hamil- ton county, Indiana, when a boy with his parents, James R. and Susannah (Fouts) Owen. The family settled here in 1857. James A. Owen grew to maturity in this county and married Jane Haworth, who was born in the county. James A. Owen was seventy-seven years of age on March 6, 1914, and his wife was seventy-one years old on June 6, 1914, and both are enjoy- ing good health and are now living a retired life in Noblesville, where they are surrounded by every comfort and convenience of modern life. James A. Owen has been a lifelong Republican in politics and in 1896 was elected
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sheriff of Hamilton county, serving his term to the entire satisfaction of the people of the county. James A. Owen and wife were the parents of four children. Havilah, the oldest son, died at the age of twenty-seven while a law student at the University of Michigan. He died suddenly of heart trouble in the prime of life. He was a young man of great promise and an orator of great ability for one so young. Charity Ann, the only daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Owen, taught in the schools of Hamilton county for many years and is now living retired with her parents in Nobles- ville. Joel E., the second son, is now with the Wainwright Trust Company, of Noblesville, and John, the youngest, is the man whose history is here delineated.
John Owen was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools during the winter season and assisting his father on the farm during the summer months. After finishing the course in the common schools, he at- tended the high school at Westfield, and when nineteen years of age was appointed a teacher in the Indiana Reform Schools for Boys at Plainfield, In- diana, and taught there for a few months. At the age of twenty, when his father became a candidate for county sheriff, he took upon himself the man- agement of his father's campaign. During this campaign he showed con- siderable ability along political lines and has been interested in politics more or less ever since. During his father's term of office as sheriff he served as deputy sheriff and upon leaving the office became connected with the con- struction company which was then building the Indiana Union traction lines in this state. He was connected with the claim and ordinance department and was in the employ of the company for several years. During all of this time he was active in Republican politics and was a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He was especially active in con- gressional and state politics, and was for a time the secretary of the county central Republican committee, and, in fact, practically acted as county chairman.
Recognizing in him a man of ability and a man who had served his party faithfully and well, he was recommended to President Roosevelt for the position of postmaster at Noblesville, and on February 4, 1906, he was ap- pointed by President Roosevelt to this position. At the expiration of his first term he was reappointed for a second term by President Taft on March 30, 1910, and served out his second term in the office. He was an efficient and popular official and gave a faithful account of himself while administering the arduous duties of this important position.
Mr. Owen has various business interests in different parts of the state,
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being connected with the gas and oil industry. Although he has never been married Mr. Owen is active in social affairs. He has been a member of the Knights of Pythias since he was twenty-one years of age, and upon the or- ganization of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Noblesville he became a charter member of the lodge. He is a member of the Friends church and has always been generous in his support of this denomination. He was brought up in the church, his parents both being loyal members of the Friends denomination. Mr. Owen is a man of kindly disposition, honest and thoroughly trustworthy and commanding the respect of all with whom he has made dealings. He is a man among men in all that he does and naturally exerts a potential influence in the affairs of his city and county.
THOMAS MORROW.
Although Thomas Morrow has lived most of his life in Indianapolis, yet he is well known as one of the recent substantial citizens of Carmel, Ham- ilton county, where he lived for three years or more. He is a progressive business man and during his residence at Carmel contributed in a material way to the prosperity of the town and thus incidentally to the welfare of Hamil- ton county. He has proven an honorable member of the body politic and in every relation of life has never fallen below the true dignities of the good American citizen, or in any way resorted to methods which have led to criticism or censure. He is essentially a self-made man and whatever he has today is due solely to his own unaided efforts in the world.
Thomas Morrow, the proprietor of a bakery and restaurant formerly at Carmel, now engaged in business at Indianapolis, was born September 22, 1886, in Hamilton county. He is a son of James W. and Emmily (Lane) Morrow, his father being a native of this county and his mother a native of Porter county, Indiana. James W. Morrow was the son of James and Re- becca Morrow, natives of Ohio, who were among the early settlers of Ham- ilton county, having settled here about 1828. They entered government land and started out under the trying conditions which existed everywhere in this section of the state at that time. They put up a rude log cabin, cleared the land and gradually brought their farm under cultivation. When they came here they had no difficulty in securing plenty of meat to eat, inasmuch as there were plenty of deer, bear, and small game to be found everywhere. James Morrow, senior, and his wife were the parents of eight children: Daniel,
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James W., the father of Thomas, whose history is here given, Charles, Jack, John, Nathan, Jane and Marguerite.
James W. Mororw attended the common schools of his home neighbor- hood in the winter season and assisted with his help on the farm during the summer vacation. He lived at home until he was married on December 27, 1860, and then rented a farm in this county. He lived upon the farm until 1880, when he moved to Carmel and purchased a tile factory, which he oper- ated for the next ten or twelve years. He disposed of the tile factory and was then elected trustee of Clay township, this county, holding the office from 1896 until 1902. A few years after retiring from the office of township trustee he was elected assessor of Clay township and was holding this office at the time of his death, March 6, 1911. He was a strong Republican in politics, and always took an active part in the public welfare of his com- munity. James W. Morrow and wife were the parents of five children, all of whom were born on their father's farm near Noblesville. They were Schuyler, James, Clara, Thomas and Edmond.
Thomas Morrow attended the schools in his home neighborhood and after his parents moved to Carmel he attended the high school of that town, almost completing the course. When he was thirteen years of age Mr. Mor- row went to work for his uncle on the farm, and continued to work for him and to attend school during the winter months. He worked for his uncle for about ten months and then married and moved to Indianapolis, where he lived for about ten years. While working in Indianapolis he was clerically employed, and upon the death of his father in 1911 moved back to Carmel to live with his mother and there opened a bakery and restaurant which he operated until in August, 1914. He then took a long trip through the south and in January, 1915, engaged in the confectionery business in Indianapolis, opening an attractive store in Sixteenth street at Talbott avenue, where he handles confectionery and allied lines and which bids fair to receive the large patronage to which its surroundings and able management entitle it.
Mr. Morrow was married October 30, 1888, to Amanda E. Moulton and to this union have been born two children: Mabel and Ralph Emerson. Mabel is the wife of Samuel Bray, a draughtsman for the National Motor Car Company at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Bray have two children, Kathy- leen and Winifred Scott. Ralph Emerson is still in high school. Fraternally, Mr. Morrow is a Free and Accepted Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of pleasing personality and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
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ELIAS MANSFIELD SHELBURNE.
The man who wisely and vigorously applies his talent to that profession which he chooses as his life work is nearly sure to be successful. It is not the man of brilliant attainments who makes the most brilliant success in life, but rather the steady plodder, who keeps his work eyer in hand and pushes forward to a definite goal. The greatest results are often attained by the simplest means, by the exercise of the ordinary qualities of commonsense and perseverance. The every day life with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind. Every vocation demands a repetition of the same details day after day, and the man who can best meet .these as they arise is the one who achieves the highest success in life.
Elias Mansfield Shelburne, a prosperous farmer and stock breeder of Clay. township, this county, was born February 13, 1851, three miles north of Zionsville, Boone county, Indiana. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Bishop) Shelburne were natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively. John Shelburne, the son of Augustine and Jane (Bush) Shelburne, was born in Kentucky and came to Indiana in 1836, being one of the first settlers in Boone county. Augustine Shelburne was born in 1756 and was a soldier and an officer in the Revolutionary War. He was a prominent man in his day and in addition to being a prosperous farmer, was a Baptist minister of great power and influence. The family history of the Shelburnes is some- what obscure. but it is thought that the father of Augustine Shelburne was William Shelburne, and that the grandfather of Augustine was the first one of the family to come from England to this country. It is probable that the first Shelburne came to this country about 1650, leaving England on account of religious persecution. The best record which the family has at the pres- ent time concerning the first of the family to come to this country shows that there were two brothers of the name who came here and settled in Virginia.
John Shelburne was twice married, his first wife being Susan Ashby, a native of Kentucky, but she only lived six years after coming to Indiana in 1836. To this first union of John Shelburne were born four children, Emma Jane, James, William and Thomas. Two years after the death of his first wife John Shelburne married Elizabeth Bishop, their marriage occurring June 26, 1844, and to this union were born seven children, John D., Susan F., Elias M., with whom this history deals; Samuel P., Isaac, Edward and
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Elmira E. Elias M. and Elmira E. are the only two children now living. Elizabeth, the second wife of John Shelburne, was born in Virginia, the daughter of William and Susanna (Hutton) Bishop. Her parents moved from Virginia and settled in Boone county, this state, where they purchased two hundred acres of land for six dollars an acre. The first home of the Bishops upon coming to this state was a low, two-roomed log cabin, and here William Bishop and wife lived for many years with their six children.
Elias M. Shelburne received a very meager common-school education. In his boyhood there was only two or three months of school each year and the instruction was very limited. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age and then married and remained on his father's farm, where he continued to reside until 1892, when he purchased his present farm in the western part of Clay township. In 1909 he built his present attractive home, one of the most substantial homes of the township. He has lived on this farm for the past twenty-two years with the exception of three years when he lived in Zionsville.
Mr. Shelburne was married March 7, 1872. to Rosalia West, daughter of Samuel and Susanna ( Evans) West, born in Lebanon, Indiana, July 2, 1853. Her father was born in Kentucky and came to Indiana when a boy with his parents, Willis and Elnora (Dickson) West. Her mother, Susanna Evans, was born August 5, 1827, in Pickaway county, Ohio, a daughter of Jonathan and Margaret ( Bell) Evans. The family came from Ohio to Indi- ana and settled in Wayne county, and later. probably in 1838, the Evans family moved to Boone county, where they entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. Samuel and Susanna (Evans) West were married September 28. 1845. and to this union were born twelve chil- dren, Willis G., Jonathan E., Martha J., Rosalia, James E., Margaret ; Mary E., Samuel A., Charles J., Susanna, Albert F. and Harvey W. At the time of Mrs. Shelburne's mother's death, May 24. 1913. she had forty-one grand- children, fifty-two great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild living.
Mr. and Mrs. Shelburne are the parents of seven children. six of whom are now living. Elmer, Alva, Lora, Sadie. Bessie and West. The other child died in infancy. Elmer married Sylvia Freeman and lives in Texas on a farm near Rosenberg, and has two daughters, Gladys Marie and Ruth. Alva married Lydia Wheeler and lives seven miles southwest of Zionsville, in Hendricks county. Alva and his wife have had three children. Lester, Lillian and John M., who was killed when three years of age. Lora married David Orr. and lives in Warren county, Indiana, and has three children. Clifford M.,
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Sadie M. and William Dale. Sadie, the twin sister of Lora, is still living at home with her parents. Bessie is the wife of Clayborn Orr and lives in Warren county, this state. She has two children, Charles and Mary. West married Pearl Barker and lives on a part of his father's farm. They are the parents of one son, Voyl.
In politics, Mr. Shelburne has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party but has never been actively engaged in political affairs. He has been road supervisor in his township, and while in that office, per- formed conscientious service for his fellow citizens. He and his family are all church going people and Elmer has been superintendent of the Sunday school several years. Mr. Shelburne takes an abiding interest in govern- mental issues and is a liberal supporter of all measures pertaining to the welfare of his community.
THOMAS HUSSEY.
Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of Thomas Hussey, a well known and influential farmer and promi- nent stockman of Clay township, Hamilton county, Indiana, and he has not only been interested in the work of advancing his individual affairs, but his influence is felt in upbuilding the community. He has been an industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced, more prosperous, and with an increased number of friends.
Thomas Hussey, one of the most prosperous farmers of Clay township, was born January 13, 1853, in Fayette county, Indiana, and moved to this county with his parents, Joseph and Sarah (Frazier) Hussey, when he was six months old.
Joseph Hussey was born in 1815 in Guilford county, North Carolina, and was the son of John and Mary (Thornburg) Hussey. John Hussey died when his son, Joseph, was only an infant, leaving his widow with two sons, Joseph and Jonathan. They lived with their mother until Joseph was seventeen years of age, and then he and his brother came to Indiana, settling in Fayette county, in 1832. John Hussey as the son of John and Mary (Jes- sup) Hussey, both of whom were born in England.
Joseph Hussey was married in 1837 to Sarah Frazier, who was born September 10, 1820, in Wayne county, Indiana, and was a daughter of John
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and Rachel (Beard) Frazier, and a sister of John Beard, who was largely in- strumental in getting free public schools in Indiana. The Thornburgs were natives of Ireland, as were the Beards, while the Fraziers were natives of Scotland. After his marriage Joseph Hussey moved to a farm of one hun- dred and three acres in Fayette county, this state, where he lived until 1853, when he moved to Hamilton county and bought two hundred acres of land in Clay township. Shortly after his marriage in 1837 he entered land in Tip- ton county, but never lived on this land. Joseph Hussey remained on his farm in Clay township until his death, which occurred July 13, 1898. He and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church and he was a strong Republican in politics. His widow died December 6, 1899. To this marriage were born ten children, John, who was killed in the battle of Chicka- mauga, September 19, 1863; William, who was county commissioner for two terms; Martha, Mary, Elizabeth, Harriett, Thomas, whose history is subsequently related in this connection; Rachel, Franklin and Milton.
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Thomas, the seventh child born to his parents, was given a good com- mon-school education and remained at home until he was married in 1878. His father then gave him forty acres of land, which is a part of his present farm, and with this as a nucleus he has surrounded himself with a substan- tial farm of three hundred and sixty acres in this county. Before his mar- riage Mr. Hussey had built a small three-room house and in this he and his family lived for fifteen years after his marriage. His wife was a true help- mate in every way and they worked together to bring about their present prosperity. In 1893 they built their present spacious home of twelve rooms, which is now fitted up with all the modern conveniences. He has always been a large breeder of stock, having found by experience that he made better profits by feeding his grain to his stock. In the past few years he has branched out in the raising of stock in the breeding of pure bred Holstein cattle for general and exhibition purposes as well as for the markets until he now has one of the finest Holstein herds to be found in this section of the state.
Mr. Hussey was married December 8, 1878, to Serepta Daubenspeck, the daughter of Greenberry and Sarah Elizabeth (Hessong) Daubenspeck, and was born in Marion county, Indiana, July 31, 1857. The Daubenspecks were of Irish descent originally and went from Rush county, Indiana, to Marion county, where Mrs. Hussey was born. Her father, Greenberry, was the son of Peter and Ruth (Rush) Daubenspeck. Her mother, Sarah Eliza- beth Hessong, was the daughter of Peter and Catherine Hessong, of German
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extraction and natives of Maryland. Greenberry Daubenspeck taught school in Marion county for several years and managed his farm during the summer vacations. He is now living in Zionsville, Indiana, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Greenberry Daubenspeck and wife were the parents of four children, Serepta. the wife of Mr. Hussey: Laura A., deceased: Ruth Anna, deceased, and Peter.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hussey have reared an interesting family of ten children, in order of birth as follows: Lewis F., born September 8, 1879; Anna L., born March 6, 1882: Maude E., born November 15, 1884; Owen D., born February 10, 1887; Roscoe Beard, born June 1, 1888; S. Lena, born January 31, 1891 ; Helen Jane, born September 6, 1893; Martha E., born April 23, 1896: Olive Mary, born August 22, 1898, and Garnet K., born December 6. 1901. Lewis F. married Sarah Johnson and lives south of his father's farm and has one daughter, Loretta J .; Anna L. married Cloyde Goodnight, a minister of the Christian church, now stationed in Uniontown; Pennsylvania, and they have one son, John Thomas; Maude E., who was graduated from the Noblesville high school, is still living with her parents; S. Lena married Walter D. Stout and lives at Shirley, where Mr. Stout is superintendent of the creosote factory; Roscoe Beard died when he was eleven years of age; Owen died in infancy; the other four children, Helen Jane, Martha E., Olive Mary and Garnet Katherine, are still at home and in the public schools of Zionsville: Lena, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Hussey, attended the Central Normal College at Danville for two years and then entered Indiana University, where she was graduated in the literary course in 1913.
Mr. Hussey has been a life-long Republican and always takes an active interest in the public affairs of his home county, and has served as county commissioner for two terms, while in this office giving his hearty support to all measures which he felt would be of benefit to his county in any way. Fraternally. he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights . of Pythias. Religiously, he and his wife are earnest members of the Chris- tian church and contribute generously to its support at all times. In addi- tion to his agricultural interests Mr. Hussey is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Noblesville, and has been connected with that financial institution for several years .. Mr. Hussey is proud of the fact that with the exception of the forty acres which his father gave him upon his marriage he has earned everything which he now has. He has been unfalter- ing in his support of everything which he believed would benefit his county,
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and has always stood in defense of his positions and convictions in a manner which has won for him the admiration of his friends and acquaintances. His life has been crowned with prosperity which has come from his well-directed efforts, industry, economy and perseverance.
GEORGE POWELL.
The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record a verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of George Powell the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life-a life character- ized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well-defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people who have known him long and well.
George Powell, the trustee of Clay township, in this county, was born May 16, 1867, on the farm where he is now living four and one-half miles southwest of Carmel. His parents, Isaac and Mary Jane (Seright) Powell, were natives of Indiana. His father was born in Fayette county and his mother in Decatur county. Isaac Powell was the son of Thomas and Anna (Chadwick) Powell, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. Thomas Powell and wife were married in Indiana and came to Putnam county in 1841, settling near Clay Center in Clay township, where he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mary Jane Seright was the daughter of George and Susan (Ritter) Seright. The Powells are of Welsh descent and the Serights are of Irish descent, but it is not known when the first members of either family came to the United States.
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