USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 60
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George Seright, the maternal grandfather of George Powell, was a man of great influence in his day. He was born in Kentucky and served in the War of 1812 and later in the Indian wars in the west. He also participated in the Mexican War in the forties. At the battle of the Thames in the War on 1812 he took an active part and was present when the famous Indian chief. Tecumseh, was killed. He often said that Tecumseh was then skinned by the Kentuckians, and that from his skin they made razor straps. After returning to his native state after the War of 1812 George Seright became a
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flat-boatman on the Mississippi river and made five trips to New Orleans with cargoes. He would then not only sell the cargo but the boat as well and return home on foot. He made the trip back on foot from New Or- leans by himself at one time, and becoming sick on the way home, was three months on the way.
George Powell was one of four children born to his parents and lived at home until he was married. He attended the common school during the winter and assisted with the work on the farm during the summer vaca- tions. After he was married in 1889 he moved on one of his father's farms and lived there until 1901 when he moved to Noblesville to assume the duties of deputy county auditor, his father being auditor at that time. His father, Isaac Powell, was an influential man in this county. In addition to serving as county auditor he served as township assessor for two terms, as well as townhip trustee for two terms and a part of a third. George Powell lived in Noblesville only eighteen months and then moved back to his farm on account of his health. In addition to his regular farming he raises Rose Comb white Leghorn chickens for show purposes and has won several prizes. He has taken all first prizes at the annual exhibition of Poultry Fanciers of Indiana held at Indianapolis. In 1907 he won the gold loving cup at Zions- ville for the highest scoring pen of any breed of poultry.
Mr. Powell was married on Christmas day in 1889 to Nettie M. Brown. She is the daughter of Leander S. and Rosan (Butterfield) Brown and was born in Clay township, in this county, December 20, 1874. Leander Brown was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, near Plainfield while his wife was born in Hamilton county, near New Britton. The Butterfield family are of Irish descent while the Browns are of German extraction. Mrs. Powell is one of twelve children and lived at home until her marriage at the age of fifteen. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are the parents of four children, all of whom are living at home: Harry, Charles, Mary Rose and Edna Magdaline. Charles. Mary and Edna are in high school at Carmel and Charles and Mary were graduated with the class of 1914.
. Mr. Powell is a stanch Republican in politics and previous to his election as township trustee served as road supervisor in his home township. He was elected for four years but afterwards the legislature extended the terms of all trustees in the state to six years. In this office he is paying particular attention to the schools and the highways of his township. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias while he and his wife are both mem- bers of the Pythian Sisters. All of the family are members of the Christian church, Mrs. Powell having been a member since she was thirteen years of
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age. Mr. Powell is an able citizen of estimable qualities and the kind of a man who is an influential factor in the welfare of any community. Al- though he is primarily interested in his own affairs, he has likewise main- tained a deep regard for the advancement and the welfare of his community, and for all enterprises in which his fellow men might be benefited.
LOUIS N. JOSEPH.
The life history of Louis N. Joseph, of Noblesville, Indiana, is full of interest in many ways. It is interesting in view of the fact that he is con- nected with so many different business enterprises and yet has a firm grasp upon all of them. He is not only a clothing merchant with a store in one city practically under his control, but also has clothing establishments in two other cities which he manages indirectly. He is one of the largest farmers of his county and his farms, aggregating eight hundred and seventy acres, are in as high a state of cultivation as can be found in the state of Indiana today. However, his interests are not confined to the clothing business and agricul- ture. He is also one of the largest gravel-road contractors in the county, and has built as many or more miles of gravel roads in Hamilton county as any other man. It would seem that in these three different kinds of activity there would be sufficient to keep any one man busy, but notwithstanding this, he is directly interested in other enterprises, being a heavy stockholder not only in all of the banks of his own city, but in various banks and insurance companies in Indianapolis as well. He has heavy mining interests in the west. owns the complete water system of the town of Beaver, Utah, is vice- president of the Sheridan Packing Company, and president of the Water Works Company of Noblesville. It is not surprising, in view of his many and varied interests, to find that he is the largest individual tax payer in Hamilton county.
Louis N. Joseph, the son of Solomon and Augusta ( Bamberger) Joseph, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 27, 1869. His parents were both natives of Germany and came to this country before either one of them had reached their maturity. Solomon Joseph was sixteen years of age and Augusta Bamberger was thirteen years old when they came to this country, although they did not come here at the same time. They both came directly to Cincinnati, Ohio, and were married at the ages of nineteen and sixteen, respectively. Solomon Joseph was a young man of wonderful business ability and was soon one of the leading clothing merchants of Cincinnati, where he
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lived for many years. His wife died on July 25, 1878, leaving her husband with seven children. After the death of his wife, Solomon Joseph went with his family to Shelbyville, Indiana, where he engaged in the clothing business with his brother, Julius Joseph, in which place he continued in business for five years. In 1883 Solomon Joseph came to Noblesville and engaged in business under the firm name of J. Joseph & Company, this firm continuing until the death of Solomon Joseph which occurred December 4, 1892. The sons of Solomon Joseph, Julius Joseph, Jr., and Louis N., whose history is here related, then continued the business under the same name. In 1899 Julius Joseph, Jr. retired from the firm and went to New York city, where he is engaged in the wholesale clothing business at 588 Broadway, with the firm of Schatz, Joseph & Marks. At this time, 1899, Louis N. Joseph at- tained complete charge of the clothing business in Noblesville, although he still retains the firm name of J. Joseph & Company. The location of the store at No. 13 South Side square has not been changed in the thirty-one years of the existence of the store in this city, although a new building was erected in 1899. Mr. Joseph carries a large stock of everything in the way of men's and boys' clothing and furnishings, and has enjoyed a large patron- age because of his square dealing and courteous treatment of customers.
However, the clothing business has been only one of the many business ventures of Louis N. Joseph. He has for several years been interested in farming and now is the owner of seven hundred and thirty acres of fine farming land in Hamilton county, and one hundred and forty acres in Marion county, Indiana, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Joseph personally supervises his farm and is one of the largest corn and wheat growers of the county. He feeds most of his grain to stock. He is the owner of ten business blocks in Noblesville on one side of the public square and the postoffice building on Logan street. He is president of the Needham Clothing Company with stores at Shelbyville and Wabash, Indiana. He is a large stockholder in the First National Bank, in the Citizens State Bank and in the Wainwright Trust Company, three of the strongest financial institutions of Noblesville. He is vice-president of the Sheridan Packing Company, at Sheridan, Indiana, which does a large amount of business an- nually. is a director in the Kline-Macy Foundry Company, of Noblesville and is president of the Noblesville Water Works Company, with a controlling interest in this company. He owns the entire water works system of Beaver City, Utah, and has heavy mining interests in Park City, Utah. In addition to these many interests, he has other large property and business interests. He is the largest life insurance policy holder in Hamilton county, Indiana, as well as the county's heaviest individual tax payer. He also is a heavy
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tax payer in Marion county, Indiana, where he has a large share of stock in the Aetna Trust Company, of Indianapolis, and the Sterling Fire Insurance Company, of the same city. He is a member of the advisory board of the Sterling Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Joseph was married July 18, 1894, to Celia Oppenheimer, daughter of Elias and Minnie (Seigel) Oppenheimer, of Salt Lake City, Utah, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph are the parents of two children, Augusta, who is now a student at Belmont College, in Nashville, Tennessee, and Edgar, who is still a student in the Noblesville schools.
Mr. Joseph has always been a Republican in politics, but has never been an office seeker. his large business interests requiring all of his attention and energy, so that he has not had time to take a very active part in public affairs. Nevertheless he is deeply interested in the welfare of his city and county and has been liberal in his donations to all worthy movements. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
One other interest of Mr. Joseph which should be mentioned is his activity in the cause of good roads for his county. Ever since Hamilton county began building free gravel roads he has been an extensive road con- tractor, having associated with him in this business T. E. Ramsey, and this firm has built more miles of improved roads in the county than any other con- tractors. It is interesting to note that Mr. Joseph takes so much interest in agricultural affairs. He keeps in close touch with the work done on his farms and sees that they are always kept up to the highest state of efficiency. No farms in the county have better buildings of every kind than his. There remains one other industry with which Mr. Joseph is connected. He is the largest stockholder in the Orona Telephone Company now operating in this county, being one of the original promoters of the company and always hav- ing been much interested in its development.
Enough has been said to show that Mr. Joseph is truly a man of affairs. No man in his county has taken more interest in improving it in every way, and it is no wonder that he is looked upon as one of the representative men of his county. In addition to his beautiful home in Noblesville he has a fine summer home at Allenhurst, on the Atlantic coast in New Jersey, where he and his family spend some of the time every summer. Yet it is to be noted that Mr. Joseph has not permitted material things to supplant his better nature. His life has been filled with good deeds and kindly thoughts, and all who know him entertain for him the highest regard because of his upright and honorable career. In all of the relations of life he has been true and faithful to the duties and trusts reposed in him.
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CHARLES L. BRAY.
There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differing but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. Today among the prominent citizens and successful business men of Noblesville, stands Charles L. Bray. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judg- ment and executive ability enter very largely into his make-up and have been . contributing elements to the material success which has come to him.
Charles L. Bray, the president of the Noblesville Fuel & Supply Com- pany, was born October 25, 1875, in Mattoon, Illinois, and is the son of Rev. Calvin and Emily (Ward) Bray, his father being a minister of the Friends church. Reverend Calvin and family moved to Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1881 and in Hendricks and Marion counties Charles L. Bray grew to man- hood.
Mr. Bray attended the public schools of Hendricks county and graduated from the academy at Plainfield in 1896. He then took a commercial course at the Central Normal College of Danville, Indiana, graduating in 1898, after which he took one year in the literary department of Earlham College at Rich- mond. He then engaged in farming and dairying in Marion county for several years and was a successful and prosperous farmer, but in 1908 decided to leave the farm and moved to Noblesville, having been elected president of the Fuel and Supply Company at that place. He has been president and active in the management of this company for the past six years and has had the satisfaction of seeing it do a constantly increasing business. The com- pany ships sand and gravel, handles, coal, wood, cement, tile, cement block, porch columns, roofing, paint, posts, fencing and farm machinery, and does an extensive wholesale and retail trade throughout Central Indiana. Mr. Bray is a man of keen business ability and knows how to serve the wants of his customers in a very satisfactory manner. In addition to his interests in this company he also has valuable business property in Noblesville.
Mr. Bray was married August 24, 1899 to Sarah Newman, the daughter of John Newman and Hannah (Osborn) Newman. Both of the parents of his wife died when she was a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Bray have three children : Ima, Russell and Willard.
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In politics Mr. Bray is affiliated with the Republican party and is very much interested in good government. He is an ardent advocate of all pro- gressive and moral reforms and has been especially active in temperance work in Noblesville. He is one of the prominent leaders in the fight to abolish saloons from his home city. He has never sought or held public office, preferring to serve as a private in the ranks of his party. He is a clean. high-minded citizen and takes an interest in all measures which he feels will benefit his community in any way. He is a stanch supporter of the best educational methods and an enthusiastic advocate of good healthy ath- letics for the boys and girls. He believes in developing the body along with the brain, in order that the best results may be obtained. He feels, as does everyone who has made any study of the subject, that a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand, and that at least the healthy mind must reside in a healthy body. He is particularly domestic in his tastes and is never so happy as when sitting by his own fireside. He and his wife are great lovers of flowers and surround their house every summer with beautiful plants. They have highly cultivated musical tastes and in their home are numerous musical instruments upon which the members of their family are accomplished performers. The family home at number eighty-one East Maple street is among the most attractive in the city. He and the members of his family are attendants of the Friends church and active in all the work of the church and Sunday school. Fraternally, Mr. Bray is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. All in all Mr. Bray is a fine type of the highest class of American citizenship and is held high in the estimation of people in all classes of society.
STEPHEN COX.
The good citizen in any community is the man who takes a pride in advancing its welfare along educational, moral and industrial lines, while at the same time he makes ample provision for the maintenance of his immediate family. Such a citizen is Stephen Cox, a prosperous farmer of Washington township. Hamilton county, Indiana. He is thoroughly progressive in his farming operations and has the unique honor of having bought the first mower. the first reaper and the first automobile in his neighborhood. He keeps only the best live stock on his farm and for many years has had exhibits of his Shorthorn cattle at the State Fair. He takes an active interest in good roads and is thoroughly in accord with the impetus which is being
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REV. AND MRS. STEPHEN COX
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given to the "Good Roads" movement in Indiana at the present time. He gives his hearty support to all educational movements, and has not only given all of his own children the opportunity for college education but has helped other children to get schooling at his expense. In religious matters he gives his hearty support to all worthy religious, charitable and benevolent move- ments, and in this way takes a stand for a clean and wholesome life.
Stephen Cox, one of the numerous representatives in this county of those families which had their origin in North Carolina, was born in Ran- dolph county, that state, June 18, 1840. He is the son of Hugh and Rebecca (Cox) Cox, both natives of North Carolina. His father died when he was about ten years of age, leaving his widow with seven children. Hugh Cox was a farmer in his native state and also operated a flour and saw mill. The widow and her two sons and four daughters lived in North Carolina until the Civil War. Two of the sons of Hugh Cox were drafted as soldiers in the Southern army.
In the summer of 1861 Stephen Cox came to Hamilton county, Indiana, with two other families in three wagons, and for the first two years worked out as a hired hand. After his marriage, in the fall of 1862, Mr. Cox bought thirty-five acres of land and his father-in-law gave his wife forty acres, and on this farm of seventy-five acres, he and his wife and family lived until 1867. In that year Mr. Cox bought his father-in-law's farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres, paying fifty dollars an acre for it. During the war he could have bought plenty of land in Hamilton county for fifteen dollars an acre, but within one year after the close of the war, land doubled in price in this county. Before his marriage, Mr. Cox worked in Adams township for two summers on a farm and also worked at the carpenter trade at odd times.
Mr. Cox was married August 8, 1862, to Julia Rich, the daughter of Peter and Amy (Jessup) Rich. She was born in the northern part of Wash- ington township, Hamilton county, and her father was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, in 1811. Peter Rich came to Indiana, located in Marion county in the thirties, and there met and married Amy Jessup, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, in 1818, the daughter of Timothy H. Jessup and wife, Susannah. Timothy H. Jessup was born February 23, 1782. and his wife, Susannah, was born in 1789. Peter Rich and Amy Jes- sup were married September 24, 1835. Mr. Rich began life as a farm hand in Marion county, Indiana, and after his marriage he located a half mile southeast of the present village of Horton, in Hamilton county. This was heavily forested at the time, and he had to clear the timber away in order to find a place large enough to build his rude log cabin. The land on which
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Stephen Cox is now living was given to Amy Rich by her father, and it is said that at that time it was not worth fifty cents an acre. Forty acres of it was swamp and considered absolutely worthless. As an instance of the development of modern agriculture, it is interesting to note that this forty acres now produces as fine corn as any land in the county. Peter Rich located near Horton in pioneer times, and later in life moved to Westfield, where he operated a mill for several years. In 1860 he moved to a farm one mile east of Horton, where Erwin Cox is now living. Here he became a prosper- ous farmer and at the time of his death owned about three hundred acres of land.
In the fall of 1884 Stephen Cox moved to Westfield with his family in order to give his children the advantages of the high school at that place. All of the six children graduated from the Union high school at Westfield, with the exception of the youngest, who died before finishing the course. In July, 1900, the wife of Mr. Cox died. To this first marriage of Mr. Cox were born seven children: Arthur T., born September 12, 1863; Myrtilla, born October 10, 1865; Erwin, born February 19, 1868; Elmer, born April 4, 1870, died at the age of six months: Gynietha, born November 21, 1871; Alden, born June 17, 1863, died at the age of fourteen years; Elsie, born January 30, 1878.
Arthur, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cox, married Luella Fuller. He worked in several different lumber yards and became the general manager and secretary-treasurer of a lumber and coal company at East Chicago. He died August 22, 1908. He was a graduate of Earlham College. Myrtilla graduated from the Union high school at Westfield, and later went to a business college at Indianapolis, and while there was stricken with typhoid fever and died November 11, 1887. . A few days after her death, Alden, the youngest son, was stricken with the same dread disease and died five weeks later, at the age of fourteen years and six months. Erwin graduated from the Union high school and married Theodate Johnson, and lives on a farm one mile east of Horton. They have four children living, Alden, Myron. Mildred and Carl, and two who died in childhood. Elmer, born April 4, 1870, died on September 22 of the same year. Gynietha graduated from the Union high school and is the wife of Edward L. Foulke, and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She has one son, Robert Jerome, living, and one who died in in- fancy. Elsie graduated from the Union high school and married Charles H. Baldwin, and lives in Tipton, Indiana. They formerly lived on a farm near Carmel. Mr. Baldwin is an automobile dealer in Tipton, to which place the family moved in the fall of 1913.
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Mr. Cox began running a threshing machine before his first marriage and for thirty-eight years operated a machine every summer. He is essen- tially progressive in all of his methods, and lends his hearty influence to the support of everything which pertains to the welfare of his county. He is an ardent advocate of the Prohibition party and votes and works for the interests of his party.
Mr. Cox was married a second time, April 13, 1901, to Rev. Mary A. Nichols, who was born in Randolph county, Indiana, the daughter of Mark and Sarah ( Pegg) Nichols. Her father was born about twelve miles north of Richmond, in Randolph county, Indiana, March 15, 1824, a son of Enoch and Rhoda (Jay) Nichols. Rhoda Jay was born in North Carolina. Mark Nichols, who died a short time before his eighty-sixth birthday, was a life- long farmer in Randolph county, Indiana. He was a stanch Republican, a loyal member of the Friends church, and an influential citizen of his commun- ity. Sarah Pegg, the mother of Mrs. Cox, was born in Wayne county, In- diana, November 23, 1829, and died January 1, 1909. She was a daughter of Valentine and Mary Ann ( Hollingsworth) Pegg, who, it is believed, were natives of North Carolina, and of German descent.
Rev. Mary A. Cox grew to womanhood in Randolph county, Indiana, and lived there until her marriage, except for a time when she was attending Earlham College in Richmond. After leaving Earlham College she taught school for several years and at the same time filled the pulpit of the Friends church. In fact, for the past thirty years she has been actively engaged in the ministry and has done a large amount of evangelistic work. She is a tem- perance worker and has talked for the cause in the states of Washington, Oklahoma, the central states, the Carolinas, all of the New England states, and also made a tour through Canada, speaking in behalf of the church. Her - father's people, and many of her mother's people as well, were teachers, phy- sicians, lawyers and men of prominence and influence in their respective com - munities. Her brother, J. W. Nichols, is a prominent lawyer now living at Danville, Indiana. Her family are direct descendants of William Penn and have been members of the Friends church for more than two hundred years.
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