History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 66

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

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WILLIAM C. BRAY.

One of the excellent citizens of a past generation in Hamilton county who have passed to their reward is William C. Bray, who was a resident of this county for nearly seventy years. He was a man who always had at heart the good name of his community and a man of character and stability, whose life was of service to the body politic. In the broad light in which things of good report ever shine the name and character of Mr. Bray stands revealed and secure. Always calm and straightforward, never demonstra- tive, his entire Christian life was a steady effort toward the full exemplifica- tion of the worth of Christian doctrine, the purity and grandeur of its prin- ciples and the beauty and elevation of its character. He had the deepest sympathy for his fellow men and was always willing to aid and encourage those who were struggling to aid themselves.

The Bray family came from Scotland to this country in the early part of the eighteenth century. The records of the first members of the family coming to this country have been lost and consequently it is not possible to give their names. It is known that two brothers settled in North or South Carolina at a very early date and that from their descendants the family has scattered throughout the United States. Several generations of the Brays have come and gone, and in the various states where they have lived the fam- ily has produced men of prominence. Without a known exception they have led exemplary lives, kind to the poor and oppressed and generous to a fault.

John H. Bray, the grandfather of William C. Bray, was born in South Carolina about the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and later removed to Kentucky. About the year 1811 he came to Indiana, and during the War of 1812 he aided in raising a company of soldiers in this state and was appointed one of the company's officers, but before he saw any active service the war was brought to a close and he retired to private life, settling for a time in Vermilion county. He then moved to Orange county, this state, and still later settled in Morgan county, where he lived the life of a well-to- do farmer and highly respected citizen until his death.

Henry Bray, the father of the late William C. Bray, was born in Ken- tucky in 1810, and was about one year old when his parents removed to In- diana. Henry was the oldest of four brothers, the others being John S., who was a policeman in Indianapolis, where he died in 1873; Asa, who died at the age of fifty after amassing a considerable fortune, and Edward S., who was prominent in politics in Morgan county, where his death occurred

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about 1856. Henry Bray had but little opportunity for an education, but being a great reader and possessing a retentive memory, he became one of the best informed men of his neighborhood. He settled in Washington township, Hamilton county, in 1842, where he resided for more than half a century. He was a man of importance in his community, serving as jus- tice of the peace, assessor, township trustee and county commissioner. Henry Bray was married to Betsy Jane Mills, who was born near Murfrees- boro, Tennessee, in 1815, and who died in this county in 1877. Her father was a leading Quaker and one of the pioneers of Morgan county, where he died. Henry Bray and wife were the parents of eight children, William C., with whom this narrative deals; John Milton, who was a prominent farmer of this county ; Hannah, who married John H. Cox in 1870 and lives in this county ; Anna Jane, the wife of Jonathan Stalker, a farmer of this county; Aaron M., a Quaker minister, who moved to Kansas in 1880, and from there, in 1887, to Oregon; Albert H., a farmer of this county; Perry A. and Susan, who died in 1870, at the age of fifteen.

The late William C. Bray was born September 20, 1842, in Washington township, this county, and died in this county November 26, 1911. He was a lifelong farmer of this county, and at the time of his death was the owner of one hundred and thirty-three acres in Washington township and one hun- dred and twenty acres in Jackson township. Of marked business ability and energetic and enterprising in all of his farming operations, he achieved a splendid success. While primarily engaged in his own material welfare, he was never forgetful of the duties which he owed to his fellow citizens. He had the greatest sympathy for his fellow men and was ever willing to aid and assist those who were endeavoring to aid themselves against adverse fate, yet in this, as in everything else, he was entirely unostentatious.

Mr. Bray was married November 28, 1888, to Elizabeth Porter, the daughter of Tilman and Rose (Kinder) Porter. Tilman Porter was born in Ross county, Ohio, and his wife in this county. Mr. Porter came to this county when a small boy and located with his parents in White River town- ship. To Tilman Porter and wife were born eight children, Olive, the wife of Rev. W. J. Waltz, who lives in South Dakota; Dora D., the wife of Henry M. Stehman, of this county; Elizabeth, the wife of the late William C. Bray; Eliza, the wife of George Deppen, a farmer of this county; Robert, the manager of the elevator at Cicero, who married Flora Ehman, and three who died in infancy. Tilman Porter was one of the largest land owners of the county at the time of his death, in 1904. Although he had a large

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family he gave each one of his children eighty acres of land or the equivalent in cash.

Mr. and Mrs. William C. Bray were the parents of two children, Beu- lah, born September 19, 1889, and Porter, born December 15, 1890. Both of these children are now living with their mother in Noblesville. Mrs. Bray still owns the two hundred and fifty-three acres which was left her by her husband and has personal supervision over the management of her farm.

Mr. Bray was a lifelong Republican but was never inclined to take an active part in political affairs. He always took a great deal of interest in the Hamilton County Insurance Company and for years was its actuary. He, as well as all the members of the family were faithful adherents of the Friends church and took a great deal of interest in church work. The life of such a man as Mr. Bray is an inspiration to others who are less courage- ous and more prone to give up the fight when obstacles thwart their way, or their ideals have been reached. In his life history are found evidences of characteristics that always make for achievement and as a result of such a life he leaves a record which is honored by his friends and cherished by his family.

CHARLES W. SOWERWINE.

A review of the life of Charles W. Sowerwine must of necessity be brief and general in its character, since to enter fully into the interesting details of his career, touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. For a young man, he has filled an exceptionally large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and has become an important factor in the growth and development of his city's industrial and commercial interests. He is a representative of that sterling type of the world's workers who have furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of our country and its institutions. And yet, in spite of the multitudinous activities of his life he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but has preserved his faculties and the warmth of his heart for their widest expression in a broadening and helpful influence on human life, being a kindly, genial friend and gentle- man whom it is a pleasure to meet.

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Charles W. Sowerwine, one of the most successful business men in Noblesville, Indiana, was born July 11, 1879, in Cicero, in this county. He is a son of Noah W. and Sarah (Teasling) Sowerwine, both of whom were born in Hamilton county and are still living near Gray, in this county.

Charles W. Sowerwine came to Noblesville, with his parents when he was about six years of age and was reared and educated in the schools of Noblesville. When he finished the seventh grade he became imbued with the idea of becoming a business man and when a mere lad he entered the store of Carlin & Peck, as a clerk. where he remained for two years. He was a remarkably bright youth and from his earliest boyhood showed marked business ability. After working for two years in the grocery store he be- bame identified with C. F. Johnson in the dry goods business as a salesman. his store being located on the corner where he is now in business. He prob- ably little thought at that time that he would one day become the proprietor of the establishment at the same place. It is undoubtedly true that this young man has had a wonderful career in the business world. Three years later we find him with the R. C. Caylor dry goods company as its buyer, and dur- ing his three years connection with this firm he became acquainted with every angle of the buying business, in fact he felt able to venture into business himself. Accordingly, he rented a room on the south side of the public square, now occupied by Fred L. Baker, and opened up a dry goods store for himself. He was now twenty-two years of age, and in a space of seven years had acquired a fair knowledge of the grocery and dry goods business so that he was fully qualified to manage an establishment of his own. He conducted his business alone for two years and a half and then formed a partnership with William H. Craig in the room now occupied by Sowerwine & Oshon, the new firm being known as Sowerwine & Company. The company prospered from the first, and on the last day of 1906 Mr. Sower- wine bought out Mr. Craig's interest in the store and continued to manage it alone until 1912. He entered then into partnership with Eugene Osbon and the firm of Sowerwine & Osbon has been in active business since April 8 of that year down to the present time. However, Mr. Sowerwine's interests are not all in his Noblesville store. In 1910 he opened a new dry goods store at Sheridan, Indiana, and in the same year bought the Racket dry goods store at Marion, Indiana. He maintained the store at Marion until the stock was closed out, while his Sheridan store was discontinued after a year and one-half of existence in order that he might devote all of his energy to his store in Noblesville. He traded his Sheridan store for an eighty-acre farm near Boxley. Hamilton county, which he still owns. In 1911 he purchased

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a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Jennings county, Indiana, which he still retains.

The firm of Sowerwine & Osbon deals in dry goods and ladies' furnishings of all kinds and grades except shoes. The firm occupies three floors covering about eighty-five hundred feet of floor space in a building on the northwestern corner of Ninth and Logan streets. It is a modernly equipped mercantile establishment with passenger elevators, 'and every up- to-date convenience for the proper handling of the trade. It is the oldest establishment of its character in the city, having passed through several part- nerships before coming under its present management. In addition to the dry goods and ladies' furnishing departments, the store handles carpets, rugs, linoleums, oil cloth and draperies, and in fact everything that can be found in a modern establishment of this general character.

Mr. Sowerwine is a stock holder in the Citizens State Bank, of Nobles- ville and owns a fine residence property on South Ninth street in Nobles- ville. He was married May 10, 1899, to Sarah Gwinn, the daughter of Sylvester Gwinn, of Arcadia, in this county. Mrs. Sowerwine's mother is deceased and her father is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Sowerwine are the parents of two children, one deceased and Joseph G., born February 14, 1912.

Mr. Sowerwine is identified with the Republican party, and is active in the public affairs in his community, but owing to the heavy press of his busi- ness affairs has never been a candidate for nor aspired to any public office. He is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 576, of Noblesville, and the Knights of Pythias. In 1913 he made a trip to Europe and during his three months' tour visited all the European countries, combining business with pleasure. Among the many places of interest he visited in Europe was the World's Exposition at Ghent. He has also traveled extensively over the United States and visited many points of interest from coast to coast. He has visited every exposition of our own country within his generation, except the one at Chicago in 1893. He and his family are already planning to visit the San Francisco Exposition in 1915. His pleasure trips over the country are his means of recreation, while he always is on the lookout for new ideas which he can use in his business. He is a young man yet, and the future will undoubtedly find him an influential man in the busi- ness world of his county. He is a man of wonderful business ability and is very successful in all of his undertakings. He is a veritable storehouse of energy and enterprise and justly deserves a place among the representative men of his county.

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WILBERT C. BOOTHE.

The chiropractor who would succeed in his profession must possess many qualities of head and heart not included in the curriculum of the schools and colleges he may have attended. In analyzing the career of the success- ful practitioner of the healing art it will invariably be found to be true that a broad-minded sympathy with the sick and suffering and an honest, earnest desire to aid his afflicted fellow men have gone hand in hand with skill and able judgment. The gentleman to whom this brief tribute is given fortunately embodies these necessary qualifications in a marked degree and by energy and application to his professional duties is building up an enviable reputation and drawing to himself a large and remunerative patronage.

Wilbert C. Boothe, a skilled chiropractor of Noblesville, Indiana, was born July 25, 1867, in Ontario, Canada. His parents, James and Lydia Ann (Wood) Boothe, born in Ireland and Canada, respectively, and both died in Canada. James Boothe was a carriage manufacturer and a substantial busi- ness man of his community.

Wilbert C. Boothe was reared in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, and at- tended the public schools of that city. He graduated from the high school in 1884, after which he took up the jewelry business, and apprenticed him- self to a jeweler and watch repairer and learned the watch and clock repair work thoroughly. He established himself in business in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, where he remained for three years, when he went to Sault St. Marie, where he opened a store and continued in business at the latter place for more than eight years. While thus engaged he lost his health which was restored by the chiropractic method. He then became interested in the practice of chiropractic and eventually was graduated from the Robbins Chiropractic Institute of that city. Chiropractic is the science of locating and adjusting the cause of human ailments without the use of medicine, osteopathy or surg- ery. It consists of the adjustment of the bones of the spinal column so as to relieve unnatural pressure upon the nerves as they pass out between the vertebrae of the spinal column. After graduating from the Chiropractic Institute Mr. Boothe began the practice of his profession at Blind River, Ontario, and a few months later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he remained until February, 1912. He then established his office in Noblesville, where he has since remained. He has built up a good practice in Nobles- ville, and has effected some remarkable cures which have won him the con- fidence of the people with whom he has been associated. Through his mem-

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bership in the Indiana State and the Universal Chiropractors' Association he keeps in close touch with the latest advances in his profession.

Mr. Boothe was married October 1, 1907, to Ethel Maud Hennessey, the daughter of Horace and Sarah (Elvin) Hennessey, of Trenton, Ontario, Canada, and to this union has been born one son, James Horace. Fraternally, Mr. Boothe is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Templars of Temperance and the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute of their means to its support. Mr. Boothe is a man of pleasing personality, and although he has been in this community only a comparatively short time, he has won many friends by reason of his genial disposition and friendly . manner. He is a warm supporter of all movements tending toward the ad- vancement and welfare of his fellow citizens along educational, moral or social lines and thus has won the commendation of all who have become ac- quainted with him.

LEONIDAS STUBBS.

One of the men of a past generation in Hamilton county, Indiana, who left his impress upon the community where he spent so many years, was Leonidas Stubbs. He came to this county in 1883 and lived here until the time of his death which occurred in 1908, and during these years took an active part in the affairs of his community.

Leonidas Stubbs, the son of Zephaniah and Elsie (King) Stubbs, was born on April 22, 1847, in Shelby county, Indiana. He grew to manhood on a farm in Shelby county, received a good, common school education in the district schools of his home neighborhood and remained at home until the time of his marriage in 1868, and continued to reside in Shelby county until 1883. In that year he moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, and he and his brother bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in partnership. Later he bought his brother's interest in the farm and operated the one hun- dred and sixty acres from 1899 until his death nine years later.

Leonidas Stubbs was married October 6, 1868. to Charlotte W. Cushing. who was born at Scotch Plains, New Jersey, August 4, 1850. She was the daughter of John and Hannah ( Watson) Cushing, and came to Shelby county, Indiana, from New Jersey with her parents when she was a small child. Three children were born to Mr. Stubbs and wife: Oliver Morton, who owns part of the old home place, and who married Louisianna Johnson;

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Minnie A. and John Z. Minnie A. became the wife of Francis M. Mussel- man, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume. John Z., who is a farmer, now making his home in Noblesville, married Gertrude Ware, De- cember 28, 1907, and has two children, Leonidas J. and George Gerald.

Mrs. Stubbs' parents, John and Hannah (Watson) Cushing, were both natives of England and married in their native land. Some years after their marriage they came to America and located in New Jersey, where Mrs. Stubbs was born. Her parents were married August 21, 1843, and started for America on May 13, 1849. John Cushing afterward left New Jersey and located in Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived the remainder of his life.

The parents of John Z. Stubbs's wife were Jesse and Mary (Fisher) Ware, natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers in Wayne township, Hamil- ton county, Indiana. Her father came to this county when about nine years of age with his parents and farmed in this county until 1911, when he moved to Kokomo, Indiana. where he and his wife are now living.

Leonidas Stubbs was a stanch Republican and he and his wife were members of the Christian church. Mr. Stubbs was a quiet and unostentatious man and had a host of friends who admired him for his many good qualities of head and heart. His widow remained on the home farm until November, 1913, when she moved to Noblesville, where she makes her home.

EUGENE OSBON.

Indiana has been especially honored in the character and career of her men of industry. In every section of the state have been found men born to leadership in the various vocations : men who have dominated the cause they represent by reason of their superior intelligence, natural endowments and force of character. It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements as a study fitting to inspire greater activities and a desire for higher excellence on the part of others. These reflections are suggested by the career of Eugene Osbon, who has pushed his way to the front ranks and who by a strong and inherent force and much business ability. directed and controlled by intelligent judgment of high order has stood for many years as one of the leading business men of Noblesville. His success has not come suddenly, but has been the result of methodical and consecutive labor and the determined application of mental

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and physical resources along a rightly defined line. He has been an influ- ential factor in the business life of his city for many years. He has gained his success, solely through legitimate and worthy means, and stands today as an admirable type of the self-made man.

Eugene Osbon, of the firm of Sowerwine and Osbon, was born Novem- ber 17, 1869, in Federal Hill, a suburb of Noblesville, Indiana. He is a son of John Robert and Mary (Gosney) Osbon, both of his parents being born in Hancock county, Indiana. Robert Osbon and his wife were raised to maturity in Hancock county and married there, coming to this county about 1865. John R. Osbon engaged in farming in this county until his death in 1882. His widow is still living, in Noblesville.

Eugene Osbon was reared in Noblesville, and received his education in the public schools of his home city. His first regular employment was with J. G. Heylmann, a wagon and carriage manufacturer of Noblesville. There he learned the painting business and followed this occupation with this firm for five years. He then became a clerk in a novelty store of D. F. Moss in Noblesville and after two years service in this store became a clerk in the dry goods store of the Underwood Brothers. Two years later he became a clerk in the Daniel Craycraft store and remained there until the death of Mr. Craycraft. At the death of the senior Craycraft Mr. Osbon bought an interest in the store and continued his connection with George Craycraft until the firm of Sowerwine & Osbon was established in 1910. The firm of Sowerwine & Osbon is one of the most prosperous mercantile establish- ments in the city of Noblesville today, and does a large and increasing busi- ness in the city and in the county. A description of this store is given else- where in this volume in the sketch of Mr. Sowerwine, the other member of the firm. It is sufficient to say here that Mr. Osbon brought to the firm a record of years of useful and efficient service in the mercantile business, and is equally deserving of the remarkable success which has attended the firm.

Mr. Osbon was married in Louisville, Kentucky, September 14, 1893, to Gertrude Taylor, the daughter of D. K. Taylor and Anna ( Boton) Taylor, at that time residents of Louisville. D. K. Taylor was an experienced news- paper man and had been connected for many years with the Louisville Courier Journal. Both of Mrs. Osbon's parents are now living in Noblesville. Mr. and Mrs. Osbon are the parents of two daughters, Dorothy M., who was graduated from the Noblesville high school and who is now a student in the College of Music at Indianapolis ; and Carolyn A., who is now a student in the Noblesville high school.

The Republican party has always claimed the support of Mr. Osbon and

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he has always taken an interest in political affairs but he has never been an applicant for any public office. He has been so busy with his mercantile business that he has not had any time to devote to the political game. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the chap- ter and council degrees, in that fraternity. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and give it their earnest support at all times. The life of Mr. Osbon has been such as to elicit just praise. from those who know him best, since he has always been loyal to trusts imposed upon him. He is a man whose interests have always been connected with the business world and he has been uniformly fair in all his dealings with his fellow men, while at the same time he has always given his support to the advancement of any cause pertaining to the welfare of the community at large.

CARL T. BROCK.

Among the families of Hamilton county, Indiana, whose members have worthily discharged their duties to their fellows and their community, no family takes higher rank than the Brocks who are today prominently identi- fied with the business, agricultural and social life of the county. For many years members of this family have stood for all that is best in business, edu- cational. moral or social life and have wielded an influence that has been potential in the development and welfare of their community, being numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of the county. Because of the prominence which the family has enjoyed and the close relations they have sustained to the welfare and prosperity of the locality which has been honored by their citizenships, they are eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one at hand.

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 66

Author: John F. Haines Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051