USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 71
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Mr. Elliott has been a life-long Republican and has always taken a deep interest in the life of his community. He served for several years as road supervisor and he is especially proud of his work while holding this office. He was largely influential in starting the present gravel road system of his township and county. Mr. Elliott has also served two terms as trustee and was elected the second time by the unanimous vote of both the Democratic
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and Republican parties of his township. This one fact is an indication of the high esteem in which Mr. Elliott is held by his fellow citizens.
Mr. Elliott and his family are all members of the Friends church and contribute generously to its support. Mr. Elliott's career has been a long, busy and useful one, and he has contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of his community. His admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward and upright course of his dealings have en- deared him to a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
LEVI GASCHO.
The Gascho family are of German ancestry, the first member of the family to come to this country being Henry Gascho, who left his native land at the age of fifteen, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where his death occurred in Lancaster county, at the age of eighty-eight. He married Barbara Shenk, who was born in the Keystone state and died there at the age of eighty-four. They were the parents of three children, one of whom, John Gascho, is the grandfather of Levi Gascho, whose history is here related.
John Gascho, Sr., the grandfather of Levi, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and reared to manhood upon a farm in that state. Early in life he learned the weaver's trade, and for many years followed that occupa- tion. At the age of twenty-eight, he was married to Catherine Shellen- berger, the daughter of Henry and Barbara (Zimmerman) Shellenberger. After his marriage, John Gascho, Sr., continued to work at the weaver's trade until 1847, when he left his old home and drove overland to Hamilton county, Indiana, and located on the farm which has since been in possession of the family. He led a busy and useful life, and as a result of his labors accumulated a farm of over seven hundred acres. He passed away at the age of eighty-three in 1867, highly respected by all who knew him. His wife died on the old homestead in her ninety-fifth year.
Nine children were born to John Gascho, Sr., and wife: Jonathan, who died unmarried at the age of sixty-six in 1879: Fanny, who died unmarried in 1888, at the age of sixty-three; Christian, who married Mary Binkley, and reared a family of four children, Christian B., John B. (deceased), Catherine B. and Mary B .; survivors all live in Hamilton county, on the east edge of Noblesville. Christian died in 1891, at the age of seventy-three. Catherine, the fourth child of John Gascho, Sr., and wife, died in 1900, at the age of
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seventy-two; Henry died in 1906, at the age of ninety; Tobias died on his ninetieth birthday in 1909; Elias died in 1913, at the age of ninety; Daniel, who was county commissioner of Hamilton county from 1876 to 1879, died in 1914 at the age of seventy-seven; John is the ninth child of John Gascho, Sr., and wife. Of these nine children born to John Gascho, Sr., and wife, Catherine, Fanny, Henry and Daniel were unmarried and made their home together.
John Gascho, Jr., the father of Levi Gascho, grew to manhood in Penn- sylvania and married Miss Catherine Coffman, and to this union were born two daughters and two sons: Mrs. Elizabeth Stern, Seth, Mrs. Catherine Coffman and Tobias, all four of whom are deceased. John Gascho, Jr., moved here before the birth of Tobias and located at the eastern edge of Arcadia, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. When John Gascho, Jr. asked his father-in-law to help him buy a farm, his father-in-law told him to get out and hustle and earn his own money. This stung the young man's pride and spurred him on, making him determined to show his father-in-law that he could get along without assistance. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he had bought near Arcadia, had only fifteen acres of cleared land. About 1854 he sold this farm and bought one hun- dred and twenty acres where Levi Gascho is now living. He also bought eighty acres in the northeastern part of Noblesville township, and one hun- dred and sixty-five acres southeast of Noblesville along Stony Creek. He became very successful in raising cattle and hogs, and became a very prosper- ous and influential man in his community. The first wife of John Gascho, Jr., died some years before the Civil War, and he then married Margaret Klepfer, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and reared to womanhood in that state and in Indiana. Her father died when she was about two years of age and her mother married a second time. Mrs. Gascho's brothers, Jonathan and George Klepfer, were tailors, and came to Indiana and settled east of Cicero. Their mother and the other children of the family came later and joined them here in Hamilton county. Margaret Klepfer lived for a time in Indianapolis, and was living there when she mar- ried John Gascho, Jr. To the second marriage of John Gascho, Jr., were born eight children: Martha, Sarah, Anna, Mary, Jesse, Joseph, Chris and Levi.
Martha married Henry Gerhart and lived four and one-half miles west and north of Atlanta. She died in 1912. Sarah, a twin sister of Martha, married Mr. Sylvia, and lives east of Lawrence. The first child, Anna, died at the age of nine at the same hour at which Sarah and Martha were born,
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and just a day before another sister, Mary, died at the age of eleven. Jesse, the youngest son in the family, lives at Alexandria. Joseph died September 27, 1914, and Christopher lives in Hamilton county on a farm. The father of these children died in March, 1879, and their mother passed away July 15, 1907.
Levi Gascho was born December 3, 1864, on the farm near Noblesville, where he is now living. He was reared to manhood on this farm and re- ceived a good education in the schools of Noblesville. He lived on this farm for a year after his marriage and then moved to Indianapolis, where he be- came connected with the Coburn Timber Company, remaining with this firm for nine years. He then returned to the old home farm, where he has since resided. He is a man of upright character, warm hearted and dispenses his charity with an unostentatious hand. His father was a member of the Dunkard church and his mother a member of the German Lutheran church, to which latter faith both he and his wife are earnest adherents. Politically, he is a Republican.
Levi Gascho was married in 1897 to Amanda Prasuhn, who was born four miles north of Greenville, Ohio, and is the daughter of Henry and Amelia Prasuhn. She moved with her parents to Indianapolis after she was grown. In 1905 her father lost his life in trying to save the life of a small child who was trying to cross a railroad track in front of an approaching train. Mr. Praushn ran and threw the child from the track in time to save its life, but his foot slipped and he was killed by the train.
CHARLES B. JONES.
This utilitarian age has been especially prolific in men of action, clear brained men of high resolves and noble purposes, who give character and stability to the communities honored by their citizenship, and whose influence and leadership are easily discernible in the various enterprises that have added so greatly to the high reputation which Hamilton county enjoys among her sister counties of this great commonwealth. Conspicuous among this class of men whose place of residence is in this county is the progressive citizen under whose name this article is written, and to a brief outline of whose career the biographer is herewith pleased to address himself.
Charles B. Jones, commissioner of Hamilton county and a prosperous merchant of Baker's Corners, was born September 15, 1867, in Adams town-
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ship, this county. His parents, Harrison and Hannah (Jowe) Jones, were natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Harrison Jones came to Indiana in his youth with his father, Thomas Jones, who settled at Baker's Corners, on forty acres of government land. Here he grew to manhood and after reaching his majority operated a lumber mill and farm in this township until his death, which occurred in December. 1907. His wife died in April, 1905. To Harrison Jones and wife were born five children, Livona, Jasper, Jessie F., Charles B. and Alva C .. Livona is the wife of William Jackson, a farmer of this county, and has five children : Jasper is an automobile salesman, of Los Angeles, California, and married Iona Sophia; Jessie E. died at the age of thirty-four years, leaving her husband and two children in Nobles- ville; Alva C. is a speculator in Albany, New York, and married Alberta Haworth and has two children.
Charles B. Jones received his common school education in the schools of his home township, and when twenty-two years of age started a general merchandise store at Baker's Corners, and has continued this business for the past twenty-five years with remarkable success. He carries one of the largest stocks of goods in this township, and has built up a large and lucra- tive trade in this section of the county. He carries a complete line of such merchandise as is usually found in general stores of this character and by his never-failing courtesy and strict business methods has built up a trade which stamps him as a man of more than ordinary business ability. In addi- tion to his mercantile interests he is also interested in agriculture and owns a fine farm of ninety acres in Jackson township, to which he gives his per- sonal attention and supervision. Mr. Jones is a man of good judgment and rare discrimination and has the foresight to know when to venture, with the result that he has become one of the substantial men of his township and county. At the present time he is vice-president of the First National Bank of Sheridan, as well as president of the Central Indiana Telephone Company.
Mr. Jones was married April 14. 1892. to Lavina Taylor, the daughter of Samuel Taylor, of Jackson township. Mr. Jones and his wife are at- tendants of the Wesleyan church and contribute of their means to its support.
Mr. Jones is a stanch Democrat in politics and has always been active in political affairs of his county. His worth as a citizen is shown by the fact that his party nominated him for the office of county commissioner and at the last election he was successful in being seated in this important position. It is not too much to say that the position of county commissioner is one of the most important within the suffrage of the people of Indiana. since this board handles the money of the people to a great extent. Mr. Jones has made a success of life because he has directed his energies along channels
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with which he was familiar, and being a man of energy and ambition he has had little difficulty in surmounting all obstacles which have come across his path. He is the fortunate possessor of those innate qualities which never fail to bring success if properly directed.
THOMAS D. BAKER.
During the summer of 1852 there came to Hamilton county, Indiana, a small boy fourteen years of age with his parents and the history of this small lad who came to this county sixty-three years ago is now presented in the following paragraphs. At the time that Thomas D. Baker came to this county, in 1852, much of it was still a primitive wilderness, and the evi- dences of civilization which are now found on every hand were then little in evidence. This boy grew to young manhood and served with distinction throughout the Civil War from beginning to end. He then came back to his home county and has engaged in peaceful pursuits down to the present time. Such a career presents many points of interest. If it were possible to delineate in detail the history of a man who has lived sixty-three years in this county a volume of several hundred pages would be required to tell the whole story. In this brief record, therefore, it is only possible to sketch in outline the life of Mr. Baker, a life which has been fraught with much good to his county in many ways.
Thomas D. Baker, the son of Joseph R. and Rachel D. Baker, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 21, 1838. Joseph R. Baker was born in Pennsylvania in 1794, and when twenty-five years of age went to Ohio. He married in Pennsylvania, where he lived a few years. He then came to Indiana with his wife and two children and settled in Wayne county, where he taught school, as he had previously done in Ohio. In 1852 Joseph R. Baker and his family came to Hamilton county and located in Adams township, and here Joseph R. Baker died in 1872, his wife passing away in September of the same year. Joseph R. Baker was a man of great force of character. In a day when good school teachers were rare and when the best teachers received only a miserable pittance for their work, Joseph R. Baker devoted his time and talents to instruction of the youth of that early day. He and his wife reared a large family of children to lives of usefulness and honor. These children, in the order of their birth, are as follows: Amanda. deceased; Isophena, deceased; Anthony Wayne, de-
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ceased; Mary, deceased; Ruth Ann, the wife of George Wade; Lydia Ann, deceased; James B., deceased; Joseph Y., a Civil War veteran, and for many years a shoe dealer at College Corner, Ohio, died November 21, 1914; Thomas D. and William H., twins, the latter a farmer of this county, living at Baker's Corners; Hannah Ellen, the wife of George W. Beam, a farmer of Adams township, this county, and Sarah E., who died in Michigan in 1882.
Thomas D. Baker has lived all his life since 1852 in this county with the exception of the four years which he spent at the front during the Civil War. He received such education as was afforded by the subscription schools of his day and has supplemented this with wide reading all his life, so that he is practically a self-educated man.
Mr. Baker made an enviable record as a soldier during the Civil War. He first enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry on August 28, 1861, and after the battle of Stone River, January 3, 1863, his regiment was transferred to the Eighth Indiana Cavalry, and he served for forty-seven months with this regiment. He participated in many of the hardest fought battles of that memorable struggle, among them being Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and all of the battles fought by Sherman on his famous march to Savannah on the Atlantic seaboard. From Savannah he was with Sherman upon his march through North and South Carolina until the final surrender of Johnson in North Carolina, in the spring of 1865, and was finally discharged on July 20, 1865. He had served throughout practically the whole struggle without being wounded, captured or having his health seriously impaired.
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Mr. Baker returned from the war to Hamilton county and engaged in farming, and has here spent his days. For a time after returning from the war Mr. Baker worked at the trade of carpentering, but after his marriage, in 1867, bought the farm where he has since resided. This place he cleared and brought to its present high state of cultivation. On this two hundred acre farm he carries on general farming and stock raising and has been quite successful. Mr. Baker is somewhat independent in his political views, believing it the duty of a good citizen to vote for the best men, regardless of political affiliations. His community has honored him by making him supervisor of the public highways and school director of his district. He is a member of Sheridan Post No. 103, Grand Army of the Republic, and takes much interest in the affairs of the same.
Mr. Baker was married December 25, 1867, to Sarah F. Baker, of Hamilton county, Indiana, daughter of John Y. and Rachael H. Baker, one
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of a family of ten children. John Y. Baker was born October 10, 1812, in Westchester, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he was twelve years of age, at which time he went to Highland county, Ohio. At the age of eighteen he started to serve an apprenticeship of seven years as a tanner and fol- lowed this occupation for several years. November 30, 1833, he was united in marriage with Rachael H. Anthony, of Clinton county, Ohio, and in 1840 came to Hamilton county, Indiana, where he resided for a time. He then returned to Ohio, but in 1848 moved back to Hamilton county, where he farmed until his death, which occurred December 9, 1895, his wife having preceded him to the grave several years, her death having occurred in April, 1 890.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Baker are the parents of seven children, Ar- thur D., Edna, Zula, Gertrude, Leonidas, Alphonso and Ethel L. Owens. Arthur D. was born January 16, 1869, and is now a stock buyer and farmer in this county; he married Mary Scott and has eight children living: Edna was born March 22, 1871, and died at the age of nineteen years; Zula was born February 22, 1874, and died in infancy ; Gertrude was born September 7, 1877, was married January 27. 1915, to James H. Campbell and lives with her father; Leonidas and Alphonso were twins and died in infancy; Ethel L. was born August 9, 1885, and died at the age of seven. The mother of these children died May 31, 1910.
John D. Baker is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 176 and of the Red Men's Lodge No. 117, of Sheridan, and is a Democrat.
J. T. HUBBARD.
Success is essentially the measure of public indorsement in any line of endeavor. The approval of others is elemental in the code of those who would get ahead and stay ahead in most any activity. The farmer, as an individual, is nearer to being independent of public sentiment than men in any other line of business, but even he finds it to his advantage to merit the approval of his neighbors. In this day and age no man lives unto himself and the man who takes his share of the burdens of his community is the one who will be successful in the eyes of his fellow citizens. Among the citizens of Hamilton county who are making a success of their particular line of activity there is no one more deserving of mention than J. T. Hubbard, the present superintendent of the county poor farm.
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J. T. Hubbard, the son of Freeman and Mary Jane (Scott) Hubbard, was born December 29, 1852, in Caswell county, North Carolina. His par- ents were born in the same state and lived all of their days within the state of their nativity. They were the parents of seven children: Albert, de- ceased; Harriet, of North Carolina; Augustus, of North Carolina; Albert, deceased ; Mrs. Ellen Wilson, of North Carolina ;. Laura, of North Carolina; and J. T., the only member of the family living in Hamilton county.
J. T. Hubbard left his native state in 1869 and came to Indiana, where he found work in Hamilton county. Upon his marriage he rented a farm and has spent his whole life in this county in agricultural pursuits. In 1905 he was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm by the county commissioners and has had charge of the farm down to the present time. The farm contains two hundred acres of excellent land and since taking charge, Mr. Hubbard has made it a paying institution, turning from one thousand five hundred to two thousand dollars into county treasurer's office each year. He is the first superintendent of this institution who has been able to make any money above the actual maintenance expenses.
Mr. Hubbard was married November 19, 1877, to Abagail V. White, the daughter of Stephen G. and Mary (Harrold) White, both natives of North Carolina. Mr. White came from his native state in 1861 and settled in Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived for eight or nine years. He then moved to Hamilton county, where he continued to farm until his death, January 17, 1878. His wife died June 20, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. White were the parents of eleven children, Mrs. Hubbard being the fourth child.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have been born three children: Laura, John and Harry. Laura was born August 28, 1878, and married, first, George White, and second, John W. Beals, of Noblesville. John was born September 9, 1880, and is an engineer at the Model Mills at Noblesville. John married Myrtle Woodall and has two children, Martin and Ruth. Harry, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard, was born December 22, 1882. He married Sadie Fritcher and is the manager of the United States Tire Company of St. Louis.
Mr. Hubbard was formerly a Republican, but since 1912 has been identified with the new Progressive party. He has always taken an active part in political affairs and has been interested in all measures of good gov- ernment. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Noblesville. He and the members of his family are loyal adherents of the Friends church and contribute of their substance to its support at all times.
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ERNEST E. SOWERS.
Success in what are properly termed the learned professions is the legitimate result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift; but professional advancement is gained only by critical study and consecutive research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough profess- . ional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and at- tributes essential to success have made Ernest E. Sowers eminent in his chosen calling and he stands today among the best and most efficient teachers of his community.
Ernest E. Sowers, the supervisor of Manual Training, in Jackson town- ship, in this county, was born February 12, 1877, in Jackson township, where he has always made his home. He is the son of Henry C. and Lavina (Creek) Sowers, natives of this county. Henry C. Sowers was the son of Henry. Sowers, a native of Virginia, the first of the family to come to In- diana. Henry Sowers, senior, first settled in section twelve on a farm, a tract the patent for which was received from James Monroe, then president of the United States. Henry Sowers, Jr., reared a family of seven children : Cora, the wife of Elworth Mundell; Ida, the wife of Frank Reath; Myrtle, the wife of William Snyder: Otto, deceased : Ernest E .; Sarah, the wife of William Brown; and Carl, who married Marie. daughter of C. B. Goodard, is still at home with his parents. Henry C. Sower is one of the large land owners of the county and for many years has been one of the influential men of his community.
Ernest E. Sowers received a good common school education and later graduated from the high school at Arcadia, in this county. Being a young man of keen intellect he entered the teaching profession and for the past fifteen years has taught with marked success in this county. He has at- tended school in the Normal at Noblesville and also taken a course at Pur- due University in order to equip himself to better advantage. In addition to his work in the school room, Mr. Sowers is a farmer of many years ex- perience. He manages his farm during the summer season and raises a large amount of stock each year, making a specialty of Berkshire hogs.
Mr. Sowers was married December 31, 1903, to Maude Mitchell, and to this union have been born two children, Keith and Fayola. The family are stanch members of the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute lib- erally of their means to its support.
Mr. Sowers has been a Democrat in politics since reaching his majority
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and on two occasions has received the nomination of his party for the office of township trustee, on both occasions, however-in 1910 and 1914-failing of election by reason of the majority against his party in his township. He is a widely read man and keeps well informed upon all issues of the day. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.
CHARLES C. RAY, M. D.
Among those who stand as distinguished types of the world's workers is Dr. Charles C. Ray, who is one of the able and honored physicians and surgeons of Hamilton county, Indiana. A man of fine intellectual and pro- fessional attainments, of most gracious personality, of strong and noble character, and one who has labored with zeal and devotion in the alleviation of human suffering, he is clearly entitled to representation among the pro- gressive and enterprising citizens of his county. He is devoted to his chosen vocation and has lent honor and dignity to the medical profession, having due regard for the highest standard of professional ethics and exhibiting marked skill in the treatment of diseases.
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