USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 111
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
latter year to 1871. Walker & Edwards, Dr. O. M. Edwards having been admitted to partnership. In 1871 J. Ward Walker helped to organize the Greenfield Banking Company. Nelson Bradley, president : J. Ward Walker. cashier, and M. Chandler, assistant cashier. Mr. Walker remained in the bank until 1876, in which year he started a men's furnishing and clothing store at Greenfield, under the firm name of J. Ward Walker & Company, his sister. Sarah M. Walker, being associated with him in the business. In 1882 the store was moved to the Randall block, moving thence in 1892 to the Dudding & Moore block, and thence, in September. 1896, to the Masonic Temple, where it ever since has been located. On March 28, 1906, the company was reor- ganized and the firm name was changed to the J. Ward Walker Company, J. Ward Walker, president; Sarah M. Walker, vice-president, and Wood L. Walker, secretary-treasurer. After the death of the elder Walker early in 1915 Charles H. Cook was elected president of the company ; Edwin P. Wilson, vice- president, and Wood L. Walker was retained in his position as secretary-treas- urer and general manager, the latter now being the only surviving member of the old firm of J. Ward Walker & Company.
The late J. Ward Walker was diligent in his own business, and was ever mindful of his duty as a good citizen to the common good and in many ways was active in promoting the best interests of his home town, so that his death, on February 22, 1915. was regarded as a loss to the whole community and was sincerely mourned. His wife had preceded him to the grave some years, her death having occurred on June 9. 1902. It was in Madison county, in the days of his young manhood, that J. Ward Walker was united in mar- riage to Mary J. Todd, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, daugh- ter of the Rev. Miles and Judith (Zeublin) Todd, both natives of that same county, the former of Scottish descent and the latter of Swiss descent, who came to Indiana in 1852 and settled at Pendleton, Madison county, where Mr. Todd became a merchant and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring on July 14. 1902, he then being ninety-two years of age. Mrs. Todd died in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were active members of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church and were earnest promoters of all good works hereabout. Mr. Walker was a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, a member of the blue lodge. the chapter and the commandery at Greenfield and was also a member of the Greenfield council. Royal and Select Masters. He and his wife were the parents of six children, of whom five grew to maturity, as follow : Luella, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-two; Arthur R .. who married Caroline Bacon and had seven children : Allie E .. who married W. W. Cook, a Greenfield attorney, and has three children ; Wood L.,
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the subject of this biographical sketch, and Nannie B., who married Edward P. Wilson, vice-president of the J. Ward Walker Company, of Greenfield, a bio- graphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume.
Wood L. Walker was reared in Greenfield and received his education in the public schools of that city. Upon leaving the high school he entered the drug store of E. B. Grose, and was there engaged from 1884 to 1887, in which latter year he took his place in his father's store, and has ever since been con- nected with that establishment, having gone through all stages of development in the conduct of the business from bookkeeper, which was his first work in the store, to his present position of secretary-treasurer and general manager of the J. Ward Walker Company. Mr. Walker gives his undivided attention to the affairs of the store and is widely known in commercial circles throughout this part of the state.
On October 2, 1889, Wood L. Walker was united in marriage to Nellie Whitsell, who was born at Tipton. Iowa, and to this union four children have been born, Marthena, John Wood. Joseph W. and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church and take an earnest part in various social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Walker is a Republican and gives his thoughtful attention to local political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, a member of the blue lodge, the chapter and the commandery at Greenfield and of the council of Royal and Select Masters at McCordsville. He is warmly interested in Masonic affairs and has "crossed the sands" to the "oasis" of Indianapolis, being an enthusiastic member of Murat temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in that city.
LOUIS KNOOP.
Louis Knoop, a well-known and industrious farmer of Brandywine town- ship, this county, is a native son of Hancock county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Sugar Creek township. May 5, 1872, son of William and Louisa ( Roesuer ) Knoop, both natives of this county, of German parentage, who were the parents of five children. the subject of this sketch having two brothers. John and William, living in Sugar Creek township. and two sisters, Mary, who married Charles Simon, and Louisa, who is still living at the old home with her widowed mother, the father. an honored veteran of the Civil War, having died in the spring of 1878 from the effects of wounds.
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hardships and exposure incurred during his service in the army, his death occur- ring when he was thirty-six years old. He was an earnest member of the German Lutheran church, as is his widow, and their children were rearel in that faith.
Louis Knoop was reared on the home farm in Sugar Creek township and obtained his schooling in both the parochial and public schools. He remained at home, assisting in the labors of the farm, until his marriage, after which he rented the place on which he is now living, a well-kept and profitably cultivated farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres in Brandywine township, where he is engaged in general farming and, to a limited extent, stock raising. He has taken a warm interest in the upkeep of the farm and the place is in an excel- lent condition. He is the owner of an automobile and his farming operations are carried on in accordance with modern methods. Mr. Knoop is a Democrat, and gives close attention to political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
Louis Knoop married Cora Andis, who was born in this county, daugh- ter of Morgan and Amanda (Racey) Andis, the former of whom also was born in this county, May 29, 1841, and the latter, near Harper's Ferry. Vir- ginia, in 1855. Mrs. Andis died in 1900. She was the mother of five children. Mrs. Knoop having three brothers. James, William and Harry, and a sister. Margaret, who married Harry Ostermeyer. William Andis is living in Custer county, Colorado. Mrs. Knoop is an earnest member of the German Lutheran church in Sugar Creek township and Mr. Knoop is a liberal contributor to the same, both taking a warm interest in neighborhood good works.
EUGENE E. DAVIS.
Eugene E. Davis, of Greenfield, was born at Ft. Scott. Bourbon county. Kansas, on January 12, 1867, and is the son of Dr. Benjamin L. and Albina C. (Wilson) Davis. Benjamin L. Davis, who was the son of James and Huldah (Swett) Davis, was born at Strong. Franklin county, Maine, on February 3. 1840, and was of Welsh-English stock. He was a graduate of Waterville (now Colby) College and, later, of Hahnemann Medical College, New York City. He entered upon the practice of medicine at Ft. Scott, Kansas, but in 1873 lo- cated in Petrolia, Pennsylvania, then the center of the great oil field, where he resided until 1889. when he removed to Pittsburgh, and there was actively engaged in the practice of his profession up to the time of his death, which
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Eugene & Davis
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
occurred on May 13, 1907. lle was a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was very active in church matters, serving as trustee and chorister for many years. His wife, Albina ( Wilson ) Davis, was born near Solon, Somerset county, Maine, on May 4, 1840, the daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Goodrich ) Wilson. On the paternal side she traced an unbroken line of descent from Benjamin Wilson, who emigrated from Paisley. Scot- land, to Prince Edward Island, and thence to Massachusetts, where he landed in 1650. From there he went to Maine, where, during subsequent years, mem- bers of the family became prominent in the political and religious life of the state. To Benjamin and Albina Davis were born two children, Eugene E. and Mary Gertrude, of Butler, Pennsylvania, the widow of H. W. Daugherty and the mother of four sons.
Eugene E. Davis received his education in the public schools of Butler county, Pennsylvania, where the family had located in 1873. His first employ- ment was as a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company at Petrolia for a few months, quitting that job to enter the office of the Petrolia Record, where he learned the printing trade. In 1887 he went to Pittsburgh and entered the job printing establishment of Stevenson & Foster, where he remained until 1892, when he went to Logansport, Indiana, and entered the employ of Wilson, Humphreys & Company, at that time one of the largest printing houses in the state. In 1902 Mr. Davis entered the employ of B. F. Bowen, publisher of state and county histories, at Logansport, in the capacity of editor. In 1904 the business was moved to Indianapolis, and, later the same year, to Greenfield. Two years later Mr. Davis severed his relations with Mr. Bowen and became a stockhokler and secretary-treasurer of the Greenfield Printing and Publishing Company, with which he was identified until 1909, when the plant was sold and he again joined B. F. Bowen, at Indianapolis, as editor of histories. In 1913 B. F. Bowen & Company was incorporated, Mr. Davis becoming a stockhokler and secretary-treasurer. He is still identified with this company and is also president of the Federal Publishing Company, which is issuing the present history of Hancock county. He resides in Green- field, his business headquarters being in the Occidental building, Indianapolis.
Mr. Davis is a Republican in politics, though he was recently aligned with the Progressive movement. Fraternally, he is a member of Hancock Lodge No. 101, Free and Accepted Masons ; Greenfield Chapter No. 96, Royal Arch Masons: Logansport Council No. IL. Royal and Select Masters: Greentiekl Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar, of which he was recorder for ten years ; Indianapolis Consistory, Scottish Rite; Murat Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously. he has
(72)
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, being now a trustee of the church at Greenfield. He has been chorister of this church for eleven years and is a teacher in the Sunday school.
On December 25. 1890, Mr. Davis was married to Mary Elizabeth Kin- mel, of Butler, Pennsylvania. the daughter of Thompson and Elizabeth Kını- mel. Mrs. Davis died on October 28. 1902, and on May 4, 1904. Mr. Davis married Iza G. Hunnings, who was born on August 2. 1871, at Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania, the daughter of March and Victoria (Vandergrift) Hunnings. To this union were born two children, Alice Gertrude, born on September 16, 1905, and March Benjamin, born on November 28. 1907. but who died seven days later. Mrs. Davis is active in local church and club work, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Ladies' Home Reading Club.
WILLIAM HENRY KELLER.
William Henry Keller, the son of David and Cynthia (Ellis) Keller, was born on the farm in Green township, this county, where he now resides, in 1856. His parents were natives of Greenbrier county, West Virginia.
Philip Keller and wife, the parents of David, were natives of West Vir- ginia and came to Madison county. Indiana, at a very early day. Here Mr. Keller engaged in farming and became the possessor of eight hundred acres of land. He and Mrs. Keller made this their home, and here they lived and died. The parents of Mrs. Keller were also natives of West Virginia, where they spent their lives.
David Keller received his education in the schools of West Virginia, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. He was married in his native state and was the father of two children before he came to the new loca- tion in the western state. Some time before his father decided to come to Indiana, David left his Virginia home and settled in Green township, where he pre-empted sixty acres, where the son, William, now lives. The country was a dense forest, and the land taken by Mr. Keller was a virgin woods. He cleared a small tract and erected a cabin, which was the first home of the family in the new location. In time a new frame house was built near the location of the old one. The farm was improved and developed. Before the death of himself and wife he had accumulated over eight hundred acres, all of which he gave to his seven children before his death, with the exception of some one hun- dred and sixty acres.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
William Henry Keller received his education in the schools of Hancock county. Soon after completing his education he engaged in farming and has made that his life work. He is engaged in general farming on his four hun- dred and twenty acres of land. The farm is well improved, the present modern and convenient buildings having been erected by Mr. Keller within recent years.
William H. Keller was united in marriage to Rena Johnson and to this union the following children have been born: Arnold, James, Carrie, Clar- ence and Cora. Mr. Keller and his family are members of the United Brethren church.
CHARLES E. PAULEY.
Among the numerous Hancock county "boys" who have sought wider fields for the exercise of their talents and have done well in whatever enter- prises they have engaged in elsewhere, few have retained a livelier interest in the scenes of their boyhood or have retained more of the abiding friendships of their youth hereabout than has Charles E. Pauley, now of Indianapolis, who has long been recognized as one of the most successful and distinctive figures in printing circles in Indiana. Mr. Pauley had the foresight to recognize the need of developing a new and distinctive branch of the printing trades in this state and the forethought to become a pioneer in that development. As pio- neers deserve to do, he has succeeded in the undertaking upon which he entered ten years ago and now enjoys the distinction of being the sole owner of the largest custom linotype plant in Indiana, his busy battery of machines supply- ing the needs of the trade in all parts of the state.
Charles E. Pauley was born at Greenfield, this county, January 15, 1868, son and only child of Joseph H. and Elizabeth (Morris) Pauley, both natives of this county, the latter of whom died when her son was little more than a year old. Joseph H. Pauley was a member of one of the old families of Han- cock county and was reared in the Eden neighborhood, where he learned the carpenter trade and later became a building contractor, remaining thus engaged throughout the active years of his life, all of which was spent here save the last year, which was spent in the home of his son in Indianapolis, his death occur- ring there when he was past sixty-five years of age. He was a Republican, ever taking an earnest interest in the political affairs of his home county, and was a member of the Greenfield lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in the affairs of which he took a warm interest.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
Even from the days of his boyhood the print shop possessed a fascination for Charles E. Pauley, and upon completing his schooling in the graded schools of Greenfield he entered upon his career as a printer. He learned his trade in the offices of the Jeffersonian and the Democrat at Greenfield and in 1888. he then being about twenty years of age. went to Indianapolis, where for three years he was engaged as a compositor on the old Sentinel. When the linotype. that wonderful machine which revolutionized the process of typesetting. began to be introduced into the print shops of Indianapolis. Mr. Pauley became greatly interested in the same and lost little time in learning to operate the machine, presently becoming regarded as one of the best machinist-operators in the capital city. In 1906 he recognized the possibilities of the custom lino- type business and bought a machine, which he installed in a small shop at 119 West Maryland street, and there began to supply the needs of the trade. It was not long until he realized that he was "filling a long-felt want." for he found himself "swamped" with orders. He presently added a second machine to his equipment and as his business grew added still another, and moved to more commodious quarters, and thus continued to add to his equipment, his business constantly growing as his reputation for faithful performance of contracts extended throughout the state. until now he has ten machines, which are kept going night and day, as well as an admirably equipped and capably manned plant for general publication work, and has become one of the sub- stantial figures in the industrial and commercial life of the city.
On June 27, 1888, Charles E. Pauley was united in marriage to Gertrude Chamberlain, who was born in Greenfield. this county, in February. 1870. daughter of Samuel and Mary Chamberlain, also natives of Greenfield. and to this union four daughters have been born, Hazel, who married Von Glas- cock and is living at Greenfield ; Ethel, who married L. V. Meriman, of Indian- apolis : Mabel, wife of Frank Meredith, also of Indianapolis, and Maragret. who is still in school.
BERRY WILLIS COOPER, M. D.
In placing the late Dr. Berry Willis Cooper in the front rank of the citi- zens of his generation in Hancock county, justice is rendered a biographical fact universally recognized in the locality honored by his citizenship. Though a quiet and unassuming man, he contributed much to the civic and moral ad- vancement of his community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he moved.
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BIOGRAPHICAL ..
Berry Willis Cooper was born in Kentucky in 1828, the son of Elijah Cooper and Berilla ( Noel) Cooper. While he was quite young. the family came to Indiana, locating first in Rush county, whence, a few years later, they came to Hancock county. AAfter completing his public school education, Berry W. Cooper studied medicine under the direction of Doctors Cook and Jones. He commenced the practice of his profession at New Columbus (Ovid), Indiana, about the year 1854, but subsequently took a course in medi- cine at the Rush Medical School, Chicago, under Doctor Brainard, and grad- uated with high honors. In 1858 Doctor Cooper located in Greenfield and enjoyed a splendid practice until his death, which occurred in 1868. He is buried in the Cooper cemetery. A polished gentleman and able physician. there were embodied in him those traits of character which ever command the respect of a community and his death, at a comparatively early age, was con- sidered a distinct loss to Greenfield and Hancock county.
In 1857 Doctor Cooper was married to Malissa Hoel and to this union were born the following children, all of whom were born in Greenfiekl, where they still reside : Daniel B., born in 1858, who married Flora B. Marsh, daugh- ter of Hon. Montgomery Marsh: George H., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work: William S., born in 1862, who married Minnie, the daughter of Jerome Black, of Greenfield.
Malissa ( Hoel) Cooper was born in Ohio in 1835 and was the daughter of George W. and Catharine (Hopper) Hoel. When the daughter was quite young, the family moved to Adams township, Madison county, Indiana, and there Mr. Hoel took an active part in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace for Adams township and two terus as county commissioner of Madison county. Malissa Hoel received a good public school education and, as stated above, was married to Dr. Berry Willis Cooper in 1857. About ten years later she became a widow and thereafter nobly devoted herself to the rearing and educating of her three sons. She remained a resident of Greenfield up to the time of her death, which occurred on April 24. 1913. at the age of ser- enty-seven years, nine months and fifteen days.
In a brief summary of her life's activities, necessitated by the limitations of this work, one catches but a brief glimpse of the place she filled and the influence she had in the life of the community. Charitable and kind, she never lost an opportunity to say a helpful word to all with whom she came in contact. She lived a life of exalted purpose, the value of which cannot be estimated. The following excerpts are taken from a memorial printed soon after her death and reflect the large place she held in the minds of those who had known and been associated with her. In the course of the funeral sermon, Rev. B. F.
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Dailey, who had known her intimately, said: "This large gathering of friends and the flowers which flooded the house where she went to sleep testify to the love which all of us have for Mrs. Malissa Cooper. We have paused here on the way to the silent city to bear testimony to her character. . This sanctuary was to her the gate to heaven. Here came to her, from time to time, the vision of heavenly things and the inspiration of the higher ideals of life.
For forty-five years she led a widowed life. Her husband, Dr. Berry Willis Cooper, left her in the morning of life and now, full of years, she goes to join him in that land where life is one perpetual youth. He left her with the blessings of three little boys, Brainard, George and William, and to their bring- ing up she devoted herself, soul and body. Time has told how well she suc-
ceeded. . To this responsibility, which she fulfilled so well. there was added another, of like kind, in the closing years of her life. Ten years ago the hand of death smote the home of her youngest son and left four little chil- dren without a mother. These became the object of her love and care to the day of her death, and they will rise up to call her blessed.
"There was given to her also, in large measure, the gift of intelligence. In her early life she was a teacher in the public schools. She was a member of the first reading circle at this place, and continued the work until the course was completed.
"Her love of home and children and the welfare of others prompted her to donate her old homestead as the site of our public library. Over the path which led to her doorstep troop our hundreds of school children to quench their thirst at the fountain of knowledge. She was heard to say that she wanted only some small marker at her grave, for, pointing to the library site. 'There is my monument.' With her own hand she signed the deed which gave the lot to the city, and there, within the entry of that beautiful building, a grateful public has cut in marble the name of Malissa Cooper.
"Chief among her activities was her devotion to this church. She was always ready with gifts and good words to help on the cause. She was faith- ful in attendance at the services. She kept her place in that front pew until she went to join the church above. Through all the cares and responsibilities of life there shone the personality of her Christian womanhood."
Under the heading, "A Retrospect," one who stood close to her in the family circle, wrote in part as follows: "In girlhood she was ambitious : she received something of an academic education in Rush county, Indiana, and then, her parents having changed their residence to a newer part of the state and in a country district. she taught her first school at the age of eighteen. She was enthusiastic in all that she did, and, finding that the boys could play
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BIOGRAPIIICAL.
ball without her help and guidance, she conceived the idea of giving to the girls some pleasing occupation, and, possessing some knowledge of embroidery and fancy knitting, she taught them these arts in addition to the other lessons --- this comes among the earliest records of manual training being taught in the schools of Indiana.
"Her religion was of the substantial kind; she believed in and liked to hear, 'I am the resurrection and the life,' her working hypothesis was drawn from the text, 'I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith'."
Mrs. Cooper gave much encouragement and help to young people and in addition to the education of her own children and grandchildren she helped and aided seven others through the high school.
TYNER E. LOWE, M. D.
Dr. Tyner E. Lowe, of Greenfield, one of the best-known physicians in Hancock county, president of the school board of his home city; and other- wise actively identified with the social and cultural movements of that city, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of the time spent in medical college at St. Louis. He was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, November 19. 1877, son of John and Elizabeth Jane Lowe. the former of whom, also a native of Indiana, was born in Hamilton county on May 24, 1842, and the latter, in Franklin county, Ohio, July 15. 1851.
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