USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 82
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The late Capt. Isaiah A. Curry, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for two terms treasurer of Hancock county, for two terms treasurer of the city of Greenfield, one of the organizers of the Capital State Bank, of which he was vice-president at the time of his death, and in all ways vitally inter- ested during his long and active life in the promotion of the best interests of this community, also was a native of this county, having been born on the jarm noted above, son of Morgan Curry, who was the son of Isaiah Curry, who came to this state with his family from Virginia in 1828 and located on
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a homestead farm in Center township, this county, where he established the Curry home, the Currys thus having been among the very earliest settlers of Hancock county. Isaiah Curry erected a small log cabin in the woods several miles from any neighbor and began to develop his homestead tract. but died about five years later. Ile left six sons and four daughters, of whom Morgan Curry was the third in order of birth. Morgan Curry married in this county, Sophia Haney, member of one of the pioneer families, and estab- lished a home adjacent to that left by his father. There he died in July, 1851, at the age of thirty-eight years, and his widow survived him many years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Isaiah A. Curry was the eldest.
Isaiah A. Curry was born on July 16, 1835, and with the exception of the time spent in the service of his country during the Civil War, spent all his life in this county. Ile grew to manhood on the home farm and on De- cember 31. 1857. married Mary C. Thomas, who also was born in this county, April 4. 1840, daughter of Alfred and Jane ( Plough ) Thomas, pioneers of that same neighborhood. Isaiah A. Curry and wife set up their first domestic establishment on a farm of ninety-five acres in the neighborhood of the old Curry home and there reared their family. In August, 1862. Isaiah A. Curry enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War as a private in Company B, Ninety-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with distinction until the close of the war. He was a fine figure of a soldier and was rapidly promoted, holding in succession the ranks of sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain of his company. He received a certifi- cate of honor. when first lieutenant, for bravery and efficiency and his duty as a soldier was ever foremost in his thoughts. The survivors among "the boys," as he loved to speak of his comrades in arms, never tire of telling of Captain Curry's care and attention in behalf of his men in camp or upon the battlefield. His love and devotion, manifested in many acts of kindness, proved an inspiration to them and they all bear testimony that a braver soldier never drew sword. He never said "go," but "come on, boys," was the cry to which they responded on many a terrible battlefield. Captain Curry saw active service about Corinth, Memphis and Vicksburg, later participating in the Chattanooga and Knoxville campaigns with Grant, being at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. He made the memorable forced march for the relief of Knoxville and was with General Sherman throughout the Atlanta campaign and on the famous march to the sea.
Upon the completion of his military service Captain Curry returned to the farm and remained there until 1882. in which year he moved to Green-
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field, he having two years before, in 1880, been elected to the office of county treasurer. He was re-elected in 1882 and thus served two terms in that office. Upon retiring from office he gave his attention to the insurance business and did well. In 1898 he was elected city treasurer of Greenfield and in May, 1902, was re-elected to that office, his further service, however, being pre- vented by death two months later, his death occurring on July 12. 1902. Captain Curry was one of the promoters and organizers of the Capital State Bank of Greenfield and was vice-president of the same at the time of his death. He was a Democrat and for years was looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in this county. Captain and Mrs. Curry were Methodists and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children. of whom four grew to maturity. the subject of this biographical sketch being the eldest of these.
Cassius M. Curry received his elementary education in the local school in the neighborhood of his home and supplemented the same by a course in the old Spiceland Academy. He then entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Indianapolis and was graduated from that institution in 1882. At the age of eighteen he began to teach school and was thus engaged for six terms, after which he entered the employ of ları & Thayer, general mer- chants at Greenfield, as a bookkeeper. He proved his efficiency in this posi- tion and presently was advanced to the position of general manager of the store. a position he maintained for twenty-five years, or until the division of the old store in 1908. at which time he bought the main department of the store and continued conducting the same umil he sold it .in 1911. In the meantime he had retained management of the extensive overall factory which the Hart & Thayer firm had established in 1905 and is still general manager of the same. After selling his store Mr. Curry took up the manufacture of specialties under the name of the Specialty Manufacturing Company, and operated his factory at Greenfield for two years, after which it was moved to Indianapolis, Mr. Curry still retaining his interest in the concern, being the secretary-treasurer of the same, the manufacture of cheese-cutters and meat-slicers being the company's principal line. In 1912, Mr. Curry was elected president and treasurer of the New Milling Company, of Greenfield. and still holds that position. Since its organization in 1913. he also has been president of the Greenfield Chautauqua Association and he has been vice- president and one of the directors of the Capital State Bank at Greenfield since 1905. Mr. Curry is a Democrat and for years has been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in Hancock county. Upon the death of his father while serving as city treasurer in 1902 he was appointed to fill the
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mnexpired term and was re-elected to that office. His sister, Mrs. Fayme A. Moxley, acted as his deputy and was in practical charge of the office during his incumbency.
On August 2, 1881, Cassius M. Curry was united in marriage to Florence C. Frost, who died in 1902, leaving two children, Lulu, widow of Herbert E. Leech, of Greenfield, and Noble M., who married Hazel Scott and is now living at Peru, Indiana, where he is the manager of a hard- ware store. On June 30, 1904. Mr. Curry married. secondly. Edna J. Long, of Wabash, this state. Mr. and Mrs Curry are mem- bers of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal church and for years Mr. Curry has been one of the most active workers in that organization. He followed his father as a member of the board of trustees in 1002 and served as president of the board for twelve years, since which time he has acted as secretary and treasurer of the board. He is a member of the "Improved Order of Red Men and of the Knights of the Maccabees. Mr. Curry has a fine home on the National road at the western edge of Green- field, well set in beautiful grounds and declared by many to be the finest house between Greenfield and Indianapolis. He also owns a valuable farm Monroe county and is quite well circumstanced.
NATHAN HUNT.
Nathan Hunt was born on September 4. 1835. He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Roberts) Hunt. Henry Hunt was born in 1801 and died in 1872. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Roberts, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch. Elizabeth Roberts was born in North Carolina and was the daughter of Thomas Roberts, who moved to Wayne county. Indiana, where he farmed. Henry Hunt was educated in the common schools. The children by his first wife were as follow: John, Naomi, Mary Jane. Thomas R., Esther, Nathan, who is the subject of this sketch and who is the only living child; William H., Samira and Martha. Henry Hunt moved to this county when the subject of this sketch was but two years old, and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on Sugar creek, where he lived until his death, in Green township.
Nathan Hunt belonged to the Quaker church, but later he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, when he moved from Wayne county to Hancock county. Nathan Hunt was educated in the common schools. He married
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Lydia Denny, who was the widow of Wyatt Denny. He was married four times. His third wife was Catherine Amack, who was the daughter of Tunis . Amack. The children of his third wife were the following: Georgia E., who is deceased: Flora B., Nancy .A., Viola .Inn and Dora J. The fourth wife was Amanda E. Elsbury, who was born in this county and who was the daughter of Miles and Elizabeth ( Caldwell) Elsbury, farmers of this county. Miles Elsbury was a soldier of the Mexican War. The children of Miles Elsbury were: Amanda, Flora A. (deceased), Nancy E., Rebecca F. (de- ceased ) and Martha E. (deceased). Mr. Hunt owns a farm of three hun- dred acres near Maxwell, Indiana, on which he does general farming. On this he built a fine house in 1881, and a fine barn in 1890. He owned a part of this land as early as 1865 and to this he added from time to time until he now owns three hundred acres.
The children of Nathan Hunt by his fourth wife were: Ila Roscoe. Miles Oscar (deceased) and Irwin Olsen. Ila married Nell Baity and lives in this county. Irwin married Burryl Burk and lives in Maxwell.
Mr. Hunt has for the last two years been invalided on account of being crippled and has given little active attention to the farm.
TILGHMAN H. SCUDDER.
Tilghman H. Scudder was born on March 28, 1863. He was a son of Stephen and Emmaline (Whitehead) Scudder. Stephen Scudder was born in Ohio in 1833 and died in 1883. Emmaline (Whitehead) Scudder was born in Ohio on .August 17, 1830, and is still iving in Tipton county in good health. They were the parents of the following children: Philander. Stephen and Tilghman H., who is the subject of this sketch.
Stephen Scudder came to this county soon after his marriage and in 1845 rented some land and when he left the county he had twenty acres of land near Mt. Lebanon and all his children were educated. Tilghman H. Scudder went to the common schools of the county and his first teacher was John Q. White. He was in school only about three months of the year. All his brothers had been school teachers; Philander, who is now fifty-three years old, is a banker at Windfall. He was trustee at Tip- ton and taught school there for a number of years. He taught school in Brandywine township about ten years. Stephen, who is in Tipton, taught school for ten or fifteen years. Benjamin commenced teaching in Tipton and is now in Phoenix, Arizona, teaching. He is a graduate of the State Normal
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at Terre Haute and of Indiana University and has done work in the Univer- sity of Chicago. Hle spent a year in Leland Stanford University, taking post-graduate work. He headed departments of colleges in Arizona and is one of the leading educators of the West.
Tilghman H. Scudder remained on the farm all of his life in Hancock county. He has been a very successful farmer. He was married on April 9, 1893, to Mary A. Rush, of Marion county, who was the daughter of John Rush. To this union have been born the following children: Audrey Naomi, who was born June 16, 1894, and who is living at home, and Ililda, who was born on August 2, 1895, also living at home. The subject's first wife died April 30, 1902, and was buried at Mt. Lebanon. She was a member of the Mt. Lebanon Methodist Protestant church. On January 1, 1907. Tilghman H. Scudder was married, secondly, to Rosena Jeffries, who was the daughter of E. J. and Jane ( Johnson ) Jeffries, of Hamilton county. They were early settlers of Hamilton county. Through this marriage the following children were born: Tilghman Howard, Jr., born on October 9, roti, and llubert Woodrow, born on April 6, 1914.
Tilghman H. Scudder is a farmer and he has a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land. He has earned this by hard labor. He is a director of the Fountaintown Bank. He is a Democrat in politics and has been township trustee of his township. He was elected in 1904 and served for six years. During this time he built a number of cement bridges. He has been an active political worker in the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Knights of Pythias at Greenfield. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Mt. Lebanon and his wife is a member of the Friends church at Greenfield. Mr. Scudder is one of Hancock county's best citizens and effective in her community life. He is a man whose honesty and integrity are beyond question.
WILLIAM A. HOUGH.
William .A. Hough, one of the leading members of the bar of the Hancock circuit court, a practicing attorney at Greenfield since 1888 and for years one of the best-known lawyers in central Indiana, is a native son of Greenfield and has lived there all his life. He was born on June 7, 1865. the son of Hon. William R. and Matilda (McDowell)' Hough, the former a native of Indiana, born in Wayne county, and the latter of Edinburgh, Scotland, of
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whom the former is still living at Greenfield, honored and highly esteemed in that community: the latter died on April 6. 1900. Further reference to the father is made in a biographical sketch relating to the Hon. William R. Hongh, presented elsewhere in this volume.
William AA. Hough was reared in his native town and was graduated from the Greenfield high school in 1882, after which he entered Del'auw University at Greencastle, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1886, having earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1889 received from the university the degree of Master of Arts. During his school days Mr. Hough had been giving close study to the law, under the careful direction of his father, for years one of the leaders of the bar at Greenfield. and upon leaving the university continued his law studies in his father's office and in 1888 was admitted to the bar. Thus equipped for the practice of his profession he was admitted to partnership by his father and was thus asso- ciated in practice until the latter's retirement from practice in 1890. Mir. Hough then remained alone in practice until 1895. in which year he formed a partnership with Charles Downing, which continued until Mr. Downing's elec- tion to the office of secretary of the Indiana state board of agriculture some time later, after which Mr. Hough again practiced alone and was thus situated until he formed his present professional connection with Samuel J. Offutt. March 1. 1916, under the firm name of Hough & Offutt.
Mr. Hongh is a Republican and for years has taken an earnest interest in the political affairs of his home county and the state in general. In 1900 he was elected Presidential elector for his district and has long been an active campaigner, not only throughout Hancock county, but throughout the district.
In addition to his extensive law practice. Mr. Hough is largely inter- ested in various business enterprises and is regarded as one of Greenfield's most substantial citizens. He is a stockholder in the Greenfield Banking · Company, a stockholder in the Indiana National Bank and the National City Bank. of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Street Railway Company and numer- ous other Indianapolis corporations, while for eleven years he served very efficiently as president of the S. Morrison Telephone Company at Greenfield and in other ways has done his part in promoting the industrial and other interests of this section of the state. Mr. Hough is a Scottish Rite Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. affiliated with the consistory at Indianapolis and Murat Temple in that city. and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He is also affiliated with the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, in the affairs of which he has continued to take an active interest ever since his college days.
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On June 5, 1895, William A. Hough was united in marriage to Ellen Ruth Marsh, daughter of Ephraim and Matilda J. Marsh, of Greenfield, and to this union have been born two children, Helen Louise, born on July 2, 1896, who died on December 30, 1911, and Marcia MeDowell, June 28, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Hough take an earnest interest in the various social and cultural activities of their home town and are recognized as among the leaders in all movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of this community.
NATHAN C. BINFORD.
Nathan C. Binford, former president and since 1908 cashier of the Cap- ital State Bank of Greenfield. is a native son of Hancock county, having been born on a farm in Blue River township. November 30, 1859, son of Robert and Martha ( Hill) Binford, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Indiana, both of whom spent their last days in the neighboring county of Rush.
Robert Binford was about thirteen years old when he came to Indiana with his parents, the family settling in Blue River township, this county, being among the pioneers of that part of the county, and there he grew to manhood on the quarter-section claim entered by the father from the govern- ment. After his marriage to Martha Hill, who was a member of one of the pioneer families of Rush county, Robert Binford engaged in farming on his own account in Blue River township and remained there until 1879. in which year he moved to Rush county, buying a farm in the Carthage neighborhood. where he spent the remainder of his life, being past seventy years of age at the time of his death. He was an extensive landowner and Substantial citizen, an earnest Republican in his political views, ever devoted to the cause of good government. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth.
Nathan C. Binford was reared on the paternal farm, receiving his ele- mentary education in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and supplemented the same by a course in Earlham College at Richmond, his parents having been devout Quakers and earnest supporters of that sterling old Quaker institution of learning. He then entered the Indianapolis Busi- ness College, from which he presently was graduated and was for some time thereafter employed in the office of his brother, John H. Binford, banker, at Greenfield. Following his marriage in the fall of 1890, Mr. Binferd moved
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to Carthage, this state, the home of his wife, where he built a home and en- gaged in the mercantile business and farming and was thus engaged for eight years, or until the time of the organization of the Capital State Bank ai Greenfield in 1898, in which year he returned to that city and was elected president of the bank. a position he held until 1908, when he became cashier of the bank and has ever since occupied that position, retaining his position as one of the directors of the bank. Mr. Binford is the owner of a valuable farm, to which he gave considerable attention while living at Carthage, and he still is actively interested in the operation of the same. He is an "inde- pendent" Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to political affairs. but has never been an aspirant for public office.
On October 16, 1890, Nathan C. Binford was united in marriage to Lucy H. Hill, of Carthage. Rush county, this state, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Donald, who was graduated from the high school at Westtown, Pennsylvania, and is now a student in Chicago University. Mr. and Mrs. Binford arc earnest members of the Friends church and take a warm interest in all community good works, Mr. Binford long having been one of the office bearers in the church.
WILLIAM A. MERLAU.
William .A. Merlau, one of Hancock county's representative citizens and owner of one of its most beautiful and well-kept farms, is a native of Han- cock county, born in Sugar Creck township on March 6, 1867, a son of Con- rad and Elizabeth (Meier) Merlau. Conrad Merlau was born in Germany. January 16, 1837. a son of Henry Merlau. For further details of the history of the Merlan family, the reader is referred to the sketch of Henry Merlau found elsewhere within these covers.
Conrad Merlau was a boy of nine years when he was brought by his parents to this country and he spent the remainder of his youth on the family farm in Sugar Creek township, one and one-half miles west of New Pales- tine. When twenty-six years of age he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Meier, born on the old Meier homestead in Sugar Creek township, November 26, 1842. a daughter of Anton and Ann Elizabeth (Grim) Meier. There were eight children in the Meier family. all of whom are deceased with the exception of Catherine, Christina and Ellen.
After marriage, Conrad Merlau farmed the family homestead for a year and then purchased a farm of forty acres located about three and one-half
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miles northeast of New Palestine. There he made his home until about the year 1871, when he disposed of that farm and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Buck Creek township, about two miles northeast of the town of Gem, and there he has since continued to reside. He suffered the loss of his wife on July 9. 1902, and Mrs. Merlau is remembered as a most excellent woman. She was the mother of eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. Eddie died at the age of nine years and those who grew to maturity were William 1 .. the immediate subject of this sketch; Annie, George. Fred, Rosie. Julia. Emma and Edna. Conrad Merlau is a devout member of the German Lutli- eran church and throughout his majority has supported the Democratic party.
William A. Merlau was a small boy of four or five years when his par- ents moved to Buck Creek township and there he attended the old Brown school house, remaining at his books until sixteen years of age. He then turned to farming, assisting his father in the work of the home place until about twenty-four years of age, when he married. On November 8, 1891. he was united in marriage with Mary C. Miller, born on the Miller home- stead in Sugar Creek township, November 26, 1867, a daughter of Frederick and Christine ( Roesner) Miller. Frederick Miller was born on November 3. 1833, in Wietersheim, Minden Prenzen, Germany, and was brought to this country at the age of two years by his parents. They settled in Sugar Creek township. Hancock county, where the elder Miller entered land from the government, about three miles northwest of New Palestine. On that farm Frederick Miller grew to manhood, marrying Christine Roesner, October 2, 1859. She was born in Sugar Creek township on her father's farm, April 23, 1840, and became the mother of ten children, namely: Emma, died on February 2, 1862; William, died on September 13. 1864; Clarence, died on February 4, 1886, at the age of twenty-one years: Mary C., wife of William A. Merlau: Louis W., died on August 17. 1894. at the age of twenty-four years: Annie, born on July 26, 1872; Christina, born on August 21. 1874: Emily, died on September 10. 1887 : Frederick J., died on May 21, 1879, and Harry, born on December 27. 1882.
After marriage, William A. Merlan rented his Grandfather Merlau's farm for three years and then moved to the old Miller home place, where he lived for five years. During the last year of his residence there, he bought fifty acres, a part of the old McNamee farm, located two miles north of New Palestine. and in 1900 took up his residence there. Shortly afterward he bought the forty acres adjoining on the south, making ninety acres in all. The first piece of land purchased had only a three-room house and a log stable and he paid fifty-three dollars per acre. but had to give seventy-five
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dollars for the last tract he bought. There were about twenty acres of the land cleared and ready for cultivation and Mr. Merlau set about putting it all in proper shape. The first spring he lived there he erected a barn forty- two by seventy feet and in 1906 built his present beautiful modern residence of fourteen rooms, which is considered one of the finest homes in Sugar Creek township. In addition to this, Mr. Merlau has erected a double corn-crib and tool-shed and other buildings. During the years the ground has been entirely cleared. the land tiled and all brought up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Merlan usually has from twenty to thirty acres put to corn, making the usual yield for this section, and has the same number of acres in small grains. He feeds out an average of one hundred hogs annually, these being of the Duroc- Jersey breed, and he keeps for his own use usually ten head of cattle, with six to eight horses for assisting in the farm work, the latter being a good grade of draft stock. Mr. Merlan says he owes his financial success to the hogs which he sells, which are fattened on the corn raised on his own place.
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