USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 15
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ORPHANS' HOME.
In the month of February, 1903, the children from the Orphans' Home were transferred to other homes. The girls were taken from here to the Fort Wayne Home for Girls and the boys were taken to White Institute in charge of the Friends in Wabash county. Some other boys were taken to Brightside, near Plymouth, Indiana.
GAME PRESERVES.
There are three game preserves in Hendricks county stocked with various kinds of imported pheasants. The first lies in the southwest corner of Guil- ford township and extends into Marion county. It contains fourteen thou- sand acres, sixty per cent. of which is in Hendricks. One-fourth of it is timberland, mostly level, some of it rolling, with ravines and gulleys. Flow- ing through it from north to south is Clark creek.
The second preserve lies near the center of the county two miles north
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
of Danville. It contains sixty-five hundred acres of land, one-fifth of which is in timber, with much copse and underbrush. A small per cent. of the lands are hilly. Most of them are level, but some of them rolling. White Lick creek, with its tributaries, supply it with water.
The third preserve lies south of the center of the county, in Clay and Franklin townships. It contains sixty-two hundred acres, one-fifth of which is in woodland, with much copse and underbrush. The lands are rather level. The east and middle branches of Mill creek supply the water. Neither has yet proved successful, chiefly on account of hawks.
The first interurban car ran into Danville at 11:05 a. m., August 30, 1906, over the Indianapolis and Western, now a division of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern.
On July 4, 1907, the Brazil division of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern was opened to Terre Haute and in the same year the Ben-Hur line was opened from Indianapolis to Crawfordsville, passing through Browns- burg, Lizton and Pittsboro.
POPULATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
1910.
I 900.
1890.
Brown
862
1,032
1,093
Center
1
1
3,145
3,349
3,22I
Clay
1,832
1,677
1,673
Eel River
1,867
1,986
1,905
Guilford
3,188
2,707
2,609
Liberty
2,213
2,452
2,578
Lincoln
1,603
1,474
1,452
Marion
1,046
1,090
1,097
Middle
1
1
1,584
1,644
1,837
Union
1,106
1,239
1,362
Washington
1,387
1,395
1,382
Franklin
1,007
1,247
1,289
1
1
1
I
POPULATION OF COUNTY BY DECADES.
In 1824 there were approximately six hundred people in Hendricks county : in 1830 there were 3,975; in 1840, 11,264; in 1850, 14,083; in 1860, 16,953 ; in 1870, 20,277; in 1880, 22,981 ; in 1890, 21,498; in 1900, 21,292; and in 1910, 20,840.
1
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BIOGRAPHICAL
JUDGE JOHN V. HADLEY.
To indulge in prolix encomium of a life which has been one of dis- tinctive modesty and unpretentiousness would be most incongruous, and yet in reviewing the career of Judge John V. Hadley, long one of the most prominent and highly honored citizens of Hendricks county, feelings of admiration are prompted, for he has ever held a position of unequivocal con- fidence and esteem in the community where he has so long resided. As citizen, soldier, lawyer and jurist, Judge Hadley's career has been a notable one, and for this reason his life record is entitled to a conspicuous place in the annals of his county.
John V. Hadley is a native son of Hendricks county, Indiana, born on the 31st day of October, 1840, and is a son of Jonathan and Ara (Carter) Hadley, who were natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five grew to maturity, Enos, Harlan, William C., John V. and Mary, all being now deceased excepting John V.
The subject's paternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Sarah ( Horna- day) Hadley, natives of Guilford county, North Carolina, where the father followed the vocation of farming. In 1822 they made the long and tiresome overland journey to Indiana, stopping first at Indianapolis, which at that time was but a small and unpretentious village. Because of the prevalence of typhoid fever there at that particular time, Jeremiah Hadley continued his journey westward, locating permanently near what is now Plainfield, Hend- ricks county. There he cleared and improved a farm, reared a family of children, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, dying at advanced ages. Among their children were Jonathan, Elias, John, Ruth and others whose names are not recorded. In religion, Jeremiah Hadley was a birthright Quaker, but lost his birthright by marrying outside the church.
Jonathan Hadley, father of the subject, was reared to manhood in Guil-
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
supreme bench Judge Hadley's decisions were characterized by a clearness, candor and breadth of view which have made them authority on many fine points of law assigned to him for interpretation. Among the important decisions written by Judge Hadley while on the supreme bench, involving the constitutionality of legislative enactments, were the following: The act con- cerning municipal improvements, known as the Barrett Law, 154 Ind. 467; For the Protection of Wild Game, 155 Ind. 611; An Act to Regulate Dentistry, 156 Ind. 187; the Pure Food Law, 157 Ind. 517; An Act to De- prive Ft. Wayne of Local Self-Government, 158 Ind. 126; the Weekly Wage Law, Republic Iron and Steel Co. v. State, 160 Ind. 379; the Status of the State University in Our Common School System, 159 Ind. 139; Relocation of County Seat of Newton County, 161 Ind. 616; The Right of County Assessors in Quest of Taxable Property to Examine Bank Books, 166 Ind. 631; Employers Liability Act, 171 Ind. 612; The County Option Law, 174 Ind. 60; Railroad Commission no Power to Fix Rates that are Confiscatory, 172 Ind. 113. Careful and painstaking in everything, Judge Hadley's opin- ions, for their uniform, unvarying excellence of workmanship, were not ex- celled by those of any of his brother justices. The impression that he made on the limited circle of friends and neighbors in Hendricks and adjoining counties at the beginning and during the early years of his practice, was the one he left on the larger circle of his acquaintance after years of faithful and appreciated service on the highest legal tribunal of the state, namely, that he was a man who could be relied on and trusted in all things.
On the 15th day of March, 1865, John V. Hadley was united in mar- riage to Mary J. Hill, who was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, on August 13, 1844, the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Hornaday) Hill. Her parents were natives of North Carolina, who became pioneer settlers in Hendricks county, where the father followed farming. Mr. Hill died in May, 1896, in the ninety-first year of his age. Mrs. Rebecca Hill died in 1863, of typhoid fever, at the age of fifty-four years. They were the parents of seven children, Oliver, Samira, William, John, Daniel, Mary and Eliza. Mrs. Hadley's paternal grandfather, Joseph Hill, who also was a native of North Carolina, came to Indiana in an early day, sometime after the death of his wife, and located in Parke county, where he spent the rest of his days, and died. He was a Quaker in his religious belief. He was the father of a large family, of whom the following names are remembered : William, John, Daniel, Clark and Julia. Mrs. Hadley's maternal grandfather, Lewis Horna- day, spent his entire life in North Carolina. He was the father of five chil- dren, Rebecca, Susan, Ruth, Hester and Simon.
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
To Judge and Mrs. Hadley have been born three children, namely : Kate B., Hugh H. and Walter G. Kate B. became the wife of W. W. Buchanan, of Evanston, Illinois, and they have three daughters, Dorothy, Mary J. and Katherine. Hugh H, Hadley, who is a successful lawyer in Chicago, with residence in Oak Park, Illinois, married Madge Silverthorne, of Wisconsin. Walter G. Hadley, who has charge of his father's farm, mar- ried Jennie Christie, and they have two daughters, Jane and Ann.
Politically, Judge Hadley has been a life-long supporter of the Repub- lican party and has always kept in closest touch with public questions and issues. In 1868 he was elected to the state Senate, serving through three sessions. Aside from this office and his judicial preferment, the Judge has never held public positions. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the lodge at Danville, and also belongs to Jesse Ogden Post No. 164, Grand Army of the Republic, and to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Religiously, the Judge and Mrs. Hadley are members of the Christian church at Danville.
Thus briefly have been outlined the leading facts in the career of one who has stamped the impress of his individuality on the community in which practically his entire life has been spent. As the day, with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity and accomplishment, and its even- ing of completed and successful efforts, so has been the life of this honored man. Easily approached, obliging and straightforward in all the relations of life, his personal relations with his fellow men have ever been mutually pleas- ant and agreeable, and he has enjoyed to a marked degree their confidence and regard. A representative of one of the sterling old families of Hend- ricks county, Judge Hadley has added luster to the family name and has made a record of which his county may justly be proud. E. E. D.
JOHN WATT WHYTE.
The gentleman of whom the biographer now writes is widely known as one of the honored citizens of Hendricks county and for almost half a cen- tury has been a valued factor in the development of the same, prominently identified with the varied interests of his. community. His well directed energies in the practical affairs of life and his sound judgment have demon- strated what may be accomplished by the man of energy and ambition. Born on a foreign soil, Mr. Whyte early demonstrated the sterling qualities of
(12)
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
citizenship possessed by him and his success in life is due solely to his own innate manhood and unfailing energy and ambition along right lines.
John Watt Whyte was born on October 14, 1846, at Paisley, Scotland, the son of George and Elizabeth (Watt) Whyte, both of whom were natives of that town and country. George Whyte came to America before the out- break of the Mexican war. He was a weaver by trade, being particularly expert in weaving coverlets, using of course the old-style hand loom. He followed his trade after coming to this country and after power looms came into use, practically eliminating the class of trade to which he had catered, he entered the large woolen mills of the east, operating the power looms. He was a veteran of the Mexican War, having received a wound while in service. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company F, Forty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. He enlisted for three years, but served until the close of hostil- ities. He was living in Terre Haute, Indiana, at the time of his enlistment and entered the ranks from Sullivan county. He was never a resident of this county, and died at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1870. Elizabeth (Watt) Whyte, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, followed her husband to America soon after he came over. She crossed in one of the slow sailing vessels of that time, leaving her family in the old country. After being here a short time, she returned for her children, coming back directly and bring- ing with her the subject of this sketch and her youngest child, George. Two other children, William and Jennie, had died in Scotland and George is also deceased, leaving the subject the sole remaining one of the family. Her death occurred at Terre Haute, Indiana, on October 10, 1856, the fall of the election of President Buchanan.
On October 18, 1868, Mr. Whyte was united in marriage with Ann Eliza Jackson, daughter of James and Mary (Jackson) Jackson, the former of whom was a native of Putnam county, this state, and the latter a native of Kentucky, having been born on October 27, 1816, the same year in which Indiana was admitted to the sisterhood of states. She departed this life July 1, 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. James Jackson lived for many years in Putnam county, where he followed the trade of a black- smith. He was considered unusually skilled in his trade and mechanics generally and many specimens of his work are still extant. He served throughout the war of the Rebellion, being identified with an Iowa regiment and his death occurred in a soldiers' home in the state of Michigan. They were the parents of six children, those beside Ann Eliza, wife of the subject,
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
being : Sarah (Mrs. McCoy) and John, deceased; James, Thomas and Will- iam, who are still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Whyte have an interesting family of ten children, namely : Ida, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Lawson. She was the mother of three children, Urban, Eula and Ida Kate. Her death occurred March 8. 1894. William, who married Blanche Pierson, resides in Muncie, Indiana, where he is employed in a garage. He is the father of one child, Mildred. George L., whose wife was Alice Leachman, is a farmer in this county and the father of one child, Joyce Roseland. Lenora married Elmer E. Brown and resides at Brownsburg in this county. She is the mother of one child, Doris. Mary became the wife of John C. Taylor, of Danville, and has one child John W. Oliver resides at home. Lurene is Mrs. Fred Scearce, of Danville, and has one child, Maurice. Walter T. married Alice Anderson, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and has one child, Walter Allen. Raymond makes his home in Danville and Eunice, who became the wife of Lynn L. Bolinger, resides at Seymour, Indiana. Her husband was formerly a traveling sales- man, but has recently engaged in the grocery business. They are the parents of one child, Lynn Lewis.
Mr. Whyte was quite a small child when his mother brought him from his native Scotland and in his earlier years was moved about considerably and finally became a "bound" boy in Terre Haute, where he remained until twenty years of age, when he came to Danville on September 4, 1866. On October 15. 1864, he had volunteered for one year in Company M, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, and received his discharge, dated August 27, 1865, at In- dianapolis, having seen no active duty. Since coming to Hendricks county he has spent the rest of his life here with the exception of one year at La- fayette, this state. All his life he has been connected with agricultural pur- suits, although he has also worked at other trades. He was engaged in car- pentry for some time and for over eight years was in the tombstone business at Danville. He has done considerable trading and was first located on a farm about three miles southeast of Danville. He traded around some and for twenty years lived on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres about two miles north of Danville. From there he came to the farm known as the Bob McCoun farm, where he has resided for the past twelve years, carrying on general farming. He has about eighty acres at present, on which he has made all the improvements, clearing the land, draining it and putting up fences, so that the farm today is in an excellent state.
Mr. Whyte's fraternal affiliation is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he has served his local lodge as treasurer for seven years. He
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
is also a member of the local post at Danville of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Whyte is a stanch Republican and takes pride in the fact that he has always adhered to that party's ticket. His first vote was cast for General Grant as President. He takes an active interest in local politics and in 1892 was elected county commissioner, serving in that capacity for three years. During 1906 and 1907 he served as ditch commissioner and again in 1898 was elected county commissioner, serving another term of three years. In 1908 he was elected township trustee for a term of six years, assuming his office on January 1, 1909, so that he is the present incumbent of that office. In the discharge of the duties which have devolved upon him from time to time, Mr. Whyte has ever sought to be absolutely fair and im- partial in his judgment and faithful to his trust at all times. The fact that he is universally well spoken of and held in high esteem shows he has suc- ceeded in his endeavor. He is a good mixer, a most congenial companion and is regarded as a man of unswerving integrity, absolutely honest in all his dealings with his fellow men. His religious affiliation is with the Chris- tian church, of which he has been a member since 1867. Mrs. Whyte is also a member of the same church, having identified herself with same at the tender age of seventeen years. Both are sincerely interested in the progress of that church society, giving liberally of time and means toward its sup- port. Mr. Whyte is extremely liberal in all his views and his hand is active in advancing the welfare of the community in every way possible. A man of generous impulses and genial disposition, he readily makes friends and always retains them. Having gained by his earnest efforts and consecutive labor a competence for himself, he is ever ready to assist those struggling toward the same goal. Because of his unimpeachable career, in both private and public life, he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the scope of the one at hand.
JAMES A. DOWNARD.
In placing the name of James A. Downard before the reader as one standing in the front rank of the enterprising men of affairs and a leader of the bar at Danville, Indiana, whose influence has tended to the upbuilding of the city of his residence and the advancement of the affairs of his native county of Hendricks, simple justice is done a biographical fact recognized throughout the community by those at all familiar with his history and cognizant of the important part he has acted in the circles with which he has
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
been identified. His career presents a notable example of those qualities of mind and character which overcome obstacles and win success, and his example is eminently worthy of imitation.
James A. Downard, a prominent lawyer and abstracter of Danville, was born in New Winchester, Hendricks county, Indiana, November 15, 1855. His parents, David M. and Cassandra (Morgan) Downard, were both natives of this county. David Downard was a farmer and stock raiser and was regarded as a fine judge of stock. He was a large breeder of high grade stock of all kinds and was one of the most successful in this line in the county. He was the son of Judge James Downard, who was one of the first probate judges of the Hendricks county court. He was one of the four proprietors who laid out the town of Danville in 1825. Judge Downard came from Kentucky to Indiana, having been born in Pennsylvania and emi- grating to the Northwest territory about 1811. A few years later he went to Kentucky, and in 1818 came to Indiana, first settling near Brooklyn, after- wards moving to Indianapolis and later on permanently settling in Plain- field, where his death occurred in 1846. Judge Downard married Elizabeth Curry in Pennsylvania, a descendant of a Scotch-Irish family who came from Ireland. Judge Downard and wife were the parents of ten children, David being the ninth in order of birth, and his death occurred on January 2, 1892, his wife having passed away many years before, on May 17, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. David Downard were the parents of ten children: James A., the immediate subject of this sketch; Mrs. Martha Hammond, of Danville; Mrs. Mary J. Anderson, of Anderson, Indiana ; Canada H., who lives on the old home place near Hadley in this county ; William, a merchant of East St. Louis, Missouri; Erie, deceased, who married Charles S. Hall, of Evans- ville, Indiana; Oliver, of Lynn, Indiana; Frank, of Danville, and two who died in infancy.
James A. Downard received his education in the district schools and later spent one year at Butler University and also took a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business University at Indianapolis. In 1877 he entered the law office of Cofer & Taylor to read law and one year later he was admitted to the practice of all courts in Indiana. In the same year he took up the abstract business and now has the finest set of abstract books in Hendricks county, and is recognized as an authority on land titles in the county. In 1882 he formed a connection with the Union Central Life Insurance Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been their financial correspondent for this county since that time. He has carried on this threefold line of work since 1882,
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
namely, the practice of law, the abstract business and the insurance business. He has managed his business in such a way that he has acquired a very com- fortable competence and is regarded as one of the leading and substantial men of Danville.
Mr. Downard was married May 22, 1884, to Maude L. Donaldson, the daughter of William H. and Araminta B. Donaldson, of Danville. Mr. Downard was for fourteen years on the town board of Danville, and during this period, from 1892 to 1906, he was instrumental in providing sidewalks, brick streets, electric lights, water works and a new high school building for the town. In recognition of his efficient service on the town board he was elected on the Republican ticket as county commissioner in 1910, and re- nominated in 1912, but went down to defeat with the rest of his party ticket. As county commissioner he has been one of the men responsible for the hand- some new court house in Danville. He has been the one to take the lead in the work and has been recognized as the most important man on the board by virtue of his past experience. He has been treasurer of the Citizens' Building, Savings & Loan Association since 1882, and during his long incum- bency the institution has never lost a cent or had to make a foreclosure.
Fraternally, Mr. Downard is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and, religiously, is identified with the Friends church. His career has indeed been a busy one and it has been as useful as busy. He and his wife move in the best social circles of Danville and are highly es- teemed wherever they are known.
EDGAR W. SHIRLEY.
Among the families of Hendricks county, Indiana, whose members have worthily discharged their duties to their fellows and their community, no family takes higher rank than the Shirleys, of whom several representatives are today prominently identified with the business and social life of Danville. For many years members of this family have stood for all that is best in business, educational, 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 rela- tions they have sustained to the welfare and prosperity of the locality which has been honored by their citizenships, they are eminently entitled to repre- sentation in a work of the character of the one in hand.
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
One of the most prosperous business men of Danville, Indiana, is Edgar WV. Shirley, the son of John M. and Susan ( Hale) Shirley, who was born February 10, 1860, in Pittsboro, in this county. His father was also a native of Hendricks county, his birth having occurred three miles southwest of Brownsburg on June 15, 1835. His mother was born about one and one-half miles southwest of Pittsboro. James W. Shirley, the grandfather of Edgar W., was born in 1803, in Kentucky, and came to Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1830, or before, settling on Big creek, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1893. James W. Shirley married Deborah Pressley, and they reared a family of eight children, the father of Edgar W. being the third in order of birth. John Shirley spent his whole life in the county of his birth. In October, 1852, he removed to Pittsboro, where he lived until 1873, being engaged in the mercantile business in that place. He continued in this busi- ness until July 29, 1873, at which time he came to Danville and took charge of the mercantile establishment which he had bought some years before in that place. He continued in active business until his death, which occurred Octo- ber 14, 1913, and was one of the wealthiest and most successful business men who have ever lived in this county. He was married January 11, 1857, to Susan Hale, and to this union there were born two children, William J., who died in 1899, and Edgar W., the immediate subject of this sketch. John Shirley was a member of the Christian church and for many years was a trus- tee of that denomination. He was trustee of Middle township for several terms and was postmaster of Pittsboro for a number of years. After moving to Danville he held the office of trustee of Center township for two terms. He was a large landowner in Hendricks county, and one of its most solid and substantial citizens at the time of his death.
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