USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 69
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Robert E. Parker, the son of William G. and Martha (Wells) Parker, was born in Pittsboro, Indiana, in 1863. William Parker was a native of Kentucky and when a small boy came to this county with his parents. Upon reaching manhood he remained on the farm for a time and later engaged in the mercantile business in Pittsboro for a number of years. During the war he bought and shipped mules for the government and throughout his whole life he was interested in the buying and selling of stock. In 1872 William Parker moved to Indianapolis, but four years later moved back to Pittsboro, where he remained until his death, January 8, 1877. While he was pri- marily interested in business ventures of one kind and another, he was, nevertheless, greatly interested in politics and always took a prominent part in the affairs of his community. He was trustee of his township for eight years and was always active in Republican politics. Mrs. William Parker was born in North Carolina and came in a wagon to this county with her parents when she was a small girl. She is still living in Pittsboro. Mr. and Mrs. William Parker reared a family of nine children: Mrs. Mary E. Lewis; Loyd; Wilson; Jennie, deceased; Robert E., whose history is herein presented; William; Ruth, deceased, and two who died in infancy.
Robert E. Parker received his education in the school of Pittsboro and
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Indianapolis, a part of the time in Indianapolis, while his parents were liv- ing there from 1872 to 1876, and later in Pittsboro. Upon the death of his father in 1877, he went on to the home farm, where he has resided since. In addition to his general farming, he also raises hogs and good road horses, which he finds a very successful and lucrative part of his farming.
Mr. Parker was married August 21, 1890, to Mary E. Dillon, a native of Middle township, daughter of Luke and Julia (Ashby) Dillon, and to this marriage were born three children, Chester, Margaret, deceased, and Edgar. On January 22, 1905, Mr. Parker was married to Cora Keeney, the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Bursott) Keeney. Charles Keeney is a native of Montgomery county, Indiana, and now lives with his son-in- law, Mr. Parker. He owns a farm in Raintown. Mrs. Keeney was a na- tive of Kentucky and died in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Keeney had eight chil- dren: Mrs. Sarah J. Money, David D., Mrs. Olive Ann Ellis, Cora (the wife of Mr. Parker), Orin F., George, and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Parker takes a keen interest in politics and has been identified with the Republican party since he was able to cast his first ballot. He has never been tempted to make the race for any office, being content to devote his time to his agricultural interests. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and is a devout member of the Christian church, in which he has been a deacon for many years. Mrs. Parker is a member of the Baptist church. His earnest labors and honest dealings with his fellow men have resulted in a large measure of success in a material way, and at the same time he has won the confidence and admiration of his neighbors and fellow men.
CHARLES EVERETT KESLER.
The prosperity of a town depends in large measure upon the activity and aggressiveness of its business men, and Pittsboro, in this respect, is to be congratulated upon the progressive, energetic spirit shown by her mer- chants. Among these few, if any, are more widely known throughout the district nor more highly respected than the man who supplies the hardware, tools and farming implements of various kinds used in the surrounding country.
Charles Everett Kesler, the leading hardware dealer of this place, was born April 7, 1881, on a farm near Danville, Hendricks county. He is truly a son of the county, both parents, John C. and Sarah (Pierson) Kes-
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ler, being also native to the place. Here they both spent their childhood and youth, receiving their schooling in the township schools; both trained to the free, natural life of the farm, finding not only their work but their pleasure also in compelling the good earth to yield her abundance for the sustenance of themselves and their family. Congenial in their tastes, both were content to remain in the home of their childhood and youth until, in 1908, they were separated by the death of the faithful wife. Five children were born to them, as follows: Nettie (Dinsmore), deceased; Myrtle (Woods) ; Novella ; Ernest, deceased also; and Charles Everett, the subject of this article.
Charles Everett Kesler was married October II, 1900, to Lucena Dins- more, daughter of William Frank and Rachel (Holmes) Dinsmore. Two sons have come to them to brighten their home, Floyd Eugene and Harrold Glenn. Mrs. Kesler was born and reared in Boone county, as were also both her parents, who are still residing in that place, being well known and gen- erally respected. Mr. Dinsmore is the holder of eighty acres of well cul- tivated, productive land, and by his industry, thrift and intelligent manage- ment of this farm, together with the never failing assistance of his faithful helpmate, he reared a large family and laid up for his declining years a competence. Fourteen children have been born to them: Jacob, Eliza (Ragsdale). John. Charity (Bailiff), Mary (Linton), Dora (Griggs), Marion, Della (Wiley), Lucena (Kesler), Artie, and four others whom death has claimed, two of them in infancy.
Mr. Kesler spent his boyhood days upon the farm with his father, receiving his elementary education in the township school and later attend- ing the high school of Pittsboro. Here he remained until his marriage, when he left the farm and entered the grocery business at New Ross. After two years in this place, he sold the grocery and spent a year at Advance as proprietor of a livery barn. Disposing of this, he returned to Pittsboro, continuing in the livery business, however, for two years more. Follow- ing this, he was owner of a restaurant for a year, after which he acquired his present thriving establishment. His varied experiences in the business world and his wide acquaintance throughout the county have proven valu- able assets in this field, and his genial manner and shrewd business acumen have been large factors in its upbuilding. Hence, after five years as an active, energetic dealer in hardware and implements, we find him crowned with success in business, the possessor of hosts of friends and enjoying to the fullest the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
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However, his activities have not been confined solely to the upbuilding of his financial success, for he is interested in several fraternal orders, being a member of the Knights of Pythias at Brownsburg; the Red Men at Advance, and the Haymakers. He is affiliated with the Republican party and is a strong advocate of its doctrines, and, while not a member of any church, is in sympathy with the Baptist church of Pittsboro, where his wife is a member.
GEORGE D. JUNKEN.
That life is the most commendable that results in the greatest good to the greatest number, and of the thousands of occupations which are open to the citizens of the United States today, there is no one in which there is a better chance to help mankind than in the profession of teaching. It is not necessary that one have a college education, a fine brick building and a well stocked library in order to make a successful teacher. What is essen- tial is that natural sympathy and tact which always characterizes the most successful teachers. In the record of George D. Junken, of Hendricks county, we have the life history of a man who has spent thirty-five years of the best part of his life instructing the youths of his county, and during all of those years he has tried to instill the right principles, aim and ideals into his pupils. His actions have always been the result of careful, con- scientious thought, and, once convinced that he is right, no suggestion of policy or personal profit could swerve him from the course on which he had decided.
George D. Junken, who is now living retired at Pittsboro, this county, was born in Middle township November 8, 1850. His parents were David A. and Margaret (Danner) Junken. David A. Junken was born Decem- ber 24, 1825, in Wayne county, Indiana, and lived there until his marriage. He and the girl whom he had selected for his wife added to the gaiety of the country in 1847 by being married on July 4th of that year, and imme- diately after the ceremony mounted their horses and took their honeymoon trip through the dense forests and along the blazed trails to this state, and after a short time in Rush county, they settled in Middle township, this county. David's father had been here before this time and had entered about twelve hundred acres for his children near Pittsboro, so that the
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young bridal couple already had a farm to settle upon when they reached their destination. David was a blacksmith and a mechanic of more than or- dinary ability and followed this trade in Pittsboro for the first fifteen years after coming to this county. He then went onto the farm and continued to farm until 1883, when he went into the hardware and grocery business at Pittsboro. Eight years later he sold out a successful business and retired from active life. He built the fine brick business block where his store was established. He had commenced in a rented brick building, which burned down two years after he went in business, and then he built the brick build- ing which is still standing in Pittsboro. About two years after he sold out the store he went blind, but suffered his terrible affliction patiently until the end. He died March 18, 1907, and his wife two years later. Both of them were consistent and devoted members of the Christian church and he was a member of the Masonic order. Mr. and Mrs. David Junken reared a family of seven children: James, who died in infancy, George D .. Joseph M., William N., Oliver P., Alonzo Frank, and one who died in infancy.
George D. Junken spent his boyhood days in Middle township and re- ceived his education in the township and high school at Brownsburg. Later he began teaching in 1870 and for the next thirty-three years taught in Middle and Brown townships, teaching his last year in 1905. During this long service in the school room, he taught the children of some of the chil- dren who had gone to him in his earlier years of teaching.
For the past eight years he has done the assessing and gathering of statistics of his township, and knows his township most thoroughly. Prob- ably he could describe every piece of land from memory, and tell the own- ers thereof. His work was said by the county board to be the most accu- rate, and his records kept the best, of any assessment records in the county.
Mr. Junken is a member of Pittsboro Lodge No. 620, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and of Danville Chapter No. 46, Royal Arch Masons, and has been a life-long Republican, although, due to the nature of his profes- sion, he has never taken an active interest in politics. He and his wife are both members of the Christian church at Pittsboro and he has been an elder in the church for the past twenty years. He has often been called on to conduct the services at funerals, knows the people thoroughly, and for years past has written the obituaries of most of those who have died in his com- munity.
Mr. Junken was married October 24, 1875, to Sallie J. Waters, and to this union have been born two children, Mrs. Gertrude Goebel and Mrs.
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Lutie J. Worrell. Mr. Junken is a quiet, unassuming man and no one in the township has a higher standing in every way than he. His influence has always been cast in favor of all worthy enterprises and measures, and everything which he has done has been directed toward the betterment of his community.
JAMES MALREY LEAK.
A half century ago, more than two hundred thousand of Indiana's young men, strong and active in body, exulting in their young manhood, offered themselves for their country's service, and of these many thousands who went from Indiana there are today but few left and these few are old men who have long ago passed their meridian and are now looking eagerly forward to the time when they will answer the last roll call. The soldiers who fought so bravely in the Civil War soon will all have passed to another world, but so long as this nation shall endure, their memory will be re- vered high above other men. Hendricks county sent many brave young men to the front, but no man fought more valiantly than James M. Leak, who, through four long years of hard service, participated in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. Although he was twice wounded before his four years' enlistment was up, yet such was his courage and patriotism that he re-enlisted in February, 1865, as a substitute and served until his final discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1865.
James Malrey Leak, a distinguished veteran of the Civil War and one of Hendricks county's best loved citizens, was born October 20, 1841, in Bracken county, Kentucky. His parents were Louis and Elizabeth Leak, who were both natives of Kentucky. Louis Leak was born in Kentucky in 1808, grew to manhood and was married there before coming to this county. Early in the history of this county he and his family entered eighty acres in Union township, north of Lizton, where he farmed until his death. He was a public-spirited citizen and was township trustee for several terms. He and his wife were both members of the Christian church. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Leak were the parents of nine children: Mrs. Susan Jane Run- nels, who died in 1859; David V., who married Julia Ann Waters and died September 4, 1912; Belle, deceased, the wife of Allen Hayden; John Rob- ert, deceased; James Malrey, whose career is herein set forth; Francis Ma- rion, born January 15, 1843, and died in April, 1903; William M., of Mis-
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souri, died in 1911; Nancy Ann, of Danville, the wife of Allen Bell, and Minerva, who was the wife of Woodson Bell, died in 1867.
James Malrey Leak grew to manhood on the old home farm and when twenty years of age enlisted for service under his country's flag. He was mustered into Company H, Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years, in August, 1861, and was first assigned to the Army of the West, but later transferred to the East and his regiment was made a part of the Army of the Potomac. While serving in Virginia he was twice wounded in battle, first at Fairfax Gap and later at Spotsylvania Court House. At Louisville, Kentucky, at the end of his three years' enlistment, he re-enlisted in February, 1865, as a substitute for a man who was drafted in this county. While acting as a substitute, he received five hundred dol- lars in money and a deed for forty acres of land in Union township. He was finally mustered out August 27, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky, after having seen four years of service in the midst of the bloodiest civil war which has ever happened in the history of the world.
Immediately after his discharge. Mr. Leak returned to this county and commenced farming in Union township. He was married August 6, 1865, to Mary Dickey, who died November 9, 1872, leaving one daughter, Vada. Vada married John A. Leak, whose history is delineated elsewhere in this volume. James M. Leak was married a second time to Margaret (David- son) Winters, who died February 15, 1899. There were two children born to this second marriage, Eva, who died December 24, 1887, and Omer, a farmer of this township, who married Bessie Walter, having one daughter, Lurene. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Leak was married to Mrs. Frances (Gott) Hedge.
Mr. Leak continued in active service on the farm until December, 1905, when he retired from the farm and moved to Lizton. Politically, Mr. Leak is a Republican of the progressive type, and has been voting the Re- publican ticket ever since the days of Abraham Lincoln. While he has al- ways taken an intelligent interest in politics, he has never been a seeker after political preferments. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Lizton. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is a deacon in that denomination. He is a man who is always willing to help those in distress and has lived a life of a quiet, unostentatious farmer ever since the day he returned from the battle field of the sixties. He is an ideal citizen in every respect and is highly honored and respected by every one in the community.
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CHESTER ALVIN WEAVER.
It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the his- torian or the cheers and the appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake . was never made. No man is great in all things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame who before that had no reputation beyond the limits of their immediate neighborhoods. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method, that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those in Monroe county who have achieved success along steady lines of action is the subject of this sketch.
Chester Alvin Weaver, former merchant of Pittsboro and now one of the leading farmers of Middle township, was born in Pittsboro, Indiana, December 7, 1867. He is the son of Amos C. and Marian ( Wills) Weaver. Amos Weaver is also a native of this township and is now living retired in Indianapolis. He formerly operated a drug store at Pittsboro for five years, afterwards he built a store building and engaged in the dry-goods business in 1872, continuing this for the next thirty years. Mrs. Amos C. Weaver was also a native of this county and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Amos Weaver are the parents of five children, Hollis, Chester Alvin, Mrs. Grace Wood, Urban and Mrs. Francis Kyle.
Chester Alvin Weaver received his early education in the Pittsboro schools. Upon reaching his maturity he went into his father's store. In 1887 his father sold out to his sons and they continued to operate the store for the next ten years. In 1897 Chester Alvin bought out the interest of his brothers and managed the store himself until 1905, continued to live in Pittsboro three years after selling the store and then bought a farm o1 one hundred and sixty acres, one mile northeast of Pittsboro, where he is now residing. He handles a great deal of stock, buying and selling all the time. He also makes a specialty of raising chickens and turkeys, and has his farm improved in such a way as to net him the largest maximum income an- nually. While he was prosperous as a business man, he is no less suc- cessful in the agricultural field, and is rapidly forging to the front as one of the leading farmers of the township.
Mr. Weaver was married September 16, 1897, to Nell Dillon, the
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daughter of Luke and Julia (Ashby) Dillon. Luke Dillon, a native of Ken- tucky, and a Union soldier, came to this county immediately after the war and settled in Middle township about one and one-half miles west of Pitts- boro. He dealt a great deal in real estate. He returned to Hillsboro, Ken- tucky, about 1900, where he is still living. Mrs. Dillon was also a native of Kentucky, and died in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Dillon were the parents of nine children: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Parker, deceased; Edwin; Nellie, the wife of Mr. Weaver; Thomas L .; Mrs. Daise Buergelin; Mrs. Margaret Leachman; Mrs. Emma Biggs; Mrs. Lora Duntington and Mrs. Ruth Pavey. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have a daughter, Frances, and a son, Marvin.
Mr. Weaver is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. Owing to the nature of his business he has never taken an active part in politics, although he now takes more interest in public affairs than ever before. He is a member of the new Progressive party and believes in the principles which are advocated by the leaders of this party. He and his family are members of the Christian church, to which they give freely of their means. Mr. Weaver is a farmer who has gone into this profession simply because he likes it and enjoys the life which is the lot of the farmer. He is a man of excellent judgment, good business discrimina- tion and one who is thoroughly honest and upright in all of his dealings. In his county he represents the Home, Hartford and Phoenix fire insurance companies and does a large amount of business throughout the county. Mr. Weaver is widely acquainted and numbers his friends everywhere through- out the county.
CALVIN WARRICK.
As a farmer, public official, soldier or private citizen, Calvin Warrick was always true to himself and his fellow men, and the tongue of calumny has never touched him. As a soldier he proved his loyalty to the govern- ment he loved so well on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situ- ations, on the tented field and amid the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of the musketry, mingled with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar, made up the awful chorus of death. To such as he the country is under a debt of grati- tude which it can not repay and in centuries yet to be posterity will com- memorate their chivalry in fitting eulogy and tell their deeds in story and in song.
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Calvin Warrick, a distinguished veteran of the Civil War and a pros- perous farmer of Middle township, was born in Rush county, Indiana, Oc- tober 19, 1840. His parents were Edward H. and Ruth (Whiteman) War- rick. Edward Warrick was a native of Delaware and a school teacher in his young days, and taught in Rush county before moving to Hendricks county. He came to this county when Calvin was about four years of age and bought eighty acres two miles north of Brownsburg, which he farmed until 1858. He then sold it and made a prospecting trip through the West, but decided that Indiana was good enough for him, and returned to Hen- dricks county where he bought two hundred acres in Middle township. He lived on this farm until his death, October 30, 1864. Mrs. Edward War- rick was a native of Virginia and died in Nebraska in December, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Warrick were the parents of eight children: Samuel, who died in 1912, Mrs. Ann Crawford, Calvin, Amos, Mrs. Esther E. Hale, Mrs. Mary Jane Job, Mrs. Harriet Talbott, and Mrs Madora Towell.
Calvin Warrick was given a good education under the tutelage of his father and grew to manhood on the farm in this county, with the exception of a year or so spent in the West. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted, on September 14, 1861, in Company B, Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Po- tomac and he participated in all of the engagements in which his regiment participated, and was mustered out December 20, 1864.
On December 14th of the same year Mr. Warrick was married to Eva- line Smith, the daughter of Joel and Susan Smith. Joel Smith was a native of Kentucky, as was his wife, and after their marriage they came to this county and entered two hundred acres near Brownsburg, where they lived until their deaths. He died in 1863 and she seven years later. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Smith were the parents of eleven children: William Jackson; Benjamin Thomas; Mrs. Almanda Rupp; Mrs. Nancy Susan Wells; Levi; Alfred, deceased; America; Lucinda, deceased; Evaline, the wife of Mr. Warrick : Mrs. Henrietta Ward and Mrs. Mary Ann Hughes. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick have five children, all of whom are living, Shiles M., William E., Oliver C., Edward H. and Mary May. Mary May married Fred Parker, who farmed a part of Mr. Warrick's farm.
Mr. Warrick has farmed in this county since he was sixteen years of age, with the exception of the four years which he spent in the war. When a boy he had to walk two miles to school and incidentally had to perform all of those chores which the boys of his day had to perform each day. In
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addition to his general farming he has always handled a great deal of live stock, especially cattle. He always kept a high-class grade of shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Warrick is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Free and Accepted Masons at Pittsboro. He has been a life-long Repub- lican, and was old enough to cast his first vote for the second election of Lincoln in 1864. At the close of the war he served two years as assessor of Middle township and at one time made a strong race for nomination for county auditor. As a rule, however, he has never taken an active inter- est in politics generally, preferring to devote his energies to his agricultural affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick are both members of the Baptist church and contribute generously to its support. He is a keen business man, un- assuming in manner and a good friend who is always glad to help any one in distress.
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