USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 70
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FRANCIS H. HALL.
The character of a community is determined largely by the lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if its reputa- tion for the integrity of its citizens has extended to other localities, it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and their in- fluence such as to mold their characters and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing the subject of this sketch in the front rank of such men, justice is rendered a biographical fact universally recognized throughout Hendricks county by those at all familiar with his history. Al- though a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he has contributed much to the material advancement of the com- munity, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightfor- ward, upright course of his daily life have tended greatly to the moral stand- ing of the circles in which he moves and given him a reputation for integrity and correct conduct such as few achieve.
Francis H. Hall was born in Canfield, Ohio, January 28, 1839. His parents were Solomon and Maria (Austin) Hall, his father being a native of New York state and his mother of Connecticut. Solomon Hall was a carder and fuller by trade and, when a young man, came west and settled in Ohio, where he married. In 1849 he went to Iowa with his family, when Francis H. was about eleven years of age. He remained in Iowa about three years,
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when he returned to the east, settling in Wells county, Indiana. After a three years' residence in that county, he removed to Danville in the spring of 1856, and subsequently moved to Needmore, about five miles west of Danville. A few years later he moved to Groveland, in Putnam county, Indiana, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and there he spent the remainder of his life, death occurring at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Hall were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still living: Mrs. Ella Dooley, who is living in California ; Mrs. Sarah J. Blatchley, of Putnam county, Indiana ; Chester F., of Danville ; Seldon, of Alexandria, Indiana, and Francis H., of whom this is written.
Francis H. Hall received his education in three different states, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana, and, being a youth of observing mind, he acquired no inconsiderable education from the extensive journeys made by his parents back and forth across the Mississippi valley. At the opening of the Civil war in 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and nineteen days with the Union army. He was with General Grant at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Iuka and was in the terrific siege of Vicksburg in 1863. He was a participant in the battle of Champion's Hill. Mississippi, which history has recorded as the bloodiest battle of the whole struggle. He was with General Banks on his campaign in Arkansas and Oklahoma, being in the ordnance department at that time. He proved a valiant and courageous soldier and served faith- fully in all the engagements in which his regiment was a participant. After the close of the war he returned to Putnam county. Indiana, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and began to make a specialty of fine cattle to feed for the markets. He claims to be the oldest cattle feeder in Hendricks county, having fed a bunch of cattle each year for the market for the past forty-three years without missing a single year. In 1897 he came to Danville to spend the remainder of his days, but he still keeps in close touch with his farm in Putnam county, on which his son is now residing. In addition to his farm- ing and stock raising interests, Mr. Hall is president of the Danville State Bank, and is now serving his second term in that capacity.
Mr. Hall was married in 1866 to Rebecca Keith, and to this union has been born cne son. Owen Hall, who manages his father's farm in Putnam county and also has a farm of his own adjoining his father's. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had one son, Homer S., who died at the age of thirty-four in Monrovia. California. He was a brilliant and promising young man, a graduate of De- Pauw and Leland Stanford Universities, and was building up a fine reputation as a civil engineer.
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Mr. and Mrs. Hall are devoted and consistent members, he of the Presby- terian and she of the Methodist church at Danville and contribute generously of their means to these societies. Mr. Hall has been voting the Republican ticket for more than fifty years and, although he has been active in the councils of his party, he has never been a candidate for public office. Mr. Hall has always been a man of high civic ideals and a warm and sympathetic supporter of all measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the community. He was truly the architect of his own fortune, and upon his entire career there rests no blemish, for he has always been true to the highest ideals and principles in business, moral and social life and has been one of the world's noble army of workers, having lived and labored to worthy ends.
JOSEPH FLEECE CLAY.
One of the most distinguished families which has come to the United States from Scotland is the Clay family. Their descendants are now found scattered throughout the United States. Among the most distinguished mem- bers of this family may be mentioned Henry and Cassius M. Clay, of Ken- tucky, men who were leaders in national life when they were in the height of their career. One of the members of this family who was born in Hend. ricks county, Indiana, and has brought honor on the county of his birth is Joseph Fleece Clay, who was formerly a sheriff of Marion county, but now a resident of Putnam county, Indiana.
Joseph F. Clay, the son of James Henry and Susan ( Fleece) Clay, was born in Hendricks county September 1, 1865. His father was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, January 20, 1819, the son of Littleberry and Arabella (McCoun) Clay. James H. Clay and Susan Fleece were married July 29, 1841, their marriage taking place shortly after his parents arrived in this county. Littleberry Clay and his family came to this county in 1840 and pur- chased a section of land in Eel River township. After living in this county a few years Littleberry Clay and part of his family went to Missouri, but James H. remained in this county the remainder of his days. Susan Fleece was born in Boyle county, Kentucky, near Danville, and came to Hamilton county with her parents, Charles Fleece and wife, in the early history of the county. Her parents entered land west of North Salem, near Eel river.
James H. Clay followed the vocation of a farmer all his life. During the forty years of his residence in this county he was one of the prominent
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and influential citizens. At one time he owned nearly a section of land, but before his death he divided it among his children, nine of whom grew to maturity : Mrs. Arabella Waters; Mrs. Mary Catherine Rose; Samuel C .; Mrs. Sallie Rogers, of Amo; James A., of Indianapolis; J. C., whose history is found elsewhere in this volume; Nicholas, deceased; Arthur E., of Indian- apolis: Joseph F., whose history is here recorded, and one daughter. Lillie, who died in infancy.
Joseph F. Clay was educated in the common schools of Eel River town- ship and later attended the graded school at North Salem. Early in life he decided to follow the vocation which had brought such pronounced success to his father. After his marriage he began to farm and at the same time devote a great deal of attention to the raising of stock. In fact, he soon found that there was more money in the raising of stock than in the raising .of grain, and within a few years left the farm and moved to Indianapolis, where he engaged in the live stock business in connection with Messrs. Stock- ton & Gillespie, the firm being known as Stockton, Gillespie, Clay & Company. He was connected with this company for the next thirteen years, and left it to take the office of sheriff of Marion county, to which he was elected in the fall of 1906. He served one term and then returned to his farm in Jackson township. Putnam county, where he is the owner of four hundred and seventy aeres of fine farming land. He is now engaged in farming and stock breed- ing, paying most of his attention to stock.
Mr. Clay was married February 15, 1888, to Olive Thomas, daughter of John H. and Mary (Davidson) Thomas. John H. Thomas was a life-long farmer of Putnam county, this state, dying in that county at the age of seventy-three in 1903. To Mr. and Mrs. Clay has been born one daughter, Eula, the wife of Armin Krutzsh, who is now living on the farm of Mr. Clay. Mrs. Clay died March II, 19II.
Mr. Clay has been an active Republican in politics and has been influential in the councils of his party. His worth as a citizen and his ability as a man is shown by the fact that he was nominated by the Republicans of Marion county for the responsible position of county sheriff and subsequently elected to that important position. In the discharge of his duties he was fearless and honest and won the esteem of all with whom he was associated while in the management of his office. He is a member of the Third Christian church at Indianapolis. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to Oriental Lodge at Indianapolis. He is also a member of Raper Commandery, Knights Templar, Keystone Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis. He also holds his member-
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ship in the Columbia Club and Marion Club, two of the most influential clubs of the capital city. Mr. Clay has been remarkably successful in life, and in everything he has done he has commanded the respect and confidence of all those with whom he has been brought into contact. His life amply demon- strates what may be accomplished by a man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work, his success being the result of his well directed efforts, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment.
ETHOR V. MILHON.
A business man of Hazelwood, Indiana, who has made a pronounced suc- cess in life is Ethor V. Milhon, who, by the exercise of keen business ability and honest dealings, has built up a trade in a small town which is little short of marvelous. There are some men who are naturally gifted with the busi- ness instinct and this fortunate characteristic is the secret of the success of Mr. Milhon. Starting with a very small store. he has gradually worked up to a position where he has a business which is out of all proportion to the size of the town where he is located. In addition to his business interests, he has not failed to take a prominent part in the body politic, and every worthy enter- prise which is for the good of the public has found in him a sympathetic and ready helper. His life has squared with right ideals, and for this reason he is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
The postmaster, merchant and banker of Hazelwood was born in Liberty township, near Hazelwood, Hendricks county, Indiana, on November 26, 1870, the son of George W. and Susan Catherine ( Richardson) Milhon, who were among the most highly esteemed residents of this township. George W. Milhon was born January 3, 1843, in Belmont county, Ohio, the son of George and Mary Ann ( Hatbringer ) Milhon. George Milhon, Sr., was a native of Virginia, and was born near Winchester, in that state. October 16, 1812. His wife was born in the same state August 12, 1812, and after their marriage George Milhon and wife left Virginia and settled in Belmont county, Ohio, where they farmed for several years and then came to Indiana, settling in Nashville, Brown county. In 1860 they came to Hendricks county and settled in Liberty township. Here George Milhon, Sr., followed farming, but after two years returned to Nashville in Brown county, this state, where his death occurred December 30, 1879. while his wife died on the first day of the year 1880. He and his wife were loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal
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church and they reared a family of eleven children: Sarah Elizabeth, de- ceased ; Mrs. Rebecca Jane Doan ; John Henry, deceased; Mrs. Rachel Anna Marshall; George W., the father of the subject of this review : Martha Ann, deceased: Norris; Jane: James; Mrs. Mary Catherine Purcell and Mrs. Lucinda Davis. George W. Milhon was married January 20, 1870, to Susan Catherine Richardson, daughter of William B. and Mary E. ( Hurd) Richard- son. William Richardson was a native of North Carolina and came to Hend- ricks county, Indiana, with his parents, Daniel and Dorcas Richardson, in the early history of the county. The Richardsons entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in the county and on this farm William Richardson grew to manhood. He was born December 9, 1831, and died in November, 1881, in this county. His wife was born near Frankfort, Kentucky, October 30, 1831, and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. William B. Richardson were mar- ried November 24. 1850, and to their union were born seven children: Mrs. Milhon; Mrs. Martha Jane Oliphant; Mrs. Elizabeth D. Barnes; Joshua Newton : William Alfred, deceased; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hiatt, deceased, and Mrs. Emma Burzite. Mrs. Richardson has twenty-nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. George William Milhon are the parents of seven children, five living and two deceased; Ethor V., whose his- tory is here presented; Mrs. Effie May Cooper, deceased ; Everett Newton ; Mrs. Mary E. Stout ; Maude A., deceased; Mrs. Hattie B. Patterson and James W. Everett Newton Milhon married Hattie Wrightmian and lives in Mooresville, Indiana, where he is chief engineer and superintendent of the telephone company of that place, and has two children, Irvin and Roy ; Mary E. Milhon married Calvin Stout, of Hazelwood, a farmer and the president of the Hazelwood Bank, and has one child, Lenore; Hattie D. Milhon mar- ried Mark Patterson, a farmer living east of Hazelwood, and they have two sons, Ralph and Maurice ; James W. Milhon married Maude Johnson and they live on a farm of this township, and have one child, Sylvan J.
George William Milhon enlisted in June, 1862, in Company H, Fifty- fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for the three-months service in the Union army in Kentucky and served four months before he was dis- charged. He then returned to Hendricks county and has lived the life of a farmer since. He is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres, most of which lies in Hendricks county. He and his wife are zealous members of the Regular Baptist church of Center Valley, and have rendered generous assistance to the church in every way. Mr. Milhon came to this county without a cent and has achieved success solely through his own de-
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termination and square business dealings. He has bought and sold much stock and has shipped hundreds of car loads from this county. He is a man well liked by every one and is still in good health and enjoying life.
Ethor V. Milhon spent his boyhood days on the home farm and received a practical education in the schools of Liberty township. After finishing the common school course he graduated from a business college at Indianapolis, and the business education which he there received has been of incalculable benefit to him in his later career. Early in his life he started in the grocery business at Hazelwood with a small stock of about three hundred dollars worth of goods and went into debt for this. His store was only a small box of a place, but by hard work and square dealings he has met with wonderful success. He gradually built up his store, increased his stock, secured better buildings and, later on, took in C. F. Shields as a partner. The firm of Mil- hon & Shields continued for about four years and then Mr. Milhon bought out his partner's interest and continued to conduct the business alone. In 1898 Mr. Milhon erected a modern two-story brick building, one hundred by thirty feet in size, and moved his stock of goods into this. The second floor is used by the Improved Order of Red Men.
In addition to his mercantile interests, Mr. Milhon is interested in the banking business in Hazelwood. He was elected cashier of the Hazelwood Bank in 1905, an institution which had been organized previous to that year under the name of the E. Milhon Bank. It had been organized in 1898 by Mr. Milhon and continued as a private bank until 1905, when it was reorganized as the Farmers Bank of Hazelwood. The new bank occupies part of the new building which was erected by Mr. Milhon and has commodious quarters where it transacts a rapidly-increasing business. In addition to his mercan- tile and financial interests, Mr. Milhon has also been the postmaster of Hazel- wood for the past twenty years and still occupies that responsible position. Mr. Milhon enjoys an immense trade from Hazelwood and the surrounding community. The farmers from as far as ten miles come to Hazelwood to do their trading. He is a clever advertiser and appreciates the value of scientific advertising. In fact, such is the excellence of his work along this line that he has received numerous comments from dry goods magazines throughout the country on the excellence of his advertising.
Mr. Milhon was married July 4, 1893, to Ida Hazlewood, daughter of Benjamin P. and Eunice A. (Thomas) Hazlewood, and to this marriage there have been born two children, Sylvan, who died in infancy, and Emery J. Fraternally, Mr. Milhon is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at
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Monrovia, Indiana, the Knights of Pythias at Mooresville, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Monrovia and the Improved Order of Red Men at Hazelwood. Mrs. Milhon is a loyal and faithful member of the Missionary Baptist church, and also belongs to Order of the Eastern Star and the Daugh- ters of Pocahontas. Their son Emery is affiliated with the Red Men. Politically, Mr. Milhon has always espoused the cause of the Democratic party. but the business cares which have demanded all of his attention have prevented him from taking any active part in politics. Enough has been said of the life history of Mr. Milhon to show that he has been a man of keen business judgment, combined with that tact and personality which render him a successful man of the world. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that he has been busy with his many interests, he has not neglected to take an active part in the life of the community about him, but has contributed his share to all worthy enterprises in his locality. He has been in the milling business for the past twenty years at Hazlewood, his trade extending twenty miles out.
WILLIAM H. STEVENSON.
It is both pleasant and profitable to study the life record of such a worthy gentleman as he whose name forms the caption of this review, for in it we find evidence of traits of character that can not help making for success in the life of one who directs his efforts, as Mr. Stevenson has done, along proper paths with persistency and untiring zeal, toward worthy ends. Having had as his close companion through life, upright principles, these worthy traits of character have resulted, as we shall see, in blessing to him- self, his family and those with whom he has come into contact.
William H. Stevenson, the son of Morgan and Rhoda E. (West) Ste- venson, was born February 2, 1862, in Marion township, about four miles west of Danville. Morgan Stevenson was a native of Kentucky and came with his parents, Payton and Sarah Stevenson, to this county when a small boy. He became a farmer and continued to follow that occupation until his death, February 14, 1888. His wife died October 24, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Stevenson were the parents of ten children: Mrs. Sarah E. Thompson ; Harriet, deceased; Mrs. Lottie Tinder ; Evaline, deceased; Will- iam H., whose biography is herein delineated; Mary Etta, deceased; Flora (Mrs. Hiram Gooch) is deceased: Edgar, Isaac and Charles.
After receiving a good common school education, William H. Steven-
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son remained on the home farm until his marriage and for the first eight years after his marriage he lived on a rented farm. He was thrifty and, with the assistance of his wife, was able to lay aside some money each year. In 1895 they purchased sixty-seven acres from the old Stevenson home- stead, but four years later sold this and bought the one hundred and fifty- four acres in Union township, three miles south of Lizton, where they now live. While following general farming he has always raised some stock each year and from the sale of this he has added not a little to his annual income. He has improved his farm in many ways, until it now presents a very attractive appearance.
Mr. Stevenson was married December II, 1887, to Mary C. Flynn, the daughter of John D. and Virginia W. (Harris) Flynn. John D. Flynn was a native of this county, his father having come to this county from Kentucky. He died January 24, 1888. His wife also was a native of this state, and died April 12, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Flynn were the parents of four children: James, deceased; Mary C., the wife of Mr. Stevenson; Nicodemus, deceased, and Mrs. Virginia Ann Christey. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have one son living, Ray. He married Beulah Harbison, and has one son, Loyd.
Mr. Stevenson has been a life-long Democrat and, while he is inter- ested in the local candidates of his party, he has never taken an active in- terest in the general campaigns of his party. He and the members of his family are adherents of the Missionary Baptist church and contribute gen- erously of their means to its support. Mr. Stevenson is a very pleasant man to meet and he is in every sense of the word one of the sterling representa- tives of the twentieth-century man of affairs of Hendricks county.
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HARRY E. SANDERS.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to com- mend him to the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the record of the well-known agriculturist whose name appears at the head of this brief review, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of Hendricks county, where he has long maintained his home and where he has labored not only for his own indi- vidual interests and that of his immediate family, but also for the improve-
HARRY E. SANDERS
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ment and welfare of the entire community, whose interests he has ever had at heart.
Harry E. Sanders, the son of Henry and Julia A. (Gossett) Sanders, was born in Plainfield, Indiana, October 10, 1870. His father was a native of Fayette county, Ohio, his birth occurring there in July, 1826, while his mother was born in North Carolina in January, 1828. Henry Sanders came to Indiana in 1836 with his parents, settling in Washington township, this county, and here Henry Sanders was reared, grew to manhood and, in Oc- tober, 1847, was married to Julia A. Gossett, and to this union were born seven children: Alva W., of Galveston, Texas, who is connected with the shipping industry of that city : Mrs. Mary A. Zeller, who was born in 1850, was twice married, both of her husbands being now deceased, and she has three children living; Mrs. Emma E. McGrew, whose husband is deceased, has one child and is a resident of Indianapolis ; Albert P., deceased, and who was married to Emma Inskip, had one child; William E., of Chicago, who is a real estate dealer, married Ida Coffee: Dr. Frank E., who is a practicing physician of Culver, Indiana, is married and has one son. Henry Sanders died in 1896, and was survived by his widow several years, her death occur- ring in 1905.
Harry E. Sanders, whose history is here briefly reviewed, was reared on the farm in Washington township, and attended the public school of his home neighborhood, receiving a good, practical education, and early in life decided that he wanted to follow the agricultural profession, and with this end in view applied himself to the acquisition of all the information which would assist him in making a success of this calling.
Mr. Sanders was married October 17, 1905, to Emma L. Saunders, whose father was a merchant of Zanesville, Ohio. Mrs. Sanders is a woman of refinement and culture and adds grace and charm to their elegant home. Mr. Sanders has, in addition to his regular farming duties, taken an active interest in civic affairs and as a member of the county board of commission- ers has been one of the prominent factors in the building of the new two- hundred-and-seventy-five-thousand-dollar court house at Danville. This building embodies all of the latest and most modern ideas in court house ar- chitecture, and when completed will be one of the finest of its kind in Indiana. He has also been on the advisory board of his township, and in both capaci- ties he has shown a capability and adaptability for public work which renders him an efficient servant of his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he is a member of
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