USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 72
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made the brick and completed the contract to the satisfaction of the au- thorities. At that time money was a very scarce article and the state obliga- tions with which he was paid for his work were heavily discounted and had it not been for the money which was due him in Cincinnati, which was col- lected by friends and sent him as fast as possible, he would probably have become bankrupt. However, he remained in the growing village of Indi- anapolis for a number of years, doing all within his power to foster its dig- nity and growth. He was generally reasonably successful in business, though sometimes he suffered heavy losses as once when bringing a boat load of salt up the Wabash river, the boat suddenly sank and boat, cargo and wearing apparel of himself and associates was lost. They were thankful to escape with their lives and had to beg and walk their way home, a dis- tance of over one hundred miles. He invested his savings in land at govern- ment prices, which of course advanced in value as the county became set- tled. When the National road was built west from Indianapolis, he laid out the village of Bridgeport on land which he owned, and built a hotel, steam mill and a store. When the plank road was built he took an active interest in it and gave right of way through all his land. He later gave ground for a depot at Bridgeport and did much otherwise to encourage the building of the railroad. He was active and energetic in business and did much to promote the cause of education and scientific agriculture in the state. On his own farm he kept abreast of his times and did much to improve the breed of cattle throughout his community by importing im- proved breeds from other states.
Jeremiah Johnson came from pure English ancestry and, according to family tradition, some of them left England and settled in Massachusetts on the restoration of Charles II, finding it expedient to do this on account of their participation in the Civil War as soldiers and partisans of Cromwell. Jeremiah Johnson reared a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. He survived his wife and both daughters several years and de- parted this life at Clayton, this county, on March 20, 1876, having passed a life of unusual activity and usefulness. His influence over the moral life alone of this section of the state can not be estimated and his generous con- tributions to the material advancement of the community certainly can be surpassed by none. Such men as he are the heart and bone and sinew of a new community.
.When Albert Johnson was a boy he lived on the home farm and at Bridgeport for a short time. About 1850 the family moved about three .
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miles east of Bridgeport, near where Ben Davis now is, and resided there until 1855 and then moved to Liberty township, this county, when the im- mediate subject of this sketch was about twelve years old. Here he grew to manhood on his father's farm, attending the early schools of the district and later attending the academy at Danville in the winter of 1859-1860. He returned home after one year spent in Danville, in a very poor state of health and for four years was almost an invalid. In 1876 he left the farm and removed to Clayton, but continued to operate the farm until in 1880, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Clayton in partnership with his brother and Edwin Johnson, L. D. Johnson also being a partner, under the firm name of Johnson Brothers & Company. In connection with that busi- ness, he and his brother did a little private banking business. In 1886 the brother died, but the mercantile business was continued under the same name, the banking business, however, having the name changed from John- son Brothers to Albert Johnson & Company, the widow having retained her interest in the firm and the business being conducted along the lines of a private bank. In 1896 the mercantile business was disposed of and the banking business continued as before. In 1905 the banking business was reorganized under the private banking law, retaining the same firm name. On January 28, 1907, Lorenzo D. Johnson, former partner with Johnson Brothers in the mercantile business, became a member of the banking firm in company with the subject, his daughter and brother's widow, the bank at that time being capitalized at twenty thousand dollars. They continued under the old firm name until May 1, 1912, when they reorganized under the state banking law and converted the institution into a state bank with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, fully paid up, and with a surplus of twelve hundred and fifty dollars. They were officered as follows: Albert Johnson, president; J. C. Walker, vice-president, and L. D. Johnson, cashier, with those three also acting as directors. The present directors are Eugene Edmundson, Milton A. West, L. D. Johnson and Albert Johnson. Mr. Walker has recently died.
On October 20, 1867, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Mary E. Snoddy, daughter of George W. and Nancy (Fitzgerald) Snoddy, of Morgan county, this state. Mr. Snoddy was a farmer and stock raiser and was also a minister ordained in the Christian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born four children. One daughter, Annie, died when ten years old. Their daughter Gertrude is the wife of O. W. Greene and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the mother of two children, Marian
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and Emily. Emma C. is the wife of B. M. Davis and resides at Oxford, Ohio, Mr. Davis being a professor in Miami University. Arthur A. is a civil engineer located in Indianapolis. His wife was May Brayton, daugh- ter of Dr. A. W. Brayton, of Indianapolis.
In 1890 Mr. Johnson moved to Indianapolis, taking up his residence in Irvington, so as to be near Butler College, where he wished to educate his children. He, however, retains his interests in Clayton and considers this his permanent home. Mr. Johnson is a man of sound and practical intelli- gence, keenly alert to everything relating to his interests, and, in fact, with all that concerns the advancement and prosperity of his community. Be- cause of his splendid personal characteristics and his genuine worth, he en- joys the confidence and esteem of all who know him and he has an unusu- ally wide and varied acquaintance.
LORENZO D. JOHNSON.
In past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the rec- ord of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of com- mercial activity, and those who are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter, and the victor is he who can most successfully establish, control and operate business interests. Mr. John- son is unquestionably one of the strongest and most influential of the men whose lives have been an essential part of the history of Hendricks county. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right thing in the right place and time are the chief char- acteristics of the man. These, combined with everyday common sense and guided by strong will power, are concomitants which will insure success in any undertaking.
Lorenzo D. Johnson, cashier of the State Bank of Clayton, is a Hoosier by birth, having first seen the light of day in Morgan county on May 14, 1851, the son of Hezekiah K. and Eliza (Greene) Johnson. Hezekiah K. Johnson was born in North Carolina in 1809 and married Miss Greene there before he came to Indiana, where they located in Morgan county. In 1865 he removed to Clayton and at that time he gave up the vocation of farm- ing, which he had followed all his life, and engaged in the general mer- chandise business. He opened up his business in 1868 on the spot where the
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traction station now stands. He continued in this business until his death, in 1870. His widow followed him into the great beyond one year later. In addition to his business as an agriculturist and merchant, he was also a minister of the Gospel and an earnest and sincere man in all the relations of life.
Lorenzo D. Johnson received a good schooling in his youth and after completing his studies he went into his father's store and at the time of his father's death took charge of it and operated it until 1873. At that time he disposed of it to Howland & Spotts, of Danville, but continued with them until they sold it to Mr. Field, of the old publishing firm of Merrill, Field & Company of Indianapolis. After Mr. Field purchased the store, Mr. Johnson continued in his employ with full charge of the store and did not see the new proprietor until six weeks after the purchase was made, the former owners having simply turned keys, books, etc., over to Mr. John- son. After leaving Mr. Field, Mr. Johnson took a position with Clark & Harris and was with them until 1880, when he became a partner with Albert and Edwin Johnson in their mercantile business, under the firm name of Johnson Brothers & Company. He was with them until 1896, and was then employed in the private bank of Albert Johnson & Company and in the year 1907 became a partner in that bank with the position of cashier. In this capacity he continued with the bank through its reorganization into the State Bank of Clayton in 1912 under the state banking laws. He was elected cashier of the new organization and continues in that capacity at the pres- ent time.
On June 18, 1873, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Frances V. Garrison, daughter of John and Sarah (Nichols) Garrison, the former being the son of Josiah Garrison, an early settler here who came from New Jersey. John Garrison was engaged in farming here throughout his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born two children, Mary and Dee. Mary is the wife of J. Mark Black, of Indianapolis. . She is the mother of three children, Dorothy, Frances and Robert L. Their daughter Dee is the wife of Dr. B. R. Quinn, of Indianapolis. She is the mother of two chil- dren, Maxine and Russell.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Clayton and contribute liberally of time and means to further the cause of that society. They are considered among the very best people of the town and in their comfortable and commodious home there is ever found a cordial welcome for friend and stranger. Mr. Johnson is a man
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of quiet manner, unassuming in every particular and a man who wins and holds a large number of friends through his innate kindliness and obliging manner. He is a busy man, but he finds time and opportunity to take in matters pertaining to the progress and growth of his community and county, keeping abreast of the times on all questions of vital interest and being re- garded as a leading citizen in the locality long honored by his residence.
JAMES THOMAS LEAK.
The valuable man to any community is the man who does things; and, with this criterion, it is safe to say that James T. Leak is one of the most im- portant men in Union township, this county. He is a splendid example of the progressive, self-made man who believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at all. He is a man of discernment and sound judgment, broad-minded and at the same time a follower of the principles embodied in the Golden Rule in all his relations with his fellow men. Daily contact with our fellow citi- zens so familiarizes us with their many virtues that we ordinarily overlook them, and commonly underestimate their possessor. Nevertheless, though the man may pass away, his deeds of virtue live on, and will, in time, do him the justice which he failed to receive during his life time. However, the many good qualities of Mr. Leak are fully recognized and appreciated by his fellow citizens, who long ago placed their stamp of approval upon his lite.
James Thomas Leak, a prosperous farmer and banker of Lizton, this county, was born February 14, 1857, in Union township. His parents were George W. and Sarah G. (Leach) Leak. George W. Leak was born October 17, 1828, in Bracken county, Kentucky, and came with his parents, William and Eliza (Kitch) Leak, to this county when he was about eight years of age. William Leak settled in Union township on a farm adjoining the present town of Lizton and farmed there until his death, September 11, 1845. George W. Leak grew to manhood in this county and was first married January 10, 1850, to Sarah Leach, who died February 30, 1868. To this first marriage were born six children: Matilda Jane, deceased; Mrs. Lucinda M. Hick- man; James Thomas, whose career is portrayed in this connection ; Elizabeth Ann, deceased: William E., deceased. and Enos Alonzo. After the death of his first wife, George W. Leak was married to Ann Burnett and to this sec- ond marriage were born five children: Mary E., deceased; Mrs. Hattie M. Dowden : Mrs. Georgia Lillian McHenry ; Myrtle, deceased, and Bertha O.
JAMES T. LEAK
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
James T. Leak received his education in the schools of Union township and remained at home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-one, when he went to farming for himself. He devoted his attention to this vocation until 1902, when he retired from active farming and moved to Lizton. As an agriculturist he carried on general farming, raised all the crops common to this locality and gave a considerable share of his attention to the breeding and raising of live stock. His farm is well improved, he has a comfortable and attractive residence, well arranged barns and other features which show him to be a man of wise discrimination and good judgment. In 1900 Mr. Leak became interested in banking and when the Citizens Bank at Jamestown was organized in that year he became a stockholder and director in the same and has been officially connected with that financial institution since its organiza- tion. In 1902 he moved to Lizton and became the cashier of the Lizton Bank upon its organization December 1, 1910, and is still filling that responsible position to the entire satisfaction of the board of directors of the bank.
Mr. Leak was married October 17, 1878, to Susan D. Young, the daugh- ter of Melton and Susan (Parrish) Young. Melton Young was born in Ken- tucky, his wife in South Carolina and they were married in Putnam county, Indiana. Upon their marriage they moved to Montgomery county, near Ladoga, and later to New Ross, in the same county. Some years before his death Mr. and Mrs. Young moved to Lebanon in Boone county, where Mrs. Young died August 9, 1890, and Mr. Young June 20, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Young were the parents of fifteen children: Mrs. Lucretia Dale, deceased; Thomas F .; Reuben E., deceased; James D .; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Scott ; Mrs. Rachel C. Bailey ; Susan D., the wife of Mr. Leak; John; George ; Mrs. Lucinda Apple, deceased; Ora E .; Mrs. Emma Frame; Mrs. Estella Scott; Mrs. Ella Myer, and Mrs. Sarah Ann Harrison, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Leak are the parents of two children, Sarah Essie, the wife of Ira O. Dale, a farmer of Middle township in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dale have one daughter, Susan Fern. The other child of Mr. and Mrs. Leak is Milton Edward, a farmer in Union township, this county. He mar- ried Edna Wright and has two daughters, Mary Blanche and Susan Helen. Mr. Leak is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias at Lizton, having had his membership transferred from the Danville lodge to the lodge at Lizton upon its organization at the latter place. He has been a life-long Re- publican, but has never taken an active interest in politics. Mr. Leak is a plain-spoken man in his manner and yet with that honesty of speech and
(47)
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straightforwardness which indicates the man of solid worth ; is quick to grasp the situation, alert to carry it out and persistent in following it to his final conclusion. He is a man who has won a host of friends because of his clean, open life and the interest which he has always taken in all good movements in the community.
HENRY HUNT.
The United States has drawn its people from every corner of the globe and, while we have citizens in Indiana representing scores of differ- ent countries, it is nevertheless true that the bulk of our citizenship are of English descent. We always refer to England as our mother country, and it is true that she has furnished the great majority of our citizens of today. The Hunt family of Hendricks county are fortunate in having traced their family history through past generations, and in the history of Henry Hunt, who is here presented, his ancestry can be traced back to the middle of the eighteenth century directly. To state in biblical fashion, the first descend- ant whose history is accurately recorded is Eleazer, whose son was Asher, whose son was Ithamar, whose son was Henry, whose son was Olsen. The Hunt family trace their ancestry back to England, where they were an hon- orable and distinguished family in the colonial period. Eleazer Hunt was a farmer of North Carolina in the latter part of the eighteenth century and died in that state at the age of eighty. His son Asher was born in Guilford county, that state, and was reared a Quaker, marrying Jane Hunt, the daughter of Abner and Mary (Starley) Hunt, who was a very distant rela- tive. Asher Hunt came to Sullivan county, Indiana, from North Carolina and entered two hundred acres of land on which he lived for the next six- teen years. He then came to Hendricks county where he bought a farm in the eastern part of Marion township, dying there in his eighty-fourth year. He and his wife, as well as the children, were Quakers.
Asher Hunt was twice married; his first wife died and he then married Abigail Foster. He was a man of unimpeachable character, industrious, honorable and one who was universally respected by all who knew him. Ithamar Hunt, the son of Asher, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, March 17, 1822, and came with his parents to Hendricks county when he was fourteen years of age. At the age of twenty-five he married Frances J. Bush, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Norton) Bush. John Bush was a native of Kentucky, who came to Hendricks county and was one of
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the early pioneers of the county, dying at the age of fifty-three. Ithamar Hunt was a farmer all of his life and at his death, on May 14, 1903, in New Winchester, he had over six hundred acres of fine farming land in the county. He was a birthright member of the Friends church for twenty-one years and then joined the Baptist church. He was a consistent and faithful member and a liberal contributor, not only to his own church, but to others and to all benevolent enterprises. He was a good man in every sense of the word, an honest man with himself and with others. He was a devoted hus- band, a loving and kind father, an accommodating and genial neighbor, a manly and devoted Christian, one without ostentation or hypocrisy. He was a man of peace, quiet and unobtrusive. He never swore, never used liquor, was never sued, never paid a cent of interest-all in all, he was one of nature's noblemen.
Henry Hunt is a worthy son of a worthy father. He received his edu- cation in the schools of his neighborhood and remained under the parental roof until he was married at the age of twenty-five, although he had been farming for himself since he was twenty-one. After his marriage, he lived for the first year on the Rockville road and then built his present home in 1878 and has resided there continuously since that time. He is a farmer exclusively and no one in the county raises better crops than does he. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and, as a Republican, was elected trustee of Marion township in 1894, rendering faithful and effi- cient service to his fellow citizens for nearly five years in that capacity. His farm of two hundred and sixty acres, together with his wife's farm of one hundred and sixty, is a fine example of an up-to-date farm in every respect. He takes a great deal of pride in keeping everything in good re- pair and his buildings are always neat and attractive in appearance.
Mr. Hunt was married April 1, 1877, to Cassandra R. Higgins, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Plaster) Higgins. She was born in Marion township and has lived most of her life there, spending four years at Ladoga before her marriage. They have one son, Olsen, who was born March 6, 1881. He married Jesse Underwood, the daughter of Obed Underwood, and has one daughter, Marvel. He lives on a farm in Marion township. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are both devout members of the Christian church of New Winchester, and subscribe liberally to its support. Mr. Hunt is one of the best known men in his township, a man of excellent character, a good neighbor and one who has always stood for the best welfare of his community.
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ALEXANDER RAMSEY.
The importance that attaches to the lives, character and work of the early settlers of Hendricks county and the influence they have exerted upon the cause of humanity and civilization is one of the most absorbing themes that can possibly attract the attention of the local chronicler. The late Alexander Ramsey was a man whose great influence upon the early history of this county was an important factor in developing the part of the county in which he settled.
Alexander Ramsey was born in Clark county, Kentucky, June 21, 1821, and died in Marion township, Hendricks county, Indiana, January 21, 1891. He was the son of Andrew and Jennie (Browning) Ramsey. Fate seems to play an important part in the lives of some people and in the cause of Alexander Ramsey it was the cause of his remaining in this county. When a young man he came to this county to visit his two sisters who were living in the county and while here he met a pretty little maid by the name of Martha Jane Flynn. It was a case of love at first sight and he who came merely to visit remained to marry and settle in this county. His wife was born October 14, 1838, in Marion township and on December 18, 1856, they were married, she being only eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. This youthful bride of fifty-eight years ago is still living and en- joying good health. She is the daughter of James and Lucy (Miller) Flynn, her father being born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1807. He was first married to Lucy Rigney and, after her death, to Lucy Miller in 1833. His second wife was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1816, the daughter of Michael and Mary Miller, who had come from Virginia to Kentucky. James Flynn lived in Kentucky until 1840 and then came to Marion town- ship, this county. He and his wife made the trip overland on horseback, passing through the little village of Indianapolis and over the swamp which is now occupied by Danville. He became one of the earliest settlers and was one of the most prominent farmers of the county, having over five hun- dred acres of land at the time of his death, August 11, 1885. He paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre and the same land today could not be bought for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre .. Mr. Flynn was a progressive farmer and owned the first threshing machine in this section of the state.
After Mr. Ramsey and his young bride were first married they re- turned to Kentucky, where they lived on a farm of Mrs. Ramsey's uncle for
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two years. They then returned to Hendricks county and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty acres near New Winchester for twenty-seven dol- lars per acre, and later they purchased seventy acres more, making a total of two hundred acres which is still owned by the family. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey reared a family of six children : Mary Catherine, who married William J. Underwood; Samuel A., born February 27, 1859, who has never married, but has spent his whole life on the home farm. He and his mother have lived together on the old homestead since his father's death: John Allen, who lives in Danville, Indiana; Obie L., who lives at New Winches- ter, where he operates a saw-mill and runs a threshing machine in the sum- mer; Anna May died March 2, 1881, at the age of ten as the result of an injury she received at school.
Mr. Ramsey was a member of the Missionary Baptist church and was a faithful attendant upon all the services of the church. He was a man who was always very considerate of the rights of others and absolutely honest and straightforward in all of his dealings. He was held in high respect and esteem by everyone with whom he was associated and his life in every particular was above reproach. He was essentially a man of do- mestic tastes and lived for those who were nearest and dearest to him.
JOHN S. RAGAN, M. D.
It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that have moved a life of ceaseless activity and large professional success : little more can be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the individual under consideration. In view of this fact, the life of the physician and public-spirited man of affairs whose name appears above affords a striking example of well defined purpose, with the ability to make that purpose sub- serve not only his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. Doctor Ragan has long held prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality and intellectual discipline of a high order, supplemented by rigid professional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge with the skill to apply the same. In his chosen field Doctor Ragan has achieved a notable success, which has been duly recognized and appreciated throughout the section of the state where he lives.
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