USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 22
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Finding mercantile life rather irksome and by no means to his
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taste he disposed of his stock after a short time and. returning to Owen county, where he had formerly lived, resumed the pursuit of agriculture. Later he discontinued tilling the soil and again turned his attention to merchandising, but engaging in the grocery busi- ness which he carried on with reasonable profits until the disturbed condition in national affairs induced him to sell out that he might respond to the call for volunteers to help put down the rebellion.
Rev. McDade's military career began a number of years pre- vious to the struggle between the North and South, having been one of the young men of his country, who in 1847 took part in the war with Mexico, enlisting that year in Company B. Fourth Indiana Infantry, under Colonel Willis A. Gorman. He accompanied his command to the southland and during the two years ensuing shared with his comrades the fortunes and vicissitudes of war in that re- mote country, taking part in several battles and experiencing much active service ere the stars and stripes floated triumphantly to the breeze from the hills of the Montezuma. Returning home after the restoration of peace, he settled down to the quiet pursuits of civil life and was thus engaged until the breaking out of the rebellion. when, as already stated, he again responded to his country's call and went to the front to battle for its safety. Mr. MeDade was among the first in his county to tender his services to the government in its time of need, enlisting early in 1861 in Company B. Fifty-ninth In- diana Infantry, which he at once accompanied to the scene of hos- tilities as first lieutenant where, during the four years following, he experienced all of the realities of warfare, participating in a number of hard-fought battles and so conducting himself as to earn an hon- orable record as a brave and gallant soldier. For meritorious ser- vice he gradually rose from the ranks to the command of his com- pany and as captain he led his men through many trying and dan- gerous experiences, including the battle of Island No. 10. the seige
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of Vicksburg and other engagements, besides taking part in numer- ous skirmishes and doing a great deal of hard marching. While at the front he became well acquainted with General Grant, between whom and himself a warm friendly feeling appears to have ob- tained. and he was also on familiar terms with a number of other superior officers to whom his bravery and gallantry seem to have commended him. At the expiration of his period of enlistment Mr. McDade returned home and the following year ( 1866) yielded to a desire of long standing by entering the ministry of the Baptist church, preaching his first sermon at the town of Quincy. Owen county. Later in the same year he was duly ordained in the county of Clinton, after which he addressed himself manfully to the duties of his sacred office, preaching during the several following years at various places in other counties, establishing churches at different points and proving a very able and successful evangelist and pastor. In due time he changed his residence to the town of Deer Creek. Carroll county, and while living there established a church at Gal- veston, which has grown into a large and flourishing organization, besides ministering to other congregations and doing much personal as well as public and religious work. From Deer Creek he took charge of a Mission church in the town of Rensselaer, where he labored with much acceptance for a period of three years and in 1888 removed to Monticello where the church under his able and faithful ministration soon took on new life and became one of the strongest and most aggressive congregations of that city.
Severing his connection with the Monticello church after a successful and popular pastorate, Rev. McDade moved to Kokomo where, in a life of honorable retirement. he is spending the remainder of his days, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his fellow citi- zens and at intervals attending to the duties of his holy calling when his services are in demand. Long one of the progressive men of
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his church in northern Indiana he has contributed greatly to its strength and success in addition to which he has ever been deeply interested in general religious work, irrespective of denominational ties and ready to co-operate with orthodox ministers of whatever name of order in publishing the glorious truths of the Gospel throughout the world. A close and critical Biblical student. a force- ful and logical speaker, and when married to his theme, truly elo- quent, he was always popular in the pulpit and seldom failed to move his auditors by the earnestness with which he proclaimed his message. His services to the government during the dark and troublous years of rebellion were not confined to the field alone, hav- ing by his stirring words and influence induced a number of young men to enlist at the same time, providing means for the support of wives and children whose husbands and fathers were offering their lives for the country's safety.
In his political views Mr. McDade is a pronounced Republican, but by reason of the strenuous nature of his ministerial duties and other work, he has never taken a very active part in public affairs, although familiar with the leading questions of the day and deeply interested in issues concerning which men and parties are at vari- ance. In the matter of citizenship and its duties he is and always has been an intensely loyal American with a profound respect for law and order, and an ardent love for the government for whose defense and perpetuity he gave such gallant and ungrudging service. Very naturally for one of his experience, he keeps in close touch with military matters and nothing affords him greater satisfaction than to meet with his old comrades and recount with them the stirr- ing scenes and daring deeds of the iron days that tried men's souls and tested their endurance. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, active and influential in all matters concerning the or- ganization and when able to be present at its sessions, acts as chap-
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lain, in which capacity his services are greatly appreciated by his fellow comrades. At this time he is the only surviving veteran of the Mexican war in Howard county and one of the very few in the state, the heroes of that conflict, having in the main, answered to the final roll call and joined the great army of the silent majority.
Rev. McDade's domestic life dates from 1850 when he was united in marriage with Mrs. Lucy ( Jones) Asher, daughter of Thomas and Frances ( Bibie ) Jones, the union terminating May 5. 1905. after a long and mutually happy wedded experience of fifty- five years. Subsequently he entered the marriage relation with his present wife. Mrs. Minerva ( Wait) Dotterer, who has proven a true companion and helpmate and to whom he is indebted for the greater portion of the comfort and satisfaction which he now en- joys. Rev. McDade has no children of his own but he has always had a warm feeling for young people and an abiding interest in their welfare, many a youth through his influence has been induced to abandon the paths of sin and seek the higher life and today, not a few strong substantial God-fearing men attribute to him all of the success they have achieved together with the development of the honorable characters which have given them high standing in their respective communities. It is a matter of record and worthy of note in this connection that Mr. McDade has married more couples and baptized a greater number of candidates than any other minister in Howard county. Aside from this it is impossible to estimate the good he has done, for like the Master, he has ever been about his Father's business, devoting the best powers of his mind to the active work of saving men, and now while no longer able to prosecute his labors as in the days of his prime, he still preaches the word in his (laily work and conversation, the influence of his personality and the record of his long career of usefulness constituting a sermon of sur- passing power and eloquence. No man in this section of the state
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has a more extensive acquaintance than he and certainly none can boast of as many devoted, admiring friends, all of whom earnestly desire and hopefully pray that his earthly life may be prolonged through many future years and that his influence for good may still grow and bless his kind.
WILLIAM W. DRINKWATER.
Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type of William W. Drinkwater is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any other considertion that gives character and stability to the body politic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home and respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good report ever invite, the name and character of Mr. Drinkwater stand revealed and secure and though of modest demeanor with no ambition to distinguish himself in public position or as a leader of men his career has been signally honorable and it may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon his life work.
William W. Drinkwater hails from the state so prolific in great men, having been born at Ithaca, Ohio, on April 30. 1855. His parents. Thompson and Rebecca ( Murphy ) Drinkwater, natives of Ohio, migrated in December, 1865. to Howard county, Indiana, and settled on a farm about five miles east of Kokomo in Howard town- ship where the father devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until his death in 1875. his widow surviving him until 1896 when she too was called to her eternal reward. In connection with his
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labors as a tiller of the soil Thompson Drinkwater did considerable work in the line of carpentry, which trade he learned in his native state where he became a successful contractor and also put up quite a number of buildings after his removal to Indiana.
The Drinkwater family had its origin in England and was first represented in the United States by the subject's grandparents, who came to this country a short time previous to the birth of their son Thompson and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the latter first saw the light of day. They belonged to the sturdy middle class of Britain which give to that land much of its strength and respect- ability and are remembered as a most excellent and praiseworthy couple whose lives were singularly free from fault and whose in- fluence was always salutary.
William W. Drinkwater was about ten years of age when his parents moved to Indiana, since which time his life has been very closely identified with the counties of Howard and Miami, espe- cially the former, throughout which he has become widely and favor- ably known and to the growth and development of which he has freely contributed of his time and influence. A farmer boy he was up with the lark when the vernal season demanded his labors in the field, and after the death of his father he became the bread winner of the family although but twenty years of age when this heavy re- sponsibility fell upon his shoulders. Taking charge of the farm hie addressed himself manfully to his duties and with little assistance worth mentioning so conducted the work as to provide comfort- ably for his mother and four sisters, during the four years they re- lied upon him for support. His first educational experience in the rude log cabin with puncheon floor and slab benches aroused in him an intense interest in book and study and an earnest desire for a more thorough training than could be obtained in the back-woods university, which laudable ambition he was subsequently enabled to
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gratify by taking a high school course and still later becoming a student of the Northern Indiana Normal school at Valparaiso where he pursued for some time the more advanced branches of learning. While still a mere youth he became a skillful worker with tools and under the direction of his father learned to turn his mechanical in- genuity to good account in the direction of carpentry, at which trade he soon acquired more than ordinary proficiency.
His mother, re-marrying after a widowhood of four years and moving to Kokomo, Mr. Drinkwater was relieved of much of the burden and responsibility which erstwhile fell to him and subse- quently he went to the city where he secured remunerative employ- ment at his trade, meanwhile in March, 1881. he married the young lady of his choice, Emma Mills, of Preble county, Ohio, daughter of William and Margerie Mills, who moved to Howard county a number of years ago and are now living retired lives in the city of Kokomo. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Drinkwater set up his domestic establishment on a rented farm in Miami county, but at the expiration of six years purchased a place and continued to re- side on the same until 1889, when he sold out and moved to Ko- komo where he began dealing in real estate and in insurance and in due time became a member of the old and reliable firm of Duke Brothers & Company, taking charge of the loan department of which he still controls and in the management of which he has achieved signal success, proving an able and judicious business man and a valuable accession to the firm.
Mr. Drinkwater is a most courteous and companionable gentle- man, influential in business circles and honorable and reliable in all of his dealings. He ranks among the enterprising and public- spirited citizens of the city in which he resides, manifests an active interest in whatever pertains to the progress of Howard county and co-operates with others in forwarding all measures whereby his
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fellow men may be benefited. A Republican in the full measure of the term and deeply interested in the success of his party and its candidates. he has never entered the political arena as an aspirant for public honors, nor sought official position at the ballot box. Like the majority of wide-awake, enterprising men, he is a member of the ancient and honorable Brotherhood of Masonry and in his daily life endeavors to exemplify the sublime principles and pre- cepts of the order in all of his relations with his kind. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Red Men, the Ben-Hur and the Order of Maccabees, and in religion subscribes to the Meth- odist Episcopal faith, belonging with his wife to the Grace church in Kokomo, which organization he has served for a period of fifteen years as treasurer.
The home life of Mr. Drinkwater has been a continued series of mutually pleasing and agreeable experiences, each member looking to the interests of the others, the father, mother and four children constituting a harmonious and altogether happy family circle. The names of the children are Mazy B., John O., Charles M. and Paul E.
GEORGE EHRMAN.
Among the representative farmers of Howard county is the subject of this sketch, who is the owner of a fine landed estate in Ervin township, and is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise with that discretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequel in definite success, having always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of economical habits, and being fortunately situated in a thriving farming community, it is no won- der that he stands today in the front rank of the agriculturists of this favored locality.
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George Ehrman was born in Dolphin county, Pennsylvania. March 5. 1840, the son of George and Prainey ( Eschelman ) Ehr- man, both natives of the Keystone state. The father of the subject passed away in Shelby county, Indiana, and his mother closed the chapter of her life record in Dolphin county, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom our subject was one of the oldest members.
George Ehrman lived in Dolphin county, Pennsylvania. until he was twenty years old, working out as a farm hand. On leaving his native county he came to Shelby county, Indiana, and worked out as a farm laborer for two years, after which he rented a farm there for six years, during which time he made a comfortable living and was able to lay up a competence for the future, being thereby enabled to purchase a sixty acre farm in Mercer county, Ohio, on which he settled and lived three years, when he sold out, his farm bringing a good price after he had made extensive improvements. He came to Howard county, Indiana, in 1872, where he has re- mained, having purchased an eighty acre farm in Ervin township. Mr. Ehrman has been prosperous during these years of residence in this county by his able management and habits of industry and he has now a very valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres. He has erected a number of large and substantial buildings on the place. all of which indicates thrift and prosperity as well as good man- agement.
Mr. Ehrman was united in marriage in Shelby county, Indiana, October 23. 1862, to Margaret Beeler, who was a native of Butler county, Ohio, where she was born September 27. 1840. the daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth ( Emrick ) Beeler, both natives of Pennsylvania. Of a family of nine children, the wife of our subject was the sixth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Ehrman are the par- ents of three children, as follows: William A., county surveyor of Howard county, and a well known and useful citizen of the same;
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John F., an influential farmer of Ervin township: Sarah C., who was a woman of fine traits, who became the wife of J. Rider. She was called from her earthly labors in Ervin township. September 9. 1891, when about twenty-four years old.
Mr. Ehrman takes a great deal of interest in all the township offices in Ervin township, being a public-spirited man and anxious to see his community thrive.
The subject and wife are members of Shiloh Methodist Epis- copal church in Clay township, of which Mr. Ehrman has been steward and trustee for many years.
The subject has always been regarded as a man of high prin- ciples, honest in every respect and broad-minded. a man of broad charity, kindness of heart to the unfortunate and ever willing to aid in any worthy cause for the betterment of humanity or the public with which he has to deal. and he is held in high favor and the ut- most respect by all who know him.
JOHN W. JESSUP.
Upon the roll of representative citizens and prominent and in- fluential agriculturists of Taylor township, Howard county, appears the name which initiates this paragraph. Mr. Jessup has been a resident of this county since his youth and has worked his own way to a position of marked precedence in both business and political af- fairs, while he is held in unqualified esteem by the people of his community.
John W. Jessup was born in Howard county, February 4. 1861. the son of Jacob and Nancy ( Sparks ) Jessup. His grand- father and grandmother on his father's side were natives of Pennsyl- vania, who first moved to Ohio, later to Parke county, Indiana.
J. W. JESSUP.
Jacob Pressure
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where he owned and operated a good farm, having come to that locality seventy-seven years ago, dating back from 1908. Here he reared his children, nine in number, and spent his remaining years. He was a member of the Christian church while his wife was con- nected with the Methodist congregation.
Jacob Jessup, father of the subject, was the eighth child in order of birth, having been born in Ohio, June 7, 1823. being brought by his parents from that state when eight years old, to In- diana. His early education was received in the district schools of Parke county. He worked in his youth on his father's farm, as- sisting to make a farm and a home, working thus with his parents until his father's death when he fell heir to the home place, on which he remained for several years, when he sold out and moved to Howard county in 1852, buying a farm in Taylor township of one hundred and sixty acres, of which only seven acres were cleared. He had to make his own road to Center, where he had to purchase supplies for his family. This town was called Tampico at that time and there were but few settlers, only a small portion of the country being cleared. But our subject's father was always a man of thrift and he cleared the land gradually, assisted by our subject. also added to it as his fortune increased until he had two hundred and eighty acres. He not only cleared, but improved the farm by draining it and otherwise transforming the wild land into a first class farm, the land having originally been swampy and would scarcely raise anything of value at that time, but it is today very productive as the result of years of patient labor of Mr. Jessup. The original log house occupied the same site where the present modern, substantial and commodious dwelling now stands and the fields are well drained by tile. In addition to this our subject has an eighty-acre farm adjoining, which is under a high state of cul- tivation.
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Ten children were born to Jacob Jessup and wife, all but one living to maturity, and seven of them have raised families. The father is a member of the Christian church and was always an active member of the same until he became too feeble to take much interest in church work. The mother of the subject was a Methodist. She passed away January 19, 1866, having been born in 1831. The father is now living with our subject. He has been twice married. He has been a very rugged man, being for many years considered the strongest man in the district. He was long an active worker in the Democratic party, but he never held office.
John W. Jessup, our subject, was born on the farm where he has since resided. aiding in his youth with the farm work and at- tending the district schools as occasion afforded. He worked in building up the farm until he was of age; he then rented a farm from his father and is still continuing to work the old homestead and in addition works his own farm. He has always been an ex- tensive stock raiser, dealing in both cattle and hogs. the Poland cattle having received his attention, for the most part feeding cattle for the meat market. He feeds all the corn raised on the place and in addition buys much other corn which he feeds there. He has kept the farms under his management in a high state of productive- ness through a skillful rotation of crops, raising one corn crop and one of small grain, then one of clover on the land before another crop of corn is placed on it. He uses no commercial fertilizers and he now raises larger crops than at any former period. He is of the opinion that his land can be kept perpetually up to its present state of productiveness by continuing his present system of modern farming. No more up-to-date and painstaking farmer is to be found in Howard county than our subject.
Mr. Jessup was married in 1886 to Georgia Augusta Hobson, daughter of Absalom and Martha Jane ( Foster ) Hobson, her
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father having been a native of Indiana and her mother a native of Ohio. Robert Foster, a brother of Mrs. Jessup's mother, was a soldier in the Union army, having enlisted early in the war from Indiana and served during the entire war, having been captured and sent to Libby prison. Having been wounded in battle he never en- tirely recovered and he is now in a soldiers' home. There were seven children in the family of Mrs. Jessup's parents. Her father died at the age of eighty years. He was a Methodist, having long been active in that church. He was also active in politics, voting the Republican ticket. Her mother is now living at the age of seventy years in 1908. She is also a strict Methodist.
Only one child has been born to the subject and wife, Fred. whose date of birth is November 29. 1887, is a graduate of the Kokomo high school and in 1908 is in his third year at the State University, where he is making a brilliant record, being a young man with much talent and having a bright future. They are raising an adopted daughter, having taken her when five months old. She is Mr. Jessup's sister's child, whose mother died when the child was young.
Mr. Jessup is an active member of the Christian church while Mrs. Jessup subscribes to the Methodist faith. The former is an active Democrat, having been trustee of his township for two terms. handling the duties of this important office with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned during the four years of his incumbency. In 1908 he was his party's nominee for re- election. He is a public-spirited man and is well and favorably known throughout the township where he resides for his honesty and uprightness in all his business dealings. He is a man of pleas- ing address and is known for his hospitality and kindness to the poor.
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