USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 26
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ANDERSON WILLITS.
In the constant and laborious struggle for an honorable compe- tence and a creditable name on the part of business or professional men, there is little to attract the reader in search of a sensational chapter, but to a mind thoroughly awake to the true meaning of life and its responsibilities there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who, early thrown upon his own re- sources and without other means than a sound mind, fertile percep- tive faculty and a true heart, conquers adversity and not only wins a prominent position in the industrial world, but what is equally as great, the deserved esteem and confidence of his fellow men. Such a man is the prominent citizen of Greentown, Howard county, whom the biographer treats in this connection, and whose name is so in- timately associated with the material and civic interests of the com- munity where he has long resided, as to reflect great credit upon the town and vicinity, at the same time gaining the undivided respect
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of all who know him for his well directed life, which has been along paths of honor and uprightness.
Anderson Willits, the well known ex-commissioner of Howard county, Indiana, was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, May 24, 1838, the son of Charles and Hannah ( Kirlin ) Willits, the former a na- tive of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. The father of the subject spent his early life in Iowa and in 1847 moved to Henry county, In- diana, later moving to Liberty township. Howard county, where he remained until 1872. He was trustee of Jackson township in an early time when there were three trustees. He was a man of much influence in his community and made a success in whatever he under- took.
Anderson Willits was ten years old when he came with his parents to Liberty township, where he has since made his home, hav- ing assisted his father in his work when a boy and attended the neighborhood schools, receiving a fairly good education, having been a diligent searcher after knowledge, but when he first started to school the New Testament was about the only text-book used. His work on the farm was carried on until he was twenty-one years old. helping to clear up the farm and transforming a comparatively poorly improved tract into productive fields.
The domestic life of our subject dates from 1859. when he was married to Harriet J. Hazzard, who was reared in Henry county. Indiana, the daughter of a well known family, and where she re- ceived a common school education. Mrs. Willits was called from her earthly labors in 1884. Charles, one of their children, is a grad- uate of De Pauw University. He was also a student at Ann Arbor University, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is an attorney of much promise, and the future undoubtedly holds much in store for him. He is located in Pasadena, California. Leota, daughter of the subject, is also in California, working as a stenographer, having
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formerly been a very capable teacher in Howard county's public schools : Dora is the wife of George Curlee, of Kokomo.
Mr. Willits was again married January 1, 1888, his second wife being Mary Lindley, who died in September, 1904. One daughter. Elsie Hays, who is twenty years okl in 1908, was born to this union. She is keeping house for her father, and is a young lady of attrac- tive personality.
The subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. having faithfully served as trustee of the same for many years. In politics he is a Republican, in which party he has made his influence felt in local affairs, having served very efficiently as a member of the town board. also the school board and was elected county commis- sioner in 1803. serving with marked credit for a period of three years.
Mr. Willits started life with practically nothing, but being a man of indomitable energy and thrift, he has been successful, rear- ing his children as they should have been reared, and at the same time got possession of a modern and nicely furnished home in Green- town and twenty acres of valuable land at the edge of the town. This land receives his careful attention and is one of the most de- sirable pieces of property in that vicinity. Mr. Willits is a pleasant and kind hearted man, having won hosts or friends, owing to his upright and well regulated life.
THE ARMSTRONG-LANDON COMPANY.
A corporation engaged in the mercantile business including hardware and farming implements and also manufacturers of all kinds of building material, are the successors, or rather a continu-
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ation of a business started by A. F. Armstrong in the year 1855. Their place of business is the oldest in the city of Kokomo, and those engaged in the conduct of it are recognized as the only mer- chants now in business when the present proprietors became inter- ested in it.
The present officers are: George W. Landon, president ; Thomas C. Howe, vice-president : W. \. Easter, treasurer ; H. McK. Landon, secretary : and Harry L. Moulder, assistant treasurer. As above stated. A. F. Armstrong was a partner in business with Dr. J. A. James, one of the pioneer physicians of the city, and Mr. Armstrong continued as the principal head of the business until the day of his death, in September, 1903. George W. Landon. the pres- ent president of the corporation, purchased an interest in the busi- ness in November, 1873, and became actively interested early in March, 1874, and he has been actively identified with the business from that date up to the present time, having been a member of all the succeeding firms and corporations. Thomas C. Howe, vice- president, married Mr. Armstrong's only daughter, and since Mr. Armstrong's death, has represented his interest in the business. Mr. Howe is well known as the president of Butler University at Irving- ton. W. A. Easter, treasurer, became identified with the business as a clerk early in the year of 1874, and has grown up with the busi- ness until at the present time he occupies one of the most important places in its conduct. having charge of the mercantile part of the business at the corner of Sycamore and Main streets, and is well known to almost every farmer in Howard county. coming more directly in contact with them than any other man in the conduct of the business. The secretary, H. McK. Landon, lives in Indian- apolis, is the son of the president and is otherwise engaged in busi- ness in that city. Harry L. Moulder, assistant treasurer, began em- ployment as a clerk in 1898 and has grown up until he now has
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charge of the office work of the corporation, and has the confidence of all of the officers connected with the corporation. Thomas H. Penn is the superintendent of the manufacturing part of the corpor- ation, whose factory is located on East Monroe street, where it crosses the Panhandle Railroad in the said city. He has been so em- ployed since 1903, and is recognized as competent and efficient as a superintendent in the management of their manufacturing interest, and also as a skilled artisan, and is used largely for the purpose of assisting contractors in the supervision of plans and in the superin- tendency of the construction of buildings, and is of very beneficial assistance in this class of work to all of the corporation's customers.
HARDWARE INDUSTRY.
The mercantile interests of the Armstrong-Landon Company are conducted from their place of business at the corner of Main and Sycamore streets on the south side of the public square at Ko- komo, Indiana. Their business room is constructed of brick and stone, covering a space of sixty-six by one hundred and thirty-two feet, a three-story and basement building, and is well suited and lo- cated to carry on the business for which the building was con- structed. The business is of a wholesale and retail character. the trade extensions of both branches covering all the adjacent territory in this portion of the state. \ computation of the different lines carried would involve a catalogue of many pages. Suffice it to say that for years this corporation has been the backbone of the agri- cultural and implement business of the surrounding counties. Out- side of the hardware, stove and implement business, covering all classes of farming implements. as well as carriages, buggies, surreys. etc .. they keep at this place almost all classes of building material outside of lumber, such as cement, sewer pipe, etc.
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BUILDING MATERIAL.
At the factory and in their yards, this corporation carries one of the largest stocks of all kinds of lumber used in the manufacture of building material in this part of the state, and there is nothing used in the construction of a building in the way of wood material but what they are at all times able to furnish and supply in the promptest manner. The quality of the work which they perform is fully recognized and demonstrated by the fact that as a corporation they have constructed more public buildings and more first class residences in this city than all other dealers or contractors in this line of business. Their work not only covers the furnishing of ordi- nary building material, but includes all classes of interior finish, stairs and stair work, office work, counters, show cases, etc., and the quality of the hard wood lumber carried for this purpose is unex- celled. and is so well known that many dealers engaged in similar lines of business in other cities in the state purchase such materia! from them.
JACOB STAHL.
Among the successful, self-made men of Howard county whose efforts and influence have contributed to the material upbuilding and general business activity of their respective communities, the gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection occu- pies a conspicuous place. Being ambitious from the first, but sur- rounded by none too favorable environment, his early youth was not especially promising. but he accepted the discouraging situation without a murmur and, resolutely facing the future, gradually sur- mounted the difficulties in his way and in due time rose to a prom-
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
inent position in the industrial circles of his community, besides winning the confidence and esteem of those with whom he was brought in contact, and today he stands as one of Howard county's most representative citizens and one of the prominent men of Lib- erty township.
Jacob Stahl was born in Ripley county, Indiana, September 24. 1857, the son of Frederick and Catherine ( Schrody ) Stahl. the former having been born in Germany. Jacob Stahl, grandfather of the subject, was born April 12, 1802, and died June 12. 1870, in Ripley county. Indiana. Catherine Grimes, his wife, was born in Germany. November 8, 1803, and died September 8. 1885. Fred- erick Stahl, father of our subject, was born in Germany, December 20, 1832, and he died September 24, 1872. Catherine. his wife, was born March 18. 1831. and died February 27. 1875. The sub- ject's grandfather came to America in 1852, first stopping at Wheel- ing, West Virginia. After coming to Ripley county, Indiana. he purchased timbered land, cleared it and farmed there until his death. He and his wife were the parents of three sons and one daughter. all living in 1908 except one son.
Jacob Stahl was reared on his father's farm and attended the common and grammar schools, receiving a fairly good education. His parents dying when he was a young man he was compelled to hustle for himself. consequently he went out in the workl to make his own way, being compelled at the same time to look after his other brothers and sister. He came to Howard county March 1. 1876, having been preceded by George and Adam Stahl, uncles of the subject. Jacob lived with them for eight months, working in a tile mill; later he went to ditching. becoming a ditching contractor and also contracted in cutting cord wood, succeeding at both.
Mr. Stahl was united in marriage to Marrietta Smith, who was born at Sycamore. Jackson township. Howard county. April
23
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5. 1856. Her father was a native of North Carolina and her mother of Tennessee. Mrs. Stahl received a fairly good common school education. To this union one child was born, the date of its birth occurring on May 19, 1881, and he bears the name Lawrence D. He received a common school education and later took a course in the business college at Marion, Indiana. He is a very promising young man.
The subject and wife had about eight hundred dollars when they were married. Receiving some from home the amount aggre- gated one thousand dollars. After renting land for three years the subject bought where he now lives, the place consisting of sixty acres. Later his wife received forty acres from the old home place.
The subject now has one of the best farms in Liberty township. having improved it to a high degree and installed an excellent drain- age system of about eleven hundred rods of tile ditch. He feeds good stock on his place and of late his son, who married Tessie Cavaielt, has been running the farm, which is kept in a high state of productiveness and is well fenced. On it stands an excellent dwelling and convenient out buildings. Our subject has operated a threshing machine for three years with much success, and did a very large business with his machine in the season of 1908.
Mr. and Mrs. Stahl are adherents to the Catholic faith. Fra- ternally our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the lodge at Greentown. His son, Lawrence, is also a member of this lodge. The former being one of the trustees of the same. He is also a member of the Red Men's lodge at Greentown, having served as treasurer of the same for five years.
Mr. Stahl and his son keep abreast of the times by general reading and they have found time to see something of the outside world, having attended the world's fair at St. Louis.
Mr. Stahl was nominated by his party for trustee of Liberty
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
township and had a majority against him of about sixty Republican votes. He is a friendly man and has a very large number of friends. He is known to be a man of upright principles and anxious to see his county develop in all lines. No one in Liberty township is better or more favorably known than he, for he has always taken a lively in- terest in local movements whether political, educational or moral and he can always be depended upon to lend his support and give of his valuable time in the furthering of all movements looking to the good of his community.
Mr. Stahl has shown what an honest, earnest, hard working man can accomplish, although he had to hew his own fortune from the obstacles that beset his way, for he started life with no great aid from any one, but he has been industrious and economical, so that today he has a comfortable competency and can look forward to an old age of comfort and quiet.
WILLIAM C. HOWELL.
The march of improvement is accelerated day by day, and each successive moment seems to demand of men a broader intelligence and a greater discernment than did the preceding, showing that suc- cessful men must be live men in this age, bristling with activity. The purpose of biography is to preserve the records of such men for the edification of succeeding generations ; thus the lessons of biog- raphy may be far-reaching to an extent not superficially evident. . 1 man's reputation is the property of the world, for the laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being either submits to the controlling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects others. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame
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and point the way along which others may follow with like success. Consequently it is believed that a critical study of the life record of the gentleman whose name appears above will be of benefit to the reader for it has been one of usefulness and honor.
William C. Howell was born on the farm where he now re- sides in Liberty township. section 22, Howard county, Indiana, Au- gust 26, 1871, the son of Tense and Elnore ( Golden) Howell. Tense Howell was an early settler of Liberty township, having entered a farm here in section 33, near Greentown, erected a log cabin and cleared the land, transforming it into a good farm, which he sokl and entered another eighty acres in section 22, clearing the major portion of it. This place was later sold and he bought one hundred and sixty acres in township 24, range 5 east. He resided on this until his death. He was an excellent farmer and became well known in his community. In politics he was a Republican and a member of the German Baptist church. He entered the Union army in 1863 and remained at the front until the close of the war, having been a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was engaged in the saw mill business for thirty-five years, and was a money maker at whatever he undertook. He was left an orphan at the age of eight years and was compelled to make his own way. His first wife died when our subject, Wil- liam C. Howell, was four years oldl. Tense Howell was remarried but had no children by his second wife. Twelve children were born of the first union, six of whom are living in 1908.
William C. Howell was born on the farm where he now lives. and received his education in the common schools and at Greentown. Being a close student he received a good education, sufficient to successfully teach school. He remained with his father until his death and farmed on his father's place until he was married to Anna Julow, who is a native of Liberty township, Howard county, and the
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
daughter of E. H. and Amelia Julow, the marriage ceremony having been performed April 11, 1894.
. Three interesting children have been born to this union whose ages in 1908 are as follows: Ethel, twelve: Veda, ten: Clifton, five.
Mr. Howell owns eighty-five acres of good land which is highly productive and kept well improved by careful and skillful manage- ment. General farming and stock raising is carried on by the sub- ject in a most successful manner. He has a good dwelling house and several convenient out buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Howell are members of the United Brethren church. Fraternally Mr. Howell is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias at Greentown, Indiana. In politics he is a Republican and has taken an active part in local political matters for many years, having been elected trustee of Liberty township in 1904, and took office January 1, 1905. He has made a most excellent official. still holding the position, and has the lowest levy of any township in the county except Center. Nine schools are in this township in which the subject takes a great interest. He is well known throughout the county and is highly respected by all, having maintained a reputation for square dealing with his fellow men and being public-spirited and upright in all his relations with the world as well as in his private life.
WILLIAM E. RIDGEWAY.
To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence. the unswerving perseverance and the wise economy which so prom- inently characterize the farming element in the Hoosier state.
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Among this class may be mentioned the subject of this life record. who, by reason of years of indefatigable labor and honest effort has not only acquired a well merited material prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he is associated.
Mr. Ridgeway has preferred to spend his life in his native com- munity, believing that richer opportunities existed near his own threshold than elsewhere, having been born in Ervin township. Howard county, Indiana, July 25. 1868, of noble parentage. his father being the well known "Squire" Ridgeway and his mother bore the maiden name of Mary Lee, the former being a native of Howard county and the latter of Kentucky. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Ervin township where their lives have been singularly happy and prosperous and where they still reside, being the proud parents of five children, of whom our subject is the third in order of birth. They were named as follows: Calvin, deceased; Jennie. deceased : William E., our subject : James, deceased; Nora.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools ; being an ambitious lad from the first he suc- ceeded admirably at his studies, laying a broad foundation for the subsequent building of a good education through home reading and habits of observation. The farm has always appealed to him as being the most independent life of all, and, having been taught much of how to successfully conduct a farm by his father, he began work on a farm of his own accord early in life and has always followed agricultural pursuits, now owning forty acres of well improved land which yields a good living, owing to the skillful management which it receives from year to year.
Our subject was united in the bonds of matrimony in Ervin township. December 20, 1887. to Cora Wilson, a daughter of Am- brose and Phoebe ( Griffith ) Wilson. Mrs. Wilson passed away in Ervin township after becoming the mother of seven children, of
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
whom the subject's wife was the third in order of birth, having been born December 25, 1869.
Two winsome and interesting children have been born to the subject and wife, brightening their hearthstone not a little. They bear the pretty names of Gladie .A. and Hazel R.
Being a man of recognized loyality to his county, state and na- tion and a well read man, deeply versed especially in political mat- ters, and a good mixer with his fellows, it is no wonder that Mr. Ridgeway was called upon to perform public service in his native community, consequently he was nominated and elected township trustee of Ervin township in 1894, which position he filled to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. having begun his official career in January, 1905. He has always voted with the Republican party. taking an active part in all the township offices and lending his time and influence in the support of the worthy candidates in each election.
The subject is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In all his relations with the people of Howard county, whether pub- lic. fraternal or industrial. Mr. Ridgeway has shown that he is a man of the highest integrity and honesty and one in whom the ut- most confidence can be reposed.
AARON DONALD HOBSON.
One of the leading citizens and representative farmers of Clay township. Howard county. Indiana, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this brief review. His has been an eminently active and useful life, but the limited space at the disposal of the biographer forbids more than a casual mention of the leading events
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in his career, which, in our opinion, will suffice to show what earnest endeavor and honesty of purpose rightly applied and persistently followed will lead to-unqualified success. .
Aaron Donald Hobson was born near New London, Monroe township, Howard county, April 10, 1864. His father was Elihu Hobson, who was a native of North Carolina, and his mother was Sarah King, a native of Maryland. They came to Howard county with their parents when both were quite young. When they grew 11p> they married and settled in this county, where they still reside. having reached an advanced age. They reared a family of eight children, of whom our subject was the fifth in order of birth. He was reared in Monroe township and lived at home until he was twenty-four years old, assisting with the farm work and attending the neighborhood schools at intervals, receiving a good common school and academic education. He followed threshing for sixteen years and has since engaged in farming exclusively. He owns twenty-seven acres of good land.
Mr. Hobson was married in Howard county. November 24. 1887, to Addie MI. Long, who proved to be a most worthy helpmeet. She was the daughter of Robert M. Long, an influential man in his community. After a faithful and happy life with the subject, Mrs. Long was called to her reward June 14. 1806. Two children were born to this union .- Russell M. and Mary F.
Mr. Hobson was again married November 10, 1897, to Ida May Davis, a woman of fine traits, the daughter of Ephraim Davis, of Tipton, Indiana, and to this union one daughter has been born, who answers to the name of Edna May.
Mr. Hobson has been a resident of Clay township since about 1800. He has filled the responsible position as trustee of his town- ship in a most creditable manner since January 1, 1905. He is a member of the Friends church, and has always been in league with
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
the Republican party, and being a man well versed in general po- litical affairs and a public-spirited citizen, his influence is always felt at local elections and he is looked upon as a man thoroughly in sympathy with any movement looking to the betterment or ad- vancement in any way of his community, where he has always been regarded as a man of sterling honesty and worth and worthy of the utmost confidence and respect, which his fellow citizens have been free to accord owing to his upright and industrious life.
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