USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 45
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The above firm lasted until 1882, when the subject soll his in- terest in the plant of his brother, and shortly after that date the plant was moved to Kokomo, where the business has since been car- ried on. He was a member of the Armstrong. Landon & Hunt Company, having charge of the planing mill, until the time of his retirement in 1898. This was by far the most important part of his business career. Some time after making the above sale Mr. Hunt invested his means in real estate, which, increasing in value with each succeeding year, in due time not only placed him in inde- pendent circumstances, but made him one of the financially solid and reliable men of Kokomo, to which city he retired about the year 1898. From that time until his death five years later he was not actively identified with any enterprise or business, but devoted his attention wholly to his private interests, which had grown to consid- erable magnitude and importance the meanwhile. During his years of retirement he kept fully abreast of the times in all matters of public concern, took an active part in promoting the various enter- prises which have given Kokomo such a high standing among the
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prosperous cities of the state, besides assisting to the extent of his ability in every movement calculated to benefit society and advance the interests of his fellow men. He was always active and influen- tial in religious circles and for a number of years served as trustee of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church of Kokomo, the handsome and imposing temple of worship now used by the congregation, one of the finest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture in Indiana, hav- ing been erected after the plans and under his personal supervision. In addition to contracting for this stately edifice he put up many other fine buildings in the city, both public and private, including the Elks' Hall, the new high school building, besides several court houses in different parts of the country, and achieved wide repute as an architect of much more than ordinary ability and skill. For twelve consecutive years he represented his ward in the city council and as a member of that body was untiring in his efforts to promote the interest of the municipality, among the more important measures in which he bore a part being the purchase of the City Park, which was brought about mainly through his influence. He was a life- long Republican, a tireless worker for his party, and its success in a number of local contests was largely due to his efforts as a wise counselor and judicious leader. While residing in New London he was elected justice of the peace and filled the office so ably and ac- ceptably that much important litigation was brought to his court. His fraternal relations included a long and active membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an organization he greatly loved, and the principles of which he endeavored to exemplify in all his dealings with his fellow men as well as in his daily walk and conversation.
In the year 1862 Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Mahala Rateliff, of Ohio, and daughter of William and Mary Ann ( Pettie) Ratcliff, bath parents of Ohio birth and highly esteemed by all who
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knew them. Mr. Rateliff, a farmer by occupation and for many years a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died in 1861. llis wife, also a devout and consistent member of the same religious body, departed this life in 1883. The family of this es- timable and popular couple consisted of eleven children, namely : John, Mahala, Mary Jane, Sarah, Francis, William, Julia, Caleb. Malinda A .. Benjamin F. and Virgil, all deceased except John, Mrs. Hunt and Virgil.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt nine children were born, the oldest of whom, a daughter by the name of Eliza, dying in infancy. Mary Caroline, the second of the number, married Lewis Cumberland and is the mother of two offspring. Wallace and Margaret. The third in order of birth is Estella Dell, wife of Cornelius . A. Higer, of Kan- sis City, Missouri, their union being blessed with three sons, Eu- gene, Cornelius, Jr., and Herbert. Mert William, the next in suc- cession, was an architect of ability and more than local repute, who died at the age of twenty-four while on business for the firm by which employed in the city of Waterbury, Connecticut. He was a member of the Masonic and Pythian orders and a young man of high intellectual attainments and moral standing, and it is said that his untimely taking off was the main cause that hastened the death of his father. He left to mourn his loss not only his family. but a young wife to whom he had not long been wedded and whose name before her marriage was Etta Eynolds. Emma, the fifth of the family, died when a young lady of twenty-four years of age: Lettie died in infancy; Exie became the wife of John Owens and lives on the home place : Elmer died in early life, and Glen, the youngest of the number, was called to the other world at the age of eighteen.
Mr. Hunt was a commendable example of the intelligent, broad- minded American citizen of the time, who made every other consid-
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eration secondary to duty and whose life was ever directed and con- trolled by principles of right and justice. While laboring earnestly to advance his pecuniary interests and provide comfortably for those dependent upon him, he was not unmindful of his duty to the pub- lic and his obligations to his fellow men, all of which he discharged with conscientious fidelity and in so doing gained the confidence of his friends and associates and rose to a high place in the esteem of the community. His career, though strenuous, was eminently suc- cessful, and against his character and good name no suspicion of wrong-doing or dishonor was ever known to have been uttered. Though modest and unostentatious in manner, seeking the quiet and secluded ways of life rather than the maddening crowd. he was nevertheless widely known and few men could claim as many war.n friends or show themselves as worthy of such friendships. On the 15th of May, 1903, the spirit of this excellent, God-fearing man and worthy, enterprising citizen took its everlasting flight, and with its passing there was left a vacancy in the community as well as in his immediate family which time alone can fill. In the true sense of the term he was a good man, just in all of his relations with the world, and the memory of his enterprise and kindly deeds will long remain to add luster to a name which all who knew him delighted to honor.
LUTHER DANA WATERMAN, A. M., M. D.
Devoted to the noble work which his profession implies, the gentleman whose career we essay to briefly outline in the following paragraphs has been faithful and indefatigable in his endeavors and has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way but has also proved himself eminently worthy to exercise the impor-
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tant functions of his calling, by reason of his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his fellow men. His understanding of the science of medicine was always regarded by those who knew him as being broad and comprehensive, and the profession and the public accord him a distinguished place among the men of this class in Indiana. AAlthough he no longer maintains his place among the active practitioners, having been living in hon- orable retirement for some time, he retains a firm hold on the con- fidence and affections of the many families to whom he ministered during the many years of his active practice, having been recognize:1 as one of the distinguished physicians of the state, while thorough original investigation and research and constant study along tech- nical lines kept him well abreast of the notable advance made in theory and practice of both medicine and surgery. His has been a life of earnest and persistent endeavor. such as always brings a true appreciation of the real value of human existence-a condition that must be prolific of good results in all the relations of life. It was his to render to the Union the valiant and loyal service of a true patriot at the time when its integrity was in jeopardy through armed rebellion, and here, as in all other relations of life. he was always found at his post of duty.
Dr. Luther Dana Waterman was born in Wheeling. West Vir- ginia. November 21. 1830, the son of Joseph Aplin and Susan ( Dana) Waterman. the former a native of Cornish, New Hamp- shire, and the latter's birthplace was neir Belfry, Ohio. The sub- ject's father was a farmer in his earlier years, but finally became a physician and subsequently a Methodist minister. making a success of each. but becoming especially well known in the last-named call- ing. having been a great student and an earnest expounder of the Gospel. His maternal great-grandfather was Captain William Dana, who had charge of a company at the Fort of Marietta. Ilis
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father died at Oxford, Ohio, at the age of fifty-five years, and his mother passed away in 1837. having died early in life. The former was twice married, and five children were born to him by the first wife, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth.
Doctor Waterman was reared in the Buckeye state and after the death of his mother he went to live with his grandmother at Oxford, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools, having been an ambitious lad from the first, and after finishing the course in these preparatory institutions he entered Miami University: and. while he did not take a degree when he left the school, his record was so clean and praiseworthy and he proved to be such an ardent student that this university later conferred the honorary degree of Master of Arts on him.
After leaving college Dr. Waterman began the study of medi- cine and in March, 1853. graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. Being poor he taught school during various periods in order to get together enough means to defray his expenses until he could get through school and medical college. After leaving medical college he practiced medicine in Cincinnati for two years, but believing that better opportunities existed for him at Kokomo. then a small town, but as later conditions proved was destined to become a flourishing city, consequently he located here in 1855 and became a partner of Dr. Corydon Richmond. There was much sickness in this locality at that time and he being young took a very active part in alleviating the conditions. The partnership he formed with the gentleman who had already shown his ability as a physician proved to be an unusually strong one, and their office was beseiged daily with patients, so that they were kept busy constantly. Our subject rode through swamps and over corduroy roads day and night to the surrounding country. Useless to say that he was eminently successful and soon built up an extensive practice. His fame ex-
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tended to outlying districts and he was often called in consultation on serious cases.
When the dark clouds of rebellion hung low over our national horizon and the integrity of the Union was seriously threatened our subject was one of the patriotic sons of the North to offer his valu- able services, believing that it was his duty to sever home ties and leave his excellent practice to go to the front, consequently he sought and obtained a commission as surgeon in the Thirty-ninthi Indiana Volunteer Infantry from Governor Morton, and served three years and two months in a creditable manner. He was detailed to various sections and saw much hard and exciting service, and was not with his regiment much of the time. During that time he was surgeon of the Eighth Indiana Cavalry and the first division of the Twentieth Army Corps, department of the Cumberland; also sur- geon of the Officers' Hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. He also had charge of hospitals at Huntsville. Alabama : Bridgeport and Chatta- nonga, Tennessee. He had the misfortune to be captured at Har- peth Shoals. Tennessee: and later at Newman, Georgia. Subse- quently he spent three weeks in the prison stokade at Macon, Geor- gia. He was then taken to the work house prison at Charleston, South Carolina and later released near Fort Sumpter.
After the war Dr. Waterman located at Indianapolis and soon began the practice of his profession, in which he continued in a most successful manner until 1893. becoming known as one of the best general practitioners in the city and holding high rank among the medical men of the state. Much to the regret of his numerous patients the doctor retired from active practice in 1893. During the time he was in practice in Indianapolis he was one of the surgeons of the City Hospital for many years and he was one of the incor- porators of the Indiana Medical College, in which he ably filled the chair of anatomy from 1869 to 1873 and that of professor of prin- ciples from 1875 to 1877 : and the high prestige of this institution
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is due in some degree to Dr. Waterman's influence and faithful services in its behalf.
In politics our subject was originally a Whig when that party was in power. but when the Republican party became its successor he at once affiliated with the same and has since remained true to its principles. He has always been more or less active in his party's issues, and when John C. Fremont was running for President he made speeches all over Howard county in his behalf and the doctor says that. he carried campaign literature and speeches instead of medicine that year.
Dr. Waterman is a man of ardent nature, scrupulously con- scientious in all that he says and does and always deeply imbued with the courage of his convictions, and his relations with his fellow men have ever been such as to win and retain their confidence and esteem.
Dr. Waterman published. in 1881, a volume of verse entitled "Phantoms of Life."
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