USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
W. H. White was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on September 8, 1850, and is a son of Henry Francis and Elizabeth (Winkley) White, the former of whom, a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade, left Kentucky in 1864 and came to Indiana where he lived three years, going then to the state of Missouri, where he now lives near the city of Tipton at the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife died in 1889. To them were born nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest, the others being Milton, Miller, Olitha, Nelson, John C., Albert, Nellie and one who died in infancy. Politically, the subject's father is a Republican in politics, as are all the other members of the family. W. H. White early in life imbibed those principles of honesty, integrity and concentration of purpose which make for character and success and in the district school of his respective homes in Kentucky and Indiana, he enjoyed the best education and advantages af- forded. He followed the vocation of agriculture fof a few years after at- taining manhood and then, having decided to make the profession of medicine his life work, he studied the science under the direction of Doctor Huron, of Danville, Indiana, for three years. "From 1888 to 1889 he pursued his techni- cal studies in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, com- pleting his studies at the old Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, where he graduated in 1891. He at once came to Edinburg, and has since been en- gaged in the active practice, being now the oldest physician in point of years of service in the locality. Doctor White has spared no pains in fitting him- self for his professional practice, having taken several post-graduate courses in the best medical schools, where under the direction of some of the best noted specialists of the day he acquired great efficiency and skill, and having always been a close student and availing himself of every opportunity to widen his professional knowledge, it is not at all surprising that his advance- ment was rapid and satisfactory and that he now holds a high and honora- ble place among the leading physicians in a field long noted for the high order of its medical talent. Doctor White has not only kept in close touch
Digitized by Google
630
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
with the trend of current medical thought, but is also a close student of all social, political and scientific subjects, being broad-minded in spirit and a lead- er in those matters relating to the advancement of the community and the welfare of his fellow men.
On March 17, 1872, Doctor White was married to Janetta Records, a daughter of Franklin S. and Susan (Otterbach) Records, the former hav- ing been a successful farmer near Franklin, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born six children, namely: Three who died in infancy; Walter T., who is engaged in the real estate business at Indianapolis with the Pivot City Real Estate Company; Susan, the wife of N. E. Cloud, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Orris, of Chicago, was for three years principal of the high school of Aurora, and is now connected with Marshall Field & Com- pany. In May, 1894, Doctor White married Letitia Pitts, a daughter of Har- vey and Orlina (Pointer) Pitts.
Politically, Doctor White was a lifelong Republican up to the launching of the Bull Moose movement, since which time he has been allied with it. Professionally, he is a member of the American Medical Association, while his religious affiliations are with the Christian church, of which he is an elder and a prominent and earnest worker.
GEORGE W. RANSDELL.
Perseverance and sterling worth are almost always sure to win conspicu- ous recognition in all localities. George W. Ransdell, who for more than a quarter of a century has been recognized as one of the leading authorities on architecture and kindred matters in Johnson county, Indiana, affords a fine example of a successful, self-made man, who is not only eminently deserv- ing of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, but also possesses the necessary energy and talent that fits him to discharge worthily the duties of any responsibility with which he may be entrusted. A man of vigorous mentality and strong moral fibre, he has achieved signal success in a calling in which but few rise above mediocrity.
Mr. Ransdell is a native son of Johnson county, having been born in Clark township on the 7th of September, 1854. His parents, Andrew J. and Mary A. (Wheat) Ransdell, were both natives of Kentucky, who came to Johnson county prior to their marriage. The father was a farmer, which vocation he followed for many years in Clark township. where his death
Digitized by Google
631
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
occurred at the age of seventy-five years, his wife dying at the age of eighty- two years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living, namely : Martha H., widow of George DeMott, of Whiteland, Indiana; Mrs. Minerva J. Ransdell, of. Franklin; Joseph, of Franklin; James W .; B. R., also of Franklin, and George W., the subject of this sketch.
George W. Ransdell was reared on the paternal farmstead and received his education principally in the Whiteland schools. However, his school study has been liberally supplemented by much home reading and study, through which means he gained a wide and practical knowledge which has made him a man of unusually accurate information. While yet in young man- hood he began an independent career on his own account by engaging in con- tracting, in which he was successful, but which he eventually gave up in order that he might give his entire attention to architecture, for which he had decided natural talent and predilection. He has given himself to the practice of this calling for more than twenty-five years and has achieved a splendid success in such. He has been the architect of the most prominent buildings in this section of the county, including, among others, the White River town- ship high school, Nineveh high school, Union township high school, Clark township school No. 9, three school buildings in Hensley township, the high school building at Trafalgar and one school house in each Morgan and Knox counties, besides much other work both in residences and business properties in Johnson county, as well as several buildings in Indianapolis. Careful and painstaking in all he does and with an eye for the aesthetic and artistic as well as the utilitarian, he has universally given satisfaction in all the work which he has performed, and during the years he has commanded his full share of the patronage in his line. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word and with a natural talent for the vocation to which he has applied himself he has honestly earned the high standing he now enjoys in his line.
In June, 1876, Mr. Ransdell married Florence Bronson, of Franklin, Indiana, though a. native of Tennessee. She is the daughter of the late Charles Bronson, who for many years stood among the leading and influential citizens of Johnson county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ransdell have been born two children, both of whom are now deceased, namely: Leta, who died at the age of twenty years, and Hazel, who died at the age of eight years. Re- ligiously, Mr. and Mrs. Ransdell are earnest and faithful members of the Christian church, while, politically, Mr. Ransdell gives his support to the Democratic party, though he is not in any sense an aspirant for public office.
Digitized by Google
.632
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
He is a pleasant man to meet, affable, genial, courteous and hospitable and he holds high rank among the representative citizens of Johnson county, where he is well and favorably known and where he has led a very consistent and industrious life.
JOHN W. CALVIN.
The name of John W. Calvin is one familiar to the residents of Nineveh township, Johnson county, Indiana, as that of a hard-working, energetic, neighborly and accommodating farmer, whose time and toil spent in the culti- vation of his fertile farm have brought to him prosperity and a competency. He was born in. Brown county, Indiana, on March 16, 1852, and is the son of John and Sarah (Connor) Calvin. The father, also a native of Brown county, came to Ohio and later to Lick Spring, Johnson county, and the sub- ject's paternal grandfather, Luther Calvin, was a settler at the latter place, where he followed farming and stock raising. John Calvin was a soldier in the Mexican war and also a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in March, 1861, in Company I, Eighty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he rose to the rank of first lieutenant. After his return from the war he again resumed farming, which he followed until his death. He was the father of nine children.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Brown county, completing his studies in the high school in Nineveh town- ship. He was reared to the life of a farmer, a vocation to which he has de- voted his active attention during his life. His present farm of one hundred and forty-four acres in Nineveh township is called Edgewood, and is widely known as one of the best cultivated and most up-to-date farms in Johnson county. Mr. Calvin has given intelligent direction to all his efforts, and his labors have been rewarded with very gratifying returns. He raises all the crops common to this locality, and among his fellow agriculturists he enjoys a good reputation because of his sound judgment and wise discrimination in his affairs.
On February 22, 1881, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Alice M. Mullendore, whose death occurred on March 9, 1883. They be- came the parents of two children, Omar and Ida Blanche, who is deceased. In 1886 Mr. Calvin married Mary J. Hungate, the daughter of Turner B. and Harriet (Whiteneck) Hungate, both of old families of Johnson county. To the subject's second union was born a son, George, who died of typhoid fever at Ira Pueto, Old Mexico.
Digitized by Google
.
JOHN W. CALVIN
Digitized by Google
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
L
Digitized by Google
633
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Politically a Democrat, Mr. Calvin has long taken an active interest in the public affairs of Johnson county and served efficiently as a member of the board of county commissioners and also as a member of the county coun- cil. In a purely local capacity he served as trustee of Nineveh township for four years, and in all the official positions he has filled he gave eminent sat- isfaction to his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic and Pythian orders and has endeavored in his daily life to exemplify the sublime principles of these organizations. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian church and gives earnest attention to the spiritual verities of life, contributing liberally of his means to the support of all religious and benev- olent movements. In fact, his support can be counted on in behalf of every- thing that tends to the upbuilding of his fellow citizens, educationally, morally or socially, and because of his unassuming disposition, genial manners and genuine worth he receives the unreserved confidence and good will of all who know him.
REV. WILLIAM MULLENDORE.
There is no earthly station higher than a AMHister of the gospel; no life can be more uplifting or grander than that which Is devoted to the ameliora- tion of the human race; a life of sacrifice for the betterment of the brother- hood of men, one that is willing to east aside all earthly crowns in order to follow in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene. It is not possible to measure adequately the height, depth and breadth of such a life, for its influences con- tinue to permeate the lives of others through succeeding generations; so the power it has exerted cannot be known until the last great day. One of the self-sacrificing, ardent and true spirits who has been a blessing to the race, and who has left in his wake an influence that ever makes the world brighter and better, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, whose life forcibly illustrates what energy, integrity and fixed purpose can accomplish when animated by noble aims and correct ideals. He has ever held the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the people among whom he has labored, and his career can be very profitably studied by the ambitious youth standing at the parting of the ways.
William Mullendore was born February 28, 1858, and is a son of Lewis and Harriett E. (Records) Mullendore. The father was a native of Ohio, his parents coming to the United States from Germany in an early day, locat-
Digitized by Google
634
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ing first in Virginia, afterwards going to Ohio, and then came to Indiana, where the subject of this sketch was born.
Lewis Mullendore located in Bartholomew county first, later coming to Johnson county. He was by trade a tanner and cooper, but subsequently. took up farming, to which he devoted the latter part of his life. He is now deceased, but his widow is still living on the old home place. They became the parents of ten children, namely: Huldah, Elizabeth, Joseph, the subject, William, Alice, Elsie, LaVinna, Jennie, Frank and Ollie. The subject's father was an ardent member of the Christian, or Disciples, church, but was not active in politics or in lodges. He was a man of high moral character and in every avenue of life's activities he earned and retained the warm regard of all who knew him.
The subject of this sketch was educated first in the common schools of Johnson county, and in 1884 became a student in Butler College, where he pursued his theological studies and graduated with the class of 1888. At the conclusion of his college course, he entered the ministry of the Christian church, his first settled pastorate being at Noblesville, Indiana. He achieved eminent success there, and was then called to be financial secretary at Butler College, doing much effective work for that institution. After- ward he was called to the church at Somerset, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained for almost seven years, and then became pastor of the Christian church at Terre Haute, but two years later retired from the ministry and came to Franklin, where he has since resided. He is connected with the Christian church at Franklin and, although not in the settled ministry, he still does much preaching and is valued highly among his brethren of the ministry because of his active and effective services in the cause of the Master. Of marked mental ability, well educated, and a forceful and effec- tive pulpit speaker, his services are in much demand, not only in stated reli- gious services, but also in the interests of all causes which lead to the advance- ment of the human race along legitimate lines. Mr. Mullendore is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of splendid land in Nineveh township, John- son county, to the cultivation of which he gives his attention and which he has found a profitable source of income. The farm is elegantly located, and is numbered among the best of the township.
On September 29, 1880, William Mullendore was married to Mary Harbert, the daughter of Harrison and Sarah Jane (Townsend) Harbert, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother a member of the old Town- send family of Scott county, where occurred the noted Pigeon Roost massa-
Digitized by Google
!
635
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
cre by the Indians in the early days. Mrs. Mullendore's grandmother was led out of the massacre by her mother, who carried one child and led two others, walking all the way to the settlement by night in her bare feet, and enduring terrible hardships on the journey. To Mr. and Mrs. Mullendore have been born five children, namely: Edith, Mabel, Hugh, Ruth and William. He is a Republican in politics, and is numbered among the strong and influential citizens of Johnson county, and enjoys universal respect and esteem.
WELLBOURNE S. TUCKER.
Professional success results from merit. Frequently in commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift, but in what are known as the learned professions advancement is gained only through painstaking and long continued effort. Prestige in the healing art is the outcome of strong mentality, close application, thorough mastery of its great underlying principles and the ability to apply theory to practice in the treatment of diseases. Good intellectual training, thorough profes- sional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attri- butes essential to success, have made the subject of this review eminent in his chosen calling and he is recognized today as one of the leading veterinary surgeons in central Indiana.
Wellbourne S. Tucker, who is well established in the practice of veteri- nary surgery at Franklin, Indiana, was born on March 25, 1872, about two miles southeast of Trafalgar, in Nineveh township, Johnson county, Indiana, and is the son of John S. and Sarah C. (Eganbright) Tucker. The father was born in Nineveh township, this county, and the mother in Hendricks county, Indiana, the former being now a resident of Shelby county, where he follows agricultural pursuits. The subject's paternal grandfather, Clark Tucker, who was a native of Kentucky, came to Johnson county in an early day and here followed farming pursuits. To the subject's parents were born four children, those besides the subject being Myrtle, the wife of William Prosser, of Indianapolis; Mrs. Hazel Tucker, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Forrest, who is with his father.
The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in Nineveh and Hensley townships. He assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until he began his practical training for his life profession. In pursuance of his plans he entered, in 1898, the Ontario
Digitized by Google
636
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, where he graduated in 1899, and in 1902 he graduated from the Indiana Veterinary College of Indianapolis. Immediately afterwards, Doctor Tucker came to Franklin and entered upon the active practice of his profession, in which he has met with splendid suc- cess, and he has remained here continuously with the exception of about six months when he was engaged in the practice at North Vernon, Indiana. Because of his professional ability and the success that he had gained, he has earned and enjoys the marked esteem of all who know him.
Doctor Tucker has been married twice, first in 1892 to Maud Kennedy, of near Amity, Johnson county, Indiana, to which union was born one child, Maud. Mrs. Tucker died on August 17, 1896, and in 1903 Doctor Tucker married Lucy R. Sandefer, the daughter of James Sandefer, of Franklin. To this union was born one child, Sybil, now aged eight years.
Doctor Tucker is a man of high intelligence and public spirit and has taken a deep interest in the welfare of his community and is now serving as fruit and meat inspector for Franklin. He also writes considerable live stock in- surance, and in the accumulation of material wealth he has been reasonably successful, owning one hundred and sixty acres of land in Louisiana and forty acres in this county about three miles south of Franklin.
Politically, Doctor Tucker gives an ardent support to the Republican party, but takes no active part in campaigns other than the casting of his ballot. His religious membership is with the Christian church, to which he gives a liberal support. In every thing to which he has given his attention he has given his best effort and his success has been but the just reward of honest effort.
CLARENCE PROVINCE, M. D.
The man who devotes his talents and energies to the noble work of ministering to the ills and alleviating the suffering of humanity is pursuing a calling which in dignity, importance and beneficial results is second to no other. If true to his profession and earnest in his efforts to enlarge his sphere of usefulness, he is indeed a benefactor of his kind, for to him more than to any other man are entrusted the safety, the comfort and, in many instances, the lives of those who place themselves under his care and profit by his services. It is gratifying to note in the series of personal sketches appearing in this work that there remain identified with the professional, public and civic affairs of Johnson county many who are native sons of the county and
Digitized by Google
637
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
who are ably maintaining the prestige of honored names. Of this number, Dr. Clarence Province, who is prominent among the physicians and surgeons and who is practicing his profession at Franklin, is one of the representative men of the county. He stands in the front rank of Johnson county's profes- sional men, having been engaged in his calling here for many years, during which time he has not only gained wide professional notoriety, but also established a sound reputation for uprightness of character in all the rela- tions of life.
Clarence Province was born on December 5, 1870, at Providence, John- son county, Indiana, and is the son of William M. and Julia (Abraham) Province, who were natives, respectively, of Henry county, Kentucky, and Morgan county, Indiana. There were two other children in the family, Florence, the wife of Dr. William Garshwiler, of Southport, but who is prac- ticing medicine in Indianapolis, and Oran A., who is practicing medicine in partnership with the subject, and who is mentioned specifically elsewhere in this work. William M. Province is a veteran of the Civil war, having en- listed as a member of the Sixth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, Union army, with which he spent three years in active service, taking part in many of the most hotly contested battles of the great struggle and gaining a good record for courage and faithfulness. After the war, in 1865, William M. Province came to Johnson county, and located at Providence, where he entered upon the active practice of medicine. He was a graduate of Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, and met with pronounced success in the prac- tice. He still resides at Providence, secure in the confidence and esteem of the entire community, for he is a man whose depth of character, sterling integrity and genuine worth have commended him to all who have known him through the years.
Clarence Province received a thorough education, having completed the common school course and the academic course at Franklin College, after he became a student at the State University, where he graduated in 1892, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then determined to adopt the medical profession for his life work and to this end he matriculated in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1895. He immediately returned to Franklin and has since been actively and successfully engaged in the practice here, being now associated with his brother, Oran A. In connection with their general practice, the Doctors Province conduct a private hospital at Franklin, which has been a great convenience to those in need of hospital service. Doctor
Digitized by Google
638
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Clarence Province is a member of the Phi Delta Theta college fraternity. He stands admittedly in the front rank of Johnson county's professional men, possessing a thoroughly disciplined mind and keeping in close touch with the trend of modern thought relating to the noble calling to which his life and energies are devoted. He has ever maintained his high standing, never descending beneath the dignity of his profession nor compromising his usefulness by countenancing any but noble and legitimate practice.
Fraternally, the Doctor is identified with the Masonic order, while, re- ligiously, he is a member of the Christian church, to which he gives a liberal support.
FRED R. OWENS.
Among the prominent citizens and able and successful attorneys of John- son county, none holds a higher position in the esteem of the people than Fred R. Owens, of the legal firm of White & Owens, at Franklin. He is a native son of the Hoosier state, having been born at Monticello, Indiana, on Novem- ber 13, 1874, and is the son of John R. and Anna (Fullen) Owens, the father a native of Bartholomew county, Indiana, and the mother of Johnson county. John R. Owens has spent the greater part of his active life as an educator, in which he attained high standing, but in 1889 he came to Franklin and is now bookkeeper for the hardware firm of Smith & Tilson. Mrs. Anna Owens died in 1903. They became the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch, and Arthur, who is connected with the Citizens National Bank, of Franklin.
The subject of this sketch attended the Franklin public schools, graduat- ing from the high school and then attending Franklin College, from which he graduated. Having decided to make the practice of law his life work, he entered the Indiana Law School, where he graduated in 1898. In Septem- ber of the same year he entered upon the practice of his profession at Frank- lin with Miller & Barnett, and in 1901 he opened an office of his own. On December 1, 1902, he formed a partnership with George I. White, under the firm style of White & Owens, a relationship which still exists. This strong firm has firmly established itself in the esteem of the people and has com- manded its full share of the legal business of the county, having been prominently connected with some of the most important cases tried in the Johnson county court. At the present Mr. Owens is rendering efficient serv- ice as attorney for the city of Franklin. He gives his undivided attention to
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.