USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 65
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On November 16, 1887, John H. Tarlton was married to Jessie B. Gib-
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son, the daughter of Harvey J. and Adelaide Gibson, she having been born at Franklin, Indiana, on August 11, 1863. This union has been blessed by two children, Marcia Adelaide, who, on August 4, .1913, married L. E. Miller and resides in Chicago, and Charlotte E., both of whom are at home with their parents. Marcia graduated from Franklin College in June, 1913.
Politically, Major Tarlton gives his support to the Democratic party, while, religiously, he is an attendant of the Baptist church. Fraternally, he is a Mason, in which order he has taken the degrees of the York Rite, includ- ing those of the Temple, belonging to Franklin Commandery No. 23. Be- cause of his genial personality, sterling qualities of character and his success in life, the Major is deservedly popular among his acquaintances.
DAVID R. WEBB.
In past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of commercial activity and those whose names are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter, and the victor is he who can most successfully establish, control and operate commercial interests. Mr. Webb is unquestion- ably one of the strongest and most influential of the men whose lives have been an essential part in the history of Johnson county. Tireless energy, keen per- ception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right thing in the right place and time are the chief characteristics of the man. These, combined with everyday common sense and guided by strong will power, are concomitants which will insure success in any undertaking.
David R. Webb was born in Blue River township, Johnson county, In- diana, on January 11, 1854, and is a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Abbett) Webb. The father, who was born on December 25, 1827, on the old home- stead in this county, died on June 24, 1901 ; his wife also was a native of this county and her death occurred in 1855. The subject's paternal grandfather was David Webb, who also was a farmer by vocation. John C. Webb early in life was a tiller of the soil, later followed the livery and horse business and eventually became a veterinary surgeon. He was a man of excellent qualities of character and was highly respected in the community. The subject of this sketch received a good practical education in the public schools of Edinburg, and his first independent labor on his own account was as clerk in a store dur-
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DAVID R. WEBB
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ing the daytime and as assistant in Winterberg's ice cream parlors in the evenings. Later he was appointed deputy postmaster of Edinburg under Postmaster Matthew Duckworth, and at the expiration of his term in that office he applied himself to the tinner's trade, at which he worked two years. He then accepted employment as clerk in the hardware store of Christian C. Forrer, and in 1877 he bought a half interest from his employer and in 1885 obtained sole control of the business. He was prospered in this line and con- tinued in this business until 1900, when he sold a half interest to Oscar Mutz, and later sold his entire interest. He is the owner of the building in which the store is located. In 1900 Mr. Webb bought a half interest in the Martin Cutsinger grain elevator, in which he was interested for five years, at the end of which period he disposed of his interest, and in November, 1905, he bought the Mulloda Veneer Manufacturing Company. This company had been organized and was owned by Roscoe Mutz, Andrew J. Loughery and C. W. Davis, who were the pioneers in the veneer industry in Edinburg. To this business Mr. Webb has given his careful attention and has built it up to very large proportions, the sales being handled through the Walter Clark Veneer Company, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The plant is well equipped with the latest improved machinery, calculated to produce the finest qualities of veneer at a reasonable cost, and the produce of this factory has found ready sale wherever offered. Mr. Webb has demonstrated himself to be a man of ex- ceptional business ability and enterprise andetstan" of his energetic methods he has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods". As a private citizen he takes a deep and abiding interest in all phases of the community life affecting the educational, moral, social or material welfare of the people, and his sup- port is always given to such movements as are conducive to the greatest public good.
In 1876 Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Laura Alice Leggate, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mullendore) Leggate, the former having been an old settler of Shelby county, where he successfully followed farming and stock raising. His death occurred in 1857. Mrs. Webb, who was born on September 7, 1857, received a good practical education in the common schools of her home neighborhood and is a lady of many gracious qualities of head and heart, such as have commended her to the good will of all who know her. To Mr. and Mrs. Webb have been born three children, namely : Eva, the wife of Claude Maley, a successful lumber and hardware dealer at Evansville, Indiana; Jessie, who married, but is now deceased, having died at the age of twenty-six years; Ruth, who married Percy R. Broadbeck, lives in Edinburg.
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Politically, the subject of this sketch gives his earnest support to the Republican party and has always taken an intelligent interest in public affairs, having served for several years as treasurer of Edinburg, giving eminent satisfaction in the discharge of his duties. Fraternally, he has been a member of the Knights of Pythias since 1877, while in the Masonic order he has at- tained marked preferment, having attained all the degrees of the Scottish Rite to the thirty-second. He is also a member of Murat Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis. Mr. Webb lives in a comfortable and attractive home on East Main street, Edinburg, where the spirit of genuine old-time hospitality is always in evidence, and because of his genial disposition and manly qualities of character and his genuine worth he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
CAMILUS B. COOK.
The success of men in business or any vocation depends upon character as well as upon knowledge, it being a self-evident proposition that honesty is the best policy. Business demands confidence and where that is lacking busi- ness ends. In every community some men are known for their upright lives, strong common sense and moral worth rather than for their wealth or political standing. Their neighbors and acquaintances respect them, the young genera- tions heed their examples, and when they "wrap the drapery of their couches about them and lie down to pleasant dreams" posterity listens with reverence to the story of their quiet and useful lives. Among such men of a past generation in Indiana was the late Camilus B. Cook, who was not only a pro- gressive man of affairs, successful in material pursuits, but a man of modest and unassuming demeanor, well educated, a fine type of the reliable, self- made American, a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults of his neighbors and who always stood ready to unite with them in every good work and active in the support of laudable public enterprises. He was proud of the grand state of Indiana and zealous of its progress and prosperity. He was a man who in every respect merited the high esteem in which he was universally held, for he was a man of public spirit, intellectual attainments and exemplary character.
C. B. Cook was a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Rush county on the 8th of October. 1833, and was a son of John T. and Mary (Morris) Cook. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, came
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to Indiana in an early day, settling first in Rush county, but later moving to Huntington county, where his death occurred. He was a man of splendid personal character and stood high in the communities where he lived. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools and his first active labors were devoted to the cultivation of the home farm. Later he entered the grain business on his own account in Greenwood, Johnson county, having located in Pleasant township forty-eight years ago and thirty- eight years ago located in Greenwood. Besides being heavily interested in the grain elevator business, he also dealt, earlier in life, very extensively in live stock, buying and selling the stock, in all departments of which he was prospered and realized splendid profits from his investments. He accumulated one hundred acres of land near Greenwood and also had a splendid residence in Greenwood where his widow now lives. He was a man of sterling qual- ities of character, being known to his neighbors as an industrious, hardwork- ing man of undoubted honesty and the highest moral integrity, whose success in life was fully earned and deserved. He was essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he undertook and he won and re- tained the confidence and esteem of all classes. His career was rounded in its beautiful simplicity, for he did his full duty in all the relations of life and it is safe to say that no man in the county in which he lived enjoyed to a greater extent the affection and confidence of the people with whom he associ- ated than did Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook's death occurred on December 5, 1910, and his passing away was considered a distinct loss to the community.
In 1864, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Elizabeth Voris, the daugh- ter of Abram and Sarah (Lyons) Voris. Both of these parents are now deceased, the father having died in Franklin and the mother near Green- wood. They were the parents of three children: Margaret, deceased, Eliza- beth ( Mrs. Cook) and William, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook were born two children, Cora, the wife of David DeMotte, an elevator man, and they have one child, Camilus Bowen; Nora became the wife of Charles White. a successful hardware merchant in Greenwood.
Politically, Mr. Cook was a stanch Republican and took an active part in political affairs, though not himself a seeker for public office. In the religious life of the community he was prominent as a member of the Chris- tian church, standing stanchly for all those things which go to elevate human- ity and lead others to the better life. He took a deep interest in the large affairs of the community and as vice-president of the Citizens Bank, which office he held at the time of his death, he wielded a large influence in local financial and commercial affairs.
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MILFORD MOZINGO.
Among the representative farmers of Johnson county is the subject of this sketch, who is the owner of a fine landed estate in Needham township and is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise with that dis- cretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence 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 com- munity, it is no wonder that he stands today in the front rank of the agri- culturists of this favored locality.
Milford Mozingo, who has been eminently successful in the pursuit of agriculture in Needham township, Johnson county, and who has attained to a relative degree of prominence in his county by faithful public service, was born near the banks of Sugar Creek, Needham county, on April 1, 1852, and is the son of Joseph Mozingo. The latter was born in Clark county, Indiana, on March 17, 1820, and died on September 24, 1909. He was the son of John Mozingo, a native of Virginia, who located in the state of Indiana in 1819, his coming from the South being prompted by his opposition to slavery. In 1823 the family settled on Sugar creek in Johnson county, where Joseph entered school in a log cabin and afterward in the town of Franklin. At that time but little improvement had been made in this section of the country, wild game being numerous and Indians still being occasionally seen. He was a prominent and influential member of the Second Mt. Pleasant Baptist church for three-quarters of a century, being frequently elected a delegate to church meetings. In 1839 he married Julia Ann Owens, and they established their home on fifty-six acres of land in Needham township. They became the parents of seven children, of whom three are living, namely: Mrs. William Neal, of Blue River township, this county ; Mrs. Mary Yelton, of Franklin, and Milford, the subject of this sketch. The mother of these children died on July 5, 1888.
Milford Mozingo received his education in the common schools of Need- ham township and remained with his father until attaining the age of twenty- one years, when he rented land and farmed on his own account until 1896, when he bought his present splendid farm in Needham township. To the cultivation of this place he has assiduously devoted his attention and has made many permanent and substantial improvements, which have added to the value and utility of the farm. He carries on general farming, his entire tract of nearly one hundred acres being in cultivation and all being very productive,
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as may be noted from the following figures for 1912: Twenty-five hundred bushels of corn and six hundred bushels of oats, while there is yet twenty- five acres or more in wheat and thirty-eight in corn. Seventy head of hogs are fed annually and every detail of the farm work is under the personal supervision of Mr. Mozingo, who is practical and systematic in all he does. A comfortable and attractive brick residence, located on a commanding knoll and surrounded by fine, large shade trees, is one of the notable features of this farm.
Politically, Mr. Mozingo has been a lifelong Democrat, and has taken an active part in the advancement of the interests of his party, having served as a delegate to judicial, county and state conventions. In November, 1906, Mr. Mozingo was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and served two terms, a period of six years, to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents. At the time of his election the county was in debt to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, and had a high rate of taxation, while when he re- tired from office the debt had been cancelled and the tax rate materially low- ered. He was faithful in the discharge of his official duties, and when he retired from office his admirers, to show their esteem for him, presented him with a fine leather rocking chair. Religiously, Mr. Mozingo is a member of the Second Mt. Pleasant Baptist church, of whichhe hasbeen a faithful mem- ber for over forty years. His fraternal relatidad are withthe Franklin lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Franklin Commandery No. 23, Knights Templar, as well as the Knights of Pythias . xong,; HOTe.
Mr. Mozingo has been twice married, first on February, 7, 1874, to Susie J. Parkhurst, daughter of John M. Parkhurst, and to them was born one child, William V. Mrs. Susie J. Mozingo died in 1876, and on October 10, 1888, Mr. Mozingo married Abbie M. Powers, of Clark township, this county, a daughter of John T. Powers.
Mr. Mozingo's early life story is not uncommon in our western history and serves as an object lesson to those who would mount the ladder of suc- cess. His beginning was characterized by hard work and conscientious en- deavor, and he owes his rise to no train of fortunate incidents or fortuitous circumstances. It is the reward of application of mental qualifications of a high order to the affairs of business, the combining with keen perceptions of mental activity that enabled him to grasp the opportunities that presented themselves. This he did with success and, what is more important, with honor. His integrity has ever been 'unassailable, his honor unimpeachable, and he stands now, as he has stood in the past, one of the successful men and representative citizens of the day and generation.
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JAMES T. GILMORE.
He to whom this sketch is dedicated is a member of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families in Johnson county, and there is particular inter- est attached to a study of his life record, owing to the fact that he has forged his way to the front by reason of an innate ability and personal characteristics that seldom fail to win the goal sought.
James T. Gilmore, the efficient and popular clerk of the court of Johnson county, Indiana, is a native of his county, having been born on October 30, 1863. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Gilmore, was one of the honored old pioneers of Johnson county, having in an early day settled in Union town- ship where he entered government land, on which he spent the rest of his days. He was a native of Kentucky. The subject's parents, Cornelius and Virginia (Deer) Gilmore, were both natives of Johnson county, where the father followed the vocation of carpenter during his active life in Union township, where he was born and reared. His death occurred on January 22, 1902. His widow is now living in Union township at the advanced age of seventy-six years. She was born in Johnson county and is the daughter of Willis Deer, who in an early day entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, on which he lived until seventy-five years old, when he re- tired to his present home in Boone county. this state, where his death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-two years. To Cornelius and Virginia Gil- more were born four children, namely: Susan, the wife of John F. Hender- son, of White River township, this county: Belle, the wife of Frank Etter. of Union township; Laura, the wife of James R. Blackwell, of Union town- ship, and James T., the subject of this sketch.
James T. Gilmore, who was born on a farm and received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood, began his independent career as a clerk in a general store in Union township, in which employment he con- tinued during the greater part of his life just prior to his election to the office of county clerk, though he had devoted a few years to agricultural pur- suits, in which he was eminently successful. In 1910, he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the office of county clerk and was elected in the ensuing fall, assuming the duties of his office on January 1, 1912. for a four- year term. Mr. Gilmore is a man of sagacity and good business ability. elements which have contributed materially to his success in his official posi- tion, and he is discharging his public duties to the honor and satisfaction of all those who have dealings with the office. Genial and accommodating in
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manner, he has made friends of all who have come in contact with him, and no more popular official is in the Johnson county court house than he.
On November 22, 1891, Mr. Gilmore married America Brown, the daughter of John J. Brown, of Union township, and they have become the parents of five children, Bino, Harry, Frank, Helen and John.
Politically, Mr. Gilmore has, as before stated, given his support to the Democratic party and has taken an acitve part in political campaigns in his county. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Im- proved Order of Red Men and Knights of Pythias, while his religious affilia- tions are with the Christian church, of which he is an earnest member and to which he gives a liberal support. Mr. Gilmore is a busy man, but he finds time and opportunity to take an interest in matters pertaining to the progress and growth of his community and county, keeping abreast of the times on all questions of vital interest and being regarded by all as a leading citizen in the locality honored by his residence.
JOHN C. McCLAIN.
Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in life are often attained by simple means and the erercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance. The everyday life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring experi- ence of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and improvement. The fact having been recog- nized early in life by the subject of this sketch, he has seized the small oppor- tunities that he encountered on the rugged hill that leads to life's lofty sum- mit where lies the ultimate goal of success, never attained by the weak, am- bitionless and inactive. Mr. McClain is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise in Johnson county, Indiana, with that discretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in definite success, and in such a man there is particular satisfaction in offering in their life histories justifica- tion for the compilation of works of this character-not necessarily that the careers of men of Mr. McClain's type have been such as to gain them wide reputation or the admiring plaudits of men, but they have been true to the
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trusts reposed in them, have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all and have been useful each in his respective sphere of action, while at the same time he has won and retained the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact as a result of his industrious and upright career.
John C. McClain was born in Clark township, Johnson county, Indiana, on August 25, 1870, and is a son of George W. and Anna (Billingsley) Mc- Clain. The father was born in this county in 1839, and his father, Moses, who was from one of the Eastern states, came to this locality in an early day. George W. McClain was a farmer by vocation in Clark township, where he still resides, and where he has achieved a splendid reputation as an upright citizen and progressive man of affairs. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first in order of birth, the others being Mon L., Moses S., Samuel, Stella, Henry and Mary M. George W. McClain is a Democrat in his political views, though he has never held other than minor public offices.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools, and his early active years were devoted to agricultural pursuits, to which he applied himself vigorously for fifteen years. He then relinquished farm labor and engaged in the grocery business at Greenwood for four years, at the end of which time he sold out and engaged in the furniture business. In this he was successful for nearly twelve years, but has lately disposed of this business and expects to engage in the undertaking business in the near future. In all of the various affairs with which he has been connected his career has been characterized by sterling integrity, high business ability and an enterprise which brooks no obstacle. He is made of the stuff that is bound to succeed and undoubtedly he will continue as he is today numbered among Greenwood's leading business men and enterprising citizens.
In 1897 Mr. McClain was married to Jessie E. Bishop, daughter of William H. and Sarah (McAlister) Bishop, and to this union have been born four children, namely : Maurine Fay. Lillian May, Sarah Anna and John William.
Politically, Mr. McClain has given his support to the Democratic party, and from 1906 until 1910 he served efficiently as trustee of Pleasant town- ship. During the same period he also served as treasurer of Greenwood, performing the duties of this responsible office with entire satisfaction to his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellow orders, having membership in the local lodges at Greenwood. Mr. McClain is regarded as one of the leading men of his community in every respect, being public-spirited, honest and upright in all his dealings with the world, and win-
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ning and retaining friends wherever he goes. Mrs. McClair is also much ad- mired by those who know her for her congeniality and various womanly traits.
JOSEPH JOHNSON. '
It is proper to judge of the success and status of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in his church, at his devotions, hear his views on public questions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus be- come competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know his worth, because, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this county there is nothing heard concerning the subject of this sketch but good words. He has passed so many years here that his worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the busy events of his life, in these pages.
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