USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 48
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 48
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Edmund B. Thornton received his education in the public schools, being a graduate of the Bedford high school, and in the normal school at Medina, Ohio. In the meantime, while pursuing his education, he had engaged in the grocery business in Bedford, but immediately after returning from the nor- mal school he was elected county superintendent of schools of Lawrence county, and was re-elected, thus serving two terins, or eight years. He was eminently successful in this profession and could have had the best educa- tional employment in the county had he elected to continue in that line. However, he desired a broader field for the exercise of his efforts and en- gaged in the lumber business for four years, being located at Enterprise and Ford, Kentucky. About 1885 he returned to Bedford and accepted the position of superintendent of the new Hoosier stone quarry, and in the following year he was made general superintendent of all the Hoosier Stone Company's quarries, in which he proved the right man for the place. In 1888 Mr. Thornton organized the Bedford Steam Stone Works, of which he is presi- dent and which has been one of the most prosperous and successful of the stone companies organized here. In 1900 Mr. Thornton organized the Otta- wa Silica Company, of Ottawa. Illinois, a hundred-thousand-dollar corpora- tion, of which he has been president ever since its inception. This company is engaged in the mining and shipping of glass sand, ground silica and testing sand for cement tests. The latter product is of exceptionally fine quality and has been adopted as a standard by the Society of American Engineers. Mr. Thornton is also the largest stockholder and president of the Imperial Stone Company, of Bedford, director and vice-president of the Citizens Na- tional Bank, a director of the Citizens Trust Company, and director and secretary of the Central Veneer Company, of Indianapolis. To write in full detail the account of all the interesting happenings in Mr. Thornton's life would require a much more elaborate article than the nature of this work admits or requires, but sufficient has been said to form a conception of the man and his career, a career characterized by work well done, keenness of perception, tireless energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense. He has been successful in business, respected in social life, and as a neighbor has discharged his duties in a manner becoming a liberal-
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minded, intelligent citizen of a community where the essential qualities of manhood have ever been duly recognized and prized at their full value.
In 1878 Mr. Thornton was married to Mary Louise Carlton, of Bedford, the daughter of James C. and Caroline ( Mitchell ) Carlton. They are the parents of five children, namely : Carrie, deceased ; Mary Louise; James C., who is engaged in business in New York city; Eddie Elizabeth, and George A. Politically, Mr. Thornton is a Republican, but his business affairs have demanded his time to such an extent that he has not participated greatly in public affairs. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. Personally, he is genial and approachable and enjoys the friendship of all who know him.
DR. BEN NEWLAND.
The state of Indiana has reason to take pride in the personnel of her corps of medical men from the early days in the history of this common- wealth to the present time, and on the roll of honored names that indicates the services of distinguished citizens in this field of endeavor there is reason in reverting with gratification to that of Dr. Ben Newland, who has long since ended his earthly services and "joined the innumerable caravan that moves to the mysterious realm," but whose record will long remain as an incentive to the youth who contemplates a career in this great branch of science. He was a member of a prominent Virginia family, one that has been influential in public and civic life wherever they have dispersed.
Ben Newland, who during his active life was one of the most prominent and popular and successful physicians who ever lived in Lawrence county, was born on July 19, 1821, in Jackson county, Indiana, near the town of Velonia. He was a son of William and Susan Chester ( Harrold) Newland, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Kentucky. They came to Indiana in 1816, settling on the White river near Tunnelton, in Lawrence county, where the father followed farming pursuits, and later located east of Bedford, where his death occurred, the mother subsequently dying in Illi- nois. They were the parents of the following children : Elizabeth, the wife of Greenbury Owen ; Mary, the wife of J. Hostettler, of Illinois; Kate, who became the wife of Michael Malott, of Sullivan, Indiana; Sarah, the wife of Henry Malott; Robert, who married Nancy Holland and went to Texas, where he died, having served as a colonel in the Confederate army in the Civil war; Laura, twin to Robert, became the wife of James W. Palmer, of
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Bedford; Benjamin, who was the third child in order of birth, is the subject of this sketch; Emily became the wife of Eli Knapp and died at Decatur, Illi- nois ; Caroline, widow of Joseph Hostettler, is living at Decatur, Illinois. Will- iam Newland took a contract to carry the United States mail and in the fulfill- ment of this contract his son, the subject of this sketch, at the age of twelve years, started to carry the mail by horseback between Orleans and Indian- apolis, and Bedford and Versailles, following this employment for three years. This was a tiresome and ofttimes dangerous trip for anyone, much less a boy of his tender years, but he faithfully performed his part of the work for his father. He was an industrious lad and after ceasing his duties as a mail carrier he engaged in cutting rails, cutting ten thousand of them during 1840 and 1841. He also engaged in teaching school and then, having an ambition to take up the medical profession, he entered the office of Dr. Elijah Newland, with whom he remained for two years. He afterward attended medical lectures at Louisville, Kentucky, and in April, 1845, opened an office at Bedford, on the northeast corner of the public square. He continued his studies at the Louisville Medical College during 1845-46-47 until he was graduated and then, returning to Bedford, confined himself closely to his profession up to the time of his death, which occurred on April 5, 1889. During this long period probably no other physician in this section of the country enjoyed to a greater extent the absolute confidence and regard of the people to whom he ministered and with whom he mingled, for he was not only a successful practitioner, but possessed a kindness of heart and a broad-minded sympathy for suffering humanity which endeared him to the affections of all who knew him. Though a busy man, Doctor Newland took an interested part in many phases of public life and especially in military matters was he prominent. In 18-19 he was made captain of the state militia, and in 1852 was made a brigadier-general of the militia. On the outbreak of the Civil war he tendered his services to the government and was commissioned surgeon of the Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, which he accompanied to the front. The command was first sent to Missouri, where, on September 6, 1861, Doctor Newland was ap- pointed medical director of the central district of Missouri, headquarters at Jeffersonville. There he equipped a hospital with four thousand beds and also a pest house, but was soon afterward assigned to another army corps and just prior to the battle of Pea Ridge he was made medical director of his division, having charge during the battle of Pea Ridge, when he estab- lished a hospital of five thousand beds for the accommodation of the sick and wounded soldiers. When the division was ordered to Kentucky, Doctor
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Newland asked to be retired and returned to Louisville. However, he took part in the battle of Perrysville and was on the field a week after the battle directing the care of the wounded. On November 4, 1862, he resigned his commission and returned to Bedford on account of his wife's ill health.
Politically, Doctor Newland was a lifelong Democrat and was for many years an active participant in the political affairs of the state, especially con- cerning his immediate locality. He was state senator from Lawrence county in 1852 and in 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic national convention at St. Louis, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden for the Presidency. He was also chairman of the county central committee of his party and was a dele- gate to many state and county conventions. In 1854 and 1855 Doctor New- land was president of the Bedford Branch of the State Bank, and in 1856 was a delegate to the national convention of bankers at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was made a member of the Free and Accepted Masons in 1849 and all his life took a deep and appreciative interest in the workings of that time-hon- ored order.
Professionally, for twenty years Doctor Newland was a member of the American MedicalAssociation and for twenty-seven years a member of the State Medical Society, as well as the Lawrence County Medical Society and the Mitchell District Medical Society. In 1879 he was president of the State Medical Society, and at the close of the session he made an address for which he was highly complimented by the president of the society. He made a deep and exhaustive study of tuberculosis, in the treatment of which he was successful and for many years he was counted the leading physician and surgeon of Lawrence county and vicinity. In 1850-51-52 he and Joseph Hostettler owned a drug store on the east side of the public square in Bed- ford, but the Doctor later retired from that business. Religiously, he was first a member of the Christian church, but subsequently transferred his membership to the Episcopal church, of which he was thereafter a faithful and earnest member. Personally, Doctor Newland was a man of magnifi- cent physique, standing over six feet tall and weighing two hundred and fifty pounds. He was a man who would attract attention in any assemblage and he enjoyed a large acquaintance and a marked popularity wherever he was known. What he did for his fellow men and the community in general may in a manner be told in words, but in its far-reaching influences cannot be measured. He was in close touch with the people and from a sincere and deep-felt interest in their welfare he labored for all that would prove of public benefit until his busy and useful life was ended. His death occurred on April 5, 1889, and his wife died on January 15th of the same year.
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On December 28, 1847, Doctor Newland was married to Louisa A. Curry, who was born at Salem, Indiana. in September, 1819, the daughter of Jolın and Deborah (Newland ) Curry. Her parents were of good old Quaker stock and the father, who was a farmer, was numbered among the early settlers of Salem, Indiana, where his death occurred, his wife dying in 1873. He was a hatter by trade and was a man of fine personal qualities. His wife, who had received a splendid education, taught school from 1835 to 1846. To Doctor Newland and wife were born four children, namely : Helen, born July 12, 1848, became the wife of William Lewis, of near Mitchell, where her death occurred in August, 1907: Mary, born October 31, 1849, and who died on February 7, 1895, was the wife of Albert C. Andrews, of Madison, Indiana : Laura B., born October 11, 1851, is the wife of James M. Caress, who is referred to elsewhere in this work; Kate B., born March 25, 1854, and who died on December 5. 1898, was the wife of James H. Willard, of Bedford. Indiana.
WILLIAM W. WEAVER.
It is one of the beauties of our government that it acknowledges no hereditary rank or title, no patent of nobility save that of nature's, leaving every man to establish his own rank by becoming the artificer of his own fortune. Places of honor and trust, rank and preferment thus happily placed before every individual, high or low, rich or poor, to be striven for by all, but earned alone by perseverance and sterling worth, are most always sure to be filled with deserving men, or at least by those possessing the energy and talent essential to success in contests where public position is the prize. Will- iam W. Weaver, the subject of this review, affords a conspicuous example of the successful, self-made American, who is not only eminently deserving of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, but also possesses the necessary energy and talent that fit him to discharge worthily the duties of the responsible place with which he has been honored by the people of his county. A man of vigorous mentality and strong mental fiber, he finds those qualities the chief factor in the carving out of a career that has been above the suspicion of reproach and of honor to the county which he so ably and acceptably serves.
William W. Weaver was born in Greene county, Indiana, on November 2, 1861, and is the son of William and Martha (Edwards) Weaver, both of
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whom were natives of Greene county and both of whom died there in 1884. The father followed farming pursuits and was respected in his community as a man of sturdy integrity, industrious habits, public spirited and encour- aging all movements toward the general good. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are still living.
The subject of this sketch attended the common schools and was reared to the life of a farmer, which pursuit he followed until about forty years of age when, in 1900, he came to Bloomington, and during the following thir- teen months was engaged in the operation of a meat market. He then entered the stock business, buying and shipping to the larger markets during the following eight years with a fair degree of success. In 1909 he was nominated by his party and elected to the office of county treasurer, in which he is now serving to the entire satisfaction of the people. In his material affairs Mr. Weaver has been very successful and is the owner of three hun- dred and sixty-five acres of land in Greene county, two hundred and fifty of which is under the plow, the balance being in timber and pasture. He oper- ates his own land, which is under the personal management of his brother, George E., and from which he derives a considerable income.
In 1881 Mr. Weaver was married to Eliza E. Lumsford, the daughter of James C. and Amanda Lumsford, natives of Monroe county, Indiana, both of whom are now deceased.
Politically, the subject of this sketch is a warm supporter of the Repub- lican party and has long been active in the advancement of the party's inter- ests. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias, while religiously he is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a pleasant and attractive home at No. 505 West Sixth street, Bloomington, where the spirit of old-time hospitality is always in evidence, and where he delights to entertain his friends. Mr. Weaver has always been a man of public spirit and energy and while a resident of Beech Creek township, Greene county, he served as trustee and assessor and there held, as he has since done in his own county, the respect and confidence of the people. Mr. Weaver's life history exhibits a career of unswerving integ- rity, indefatigable private industry and wholesome home and social relations, a most commendable career crowned with success. It is the record of a well balanced mental and moral constitution, strongly marked by those traits of character which are of special value to such a state of society as exists in this country. In all life's relations he has been true and faithful to duty and to all trusts reposed in him, and thereby he has won the unqualified con- fidence and respect of his fellow men.
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JOHN L. AND LEO NICHOLS.
Among the men of sterling worth and strength of character who have made an impress on the life of the locality in which they live, none have received a larger meed of popular respect and regard than the gentlemen whose family name is well known throughout this section of the county, John L. and Leo Nichols, able and successful architects at Bloomington. Lifelong residence in one locality has given the people an opportunity to know theni in every phase of their character. and that they have been true to life in its every phase is manifest in the degree of confidence and regard in which they are held by those who know them. Professionally, they are men of unusual attainments and have achieved a splendid success among the followers of their profession, which is dual in character, combining the artistic and es- thetic with the practical and economic.
John L. and Leo Nichols are both natives of Bloomington, Indiana, and are the sons of Hiram J. and Rebecca M. ( Rogers) Nichols, the father a native of Shelby county, Kentucky, and the mother born in Virginia. The father came to Monroe county, Indiana, in an early day, being numbered among its early settlers, and he was the first surveyor of the locality in which the family has lived for so many years, having laid out the town of Bloom- ington. He and his wife were married in this county, and to them were born six children, namely : Harriett, James, John, Victoria. Leo M. and Claude, all being deceased except the subjects of this sketch. John and Leo M. Nichols received their education in the public schools of Bloomington, upon the completion of which both took up the study of architecture, in which John has been continually engaged until the present time. Leo M., after following the business for a time, went to Indianapolis, where for seven years he was engaged in the clothing business. At the end of that period he returned to Bloomington and again formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of Nichols & Nichols, and he has since remained actively engaged in the business. As architects they are considered an unusually capable firm, combining a technical knowledge of the profession with original ideas which commend their work to the most exacting class of patrons. They have successfully handled some of the largest and best buildings in this section of the country and are numbered among the leading architects of this locality.
In 1886, Leo Nichols married Anna Campbell, the daughter of William and Hannah ( Dunn) Campbell, and to them have been born two children. Claude and Robert.
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John Nichols married Mabel Dunn, the daughter of Samuel Grundy Dunn, and they had one child, Bridge, who died in 191I.
Fraternally, John Nichols is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Court of Honor, while Leo is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. Both brothers take a deep and intelligent interest in fraternal affairs and are pop- ular in the circles in which they move. They are both of pleasing address, gentlemanly in manner and because of their splendid qualities of character and their eminent professional success, they are entitled to and deserving of the splendid positions to which they have attained in the community in which they have spent practically their entire lives.
JOHN ROYER PEARSON, M. D.
Among those who stand as distinguished types of the world's workers is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this paragraph, who is one of the able and honored physicians and surgeons of southern Indiana, A man of fine intellectual and professional attainments, of most gracious per- sonality, of strong and noble character, and one who has labored with zeal and devotion in the alleviation of human suffering, he is clearly entitled to representation among the progressive and enterprising citizens of Lawrence county. He is devoted to his chosen vocation and has lent honor and dignity to the medical profession, having due regard for the highest standard of professional ethics and exhibiting marked skill in the treatment of disease.
John R. Pearson was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, on May 8, 1876, and he is the son of Dr. James Watt and Elizabeth ( Embree) Pearson, both also natives of the Hoosier state, the father having been born in Orange county and the mother in Lawrence county. The subject's great-great-grand- parents, who were of English descent, came to Virginia in an early day. His great-grandfather was born in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, in 1790, and the latter's wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Ann Trueblood, was born in 1797 at Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Their marriage occurred in 1813. The subject's paternal grandfather, Charles Dewey Pearson, A. M., M. D., was born in Paoli, Orange county, Indiana, on April 12, 1820. After completing his common school education he studied medicine with Dr. H. E. Ewing, of Louisville, and then became a student in Transvania University, at Lexington,
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Kentucky. Later he entered the medical department of old Asbury College. at Greencastle, Indiana, where he graduated in 1851. In 1859 he took the ad cun- dem degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Cincinnati. Sub- sequently this college tendered him the professorship of obstetrical medicine and diseases of women and children, and the chair of eye surgery. In 1854 he was one of the organizers and the first president of the Orange County Medical Society. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served as a member of the Forty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He mar- ried Elizabeth Royer, the daughter of Hon. John Royer, of Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, on November 30, 1843. She was born on April 5, 1815, and her death occurred on July 22, 1860. To them were born five children, one of whom was James W., father of the subject of this sketch. James W. Pearson was born at Levonia, Washington county, Indiana, and after completing the pub- lic school course he entered Hanover College, but his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, when he became a volunteer mem- ber of the navy. At the expiration of his period of enlistment he received an honorable discharge and then, at the earnest solicitation of his father, he took up the study of medicine, in which he became deeply versed and had splendid success in the practice. He located at Bryantsville, Lawrence county, Indiana, where he continued in the active practice until his death, which occurred on July 16, 1878. In 1864 he married Elizabeth Embree, who bore to him two children, Charles Watt Pearson, of Lawrence county, Indiana, and John R., the subject.
John R. Pearson received his elementary education in the common schools of Lawrence county, after which he was student in DePauw University. In 1900 he entered the Indiana Medical College, graduating in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. On May 20th of the same year he entered upon the practice of his profession at Bedford, where he has remained ever since, with the exception of about six months, when he had a mining camp in Arizona. He is engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery and has met with most pronounced success in his calling. That he possesses a natural predilection and talent for the healing art may be inferred from the statement that he is the fourth out of five direct generations who have adopted the medical profession. He possesses a fine and well selected professional library and takes the best medical journals, so that he keeps in close and constant touch with the latest advances and researches in medicine and sur- gery. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, attending many of their meetings, in the proceedings of which he is deeply interested.
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On September 3. 1903, Doctor Pearson was married to Vera Pickens, a daughter of Holt Pickens, of Owen county. Indiana, and to them was born a daughter, who is deceased.
Politically, Doctor Pearson is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and has served efficiently as chairman of the city committee for his party. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he is a liberal contributor. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Socially, he belongs to the Sigma Chi fraternity, of DePauw University, and was a charter memberof the Phi Chi, of Indiana Medical College. Personally, he is a man of pleasing address and kindly manner, who, by his very presence, inspires hope in the sick room and who. because of his professional success, high character and genial disposition, has won a host of warm and loyal friends throughout this community.
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