USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 60
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 60
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THOMAS L. HARRIS.
Among the worthy citizens of Bedford is found the name of Thomas L. Harris, who has made a success of his chosen life work and at the same time established a reputation for uprightness in all relations of life. Mr. Harris, who, after a life of strenuous activity, is now living retired in his comfortable home at Bedford, was born in this city on March 26, 1849. He is the son of William and Dina ( Beyers ) Harris, the father a native of Salem, Ohio, and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio and came to Indiana in 1845, locating at Springville, where the father worked at his trade as car- penter until 1848. Subsequently he acquired the ownership of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Guthrie township, Lawrence county, to the operation of which he devoted his attention until his death in 1885, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was survived several years by his wife, who died in August, 1890, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. She was born in 1824. They were earnest members of the Christian church, while in politics Mr. Harris was a Democrat. They were the parents of two children, Thomas L., the subject of this sketch, and William Riley, who was engaged in the stone busi- ness and whose death occurred in September, 1889.
Thomas L. Harris received his education in the schools of his home neighborhood, which were somewhat primitive in equipment and method, but he was ambitious to acquire information and by much reading and home study he became a well informed man. He remained under the parental roof until the age of twenty-two years, and engaged in teaching school, in which he was eminently successful, continuing to follow this vocation for nine terms. In 1875 Mr. Harris located at Fort Ritner, Indiana, and engaged in farming, which claimed his attention for eighteen years and in 1889 he came to Bedford, buying a pleasant home on Eighth street, later buying his present home at No. 2026 I street, where he now resides. Since coming to Bedford Mr. Harris has been actively engaged as a civil engineer and was very successful in this calling, but is now practically retired from active business pursuits. He is at
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present serving as coroner of Lawrence county and is performing his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Politically, Mr. Harris is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, taking a deep interest in political affairs. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian church at Bedford, while his fraternal relations are with the Improved Order of Red Men.
On January 26, 1872, Mr. Harris married Eva Newkirk, of Lawrence county, the daughter of E. B. and Leanora ( Dixon) Newkirk, natives of Ver- mont. Mrs. Newkirk was the first white child that crossed White river at Fort Ritner, the family having been pioneers and successful farmers in that locality. Her parents died in this county. Mrs. Eva Harris died in 1877, leaving one child, Hattie, who became the wife of John Bell, an electrician at Bedford, Indiana. For his second wife Mr. Harris married on November 19, 1877, Mary J. Dixon, of Lawrence county, a daughter of Alex H. and Emma Stella Dixon, natives of Virginia, who came to Lawrence county in 1825 and settled in the eastern part of the county, where Mr. Dixon has acquired a large tract of land. He died in 1894 and Mrs. Dixon now lives in Bedford, at the age of eighty-nine years. To the subject's second union were born the following children : Homer, an electrician at Bedford, who married Gertie Seabrook, of New Albany, Indiana, and they have one child, Oneida ; Bert is unmarried and lives in southern Indiana ; Lillie died at the age of six months; Mabel is at home with her parents. Mr. Harris is progressive in his ideas and has by his own efforts become well fixed as regards material affairs and is deserving of the success which has attended his efforts and of the high esteem in which he is held by all his neighbors and friends throughout the county.
CHARLES P. BUTLER.
It is a well recognized fact that the most powerful influence in shaping and controlling public life is the press. It reaches a greater number of people than any other agency and thus has always been and, in the hands of persons competent to direct it, always will be a most important factor in moulding public opinion and shaping the destiny of the nation. The gentleman to a brief review of whose life these lines are devoted is prominently connected with the journalism of southern Indiana, and at this time is editor and publisher of the Daily and Weekly Democrat, one of the most popular papers of Law- rence county, comparing favorably with the best local sheets in this section of the state in news, editorial ability and mechanical execution.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Charles P. Butler is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born in North Vernon, Indiana, on May 11, 1864, and is the son of Patrick and Mary ( McDonald ) Butler, both of whom were natives of Ireland. and both being now deceased. The subject was educated in the public schools of North Vernon and in 1882 he began his apprenticeship at the printing trade in the office of the North Ternon Sun, where he remained until 1887. In that year he and his step-brother bought the paper, which they ran together until 1902, when Charles P. came to Bedford and bought the Daily and Weekly Democrat, to which he has since devoted his entire attention and which he has developed into one of the best newspapers in this section of the state.
On June 29. 1904. Mr. Butler was united in marriage with Mary L. Boland, of Mitchell, this county. and they have become the parents of one (laughter, Catherine Mary. Religiously, Mr. Butler is a faithful member of the Catholic church. He takes a consistent interest in the public affairs of the community and, personally and through the columns of his paper, gives an earnest support to every movement calculated to upbuild the community and advance the welfare of its people.
FRED MATTHEWS.
The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community are in a large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. It is the progressive, wide-awake men of affairs that make the real history of a com- munity, and their influence in shaping and directing its varied interests is difficult to estimate. The well known gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection has long ranked among the leading business men of Monroe county, and it is to such enterprising spirits as he that the locality is indebted for its recent substantial growth and for the high position it oc- cupies as a center of industrial activity and progress.
Fred Matthews is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born at Stinesville, Monroe county, Indiana, on March 25, 1859. He is the son of John and Mary Ann (Drake) Matthews, both of whom were natives of England, the mother having been a descendant of the family of which the noted Sir Francis Drake was a representative. John Matthews came to Monroe county early in the fifties and became connected with the stone busi- ness and superintendent of mills in the Big Creek quarry district west of Stinesville. This was the first limestone quarry in the famous oolitic lime-
fred Matching
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stone field in Indiana and with this enterprise he was connected for about five years. In 1862 John Matthews started in business on his own account, going to Elliottsville, Indiana, and opening a quarry there, which he operated for a time, but which is now exhausted, though the mills there have been rebuilt and still in operation. This was the second quarry of this kind of stone which was located on the Monon railroad. The first quarry which had railroad communication was at Salem, Indiana, but the subject's father was not con- nected with this. John Matthews died in 1883, having lived a life of eminent respectability and honor in the community.
The subject of this sketch received a good practical education in the public schools of Monroe county, and at an early age entered the stone busi- ness, associating himself with two of his brothers, Peter T. and William N., who took over their father's business under the name of Matthews Brothers. Peter T. and William N. Matthews both died shortly after the organization of the company and Fred Matthews was thus left in entire charge of the business, which he subsequently reorganized and incorporated under the nanie of Matthews Brothers Company. In addition to his own holdings in that company, Mr. Matthews is a stockholder and president of the Crescent Stone Company, and also a stockholder and president of the Empire Stone Com- pany, located in the Clear Creek district. In the business of stone quarrying Mr. Matthews is numbered among the most experienced and best qualified in the oolitic district, having long ago demonstrated his fitness for the work to which he is devoting himself. He is also a large stockholder in the Indiana Gold Dredging and Mining Company, a corporation which is engaged in dredging in California, and which is meeting with fair success.
Politically, Mr. Matthews has been a life-long Democrat and in 1896 he was elected auditor of Monroe county, being the only Democrat elected to a county office that year. He proved a faithful and efficient official and retired from the office with the commendation of all who were familiar with his work. He has also rendered appreciative service as a member of the Bloom- ington school board. Fraternally, Mr. Matthews is affiliated with the Masonic order, belonging to the council, chapter and commandery in the York Rite, while in the Scottish Rite he has received distinctive preferment, having been honored with the thirty-third and last degree, the honors of that degree being conferred upon him at Detroit, Michigan, in 1910. Religiously, he is a member of the Baptist church, to which he gives liberally and in the pros- perity of which he is deeply interested. He has a pleasant and attractive residence at No. 419 North Walnut street, Bloomington, and here he finds his
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greatest pleasure and enjoyment, where, surrounded by his family, he casts aside the cares of business life and enjoys himself to the utmost.
In 1879 Mr. Matthews was married to Nettie B. Moore, the daughter of Harrison and Margaret (May) Moore, old settlers of this county, where the father was for many years a successful farmer. He is now deceased, but his widow is still living at the advanced age of ninety-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have been born three children, namely: Bertha A., the wife of W. E. Showers; Edith E., the wife of Gladstone H. Barrett, and Janette M., who remains at home with her parents. Industry and probity have been the chief factors in Mr. Matthews' steady advance in business affairs and his position in the world of commerce is such as to reflect the high- est credit upon himself and to add to the reputation of Bloomington as an important business center. Manifesting an abiding interest in the material advancement of the city, he has given his influence and assistance to all enter- prises with this object in view, and he also takes an active part in promoting all worthy means and measures for the welfare of his fellow men. All in all he is a worthy representative of the steady, intelligent and progressive class that gives stability to the body politic and character to the community, being broad minded, with wide views of men and affairs and a true type of the enterprising American citizen of today.
EUGENE H. R. PERRY.
It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs that makes the real his- tory of a community and his influence as a potential factor of the body politic is difficult to estimate. The examples such men furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accom- plish, and there is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting even in a casual way to their achievements in advancing the interests of their fellow men and in giving strength and solidity to the institutions which make so much for the prosperity of the community. Such a man is the worthy subject of this sketch, and as such it is proper that a review of his career be accorded a place among the representative citizens of the city and county in which he resides.
Eugene H. R. Perry, one of the most prominent business men of Elletts- ville, was born in Monroe county, Indiana, August 2, 1882, and is the son of Gilbert K. and Henrietta E. ( Hasslock) Perry, the father a native of
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Maine and the mother of Tennessee. Gilbert Perry came to Monroe county following his brother, who had come here to teach school. After securing his education he took up the sawmill business, in which he continued with splendid success until about 1861. At that time he gave evidence of his patriotic spirit by assisting in the organization of Company G, Thirty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was elected first lieutenant and with which he served until he was mustered out on account of physical disability, having been taken sick during this period. For his valiant and courageous conduct he was promoted to the rank of captain, which he held until the time he was mustered out of service. After his return to peaceful pursuits Mr. Perry engaged in the stone business in Monroe county, being one of the first men to engage in the oolitic limestone quarrying in this local- ity, his first work being carried on near Ellettsville. In this he was very suc- cessful and attained a splendid reputation among the business men of his lo- cality. He was twice married and to the first union were born two children, Mabel and Grace, while to the second union there were five children, Gilbert K., Herman H., Eugene H. R , Fred D. E. and Job.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools, being a graduate of the Bloomington high school and he then followed the line of effort in which his father had been so successful and since that time his efforts have been confined to the stone business, in which he is still actively engaged. He is a man of good business judgment, energetic habits and per- sistent determination and he has achieved a noteworthy success in a line re- quiring intelligence and aptitude of a high order. Among his associates he is held in high esteem because of his excellent ability and high character.
On November 25, 1907, Mr. Perry was married to Cora B. Faulkner, the daughter of Edward E. Faulkner, and to them have been born two chil- dren, Jean H. and Julia E.
Politically, Mr. Perry is an ardent Republican, but has neither time nor inclination for taking an active part in public affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken the degrees of blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and is also a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the workings of which orders he takes an appreciative and intelligent interest. Mr. Perry possesses a pleasing personality and is easily approached. Strong and forceful in his relations with his fellow men, he not only makes his presence felt, but has also gained the good will and commenda- tion of both his associates and the general public, retaining his reputation among men for integrity and high character and never losing that dignity which is the birthright of a gentleman.
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FRED T. DUNIHUE.
A career marked by earnest and indefatigable application has been that of this substantial and honored citizen of Bedford. Indiana, where he has main- tained a residence for many years, during all of which time his life has been an open book aud read by his fellow men. He was a valiant soldier of the Civil war, where his fidelity was of the type which has characterized his actions in all their relations and gained for him the confidence and esteem of the public and unbounded respect of all with whom he has been brought into contact.
Fred T. Dunihue is a native of the locality in which he now lives, having been born in Bedford, Indiana, on February 26, 1847. He is the son of Alex H. and M. L. ( McLane ) Dunihue, the former of whom was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1806. The subject's paternal grandfather, Daniel Dunihue, was a native of Rutland, Vermont, who, in young manhood, made a trip to Canada, and while there was forced into the English army. However, he made his escape a short time later and subsequently went to Marietta, Ohio, where he lived several years, eventually coming to Bedford, Indiana, where he spent his remaining days and here died. He married Abigal Poole, of Vermont, who also is deceased. Alexander H. Dunihue in young manhood came to Indiana, locating first at Liberty, to which place he went with a stock of goods belonging to a Louisville firm. After selling this stock for his employer he came to Bedford, Indiana, and entered the employ of Samuel Irwin, one of Bedford's prominent merchants in that day. Later he became associated with his mater- nal grandfather, William McLane. The latter came to Bedford in 1826 and here opened a store which he conducted for a time, but in 1856 went to San Antonio, Texas. He was a wealthy man, owning large tracts of land in Texas, and he died while in that state. His wife died in Bedford. Alexander H. Dunihue and his brother-in-law, Hiram H. McLane, for a number of years were engaged in the mercantile business and eventually Robert Kelly bought Mr. McLane's interest and they ran the store together until 1870, after which the firm name became Alex H. Dunihue & Son, the son's name being William. Under this firm name the business was conducted until 1880, when the store was closed and the business discontinued. Alex H. Dunihue died in 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and his wife. who was born in 1817, died in 1888. She was a member of and an active worker in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Dunihue was a Republican in politics and took an active part in local public affairs. To Alex and Ann L. Dunihue were born the following children : Mary, who is now deceased, was the wife of Judge N. F. Malotte,
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of Bedford, Indiana: William M., also deceased, was a merchant and live stock dealer at Bedford and married Lizzie Hammersley; Charles H., who was a farmer at Bedford, was a veteran of the Civil war; Carrie died in 1859; Clara is the widow of William A. Gabe, who was for many years an editor in Bloomington, and she now resides in Indianapolis; Fred T., the immediate subject of this review: Hiram H., deceased, was a farmer at Bedford and never married; Jessie, who is unmarried, remains at Bedford; Henry C., de- ceased, was a farmer at Bedford and never married; Philip A., of Bedford, is a superintendent of a stone quarry and married Nellie Harrison ; Lewis H., who was a telegraph operator, was killed several years ago in Oregon; Frank is deceased.
Fred T. Dunihue received his education in the public schools of his home neighborhood and in September, 1864, at the age of seventeen years, he en- listed in Company C, Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry, at Indianapolis and accompanied the command to Louisville, Kentucky, where they took part in the Wilson raid, which led them through Kentucky, Tennessee and as far south as Macon, Georgia, where they were when the war closed. Mr. Dunihue received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, on June 28, 1865, and immediately returned to Bedford. Soon after his return home he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff of Lawrence county, in which position he rendered efficient service for six years. In 1878 he was elected sheriff, serving froni 1879 to 1883, and discharging the duties of this position in a manner such as won for him the commendation of all concerned. Since then he has been variously engaged about the court house in different capacities with thie excep- tion of a period when he was absent from this county. In August, 1868, he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he engaged in the boot and shoe business for about three years, then for a year was located at Winterset, Iowa. In every phase of life's activities in which he was engaged Mr. Dunihue has ably performed all duties assigned to him and his life has been lived a'eng the highest planes of endeavor so that he has honestly earned and retains the confidence and regard of all who know him.
Mr. Dunihue was married in Jackson county, Missouri, to Sallie G. Northcraft, the daughter of William and Susan ( Caldwell) Northcraft, natives of Kentucky, the mother having been born in Boyle county, that state. These parents came to Bedford, Indiana, in 1848, and here the father followed mer- chant tailoring and ran a clothing store until his death, which occurred in 1864, at the age of forty-five years. He was survived many years by his widow, who died at the age of seventy-six years. William Northcraft was twice married, and by his first wife had a son, William, deceased, and by his
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second wife seven children, namely : James, who died at the age of twenty-eight years : John, who lives in Oklahoma ; Lawrence ; Samuel, deceased ; Joseph, of Pueblo, Colorado: Kate, the wife of John Gleissner, a druggist at Abilene, Kansas, and Sallie G., the wife of Mr. Dunihue. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunihue have been born four children, namely : Clara, the wife of W. F. Perkins, of Lafayette, Indiana, where he is superintendent for the Prudential Life Insur- ance Company. They have two sons, William and Robert; Kate is the wife of Dr. Harry J. Emery, a successful dentist at Dayton, Kentucky ; Lawrence, a traveling salesman for the Indiana Quarry Company, and lives at Columbus, Ohio, married Sadiemae Allen; Graham, of Bedford, is a traveling salesman for the Great Northern Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, Illinois.
Socially, Mr. Dunihue is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Bedford, in which he has taken a deep interest, and where he finds many pleasant associations begun during the Civil war. Politically, he is a staunch Republican and takes much interest in public affairs, though not a seeker after public office. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Bedford, of which they are regular attendants. Mr. Dunihue is well known throughout Lawrence county and in the circle in which he mingles he is held in the highest regard because of his upright life and successful character.
WILLIAM A. MATHES.
The career of the well remembered gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical memoir was a strenuous and varied one, entitling him to honorable mention among the representative citizens of his day and generation in the county with which his life was so closely identified. Although his life record has been brought to a close by the inevitable fate that awaits all mankind, his influence still pervades the lives of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who reverence his memory. As public official, soldier or private citizen, he was always true to himself and his fellow men, and the tongue of calumny never touched him. As a soldier he proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situations, on the tented field and amid the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of musketry, mingled with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar, made up the sublime but awful chorus of death. To such as he the country is under a debt of gratitude which it can not repay and in centuries yet to be posterity will commemorate their chivalry in fitting eulogy and tell their deeds in story and in song.
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William A. Mathes, whose death occurred at his home in Bedford, Law- rence county, Indiana, on November 18, 1911, was born on December 10, 1837, in Bloomington, Monroe county, this state. He was the son of James N. and Sophia (Glover) Mathes, both of whom were also natives of Monroe county. The father was a minister in the Christian church and therefore the family were compelled to live at various places, but they were residents of Bedford, Indiana, at the time of their death. The father was a man of emi- nent attainments, was widely known and highly respected among his acquaint- ances. They were the parents of six children, namely : Jane, Jerry, Cameron, William A., Emmeline and Mary. Of these children, Cameron is living in California and Mary in Kansas City.
The subject of this sketch received but a limited education in the common schools of his home neighborhood and in young manhood he learned the trade of a tinner. His career was interrupted in August, 1861, at the outbreak of the Southern rebellion when he enlisted at Bedford as a private in Company D, Eighteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He proved a valiant and courageous soldier, serving faithfully in defense of the national honor for twenty-two months, when, in one of the most hotly contested battles of the war, he suffered the loss of his right arm which was cut off. In consequence of his injury he received an honorable discharge and returned to Bedford. Soon afterwards he was elected recorder of Lawrence county, which position he served eight years, and during the following years he was employed in various capacities about the court house. He was a man of good judgment. alert mentality and performed efficiently every duty to which he gave his atten- tion. Politically, he was a staunch supporter of the Republican party, while his religious membership was with the Christian church. He enjoyed a wide acquaintance throughout the county and because of his genial disposition, uni- form courtesy to all who had dealings with him and his excellent personal character, he was respected and highly regarded everywhere.
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