USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 61
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 61
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On the 16th of July, 1863, Mr. Mathes married Mary Mullis, a native of Lawrence county, this state, and the daughter of Robert and Polly ( Pierce) Mullis, who were natives of Orange county, Indiana. The father came to Lawrence county in his young manhood and here acquired the ownership of a tract of government land which he cleared and developed into a splendid farm. He and his wife are both deceased. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were well known and highly respected in their community. They were the parents of six children, namely : Jacob, deceased : Eleza, deceased; William; Robert, deceased; Mary, wife of the subject of this sketch, and Abigail, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Mathes were
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born six children, namely: Robert, a tinner by profession at Bedford, who married Millie Owen; William B., of Bedford. was a bridge carpenter, but was severely injured, since which time he has been an invalid; Daisy, the wife of Claude Barnes, of Chattanooga. Tennessee : Sophia is the wife of Emerson Sears, of Arizona: Elsie is the wife of Chester Ferris, of Wyoming, and they have a son. John; George is a tinner by trade and lives in Bedford. Mrs. Mathes is a lady of many kindly graces of head and heart who has by her kindliness of manner and excellent qualities endeared herself to the large circle of friends which she enjoys. She is living in her comfortable and attractive home at the corner of Twelfth and N streets, Bedford, where she enjoys the companionship of her acquaintances.
CHARLES HINKLE.
It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an eminently active and busy life and who has attained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biogra- phy finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and re- cording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is demanded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each state- ment, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the hon- ored subject of this sketch whose eminently successful career is now under review.
Charles Hinkle was born on August 6, 1880, at Bloomington, Indiana, and is the son of Marion and Mary (Headley) Hinkle. Marion Hinkle, who also was a native of Monroe county, Indiana, was for many years actively engaged in the meat business in Bloomington, buying and selling large num- bers of live stock. In the civic and political life of the city he was a prominent figure, having been elected and served as sheriff from 1885 until 1887, and as auditor of the county from 1896 until 1900. He was actively engaged in the meat business in this city until the time of his death. His wife was a native of Marietta, Ohio. To them were born twelve children, namely : Cora, Grace, Samuel, Harvey, Gertrude, Francis, Charles, George, Omar, Thomas, Fern and one who died in infancy.
The subject of this sketch received a good, practical common school edu- cation in Monroe county, attending two years at the high school at Blooming-
CHARLES HINKLE
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ton. He was reared to the life of a farmer, which pursuit he followed up to the time of entering the meat business, about fourteen years ago, and he has since been continuously identified with this important line of industry. About 1908 he engaged in the business on his own account under the firm name of Charles Hinkle and in 1910 engaged as a member of the firm of Hinkle & Souders, being located for about one and one-half years on the east side of the public square. On September 1, 1913, Mr. Hinkle bought the butcher shop of H. E. Wahl & Company, the business being now conducted under his own name and he has a splendid and well equipped store on the west side of the square, where he enjoys his full share of the public patronage.
On October 8, 1903, Mr. Hinkle was united in marriage to Jessie Rogers, the daughter of George and Mattie (Parks) Rogers, both of whom were natives of Monroe county, Indiana, the father being a successful farmer about three miles northeast of Bloomington.
Politically, Mr. Hinkle is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, while, fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Court of Honor, Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, all at Bloomington. Mr. Hinkle has hosts of friends in Bloomington and adjoining community, owing to his honesty in business and his upright social and private life and he is much admired by all who know him for his wholesome living as well as for his business success.
THOMAS M. BRINKWORTH.
Among the enterprising citizens and public spirited men of affairs in the city of Bedford must be mentioned the gentleman whose name appears anuve. Mr. Brinkworth was born on December 31. 1866, in Spice Valley township, Lawrence county, Indiana, and is the son of George and Anna ( Hill) Brink- worth. The father was born at Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, on May 12, 1823, and the mother was born in county Cork, Ireland, on November 4. 1828. In 1842 George Brinkworth came to America, locating first at Louis- ville, Kentucky, where he remained until 1859 when he came to Spice Valley township, Lawrence county, Indiana, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he gave his attention until his death, which occurred in January, 1905. He was loyal to his adopted country and served as a member of the Seventh United States Regular Infantry in the Mexican war. In the
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Civil war he enlisted in the One Hundred Eighty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served a year. The subject's paternal grand father, Jonathan Brinkworth, was born in Wiltshire, England, 1781, and died in 1866, but he never left his native land. He was a veteran of the Duke of Wellington's army and one of his sons was in the war with China in 1860 and another served fourteen years in India. The subject's mother came to America in 1846, her uncle, Dennis Collins, being collector of the port at Cincinnati under President James K. Polk. Her marriage to Mr. Brinkworth occurred at Louisville in 1855 and her death occurred in 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. Brinkworth were born eight children, namely : Mary A., wife of Patrick Shea, of Mitchell, Indiana ; Margaret, deceased: Eliza, the wife of Lemual Westbrook, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Jonathan, of Mitchell, Indiana ; Cordelia, wife of Emmett Noble, of Albia, Iowa; the subject of this sketch is next in order of birth: Julia, wife of John Shea, of El Paso, Texas; Susan, the wife of Charles F. McNab, of Bloomington, Indiana.
Thomas M. Brinkworth secured his education in the schools of Spice Valley township, and later went to Hardin county, Kentucky, where he engaged in teaching school and attended the State University at Lexington. He after- wards taught in West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana from 1891 to 1904, ex- cepting a period of two years when he was in school. He was successful as a teacher and gained a splendid reputation in educational circles. In 1902 Mr. Brinkworth came to Bedford. Indiana, and engaged in abstract work, in which he was successful owing to his painstaking and careful habits of work. He is also now waterworks solicitor and collector for the city of Bedford. He is a man of marked intellectual attainments and good habits, and because of his industry and high character he enjoys to a notable degree the respect and confidence of the people of the community.
Mr. Brinkworth was married on April 3. 1896, to Lola J. Noll, of Hardin county, Kentucky, whose death occurred on August 21, 1900. Subsequently he married Maybell Faucett, of Jonesboro, Greene county, Indiana. Frater- nally, he is a member of Lawrence Lodge No. 160, Free and Accepted Masons, and in his daily life he endeavors to exemplify the sublime precepts of that time-honored order. Politically, he is a Democrat and takes an active interest in the success of his party. In all matters affecting the welfare of the city in which he resides Mr. Brinkworth takes a commendable interest, giving his support to every movement which promises to benefit the people educationally, morally, socially or materially, and in consequence of his public spirited atti- tude he receives the hearty confidence and good will of all who know him. Socially, he moves in the best circles of the city and enjoys a wide acquaint- ance, with whom he is deservedly popular
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JAMES E. BORUFF.
If a resume were to be written of the successful and influential attorneys of the southern part of Indiana, the name of Jamies E. Boruff, of Lawrence county, would occupy a high position. In the legal profession he has supple- mented the practice of the essentials with a wealth of common sense. In every profession theories and rules cannot be literally interpreted ; they act as guides alone ; the hunran equation is the force that impels decisions of merit. In judicious foresight, cool calculation and prompt initiative Mr. Boruff has excelled. He stands for the lawyer, in the true sense of that word, that is to say, the man who advocates a sympathetic reading of the law, and not a merciless, steely and unyielding interpretation. James E. Boruff has won for himself a reputation of high integrity, and his courteous, affable nature, sa- vored with a brilliant fund of wit, have won for him countless friends and clients among the good people of Lawrence county and southern Indiana.
James E. Boruff was born on April 12, 1862, at Clear Creek, Monroe county, Indiana, and is the son of William H. and Margaret E. ( Foster) Boruff, both of whom were natives of Monroe county. William H. Boruff came from a family who traced their ancestry to a sturdy German origin, and was one of a family of sixteen children, twelve boys and four girls. All of the sixteen children lived to raise families of their own. William Boruff entered the agricultural vocation early in life, as that was the prevailing occu- pation, and remained active therein until a few years ago, when he retired, and at the present time lives in Bedford, in his eighty-fifth year. Mrs. Boruff came from Scotch ancestry, and departed, from this life in the year 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Brouff were both loyal members of the Christian church. Eleven children were born to this felicitous union, seven of whom are living, namely : Fred L., of San Fernandino, California; John P., of Mount Vernon, New York : Ray R., in partnership with the subject ; Mrs. Addie Lowder, of Bloom- ington, Monroe county ; Mrs. Flora Sisco, of Bedford; Anna, also of Bedford, and Mrs. Nell G. Alexander, of Bedford.
James E. Boruff was born and reared on his father's farm, and attended the common schools, obtaining an excellent education. He later studied at the Southern Indiana Normal College, at Mitchell, Indiana. After leaving the normal, Mr. Boruff taught school and, although attaining a large measure of success in this undertaking, he abandoned it a year later, and came to Bed- ford and commenced to study law with Judge W. H. Martin. He was admit- ted to the bar in September, 1884, and has occupied the same office ever since -even retaining the same waste basket into which he cast his youthful briefs.
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For a time, Mr. Boruff was in partnership with his former preceptor, and now shares his office with his brother, Ray R. Boruff.
James E. Boruff has not only built around himself great personal success, but in the acquiring of the means of sustenance he has been very fortunate. In politics, Mr. Boruff is a staunch Republican, and has stumped the state several times in the interest of his party. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian church, and is the teacher of the Brotherhood class, one of the largest Sunday school classes in the state. Mr. Boruff has been admitted to the bar in the federal courts, and has practiced in many different states, and with a uniform degree of success.
THOMAS N. CHAPMAN.
The following is a brief sketch of one who, by close attention to business, has achieved marked success in the world's affairs and risen to an honorable position among the enterprising men of the county with which his interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful and hicky accident and no tragic situation. Mr. Chapman is one of those estimable citizens whose integrity and strong personality must force them into an admirable notoriety, which their modesty never seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their pos- terity and leave the impress of their individuality upon the age in which they live.
Thomas N. Chapman, who holds the responsible position of recorder of Lawrence county, Indiana, was born on July 11, 1882, in Spice Valley town- ship, this county, and is the son of William H. and Mariah ( Hart ) Chapman. The father was born in Martin county, Indiana, on July 2, 1847, and the mother first saw the light of day in Clark county, this state, in 1850. William H. Chapman came to Spice Valley township, Lawrence county, when a boy of about fourteen years, and was so unfortunate as to lose both of his parents in early youth. After this bereavement he went to live with a brother-in-law on a farm where he remained unil he had attained his majority. He has followed farming pursuits throughout his active life, and is now a successful agriculturist and prominent citizen of Spice Valley township, being the owner of eighty acres of splendid land there. To him and his wife were born nine children, namely : Ollie, the wife of Charley A. Smith, of Bedford; Jesse A., of Willard, New Mexico; Pearl, the wife of Albert Sheeks, treasurer of Mar- tin county, Indiana : Dottie Dell, twin of Pearl, is deceased ; the subject of this
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sketch is next in order of birth ; Ruth, the wife of Thomas Selby, of Bedford ; Blanche, the wife of Lawrence Stultz, of Bedford; Edna and W. M., also of Bedford.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm on which he was born until he was nineteen years of age and received a good, practical education in the public schools of his community. He has followed agricultural pursuits during nearly all of his active years, though he has been to some extent inter- ested in public affairs, having served as truant officer for two years for the county, and in 1912 he was elected county recorder on the Democratic ticket, although in a county which normally goes Republican by a safe majority. Prior to his public official position he had been for awhile employed by the Standard Oil Company. Mr. Chapman is thoroughly familiar with all the duties of his office, is courteous to all who have dealings with him, and has proved himself not only an able, but a popular county official.
Mr. Chapman was married on July 28, 1903. to Della Bass, who was born in the state of Nebraska, but who was reared near Mitchell, Lawrence county, Indiana. They have become the parents of three children, Owen B., Lewis W. and W. Wayne. Mr. Chapman and his wife have many warm friends and admirers in Lawrence county and move in the best social circles of the com- munity. Thus far his life has been one of strenuous activity and by reason of the success with which it has been attended his friends are justified in pre- dicting for him a future of still greater usefulness and distinction.
JOHN C. KELLY, M. D.
Devoted to the noble work which his profession implies, the gentleman whose career we essay to briefly outline in the following paragraphs has been faithful and indefatigable in his endeavors and has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way, but has also proved himself emi- nently worthy to exercise the important functions of his calling, by reason of his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his fellow men. His understanding of the science of medicine is regarded by those who know him as being broad and comprehensive, and the profession and the pub- lic accord him a distinguished place among the men of his class in Indiana. His has been a life of earnest and persistent endeavor, such as always brings a true appreciation of the real value of human existence-a condition that must be prolific of good results in all the relations of life.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Dr. John C. Kelly, one of the best known professional men at Mitchell, Indiana, was born in this city on November 13, 1858, and is the son of David Kelly. The latter was born on December 11, 1827, in Jackson county, Indiana, a son of James and Ann (Smith) Kelly, both natives of the state of Virginia. James Kelly was an early settler of this county, where he followed farming. His death occurred in 1838. To him and his wife were born four children, three sons and a daughter, all of whom are deceased. David Kelly received only a common school education and in young manhood he started to learn the trade of a tailor in Clark county, Indiana, at which he worked until 1850, when he took a contract to construct a part of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, in which he was fairly successful. He later owned stores at different localities, and in 1857 he came to Mitchell and opened a store. In 1862, after the outbreak of the Southern rebellion, Mr. Kelly left his stock of goods and enlisted in the army, having raised Company H, Sixty- seventh Regiment Indiana Infantry. He was commissioned a major and served faithfully and courageously in defense of his country until 1865. He was in the battle of Mumfordsville, and was there captured and paroled, after- wards taking part in the battles of Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, where he received the flag of truce, the Red River campaign, and at Grand Coteau was captured and held a prisoner for two months. He was made pro- vost marshal of the river department, with headquarters at New Orleans, in which he rendered valiant and faithful service for the Union cause. After his return from the army he operated a flouring mill at Mitchell for several years, but, selling this in 1894, he gave his attention to the operation of his farm. He was a staunch Republican and, religiously, was a member of the Baptist church. On June 18, 1857, in Washington county, Indiana, he mar- ried Caroline Kelly, the daughter of John and Minerva (Jenks) Kelly, of Lawrence county, Indiana, who were the parents of one son and four daugh- ters, of whom but one is now living, Mrs. Sarah Edwards, the widow of Allen Edwards, of Mitchell, Indiana. The subject's father died on November 23, 1911, and the mother on March 24, 1910. They were the parents of the following children : John C., the immediate subject of this sketch; Lillian L., who died at the age of six years ; Jesse E., who died in 1885, was a successful merchant of Mitchell: James E., who was a telegraph operator, now living in Mitchell, married Nora Moore and they have two sons, John E. and James.
The subject of this sketch received his elementary education in the public schools of his home neighborhood and during 1875 and 1876 was a student in Franklin College, later taking a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1876 he learned to be a telegraph operator and
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in 1877 he was operator for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company at Washington, Indiana, and two years later became operator for what is now the Monon railroad at Mitchell, where he remained eight months. He then went to Denver, Colorado, as clerk in the freight office for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, remaining there six months, and in 1883 went to Leadville as train dispatcher for that road serving in that capacity until November, 1884. He then became acting train master and chief dispatcher at Leadville. In 1886 he was made chief clerk of the Colorado Midland Railroad, and in 1888 was promoted to local freight agent for the Colorado Midland Railroad at Leadville. In 1892 he was made train dispatcher of the Mexican National Railroad, being located in the city of Mexico one year, at the expiration of which time he relinquished his connection with the railroad operations. Mr. Kelly had long had a strong desire to make the practice of medicine his life work and to this end during 1880 and 1882 he had attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1889 he took a course of medical lectures at the University of Louisville. He has been located at Mitchell in the active practice of his profession for many years, but has not been content with the technical knowledge which he received at the beginning of his professional studies, for, realizing that there is constant advancement in the science of medicine as well as in other lines of human knowledge, he has aimed to keep himself constantly in touch with advanced medical thought and practice, and to this end he took post-graduate courses in New York medical institutions in 1890, 1891, 1892, 1897 and 1899, and in the latter year was resident physician of the Eye. Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital at Chicago. In 1909 he attended a post-graduate course at the West London Hospital, London, England, and in the summer of 1911 he attended a sum- mer course in medicine at Harvard Medical College. While he carries on a general practice of medicine, Doctor Kelly specializes in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, in which he has gained an enviable reputation because of the splendid success which has accompanied his efforts and his practice in these special lines including not only Lawrence, but many adjoining counties. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is also a life member of the Vienna (Austria) American Medical Association. Doctor Kelly is a man of ardent nature, scrupulously conscientious in all that he says and does, and always deeply imbued with the courage of his convictions, and his relations with his fellow men have ever been such as to win and retain their confidence and esteem.
On July 13, 1899, Doctor Kelly was married to Mrs. Nora Williams, of
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Mitchell, the widow of George E. Williams, the daughter of Moses and Nancy (Goff) Love, residents of Mitchell, where the father, during his active years, was a successful livery man, he and his wife both being now deceased. To this union three children have been born. John C., deceased ; Carolyn and Rob- ert H. Mrs. Kelly had by her former marriage one child, Bonnie B., who is now the wife of Lawrence A. Wood, principal of the high school at Loogootee, Indiana.
Politically. Doctor Kelly is an earnest advocate of Republican principles and takes an active interest in public affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mitchell, and of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity of Franklin College. Religiously, his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mitchell.
JOHN WILLIAM O'HARROW.
In placing the subject of this sketch in the front rank of Bloomington's business men, simple justice is done to a biographical fact universally recog- nized throughout Monroe county by all familiar with his history. A man of judgment, sound discretion, thorough technical knowledge and business ability of a high order, he has managed his affairs with splendid success and has so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition among its leading citizens and public-spirited men of affairs.
John W. O'Harrow was born on July 11, 1861, in Greene county, Indi- ana, and is the son of John and Margaret (Shivehy) O'Harrow. The father, who was a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, came to Indiana in 1859, and here engaged in farming up to the time of his death. He was a strong Demo- crat in his political views, though never an aspirant for public office, and he stood high in the community, being well liked by all who knew him. The subject's mother, who was a native of Ohio, came to Indiana with her hus- band and is deceased. They were the parents of five children, John W., Mary Kate, Cleve, Minnie M. and Elmer. All of these children are now deceased, but the subject and Minnie M.
John W. O'Harrow received a good practical education in the common schools of his native county, and then went to Indianapolis, where he entered the employ of the wholesale drug firm of Kiefer & Company as inside clerk. He remained with that firm from 1885 to 1898, gaining much valuable experi- ence in business methods and a good practical knowledge of drugs and kin-
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