USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 68
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 68
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JESSE A. HOWE.
Among the enterprising, progressive and public-spirited men whose activity in business and private circles as well as public affairs has made Mon- roe county one of the thriving counties of Indiana and the city in which he resides an important center of commerce and industry is the subject of this brief review, who is at present holding the responsible office of treasurer of Bloomington and who is regarded as one of the most influential men of this city.
Jesse A. Howe was born on March 11, 1869, at Bloomington, Monroe county, Indiana, and is the son of Joshua O. and Margaret E. ( Abel) Howe. The father, who was a native of Monroe county, followed the shoe business for many years, relinquishing active affairs, however, several years before his death. He also owned a farm in Monroe county, but did not follow active agricultural work himself. He was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired to public office. His wife, who was also a native of this county, is still living. They were the parents of two children, Irene and Jesse A.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common and high schools of his native city, and soon after leaving school he entered the con- fectionery business on his own account, in which he is still actively engaged
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
at the present time, having built up one of the most successful enterprises of the kind in Monroe county and having, on October 29, 1913, been engaged in the business twenty years. He has applied himself closely to his business affairs and by his innate courtesy and desire to please his customers he has enjoyed a marked popularity in the community. In 1909 Mr. Howe was elected treasurer of Bloomington and entered upon the discharge of his duties on the Ist day of the following year. His present term will expire on January I, 1914, but he has been reelected to the office. He has discharged his official duties in a manner to win the commendation and approval of his fellow- citizens, and is one of the most popular members of the city officiary.
On June 3, 1896, Mr. Howe was married to Larena Hopewell, the daugh- ter of Isaac P. and Nancy (Ritter) Hopewell. The father, who was a native of Kentucky and a successful farmer, but who has now retired from active business pursuits, moved to Monroe county about 1883. He is an active Republican of the "stand-pat" wing of the party and has served as a member of the county council. Mrs. Howe's mother, who also was a native of Kentucky, is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Howe has been born one son, Fred H. H.
Politically, Mr. Howe is a staunch Democrat and is active in the support of his party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose, belonging to the subordinate lodges at Bloomington. He is a man of splendid personal qualities, possess- ing those characteristics which win and retain friendship and is deservedly popular throughout the community.
Mrs. Howe's father, Isaac P. Hopewell, enlisted as a private in the Forty- third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry at Indianapolis on the 14th day of February, 1865, under the command of Lieutenant John and Colonel Mc- Clain, and he served one hundred and thirty days, the command not leaving Indianapolis, as the war was about closed. Mr. Hopewell received an honor- able discharge on June 24, 1865.
The subject's maternal grandfather, Elias Abel, was treasurer of Mon- roe county for fourteen years, being a strong Democrat and an active man in the furthering of all civic enterprises. Both the Abel and Howe families in Monroe county have long been recognized as among the representative and progressive citizens of the community.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
FRED I. OWENS.
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Monroe county, In- diana, would be incomplete without specific mention of the well known and popular gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. A member of one of the old and highly esteemed families of the central part of the state and for many years a public-spirited man of affairs, he has stamped the impress of his individuality upon the community and added luster to the honorable name which he bears, having always been scrupulously honest in all his relations with his fellow men and leaving no stone unturned whereby he might benefit his own condition as well as that of his neighbors and friends, consequently he has long ago won the favor of a great number of people of Ellettsville and Richland township where he maintains his home.
Fred I. Owens was born in 1865 in Monroe county, Indiana, and secured his education in the public schools of this locality, completing his training in the Bloomington high school. His first active effort on his own account was as a farmer, to which vocation he had been reared and he has ever since devoted his attention to this basic pursuit. For about three years he was also engaged in the stone business in partnership with Eugene E. Berry, in which he met with splendid success, and is also identified with the People's State Bank at Ellettsville, to a large extent contributing to the success of this in- stitution by his personal influence. The People's State Bank has a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars and a surplus of seven thousand dollars. the stockholders all being local men. Of this institution Mr. Owens is president, while the other officials are W. B. Harris, vice-president; G. A. Draper, cashier ; and Fred Matthews, B. G. Hodley, John R. Harris and William B. Harris, directors. This is one of the strong financial institutions of this sec- tion of the county.
In 1897 Mr. Owens married Ann M. Myers, the daughter of William and Mary Myers, who were early settlers of Owen county, Indiana, though originally from the state of Kentucky.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Owens has never been a strong participant in political affairs, but was elected a member of the county council, in which he rendered faithful and efficient service seven years. A man of good judg- ment and sound common sense, his opinions and actions as a member of the council were held in high value by his associates. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Elletts- ville and the lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Bloom-
FRED I. OWENS
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ington. Mr. Owens is regarded as a good business man of excellent judgment and foresight and he has been very successful in his business career. He keeps well abreast of the times, being a wide reader of current topics and has won the respect and esteem of all who know him for his friendly manner, his business ability and upright living, and he is regarded by all as one of the substantial and progressive citizens of his section of the county.
ISAAC WILLIAMS.
The subject of this review is a representative farmer and stock grower of Indian Creek township, Lawrence county, Indiana, and he is known as one of the alert, progressive and successful agriculturists of this favored section of the Hoosier state. In his labors he has not permitted himself to follow in the rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus secured the maximum returns from his enterprising efforts, while he has so ordered his course at all times as to command the confidence and regard of the people of the community in which he lives, being a man of honorable business methods and advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare in any way.
Isaac Williams was born in Indian Creek township, Lawrence county, Indiana, on the same farm on which his father, Bart Williams, first saw the light of day. The latter was a successful farmer during his active years and his death occurred in June, 1882. The subject's mother, whose maiden name was Angeline Hamersley, was born in Martin county, Indiana, in 1836, and her death occurred in August, 1872. The subject's paternal grandfather was born in North Carolina, moving from that state to Tennessee, where he located on French Broad river. He lived there until 1816, when he came to Indiana, settling in the old Williams settlement after a tiresome overland journey, the entire cost of his moving to Indiana having been sixty,five dollars. To the subject's grandfather were born eight sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Abel, deceased; Richard, Pryor, Dickson, Andrew Jackson; Elkanah, who became a successful doctor in Cincinnati: Bart, father of the subject ; Mrs. Mahala Kern, deceased: Mrs. Cornelia Boyd, deceased; Ves- man, deceased. To the subject's parents were born the following children : Isaac, the immediate subject of this sketch; Mrs. Cornelia Jones; Mrs. So- phia Smith, and Richard G., deceased. Bart Williams lived in Shoals, In- diana, while the rest of the children lived at Williams.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Indian Creek township, and supplemented this by a course of study in Danville College, where he spent a year. After the completion of his edu- cation he returned to the home farm and has since then been engaged in its management and operation, in which he has met with very pronounced suc- cess. He is the owner of twenty acres of land and in addition to the manage- ment of his home place he is also engaged in the operation of a stone crusher, in which he owns an interest. In everything to which he has turned his hand Mr. Williams has given his very best efforts, with the result that he has not only gained a material success, but, what is of more value, the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens.
On November 11, 1889, Mr. Williams married Lola C. Kern, to which union have been born seven children, namely : Sylvester, Albert, Jennie and Dale are deceased; Roxy A. and Fred D., aged respectively nineteen and eleven years, are with the parents, as is Mary Bell, who is four years old.
Politically, Mr. Williams had been a lifelong Republican up to the cam- paign of 1912, at which time he cast his political fortunes with the Pro- gressive party, being firmly convinced that the policies of that party as advo- cated by Theodore Roosevelt and Hiram Johnson are conducive to the best interests of the American people at large. His religious belief is that of the Christian church, of which he his been a member for a number of years, while, fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 528, Knights of Pythias, of Williams. He has ever enjoyed the respect and esteem of those who know him for his friendly manner, business ability, his interest in public affairs and upright living, and is regarded by all as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of his locality.
THOMAS S. HARDWICK.
Among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Lawrence county none stand higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch. He has long been actively en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in this county and the years of his residence here have but served to strengthen the feeling of admiration on the part of his fellow men owing to the honorable life he has led and the worthy example he has set the younger generation, consequently the publishers of this bio- graphical compendium are glad to give such worthy character representation in this work.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Thomas S. Hardwick is a native of the old Blue Grass state of Ken- tucky, having been born in Pulaski county and is the son of George W. Hard- wick, who was born in that state on October 2, 1823. The family home- stead was in Wayne county, Kentucky, for many years, where the members of the family were engaged in general farming. George W. Hardwick was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in the Twelfth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, and his death occurred in July, 1876. His wife, who was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, on May 7. 1822, died in 1898. They became the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters.
The subject of this sketch spent his early years in Wayne county, Ken- tucky, and received his educational training in the common schools of his neighborhood. At the age of about twenty years he moved to Indiana, and in 1871 he came to Indian Creek township, Lawrence county, Indiana, where he has since made his home. He is here engaged in general farming and is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of splendid land. practically all of which is in cultivation. In addition to the tilling of the soil he gives con- siderable attention to the breeding and raising of Polled Angus cattle, and is also one of the largest fruit growers in the township. He is thoroughly up to date in all his operations, keeping closely in touch with the most advanced ideas relative to farming, horticulture and stock raising, and gives his undi- vided attention to the work in hand so that he has justly earned the reputa- tion which he enjoys among his fellow agriculturists.
In April, 1868, Mr. Hardwick married Elizabeth Turpin, to which union have been born eight children, namely: Mrs. Lucile Harnocker, of Indian Creek township: Lethea Ellen, who died at the age of thirteen years. and Martha and two boys in their infancy: Everett is a farmer in Indian Creek township: Walter lives with his parents ; Mrs. Charity Short, of Indian Creek township: Homer is a farmer in Indian Creek township; Noble lives with his parents. Mr. Hardwick was married a second time on February 21. 1900, to Susan Whitted, the daughter of Lorenzo D. Whitted, a native of North Carolina, who died in 1889, and his wife, whose maiden name was . Mary A. Ellison and whose death occurred in 1883.
Politically, the subject of this sketch is a staunch supporter of the Pro- hibition party, believing the temperance question to be the greatest issue now before the American people. His religious connection is with the Baptist church, of which he is a regular attendant and to which he gives earnest support. Mr. Hardwick is a well informed man on current topics, honest and upright in all his relations with his fellow men and but few citizens of his section of the county are better known or more highly respected. for he
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
has spent the greater portion of his life within the borders of the county and has always been active in the promotion of the general welfare.
JOSEPH E. HENLEY.
The subject of this sketch enjoys distinctive prestige in a profession which requires of those who adopt it a strong mentality and painstaking prep- aration, together with a natural aptitude for its duties and responsibilities in order to achieve success. Many enter it allured by the promise of rapid ad- vancement and early distinction, only to fall disheartened by the wayside ; others, under favorable auspices, pursue it for a brief season, to find them- selves crowded aside by the more worthy and ambitious, thus affording a striking instance of the law of the survival of the fittest: while the true searcher after legal lore and the ability to apply his knowledge to the adjust- ment of human difficulties and mete out justice to offenders is the one who perseveres despite discouragement until reaching the goal, which is accessible only to the competent and deserving, to which class the subject of this review belongs, as his continuous advancement and present high standing abundantly attest.
Joseph E. Henley, than whom none occupies a more honorable standing among the legal profession in Monroe county, was born near French Lick, Orange county, Indiana, on April 21, 1856, being a son of Henry and Lydia M. (Patton) Henley. The father was born near Paoli, Orange county, In- diana, October, 1826, and his wife was born in North Carolina in 1829. Henry Henley, who died in 1912, was a prominent man for many years in the business life of his community. To him belongs the distinction of organizing the first company for stone quarrying in Hunter Valley, the company being known as the Hunter Stone Company, organized in 1891. This was a pros- perous concern and in 1895 was sold to the Consolidated Stone Company for one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Henley continued in his line of promoting stone companies and successfully organized the following companies : Crown Stone Company, New York Stone Company, Clear Creek Stone Company and the George W. Henley Stone Company, the last named being now owned and operated by his son, George W. Henley. Mr. Henley was regarded generally as a leader in his special line of work, having been regarded as the pioneer stone man of this section of the state. He was very
JOSEPH E. HENLEY
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
successful in his affairs and enjoyed to a notable degree the confidence and regard of all who were associated with him. To him and his wife were born three children, namely: Laura J., who died in 1892, was the wife of Ed. Mooney, a prominent citizen of Columbus, Indiana; the subject of this sketch was next in order of birth; while the youngest is George W. Henley, who is prominently connected with the stone business, whose personal sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The father of these children was a stanch Republican in his political views and took a deep interest in public affairs. At the out- break of the Civil war Henry Henley enlisted in defense of his country's honor and became captain in Company A, Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he enlisted in 1862. This regiment was as- signed to the famous Wilder's Brigade and Mr. Henley's record was meritori- ous in every respect. He was first commissioned captain of the company and his valor and ability as a commander earned for him the promotion to the rank of major. He served three years and was considered by General Wilder one of the best soldiers in the entire brigade. His service was notable in one special particular in that he was the man who detected and secured the arrest of the leaders of the Knights of the Golden Circle. Though he was held in distinctive preferment among his fellow soldiers he was a man of modest dis- position and never sought notoriety. He was a man of strong intellect and received a good education at Earlham College.
Joseph E. Henley received his preliminary education in the public schools at Shoals, Indiana, after which he was under the instruction of a private tutor until 1871 when he entered the State University at Bloomington, where he graduated in 1875 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After leaving college he was engaged in pedagogical work for three years, including one year as teacher of Greek and German at Smithgrove College, Kentucky, and two years as superintendent of schools at Shoals, Indiana. In 1878 Mr. Henley entered upon the active practice of law, for which he has qualified himself by close and critical study, and the same year he was elected to the office of clerk of the city of Bloomington, in the discharge of which he rendered efficient service. In 1882 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the tenth judicial circuit, where also he gained marked preferment in the minds of those familiar with his performance of official duty. This judicial circuit at that time con- sisted of Monroe, Lawrence, Martin and Orange counties, and the office was an important and busy one. In 1887 Mr. Henley moved to Wichita, Kansas, where for eight years he engaged in the practice of his profession, and in
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
1895 was a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated. The same year he came to Bloomington and formed a partnership with J. B. Wilson under the firm name of Henley & Wilson which lasted until Mr. Wilson was elected judge of the tenth judicial circuit of Indiana, in 1892. In the meantime from 1898 until 1902 Mr. Henley had been in Chicago the greater part of the time, having been engaged in a series of important cases which required his constant attendance and personal attention there. In 1902 he returned to Bloomington and practiced law alone until 1908 when he formed a profes- sional partnership with Rufus H. East, under the firm name of Henley & East, with whom he was associated until January 1, 1912, since which time Mr. Henley has been alone in the practice. It is not enough to say that Mr. Henley is a leader of the bar, for as an attorney who has a comprehensive grasp upon the philosophy of jurisprudence he has brought honor and dignity to the profession to which he belongs and is easily the peer of any of his pro- fessional brethren in southern Indiana. As a citizen he is public-spirited and enterprising, and as a friend and neighbor combines the qualities of head and heart that win confidence and command respect. His long and praiseworthy record at the bar has never been marred by tactics or actions which have de- served or invited censure, for he realized early that there is a definite purpose in life and that there is no honor not founded on worth and no respect not founded on accomplishment. His weight of character, native sagacity, far- seeing judgment and fidelity of purpose have commanded the respect of all and his life has been one of signal integrity and usefulness.
Mr. Henley has been twice married, first in 1883 to Ida May Howe, the daughter of Joseph Howe, and to this union was born one son, Henry H., whose birth occurred in 1884 and who now lives at home. He is an expert electrical engineer and received a splendid education. After completing the high school course at Bloomington, he attended the State University for a short time and then attended the Manual Training School at Indianapolis and the Technical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1895 Mr. Henley married Mattie E. Copeland, of Winfield, Kansas.
Politically, Mr. Henley is an ardent supporter of the Progressive party, while religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 446, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Bloomington, of which he was the first exalted ruler. Because of his professional success, native ability and exalted personal character Mr. Henley has won and retains to a notable degree the confidence and respect of all who know him.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
HERSCHEL ERNEST BAKER.
The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of the subject of this sketch the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extrava- gant praise ; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life-a life char- acterized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people who have known him long and well.
Herschel Ernest Baker, who owns a fine farm in Indian Creek township, Lawrence county, Indiana, and is numbered among the progressive and public- spirited citizens of that community, was born near Pekin, Washington county, Indiana, on July 30, 1888, and is the son of Willard H. and Ollie May (Caudle) Baker. The father, who was born on a farm near Pekin, Indiana, on March 29, 1863, received a good public school education and followed farming during his active years, though at one. time he was foreman in a stone mill at Bedford, Indiana. Politically, he was a Democrat. His death occurred at Bedford on March 28, 1913. His wife, who also was born at Pekin, Washington county, Indiana, died on June 12, 1906. They were both earnest and consistent members of the church of Christ. They were the par- ents of five children, namely: Herschel Ernest, born July 30, 1888; Clitice Pearl, July 26, 1891 ; Helen Fern, June 23, 1894; Charles Lemmon, Novem- ber 14, 1900, and Lloyd Andrew, March 23, 1905. All of these children are living.
The subject of this sketch spent his early years on a farm in Clark county, Indiana, near Sellersburg, and received his education in the public schools at that place and in the business college at Bedford. He is the owner of two hundred and thirty acres of splendid land in Indian Creek township, having about one hundred and thirty acres under cultivation. He carries on general agriculture, raising all the crops common to this latitude and has met with ex- cellent success in his calling. He owns a comfortable and attractive residence, commodious and well arranged barns, while the well kept condition of the premises indicate the owner to be a man of good taste and sound judgment.
On July 17, 1912, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Blanche Cox, who was born on December 5, 1886, and who was one of four
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