USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 47
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C. B. PENDLETON, M. D. Among the men of Madison county who have won positions of prestige in various lines of endeavor through the exercise of native ability, good judgment and constant integrity, Dr. C. B. Pendleton, of Adams township, holds prominent place. A member of a family that had been .connected with the growth and development of this section for more than eighty years, he has steadfastly maintained the family reputation for public spirit and personal probity, and no man stands in higher esteem in the medical profession, in agricultural affairs or in public life. He was born on the home farm in Adams town- ship, Madison county, Indiana, which had been entered in 1830 by his paternal grandfather, John B. Pendleton. His father, A. E. Pendleton, was born in 1830 on this farm, was here reared and educated, and on growing to manhood was married to Mary A. Richwine, by whom he had nine children, of whom four are living in 1913: Dr. C. B .; C. V., who makes his home at Rochester, Indiana; Dr. O. F., a retired dentist now living in Northern California; and Nina J., who is the wife of John J. McClure, of Los Angeles, California.
Curtis Bern Pendleton attended the district schools during the winter terms, and in the summer months assisted his father in the work of the home farm. Subsequently he became a student in the
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National Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, and for some years thereafter was engaged in teaching public schools in Henry, Madison and Fulton counties. Later, deciding upon a medical career, he entered the Physio- Medical College of Indiana, and after his graduation therefrom entered upon the practice of his profession at Mechanicsburg, Indiana, where he remained for twenty years. Following this he became a farmer and for eight years was engaged in tilling the soil of Adams township. Although he had always been an independent voter, on May 13, 1912, he was elected trustee of Adams township on the Republican ticket, and has continued to hold this office to the present time. At the time of his election he located at Markleville, where he discharges the duties of his office and looks after the needs of a large and representative med- ical practice. He was a member of the First District Medical Associa- tion, and at one time was president of the State Physio-Medical Asso- ciation, of which he is still a member. He also holds membership in Mechanicsburg Lodge, No. 327, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is past noble grand, is also a member of the Encampment, and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs, in which she is past noble grand. Dr. Pendleton is the owner of eighty acres of land and his wife of seventy acres, all this property being under a high state of cul- tivation. It is devoted principally to general farming, but they have also had success in breeding stock, principally thoroughbred Duroc hogs. As a physician Dr. Pendleton is a close student, an able practi- tioner and a steady-handed surgeon, and as such has become widely known in the ranks of his profession, holding a high place in the estcem of his confreres and that of the public at large.
Dr. Pendleton was married to Miss Flora B. Reed. daughter of Dr. W. C. Reed, of Mechanicsburg. She was born in Henry county, Indiana. and there educated in the district schools, subsequently taking a course in the Mechanicsburg schools. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Pendleton: Dorothy F., a graduate of the Middleton High school and later a teacher, is now the wife of C. R. Keesling, of New York City. Leo E. married Miss Hallie Painter, a graduate of the Hartford City, Indiana, schools, and subsequently a teacher therein. daughter of Joseph Painter, of Hartford City. They have one child, Lois E. George H., who pursued the agricultural course in Purdue University, and is now engaged in farming in Adams township. He married Miss Agnes Copeland, of Hancock county, Indiana, who was formerly a high school teacher. The members of this family are all widely known and highly respected in Madison county, where their friends are only limited to the number of their acquaintances.
THOMAS JENKINS DOTY, a well known farming man and a pioneer resident of Green township, Madison county, was born near the place where he now makes his home, on August 25, 1838. He is the son of John and Sarah A. (Parsel) Doty, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Madison county some time prior to 1838, and here lived the remainder of their lives. John Doty entered government land and established a home on the virgin soil of Indiana, ultimately gaining a prominent place in the agricultural activities of the county in which he located with his family. He became the father of nine children, two of which number are living at the present time (1913). One of the two is Margaret Doty, who never married, and who makes her home with Thomas J. Doty, her brother.
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Thomas J. Doty was reared on the farm where he now lives and his early education was received in the local schools, being somewhat limited in its scope as a result. He helped his father to improve the government homestead upon which they settled, and in time, as owner of the place, came to reap the further benefits of his early years of toil on the old . farm. He continued with his mother until he had become of age, his father having died when he was a boy of tender years, and set out for himself in the activities of life. With the call of President Lincoln for troops in April, 1861, Mr. Doty was among the first to respond, and he was with Captain Edwards in Company B of the Second Indiana Cavalry. He took an active part at Chickamagua and remained in the service until the end of the war, being one of those to receive a pension from the government for his service at that crucial time. Upon the close of the war he settled down to farm life once more, and though he was utterly lacking in capital, he met with success in the agricultural industry. In recent years he has been retired from active farm life. but still retains his fine place of one hundred and forty-six acres in Green township.
Mr. Doty was married on February 28, 1878, to Miss Sarah A. Davis, who was born in Fall Creek township, a daughter of Bailey Davis. To Mr. and Mrs. Doty four children have been born, concerning whom mention is made briefly as follows: Arlie, the eldest, is a graduate .of the common schools of this community, and is married to Ida Miller, and is engaged in farming in Green township. Vinnie is the wife of Ott Kinkade, living in Fall Creek township. Anna is the wife of Walter Reidenbach and lives in Hamilton county, Indiana, and Louella is the wife of Ira Schmiler, of Ingalls.
Mr. Doty is a member of the G. A. R. and attends the Methodist church. He is a stanch Republican in his politics and is one of the valued citizens of Green township, where he has passed his long and useful life thus far.
JOHN H. RAYMER. No more honored and respected citizen might be pointed out in Green township than John H. Raymer, who has been a resident of the county since about 1860, or since he was eighteen years of age. He was born in Maryland, on September 20, 1843, and is the son of W. P. and Lena (Prior) Raymer, both of whom were born and reared in Maryland. They came to Montgomery county, Ohio, where they passed the remainder of their lives, which had been devoted to the business of farming. W. P. Raymer was a man of prominence in his community to the last day he lived. He was a leader in politics, active and responsible in his work for the party, which was that of the Democracy, and was in many ways regarded as a valuable man to his town and county. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed church. They became the parents of nine children, three of whom are living at this writing (1913). Silas, one of the three, is a resident of North Dakota; Sarah J. is the wife of Gideon Coblin, and lives at Bradford, Ohio; and John H. is the subject of this review.
John H. Raymer was a youth of eighteen years when he accompanied his parents from Maryland, his birth state, to Ohio, where the family settled. He had learned carpentering in Maryland and upon coming to Ohio devoted himeslf to that work. He did not stop lo g in Ohio, but soon came to Indiana, locating in Madison county, and here, on June 11, 1868, he married Emma L. Scott. She was born on September
MR. AND MRS. MARTIN L. GOODYKOONTZ
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4, 1851, in the house where they now live, and was a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Stowell) Scott. The young couple settled down to housekeeping on the farm where they live today, and there they rcared a family of eleven children, of whom eight are living in 1913. They are named as follows: Carlos S. Raymer, who is post master at Ingalls; Minnie S. is the wife of E. P. Myers, an attorney at Elwood, Indiana; Nora I. is the wife of W. A. Myers, superintendent of the Hartford City (Indiana) Schools; he is a graduate of the State Univer- sity of Indiana; Alta J. is the wife of Samuel Garrett; Nettie C. is the wife of Newton Catty of Fall Creek township; John T. is married and lives in Green township; Earl E. lives at home, as does also Scott P., both of whom are unmarried. .
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fall Creek, and Mr. Raymer is a member of the official board of that body. He is a Progressive in his polities and has been active in a political way all his mature life. Mr. and Mrs. Raymer are pleasant and admirable people, who have reared a most creditable family, and they are among the most highly esteemed citizens of the township, to which they have given many of the best years of their life, and in whose better interests they have never failed to take an active and telling part. They have prospered in their work, and in addition to material advancement have the greater possessions of good names and pleasing places in the hearts of their fellow townspeople.
C. S. RAYMER, post master of the town of Ingalls and one of the prominent young men of the town, was born in Green township on June 7, 1869, and is' a son of John H. and Emma L.' (Scott) Raymer, of this township, concerning whom detailed mention is made in another sketch appearing in this biographical work. Further facts with regard to the parentage and ancestry of the subject are therefore unnecessary at this juncture.
Mr. Raymer was the eldest of the family of his parents, and he was reared on the home farm, where he was early trained in the business of farming. He received a good common school education in the seasons snatched from attention to farm duties, and continued to work on the farm with his father until his marriage, which event took place on June 29, 1890, when Amanda House, a daughter of William R. House, became his wife. She was educated in the common schools, like himself, and has many friends in the community, where she has long been known. Two children have been born to them-Violet, a graduate of the Ingalls school, who is the wife of Jadie Gregory, and Hobart, now a student in the Pendleton high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymer are members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Raymer is active in Republican politics in his section. In the cam- paign of 1912, however, he cast his vote with the Progressive party. In connection with his official duties he carries on the work of his farm, which, though small, is a well kept and productive place.
MARTIN LUTHER GOODYKOONTZ. A native son of Anderson town- ship who has spent his entire career in this section of Madison county, Mr. Goodykoontz stands in the front rank of the agriculturists of his community, and through his work in developing his present fine prop- erty of one hundred and forty-five acres is entitled to mention among the men who have contributed to the prosperity of their township and
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county. He was born on the 25th of March, 1858, just one mile east of his present farm, on a property which his grandfather, Jacob Goody- koontz, had entered from the government. He is a son of Daniel and Nancy (Watkins) Goodykoontz.
Jacob Goodykoontz, the grandfather, was born in Floyd county, Virginia, and brought his family to Madison county about 1830. For many years the name was well represented here, but at this time they are widely scattered and Martin Luther is the only member of his imme- diate family found in Madison county. Daniel Goodykoontz was born in Floyd county, Virginia, and was a lad of eight years when he accom- panied his parents to Madison county. Here he was reared and educated and here married Nancy Watkins, a Madison county girl. He continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active career, and was known as one of the substantial men and public-spirited citizens of his community. He and his wife became the parents of two children, Martin L. and William Arthur, but the latter died when only one year old.
Martin L. Goodykoontz was born in a pioneer log cabin and grew to manhood in the uncultivated community of his native place, being reared to habits of industry and economy. He attended the common schools during the winter terms and spent his summers in assisting his father, and when he reached his majority engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. He has improved all his land, now some of the best to be found in the township, and has engaged extensively in general farming operations and in breeding Short-Horn cattle and other good breeds of stock. He uses modern methods and machinery, has im- proved his farm with buildings of a substantial character, and through good management and persistent effort has made a success of all his ventures.
On October 30, 1895, Mr. Goodykoontz was married to Miss Orpha Malone, a daughter of Eleazer and Elizabeth ( Kinsey) Malone, natives of Frederick county, Maryland, who migrated first to Pennsylvania, thence to Indiana, in about 1836, and in 1865 came to Madison county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Malone had the following named children: William, who is deceased; Hiram; James, deceased; Adolphus: Joseph; Mary and Anna who are deceased; John, deceased; Charles: Sarah C., now Mrs. Edmund Jeffries of Montsea, Pennsylvania; Orpha, now Mrs. Goodykoontz; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Daglish. Mr. and Mrs. Goody- koontz have no children, but have reared two adopted daughters, Venita Sapp and Bessie Tindall.
Mr. Goodykoontz is a stockholder and director in the Farmers Trust Company of Anderson, and he is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He has always kept in touch with the live political and civic interests of the day, but has not entered public life as a seeker after office. He is essentially a home man, being content to devote his energies to the culti- vation of his land. An automobile enthusiast, he finds that his hand- some Buick car not only affords the means of recreation but is a great help in his business affairs. With his wife he attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
WESLEY WHITE, JR. For more than half a century the White family has been identified with Madison county, and always with the larger activities of farming and country life. Wesley White, Jr., is one of the Grand Army men still Ji ing in this county and has a
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splendid country home in Green township. He has known Madison county since before the war, and has not only witnessed practically every important phase in the development of the region from the wilder- ness, but has borne his individual share of the labors and responsibilities in this work.
Wesley White, Jr., was born on a farm in Rush county, Indiana, August 15, 1844, and was one of the children in the family of the late Wesley White, Sr., and his wife, Lydia Nicholson White. Wesley White, Sr., was born in the state of Virginia in 1802, and his wife was born in Ohio in 1803. The father moved from Virginia to Ohio, and when still a single man came west to Indianapolis about the time Indian- apolis was established as the capital of Indiana, and in that city he found employment by assisting in the construction of the first court house there. Subsequently he returned to Ohio, was married in that state, and then brought his wife and family out to Rush county, Indiana. There he bought a quarter section of land and made it his home for fifteen years. Selling out his interests in Rush county, he came to Madison county, and paid $900.00 for one hundred and sixty acres. He kept adding to this original body of land until at one time he possessed 1,800 acres all in one piece. Practically all the land was covered with heavy timber when he bought it, and as a . practical lumberman he established a saw mill in his woods, and for about ten years was engaged in working up all this timber into lumber. Much of the lumber which can now be found in some of the oldest houses in the county was the product of the White mills and came off the stumpage on the original White estate. The senior White was a man of large business enterprise, as the preceding statements would indicate, and at the same time was very liberal and public spirited. He was held in the high esteem of his entire community, and was always an active member and contributed to the Methodist church. In politics he was a staunch Republican after the formation of that party. There were nine children in the family and four are living in 1913. Mary is the widow of William Brattain and a resident in Hamilton county, Indiana; Linnia is the widow of Isaac Brattain and a resident of Pendleton, Indiana; Wesley, Jr., is next among those now living; and Lydia J. is the wife of John Smithers of Pendleton.
Wesley White, Jr., was two years old when his parents came to Indiana in 1846, and for that reason he has almost a claim to this county as his birthright place of residence. On the old homestead he grew to manhood and as opportunity permitted attended the district schools. When he was eighteen years old, the Civil war having come on and distracted the country, he enlisted in Company I of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry in July, 1862. His service was in Kentucky and Tennessee and continued up to March, 1863. He was taken down with the fever and received an honorable discharge on March 10, 1863. On returning home from his military career he engaged in farming and subsequently moved to Noblesville, Indiana, where he made his home for twelve years. He then returned to the farm in Green township, where he still resides. He possesses one hundred and seventy-three acres, has some of the best land in the township, and cultivates it accord- ing to the best method approved by his long experience, and by the general science of modern agriculture. He is operating the farm for himself.
On March 28, 1867, Mr. White was married to Lucinda Stern, of Vol. II-3
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Hamilton county, Indiana, where she was born and reared, a daughter of Samuel and Jane Stern. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Marion county, Indiana. Mrs. White received her edu- cation in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of two children, now living. Fannie is the wife of Frank Anderson and lives in Noblesville ; Harvina, a graduate of the Noblesville high school, is the wife of Jess Anderson, and they make their home with her father on the White farm in Green township. There is one granddaughter, Pauline, who was born August 9, 1907. Mr. White and family are members of the Christian church, and he is affiliated with Pendleton Post, No. 230, of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he votes as a Republican and has served as supervisor of his home township.
O. B. CUSTER. The citizenship of Fall Creek township has no member more respected and esteemed, both for his individual worth and his many kindly and disinterested service in behalf of his friends and the community, than Mr. O. B. Custer.
He was born near Mortonsville, Indiana, August 9, 1838, and was a son of William and Judah (Kendle) Custer. William Custer, the father, was a native of Kentucky, born near Georgetown, and early in life came to Indiana, locating in Fayette county. In that county he married Miss Kendle and spent the rest of his life as a farmer in that locality. By ancestry he was a descendant of German stock. There were five children in the family and the two now living are O. B. and James, the latter being a resident of Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. O. B. Custer was reared on a farm and during the winter months attended district schools. When still a boy he began earning his own way, and he has known the practical duties of a farm from earliest boyhood. He lived at home until he was twenty-six years of age, and after he attained his majority he was engaged in buying and selling horses for several years. He has always been a lover of horse flesh and an excellent judge of the best points of a horse. Ou March 9, 1863, he married Miss Louisa Isgrigg, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, June 6, 1844. Catherine Caldwell Isgrigg, the mother of Mrs. Custer, died July 26, 1913, at the advanced age of 93 years. Mrs. Custer received her education in the public schools of her native county and was a daughter of Daniel Isgrigg. After their marriage Mr. Custer turned his attention to farming, though he also continued as a stock dealer. In the winter of 1866 he moved to Madison county, locating in Fall Creek township, which locality has been his residence for more than forty-six years. He and his wife are the parents of two daughters : Edna B., who graduated from the common schools and is now the wife 'of Lewis Rogers; Mota D., the wife of Warren Copper, she being now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Custer have one grandchild, Glenn M., who is a graduate of the Anderson high school. Mrs. Custer is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Custer is active in fraternal affairs, being a member of Madison Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., at Pendleton, Chapter No. 51, R. A. M., and of Fall Creek Council, No. 43, R. & S. M. In polities he is a Democrat and has cast his vote for good government and never been interested particularly in party affairs. He is the owner of a nice little farm of forty-five acres in Fall Cre 's township, and he and his wife have a comfortable home and enjoy the esteem of a large community of friends.
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HENRY CLAY BROWN. A life long resident of Madison county and for many years a progressive farmer of Fall Creek township, Henry Clay Brown has enjoyed the best elements of success, having acquired a good home, having given his family the comforts of living and educa- tion, and having steered an honorable and straightforward course throughout his own career.
Henry Clay Brown was born in Anderson township, Madison county, June 12, 1852, a son of Warner and Lavina (Clark) Brown. Both parents were born in the state of Maryland, where they were reared and married. After their marriage they came west and located at Anderson, Indiana, and continued in this county until their death. The father was a contractor by business and he and his wife were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living in 1913. George Brown and Samuel Brown are residents of Anderson, and Eliza, the widow of Wil- liam Snell, is a resident of Logansport.
Henry Clay Brown was reared on a farm and such education as he obtained was afforded by the neighborhood schools. Up to the time he was twenty-one years of age he remained at home, and by his work and his other kindly services cared for his mother. He started inde- pendently as a farm hand, working at wages, and with the gradual accumulations of such labor was able finally to make a substantial begin- ning on his own account. At the age of twenty-four he moved to the farm where he now lives.
He was married May 7, 1873, to Miss Emma Ulen, who was born on the homestead where she now lives, a daughter of Absalom Ulen and was educated in the common schools. Seven children have been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brown: Harry H., a graduate of the Pendleton schools; Lula, Lavina, and Chester, graduates of the high Chester, a graduate of the high school; Rex, Walter, Naomi, wife of school ; Rex, Walter, Naomi, wife of Alfred White. Mr. Brown is affil- iated with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Haymakers at Pendleton. A Republican in politics, he has voted as a good citizen, but has never held any office. Mr. Brown has a well improved farm of about forty-five acres, and enjoys all the comforts and conveniences of modern country life. For several years he was engaged in business at Anderson as a drayman.
LEWIS D. KINNARD. Few of the farmers of Fall Creek township, in Madison county, Indiana, have made a better showing from a similar beginning than Lewis Dunwoody Kinnard. He has gained prominence in the agricultural sections of the county as a farmer and stock raiser, as well as being a feeder and shipper of some extent, and has a fine place of one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. He takes his place among the representative citizens of the township, and enjoys the esteem and friendship of a large circle of the best citizenship of the township.
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