History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 50

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918

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 50

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The career of Augustus T. Dye began in Clermont county, Ohio, where he was born July 27, 1864, belonging to an old family of that state. His grandfather was James Dye, a pioneer of Ohio. The father was Francis M. Dye, who was born in Ohio, and for many years an attorney. His death occurred during the year 1866, after four years service in U. S. Army. He married Miss Amanda Manchester, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Hiram Manchester and grand- daughter of Chas. C. Manchester, who began his career as a minister in his eighteenth year and was widely known among the early settlers of Ohio as a preacher, living to the advanced age of eighty years. On the mother's side another ancestor, through a collateral branch, was Roger Williams, the noted character of early New England history, who in order to attain freedom of worship, according to his own ideas, left the old Massachusetts colony, and settled in Rhode Island where he gathered about him a small congregation and founded what was known as Providence and Rhode Island plantations. Mrs. Amanda Dye is still living at Hamerville, Ohio, and was the mother of two children.

Augustus T. Dye spent his early boyhood on a farm in Ohio, and attended both the common and high schools at Felicity, Ohio, until com- pleting his education in the high school. He then returned to the farm and engaged in its various duties until he was twenty-one years of age. His experience since that time has connected him with the larger phases of business life. He spent two and a half years as traveling salesman in Ohio, and then came to Anderson, where he followed various lines of employment. His popularity as a citizen in 1898 resulted in his election to the office of county recorder, and he gave four years of faithful and intelligent service in that capacity. He was a Republican and had the distinction of being the only candidate on the Republican ticket who was successful in that election. On the expiration of his term of office as recorder he spent three years in the mercantile business, and then with others as his associates, organized the Farmer's Trust Bank. On the organization of this well known financial enterprise he was made assistant secretary and treasurer and has held those offices ever since. .

Mr. Dye was first married to Miss Anna Ayres, daughter of William and Nancy Ayres. The three children born to this union were: Harvey, now an employe of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, with headquarters in Indianapolis; Lula, graduate of the high school, and a teacher of music; and Stella, now a student in the high school of Anderson. The mother of these children died on April 22, 1899. Mr. Dye subsequently married Miss Lida Brooks, of Anderson, a daughter of E. A. and Catherine Brooks. Mrs. Dye before her marriage was for seven years a teacher in the schools of Anderson, and is remembered as one of the most efficient and popular in the pro- fession at the time. Mr. Dye has membership in Fellowship Lodge No. 681, A. F. & A. M., Anderson Chapter No. 52 R. A. M., Anderson Com- mandery No. 32, K. T., Indianapolis Consistory, has attair 1 thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite Masonry, and is a member of Murat Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Indianapolis. His other fraternal affiliations are

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with the Elks Lodge No. 209 at Anderson. His residence in Anderson is at 920 West Fifth Street.

EMERETH E. LUSE. A prominent and old-established real estate man of Anderson, Mr. Luse has been identified with this city in a successful and public spirited manner for many years, and is numbered among the citizens who have been instrumental in helping promote many projects for the upbuilding and progress of this community. The firm of Luse & Hardie is the largest office for real estate and insurance in Anderson, and both members of the firm are well known and able business men.

Emereth E. Luse was born upon a farm near Elwood in Tipton county, January 5, 1872. William II. Luse, his father, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, February 17, 1846, and married Lucinda (Beeler) Luse, who was born in Wayne county this state, August 20, 1845. After their marriage the parents settled in Tipton county, where they remained until 1871, at which time they moved to a farm near the line of Madison county, but still later bought a farm of forty-five acres just outside the corporate limits of the city of Elwood, which has been their home ever since. This is an extremely valuable farm, is excellently well improved and has furnished a delightful and profitable homestead to the family. The older Mr. Luse is a Republican, and was a Union soldier in the Civil war, has always taken a lively interest in local and state politics, though he has never sought or held office.

Mr. E. E. Luse spent his early boyhood on the Tipton county farm, and was a student in the district schools there until moving to the vicin- ity of Elwood, when he entered the high school of that city and grad- uated with the class of 1893. After that he taught school in Benton county, this state and was clerk in a clothing store and dry goods store, an occupation which he followed until 1902.

Moving to Anderson in the latter year, Mr. Luse was appointed Dep- uty County Treasurer under T. L. Dehority and continued in that relation during the two terms, or four years, during which Mr. Dehority was treasurer, and then succeeded and held the same office under Mr. George F. Quick, the succeeding treasurer of the county. In 1910, Mr. Luse formed a partnership with Henry P. Hardie, under the firm name of Luse & Hardie, and opened offices for real estate and insurance business, handling both city and farm property. By their large acquaintance throughout the county, and by enterprising business meth- ods, they have advanced their firm to the leading one of its kind in the city of Anderson. Mr. Hardie, the other partner, is postmaster at Anderson at this writing.

On March 20, 1900, Mr. Luse married Miss Edith M. Jones of Elwood, who was originally from Pennsylvania and subsequently became a resident of Madison county. Mrs. Luse was born in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania. Fraternally Mr. Luse is affiliated with the Elks Lodge at Anderson, and with the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 1. In politics he is a Republican, and he and his wife are active members of the Central Christian Church, Mrs. Luse being prominent in church circles, and especially the Ladies Aid Society. Mr. Luse is treasurer and prominent in the work of the associated charities of Anderson. The firm of Luse & Hardie have well equipped offices in the Neely Block, and Mr. Luse and family reside at 102 West Fourth Street.

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EDWARD C. HANDY. As treasurer and general manager of the Indi- ana Ice & Dairy Company at Anderson, Mr. Handy has the practical control of one of this city's most servicable industries. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that milk and cream to- gether furnish fifteen percent of the total food of the average American family, and with this fact before us it is possible to estimate the impor- tance of the milk business in every community. The Indiana Ice and Dairy Company, with which Mr. Handy has been connected as man- ager for the past fifteen years, manufactures and bottles pasteurized milk and cream, and at the same time manufactures butter. The com- pany has built up a very large local business and from a small begin- ning has been obliged to enlarge the capacity of the plant from time to time in order to handle the largely increased trade. The milk is gathered in from the dairy farmers of the surrounding country, and through the medium of this model plant is distributed to a large patronage in the city. The capacity for butter-making is five ton per day, and the plant has a capacity of bottling milk at fifteen hundred gallons per day. The plant is a brick building, and is equipped with the latest and most. improved machinery, and the entire service is conducted on the most approved sanitary principles. The Indiana Ice & Dairy Company was incorporated in 1907, and the chief officers at the present time are: Otis P. Crim, president; William C. Collier, vice-president and secretary ; and Edward C. Handy, treasurer and general manager.

Edward C. Handy was born in Hancock county, Indiana, July 7, 1865, and has had a varied career since he began life on his own account. His parents were Minos F. and Elizabeth (Chandler) Handy. His father was born in Indiana in 1837, was a farmer for a number of years, and was for a long time court bailiff of Hancock county. In politics he was a staunch Democrat. The grandfather on the father's side was William Handy, who was born in Virginia and became one of the pio- neer settlers in Hancock county, Indiana. The maiden name of his wife was Smith Eldrige, who was also born in Virginia.

Mr. Handy, one of nine children, five of whom are still living, attended school in a school house of Hancock county which was known far and wide as the old Handy schoolhouse, and was a landmark in that section of the country. He attended school during the winters and assisted his father on the farm during the summers. After leav- ing the farm he went to Tipton, Indiana, where he became clerk in a general store that being the beginning of his general business experi- ence. He subsequently lived with his Uncle John Handy until his seventeenth year. Three years after that he was clerk in a general store at Morristown in Shelby county, and at the expiration of that time entered a drug store and thus equipped himself for another line of enterprise.

Mr. Handy has been identified with his present line of industry for more than thirty years. In 1891 he became connected with a creamery at Morristown, Indiana, and while there laid a solid foundation of experience in that business. Then in 1897 he came to Anderson to take charge of the Indiana Ice & Dairy Company, and his management has been largely responsible for the success and large growth of this business.

In 1891 Mr. Handy married Miss Mabel Boes, of Kenton, Ohio, daughter of James and Elizabeth Boes. Mr. Handy is affiliated with the

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Knights of Pythias, and his attractive home is at 303 Jackson Street in Anderson.

FRANK D. PENCE. As the owner of a large and well equipped livery and sales stable in the city of Anderson, Mr. Pence has gained marked success and is known as one of the aggressive, enterprising and sub- stantial business men of Madison county. In addition to a general livery business of important order he has built up a profitable enterprise in the buying and selling of horses, and he is recognized as an authorita- tive judge of equine values. He has a wide circle of friends in Madi- son county and further interest attaches to the record of his achieve- ment by reason of the fact that he is a native son of this county and a member of one of its old and honored families.

Mr. Pence was born on the homestead farm of his father, in Rich- mond township, Madison county, Indiana, and the date of his nativity was April 19, 1865. He is a son of John J. and Rhoda (Coburn) Pence, the former of whom continued to reside on his farm until his death, in 1908, at a venerable age, his devoted wife having passed to the life eternal in 1893 and having been a daughter of John Coburn, another sterling pioneer of Indiana and for many years a well known citizen of Richland township, Madison county. John J. Pence was born near Connersville, Wayne county, Indiana, and virtually his entire active career was one of close and effective identification with the great basic industry of agriculture. He was numbered among the early set- tlers of Madison county and was long known as one of the representa- tive farmers and stock-growers of Richland township, where he was the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, upon which he made the best of improvements, including the erection of sub- stantial buildings. He died in Union township. He was a soldier dur- ing the Civil war and a Democrat in politics. He was a man of inflexible integrity and well fortified views, was liberal and loyal as a citizen and commanded the high regard of all who knew him. His father, Adam Pence, was one of the very early settlers of Madison county and did well his part in the development and upbuilding of this section of the state, the while he was known and honored for his sterling qualities.

Frank D. Pence has never had cause to regret the discipline which he received in the formative period of his life, and in connection with the work of the home farm he learned valuable lessons of responsibility and practical industry. He made good use of the advantages afforded in the district schools and continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to his legal majority. At the age of twenty-five years he took unto himself a wife, who has proved a devoted companion and helpmeet, and shortly after this important event in his career he rented the old Pence home- stead, upon which he instituted independent operations as an agricul- turist and stockgrower. He applied himself with characteristic energy and ambition and thus his success was of substantial order. After the passage of a few years he purchased a farm of one hundred and twelve acres, in Union township, and in addition to continuing his successful operations as an agriculturist he began to purchase horses, which he brought into good condition and placed upon the market. His opera- tions in this branch of his enterprise expanded in scope and importance and at various times he was the owner of exceptionally valuable horses, several of which he sold at an approximate sum of five hundred dollars

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each. He is still the owner of his farm, upon which he has made such improvements as to mark the place as one of the model farms of the county, and he gives to the place a general supervision and he is also the owner of a considerable amount of real estate in the city of Anderson.

Mr. Pence continued to reside on his farm until 1899, when he re- moved to Anderson, where he engaged in the livery business and also continued the buying and selling of horses, in both of which lines of enterprise he is now one of the leading representatives in Madison county. In 1906 Mr. Pence purchased the Oliver Osburn livery and sales stables, which constitute one of the landmarks of Anderson, and here he has since continued his successful business operations. His stables are well supplied with excellent horses and vehicles and he gives careful attention to maintaining of the livery department of his busi- ness at a high standard, with the result that the same received a large and appreciative patronage. His operations as a dealer in horses are based on a technical knowledge gained through wide experience and he controls a most prosperous business in this line.

Though liberal and public-spirited in his civic attitude, Mr. Pence has had no desire for the honors and cmoluments of political office. He accords a staunch allegiance to the Democratic party and in a fraternal way he is identified with the local organizations of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Improved Order of Red Men.

In the year 1892 Mr. Pence was united in marriage to Miss Susan Bronenburgh, of Chesterfield, this county, and they became the parents of three children, Leslie and Hazel M., both of whom are deceased; and Harold L., who remains at the parental home, the same being an attrac- tive residence at 802 Park avenue.

C. K. MCCULLOUGH. Until his death on October 31, 1909, Carroll K. Mccullough was one of the foremost leaders in the business activities of Anderson and Madison county. He was known as a banker in the local insurance field, as a legislator, and in many ways was identified with the public life of his county and state. The Mcculloughs have for sixty years been prominent in the history of Madison county, and members of three generations have given their enterprise and character to the framing and development of the varied life and interests of this locality.

The late C. K. Mccullough was born in Madison county, September 4, 1855. The old Mccullough homestead farm was located near the city of Anderson, and the late Mr. Mccullough retained its ownership until his death. He was a son of Neel C. and Maria (Edgerle) McCul- lough. His grandfather was one of five brothers who came from Scot- land and located at Oxford in Butler county, Ohio.

Neel C. Mccullough, who during his day and generation took a prominent part in commercial affairs in Madison county, was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 25, 1820, was educated in the Miami University and was a classmate of the former president, Benjamin Harri- son. At Oxford he learned the drug trade, and in 1852, having located at Muncie, Indiana, he established a hardware store there. Two years later, in 1854, he moved to Madison county and located on a small farm two miles southwest of Anderson. He proved an enterprising and suc- cessful farmer, and eventually became the owner of eight h ndred acres of improved land.

In the spring of 1855 Mr. McCullough established the Old Citizens

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Bank, the first financial institution in the history of Anderson. In that enterprise he was associated with Byron K. Elliott, who afterwards became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana. When the National Bank Act became a law in 1863, Mr. MeCullough and Mr. J. G. Stilwell organized the Citizens Bank into the First National Bank of Anderson, with Mr. Mccullough as cashier. But he afterward with- drew from the institution and for several years was actively engaged in the grocery and hardware husiness.

The First National Bank having in the meantime failed, Neel C. Mccullough, in 1871, organized the Citizens Bank, which he managed alone until 1873. His son, the late Carroll Kay, then became interested in the bank, and the firm was thereafter known as N. C. Mccullough & Company. In 1897 W. T. Durbin, of Indianapolis, and later gover- nor of Indiana, was admitted to the firm and the capital was increased to fifty thousand dollars. In 1881 Mr. D. F. Mustard took the interest of C. K. MeCullough, and the latter then retired, but four years later bought Mr. Mustard's interest. In 1887 the Citizens and the Madison Banks were consolidated under the name of N. C. McCullough & Com- pany, with N. C. Mccullough as general manager. While a banker the latter also managed his large farming and other interests. . In 1868 he platted N. C. McCullough's first addition to Anderson, a tract of land now comprising that portion of the northwestern quarter of the city. In 1875 he bought the Artificial Gas Plant, operating it until 1887, when natural gas was discovered. He was an active Republican until the nom- ination of Horace Greeley by the Democrats in 1872, and then became a Democrat and was active in the cause of the latter party as he had been in behalf of the Republicans.

The wife of Neel C. McCullough was born in Schneetady, New York, and was a daughter of George W. Edgerlee, who went from New Hamp- shire to New York and later to Montgomery county, Ohio. The daughter was reared in Ohio, and was educated at Oxford Female College, being a schoolmate of Carrie Scott, who afterward married Benjamin Harrison, president of the United States. Mrs. Neel C. Mccullough is a leading member of the Methodist church in Anderson. She resides in the old homestead in that city, and became the mother of five children, three of whom grew to adult years. The daughter Bertha M. became the wife of Hon. W. T. Durbin, a former governor of Indiana; Carroll K. was the next younger ; and Mand married Dr. C. N. Branch.

The late C. K. Mccullough was reared in Anderson and began his education in the local schools. While attending Asbury (now DePauw) University at Greencastle occurred the failure of the First National Bank of Anderson and then the reorganization by his father of the Citizens Bank, and at this juncture in the community and family's financial affairs his father gave Carroll the choice either to continue school or to go in business with the newly organized Citizens Bank. He chose the latter course, and at the age of eighteen years became identified with banking, and continued with the Citizens Bank until 1881. In that year he assumed the management of the Artificial Gas Plant, and thus continued until the plant was abandoned in 1887.

In the great era of local business improvement which set in with the discovery of natural gas in 1887, the late Mr. Mccullough became one of the most energetic factors, and not only developed a large business of his own, but lent his efforts liberally and freely to the general welfare of the community. At the outset of Anderson's prosperity following

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the natural gas discovery Mr. Mccullough laid out ninety-one lots in Park Place and twenty-seven lots in what was known as the second addi- tion, and in order to stimulate purchase he built fourteen houses, all of which were quickly sold, as well as the majority of the lots. In 1890, in connection with W. T. Durbin and other members of the family, Mr. Mccullough built what has long been known as 'the post-office block, with a frontage of seventy-two feet on Ninth street, a three-story build- ing, one of the largest and most conspicuous structures in the business history of this time. He also owned a large farm on Pendleton Pike southwest of Anderson, and he was one of the leading men in the organi- zation of the Anderson Driving Park Association, the association having eighty-four acres of level ground and a fine one-mile track. He was also the owner of Riverside Park, a beautiful plat of ground between Anderson and the White river.

Mr. Mccullough continued actively identified with the Citizens Bank of Anderson until the organization of the Liberal Life Insurance Com- pany in 1900, and thereafter was nominally in the bank in the capacity of manager. He was secretary and manager of the newly organized Liberal Life Insurance Company, and was one of the eleven original directors, of whom nine survived in 1909, the time of the death of Mr. Mccullough. The other associates in the insurance company at the beginning were: The late Major J. H. Terhune, R. P. Grimes, Thomas J. Nichol, Daniel Goehler, James Wellington, George Shreeve, S. L. Van Patten and Robert Schenck. After the death of Mayor Terhune in March of 1909 Senator Mccullough became president and manager of the company, and this addition to his many other interests and duties was largely responsible for his quickly failing health, ending in his death.

C. K. McCullough was an active Democrat, and was a member of the state senate at the time of his death. He had been elected a state senator in 1908, and served in the session beginning in 1909, but still had the second session before him. In 1907 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives. In 1888 he had been the nominee of his party for senator from Madison and Grant counties, but the district was then strongly Republican and he was accordingly defeated. He also gave local service as a school trustee and city councilman, and to the extent of his ability was always ready to assist and co-operate with local enterprises. He organized the first volunteer fire department of Ander- son, and was secretary and treasurer of every fair association until his passing away. He organized and was the first exalted ruler of the Anderson Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was a past commander of Anderson Commandery, Knights Templars, and was also a past master and a past high priest of other bodies in the York Rite, and at the time of his death was treasurer of Mt. Moriah Lodge A. F. & A. M. and Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Commandery of the state of Indiana. His other fraternal affiliations were with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum and the National Union.

In 1877 Mr. McCullough married Miss Hattie Black, who was born in Union county, Indiana, a daughter of McFarland Black, one of the pioneer farmers of Richland township. Mrs. McCullough eceived her education in the Anderson high school. Their three children are Mildred, Neel and Mary.

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NEEL M. MCCULLOUGH. As cashier of the Citizens Bank of Ander- son, as a member of the firm of Vinnedge-McCullough Real Estate Agency and as president of the Pierce Speed Controller Company, Neel M. McCullough is a worthy successor of his late father, and though one of the youngest independent business men, is successfully super- vising the many important interests entrusted to his management.

Neel M. Mccullough was born in the city of Anderson, March 19, 1886, the only son of the late Carroll K. and Hattie B. (Black) McCul- lough. His early education was obtained in the grammar and high schools at Anderson, and after graduating from the latter he entered Culver Military Academy at Lake Maxinkuckee, where he was graduated in 1904. In the fall of the same year he entered the University of Mich- igan, but left that institution after one year to enter the banking busi- ness. Entering the Citizens Bank in 1905, he went through the entire routine of banking, and in 1911 was promoted to the office of cashier, his present position. He is the secretary and treasurer of the Anderson Club, the city's leading social organization.

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History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 50

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926 Publication date: 1970 Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918