History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 52

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 52

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HORACE E. JONES, M. D. It is eminently fitting that the career of Dr. Horace E. Jones be presented in this volume, for he has been a prac- titioner of medicine for upwards of forty years and his entire profes- sional career has been passed within the borders of Madison county. During his long and honorable career in Anderson he has been success- ful not only in a material way, but has established himself firmly in the esteem and affection of a wide circle of sincere friends, and as a man who has always had the welfare of his community and its people at heart is aceounted one of Anderson's most valned citizens. He was born in Henry county, Indiana, July 2, 1845, a son of Dr. Thomas and Mary C. (Conwell) Jones.

Thomas Jones, M. D., was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1823, and early in life decided upon the medical profession as the medium through which he should strive for success. Accordingly, after prepa- ration, he entered the Ohio Medical College, and after his graduation therefrom settled in Henry county, where he continued in practice until 1846, when he came to Madison county and established his home and practice at Pendleton. In about the year of 1854 he came from there to Anderson, and this city thereafter continued his home and the field of his activities until his death, in October, 1875. He became widely and favorably known in his locality and had many friends both in and outside of the medical profession. He married Mary C. Conwell, whose father, Isaac Conwell, was one of the pioneer settlers of Union county, and her death occurred in November. 1911, at the advaneed age of eighty-eight years. Her parents were formerly from Maryland.

It is not unusual for the men in a family to follow similar vocations, and especially is this true in the field of medicine, where son follows father, showing the same abilities and inclinations. At any rate such

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was the case with Dr. Horace E. Jones, although he first had some mili- tary experience. When sixteen years of age he enlisted as chief bugler of the Second Indiana Cavalry, and, with it, participated in numerous engagements, including the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth. He was then appointed a midshipman at the U. S. Naval Academy in 1863 from which he graduated in 1867 and served in the navy till 1871. Having rounded out nearly nine years of continuous military service, he resigned his commission in the navy, returned to his home, and took up the study of medicine in his father's office. After some time spent under the elder man's preceptorship he entered the Ohio Medical Col- lege, his father's alma mater, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated from that institution in 1873, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He at once returned to Anderson, and since then has been in the enjoy- ment of an excellent professional business. The Doctor has the ability, the ready sympathy and the natural inclination for all the branches of his profession, and may indeed be said to be one who has chosen well. He possesses a fine medical library, and with this and the leading medi- cal periodicals, keeps himself abreast of the discoveries and advance- ments which so prominently characterize the science of medicine. He has made a number of wise business investments, and is the owner of much valuable city and farm property, including his modern residence at 138 West Tenth street, one of the leading residence thoroughfares of Anderson. A Democrat in politics, for three years he was a member of the school board. His fraternal connections are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in the latter of which he is a past grand master, and he also enjoys membership in Major May Post, No. 244, G. A. R.

In 1873 Dr. Jones was married to Miss Mary C. Cockefair, of Cam- bridge City, Indiana, and a son and daughter have been born to this union. Thomas M., the son, is a graduate of the Indiana State Univer- sity and of the Johns Hopkins University, medical department, and is now engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Anderson. The daughter, Nellie, is the wife of Ralph Clark, of Chicago.

CLEMENT WARREN HOOVEN. When most men die the ranks close up, the community moves on without a break, but a wide circle of ac- quaintances will long continue to miss the splendid personality of Cle- ment Warren Hooven, who was unexpectedly called from earthly cares and trials on the 28th of August, 1913. He was in all the word implies a man-a man honorable in business, just in his dealings and one who maintained the highest standard of citizenship. Local publications truthfully said of him that his life was not only gentle and pure, but that nature had so mixed its good elements in him that every one pro- nounced him a noble man. He was a leader in this community, and helped to build the city of Anderson. He was generous with his means,, liberal with his time, wise with his counsel-all for Anderson, and he left the impress on this community of a successful, progressive and honest man.

Clement Warren Hooven was born at Ansonia, Ohio, February 9, 1863, a son of the late Dr. Warren and Marrietta (Riley) Hooven, a Dayton, Ohio, where the mother still resides. He received a common school training, and upon reaching man's estate began his business career as a traveling freight agent for the Big Four Railroad Company. For a time he was also station agent for that company at Winchester, Vol. II-5

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Indiana, and in about the year 1893 he came to Anderson to represent the Big Four Railroad Company as general agent. But soon after locating in Anderson he became interested in gas and acquired the control of a gas plant in Hazelwood, while a few years later he effected the consolidations of all the gas plants in the city and sold them to a Cincinnati syndicate. When the Cincinnati company failed and the plants were sold at receiver's sale Mr. Hooven became the purchaser, although he soon afterward sold to the Dawes syndicate of Chicago, represented in this city by the Central Indiana Gas Company.

Mr. Hooven also purchased and developed the Anderson Tool Com- pany, which was one of the best known manufacturing concerns in the city when it was destroyed by fire in 1911. He was also interested in the Remy Electric Company and had other business interests, including the ownership of several valuable pieces of real estate. In the summer of 1913 he was one of the directors of the "Made in Anderson" exhibit, and was active in promoting and advertising the novel exhibition of Anderson products. He was ever ready when Anderson called and was always first in her needed improvements.

In fraternal circles Mr. Hooven was well known as a member of the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he was the owner of two stories of the building on Main street in which 1863, a son of the late Dr. Warren and Marietta (Riley) Hooven, of the Elks' home is located. He was a member of the Anderson Club and the Country Club, and at the time of his death was one of the di- rectors of the latter. On the 18th of November, 1896, he was married to Miss Anna Cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Cox, of Anderson. Mrs. Hooven is a native daughter of Wayne county, Indiana, and with her two children, Sarah and Warren, survive the husband and father. She is a niece of N. A. and Charles Cox, merchants of Anderson, and she is the president of the Anderson Associated Charities. an institution in which her husband was deeply interested.

For some time prior to his death it was known to Mr. Hooven's fam- ily and a few of his intimate friends that he was afflicted with heart trouble, but no fears were felt until ou August 18, 1913, when he motored to Lake Maxincuckee with his family for an outing. Before reaching the lake he became so exhausted at times that he allowed his daughter to drive the car, but upon arriving at the lake he appeared to improve until on Thursday, the 21st, he was stricken with a severe attack of indigestion, accompanied by hemorrhage of the stomach, and he was taken to a sanatorium at Battle Creek, Michigan. But the hoped-for recovery did not materialize, and on Thursday night, Au- gust 28, 1913, Clement W. Hooven laid down the burden of life and passed over to the silent majority. His body was brought to Anderson for burial, and the funeral on Monday, September 1, 1913, was attended by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances. "Columns of beau- tiful words," his community said, "could be written in memory of Clement Warren Hooven, but they are unnecessary. His life work, so successful, is ended, and his gentle spirit is beyond their message- enjoying immortality. And finally, in Valhalla, where the spirits of the blessed immortals assemble, when the roll-call of departed Ander- sonians is sounded and the name of Clement Warren Hooven is an- nounced it will be the dearest pleasure of the immortal souls of Colonel Milton S. Robinson, Captain W. R. Myers, James L. Kilgore, John R. Terhune, V. K. Mccullough, Charles T. Doxey and others to pronounce

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Jonas Stewart, M.D.

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in unison that highest eulogy known to mankind-Died on the field of duty and with the universal esteem, love and respect of his neighbors."

MARTIN L. CROMER. Probably there is no better known citizen in Anderson than Martin L. Cromer, who for more than twelve years has served in the capacity of assistant postmaster here, and whose efficient, courteous and obliging services have not only heen of great value to his adopted city, but have served to gain him widespread popularity. Mr. Cromer entered upon his career as a member of the legal profession, but since his appointment to his official position he has given the greater part of his attention to the discharge of its duties. He is a native of the Hoosier state, having been born at Newcastle in Henry county, March 9, 1854, a son of Josiah and Mary A. (Schultz) Cromer, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Henry county, Indiana. Josiah Cromer was born July 11, 1825, and was one of twin sons. His father was George Cromer, who was born on the 3d of June, 1788, and the maternal grandfather was born June 3, 1810, in Pennsylvania.

Martin L. Cromer received his early educational training in the public schools of Middletown, Indiana, and from there enrolled as a student at the State University at Bloomington, where he continued to assiduously pursue his studies for several years. Following this he spent two years at Butler University, Irvington, Indiana, and then going to Springfield, Ohio, spent two years in Wittenberg College and graduated therefrom in 1879. For one year after leaving college Mr. Cromer was engaged in teaching school, and in 1880 he came to Ander- son as an educator, but not long afterward went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he passed twelve months. Returning to Indiana, he located on a farm in Delaware county, where he remained until 1888, and then gave his attention to farming in Madison county, in which he met with a satisfying degree of success, but in 1896 again came to Anderson and began to read law in the office of the well known legal firm of Wood & Ellis, being admitted to the bar in 1898. In 1901 he began his active practice alone, and in the same year received the ap- pointment to the office of deputy postmaster under Robert Grimes, a position he has continued to hold under succeeding postmasters to the present time. Mr. Cromer manifests a commendable interest in all the live topics of the day and withholds his support from no measure which his judgment tells him will be of benefit to his city or its people. His many admirable qualities have gained him a wide circle of friends, and Anderson numbers him among its dependable citizens. In political matters he has always supported Republican candidates and princi- ples. His fraternal connection is with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1880 Mr. Cromer was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Bron- nenberg, of Anderson, Indiana, a daughter of the late Carrol Bronnen- berg. Three children have been born to this union, namely : Mrs. Ethel E. Forse, whose husband, Harry Forse, Jr., is secretary of the Union Traction Company of Indiana: Maud D. became the wife of Dr. J. D. Miller, a physician at Indianapolis, Indiana; and Grace, who married Dr. O. B. Norman, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Bed- ford, Indiana.

JONAS STEWART, M. D. Now one of the oldest members of the med- ical profession in Madison county, and prominently known to the

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medical fraternity throughout the state, having served some years ago as the first president of the Indiana State Medical Association, after it was reorganized and changed from the old title of Medical Society, Dr. Stewart has been identified by residence and by business and profes- sional activities in Anderson since 1870.

Jonas Stewart is a native of Indiana, having been born in Delaware county, January 26, 1843, a son of Lewis and Mary (Crampton) Stew- art. The father, who was a son of William Stewart, a native of Ken- tucky, was born in Highland county, Ohio. The grandfather had first moved his home from Kentucky to Ohio, where he was numbered among the earlier settlers of Highland county. Lewis Stewart attained his education in an old log school house, peculiar to his time, and with such equipment as he could obtain from this primitive school he secured a teacher's certificate or license, and was engaged in teaching for some years during the early part of his career. He married Mary Crampton, who was born in Maryland, and became a resident of Ohio during childhood, her parents also being among the early settlers of Ohio, in Miami county. She died in 1887 in the sixty-eighth year of her life.

Dr. Stewart spent his boyhood on a farm, and attended the public schools in Delaware county, Indiana. He later attended school at Troy, Ohio, and in 1862 he entered the Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis. He enlisted as a private in the Union army, going into the service on August 28, 1862, in Company E of the Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the regiment being commanded by Col. Sam- uel A. Gilbert. The regiment was sent into Kentucky, and later to Tennessee, and he saw a good deal of service in the mountains of Ken- tucky and Tennessee, after which he was transferred with his regiment to Virginia. After nearly three years of soldiering he received his honorable discharge on May 30, 1865, and then returned to college at Indianapolis. He spent one year in study there, then taught school for a while and in this way gradually prepared himself for a profes- sional life. He finally matriculated in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he pursued his studies for some time, and later went to the Long Island Hospital Medical College at Brooklyn, New York, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. on June 30, 1870. Dr. Stewart at once came to Anderson and opened his office, beginning general practice in August of the same year. He has enjoyed success and distinction in his profession, and during the last two years has given up any attempt to extend his practice and now confines his atten- tion to attendance in professional capacities upon his old patrons, many of whom he has cared for for more than a generation.

In business and financial circles at Anderson, Dr. Stewart is recog- nized as one of the very successful men. He has for a number of years held the position of vice-president of the Anderson Loan Association, and he is also a stockholder in the National Exchange Bank at Ander- son and of the Anderson Trust Company. The doctor owns an excel- lent farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Madison county.

Dr. Stewart is a member of the Madison County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Association, of which he was the first presi- dent after its reorganization, serving in his official capacity in the year 1904, and he was vice-president of the State Medical Society, in 1897, prior to its reorganization under its present name, the Indiana State Medical Association.

Dr. Stewart has contributed data concerning the physicians of Mad-

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ison county to the Medical History of Indiana, edited by Dr. G. W. H. Kemper, and he is also associate editor on the subject of the medical profession for this present history of Madison county. He retains his association with old army comrades through his membership in Major May Post No. 244, G. A. R.

Dr. Stewart was married on September 4, 1870, to Miss Mahala Brandon of Middletown, Henry county, Indiana, a daughter of Greenup Brandon, one of the first settlers of Delaware county, Indiana. He and his wife have been members of the Central Christian Church in Anderson for forty-three years, and are among the stanchest and most reliable members of that body. The handsome family residence is located at 1015 Delaware street.

JAMES A. VAN OSDOL. The bar of Madison county numbers Mr. Van Osdol among its leading and representative members. He has practiced in the courts here for twenty years, and controls a large and important clientage. He is the general attorney for the Union Trac- tion Company of Indiana, one of the substantial and important cor- porations controlling interurban electric lines in this state. Prior to entering upon the practice of law Mr. Van Osdol gained distinctive success and prestige as a representative of the pedagogic profession, and he is known as a man of fine attainments and sterling character.

He was born in Ohio county, Indiana, August 4, 1860, and is a scion of sterling pioneer families of Indiana, within whose gracious borders were also born his parents, Boston W. and Rachael (Jenkins) Van Osdol. Like many another who has attained success in professional life James A. Van Osdol gained his initial experience in connection with the sturdy and benignant influences of the farm, the while he availed himself of the advantages of the district school in the vicinity of his home. Proving himself eligible for pedagogie honors, he began teach- ing in the district schools in his native county at the age of seventeen years, and continued in the profession for six years. In the mean- while he had pursued the study of law, and moving to the city of Vevay, in Switzerland county, in 1884, he entered upon the practice of law there. The political situation in the county at that time was such that in a short time it afforded him the opportunity of election to the office of county superintendent of schools, and after serving one term in that office he returned to the practice of law.

In 1893 Mr. Van Osdol came to Madison county and established his home in the prosperous little city of Elwood, where he soon acquired a substantial practice and proved himself one of the resourceful and ver- satile members of the bar of the county. In 1895 he found it expedient to establish his home and professional headquarters at Anderson, the judicial center of the county, and here he entered into practice with Charles L. Henry and Byron McMahan in the practice of law. Later he joined with Mr. Henry and his associates in the organization of the Union Traction Company, and early in the history of that organzation Mr. Van Osdol was chosen its general attorney and lias since continued as the head of its legal department. His official duties in this connec- tion have demanded his interposition in many important affairs of the company, and he has represented the same in various cities along the interurban lines controlled by the corporation. He is a man of fine presence, is genial, sincere and direct. and though he has never mani- fested any desire to woo publicity he is known as a loyal and progres-

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sive citizen, and in politics he accords staunch allegiance to the Republican party.

Mr. Van Osdol was married in 1894 to Mrs. Mary F. Goodin, for- merly Miss Gould, then a widow residing at Peru, Indiana, with her little son, Donald Goodin. Mr. Van Osdol also had a son, Robert, by a former marriage, and these four constituted the Van Osdol household when they moved to the city of Anderson, but in 1902 this little circle was increased by the birth of Gould J. Van Osdol. At the present Robert is residing at Pasadena, California, and Donald is at Yorktown, Indiana.

FRED D. WRIGHT. Foremost among the younger business men of Anderson who have made good in their undertakings and enterprises may be mentioned Fred D. Wright, secretary and treasurer of the Well- ington Milling Company for a number of years, and identified with the business in a lesser capacity since 1907. He is well versed in mill- ing lore, for he began to take an active interest in the work as early as his seventeenth year, and has maintained a continuous identification with the milling business from that time until the present. His rise has been a steady and continuous one and altogether pleasing to those who have watched his career from boyhood and are conversant with the many excellent traits that have contributed to his success.

A native son of Randolph county, Fred D. Wright was born in the town of Modoc on September 13, 1877. His parents were Willis C. and Mollie (Vardaman) Wright. The father was also a native of Randolph county, and was a farmer by occupation. He is now living in the city of Anderson, but the wife and mother bas been called to the home beyond.

Fred D. Wright attended the village school of Modoc until his six- teenth year, and quitting his studies at that time he accepted a position in a flouring mill at Muncie, Indiana, the firm with which he identified himself being the Wysor & Hibbets Milling Company. While in the employ of that company he entered the service of the U. S. Army, en- listing with the Twentieth Infantry, U. S. Regiment, on the 12th of. May, 1898. He served in all the engagements in Cuba, and returned home in the following August, receiving his discharge in November fol- lowing. While with the Wysor & Hibbets Milling Company, Mr. Wright received a thorough training in the milling business, and he continued with the firm for about seven years, leaving their service in 1902, but acquiring in that time a complete knowledge of the business in all its various departments. In that year he came to Anderson and entered the employ of the Wellington & Son Flouring Mill, remaining with them until 1905, when he went to Los Angeles, California, in an effort to better the condition of his health, which, while not incapacitating him for work, was sufficiently bad to cause him some concern. But a short time in the healthful climate of southern California restored him to abundant health and vigor, and he returned to Anderson in 1906 and assumed charge of the Pioneer Milling Company at Linngrove, Adams county, Indiana. In January, 1913, he acquired an interest in the Well- ington & Son Milling Company, which, by the retirement of James Wellington, the father, came to be known as the Wellington Milling Company. Soon thereafter the son also retired from the concern, leav- ing Mr. Wright in full charge of the activities of the business. Under his regime the mills have taken on new strength and the business is

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being pushed forward to an exceptionally high plane. The plant is equipped with a complete roller system and separators, and every labor-saving device known to the milling business is found in operation in this thoroughly modern and well conducted plant. With a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five barrels daily, the mill runs at capacity the year around. It has a large local trade, and is at the same time engaged in handling wheat, oats and all other grains peculiar to this region, its principal markets being Baltimore, Maryland, and Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. The care of the business could be in no better hands than Mr. Wright's, for an addition to his thorough knowledge of the business from its more practical side, he is also an accomplished office man, thoroughly qualified to oversee the clerical side of the busi- ness and to understand every detail of office management. He fitted himself for that phase of the work in the Anderson Business College, where he pursued a thorough course of training some years ago.

In 1901 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Iva E. Longfellow, of Rush county, Indiana, a daughter of S. C. Longfellow, for many years a teacher in Rush county and one of the best known men of that dis- triet, and of Rosetta (Durham) Longfellow, a descendant of a pioneer family of Rush county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright-Noland C. and Noline M. Wright.

Mr. Wright is a member of Anderson Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at An- derson. The family home is at 203 East Fifteenth street.

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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 52

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