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 66
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
in and about the community which represents his home. Born on Jan- uary 14, 1876, in Madison county, he is the son of Burwell and Mary J. (Mairifold ) Williamson, both of whom are now deceased.
Burwell and Mary Williamson were born in Madison county, Indiana, and within its confines passed their entire lives. They devoted their lives to the farming industry, and reared a family of eight children, five of whom are now living,-as follows: William L. is a farmer, in Green township, Madison county : Leora E. is the wife of J. T. Ford of Pendle- ton; Alice M. is the wife of Allen Swain; Howard C. is another Green township farmer; and Albin B., the subject of this brief review.
Alvin B. Williamson was reared on the farm that was his birthplace, three miles west of the town of Pendleton, and when he reached a suffi- cient age he entered the public schools of Pendleton and there completed his education. His schooling was not of a comprehensive order, and consisted of attendance at the schools of the community during the win- ter months. while the remainder of his years up to the age of nineteen were devoted to the work of the home place, in which he was well trained under the direction of his father. He attended the Nobleville high school for a time after he was nineteen, and then set himself to learn carriage trimming, a work in which he was engaged for three years.
It was not until the marriage of Mr. Williamson in 1900 that he moved his farm in Green township, where they lived until 1909, in which year they moved to Pendleton in Fall Creek township. and here he has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising.
The wife of Mr. Williamson was in her maiden days Miss Mary F. France, and she was born in Noblesville, Indiana. on December 8. 1878, and educated in the schools of Noblesville. She is a daughter of Jason and Lettie (Flinchman) France, well known people of that community. Two children have been born to the Williamsons,-Thelma I., now cleven years old. and Donna B., aged nine years. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Williamson has membership in Sicilian Lodge No. 234, Knights of Pythias, while his wife is a mem- ber of the Pythian Sisters, Lodge No. 99. Mr. Williamson is a Repub- lican, but is not one who takes any activity in political matters beyond the dictates of good citizenship. The family is one that has a pleasing position in Pendleton and the vicinity by reason of the many excellent quaiities which its members possess, and they have a host of friends throughout the county.
EUGENE L. FORD. In Green township are located many of the best improved and most valuable farmsteads of Madison county, and one of these which is conspicuous for its improvement. for its general appear- ance of thrift and prosperity. and for the value of the crops which are every year produced in its field and in the barns is that of Eugene L. Ford. Mr. Ford has spent about sixty years of his life in Madison county. and lacks only ahout a year of being able to claim it as his birth- place. He was born in Wayne county. Indiana, December 9. 1852, and was a son of John W. and Martha A. Williamson Ford, a native of Marv- land, was a carpenter by trade and came to Madison county in 1853. His mother was a native of Virginia. For a number of years the father was engaged in sawmilling and in contracting. and during his residence in Madison county he constructed many of the school houses in Green township, besides a large amount of other work. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church, and they were well known and in
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
fluential people. There were seven children in the family, and three are living in 1913, Eugene L., Emily L., wife of J. M. Johnson, and Amanda I., wife of Henry Beckner.
Eugene L. Ford spent his early life on the farm which he now owns in Green township, and attended the same district schools which the children of another generation attended, although in a very different building and with very different facilities from what he enjoyed as a boy. He completed his education in the public schools of Pendleton. His first regular occupation was as a carriage blacksmith in Pendleton, and he worked at that occupation for eighteen months. He then returned to the farm and soon afterwards was married to Miss Mary E. Taylor, a daughter of James A. Taylor. After their marriage he engaged in farming, and then moved to Lapel, where he was in business for several years. He next bought the balance of the farm of one hundred and sixty acres at his presen't location, and has given it all the energy and judgment which he possesses in making it a productive and valuable estate.
Mr. Ford and wife are the parents of seven children, and the three living at the present time are Horace A., who is a farmer and who mar- ried Ina M. Bright; Gale A., who is a graduate of the Lapel high school, and is now a student of music; Olin F., who was educated in the public schools of Lapel. Mr. Ford is affiliated with Lapel Lodge No. 625, A. F. & A. M., being a past master of the lodge, and is also a member of Lapel Lodge No. 386, Knights of Pythias, being past chancellor. He is also a member of the Grand Lodge of the Masons, and has been a delegate to the State Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he belongs to the new party, the Progressive.
ANDREW MILBURN. The meet reward of a well spent and active career is an honorable retirement from labor and a season of rest in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. Consecutive endeavor, resolute purpose, sound judgment and unfaltering energy bring success in the active affairs of life, and when prosperity is attained these should be followed by a period of leisure, when one may carry out his individual desires and find pleasure in pursuing plans from which business cares had formerly with- held him. For many years Andrew Milburn was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Madison county. His career was an honorable one, in which his straightforward dealing and indefatigable labor brought him a handsome competence that now enables him to put aside the heavier burdens and find pleasurable recreation in his home and among his friends.
Mr. Milburn was born on the homestead in Stony Creek township which he now owns, June 3, 1856, a son of Isaac and Nancy (Gwinn) Milburn, natives of West Virginia (then Virginia). From their native place Mr. Milburn's parents migrated to Madison county in a wagon, pioneer fashion, and located in Stony Creek township, where the grand- father of the subject of this review bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, paying a dollar and a quarter an acre, and this he deeded to his son Isaac. On his arrival here Isaac Milburn's cash capital consisted of two dollars and a half, and this sum he paid a neighbor to assist him in digging a well, but from this humble start he became one of the leading land owners of his section of the county. He was a quiet, unassuming man and never aspired to public prominence, but lived a clean and upright life, was greatly respected by his neighbors,
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and in his death, February 12, 1901, his township lost one of its best citizens. He and his wife had three children, of whom but the subject of this sketch now survives.
The educational advantages of Andrew Milburn were somewhat limited, being confined to three terms of three months each in the dis- triet schools and a short attendance in a subscription school, but in later years this has been supplemented by much observation and study, which have made him a well educated man. He was reared on the home farm, but at the age of fifteen years, his home life not proving congenial because of a critical stepmother, he left the parental roof and faced the world on his own account. Making his way to Kansas, he there found work in the farming regions at a salary of twenty dollars a month, but with youthful irresponsibility failed to save his earnings, and when he met the lady of his choice he was possessed of a .capital of but seventy- five dollars. However, his optimism and self reliance were as great as had been his free heartedness, and on April 29, 1884, he was married to Miss Minnie Holmes, who had been born in Nebraska June 17, 1860. She had received a common school education, but having lost her parents when young had, like her husband, been compelled to make her own way. To this union there were born thirteen children: Ella, who is the wife of Orville McDole; Ethel, who is deceased; Bessie, the wife of Roy Adams; and Willie, Cyrus, Isaac, Earl, Jessie, Bertha, Ernest, Orville, Grace and Andrew, Jr. Of these Bertha and Ernest are twins.
After his marriage Mr. Milburn returned to Madison county, where he took charge of his father's farm, and here he has been carrying on operations ever since. He is now the owner of four hundred acres, all in a high state of cultivation, with substantial and handsome buildings and modern improvements of all kinds. Although he left the farm in December, 1905, and settled in his comfortable home in Lapel, Mr. Milburn still continues to buy and sell horses and to deal in and ship stock, and he is known as a shrewd trader and an excellent judge of live stock of all kinds. He has ever been known for his strict integrity and reliability in business matters, and few men are better known in the township. His life has been one of temperance and probity, and he is a liberal contributor to all religions and charitable movements, being, with his family, a consistent member of the United Brethren church. His politics are those of the Democratic party, and, while he has not been an office seeker, he has not been indifferent to the duties of citizenship and has served as a member of the town board of Lapel and as treasurer of the board of trustees of his church. During his long residence in this section he has formed a wide acquaintance and his numerous friends testify to his popularity among all classes.
MARTIN C. NORTON. By various services and diversified gifts, men contribute to the building up of a city, and it is in connection with the opening up of the avenues of commerce and the furnishing of facilities for the transactions of trade that Martin C. Norton has bent his energies to the common weal. As president of the T. M. Norton Brewing Com- pany, at Anderson, he is the directing head of one of the largest industries of its kind in this part of Indiana, while his connection with various other enterprises of an extensive nature has been such as to make his name a familiar one in business circles of Madison county. Mr. Norton was born in the city of Anderson, July 30, 1867, and has spent his entire
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career here. He is the eldest son of Thomas M. and Katherine (Mc- Carthy ) Norton.
Thomas M. Norton was born in 1835, in Ireland, and was still a lad when brought to the United States by his parents, the family settling near Dayton, Ohio, where he passed his boyhood and youth and acquired a good common school education. Ou completing his studies, he learned the trade of carpenter, thus drifting into the contracting business, which he followed until 1863, then moving from Dayton to Union City, Indiana, where he became associated with Louis Williams in the ale brewing business. In 1866 he disposed of his interests in Union City and came to Anderson, and shortly thereafter formed a partnership with Patrick Sullivan, thus organizing the first concern for the brewing of ale in northern Indiana. Later Michael Cromley was admitted to member- ship in the firm, but in 1882 Mr. Norton sold his interests to his partners and embarked in business on his own account, thus forming the nucleus for what was to become one of the largest industries of the city. Devot- ing his best energies to his enterprise, Mr. Norton extended its trade steadily and surely, and eventually was enabled to build a large brick plant, which he equipped with the finest and most modern machinery known to the brewing trade. He continued as the active head of this enterprise until his death, January 26, 1907, when he had firmly estab- lished himself as one of his adopted city's most substantial men of busi- ness. He was survived by his widow, two daughters and two sons.
Martin C. Norton acquired a liberal education in the public and high schools of Anderson, this being supplemented by a commercial course in the Miami Business College, at Dayton, Ohio, and on the completion of his studies he entered the brewery where his father thoroughly trained him in every detail of the great business. He was later admitted to partnership, with his brother William J. Norton, the firm then becoming T. M. Norton & Sons, and at the time of their father's death the sons took over the business, which they have continued to successfully con- duct to the present time. Changes and improvements have been made in the plant, as extended trade and newly invented machinery demanded, but the same high standard of quality has been maintained, and the customers secured by the older man when the enterprise was still in its infancy have continued to do business with the firm to the present time. Martin C. Norton has inherited much of his father's shrewdness, acumen and good judgment, and his management of the company's affairs has been of a nature to greatly extend its scope. In addition to a large local trade, a large amount of the product is shipped to the neighboring towns and villages, as well as to a number of large cities in northern and central Indiana. Mr. Norton has interested himself in various other ventures, and at this time is vice-president of another of Anderson's large industries, the Anderson Foundry and Machine Company.
In 1896 Mr. Norton was married to Miss Maud Kilgore, daughter of the late James L. Kilgore, an old resident and for some years a promi- nent business man of Anderson, who died some time ago. They have no children. In politics a Democrat, Mr. Norton has taken an active part in local matters, but only as a supporter of good government. and not as an aspirant for public preferment. Fraternally, he holds membership in the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His fine brick residence, situated at No. 1011 Jackson street, is one of the most valuable and architecturally beautiful in the city of Anderson
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JOHN M. LAMEY. Among the citizens of Madison county who have won material suecess through the exercise of their own industry and native talent, John M. Lamey, of Anderson, is deserving of more than passing mention. Compelled to face the world and make his own way when but still a lad, he has so perseveringly pursued the vocation that he early chose as his life work, that today he finds himself one of the sub- stantial men of his community, and the general esteem in which he is held is ample evidenee of the fact that his activities have been governed by a high sense of business integrity. Mr. Lamey is a native of Anderson, a son of James and Mary (Turney ) Lamey.
James Lamey was born in County Cork, Ireland, where he grew to young manhood. Like thousands of others of his native eountrymen, he early decided that better opportunities awaited him in America, and he accordingly took passage for this country, first locating in Canada. He subsequently came to Winchester, Indiana, where he adopted the voea- tion of buteher, and was so engaged at the outbreak of the struggle between the North and the South. Enlisting in the Nineteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, he served with that organization for four years, partieipating in numerous hard-fought engagements and at all times proving himself a brave, cheerful and faithful soldier. On the eom- pletion of his term of service, he returned to his trade, and was rapidly becoming successful in a material way when his death occurred, hastened. no doubt, by the hardships of his army life. He left his widow with two sons : John M., and Paul, the latter of whom passed away at the age of twenty-one years.
John M. Lamey acquired his edneation in the Catholic Sisters' school and the public schools of Anderson, but left the latter at the age of four- teen years, the death of his father making it imperative that he assist in the support of his mother and brother. He first entered the factories at Anderson, where he was employed for three years, and at the end of that period learned butehering. He was only twenty-one years old when he entered business on his own account at Anderson, but his thorough knowl- edge of the business. his energy, his progressive ideas and his inherent ability all contributed to the building up of a business that has continued to grow steadily to the present time, and he is now known as one of his section's heaviest stock buyers and a wholesale and retail meat dealer whose trade extends far beyond the limits of the local communities. His subsequent career has been spent in unswerving devotion to the duties of life, in the conduct of an honorable business and in fidelity to family and friends, and no one is more deserving and more enjoys the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been brought into contact. His hobby may be said to be a love of fast horses and he is at present the owner of a number of valuable animals. Mr. Lamey owns a valuable property which has been made more desirable by the ereetion of a number of build- ings equipped with every modern appliance for the conduct of his busi- ness. Essentially a business man, he has not cared for public life, but takes an interest in the success of the Democratie party and stanchly sup- ports its principles and candidates.
In July, 1905, Mr. Lamey was united in marriage with Miss Esther Langley, and three children have been born to this union : Panl, James and Irefa.
EDWARD E. THOMAS. A native son of Madison county and a repre- sentative of a family whose name has been closely identified with the
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development and progress of this section of the state is Mr. Thomas, and that he has accounted well for himself and gained secure place in popular esteem needs no further voucher than that afforded in his incumbency of the responsible office of superintendent of the county poor farm, in the general management of which his administration has been in every respect faithful and efficient.
Mr. Thomas was born in Boone township, this county, on the 22nd of February, 1858, and is a scion of the third generation of the family in Madison county, where his paternal grandfather settled in the early pio- neer days. Mr. Thomas is a son of Evan R. and Lorema (McMahon) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Monroe township, this county. Evan R. Thomas was long numbered among the most energetic and pro- gressive agriculturists of his native county and he now resides on an at- tractive homestead in Van Buren township, where he is living virtually retired, after many years of earnest toil and endeavor. Of the eight chil- dren the subject of this review was the second in order of birth, the others being : Sarah, Mrs. Allen; Ethel, Mrs. Vinson ; James; Ida, Mrs. Jones; Minnie, Mrs. Fisher ; Cora, Mrs. Nelson; and Bertha, Mrs. Kauffman.
The present superintendent of the poor farm of Madison county gained his early experiences in connection with the work of the home farm and his educational advantages were those afforded in the Tomlinson school, in Boone township, an institution locally designated as the Dead Dog school. In the meanwhile he contributed his quota to the work of the home farm and he was but fourteen years of age at the time of his mother's death. As the next eldest of the children, Mr. Thomas early assumed heavy responsibilities and aided in the support of the younger members of the family, as his father earnestly maintained the home after the death of the loved wife and mother. Edward E. Thomas initiated his independent career at the age of twenty-five years. He rented a farm of one hundred and forty acres and brought his energies and specific knowledge into effective play, with the result that he made the enterprise successful. Finally he purchased a small tract of land, and in connection with its cultivation he also operated a slaughter house, the products of which he sold to the retail meat markets in the town of Summitville. Finally he established his residence in that village, where he engaged in the handing of farm implements and machinery. This venture likewise proved suc- cessful under his aggressive and careful management, and his reputation as a salesman and circumspect man of business led to his being retained as a traveling representative of the International Harvester Company, with which great corporation he thus continued for a period of ten years. In September, 1910, the board of county commissioners of Madison county conferred upon him the appointment to his present responsible office, and it is a matter of record that the affairs of the county poor farm have been most carefully and ably managed under his effective regime, his con- tinued retention of office constituting the best voucher for the efficiency of his administration.
Mr. Thomas accords unwavering allegiance to the Democratic party and he has ever taken a deep interest in all that touches the welfare of his home county. He served two years as township assessor and he has ever held inviolable place in the confidence and esteem of the community which has always represented his home. He is in charge of the county farm of two hundred and twelve acres and also has the general supervision of the county infirmary, the unfortunate wards of which hold him in high esteem. The county farm is situated in Union township and is equipped
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MR. AND MRS. JAMES M. FORKNER
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
with excellent improvements of a permanent order. Mr. Thomas and his family hold membership in the Christian church and are distinctively popular in connection with the social activities of the community.
On the 28th of September, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thomas to Miss Anna Beeson, who is a daughter of William G. and Elizabeth (Williams) Beeson, who now reside in Summitville and who are well known and highly honored citizens of the county, where Mrs. Beeson is one of the few representatives of the Williams family, the name of which has been closely concerned with the history of this part of the state. William G. Beeson was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and is a scion of one of the staunch pioneer families of the Hoosier common- wealth. Of the children Mrs. Thomas was the first born; Joseph is a resident of Summitville ; and Frank is deceased; he is survived by his widow, whose maiden name was Stella Block, and by their two children, Austin and Lou, who remain with their widowed mother at Summit- ville. Mrs. Thomas has proved a most able coadjutor of her husband in directing the affairs of the county asylum for the poor, as she is matron of the institution and is uneeasing in her attention to its affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas became the parents of six children, concerning whom brief record is made in conclusion of this review: Arlie wedded Miss Edna Seever and they have two children, Robert and Ruth ; Idelle, who completed the curriculum of the public sehools of Summitville, re- mains at the parental home; Clyde wedded Miss Leta Morris, and they have three children, Lena, Ernestine and Maurice E .; Chester is de- ceased; Rena is at the parental home ; and Elizabeth is attending the high school at Anderson, the county seat.
JAMES MARION FORKNER. One century ago, lacking five brief years, the Forkner family was established in Indiana, Wayne county being the scene of settlement and for years the home of the family. From that day to the present time men of that name have been prominently identified with the agricultural activities of the state, and have played well their individual parts in the praiseworthy work of advancing the reputation of their various communities in the world of agriculture. They have been men of the highest integrity and especially have they been dis- tinguished by the character of their citizenship and by their public service wherever and whenever there was need for them to give of themselves for the public weal. He whose name introduces this neces- sarily brief biographical review, James Marion Forkner, has been not a whit less prominent in his activities than have others of the name, and he stands forth today among the substantial and dependable men of his city and country, marked by the high order of his citizenship as well as by the many sturdy traits of character that have contributed to his popularity and success.
James Marion Forkner was born on Angust 15, 1849, in Richland township, and is the son of Madison and Charlotte (Blacklidge) Forkner. Mr. Forkner represents the fourth generation of the family privileged to claim American birth, and his great-great-grandfather, William Forkner, was born in Wales. He migrated to Ameriea in early life, coming to these shores just prior to the Revolutionary war, and settling in what is now Surrey county. North Carolina. There he died in about the year 1808, and it is worthy of mention that a copy of his last will and testament is now in the hands of John L. Forkner, the editor of this historical and biographical work. This interesting document bears the date February,
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