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 79
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ASBURY M. MOORE. A retired farmer now making his home at 2020 E. Main street in Elwood, Mr. Moore is one of the estimable members of Madison county citizenship. He has had a career of industrious and profitable farming and early in life adopted the vocation of culti- vating the soil as the most important labor of man. While not actively engaged in producing the crops of the soil he still owns a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, situated on the county line road about three and a half miles south of Elwood.
Mr. Moore is known among his friends and associates as a gentle- man of high standing. He was born in Tipton county, Indiana, April 21, 1860, a son of Joseph and Angeline ( Armfield) Moore. The father was a native of Wayne county, Indiana. He moved to Madison county in 1836 and was one of the old families which located in that section of the county. There were only two sons and the other is Azro F. Moore, now a druggist in Tipton. Mr. Moore as a boy attended the Darrow schools, and finished his education in the Tipton high school.
He began his career by working as a farm laborer, at monthly wages, and also worked for his father for several years. He finally bought out the interest of his brother in the home farm, and during the suc- ceeding years gradually acquired an excellent property which has proved a competence. Besides his fine farm above mentioned he is the owner of considerable town property. Mr. Moore was married Sep- tember 28, 1881, to Miss Eva Richardson, now deceased. She was the mother of two children, Fern, deceased, and Bertha L. now the wife of Jesse Rice. For his second wife Mr. Moore married Miss Clara B. Hughel October 2, 1892, and their two children are Marie and Clarice.
Mrs. Moore is a native of old Madison county, born April 13, 1864, and was reared and educated in her native county. She is a member of the Eastern Star of Tipton, Indiana, and she and husband are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church at Tipton.
Fraternally Mr. Moore is an honored member of the Masonic Lodge, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Maccabees. He is a great friend of Indiana's excellent school system and while a resident of Vol. 1-17
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Tipton, was a member of the board of education of the city schools. He is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife, take the good of their means, and spend part of it in travel. They spent six months on the Pacific slope, most of the time at Seattle, Washington.
WILLIAM H. WISE. An example of first class stock and general farming enterprise is found in Pipe Creek township, along the Dun- dee and Frankton Roads, on the ninety acre homestead of Mr. Wm. H. Wise, a progressive farmer who has spent nearly all his life in this section of Indiana, and while getting his share of the world's goods, he has also exercised the qualities of good citizenship, and is a man thor- oughly esteemed throughout his township.
Mr. Wise was born in Jackson township of Madison county, near Perkinsville, on January 5, 1861. His father is Alexander Wise, one of the old and honored residents of Madison county, a sketch of whom and his family will be found on other pages of this work. William H. Wise was reared in the home established by his father in Madison county, and was given unusual advantages both in education and in opportunities for getting properly started in life. As a boy he attended the country schools of the township, and also became familiar with the duties of the home farm. His education was finished in the De Pauw University at Greencastle, and after leaving college he taught school for some time in Madison county. From the school room he turned his attention to farming, and having given much of his ener- gies to this occupation and having made it a real business, he has accomplished probably more than most of his contemporaries in the same line of activities. Mr. Wise is a broad-minded man, and performs his share of community public spirit and is highly honored in his home locality. As a young man, in addition to the other school advantages just mentioned he attended for one term at the Danville Central Nor- mal School.
On September 19, 1886, he married Florence Kimmerling Dipboy. Mrs. Wise was reared in the family of her grandmother, and took the latter's name. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Wise are Bessie, Blanche, and Carol. The family worship in the Methodist church.
HON. J. M. FARLOW. A former state senator from Madison county, one of the most influential men in the Democratic party of this locality, Mr. Farlow has been a member of the bar for the last quarter of a century and has his home and office at Frankton, from which vicinity he has a large clientage. The residents in that locality repose a great deal of confidence in Mr. Farlow's judgment and ability as a lawyer, and he is usually retained in connection with most of the litigation from this portion of the county.
J. M. Farlow was born on the twenty-first of July, 1839, in Tipton county, a son of Reuben and Elizabeth (O'Dell) Farlow. The grand- parents moved from the old homestead of North Carolina to Tipton county, in the early years of the last century, and about 1833 located in Pipe Creek township of Madison county. Reuben Farlow was a young man when the family came to Indiana, and made a very success- ful farmer in Madison county. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, and the three now living are Lafayette, Lucinda, and Senator Farlow. Hon. J. M. Farlow attained his early schooling in Tipton county and his last school days were spent in the old Picker-
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ing schools. He early applied himself to farming as an occupation, has occupied himself with various enterprises and taught school for ten terms. In the meantime he took up the study of law at leisure intervals and under such instruction as he could obtain, and was finally admitted to the bar and engaged in practice, which he has now continued successfully for twenty-five years or more.
In 1861 he married Miss Malinda Haskett. Six children were born of that marriage. One of these is Viola, wife of John Foland, and their three children are Earl, J. M. and Ellen. A younger daughter than Viola is Kate, wife of Charles Whitehead, and their four children are Cecil S., Virgil, Grant and Ione. On March 12, 1904, Mr. Farlow married Miss Margaret Peck, a daughter of William and Sarah (Foland) Peck, and a sister of Dr. Peck of Frankton. There are no children by the second marriage.
Mr. Farlow was honored by his fellow citizens in Madison county by election for two terms to the Ilouse of Representatives, and later was sent to the State Senate for two years. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and fraternally is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Blue Lodge at Frankton and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men. His family are members of the Methodist church.
MARTIN GAVIN. As manager of his father's farm of one hundred and forty acres, located on the Elwood Pike about five miles north of Elwood, Mart Gavin, as he is familiarly known, is one of the progress- ive young farmers of Madison county, and has laid a substantial foundation for a successful career.
Mart Gavin was born where he now resides, July 1, 1891, a son of Martin and Elizabeth (McManaman) Gavin. His father was born in Ireland, was twelve years old when he came to America, and after landing in New York City, the family came west and finally located in Rex county, Indiana, where he was reared to manhood. He later came to Madison county, and from modest beginnings has acquired a gener- ous estate and prosperity, and is one of the influential men of this section. The eight children in the family are named as follows : Mame, Michael, Nora, Nellie, Mart, Maggie, Ruth and John.
Martin Gavin as a boy attended the country schools and finished his education in the Catholic school at Elwood. All his early associa- tions were with farm life, and when he arrived at manhood he was well prepared to take up the management of the old estate, which he now conducts in a progressive and up-to-date manner, and is one of the men who are proving the profitableness of agriculture in Madi- son county. He is well known socially in Elwood and vicinity, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM ETCHISON. A resident of Madison county during the greater part of his life, and an honored and respected farmer of Pipe Creek township, where he is the owner of one hundred and seven acres, Mr. Etchison has applied business methods to his work, has won a good material degree of prosperity, and has provided well for his family.
William Etchison was born in Jackson township, Madison county, September 18, 1855, a son of Jackson and Mary (Wise) Etchison. The father was a native of Wayne county, Indiana, and the paternal grand-
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parents came to Indiana, originally from North Carolina. Among the children of Jackson Etchison were William, Mrs. Nancy Worley, John W., Margaret A., and Mary Olive.
William Etchison as a boy spent part of his time in Hamilton, and part in Madison county. He grew up on the farm, became conver- sant with all its duties, and activities, and principally during the winter term attended the school of his neighborhood.
Mr. Etchison wedded Miss Margaret J. Worley, March 2, 1876, and to this marriage have been born the following children: Cyrus Jack- son, Raymond and Nellie Alice, all deceased. The living children are, Cora M., wife of Minor McClead and they have three children, Guy, Forest and Margaret; Ora Austin wedded Miss Bertha Duncan and they have four children, Edna E., Ernest L., John M., and Glen D .; Mary K. is wife of Irvine Robbins and they have six children, Nellie B., Kenneth, Harry W., William H., Leonard R. and Mabel M .; Willard C., married Miss Jessie Waymire and they have one child, Orville D .; Virgil A., married Miss Mary Major; Lenna Fay is the youngest and resides at home.
Mrs. Etchison, wife of the subject is a native of Madison county, Indiana, and was born March 27, 1853, the second child in a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, born to Elijah and Rachel K. (Fifer) Worley. There are nine of this family living at present, 1914.
Father Worley was a native of Virginia and was an agriculturist. Politically he was a strong advocate of the Republican principles. He died in Pipe Creek township. Mother Worley was also a native of Virginia. Both of Mrs. Etchison's parents are deceased. She was reared and educated in Madison county, Indiana, and has nobly done her part as wife and mother.
When Mr. and Mrs. Worley began their married life they had little cash capital, but by dint of hard toil, frugality and being honest, they have reared a large family and have one of the best farms of one hundred and seven acres in Pipe Creek township. A beautiful frame residence, pretty grounds and fine outbuildings further enhance its value, and their farm is called "The Maple Grove Stock Farm."
WILLIAM A. RYBOLT. Now occupying and engaged in the improve- ment of a nice farm of eighty acres of land lying on the Elwood Pike near Leisure postoffice, about six and a half miles north of Elwood, in Duck Creek township, William A. Rybolt is best known and has made his most successful record not as a farmer, but as a driller of wells in the oil and gas regions, and has been connected with the oil and gas fields in Indiana and elsewhere for a number of years.
William A. Rybolt was born September 24, 1867, in Highland county, Ohio, a son of William and Emma C. (Brown) Rybolt. Wil- liam Rybolt, the father, came to Indiana, when his son William was one year old, and settled in Grant county. There were only two chil- dren in the family, and the sister is Glycera.
William A. Rybolt has the early training and experience of the farmer boy, and attended the public schools of Duck Creek township. He was made thoroughly familiar with the activities of a farm, and was well trained in habits of industry and thrift, but when he took up farming independently he encountered difficulties which were discourag- ing and which caused him to abandon the occupation for a time. After-
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wards he started a second time, but was again unsuccessful through bad luck and sickness. These two somewhat disastrous experiments caused him to leave farming and go to the gas and oil fields, where he operated as a skillful driller for a number of years. In that work he has been unusually successful, and has made a good deal of money. At his mother's death the home farm of eighty acres was left to his management, and Mr. Rybolt is now engaged in building it up and improving it into a model estate. He purposes as soon as he has his land in a satisfactory condition to return to the gas and oil business.
On December 15, 1897, Mr. Ryholt married Miss Cora Steele, a daughter of H. S. Steele, of Elwood, a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Rybolt are members of the Christian church, and in politics he is a Republican, and largely interested in public affairs.
HARVEY A. WAYMIRE. As a breeder and raiser of fine Percheron horses, Mr. Waymire has a reputation throughout Madison county. The "Shade Land" stock farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Duck Creek township, and on the rural free deliv- ery route No. 28, out of Elwood, is a model place of its kind, and its improvements and adaptations to the uses of modern stock raising are the results of an exceptional degree of enterprise on the part of Mr. Waymire. He began his career in this county some years ago, with a small amount of capital and by thrifty management has become one of the most popular citizens of this community.
Harvey A. Waymire was born on the farm which he now occu- pies in Duck Creek township, a son of Jacob and Julia (Greenlee) Way- mire. His father was born in Warren county, near Independence, Indiana, in 1853. His parents were Henry and Hulda Waymire. Jacob Waymire attended the common schools, worked on the home farm dur- ing his school period, and was reared and has spent his career in Madi- son county, to which county he came with his parents when he was a boy. As a farmer he was successful and was long known as one of the substantial men of the vicinity. The children of Jacob and Julia Way- mire were: Oris H., William C., Harvey A., and Lula M., the wife of E. L. Wiggins, M. D.
Harvey A. Waymire as a boy first attended what was known as the Old Waymire sehool, and finished his schooling in the new Waymire school in Duck Creek township. While spending five days in the week at school he worked in the morning and evening on the home place, and most of his Saturdays and summer vacations were spent in the activities of the home farm. When he got his independent start in life, it was.on eighty acres of land, and since then he has prospered and added to his land holdings, until he now has one of the best im- proved and most profitable estates in Duck Creek township.
On August 14, 1896, Mr. Waymire married Miss Pearl M. Fox, a daughter of John and Mary (Ring) Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Waymire are the parents of three children: Jacob L., Mary F., and John H., all of whom are attending the local schools. Fraternally Mr. Way- mire is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is an elder in the Christian church, and votes the Democratic ticket.
I. W. CARR. A resident of Madison county since 1884, Mr. Carr is a prosperous farmer of Duck Creek township, residing on rural free delivery route No. 31, and getting his daily mail from Elwood. His
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neighbors regard him as one of the prosperous and substantial men of the township, and he is owner and operator of a fine estate of one hundred and fifteen acres. He began life without money, worked hard to get his start, and all his success may be credited to his individual efforts and enterprise.
I. W. Carr was born December 27, 1858, in Rush county, Indiana, and belongs to a family which hecame identified with Rush county during the pioneer days. His parents were James R. and Sarah J. (Miller) Carr. The father was born in Rush county, and Grandfather Isaac Carr settled there from the state of Kentucky. James Carr and wife were the parents of four children, of whom I. W. was the oldest. The others are Roy, Charles V., and Ora, the last named being deceased.
I. W. Carr as a boy attended the common schools in Rush county, and not only learned the lessons taught in books, but also acquired the more valuable instruction of honest industry and thrift as incul- cated at home. He worked diligently on the home farm, and when about twenty-two years of age started out for himself by renting a tract of land in Rush county. Later he bought a small farm and has steadily prospered from early manhood to the present time.
On March 31, 1881, Mr. Carr married Sarah A. Lines, a daughter of Aaron N. Lines and Jennie (Wain) Lines. Both her parents are now deceased. The one child born to Mr. Carr and wife is Omer, who married Ora Haines and has one child, Gladys. Mr. Carr is a Demo- grat in politics and has served as trustee of Duck Creek township. Mr. and Mrs. Carr's pretty country home is known as "Locust Grove Stoek Farm."
THOMAS E. PALMER. The business interests of Elwood, Indiana, have grown so rapidly within the last decade that today it is known as one of the leading manufacturing centers of Indiana, and its present industrial importance may be accredited to a class of progressive, enter- prising and energetic men of business, whose modern methods and ear- nest efforts have made the name of the city known all over the coun- try. As manager of the Ames Shovel & Tool Company, Thomas E. Palmer holds an acknowledged position of prestige among Elwood's leading business citizens. He has resided here only since 1902, but during this time has shown himself capable of discharging every trust given him, and at the same time has manifested a commendable public- spiritedness that has made him a leader in movements for the general welfare of his adopted community. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey, December 8, 1862, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Reid) Palmer.
George Palmer, the paternal grandfather of Thomas E. Palmer, was born in England, was there married, and subsequently removed to Scot- land, where he passed away at the age of eighty years, his wife dying when eighty-six years old. They had only one child, Thomas. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Palmer was William Reid, who was mar- ried in his native Scotland to Elizabeth Heron, and some time there- after emigrated to the United States and settled at Trenton, New Jersey, where he died at the age of seventy years, after spending his life in inventing and at the carpenter's trade. His widow subsequently moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she passed away at the age of eighty-six years. But two of their children grew to maturity: Margaret; and Jane, who became the wife of James Horton, of Cleveland, Ohio.
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Thomas Palmer was born in England, and as a child was taken by his parents to Scotland, where he was educated and grew to manhood in the city of Glasgow, there learning the iron industry in all of its branches. He came to the United States about the year 1850, and located first at Troy, New York, and later became superintendent of the Trenton Iron Works, at Trenton, New Jersey. Some years later he removed to the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where he became connected with the Cleveland Rolling Mills, and was identified therewith until his death in 1908. aged eighty years and some months. He was a thorough iron master, as were also his father and grandfather before him, the latter having built the first rolling mills in Scotland, and during the Civil war Thomas Palmer was engaged extensively in the manufacture of gun-barrel steel. His wife died two years after her husband, aged about eighty years, and in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he was also a member. They were the parents of seven children: George, who resides at Joliet, Illinois; Elizabeth, who is the wife of William R. Fairlie, of Glasgow, Scotland; William R., residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut; Thomas E .; Maria, who became the wife of W. E. Wright, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Sarah, who is deceased.
Thomas E. Palmer was but a child when taken to Cleveland, Ohio, by his parents, and in that city he grew to manhood, attending the public and high schools. It was not unnatural that he adopt the iron business as his life work, and as a young man he showed he had inherited the inclinations and tendencies of his forefathers by entering the employ of the Cleveland Roller Mill Company. As the years passed his abilities won him steady promotion, and at different times he was employed with the Carnegie Steel Company, and the American Steel and Wire Company, at Beaver Falls and Braddoek, Pennsylvania. In 1902 he came to Elwood as local manager for the Ames Shovel and Tool Company, the other officers of the coneern being as follows: Hobart Ames, president ; Oliver W. Mink, treasurer; Charles H. Myers, W. J. Alford and Julins C. Birge, vice-presidents; William H. Ames, secretary: and H. P. Cormerais, assistant secretary. The original plant of this company was established at North Easton, Massachusetts, in 1774, and the company was not incorporated until more than one hundred years later, in 1875, but the concern now owns a number of plants, the production of that at Elwood being shovel plate, which is shipped to the factories in other cities and manufactured into shovels. It is the largest shovel producing company in the world, and has factories at the following points: North Easton, Massachusetts; T. Rowland's Sons, Incorporated, at Cheltenham, Pennsylvania; George Griffiths Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the H. M. Myers Company, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; the Wright Shovel Company, at Anderson, Indiana; the St. Louis Shovel Company, at St. Louis, Missouri ; and handle plants in New England and the Sonthwest. The Elwood plant employs about 150 people, the production being 700 tons of shovel plate per month, and the building being a steel structure, the heaviest contructed building in the state. The pay-roll is between $8,000 and $10,000 per month, and the plant is operated continuously, twenty-four hours per day, with three shifts of men, the product meeting with a ready sale in the leading markets all over the world.
Mr. Palmer has gained the full confidence of his business associates, who have come to rely upon his sound judgment, his keen perception and
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his business acumen. He is a member of Beaver Valley Lodge No. 478, F. & A. M., and Harmony Chapter No. 256, R. A. M., both of Beaver Falls. His support is given to Republican candidates and principles, but he is not a politician, his large business interests occupying his entire attention, and he has had no inclination to hold public office. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Palmer is also a member.
On October 4, 1894, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Lillian May Dean. who was born at Harlansburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Hall) Dean, both of whom died at Beaver Falls. Pennsyl- vania. There were four children in the Dean family: Minnie, Lillian May, Edith Clare and Helen. To Mr. and Mrs. Palmer there have been born three children: Dorothy Dean and Margaret Reid, both of whom died in early childhood; and Thomas Dean.
PATRICK SHAY. From 1853 until his death in 1907, Patrick Shay was one of the sterling citizens and hard-working and substantial men of Duck Creek township in Madison county. Coming to America when a young man, he began life in a strange country, and among a strange people and by exercise of the qualities inherent in his character, and by a steadfast industry and devotion to the principles of honest living, he gained independence, provided liberally for his family, and left an honored name, which is cherished by his descendants.
Patrick Shay was born in Ireland, 1816, a son of Kenneth Shay. Kenneth Shay never left his native land, and was a shoemaker by trade in the old country. He had three children, two sons, Michael and Patrick, and a daughter. The daughter died in the old country, and Patrick and Michael both immigrated to America, and spent most of their years in Madison county, where they died.
Patrick Shay was a young man when he came to America, and spent the first five years of his residence in Boston, Massachusetts, the old "Bay State." From there he moved to Rush county, Indiana, and in 1853 came to Madison county, where he settled on a farm. He lived quietly but industriously, and gained for himself a place in com- munity affairs.
The children in his family were named as follows: Thomas; Michael ; John; Kenneth; Matthew ; Mrs. Mary White; Mrs. Emma Smith; and Julia and Andrew, deceased. The sons Thomas and Michael with their mother, Bridget (Scanlan) Shay, now manage the home farm of one hundred and forty acres on the Windfall Pike, about five and one- half miles northwest of Elwood and also eighteen acres lying east of the homestead. The sons are prosperous farmers and stockmen, and are worthy successors of their honored father. The father during his life- time built the comfortable residence in which the family now live, and the Shay place is regarded as one of the best improved farms in Duck Creek township. The family worship in Elwood at St. Joseph's church, and all are active members of that congregation.
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