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 83
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On December 25, 1890, Mr. Whetsel was married to Miss Rettie A. Maxwell, who was born in September, 1865, in Hancock county, Indiana, daughter of Abel and Malissa (Rigger) Maxwell. Mrs. Whetsel's par- ents died when she was fourteen years of age, but she managed to secure a district school education and to support herself until her marriage. She is a member of the Zion's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whetsel: Delpha Lester, who was born September 18, 1891, graduated from the common schools at the age of fourteen years, and subsequently completed his schooling in the Middletown High school, and is now assisting his father in the work of the home place; and Hushel Raymon, who passed away at the age of twenty-two months.
LEROY DAVIS, one of the energetic and progressive agriculturists of Adams township. and the owner of a well-cultivated tract of land on
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which he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, has been a resident of this township all of his life and is well known to the citizens of his community. His entire life has been devoted to the tilling of the soil, and his success has been accomplished through the medium of his own efforts. Leroy Davis was born on a farm in Adams township, Madison county, Indiana, January 7, 1878, and is a son of Elwood and Mary ( Windall) Davis, also natives of Adams township.
Johu S. Davis, the paternal grandfather of Leroy Davis, was born in the Carolinas, and was afterwards married to Nancy Scott, a native of the Old North State. They migrated to Indiana at an early date and settled first in Fall Creek township, but subsequently moved to Adams township and there established the family home. In 1888 they retired from active life and removed to the city of Anderson, where both passed away. Both Elwood Davis and his wife were born, reared and educated in Adams township, in the same neighborhood, and after their marriage settled down to farming on their own account, being engaged therein until 1908, when they retired and moved to Anderson, where they still make their home. Elwood Davis was very successful in his operations, and at one time was the owner of 352 acres of land, but since that time has divided a good deal of this property among his children. He had various other interests, took a keen and intelligent interest in the affairs of his community, and is highly regarded by all who know him in country life, as he is in his new home. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis there were born three children, as follows: Leroy ; Harry, a graduate of the common schools of Adams township, and now engaged in the wholesale butchering business at Anderson, married Pearl Wilson; and Carrie, who is the wife of John Hayes, a resident of Adams township.
Leroy Davis was reared on the old homestead farm in Adams town- ship, on which he worked for his father during the summer months, in the meantime acquiring his educational training in the district schools during the winter term. When he had completed his schooling, he turned his attention entirely to farming, and in this he has con- tinued to be engaged to the present time. Mr. Davis has been success- ful in his general farming ventures, using the most modern machinery and methods, and his products find a ready market, his associates know- ing him as a man of the highest integrity and business honor. He has also had satisfactory results in his stock raising ventures, and keeps a high grade of cattle and standard Duroc hogs. His land is under a high state of cultivation, and has been made more valuable by the erection of substantial buildings and other improvements, and altogether compares favorably with any of its size in this section.
Mr. Davis was married January 24, 1900, in Anderson township, to Miss Ethel Hoppes, who was born January 17, 1882, in Anderson township, Madison county, Indiana, and educated in the public schools there. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis there has come one son: Howard, who was born February 12, 1903, and is now a student in the district schools. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Church of God and has been active in its work. Mr. Davis is essentially an agriculturist, and has never cared for public life, but gives his support to Democratic prin- ciples and candidates and supports also those movements which he believes will make for good government and better citizenship. He is widely known in Adams township, where the family has resided for so many years, and there are few who have more friends.
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ROBERT H. CLARK. A representative of an old and honored family which on both the paternal and maternal sides has been identified with the agricultural interests of Madison county for three generations, Robert H. Clark is one of the highly respected farmer-citizens of Adams township. Although now somewhat retired from active pursuits, he still maintains an interest in all that affects the welfare of his com- munity where his entire life has been passed. Few men have a more thorough knowledge of agricultural conditions in this section than has Mr. Clark, for he was born on the farm which he now occupies, and from earliest childhood has watched its growth and development, keeping fully abreast of the changes and advancements that have made this one of the flourishing regions of Madison county. He was born Septem- ber 26, 1853, and is a son of Selbia and Sarah A. (Davis) Clark.
ยท The Clark family is of English origin, and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of Robert H. Clark, who emigrated to this country at an early day and located in North Carolina. From that state his son, Barney Clark, the grandfather of Robert H. Clark, migrated to Madison county, Indiana, settled in Adams township, and here spent the remainder of his life in clearing a farm and making a home for his family. Selbia Clark was born in 1809, in Pasquotank county, North Carolina, and some time after his marriage came to Indiana, about a year before the arrival of his father. Like the elder man, he devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil and succeeded in establishing a home for his large family. He was married in Madison county, Indiana, in 1829 or 1830, to Sarah A. Davis, who was born in 1812, in Pasquotank county, and whose parents were also early settlers of Madison county, Indiana. This union resulted in the birth of four- teen children, of whom seven are still living in 1913, Robert H. being the youngest member of this family.
The education of Robert H. Clark was secured in the district schools of Adams township, which he attended during the winter terms until he was about twenty-one years of age. He continued to remain under the parental roof and assist his father until his father's death in February, 1879, at which time he rented the old homestead, and this has continued to be his home. The mother, Sarah A. Clark, sur- vived until the 18th of August, 1885. Robert H. Clark has a well- cultivated tract of forty-seven and one-sixth acres, and his ventures in farming have proved uniformly successful by reason of his good man- agement and thorough knowledge of his vocation. In his political views, Mr. Clark has been a Democrat, but at times has cast his vote with the Socialist party. He and Mrs. Clark are consistent members of the Christian church.
On August 25, 1897, Mr. Clark was married to Mrs. Josephine (Miller) Brown, who was born on a farm in Jackson township, Madison county, Indiana, November 23, 1865, a daughter of Solomon Miller, who came to this county in 1831 and is still living at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Clark was married (first) to Francis Brown, of Adams township, and they had one son : Omer Brown, a graduate of the com- mon schools, who is now nineteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had one daughter : Sarah A., born June 26, 1899, who is a student in the public schools of Adams township.
WILLIAM ROBERT WINN. Elwood has for some years found in Wil- liam Robert Winn one of the popular men of the city in his capacity of
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proprietor of the Kentucky Hotel, where he has been the ruling spirit for a number of years past. His identity with the Ames Shovel and Tool Works in an important position has continued for the last seven years, as well, and altogether there are few men in the community bet- ter known than he. He has been a resident of this city since 1901, and with his family fills a leading place in the social and business interests of the town.
Born in Boone county, Missouri, on the first day of August, 1865, Mr. Winn is the son of Jonathan and Sarah Elizabeth (Schooling) Winn, natives of Missouri, and he was one of their four children, the others being as follows: Lucy, who married Robert Ballard and is now deceased; Ida L., who died as the wife of W. P. Stice; William Robert, of this brief review, and Charles G., a resident of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Jonathan Winn was reared in Boone county, Missouri, where he was born, and he was trained in the trade of a carpenter and cabinet maker in the vicinity of Sturgeon, Missouri. His birth occurred in 1829, and he died in 1867, as a result of illness contracted during his service in the Civil war, through which he served from beginning to end as a soldier of the Confederacy. In addition to his business as a carpenter and cabinet maker he was the owner of a farm in Boone county, which he improved to a high state of cultivation, and there he settled when he married and reared his family in the atmos- phere of a rural home. He was the son of William Winn, a Ken- tuckian by birth and training, and a planter of that state. He brought his wife to Boone county, Missouri, in early life and there he died, after rearing a fine family of ten children. He and his good wife were the parents of sixteen children, but of that number only eleven reached years of maturity. They were named Thomas, James, John, Sidney, Jane, Cordelia, Jackson, Eliza, Melinda, Catherine and George. Both parents reached a fine old age, but the father lived to be ninety-four years old.
The woman who became the wife of Jonathan Winn and the mother of the subject, was Sarah, a daughter of William Robert and Eliza- beth (Pollard) Schooling, natives of Boone county, Missouri. William Robert Schooling was a physician and with his wife passed his life in the county wherein they were born. They were the parents of three children, Sarah Elizabeth, Robert and Clarissa, the first named becom- ing the wife of Jonathan Winn.
Following the death of Jonathan Winn when he was but thirty- eight years of age, his widow married A. G. Ballard, and they are liv- ing today on a fruit farm near Marshall, in Saline county, Missouri. To her second marriage seven children were born, six of whom are liv- ing, and named as follows: Ada E., James, Edward, Mary, Kathleen, and Grover, who died young. It may be mentioned here that Dr. Schooling, the father of Mrs. Ballard, died in California, and that his widow was three times wedded. No children came of her second union, but of her marriage with Thomas Hulen, two sons were born, Oscar and Walter L. Hulen. These brief facts concerning the parentage of Mr. Winn are all that is available at this writing, and will suffice to estab- lish the undeniable American ancestry of the subject.
The farm home of the Winn family in Boone county saw the rear- ing of William Robert Winn during his first nine years of life, but the premature death of his father, Jonathan Winn, in 1867, caused him Vol. II-19
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to be taken into the home of his grandfather, William Winn, and from the age of nine until he reached young manhood he continued to make that place his home. While yet in his teens he started to learn the trade of a wagon-maker and he worked at it for three years, then went back to the farm for something like eight years. He came to Elwood, Indiana, in 1901, and soon after identified himself with the Tin Plate Works, and so continued for four years, after which he became asso- ciated in a leading capacity with the Ames Shovel and Tool Works, with which firm he has since continued. His connection with the Ken- tueky Hotel as its proprietor has been in effect since November 23, 1911, when he turned his attention to that business, and he has proven himself a capable and genial host, bringing to the Kentucky Hotel a reputation for comfort and accommodation that it never before equaled.
On the 13th day of October, 1899, Mr. Winn was united in matri- mony with Miss Mary Idella Greene, the daughter of Charles and Eliza (Morris) Greene. Concerning Mrs. Winn, it may be said that she was born in the vicinity of Lexington, Kentucky, on February 4, 1871. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and Missouri, the father claiming Kentucky birth. He was a farmer, and when he was a lad of five or six years accompanied his parents to Missouri, which was ever after- ward his home. He was married in that state, but later in life returned to Kentucky and died at Napoleon, that state, in 1900, when he was sixty-two years old. His marriage to Eliza Sweeney took place on December 17, 1866, and seven children were born to them, six of the number reaching years of maturity. They were named as follows: Wil- liam L., Mary Idella, Beulah, Celia, Geneva and Frederick. Celia died at the age of fourteen. Charles Greene was a soldier in the Confed- erate army, and served in the conflict from the first day of the Rebel- lion to the last. In those strenuous years of army life and hardship he lost the sturdy vigor and strength that had characterized his younger years, and was a semi-invalid the rest of his life. His widow still sur- vives him, and in later years married Jonathan Gustin, their home today being in Elwood. She was a daughter of James and Jane (Sims) Sweeney, both Virginians by birth and ancestry. They became early settlers in Kentucky, and the father, James Sweeney, was a soldier of the Confederacy, like so many of the males of this family on both sides of the house. They had two children, Sarah Elizabeth and Eliza.
The paternal grandfather of Mary Idella (Greene) Winn, wife of the subject, was Abraham Greene, and his wife was Jane (Calvert) Greene, natives of Kentucky. Abraham Greene was a man of Irish ancestry, and he was a wagon maker by trade. He gave valiant service in the Mexican war, and died in New Mexico, his widow passing away earlier than he, and dying in Missouri at the age of sixty-six years. They had a fine family, among which may be mentioned George, Frank, Abraham, William, Elizabeth, Frances and Andrew, who was killed in action in the Civil war. Other of their children died young, and are not mentioned here.
William Robert and Mary Idella (Greene) Winn became the parents of four children, as follows: Clyde Clifton, born August 9, 1891; Lena Belle, born May 22, 1894; Idella Maude, born April 10, 1903, and another, who died in infancy.
HON. BYRON H. DYSON, son of Sinelair and Eliza (Stover) Dyson, was born in Anderson, February 6, 1849, and has the distinction of
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being one of the oldest native citizens of the city now living. Length of residence has also been accompanied by value of attainment and services to his community, and he has long ranked high in his pro- fession as a lawyer, as a newspaper man, and public leader.
He was reared in the city of his nativity and attended the com- mon schools until he was sixteen years old, when he entered a classi- cal school at Augusta, Kentucky, where he remained for three years, subsequently finishing his school days at the University of Kentucky. On his return to his home he took up the study of law in the office of the late Hon. Winburn R. Pierse, former judge of the Madison Circuit Court. Judge Pierse, recognizing the ability of his student, retained him in his office at the end of his studies. Mr. Dyson had hardly commenced on his career as an attorney, when he was, in 1876, placed in nomination by the Democratic party as a candidate for mayor of Anderson. He was elected by a handsome majority over his opponent, an old and influential Republican. Mr. Dyson has the honor of being the youngest man ever elected mayor of Anderson.
During his term as mayor he was strongly advocated by his friends as a candidate for congressional honors, but owing to the candidacy of a near friend he declined to have his name go before the conven- tion. Mr. Dyson is a fluent speaker, a fine writer, and has often been called upon the rostrum, where he has invariably proved an affective orator, with a strong appeal both to the convictions and the emotions of his audience. He has also been connected with the local press for years, as well as a correspondent of the Metropolitan papers. A thorough scholar it is said he has but few, if any superiors, as a speller. Only few people of this county can boast of his attain- ments. He was a co-laborer with the Honorable John L. Forkner in the production of "Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County" in 1897, a work which will remain a monument to his memory. While the "Historical Sketches" perhaps contain many crudities, it will lose nothing in comparison with similar work wherever published. No history of Madison county can be truthfully written without con- sulting its pages.
Mr. Dyson has two interesting children: Samuel S. Dyson, a worthy young business man; and Alice E., a bright and charming young lady who inherits her father's intellectuality and who will no doubt make herself useful in any sphere in which her lot may be cast.
Mr. Dyson's political affiliations have always been with the Demo- cratic party. He is a man who has always believed that citizenship is a responsibility as well as a privilege, and his name and efforts have frequently been associated with those more important movements for community welfare. His administration of the affairs of the city of Anderson as mayor was in every respeet satisfactory, and he has always done everything within his power to promote the larger and better city of Anderson.
W. E. C. SPADE. With the largest and finest drug store in Alex- andria at 202 North Harrison street, Mr. Spade is one of the old-time merchants of this city and became identified with mercantile enter- prises here before the era of natural gas. Along with success in busi- ness he has combined an excellent publie spirit which has caused him to take an interest in every movement for the welfare and development of the community and he is the type of citizen who gives to his com- munity as much or more than he takes away.
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W. E. C. Spade was born in Jay county, Indiana, September 25, 1853. His grandfather was John Spade, who married Miss Elizabeth Farber. He was a native of Germany and she of Indiana. When a boy he came to America, first locating in Ohio and then in Indiana, where he was an early settler of Jay county, and for many years a substantial farmer. He and his wife both died when well along in years. Their five children were named William, Daniel F., George, Jacob, and Sarah, who married a Mr. Jordan. The maternal grand- father was Jacob Miller, who was a Pennsylvanian by birth and an early settler of Jay county, Indiana, where he died at a good old age. The six children in the Miller family were Daniel, John, Jacob, Margaret, Jane and Mary.
Daniel F. and Mary E. (Miller) Spade, the parents of the Alexan- dria druggist were both born in Ohio. The father was a carpenter and a farmer, and spent many years of activity at and near Portland, Indiana. He was also a minister of the Christian church and served as pastor of churches in different cities. He died at the home of his son in Alexandria, in 1909 at the age of eighty-one years. His wife had passed away three years before at the age of seventy-five. Out of their seven children, three reached maturity, the first being William E. C. the second being Horace M., of Portland; and the third Jacob M., of Portland.
Mr. Spade was reared on his father's farm in Jay county, where he attended the district schools, was also a student at Liber College, and later in the Union Christian College at Merom, Indiana. During his early career he taught several terms of school, and then in 1876 began his business career as clerk in Portland with the firm of Cart- wright & Heddington in a general store. Some years later, he and his employers formed a partnership, and established at Alexandria, the Boston store. This partnership continued until 1908 at which time Mr. Spade sold his interests, and in the fall of that year bought his present drug establishment which he has since conducted and made a model store of its kind.
On May 5, 1880, Mr. Spade married Miss Sarah F. Brown, daughter of Clark and- Priscilla (Lorantz) Brown. Mrs. Spade was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1855, her parents being natives of Ohio, and spending their years chiefly in Clinton county. Her father died there about 1864, and her mother is now living at the home of Mrs. Spade in Alexandria. There were two children in the Brown family, Sarah F., being the first and Aurilla the second. Mr. and Mrs. Spade have an adopted son Walter Bray Spade. Mr. Spade is affiliated with Alexan- dria Lodge No. 222, I. O. O. F. and with Canton Lodge No. 53, and with Encampment No. 212 of the higher degrees of Odd Fellowship. He also belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, being a charter member of the Alexandria Lodge No. 478. . In politics he is a Republican.
ROBERT EWING BALL. Few residents of Boone township have per- formed a more important and varied service to their community than Robert Ewing Ball, who for thirty years was one of the successful teachers in this vicinity, and throughout this time and at the present has been also prosperously engaged in farming and stock raising. He
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owns a splendid estate of one hundred and ninety acres on the R. E. Ball gravel road, six miles west of Summitville.
Robert Ewing Ball was born April 1, 1858, in Boone township. His parents were William and Mary ( MeCrory) Ball. His father came to Madison county from Fayette county, near Connersville, and settled in a cabin on the old Smith farm. He also took up government land, and the patent to that land was signed by President Andrew Jackson. He was. a young man when he came to Madison county, but was already married, having found his wife in Fayette county. Their three chil- dren were: Caroline Call; Prudence Greenlee and Robert Ewing.
Mr. Ball as a boy grew up in Madison county, and for his education attended the old Smith Chapel, and later attended school in the old Harmony Baptist church. For his higher education and training for teaching he attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and also the University at Valparaiso, Indiana. He holds a record as a teacher which is probably surpassed by few, if any, in this section of the state, having been actively identified with school work for thirty years. Two years of this time were spent in Summitville, two years in Van Buren township, one year in Monroe township, and then for twenty-five years he directed a school in Boone township near his farm. From practically the beginning of his educational career, he did farm- ing in the summer months, and after acquiring a place of his own he contrived to carry on his school work and his farm at the same time. He has done very well as a farmer, and has made not only a profit- able business, but has also improved his land making it an attractive and comfortable place for his family to live on.
In 1881 in July, Mr. Ball married Miss Edith A. Runyan, a daugh- ter of Ira and Emeline (Slinger) Runyan. The two children of their marriage are Cecil W., a graduate of the University of Indiana, and Irwin, who married Verne Spitsmessmer. Mr. Ball has filled all the chairs and is a past noble grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Masonic Order, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a man of good judgment and stands high in the esteem of his home community, and has been honored with places of trust and responsibility. He has served as trustee of Boone township, and has done much to improve education in this township.
DALE J. CRITTENBERGER. A resident of Madison county, since Sep- tember I, 1878, Dale J. Crittenberger was at one time a school teacher in this county, served as county superintendent of schools from 1883 to 1887, and since that time has been best known as a newspaper man and publisher. Mr. Crittenberger is the editor of the Madison County Weekly Democrat, and also a stoekholder and editor of the Anderson Daily Bulletin. He is one of the best known among Indiana's news- paper men, and has long been prominent in the councils of the Demo- cratic party in this state.
Dale J. Crittenberger was born in Harrisonburg, Va., on December 31, 1855, of German ancestry. He was one of five children of Isaac and Sarah (Kuhns) Crittenberger. His mother died in 1859, and the death of his father occurred in 1904. Mr. Crittenberger had three sisters, Esta, Lydia and Jennie, and one brother, Hensel. Of these the former two are living. They are Mrs. Lydia Gillespie of Elwood and Mrs. Esta Ringo of Middletown.
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