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 85
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Elmer Schlegel received his education in the public schools of Dela- ware county, whence he was taken by his parents when still a child. That county continued to be his home for upwards of forty years, and there he was reared and received his entire business training. Thor- oughly trained in the thousand and one subjects which go to make for proficiency in the various branches of agricultural work, at the age of twenty-two years he began renting land from his father, and thus con- tinued until March 6, 1906, when he came to his present property, returning to the county of his birth, and settling on a property in Lafayette township which he had purchased October 21, 1905. He has continued to be engaged in general farming and stock raising, and his operations have all proved uniformly successful. He is an able man- ager, with inherent business ability and agricultural knowledge that has come to him from a long line of tillers of the soil. Mr. Schlegel's career presents a striking example of enterprise, industry and integrity, con- ducting to eminent success, and of political consistencies based on enlightened and moderate views-views at all times compatible with a generous toleration of the sentiments entertained by others, and com- manding general confidence and esteem. While he has not been a poli- ticiau, being essentially a business man, he has shown an interest in those matters which affect the welfare of Madison county and its people, and has at all times supported men and measures calculated to bring about good government. With his family, he attends the United Brethren Church, of which he is a liberal supporter.
On March 21, 1889, Mr. Schlegel was married to Miss Martha Stew- art, a native of Delaware county, Indiana, and a daughter of John A. and Mary E. Stewart. They have had two children: Bertha B., born October 14, 1890, and Elmer Stewart, Jr., born May 16, 1905. The son had very poor health during the most of his life, and he died
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December 7, 1911. Bertha B., the daughter was married September 2, 1912, to Mr. Elmer Rodecap and now resides in Anderson, Indiana.
PHILIP A. CHILDERS. One of the old and honored residents of Madi- son county, who has spent his life in agricultural pursuits and is now numbered among his community's substantial men, is Philip A. Chil- ders, the owner of a farm of eighty acres, located on the Childers road, two miles from Florida. He has been a witness to the wonderful growth and development of the section which has resulted in making Lafayette township one of the garden spots of the Hoosier State, and has contributed his share of energy to the work which has brought this development about. Mr. Childers is an Indianian and was born on the old Samuel Hicks farm, in the vicinity of Columbus, December 8, 1844, a son of Alfred and Mary (Keller) Childers. His father was a suc- cessful agriculturist, and on his mother's side he is a descendant of an old family which came from Greenbrier county, Virginia (now West Virginia). There were three children in the Childers family: Jane, who married J. R. Surber; Philip A., and Mary E., now Mrs. Bevel- himer. Mr. Childers' father died in 1847 and his mother was married a few years later, on the Childers homestead, to C. A. Betterton. To this union there was one child born, Eliza, who is now deceased.
Philip A. Childers received an ordinary public school education, pursuing his studies in the Kellar school, and during his boyhood and youth passed the summer months in the hard and honest toil of the home farm. He was thoroughly trained in farm work, and as he grew to manhood carefully saved his earnings, with the end ever in view of becoming the owner of a property. At the time of his mother's death he realized his ambition by inheriting a part of the homestead, and subsequently purchased the interests of his sisters, becoming sole owner of the Childers homestead, which he has since continued to operate. With the exception of several years spent in the West, he has always made his home in Madison county, and his success in his operations has given him no cause to regret his location. While he has all the prac- ticality of the old-school agriculturist, Mr. Childers has not been back- ward in adopting modern methods, and his well-tilled fields give evi- dence of his able management and untiring industry. He uses machinery of modern manufacture, thoroughly understands rotation of crops, and is widely known as a judge of livestock. Personally, he is a man of the strictest integrity, having fairly won a reputation for square dealing in all matters of business.
On January 23, 1874, Mr. Childers was married in Lafayette town- ship, to Miss Elizabeth Hannah, a member of a family which origi- nated in Pennsylvania, subsequently moved to Ohio, and came from that state to Madison county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Childers have been the parents of four children, namely: Bertha, who is deceased; Jeannette, who married John Kennedy, and has two children,-Murrell and Herman; Mary, who became the wife of Vernon Melsom; Ethelyn, single and residing with her father; James C., who is married and has one child, Elizabeth. Mrs. Childers died Jannary 7, 1887, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Childers has been a stanch Democrat all of his life, and while he has not aspired to public office, has ever been known as one of the mainstays of his party in his locality. His comfortable home is located on Anderson Route No. 3, and in the rear of the property is located one of the landmarks of this section, the
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old pioneer log home in which his mother first settled when she arrived in Lafayette township, and which was the fifth house built here.
ABSALOM RICHWINE. This venerable man, now in the sixty-eighth year of his age, who with firm step and unclouded mind still attends to his daily routine of affairs, has, during his more than a half a century of residence in Madison county, witnessed almost its entire development and borne a share in the startling course of its progress. During some- thing like twenty years of this time he has been a resident of Lafayette township, where he has been identified with agricultural pursuits, and where he still owns one of the finest properties in this section, a ninety- acre tract of land located about seven miles from Anderson. Mr. Rich -. wine was born July 16, 1845, in Wayne county, Indiana, and is a son of Gideon and Elizabeth (Rader) Richwine. He was still a lad when the family migrated to Madison county, the father taking up land in Jackson township, where he became one of the community's most repre- sentative and substantial farmers and stockmen. He was known as a man of progress and public-spirit, gave his children good educational advantages, and died honored and respected by all who knew him. He and his wife were the parents of four sons and three daughters, as fol- lows: Noah, who is engaged in farming in Pipe Creek township; Allen, who is a resident of Anderson; Absalom; Mary; Amanda, who became the wife of a Mr. Sigler; Martha and David.
The educational training of Absalom Richwine was commenced in the district schools of Jackson township, this being supplemented by attendance in the public schools of Frankton. During all of his school period, he spent the summer months in work upon his father's farm, being reared to habits of industry and integrity and thoroughly trained in all that constitutes a successful agriculturist. He was persevering and industrious, carefully saving his earnings in order that lie might some day become the owner of a farm of his own, and on attaining his majority commenced renting land from his father. Eventually, Mr. Richwine took up a small farm in Jackson township, on which he carried on operations until about the year 1893, at which time he made removal to Lafayette township and purchased his present homestead, and here he has since resided. From time to time he has added to his buildings, his equipment and his stock, in the meantime making numerous improve- ments, and has thus succeeded in developing a handsome home. Pro- gressive in all things, he is ever ready to give new ideas and methods a trial, and the latest farming machinery is to be found on his farm. He is the owner of a modern model automobile, which he finds not only the medium of a great deal of enjoyment, but also a great aid to him in his business trips. Mr. Richwine has always been very fond of hunting, and has a justly established reputation as a nimrod. When able to lay aside his business duties, he is in the habit of taking trips to New Bruns- wick, accompanied by a guide and a gun. Highly skilled in woodcraft, he has been successful in his search for the denizens of the forest, and has a record of seven deer in one trip.
On May 3, 1873, Mr. Richwine was married to Miss Mary C. Hart- man, and they have had one son: Dory, who married Ethel Sigler, and resides on the home farm which he manages for his father. The mem- bers of the family are associated with the Methodist Episcopal church, and actively support its various movements. Mr. Richwine is a sterling
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Democrat and a leader in his neighborhood in the councils of the Demo- cratic party.
ALVIN H. DAVIS. The owner of a fine farm of 200 acres, located in Lafayette township, Alvin H. Davis has won a firmly established posi- tion among the agriculturists here, and during a residence of nearly forty-five years has shown himself a representative public-spirited citi- zen. Mr. Davis is a native son of Madison county, having been born in a house at the corner of Tenth and Jackson streets, in the village of Anderson, Indiana, March 27, 1853, and is a son of John H. and Sarah (Pugh) Davis. Jesse Davis, the grandfather of Alvin H. Davis, was born in Pennsylvania, from which state as a young man he removed to a farm near Germantown, Ohio. There was born John H. Davis, who was reared to agricultural pursuits and became an early settler of Ander- son, Indiana. He was well known in public circles, and served Madison county as sheriff for a period of years. John H. and Sarah (Pugh) Davis became the parents of two children: Alvin H., and Franklin P., who died at the age of nineteen years.
Alvin H. Davis received good educational advantages, attending the old private school taught by the Rev. Joseph Franklin, and was reared to habits of industry and integrity, and thoroughly trained in farm work. He was sixteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the old Davis homestead, and when he became twenty-one years old his father entrusted him with the entire management of the farm, which has since been under his supervision. From time to time Mr. Davis has made improvements of a modern character, and has added to his build- ings, his equipment and his stock. His 200 acres are all in a high state of cultivation, and his able management has resulted in making this one of the valuable properties of the township. A shrewd, far-sighted busi- ness man, he has ever been honorable in his dealings, and has gained and maintained a reputation for strict honesty and integrity. He has given his entire attention to his farming operations, and has not cared for the strife of the political arena, outside of taking a good citizen's interest in matters that directly affect his community. In a wide acquaintance, a number of sincere friends testify to his popularity.
Mr. Davis was married to Miss Martha A. Ashton, a member of an old and honored family of Madison county. They are consistent mem- bers and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOSEPH W. SRACKANGAST, a leading representative citizen and pros- perous farmer of Lafayette township, Madison county, by virtue of his popularity and usefulness in his county, deserves prominent place in this biographical record. For some years he has been engaged in culti- vating a tract of sixty acres of well cultivated land lying on the Florida road, about five miles northwest of Anderson, but the greater part of his time and attention have been devoted to contracting and building opera- tions, he having erected a number of the most modern homes and busi- ness structures of this vicinity. Mr. Srackangast is a native of the Hoosier State, born in the town of Perkinsville, July 24, 1863, and is a son of Absalom P. and Susanna (Wise) Srackangast.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Srackangast, Joseph and Eliza- beth (Foland) Srackangast, were probably natives of Penns Ivania, from whence they migrated to Guernsey county, Ohio, and later removed to Hamilton county. Indiana. There was born Absalom P. Srackangast,
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who was given only meagre advantages in the district schools and was largely self-educated. He was about twenty-one years of age when he removed to Perkinsville, residing in that town until 1873, when he removed to Frankton, and there became one of the leading business men of the place, being largely interested in contracting and in the manu- facture of buggies, wagons and carriages. He had a family of five chil- dren, namely : Joseph W., Thomas J., Walter W., a resident of Frank- ton ; Mrs. Minnie Hawkins, and Mrs. Bessie Webb.
Joseph W. Srackangast received his early education in the public schools of Perkinsville, and was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents to Frankton. There he continued to attend school for sev- eral years, and on completing his studies began to learn the contracting business under the preceptorship of his father, whose assistant he became. Later he embarked in business on his own account, and has continued contracting and building to the present time, some of the most sub- stantial structures in Lafayette township standing as monuments to his skill and good workmanship. Mr. Srackangast is a keen, capable man of business, with the foresight to recognize an opportunity, the courage to grasp it and the ability to carry it through to a successful conclusion, yet he has never taken advantage of another's necessity nor has he ever engaged in any but strictly legitimate enterprises. Ile has also shown himself to be a good practical agriculturist, his sixty acres of good land 'being well cultivated, drained and ditched, neatly fenced and furnished with a full complement of buildings and the latest improved farming machinery. He possesses in the fullest degree the confidence of his neighbors and business associates, and as a public-spirited citizen has assisted materially in building up his community.
On October 25, 1887, Mr. Srackangast was married to Miss Isabelle Scott, daughter of Sanford and Hannah (Tibbs) Scott, and to this union there have been born six children, namely: Mildred and Caroline, who reside with their parents: James P., who is a student in the Anderson High school ; Louise and Mary, and Merle, who is deceased. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church, in the congregation of which its members have many sincere friends.
WILLIAM W. HANCOCK. One of the better known farming and stock men in this county is William W. Hancock, farmer, stock dealer and owner of one of the leading breeding stables of the county and state. Since he reached his legal majority Mr. Hancock has been confining him- self strictly to the business now in hand, and has spared no labor to place himself in the ranks of the leading men of his district in his chosen field of enterprise. Fitted admirably by nature and inclination for a life such as he has followed, Mr. Hancock has gone steadily for- ward with his work, each year adding something of value to his goodly fund of knowledge pertaining to the subject, and bringing him more and more prominence and prosperity as well.
Born in Mount Pleasant township, Delaware county, this state, in 1860, William W. Hancock is the son of Joseph T. and Esther Ann (Fountain) Hancock. The father was a native of Indiana and came from Wayne county to Delaware county when he was eight years old. Thirty-four years represent the time he passed in Delaware county, and in 1875 he located in Madison county, where he passed his closing days. Seven children were born of his union with Esther Ann Fountain, and concerning them brief mention is here made as follows: Alise the first
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born, married Alfred Ellison; John Luther, Mary E. Jones, William W., Joseph (the fifth born, died in 1865) ; James L., and Martha Bron- nenberg.
The schools of Delaware and Madison counties supplied the educa- tion of William W. Hancock, and he finished his education at Danville when he was yet in his teens, and then applied himself to the work of teaching, in which he continued until he was twenty-one. As a boy at home he had been thoroughly trained in farm work, and such instruction as had not been imparted by his father, the young man set about to learn for himself when he engaged in the business independently. From general farming he has gradually worked into the breeding and sale of all kinds of stock, and today has one of the most popular breeding and sale stables in the state, and is known widely as a successful and far- sighted breeder and dealer. In addition to his activities in that line, Mr. Hancock deals extensively in stock of all kinds, and handles annually a large number of animals destined for the market. As well as build- ing up a fine farm, Mr. Hancock has acquired a handsome and comfort- able residence, indicative of his progressive and generous spirit.
In 1882 Mr. Hancock was married to Miss Hulda Bronnenberg, the daughter of Michael Bronnenberg of Madison county, concerning whom more definite mention is made in other pages of this historical and biographical work. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Han- cock. The first born, Orlie Sherman Hancock (died in 1893) ; Esther Sophrone, is the wife of Hector D. Kirk and they have one child, Helen Kirk; Lorena Hazel, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Hancock, married William E. Elliott, and they have one son,-Robert William Elliott The Elliotts are now in Calcutta, India, where they have been located since 1911 and engaged in the Y. M. C. A. College work, Mr. Elliott being chosen as National Secretary from America to India and sent there by the National Committee to engage in said work. William Taylor, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Hancock, married Miss Clara Cooper and is engaged in the agricultural and stock business and bids fair to sur- pass the aspirations of the father.
Mr. Hancock is a stanch Progressive Republican in his political faith and gives earnestly of his time and energies for the furtherance of the interests of that party in his district. He is not a man who has found pleasure in fraternal asociations, although the spirit of brotherhood is strong within him, but he has rather been one who has been too deeply engrossed in his own affairs to find time for outside interests. His citi- zenship has been one of the highest order, and he stands well in his com- munity, and wherever he is known he bears the good will and kindly interest and regard of his fellows. His success has been of his own winning, and he may well be proud of his accomplishments in the field with which he has been identified.
JOHN R. ALEXANDER. Of the various industries and occupations which engage the time and efforts of men, none are carried on upon a more certain basis than farming, nor, under the proper conditions, given more substantial returns. Modern farming is very different in method from that carried on by the agriculturists of several generations ago, but all the advantages of perfected machinery and the scien- tific advice of experts enjoyed by the farmer of today, there is still no royal road to success in this industry. The profitable cultivation of the soil
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means many months of hard, earnest toil, even under the most favorable conditions, and the successful agriculturists of today are those who are possessed of qualities far beyond those of the ordinary. The agricultural interests of Lafayette township have gained their present prestige through the work of such men as John R. Alexander, whose excellent property is located on the Flat Bar pike, ahout three-quarters of a mile south of Frankton, Indiana. He has the distinction of being a native of the Hoosier state, having been born on what is known as the James Alexander farm three-quarters of a mile west of Linwood, a son of James and Mary J. ( Heaton) Alexander, January 30, 1867.
James Alexander was born in Fleming. county, Kentucky, and was a lad of five years when brought to Rush county by his father. Here he grew to manhood, securing his education in the public school at New Salem, Indiana, and in 1865 came to Madison county, where he bought out the heirs of his father-in-law, John Heaton, and located on the land that had been located by the latter, a tract of eighty acres in Lafayette township. His first home on this property was an old log cabin, but as the years passed and his financial resources increased, he erected a more comfortable and substantial home, with other substantial buildings, and continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. He and his wife had the following children: William E., a resident of Linwood, Indiana ; Anna E., now Mrs. Thomas, who has four children,-Leigh, Lena, Walter and Pearl ; John R., Alva D., and James E., of Linwood.
John R. Alexander first attended the Wilson school house in his native vicinity, and subsequently continued his education in the old Free school. During this time he had spent his summer months in work on the home farm, and at the age of nineteen years began to work out by the month, continuing to be so engaged until he was thirty- five years of age. He was ambitious and industrious and carefully saved his earnings, with the result that he was able to purchase his present farm, which he has developed into one of the finest in this part of the county. General farming and stock raising have occupied his atten- tions, and his good judgment, able management and constant industry have enabled him to become successful along both lines. He has a wide acquaintance and bears the reputation of being strictly honorable in all of his business dealings.
Mr. Alexander was married in 1898 to Miss Hattie Free, a sister of Leroy Free, a review of whose life will be found on another page of this volume. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander: Floyd, who is now attending the public school of District No. 3, known as the Salem School. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ELMER WEBB. With some men there seems to be but one line of endeavor which they can follow, one fixed vocation to which they are able to do justice, but this in no way applies to Elmer Webb, of Alex- ander township. A successful farmer, owning a tract of 200 acres of well cultivated land, he is also widely known as a specialist in treating cancer, and has fairly won the title by which he is familiarly, and in numerous cases gratefully known, that of "Doctor" Webb. He is gen- erally recognized as a good and public-spirited citizen, who has the best interests of his community at heart and who has never failed to give his earnest support to all movements making for progress and development.
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Mr. Webb is a native of the Hoosier State, having been born in the village of Connersville, Fayette county, August 11, 1850, and is a son of Minor and America (Smelser) Wehb.
Elmer Webb was reared to honest toil on the home farm and received the ordinary education of a farmer's son, attending the district schools during the winter terms, while his summer months were spent in assist- ing his father and brother, Marshall. His sister, Ella, is now Mrs. Mead, the wife of an agriculturist of this county .. After completing the course of study in the district schools, Mr. Webb applied himself to the study of medicine at home, his spare time being devoted to earnest perusal of such books on medical science as he could ohtain. He was especially inter- ested in the treatment and cure of cancer, rheumatism and blood poison, and accordingly specialized along this line, eventually attaining such proficiency in this direction that he gained the attention and patronage of patients all over this section. In the meantime he had not neglected to carry on his farming operations, and as the years have passed he has added from time to time to his holdings, until now he has 195 acres under the plow, his property yielding him handsome returns for the labor he has expended upon it. An alert, energetic man, alive to all the real issues of the day, he has participated in the activities that have advanced the interests of his section, and can be counted upon to con- tribute of his time or means to any beneficial movement. Education, morality and good citizenship have found in him an able and zealous supporter, and he has been liberal in his contributions to religious movements. He has never sought nor cared for public office.
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