History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 88

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 88

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The parents of Edgar C. Smith were Thomas and Elizabeth F. (Cosand) Smith, both born in Indiana. They were the parents of six children, four of whom reached maturity, namely : Edgar C .; Aaron T., of Newcastle, Indiana ; Indiana, wife of Clem Elliott, of Newcastle; Omer, at Decatur, Illinois; and Everett and Evan, both of whom died as chil- dren. Thomas Smith, the father, was a carpenter by trade and spent his early life in Wayne and Henry counties, dying in Newcastle in 1889 when forty-one years, three months and a few days old. His widow now resides in Newcastle, and she is a member of the Christian church.

Edgar C. Smith spent his boyhood days in Newcastle, where he at- tended the public schools. His first regular employment was in a box factory at Marion, Indiana, and in Alexandria he learned the glass cut- ters trade. That was his regular occupation for about ten years, but since then he has been in the grocery trade. He came to Alexandria November 9, 1890, and was a clerk in the Boston Store of this city, until October 10, 1912. At that date he bought his present establish- ment and has since enjoyed a profitable and increasing business.

On the sixteenth of December, 1891, he married Miss Sallie How- ard, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bailey) Howard. They have one

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son, Thomas Samuel, now associated with his father in the firm. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist church. Their residence is at 109 Park Avenue, where Mr. Smith built a comfortable home in 1899. Mrs. Smith is a native of her home city, where her parents, who came from North Carolina, were among the early settlers and are still residents here. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war. The children in the Howard family were Leander M., Nancy, Indiana, Catherine, Elsie, and Sallie. Mr. Smith has always supported the Republican party, and wherever possible has given his influence to promote good govern- ment and the moral and civic welfare of his community.

DEE R. JONES. The roster of representative men of Madison county would be incomplete did it not include the name of Dee R. Jones, whose high attainments at the Alexandria bar warrant more than passing mention. A Hoosier by birth and training, he has spent his entire life within the limits of the state, and his connection with a number of important cases of legislation has given him a widespread reputation. Mr. Jones was born near Florida, in Madison county, Indiana, November 30, 1871, and is a son of John L. and Sarah A. (Andes) Jones.

William Jones, the paternal grandfather of Dee R. Jones, was a native of Virginia, as was his wife, who was a Miss Elizabeth Crow. They became early settlers of Henry county, Indiana, and were farming people there, subsequently moving to Madison county, where Mrs. Jones died at the age of sixty-eight years, her husband surviving her for some time and passing away when seventy-six years of age. They had a family of six children : Fauntleroy, John L., William, Mary Ann, Har- riet and Elizabeth. John L. Jones was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, was there reared and educated, and until nineteen years of age was what was known as a "slave driver," being the overseer of a gang of negro slaves on Virginia plantations. In 1849 he left his native state on horse-back, joining the great gold rush to California that occurred that year, and continued to engage in mining in the Golden State until 1858, when he made a trip to China. Returning to Vir- ginia in 1859, he found that his father and mother had moved to Henry county, Indiana, during his absence, and accordingly, in the latter part of the same year, came West to pay them a visit. Mr. Jones became greatly impressed with the opportunities presented in this part of the country, and this favorable impression caused him to purchase a tract of eighty acres of land in Madison county, near Florida, to which he sub- sequently added, by purchase, until he had in the neighborhood of 700 acres, all of which he placed in a high state of cultivation. While he was successful in his operations, he had to work under the handicap of a severe injury which he had received during the days when he worked as a "forty-niner," and later he received a broken hip, from the effects of which he died October 8, 1909, at the age of eighty-six years. He became one of the prominent and influential men of his locality, and was called upon by his fellow-citizens to fill places of trust and respon- sibility, acting efficiently as county commissioner for one term and as township trustee of Lafayette township for seventeen years.

John L. Jones was twice married, his first union being with Sarah A. Andes, who was born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and she died December 4, 1874, aged thirty-six years, in the faith of the Dunkard Church. Her father was Jonathan C. Andes and her mother Annie (Rodecap) Andes, natives of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, who

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came to Henry county, Indiana, during the early days, and later moved to Holt county, Missouri, where the father died at the age of eighty- one years, and the mother when seventy-nine years of age. They were the parents of eight children : Susan Miller, William C., John, Elizabeth, Nichols, Amanda Norman, Martha Norman, Mary Paxon and Sarah. John L. and Sarah A. (Andes) Jones became the parents of five children, as follows: Harrison L., who makes his home near Linwood, Indiana; Harriet F., who became the wife of Elmer Hughel, of near Florida, Indiana; John W., who resides at Florida; Dee R., of this review; and Walter A., who makes his home near Williams, Lawrence county, Indiana. The second marriage of John L. Jones was to Sarah C. Lowinan, who still survives him, and they became the parents of four children, namely : Minnie F., who became the wife of John Ragan, of Cleveland, Ohio; Bertha, who died at the age of eleven years, two days; Homer B., who resides on the old home place near Florida, Indiana; and Dale C., also living on the homestead. The father of these children was a Hard Shell Baptist in his religious faith.

Dee R. Jones was reared to the occupation of agriculturist, and re- ceived his early education in the district schools of his native vicinity during the winter terms, while spending the summer months in the work of the home farm. Subsequently, having decided upon a career other than that of a farmer, he became a student in the Danville Normal school, from which he was graduated in the teaching and civil engi- neering courses. After spending a term or so at the State University, he began teaching school, and after three years, in 1898, entered the Indiana Law school, at Indianapolis, where he was graduated in 1900. In June of that year he was admitted to the bar, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Summitville, Indiana. While there he served acceptably as city attorney for five years, and was suc- cessful in building up a lucrative practice, but in January, 1908, desir- ing a wider field for his activities, came to Alexandria, where he has since continued. Mr. Jones is recognized as one of the leading members of his profession in this city, and as a man whose support has been given to every movement making for progress and development. A Democrat in his political affiliations, he has acted in the capacity of city attor- ney of Alexandria for three years, giving his fellow-citizens clean and conscientious service. Both in and out of the profession he has many friends here, and he is considered a worthy representative of one of Indiana's old and honored families.

On October 17, 1903, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Susan D. Trice, who was born in Van Buren township, Madison county, Indiana, daughter of Tillman H. and Fannie Trice, natives of Maryland, the latter of whom died on the Trice homestead farm in Van Buren township, while the former is still living in advanced years. Mr. and Mrs. Trice were the parents of two daughters: Lenore D. and Susan D. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had a son and a daughter : Alton L. and Vivian L. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Christian Church, which her hus- band supports. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men, but while he appreciates the privileges of membership, has never cared for official position.

ISAAC S. KELLY. A native son and life-long resident of Alexandria, and a member of one of Madison county's old and honored families,

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Isaac S. Kelly, cashier of the Alexandria Bank, is known as one of his city's leading citizens and a man of influence in matters pertaining to the financial welfare of his community. His career has been marked by steady advancement, due to well-applied energy, perseverance and native ability, and he is justly accounted a worthy representative of a name that has ever stood for public-spirited citizenship and honorable business dealing. Isaac S. Kelly was born December 1, 1873, in Alexandria, Indiana, and is a son of Marquis D. and Jeannette (Nicholson) Kelly.

Isaac Kelly, the paternal grandfather of Mr. Kelly, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer of Madison county, where he was engaged in farming at the time of his death, in November, 1873, when about sixty years of age. He and his wife, who was also a native of Virginia, and who passed away in middle life, were the parents of seven children : Mrs. Hall; William G .; Laura, the wife of William Davis; Marquis D .; Margaret E., the wife of Joshua Gray; Mary C., who married Conkling Ross; and Joseph. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Kelly were natives of North Carolina, who came to Indiana at a very early day, in true pioneer style in covered wagons, and settled in Hamilton county, where they spent the remainder of their lives in tilling the soil. They had the following children : Hiram, Young, James, Abel, Gabriel, Wiley, William, Gideon, Harrison, John, Susanna, Mary, Lucinda, Jeannette and Elizabeth. Marquis D. Kelly was born and reared in Madison county, Indiana, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm, there also learning the trade of blacksmith, which he followed a few years. He subsequently secured a farm of eighty acres in Monroe township, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, and there reared his family. At this time, he and his wife are living retired in Alexandria. They are members of the Christian Church, and are widely known and highly esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly had but two children: Isaac S .; and Adelia, who is the wife of A. A. Painter, of Alexandria.

Isaae S. Kelly was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the publie and high schools of Alexandria, and a business college at Anderson. He then became a bookkeeper in the office of Peter Kuntz, a lumber merchant of Anderson, and two years later came back to Alexandria, to enter the Alexandria Bank as bookkeeper. He later became assistant cashier of this institution, and for the past four or five years has been cashier.

The Alexandria Bank was organized in 1888, as a private banking house, by Jesse Vermillion and his father, Columbus Vermillion. In 1892 it was reorganized as the Alexandria National Bank, with a capital stock of $50,000, and S. E. Young became its president. Six years later it was taken over by the Alexandria Bank, with Mr. Young still in the chief executive capacity. The present officers are: S. G. Phillips, president; R. H. Hannah, vice-president; and Isaac S. Kelly, cashier. Its capitalization has been increased on several occasions as the increased business has warranted, and it is known at this time as one of the most substantial institutions of Madison county, as well as the oldest in Alexandria.

On December 18, 1899, Mr. Kelly was married to Miss Marie Heri- tage, who was born in Monroe township, Madison county, Indiana, daughter of Henry and Minerva (Hughes) Heritage, now residents of Alexandria. Mr. and Mrs. Heritage had six children: Emma, Flora, William, Marie, Olive and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Heritage died May 25, 1913, aged sixty-nine years. Two children have been born

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to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly : Kathleen and Pauline. They are members of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Kelly acts as treasurer. He is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Royal Arcanum, and holds membership also in Necessity Lodge, No. 222, the Canton, the Encampment and the Rebekahs, all of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political affiliation is with the Democratic party. He takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare, and withholds his support from no object calculated to be of public benefit.

GEORGE STOHLER. One of the old and honored residents of Adams township, whose activities as agriculturist, thresher and sawmill operator have gained him material success and a position of prominence among the substantial men of his community, is George Stohler, the owner of 140 acres of well-cultivated land. While not a native of Madison county, Mr. Stohler has resided here since he reached his eleventh year, and few men of Adams township are more widely or favorably known. He was born June 23, 1842, in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Swanger) Stohler, also natives of Lebanon county.

The maternal great-grandfather of Mr. Stohler was a soldier during the Revolutionary war, following the close of which he settled in Penn- sylvania. He was a physical giant, and was noted far and wide for his great feats of strength. The parents of Mr. Stohler were married in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and remained there until 1854, in which year they migrated to Madison county, Indiana, and settled in Adams township, here spending the remainder of their lives in agricultural pur- suits. They were the parents of eleven children : John, a resident of Adams township; George, of this review; Mary, who became the wife of Harvey Fry; Michael, who is deceased; Catherine, who became the wife of Adam Forney ; Sarah, who is deceased; Elizabeth, who is the widow of George Saunders; Anna, who is the wife of Isaac Monahan; Samuel, a resident of Madison county and Abraham, who lives in Adams township.

George Stohler attended the German schools of his native vicinity in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and was past eleven years of age when he came to Adams township, here securing his education in the English schools. The winter terms were devoted to his studies, while in the sum- mer months he assisted his father in the work of the home farm. Mr. Stohler continued to remain under the parental roof until his marriage, at which time he embarked upon a career of his own, and for a half century has carried on agricultural pursuits, and at the same time has engaged in threshing and operating a sawmill. He has been successful in his ventures because of good management, business acumen and well- directed effort, and among his neighbors and those who have had deal- ings with him bears the reputation of a man of the highest integrity.

In the fall of 1863 Mr. Stohler was married (first) to Miss Sophia Hick, who was born in Madison county, Indiana, and she died in 1887, having been the mother of five children : Frank, John, Henry, Anna and Walter, all of whom make their homes in Madison county. Mr. Stohler's second marriage occurred in April, 1889, when he was united with Miss Margaret Osmon. She was born in April, 1853, in Butler county, Ohio, and was educated in the German schools of Ohio and the English schools of Madison county, Indiana. They have had no e' ildren. Mr. and Mrs. Stohler are consistent members of the Lutheran church of New Columbus, in which he is deacon, trustee and treasurer. He votes

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the Democratic ticket, and has always taken an active part in political matters.

BYRON L. STEPHENS. One of the most progressive representatives of the younger generation in farming in Lafayette township is Mr. Byron Stephens, who is the owner of two tracts of land. He began his career with practically no capital, and by good management and thrift. finally secured enough to get started as an independent farmer, and from that time has enjoyed substantial prosperity among the ablest farmers in his part of Madison county.

Mr. Stephens is the son of Samuel and Amanda (Vandament) Stephens. His father was also a native of this county and spent all his life here, the larger part of it in Richland township, subsequently moving to Lafayette township. During his early life he attended the district schools and then engaged in farming. He was the father of five children, three of whom are now deceased, namely : Leoto, deceased, who married Walter Cooper, and her one child Fay is living with Mrs. Amanda Stephens at Florida; Walter, deceased; Byron and Kenneth, both living; and Harry, deceased. Kenneth married the daughter of Barney Flannagan, residing in Anderson. Samuel Stephens died April 29, 1910.

Byron Stephens who is now the head of his family in this county was born on the old home place September 20, 1877. He attained his education in the country schools, and throughout the time while he was going to school also worked on the home farm, so that he was well equipped by practical experience for his life's work, about as soon as he had completed his book education. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and contributed his labors to the manage- ment of the farm and the support of the family. Since then he has worked independently, and made enough to buy himself a first class farm of his own. He is the owner of thirty acres of land and has an interest in the home place, where he now resides. He was married on January 25, 1898, to Miss Anna E. Chambers, daughter of Joseph Chambers, the venerable citizen of Lafayette township, a sketch of whom appears on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of four children, namely : Everette, Mary, Donna and Mar- cus. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have an attractive and comfortable home and are rearing their children in an atmosphere of honor and high- principled conduct. In politics Mr. Stephens is a Democrat, and he and his family are members of the Methodist church.

GEORGE W. KIRK. Lying on the Madison Avenue road, about five miles north of Anderson, is the Linwood Stock Farm, a tract belonging to George W. Kirk, one of Lafayette township's most substantial and progressive agriculturists. Mr. Kirk is well known to the citizens of this township, having resided here all of his life with the exception of a short period passed in the State of Texas, and at all times he has mani- fested a commendable interest in whatever pertains to the welfare of his locality. The general appearance of his property gives evidence of the presence of thrift and industry in its management, and his ability as a business man is widely recognized. Mr. Kirk was born in Lafayette township, Madison county, Indiana, on the old Kirk homestead farm, located near Florida, July 1, 1855, and is a son of William and Amanda (Muse) Kirk. His father came to Madison county as a young man,

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from Fleming county, Kentucky, making the journey in a wagon, and here passed his entire subsequent career, being engaged in extensive agricultural operations. There were eight children in the Kirk family: Sylvester; George W .; Mrs. Lavina E. Free; Dawson; Mrs. Alice Snow ; Nora, who is deceased; Mrs. Ida Graham; and Mrs. Cecelia Jones, now deceased, who had four children, Mrs. Elissa Lestal, Gladys, Kenneth and Ruth.

Mr. Kirk secured his education in the Keller and Free schools of Lafayette township, the latter of which is now located on his home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-five years of age, at 'which time he went to Texas, and there spent a short period on a cattle range, where he received his introduction into the business that he has made his life work. On his return, he purchased a farm in Lafayette township, to which he added from time to time until it now contains 280 acres. In addition, he has forty acres in Anderson township - and seventy-five acres in Pipe Creek township, all of this property being highly cultivated and very valuable. He raises horses and cattle, and has also been engaged for some years in breeding and feeding mules for the home market, his stock finding a ready sale and commanding high prices. His reputation among business men is that of a thoroughly reliable dealer, and he has the full confidence and esteem of his associates.

On April 8, 1885, Mr. Kirk was married to Miss Nora Tappan, and they have had six children, namely : Hector B., who married Sophrone Hancock and, has one child, Helen; Greta E., a graduate of the high school, who is now engaged in teaching in the schools of Lafayette town- ship; John, who is in his third year at Purdue University, where he is taking a course in civil engineering; Joseph, who married Myrtle Paddock, and is managing the operations on one of his father's farms; Georgia, who is attending the Anderson High school; and William Rus- sell, who attends the district school. Mr. Kirk is essentially a business man and has not cared for the struggles of the political arena, taking only a good citizen's interest in affairs that affect his community. Dur- ing his long residence here he has formed an extensive acquaintance, in which he has a wide circle of sincere friends.

SAMUEL MAAG. A resident of Madison county for about twenty years, Mr. Maag represents the class of which the farmer and substan- tial citizen who has come into this county after many of the older families have either retired or immigrated to newer fields, and who through their fresh industry and management are effecting many notable changes in agricultural methods and in the general prosperity of the community. Mr. Maag is a self-made man, has owned all he possesses by hard work and thrifty management, and is now prosperous and a retired resident of Lafayette township.

Mr. Samuel Maag, who owns a farm of eighty acres of fine land on the Florida and Anderson pike, about four miles northwest of Ander- son, was born March 10, 1859, in Zurich, Switzerland. His parents were David and Mary Maag. The father was a dairy farmer in his native country and also had a vineyard. In the year 1864 a friend of the family living in California induced David Maag to bring his house- hold to America. The family located at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The three sons in the family were David S., John M. and Samuel. From Califor- nia the father returned to Benton county, near Cedar Rapids, and soon

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afterwards died there. A little later the mother also passed away and thus the sons were left when young and soon scattered to different locali- ties. Samuel Maag was only seven years old when his father died and during the next ten years he remained in Benton county, Iowa, and earned his living by working for other people, exerting his youthful strength to the utmost, in order to earn shelter and food and such opportunities for education as were offered occasionally. He lived for some time with a man named John May, and then hired out his services by the month. When he was seventeen years of age, with his brother David, he rented a farm in Madison county, Iowa, and by working this place with all the energy he possessed and with the combined assist- ance of his brother, made a very comfortable living and put by some savings for his capital. September the. 28th, 1879, he was married to Clara Bell Kendall. By their combined industry they bought a piece of land in 1882, and on this one hundred acres they commenced their actual eareer. Though they were unable to pay for it all at the begin- ning, they managed so that in a few years they had eleared off the debt and were more than even with the world. That remained their home for a number of years, when they finally sold out and came east to Indiana, locating in Lafayette township of Madison county. They bought their present farm in this township on November 14, 1893, and have made their home here for the past twenty years.

Mrs. Maag was the daughter of John II. and Orinda J. ( Armstrong) Kendall. Her father was a native of Madison county, Indiana, and the Armstrong family came from Darke county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Maag are the parents of one daughter, Daisy M. She is the wife of Mr. Wade Bevilhamar and lives near Florida in Lafayette township. They have two sons, Samuel and Landas Adair.

At the present time Mr. Maag is renting his farm to a tenant and himself lives a retired life in the home place. He is a member of the Methodist church at Florida and for the past fourteen years has taken a very active part in the Sunday school as superintendent, and is also a steward and trustee of his local church. A public spirited citizen and a substantial business man he has been honored by being appointed to the office of trustee of Lafayette township, to fill the unexpired term of Calvin Thompson, deceased. At the time of his appointment the township was in debt $6,320, which was all paid before his term expired, leaving the township out of debt.

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History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 88

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926 Publication date: 1970 Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918