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 89
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ELMER E. HUGHEL. Among the native sons of Madison county who are following in the footsteps of their forefathers and finding success in the cultivation of the rich soil of this section, Elmer E. Hughel takes prominent place. As a young man he was inclined to experiment with other kinds of labor, but after a short period decided that the occupa- tion of agriculturist should be his life work, and he now has no reason to regret of his decision for his farm of eighty acres, located about one-half mile south of Florida, in Lafayette township, is one of the valuable properties of this section. and he holds prestige among the farmers and stock raisers of this part of the Hoosier State.
Elmer E. Hughel was born on his father's farm in Anderson town- ship, Madison county, Indiana, April 3, 1862, and is a son of Matthias B. and Hettie (Stephenson) Hughel. His father, a native of Ohio, migrated to Madison county as a young man, and purchased a farm in Anderson township. where he has spent his subsequent career, being
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one of the prominent agriculturists of his section and still surviving at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He is the owner of the ground which was occupied by a Moravion mission in the times when the Indians were here. A monument has been erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution to mark this place. (Spoken of in gen- eral history of the county.) There were eleven children in the family of Matthias B. and Hettie Hughel, namely : Alonzo and Samuel, resi- dents of Anderson township; Elmer E .; Grant, who also carries on operations in Anderson township; Clarence, who lives in Indianapolis; Jennie, who married A. Malone; Belle, who became the wife of E. Moore; Lydia, who married A. T. Gillespie; and Florence, Minnie and George, all of whom are now deceased.
Elmer E. Hughel was given good educational advantages, attending the district schools in Anderson township and the high school in the city of Anderson. During this time he had spent his vacations in work on the homestead, where he was thoroughly trained in farm labor, but decided to try his fortunes in the commercial field, and for two years, from 1908 to 1910, was in the hardware business. Following this, he went West, but soon returned to his home. At that time Mr. Hughel came to his present property, in Lafayette township, which has been brought to a high state of cultivation. He is quick to adopt modern ideas and methods, having the latest improved machinery and modern buildings, the latter including a ten-room bungalow, one of the finest in the country, fitted with such modern conveniences as hot and cold water, bath and electric light plant.
In November, 1887, Mr. Hughel was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Jones, daughter of John L. and Sarah (Andes) Jones, and to this union there has been born one daughter: Lena, who lives at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hughel and their daughter are mem- bers of the Christian Church, and have been active in its work. Mr. Hughel has gained a wide acquaintance during his long residence in Lafayette township, and has become known among his friends as a man of sterling character, honorable in his business dealings and sincere and faithful in his friendships. As a public-spirited citizen, he has sup- ported all movements calculated to advance his section, and no resident of Lafayette township has the welfare of his community and its people more at heart.
CHARLES W. MOORE. Success has been worthily attained by Charles W. Moore, of Lafayette township, in the field of agriculture, and to his energy, enterprise, careful management and ceaseless determination this is attributable. He has resided all of his life in this section, and is now the manager of the Moore farm, a tract of ninety-eight acres of well-cultivated land, lying on the Florida turnpike, about two and one-half miles north of Anderson. Mr. Moore was born February 8, 1873, on the old Barher farm in Lafayette township, and is a son of James L. and Lucinda (Huff) Moore. His father, a native of Penn- sylvania, lived for many years near Middletown, Indiana, where he carried on agricultural pursuits, but is now living a retired life, enjoy- ing the fruits of years of industrious toil. He and his wife had two children : Mattie Mae and Charles W.
Charles W. Moore secured his education in the Mount Hope public school, and as a youth proved himself industrious and energetic by spending all of his spare time in assisting his father in the work of the
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home place. When the older man was ready for retirement he placed the youth in charge of the homestead, having trained him to ably handle the management, and under the younger man's care the prop- erty has been ably operated. As time has passed, and his finances have permitted, Mr. Moore has made improvements and added to his stock and implements. He is an advocate of modern ideas, keeps abreast of the numerous advances which are constantly being made in his calling, and in his neighborhood is known as a good, practical farmer and ex- cellent judge of livestock. His long residence in this section has given him a wide acquaintance, and liis numerons friends testify to his gen- eral popularity.
On June 14, 1899, Mr. Moore was nnited in marriage with Miss Bes- sie Thornberg, whose father, Richard Thornberg was born and reared in this county and spent his entire career in tilling the soil. There were five children in the Thornberg family : Charles, Ray, Thomas, Bes- sie and Nellie. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had six children : Lucille, Ray- mond, Mildred. Mary Belle, Howard and Charles L. The members of the family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GLENDEN BROWN. Perhaps at no time in the history of the country have the advantages of farm life been so generally acknowledged as at the present. Every student of present day conditions must notice how men in all lines of industry in the crowded marts of trade, are turning their longing eyes to sections where land may be secured, believ- ing that in a return to the soil happiness, health and contentment will return to them and that their children may have a birthright of pure air and freedom. Commendable as this may be, these seekers for rural possessions and the healthful surroundings of the country, do not always succeed and for the very natural reason that farming is both a profession and a trade, a business which demands as much and as thorough a preparation as any other. Therefore the greatest advantage lies with those who have been fortunate enough to have been born and reared on a farm, trained in its varions industries and whose greatest interests have always been centered on it. One who has had these favorable opportunities is Glenden Brown, a general farmer and stock- raiser, residing in Lafayette township. Mr. Brown was born June 27, 1870, on his father's farm in Shelby county, Indiana, and is a son of George W. and Margaret L. (Mckay) Brown. George W. Brown is a retired farmer residing at Frankton in Madison county. He has always been a man of public spirit and continues active in political matters. Eight children were born to George W. and Margaret L. Brown : James C., Eliza, Glenden, William, George, Rocella, Elmer and Arvilla, all of whom survive except the eldest.
Glenden Brown was fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Madison county, having previously attended school in Shelby county, and afterward became a student at Beech Grove, in Madison county. Although he then put his school books aside he by no means considered his education completed and has continued to be in- telligently interested in everything that is going on in the world and thus has become a man thoroughly qualified for public office should he care to accept the same and to give sensible and valuable advice on mat- ters of local importance. He cultivates his own farm of sixty-three acres and also a farm of eighty acres belonging to his brother. This
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land lies in Lafayette township and is well adapted to the activities here carried on, grain and potatoes being grown and fine stock raised.
Mr. Brown married Miss Maggie Davis and they had two children born to them, Dicie and Ernie, who survive their mother. Mr. Brown married for his second wife December 2, 1902, Effie G. Wagner, the eldest daughter of Franklin and Rachel (Jones) Wagner, residents of Rush county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner had a family of four children : Effie, Pearl, May and Inez, all surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three children : Verle, Dorothy and Nondas. With his intelligent views Mr. Brown is a hearty supporter of the public schools and wil- lingly assists in all movements for the general welfare of his section. He is an example of the best citizenship of Madison county.
ARTHUR H. JONES. Beginning practice in Madison county nearly twenty years ago, and having since attained a successful and influential position as a lawyer, Mr. Jones in recent years has probably become best known in the insurance and fraternal field. He is president of the Liberal Life Assurance Company at Anderson, and has taken a very prominent part in insurance and fraternal movements in the state and nation.
Arthur H. Jones was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on April 27, 1873. His paternal grandfather, Abraham Jones, was one of the first settlers in Franklin county. The father, Philip T. Jones, was born in Franklin county, and married Miss Lydia Goff, also a native of that county.
Reared in the vicinity of his birth, where he obtained his first school- ing in the public schools, Arthur H. Jones completed his literary educa- tion in Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and then entered the Cin- cinnati Law College where he was graduated as a Bachelor of Laws. He began his practice in Summitville, in Madison county, on the first day of October, 1894. He had his office at that place for four years and there built up a good practice, becoming well known as one of the rising attor- neys of the county. He next located at Alexandria, where he was engaged in practice for six years, and from there he moved to the county seat at Anderson, and had his office in this city for two years. From Anderson Mr. Jones moved to Indianapolis and was engaged in the general prac- tice of law in that city up to 1910. He had become, in the meantime, inter- ested in fraternal organizations and in 1910 was chosen Supreme Dictator of the Supreme Lodge of the World, Loyal Order of Moose. In August, 1912, Mr. Jones was elected president and general counsel for the Liberal Life Assurance Company, the main offices of which are located at Anderson.
Besides his chief executive offices for this insurance company, Mr. Jones is president and general counsel for the Travelers Insurance Machine Company, is president and general counsel of the Machine Sales Company, and is general counsel for the Roller Electric Company. He is also general counsel for the Supreme Lodge of the World, Loyal Order of Moose, and is general counsel for the State Investment Company. He takes much interest in all the fraternal orders and is a wide awake, public spirited citizen and a liberal contributor to all enterprises launched for the general good of the community. In politics he is a Democrat and has served a number of times as delegate to the county and state conventions.
In 1894 Mr. Jones married Daisy C. Bake, of College Corner, Ohio. Mrs. Jones died in 1908, leaving one son and one daughter,-Harry L.,
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who is a student in the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, and Nellie E., now attending the high school of this city.
On June 26, 1913, Mr. Jones was married to Mrs. Maude Gartner, of New Orleans, Louisiana.
ETTA CHARLES, M. D. The success and efficiency of women in the field of medicine are too well established to require any comment. While woman physicians are not numerous in any one community, they are usually regarded as among the ablest and most successful in the field of local practice, and in Madison county the few who are identified with this profession are no exception to the rule. At Alexandria, Dr. Etta Charles is enjoying a large and growing practice and competes on equal terms with her brothers in the profession. Dr. Charles is the daughter of a former well known physician in this part of Indiana, and she also has a sister in the profession.
Etta Charles was born in Grant county, Indiana, daughter of Henry and Olive A. (Jackson) Charles. Dr. Henry Charles came from Wayne county, Indiana, where he was born, and was a son of Samuel and Sarah (Hill) Charles. Grandfather Samuel Charles was a planter and a man of large affairs in North Carolina, having come to Indiana in the early days and entered land, the patent to which was signed by President Andrew Jackson. Dr. Henry Charles attended the common schools in Grant county, was a school teacher, took a classical course at Earlham College at Richmond, and afterwards graduated from the Indiana Medi- cal College. He was first engaged in practice at Fairmount, and after- wards at Carthage, in Rush county. Later he moved west for his health, and died and was buried in Kansas. The mother was buried in Deer Creek cemetery in Grant county.
Etta Charles attended the common schools at Fairmount, where she spent most of her girlhood, and was a student for two years in the high school. After that she kept house for her father several years, and was engaged in teaching. Her medical studies were pursued and completed in the St. Louis Women's Medical College, a three-year course. She also had been tutored in medicine under her sister Dr. Olive Wilson, who was in practice at Paragould, Arkansas. Dr. Etta Charles belongs to the Madison County and State Medical Societies, and is secretary and treasurer of the County Society at this time. She affiliates with the Rebekah Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The Doctor and her sister have recently opened an office in Alexandria, at 301 Lincoln Avenue, where they attend to their practice, they having bought the property at this location.
Dr. Clive Wilson is a graduate of the Northwestern University, Chicago, and is now practicing with her sister. Both have contributed to the Medical Literary and are in good standing with the medical profession.
JOSEPH DAVID RODECAP. In the death of the late Joseph David Rodecap, which occurred July 26, 1906, Madison county lost a citizen who had long been prominently identified with its agricultural inter- ests, and whose activities as a public-spirited citizen were such as to add to the prestige of his section. Although not born in this county, he was brought here when still an infant, and his entire active career was spent within its boundaries. Mr. Rodecap was born February 22,
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1865, in Rockingham county, Virginia, a son of Henry and Lydia (Myers) Rodecap.
The Rodecap family was founded in Indiana by Henry Rodecap, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and in early manhood moved to Henry county, Indiana, subsequently taking. his wife and children to Madison county, where he settled on a farm near Florida, which became known as the old Rodecap home place. He spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits, and became well and favorably known in his community as a man of upright habits and much business ability. He and his wife were the parents of nine chil- dren, as follows: Benjamin F., who is deceased; Joseph David; Peter, deceased; Emanuel, deceased; Barbara, deceased; Elizabeth Beeson, wife of Frank Beeson; Mrs. Frances Sisco; Mrs. Mary Range; and Katie, who is deceased.
As before mentioned, Joseph D. Rodecap was but a babe when he was brought to Madison county, and here his education was secured in the Elm Grove district school, which he attended during the winter terms, his summer months being spent in work on the old home place. He was thoroughly trained in farming work, and was taught to respect and appreciate the value of hard, industrious labor. On attaining manhood, he embarked in farming on his own account, subsequently becoming the possessor of several valuable farms and eventually set- tling on a tract of eighty acres lying on the Elm Grove turnpike, where he was carrying on operations at the time of his demise. Since that time his family has resided on the same farm. Mr. Rodecap was a good, practical farmer, ever ready to embrace new ideas and methods, and his activities in the various branches of farming proved uniformly successful. He took a pride in the progress made by his community and by his associates was looked to for advice, counsel and leadership. An upright man, of honorable principles and a strong sense of right and wrong, he at all times held the confidence of those with whom he had transactions of any kind, while his personal character was such that many were proud to call him friend.
On December 16, 1876, Mr. Rodecap was united in marriage with Miss Elda Free, daughter of Jesse and Mary (MacLean) Free, who came from Bainbridge, Ross county, Ohio, and seven children were born to this union: Joseph Franklin, who married Alice Lukens, and has one child, Herbert A .; Jesse, who married Georgie Thompson, and has one, child, Agnes; Lillian; Elmer, who was married to Bertha Schlegel, on September 1st, 1913; Ellsworth who was married to Hor- tense Lukens, on September 17, 1913; Benjamin, who was married on February 4, 1913, to Anna M. Bamer, of St. Francisville, Illinois, and they have one child, Elizabeth Marie, born October 29, 1913; and Bertha. Benjamin is conducting the home farm, and is a graduate of the Anderson township schools, class of 1906. He is a member of the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men. The members of the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they have many friends.
Ross ESHELMANN. One of the stanch and reliable business con- cerns of Anderson is the firm of David Eshelmann & Son, of which Ross W. Eshelmann of this review is one of the members. This firm was organized some years ago, and was the result of years of associa- tion of the son with his father in the work, during which time he
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gained a thorough knowledge of the business, and proved himself fit to be the partner and business associate of the elder gentleman.
Born in Richland township, Madison county, Indiana, near the town of Prosperity, on March 3, 1878, Ross W. Eshelmann is the son of David and Charity (Scott) Eshelmann. The boy was given his early educational training in the village school of his community and later attended the Anderson high school, where he employed well his time and emerged with a training in advance of that of most of the youth of his day. From the high school he joined his father in the building work which the father had been carrying on for years in Anderson and vicinity, and has continued with him to the present time. They have carried on a thriving enterprise in the building field for some years. Many fine dwellings, schools and business blocks have been reared under their master hand, as well as carrying on a considerable work on local churches and in neighboring towns. Mr. Eshelmann is undeniably a skilled workman and a thorough master of the builders craft. A few years ago he joined his father in a business partnership, and they conduct business under the firm style of David Eshelmann & Son, their union going to make up one of the strongest firms of its kind in the city. They built the Grammar School building, of recent erection, the Loan building, known to be one of the finest business blocks in this section of the state, as well as participating in the work on the Anderson Water Works Filtering Plant, and others of equal importance. They have, on the whole, been active and prominent in the building life of the city, and have contributed no small amount to the growth of the community in their way.
In 1900 Mr. Eshelmann married Miss Blanche E. Branson of Ander. son, a daughter of William and Elizabeth" (Hurst) Branson, who set- tled in Anderson about ten years prior to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Eshelmann. To this union four children have come: Paul A., Fred- erick R., Elizabeth and Harriett.
Mr. Eshelmann is a Mason of high degree, with affiliations in Fel- lowship Lodge, No. 681, A. F. & A. M., Anderson Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M., and Anderson, Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar. The family home, a fine and substantial residence thoroughly modern in all its appointments, is located on the corner of Sixth street and Madison avenue, and here much of the social life of their circle is enacted. The family are well known in the city and have a high place in the esteem and regard of all who share in their acquaintance.
B. F. FESLER. Madison county is fortunate in the possession of a large number of enterprising and successful farmers, and in spite of the fact that it is an increasing industrial county, its farms and farm products will always share largely in the total resources of the locality. Among the farmers whose careers have been marked with success and prosperity, and with progressive development is that of Mr. B. F. Fesler of Pipe Creek township, whose splendid country estate of two hundred acres is located on the C. C. Mays road. His home is on the rural deliv- ery out of Frankton.
Mr. Fesler was born in 1853, in New Columbus. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Landis) Fesler. David Fesler, the father, came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and by trade was a stone mason and plasterer. He subsequently engaged in farming, and at his death his body was laid to rest in the Sigler cemetery at Frankton. The
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mother is also now deceased. The seven children in the family were Rebecca A. Abbott; John A .; William G., of Elwood; Marcy C., now Mrs. Silvery ; B. F .; and Laura, who married a Mr. Etchison, and is now deceased.
B. F. Fesler was educated partly in the schools of New Columbus and finished in the Brannock school in Pipe Creek township. As a boy he worked on a farm, and there learned the practical details of the busi- ness which he has followed nearly all his life. When he began for himself it was as a renter, and by industry and thrift, as well as by good management, he finally saved enough to buy a small piece of land, con- sisting of forty acres, and used that as the nucleus for building up a substantial prosperity. He finally traded his original farm, and then bought his present place.
On February 15, 1879, Mr. Fesler married Miss Ida J. Campbell, daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah (Thurston) Campbell. Her father came from the vicinity of Eaton, Ohio; was a farmer, and located in Madison county many years ago. The two children in the Campbell family were Mrs. Fesler and William O., a resident of Muncie, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Fesler are the parents of eight children, who are mentioned as follows: Dora, who married Lester Johnson, and their four children are Floy, Vernice, Hadie, and Hubert; Della, wife of Charles Gooding, and their children are: Gladys, Opal, Roy and Theodora; William, who married Ida Etchison, and has one child Retta; Bertram A., who married Nellie Ebert, and has two children, Marjorie and David; Wal- ter, who married Edith Ferguson, and has one son Benjamin; Frank, at home; Raymond, who has practical charge of the farm; and Katie R., who is in high school at Frankton. Mr. Fesler has always been an active Democrat and has at various times taken much interest in party affairs. He and his family worship in the Christian church at Frankton.
FRANK BEHYMER. The present trustee of Pipe Creek township is Frank Behymer, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Madison county, and a man who has given long and faithful service to his community, not only in his present office but as an educator, having discharged the responsibilities of a teacher of the young in Madison county for the long period of a third of a century.
Frank Behymer was born in Rush county, Indiana, in 1857, and is a son of William and Martha (Littleton) Behymer, the former a native of Gerard county, Kentucky, and the latter of Clermont county, Ohio. On the father's side the grandfather was Solomon Behymer, who with his wife was a native of Virginia. The five children of Solomon and wife were Samuel, John, Lucy Brown, William and Joseph. The Lit- tletons on the mother's side were natives of Pennsylvania, grandfather Littleton having been a farmer, and an early settler of Clermont county, Ohio, where he died a comparatively young man.
William Behymer, the father, was reared on a farm in Kentucky, and when a boy moved into Ohio, where he learned the trade of cooper, and was for some time also engaged in the occupation of running rafts and barges down the Ohio river in the river traffic. He subsequently moved to Rush county, Indiana, where he became a farmer, and also did some coopering, making barrels for the use of his neighbors. After nine years' residence in Rush county, he moved to Grant county, locating near Rigdon, where he spent the remainder of his years. During the Civil war he enlisted and saw three years of arduous service and the
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