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 96
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Dr. Halboth is a Progressive Democrat, but not especially active in the party ranks.
THOMAS GROENDYKE. A number of Madison county's most sub- stantial agriculturists are residing on farms which they have them- selves developed from the virgin soil and timber of this section of the state, and who have been active participants in the great work of development that has made Anderson and the adjoining townships the locality of some of the finest country places in Madison county. Among those entitled to more than passing mention in this connection is Thomas
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Groendyke, whose valuable property of 220 acres had its nucleus in a small forty-acre tract which, when he settled upon it, was entirely cov- ered with a dense growth of timber. Mr. Groendyke is a native of Indiana, having been born near the town of Frankton, October 2, 1852, and is a son of Elias and Nancy (Jenkins) Groendyke.
Elias Groendyke was born in Fayette county, Indiana, from whence he came to Madison county and engaged in farming, in which vocation he spent all the active years of his life. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely: Amanda, Sarah Jane, Catherine, Charity, Thomas, John, Amos and James. Thomas Groendyke com- 'menced his education in the Pruett school in Anderson township, and as a youth accompanied his father to Darke county, Ohio, in which locality he also attended school for one term. When eighteen years of age he returned to Madison county, and having been trained to farm work soon secured employment as a hand, at a salary of sixteen dollars per month. He continued to be employed thus for three years, at the end of which time, through his industry and faithful devotion to duty, he had been advanced to twenty-two dollars per month. Subsequently Mr. Groendyke went to live at the home of a widowed sister, whose property he worked until he had saved enough money to warrant his embarking upon a career of his own, and at that time he acquired, through purchase, a tract of forty acres, located in a heavily timbered section of Anderson township. In true pioneer fashion he erected a small log cabin, in which he lived while placing himself upon a sound financial footing, but this was later replaced by a comfortable frame dwelling, and as the years have passed various improvements of a modern character have been made to the buildings and property, this now being one of the valuable and desirable country homes of this part of the county. From time to time Mr. Groendyke has added to his holdings, and at the present time has 220 acres, all under cultivation. He carries on general farming and raises a good breed of cattle, and constant industry, able management and modern methods have brought their reward in the shape of substantial success.
Mr. Groendyke was married in February, 1876, to Emily Smith, a daughter of James Smith, of this county, and a member of one of the first families to settle here. Of this union there were two boys, James and Ernest, both deceased, and one daughter, Cora E., Mrs. Garland Hancock.
. Mr. Groendyke was married to Mrs. Hettie (Ballard) Thomas, the widow of J. U. Thomas. Mr. Groendyke has devoted himself to the work of his farm, leaving public matters to those who have had more desire for the activities of political life. He is a friend of progress, however, and gives his support, moral and financial, to all worthy movements. He enjoys the privileges of membership in the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been one of the charter members of this order. His comfortable home is situated not far from the city of Linwood.
GEORGE RAPP. The great excitement caused in the early 'nineties by the discovery of the existence of natural gas in Madison county brought to this section many young men eager to win their fortunes in the newly-opened fields. While but few were fortunate enough to secure land from which the valuable product could be obtained, there were many who settled down to labor in other fields of endeavor, and to this class the county owes some of its best citizenship. Lying about
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eight miles north of the city of Anderson, on Alexander Rural Route No. 20, is the 120-acre farm of Morgan Wilson, where George Rapp is located. He came to this locality when he had just passed his majority, and he has continued since that time to be one of this section's sub- stantial men. He is a native of Salem, Ohio, and was born February 6, 1871, a son of Christopher and Dorothea (Schaff) Rapp.
Christopher Rapp was born in Germany, and as a young man emi- grated to the United States, locating first in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was for some years engaged in farming. Sub- sequently he drifted down the Ohio river to Marietta, Ohio, and later removed to Salem, where he met an accidental death when his son George was still a youth. Christopher and Dorothea Rapp were the parents of seven children, as follows: John, who is deceased; Sophia, who married Marion Willison; Jacob and Charles, who are both deceased ; Daniel, a resident of Marietta, Ohio; Carrie, who married Mr. Lindamood ; and George.
George Rapp received the customary school education granted to farmers' sons of his day and locality, and in the summer months devoted his attention to the honest and instructive work of the home farm. He continued to remain under the parental roof until attaining his major- ity, when, anxious to embark upon a career of his own, he came to Madison county with a number of other aspirants for fortune in the gas fields, and for a short time was engaged in contracting in Alex- andria. Subsequently, however, he turned his attention to the vocation in which he had been trained in his youth. Mr. Rapp was trained in the old school of practical farming, but to this substantial training he has added the knowledge of modern, scientific agriculture, and has taken advantage of every advancement made in his vocation. His farm is productive and profitable, and its general appearance denotes the pres- ence of able management. Mr. Rapp has been connected only with legitimate enterprises since making his home here, and his dealings have given him the reputation of an honorable man of business, who, while ever alert to grasp an opportunity, has shown the strictest integrity in all of his operations.
On October 20, 1898, Mr. Rapp was united in marriage in Lafayette township, with Miss Catherine Wilson, daughter of Morgan and Rhoda (Barker) Wilson, who live in Frankton and are now retired from active pursuits. There were three daughters in the Wilson family: Pearl, who married Mr. Alexander, and has two children-Fred and Marie; Myrtle, who married Mr. Ruley and lives at Portland, Indiana; and Catherine, now Mrs. Rapp. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rapp: Harold H., a bright and interesting lad who is now attending school in Lafayette township. Mr. Rapp enjoys the privileges of mem- bership in the Knights of Pythias, and is decidedly popular with the members of the local lodge. He is a Republican in politics, but has taken only a good citizen's interest in matters of a public nature, although ever ready to assist in all movements making for the better- ment of his section. With his wife and son, he attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
CICERO RILEY REEVES. In the field of expert photography, Madison county has furnished one of the most capable men in the entire country. Mr. Reeves, who has followed his profession at Anderson for more than a quarter of a century, has been honored in such a way as to prove his
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leadership in not only his home county but in the country at large as a photographer. He has been honored with the office of secretary and later as president of the Indiana Photographers' Association, and as secretary, first vice-president and then as president of the National Association of Photographers. His services have also been called in as critic and judge on many art exhibits, and his own work has won numerous medals in exhibitions of artistic photography.
Cicero Riley Reeves was born on a farm in Hancock county, Indiana, May 3, 1864, and comes of old American stock. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Caroline (Harlan) Reeves. His father, born in Brown county, Ohio, was brought to Rush county; Indiana, when ten years of age, and about two years later to Hancock county, where he followed farming prosperously for many years, until his death in 1903, at the age of seventy-five. He was a man of no small influence in his community, served sixteen years as a justice of the peace, as township trustee eight years, and for two years was a member of the Indiana State Legislature. His wife was born in Fayette county and spent her active life in Han- cock county. Mr. Reeves' brothers and sisters are: Dr. A. J. Reeves of Toledo, Illinois; Arthur C. Reeves, a retired farmer of Knightstown, Indiana; Judge A. B. Reeves, of Dodge City, Kansas; Charles F. Reeves, court reporter at Anderson ; and Mrs. J. S. Simmons, Mrs. J. R. Titus and Mrs. John L. Kennedy of Hancock county.
The common schools supplied Mr. Reeves with his early training, followed by attendance at the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois. His career as a worker began at the age of eighteen, and the first four years were spent as a teacher. His home has been in Ander- son since August 29, 1887, and he is probably the oldest established photographer in the county.
Mr. Reeves is an Independent in politics, and affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Loyal Order of Moose. His church home is the First Christian church of Anderson. On Octo- ber 16, 1887, he married at Wilkinson, Indiana, Cecelia G. Turner, daughter of Frank L. and Jennie Turner. Her father was a publisher. The children of their marriage are: Earle C., Ruth V., Nilah E., Mary J., George A., and John M.
C. M. CORBET. Hickory Grove Dairy, a tract of forty acres lying in Lafayette township, is one of the valuable agricultural properties of Madison county, where its proprietor, C. M. Corbet, has a fine herd of Jersey cattle and supplies milk, cream, butter and other dairy prod- ucts to the people of the adjacent towns and villages. Mr. Corbet belongs to the new order of agriculturists, who are conducting their operations along modern lines, and has found that by specializing in this branch of farm work he can attain a fuller measure of success than by following general lines. He was born February 20, 1861, near the city of Lima, in Allen county, Ohio, and is a son of the Rev. T. W. and Elizabeth (Robbins) Corbet.
Rev. T. W. Corbet was born in Pennsylvania, and was reared on a farm, but early in life decided to become a minister of the Gospel, and accordingly was placed under the charge of a prominent educator of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of that day. He was eventually ordained a minister of the Lutheran church, and for a long period of years made his home at Lafayette, Ohio, where his charge was located. He and his
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wife were the parents of six children, as follows: Emma, Howard, Mary E., C. M., Ella and Edward.
C. M. Corbet was given excellent educational advantages, receiving his early training under the preceptorship of his father, and subse- quently becoming a student in Northwestern University, Ada, Ohio, from which he was graduated. After leaving school Mr. Corbet went to Middlepoint, Ohio, and was in the grain business for ten years. He then worked in a grocery store at Van Wert, Ohio, and Anderson, Indiana, and afterward, or about seven years ago, he embarked in the dairy business. At that time he embarked upon a business career of his own, coming to Lafayette township and establishing the dairy busi- ness of which he has been the proprietor to the present time. His herd of Jersey cattle is one of which he has every reason to be proud, and his business is constantly growing, owing to his able and progressive management. He has taken every precaution to observe the rules of hygiene, his buildings are well-lighted and ventilated, and sanitary conditions prevail throughout the property, assuring his customers of a fresh, clean product and excellent service. Mr. Corbet is, first of all, a business man, and the struggles of the political arena have not suffi- ciently interested him to make him a seeker for public honors. He has, however, manifested a commendable inclination to be of service to his community in the duties of good citizenship, and men and measures calculated to bring about able government have always found in him a stanch and hard-working supporter.
On April 15, 1886, Mr. Corbet was united in marriage with Miss Belle Parmenter, of Allen county, Ohio, the ceremony being performed at Lafayette, Ohio, by his father. Mrs. Corbet is a daughter of F. D. and Mary (Nash) Parmenter, formerly well-known people of Allen county. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Corbet, namely : Fay, Arthur, Vina, LeRoy, Howard, Alice and Emmet, of whom Fay, Arthur, Vina and Emmet are now deceased. Both the Parmenter and Corbet families are connected with the Lutheran church, and have been active in its work and charities.
CLYDE D. SCHURTZ, M. D. The regular profession of medicine at Alexandria, Indiana, has been ably represented during the past sixteen years by Dr. Clyde D. Schurtz, a physician of recognized ability, whose native talent has gained him high standing in his honored calling. Dr. Schurtz was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, January 16, 1859, and is a son of James and Sarah (Krepps) Schurtz.
James Schurtz was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and as a young man moved to Northumberland county, that state, where in 1841 he was married to Miss Sarah Krepps. On. their wedding journey the young couple traveled by buggy to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph county, near White Pigeon, where Mr. Schurtz purchased a farm, and there he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, when he was seventy-three years of age. Ile was a successful farmer, an influence for good in his community, and possessed the high regard and esteem of his fellow- citizens. His widow lived to be seventy-six years of age, and died in 1894, at the home of her son, Dr. Reuben Schurtz, of Streator, Illinois, her funeral taking place at the German Lutheran Church, of which she had been a faithful member. Mr. and Mrs. Schurtz were the parents of ten children, as follows: Mary Jane, who became the wife of A. G.
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Barton, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Henry Albert, a resident of Three Rivers, Michigan; David A., living at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Hannah Elmira, who married David Mandigo, of Riverside, California; Dr. Reuben, living at Streator, Illinois, a well-known physician; Orr, whose home is at Negannee, Michigan; Dr. Perry, a practicing physician of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dr. Clyde D., of this review; Freddie, who died at the age of two and one-half years; and Dr. Frank B., a physi- cian of Spring Valley, Illinois.
Clyde D. Schurtz was reared on his father's farm on White Pigeon Prairie, Michigan, and secured his early education in the district schools and the Constantine and Kalamazoo Union school. He subsequently studied dentistry, and after receiving his degree practiced that profes- sion for three years, then commencing his medical studies in the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Later he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which noted institution he was graduated in 1885, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and almost immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Eaton, Ohio. From that city he went to Coal City, Illinois, and then to Peoria, in the same state, and in the early part of the winter 1897 came to Alexandria, which city has since been his field of practice. He has been able to build up an excellent professional business, and his large and representative practice has been secured through the recognition of his ability, and his success in a number of complicated cases. Always an assiduous student, he continues to keep fully abreast of the changes and advances in his profession, subscribing to the latest periodicals, and taking a keen interest in the work of the Madison County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society, of which organizations he is a valued member. He is a Progressive in his political views but has preferred to devote himself to his profession rather than to enter into the activities of public life, although he has an intelligent knowl- edge of the various public questions of the day and actively supports movements for the betterment of his community and its people. He has been prominent in fraternal work for some years, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of Alexandria Lodge, No. 235, Free and Accepted Masons, Alexandria Chapter No. 99, Royal Arch Masons, and Alexandria Council No. 85.
On February 3, 1908, Dr. Schurtz was united in marriage with Miss Rilla Fishero, who was born June 26, 1872, at Wallace, Indiana, daugh- ter of Peter and Clara Elizabeth (Ward) Fishero. This family is of French origin, the name having been originally spelled Fougerousse. Mr. and Mrs. Fishero are natives of Indiana, and for many years were residents of Alamo, although they now make their home at Marshall, this state. They are the parents of two children: Rilla and Lucy. Mrs. Schurtz is a member of the Christian Church, and is a general favorite in social circles of Alexandria.
HENRY M. KEMP. Madison county has no more progressive farmer and citizen than Henry M. Kemp. With a large estate, acquired prin- cipally through his own exertions, he has employed the best methods of modern agriculture to make it produce and give it the character of a modern business enterprise. Mr. Kemp has the distinction of having been the first farmer in all this part of Indiana to use steam power in plowing his land. Then, too, he was one of the first country residents in Madison county to own an automobile, both for pleasure and business.
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Though he has done much to promote his own success, Mr. Kemp had the advantage of two generations of solid family success behind him. His family is one of the oldest in Madison county. His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers, and his father took hold where the grandfather left off and accumulated a large fortune for that time in the form of farm lands and other property. Mr. Henry M. Kemp has directed the facilities of his age to the improvement and cultivation of his lands, and has made a striking success.
Henry M. Kemp was born in Jackson township, March 7, 1862. His ancestry runs back to his father, David W. Kemp, who was born in the same township, through Grandfather Henry Kemp, who was born in Frederick, Maryland, and through great-grandfather Gilbert Kemp, also a native of Maryland. Gilbert Kemp was reared and married in his native state, and came westward and settled in Hamilton county at a time which pictures him as one of the very earliest pioneers. Entering large tracts of government land on the south side of White River, he improved the water power at Shepard's Ford, built a saw and grist mill, which was among the first institutions of the kind in a large ter- ritory, and continued to operate the mills and superintend the clearing and cultivation of his lands until his death at a good old age. Grand- father Henry Kemp was a youth when the family moved to Indiana, and at the age of twenty-seven years he married Huldah Wise. This marriage connected him with the family of the oldest settlers in Jackson township of Madison connty. Her parents were Daniel and Mary (Mil- ler) Wise, the former of whom had entered the first land in Jackson township. The interesting history of the Wise family will be found elsewhere in the sketch of Lorana Coy. Henry Kemp was himself one of the early settlers of Jackson township, having entered land direct from the government in sections two and eleven of township nineteen, range six east, now known as Jackson township. That was many years before the era of railroads, and transportation facilities were limited to the rough roads constructed across the prairies and through the woods. Grandfather Kemp in the early days took his surplus products to Cin- cinnati, with team and wagon, and it often required two weeks to make the trip to that city and back. His first home was a log cabin, typical of many others in early Madison county, and as his means increased he built good frame buildings, and continued to live on the old homestead in Jackson township until his death at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife survived him and died in advanced years. The only child of their marriage was Daniel W. Kemp, father of Henry M. Kemp.
Daniel W. Kemp was reared on the old farm, had a practical educa- tion in the early district schools, and adopted the life of farmer. He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, and in his generation was one of the most successful farmers and business men of Jackson township. His acreage was increased until it aggregated seven hundred and twenty acres, all in the home township. When the natural gas dis- coveries were made, he sunk a gas well on his land, and distributed this product through six miles of pipe, which he laid. His health finally failing he went to Ocalla, Florida, where he died the second day after his arrival, at the age of sixty-five. David W. Kemp married Leannah Moore, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of John Moore. She now lives in old age at Anderson. The four children of their marriage were: Henry M., Florence, Ansel David, and Walter.
Henry M. Kemp grew up in Jackson township, and while still a boy Vel 1-25
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attending school learned all the practical duties of farm life. When he was ready to start for himself, his father gave him ten acres as a building site, and he proceeded to cultivate a portion of his father's land. Later he inherited some land, and has added to it by purchase until he is the owner of one of the big farms of Jackson township, com- prising three hundred and sixty-five acres of land. The Kemp farmu is situated about six miles west of Anderson. Everything about the place indicates the thrifty and progressive farmer. There is a fine set of fine frame buildings, including a comfortable residence, barns and out buildings, and all the improvements measure up to the best stand- ards of Madison county agriculture. His barn is a conspicuous struct- ure built in a circular form, eighty feet in diameter; flanking the main barn are two large silos, one of which has a capacity for the cut of twelve acres, and the other for fifteen acres. In every way Mr. Kemp has kept abreast of the times, and modern methods, and all his machinery is first-class. He does general farming and stock raising, and has made his business pay good dividends, practically every year.
In 1886 Mr. Kemp married Alice Tappan. She was born in Ander- son, a daughter of John and Mary (Snodgrass) Tappan. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are: John, Theresa, Irene, Rachel, Lois, and Gilbert. Mr. Kemp's father was a good Methodist and a Repub- lican. Henry M. Kemp cast his first vote for James G. Blaine, in 1884, and has consistently supported the party ever since. Fraternally he is affiliated with Lapel Lodge No. 386, Knights of Pythias.
THAD M. MOORE. The manager of the Union Real Estate Company, with offices in the Union Building at Anderson is an excellent repre- sentative of a pioneer Madison county family. Mr. Moore has lived in this county practically all his life, has been a farmer, merchant, public official, and is now the executive of one of the leading real estate firms of the county.
Thad M. Moore was born at Summittville in Madison county, June 21, 1865. His father, Columbus W. Moore, was also born at Summitt- ville. To the occupation of farming he devoted the best years of his life; and at the height of his young manhood became a soldier of the Union, and enlisted in 1861 in Company D of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He gave faithful service as a soldier, and then returned to his home state, and after a few years residence in Madison county, moved in 1870 to Indianapolis. He returned to Summittville, where he died the later part of 1871. He married Margaret Hite, of Rush county, a daughter of Jacob Hite, one of the old residents of that county. After their marriage they located in Summittville, where the father was engaged in business.
Thad M. Moore attended the village schools in Summittville, and also the high school, and after leaving high school entered the University of Valparaiso, where he was a student for two years. On his return to Sum- mittville, he lived on a farm in that vicinity for a time, and then became employed in the general store at that time operated by his grandfather in Summittville. During that period of his life he married Miss Claudia Fawcett, a daughter of William and Clarinda (Pavey) Fawcett.
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