USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
Thomas Morris was born on the old Morris homestead near Anderson. Indiana, January 22. 1851. and is a son of Isaae and Nancy C. (Hainey) Morris. The family was founded in Madison county by William Morris, the grandfather of Thomas Morris, at an early date in the history of this section, he emigrating with his wife and children from Rush county. Isaac Morris was an agriculturist throughout his life, became a sub- stantial man, and was influential in the community in which he resided. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom three grew to maturity: Thomas; Maria, who became the wife of Henry Warren : and William A., who married Hester Rogers, daughter of John Rogers, and has one child,-Nondas.
As a lad Thomas Morris accompanied his father to Miami county, there securing his education in the common schools during the winter terms, while the summer months were passed in assisting his father in the work of the home place. He embarked upon a career of his own when but twenty years of age, at that time locating upon a forty-acre tract of land in Jackson township. Some years later, after his marriage. he purchased the adjoining forty acres. in company with his father-in- law. but about eight years later disposed of his property and bought his present land, formerly known as the Copeland farm, but now called the Morris farm. Mr. Morris' advancement has been by steady stages. He has ever carried on his operations along well-defined lines and always
1
454
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
he has had his ultimate goal in view. No adventitious circumstances or lucky chances have combined to give him success; it has been fairly earned and is well deserved. A trip through the county would result in finding few more highly-cultivated properties and none that would give greater evidence of care and able management. The buildings are in the best of repair, the land is thoroughly worked and well drained and fenced, and the cattle sleek, well-fed and content. The whole property breathes prosperity.
Mr. Morris was married to Miss Caroline Coan, daughter of J. W. and Minerva (Sackston) Coan, and to this union there have been born three children : Maud M., who is now deceased; Jennie, who is the wife of Oliver C. Perkins; and Louie M., who is the wife of N. P. Johnston and has two children,-Cecil and Effie.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris are consistent members of the Methodist church, and are active in its work. As a citizen, Mr. Morris stands high, but his connection with political matters ceases when he has cast his vote in support of Democratie candidates and principles, although he is inter- ested in his party's success. His wide circle of friends gives evidence of his general popularity.
EMERSON MANGER. One of the more ambitious and enterprising young farming men of Union township may be cited in the person of Emerson Mauger, who gives his time and honest attention to the culti- vation of his eighty acre farm, located some two miles north of the town of Chesterfield. His accomplishments in the years of his residence here bave been well worthy of mention, and it is not too much to expect that the future will find him steadily advancing in prosperity and success.
Born on August 29, 1881, in Pike county, near the town of Piketon, Ohio, Mr. Manger is the son of William and Sallie (Butler) Manger. His father died when he was quite young, and his mother later married William Butler Bronnenberg, mention of which is to be found in a sketch devoted to the Bronnenbergs in another portion of this work. The Manger family originally came from Germany, where it was long estab- lished, and many of its representatives will be found there to the present day.
On August 5, 1905, Mr. Manger married Hazel Hancock, concerning whose family mention is made elsewhere in this work. Two children have been born to them,-Harold and Ralph.
Mr. Manger is a Democrat, but in no sense a politician, and he is fraternally identified by his membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is prominent in local circles, and is known for one of the more successful stock men of the township.
WALTER MAUL. A native son of Pendleton, where he has passed all his life, Mr. Maul grew up in this community and learned a trade there, has used his business energy in extending his work and service, and is now enjoying a yearly increasing success as a brick-mason contractor.
Walter Maul was born in Pendleton December 24, 1871, a son of George K. and Susan R. (Parson) Maul. The father was born at Hunts- ville in Fall Creek township in 1847, so that the family is among the oldest in southwestern Madison county. The father now resides at Caney, Kansas. During the Civil war he went out from Madison county as a soldier and gave faithful service to the Union. His wife was also born in Madison county, and her death occurred in 1884. They were the
... ...
:
1
٦٠٠
.
455
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
parents of four children and three are living in 1913, namely: Cory, who is employed in the mills at Anderson, this county; Fred, who is a glass-worker and now resides in Kansas; and Walter.
Walter Maul was reared in Pendleton and attended the Pendleton schools while growing up. When he was about fourteen years of age he began learning the brick mason's trade, and since that time has been almost entirely dependent upon his own exertions and enterprise for his livelihood and snecess in the world. Since 1906 he has directed his ener- gies and experience to general contracting and this business requires a large amount of travel and he is away from home during a great portion of the building season. He now looks after the general work and does the estimating. In June, 1892, Mr. Maul married Miss Flora Belle Kennedy, who was born in Tennessee, and received most of her educa- tion in the schools of Indiana. They are the parents of two children: Hazel F., born in 1894 and residing at home, is a stenographer and book-keeper for the Hardy Machine Company ; Paul T., born January 6, 1905. Mr. Maul is affiliated with Pendleton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with Morning Star Lodge, K. of P. In polities he is a Republican.
JOHN A. SMETHERS. A farmer and lifelong citizen of Greene town- ship, in Madison county, John A. Smethers has lived a life of usefulness and worthy influence in his native community, and is well deserving of the position he holds in the minds of those who know him. He was born here on August 20, 1867, and is the son of James W. and Mary R. (Schweikhardt) Smethers.
James W. Smethers was born in this township also, and is now a resi- dent of Ingalls. He has been twice married. His first wife died on April 7, 1889, leaving him six children, four of whom are now living. They are John A., of this review; Charles F., of Anderson, Indiana; William N., a farmer of Greene township; and Warren F., who is in the employ of the Big Four Railroad. Following the death of the mother of these children, James W. Smethers married Matilda Clark, and their one child, Guernsey J., shares the home of his parents.
John A. Smethers was reared on the farm home in Green township, and received such education as he was favored with in the public schools of his native community, which he attended until he was about eighteen years old. Until 1891 he continued to work on the farm, when he identified himself with the produce business in the employ of J. S. Cummins, continuing therein for five years, and then entering the gro- cery business for a similar period in Ingalls, Indiana. He then elerked in a hardware and general merchandise store for Randall Bros, for some six years and in 1908 was elected assessor of Green township. He later bought the farm of D. R. Richard in sections 26 and 28, located in Green township, where he has since resided.
On April 2, 1893, he married Merrilla M. Richards, who was born on the farm she now occupies with her husband, on August 28, 1872, and who is the daughter of David R. Richards and his wife, Emily Caroline (Davis) Richards, both of whom are deceased. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smethers,-Mildred F., born March 27, 1896. She is a graduate of the common schools and is now a student in the Fortville high school. The family are members of the Christian church of Ingalls. Mr. and Mrs. Smethers are members of the Pocahontas Order, and Mrs. Smethers is Past Chief of that society, and has attended the Grand Lodge of the Order in session. He is also a member of the Vol. II-7
1
T
456
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Order of Red Men. Mr. Smethers is a Republican, intelligently active in the work of the party, and he is now serving as assessor of the township. He carries on a general farming business, and is prominent in local circles in the township, where he has passed his life thus far.
BENJAMIN H. COOK, M. D. Numbered among the most important of the learned professions, and the one that undoubtedly has inade the most progress during the past several decades, is that of medicine, whose devotees are called upon to continue their studies at all times and to keep fully abreast of the times in order to observe the numerous discoveries and advancements of their honored calling. A practicing physician since 1885, Dr. Benjamin H. Cook has risen to a high place in his pro- fession, and since 1903 has been located in Anderson, in which field of endeavor he is highly regarded both as a physician and as a citizen. IIe is a native of the Hoosier State, born August 22, 1858, in Hancock county, and is descended from Adam C. Cook, who located at Jamestown, Vir- ginia, as early as 1621. The son of Adam C. Cook was Daniel Cook, whose son, Joel Cook, was the grandfather of Dr. Cook. Matt F. Cook, son of Joel Cook, and father of Dr. Cook, was born April 1, 1821, in Mercer county, West Virginia.
Benjamin H. Cook received his preliminary educational training in the public and high schools of Hancock county, Indiana, following which he entered upon a career of his own, and for a time was variously em- ployed, accepting whatever honorable work came to hand. He event- ually decided to become a physician and started the study of medicine in the offices of Dr. Lundy Fussell, of Markleville, Madison county, Indiana, following which he entered the Medical College of Indiana, and was graduated therefrom in 1885. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession, being associated with his preceptor for a time. but later went to Wilkinson, Hancock county, Indiana, and remained seventeen years at that place, building up an excellent practice. In 1903 Dr. Cook came to Anderson and here he has continued to the pres- ent time. A close and careful student, he has been successful in building up a large professional business and in firmly establishing himself in the -confidence of the people of his adopted place. He has the inherent ability and sympathetic nature so necessary to the practitioner, and his success in a number of complicated cases has gained him the respect of his fellow-practitioners. He is interested in the work of the various medical organizations, and is a member of the Madison County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society. Fraternally, he is a prominent Mason, belonging to Mount Moriah Lodge No. 77, F. & A. M .: Kingston Chapter No. 36, R. A. M., and Knightstown Commandery No. 9, K. T. In his political views he is a Democrat, and has served his party as a member of the Democratic central committee.
On January 30, 1889, Dr. Cook was married to Miss Laura E. Cooper, of Wilkinson, Hancock county, Indiana, a daughter of James Madison Cooper. Mrs. Cook was born at Cowgill, Missouri, and came to Indiana with her parents, in 1881. To the union of Dr. and Mrs. Cook there have been born seven children, as follows: Theophilus Pravin, Harvey Weir, Merle, Herschel Paul, Sarah Elma, Rachel Anna, and James Farley. Dr. Cook is the owner of a comfortable modern residence at No. 630 West Twelfth street, Anderson.
1
Thor Morris Handy
:
1
. -
457
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.
THOMAS MORRIS HARDY. The prosperity and advancement of a community depend upon the social character and public spirit of its members and in every prosperous town or country center may be found citizens who take leadership and give their energies not alone to their well being but to the things that make better and fuller life for all. Such a citizen at Pendleton has Mr. Hardy been recognized for many years. Lieutenant Hardy was a soldier of the Civil war, was in early life a teacher, from that became actively identified with farming, and for the past twenty-five years has been best known as a banker, being now president of the Pendleton Banking Company. His success in business has been accompanied by equal public spirit in affairs, and it was due to his generosity and energetic work that the town of Pendleton now possesses its excellent public library, and insti- tution which is having a large influence in the culture of the local citizenship, and in future will continue to exert a great uplifting force in this community.
Thomas Morris Hardy was born in Fall Creek township, Madison county, February 4, 1840. He best represents one of the old families, a family that became identified with this historic vicinity of Madison county, not far from the time when the first permanent settlements were planted, and the name has always been borne with dignity and usefulness since it was first known in this locality. His parents were Neal and Elizabeth R. (Frissel) Hardy. Neal Hardy, the father, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, November, 1802, and his wife, a native of the same vicinity, was born in 1SOS. Both were reared. received their education and were married in Philadelphia, and shortly after their marriage came west, making the journey in a one horse wagon until arriving in Fall Creek township, where the father entered eighty acres of land from the government. This homestead, selected from the midst of the great wilderness which at that time extended over nearly all eastern Indiana, the father cleared up and gave his industry and management to the estate throughout the rest of his life. His death occurred in November, 1869, while his wife survived until July, 1888. The mother was a member of the Society of Friends, and the father was an attendant of the same church, though he was very liberal in his religious views, and contributed and supported church and benev- olence with little regard for denomination. His particular interest in community affairs was in educational matters, and for some ten or twelve years he acted as township trustee of Fall Creek township and gave some very efficient service in administration of all local affairs, with particular reference to the upbuilding and improvement of the local school system. Among the citizenship in his time in Fall Creek township he was recognized as one of the strongest men of the vicinity. In politics he was a Republican after the formation of that party. He was affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, and three are living in 1913, as follows: Thomas Morris; Eliza A., widow of John R. Boston; and Sarah K., wife of Joseph D. Kinnard.
Thomas Morris Hardy was reared on the old homestead in Fall Creek township, received his education in one of the early schools of this locality and after attending the district school went to the Pendleton Academy for six months. Then in 1862, at the age of twenty-two, he enlisted in Company A of the Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, and was with the army during its great campaign down the Mississippi Valley.
٠٦
458
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
He was in the Vicksburg Campaign and was twice wounded. At his enlistment he went in as a private and for meritorious service was pro- moted to lieutenant after the Battle of Arkansas Post. He was mus- tered out at the conclusion of three years' military duty with this rank. After his return as a veteran soldier he spent three years in Illinois as a teacher and farmer, and then returned to the old homestead where he continued as a teacher and farmer for some eight or ten years. In 1890 Mr. Hardy, in association with E. P. Rogers, became connected with the Pendleton Banking Company, and has since acquired a half interest and has been president of the company since 1905. This is one of the strongest private banks of Madison county, and the company enjoys high standing throughout all the territory tributary to Pen- dleton.
Lieutenant Hardy was married September 28, 1865, to Margaret J. Wilson, who was born in Madison county, November, 1839. Mrs. Hardy received her education in the public schools of this county, and was a valuable companion to her husband and greatly beloved in all social circles. After nearly forty-four years of happy married life she passed away on August 22, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy had no children of their own, but they reared five under the protection and influence of their own roof, giving them good educational advantages and the best of influences for their preparations to meet the larger duties and responsibilities of life. One of their children now keeps house for Mr. Hardy.
Lieutenant Hardy is a member of the Friends church, is affiliated with the Grand Army Post No. 230 and the Loyal Legion of Indiana. He has for many years been a supporter of the Republican party, but in the last campaign of 1912 gave his vote for the new Progressive party. He donated the lot on which the Pendleton Public Library now stands, and this donation was at the time absolutely essential to the success of the library enterprise, since the necessary endowment could not have been secured without this generosity on his part. He has served as president of the Library board since its organization in 1909 and has devoted much time to the success of this local institution.
JOHN MECKEL. With the pre-conceived ability to design and execute plans for buildings, possessed of marked artistic talent and that hard- headed practicality which puts ideas and ideals to the test of materiality, and the capacity for co-operation with others, John Meckel. architect of Anderson, has accomplished a work in the planning of structures that is of such a character as to leave its impress on the city for many years to come. With a mind fertile in means, resources and expedients, he has fully mastered the multitudinous details of his complex and many-sided profession, and has risen to deserved prominence solely through merit and undeviating application. Mr. Meckel was born in the city of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, June 25, 1844, and is a son of Jacob and Katherine (Eckhart) Meckel, natives of Germany.
Jacob Meckel learned the trade of shoemaker in his youth and worked thereat in the Fatherland until grown, emigrating to the United States when twenty-one years of age and locating in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was married to Katherine Eckhart, who had come to this country as a lass of sixteen years. For some years Jacob Meckel was engaged in custom shoemaking in Cincinnati, but in 1848 removed with his family to Henry county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm of eighty aeres,
459
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
and devoted his energies to farming and stock raising. His operations were fairly successful, and at the time of his death, in 1890, he was con- sidered one of the substantial men of his community. Mrs. Meckel passed away in 1881, having been the mother of five sons and two daugh- ters, of whom one son and one daughter are deceased.
John Meckel was reared on the home farm, and was sent to the dis- trict schools during the winter terms until his eighteenth year, in the meantime assisting his father during the summers on the farm. He then learned the trade of carpenter and followed that occupation for several years, during which time he took up the study of architecture, his knowl- edge being acquired at Cambridge City, Indiana, at which place he had been a contractor for a time. In 1885 he removed from Cambridge City to Anderson, and this has since been his field of endeavor. He has drawn and completed the plans for many of the fine dwellings, business houses, schools and churches of this city, as well as the Anderson Opera House, but has not confined his efforts to this community, for in the country and a number of neighboring towns and villages are found many examples of his skill and talent. His work evidences the pride he has taken in his adopted locality, and his conscientious devotion to the best ethics and ideals of his profession has given him a firmly established position in the ranks of leading Indiana architects.
Mr. Meckel was married in 1869 to Miss Edna A. Barnard, of Henry county, who died in 1895, leaving the following children: Frank B., who is a resident of Anderson; Grace, who is the wife of John W. Bernard, of Neosho, Missouri; Nellie B., who died in 1895; and Maude, a stenographer and bookkeeper at present residing at Neosho, Missouri .- Mr. Meckel was married in 1901, to Miss Ella St. John. The family residence is located at No. 215 West Sixth street, corner of Brown and Sixth.
Mr. Meckel has enjoyed the privileges of membership in fraternal orders, belonging to Cambridge Lodge No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and No. 9, Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat in his political views, and while a resident of Cambridge City served capably as a member of the city council for a period of four years.
GEORGE W. BICKFORD. Mr. Bickford has been a resident of Anderson for more than twenty years and during the greater part of that time has been one of the faithful and efficient men in the postal service. He comes from good New England stock, and was born in the village of Rochester, New Hampshire, June 11, 1856, a son of John H. and Mary Jenks Bickford, both natives of New Hampshire. The father was a car- penter by trade and worked in that line the greater part of his life, and did well by his family.
George W. Bickford grew up in New England, attained his primary education at Great Falls, now Summersworth, and after getting a com- mon and high school education entered the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy at the age of fifteen. He then clerked in a drug store for seven years, in Boston, Massachusetts. From Boston he moved out to Kansas, and was a resident and business man at Phillipsburg until 1891. In that year he returned to Indiana, and located at Anderson. In 1896 Mr. Bickford became a government employe as a letter carrier, and for seventeen years has quietly performed a service which has brought him both esteem and recognition as one of the important factors in his local work of the city. He has filled his office under different postmasters, and
460
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
is now one of the oldest men in this service in this eity. He is a Demo- crat in his political affiliations.
On April 6, 1881, Mr. Bickford was married in Kansas to Miss Katherine Hanlon, who was born in Connecticut, a daughter of John Hanlon, of Philadelphia. Their union has been blessed with the follow- ing children : Walter N .; Laura M. : Leo and Roy.
In Masonic eireles, Mr. Bickford is one of the best known members in Anderson, and has his affiliations with Mount Moriah Lodge No. 57, F. & A. M .; Anderson Chapter No. 52. R. A. M .; Anderson Council No. 69, R. & F. M .; Anderson Commandery No. 32, K. T. For thirteen years he served as secretary of Mount Moriah Lodge. He is a member of the Methodist church. The Bickford home is a pleasant residence at 120 W. Fifth street.
HON. GEORGE NICHOL. Still hale and hearty at the age of eighty- three and a familiar figure on the streets of Anderson and a daily visitor at the store whose business was founded and built up by himu. Hon. George Nichol has a record as a soldier, business man, public spirited citizen and official, which places him among the most venerable and useful men of Madison county. Nearly sixty years of his life time has been spent within the limits of this county, and he is one of the few still living whose memory and intimate knowledge of business and local affairs goes back into the decade of the fifties. Anderson as a city of trade and industry has been fortunate in its possession of a fine body of citizenship, including men of ability and integrity to direct the large enterprises which have given this city distinction, among the larger cities of Indiana, and Hon. George Nichol during his long and varied career has been one of the most prominent of business builders and upholders of local prosperity.
Born in Butler county. Ohio, January 14, 1830, George Nichol was a son of Thomas and Jane (Marshall) Nichol, and comes of an old and prominent American family. The family history is authentically traced back to the time of Edward the Confessor of England, during whose reign a member of the family came over from Normandy, and during subsequent generations the name, individual records. and the Nichol coat of arms are found in English annals. The founder of the American family was Francis Nichol, who was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, in 1737, and came to America, with his brother William, who afterwards served as a captain in the American army. They settled in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and in June, 1775, Francis Nichol enlisted in the patriot army. He was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, and was taken prisoner at Quebee, December 31, 1775. Released in August, 1776, he later rose to the rank of brigadier general of the American forces. At the elose of the war he was elected first United States marshal of eastern Pennsylvania, and died at Pottstown, February 13, 1812.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.