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 15
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General Franeis Nichol was the great-grandfather of Hon. George Nichol of Anderson. Grandfather Thomas Nichol, who was born near Belfast, Ireland, after coming to the United States settled on land on the Ohio side of the River Ohio, near Wheeling, West Virginia, but after- ward moved to Butler county, Ohio, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, and cleared off the woods with his ax. His children were: Joseph, a soldier in the war of 1812; John; Thomas; George: Wells; Sarah A., who married Jesse Andrew; Mary, who married Mr. Marshall, and Martha, who married a Mr. Royce.
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The father of Hon. George Nichol, Thomas Nichol, was born about 1803 in Belmont county, Ohio, and was about three years old when the family moved to Butler county. He received his education in the pioneer schools, and in Butler county married Jane Marshall, daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Taylor) Marshall. After the marriage the young couple settled on land in the woods, and eventually became owners of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, where the father spent the remainder of his life. He was a Jacksonian Democrat in politics. The children of Thomas and Jane were: William M., born in 1828; George; Mary; Joseph W .; Martha; Gilbert; Jennie; Frances: Catherine; John and Robert.
While a boy on the home farm in Butler county, George Nichol had only limited opportunities for acquiring an education, although they were probably the best to be obtained at that time and in that country. His early ambition was for a good education, and he secured it during a number of terms in the district schools, and one year at Farmers Col- lege, near Cincinnati. In 1852, when about twenty-two years of age, Mr. Nichol went to Keokuk, Iowa, and became clerk in a hardware store. From there in March, 1854, he came to Anderson, which was destined to be the city of his permanent residence. In Anderson he established himself in business on his own account as a hardware merchant, his associate being Amos J. King. From that year, nearly sixty years' distant to the present time, the name of Nichol has been familiarly associated with the hardware trade in Anderson. Mr. Nichol retired a number of years ago, but his two sons, Thomas J. and George E., still carry on the enterprise, founded and made prosperous by their honored father. Thomas J. is president of the Nichol Hardware Company, and the younger son is also in the business.
Mr. Nichol had been in Anderson but a few years when the Civil war cast its black shadow across the country and made the usual routine of existence and business an impossibility. He was one of the young men who went out from Anderson in September, 1861, as a private in the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and was soon afterwards appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the end of his term in 1864 he returned home, after having participated in all the severe campaigns through which the Forty-seventh passed. He held the rank of first lieutenant in the army. His service as a soldier by no means ended Mr. Nichol's participation in public affairs, and his has always been the part of the disinterested and unselfish worker for the general welfare. Mr. Nichol was one of the founders of the Republican party in this section of the country, and voted for its first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, for Abraham Lincoln, and for every other Republican candidate to the present time. For his success in business and for his eminent public spirit, he has been honored with positions of trust in his community. He was a member of the first city council elected in Ander- son. In 1870, he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county auditor, being the first Republican elected in the county to that important office. That was one of the notable campaigns, made so by his successful participation. His opponent was the late Neal C. Mccullough. a man of acknowledged integrity and ability, and long prominent as a leader in public affairs. The county at that time was safely Democratic by six hundred majority, and the fact that Mr. Nichol overcame this margin was one of the highest compliments ever accorded to an individual in the political history of Madison county. He served
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as auditor from 1871 to 1875. In 1904, he was elected a member of the sixty-fourth General Assembly of Indiana, and in 1907 Governor Hanley appointed him a member of the board of trustees for the Indiana Epileptic Village at Newcastle, and his service in that capacity for four years until 1911 was his last important participation in large public affairs. For a number of years Mr. Nichol was chairman of the Repub- lican Central Committee of Madison county. His name has been asso- ciated with nearly every enterprise having for its object the promotion of Anderson's interest, and the development of the county. He was chosen president of the Anderson Board of Trade at the time of its organization, and served as long as the body was in existence. Though a man of liberal views in all matters, Mr. Nichol has long been a eon- sistent member of the First Presbyterian Church of Anderson. . He was a charter member of Major May Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Anderson, and up to 1888 served as its quartermaster.
On December 4, 1855, in Anderson; Mr. Nichol married Harriet Robinson, who was born in Ripley county, Indiana, in 1835, a daughter of Josephus and Matilda Robinson, and a sister of the late Col. M. S. Robinson. Her father was born in Tennessee, educated himself in the law, and was a lawyer at Versailles and later at Greensburg, in Decatur county, Indiana. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichol were Thomas J., born September 15, 1856, and George E., born October 4, 1861. Thomas J. is now president of the Nichol Hardware Company, while George E. is vice president of the Citizens Bank of Anderson. Both sons are married and established in homes of their own at Ander- son. The mother of these sons died May 25, 1896. On September 27, 1899, Mr. Nichol married Mrs. Mary Eglin, widow of Captain John F. Eglin, formerly of the Forty-seventh Indiana Regiment. Her death occurred September 24, 1907.
CHARLES J. ROZELLE. Eminent in Anderson business affairs, and also in the political life of the city, Mr. Rozelle has for a number of years successfully followed the contracting and building trade, and his prac- tical endeavors have their results in many of the permanent structures to be seen in this city and vicinity.
Charles J. Rozelle was born in the city of Anderson, November 16, 1873, and belongs to one of the old families of Indiana. The Rozelles are of French descent, the first ancestors having come from France and settled at an early date in the colony of Virginia. The paternal grand- father was William Rozelle, who was born in Virginia, moved from the Old Dominion at an early day, and was a settler of Indiana at a time not far removed from the beginning of pioneer development in this state. The maternal grandfather was John Tilford, who was also a native of Virginia. The parents of Mr. Rozelle were Miles M. Rozelle and Elvira T. (Tilford) Rozelle, the father having been born was also a native of Virginia. The parents of Mr. Rozelle were Miles in Rush county, Indiana, in 1838, and the mother a native of Pennsyl- vania, from which state she came to Indiana during her early girlhood. The father in young manhood took up the trade of tanner, and as a tan- ner and manufacturer of leather he was well known and followed the business for a number of years. In 1893 he retired from the business, which he had conducted at Anderson for many years. His wife died in 1907.
Charles J. Rozelle grew up in Anderson and while a boy attended the grammar and high schools of the city. When he left school it was to
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enter his father's tannery, where he assisted in the work for a time, but did not chose to follow that as a regular vocation, and soon engaged in the mercantile business. He continued that work until he sold out. From merchant he became carpenter and builder, and having special skill in his trade and good business ability, he has since enjoyed much prosperity and has been employed in fulfilling many contracts for residences, school houses, churches and business houses in Anderson and elsewhere.
In 1900 Mr. Rozelle married Miss Zimmer, a daughter of Michael Zimmer, an old resident of Madison county. She died in 1903, and was the mother of the following named children: Charles B. and Helen E. Fraternally Mr. Rozelle is well known in Masonic circles, being a mem- ber of Fellowship Lodge, No. 681, A. F. & A. M .; Anderson Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M .: Anderson Commandery, No. 69, K. T., and Murat Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and has also taken thirty-two degrees in the Scottish Rite. In politics a Republican, he served three years as a member of the city council, and was also chosen and acted as a member of the board of public works, from which he resigned at the end of one year.
HERBERT D. WEBB. Among the energetic and successful citizens of Anderson, Indiana, none is better known that Herbert D. Webb, secre- tary and treasurer of one of the important manufacturing plants of this city. Mr. Webb has always taken an active part in any movement which had as its aim the advancement of Anderson or of this section of the state, and he has played a prominent part in the commercial history of the city. Mr. Webb has been a hard worker throughout his life and his success is not the result of good fortune but of industry and a natural business ability, heightened by years of experience.
Herbert D. Webb was born in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 4th of June, 1860. He is the son of J. Russell Webb and Harriet C. (Camp) Webb. His father was a native of New York and his mother was born in Vermont. J. Russell Webb was a well known man, having the peculiar honor of originating the "Word Method of Teach- ing." He was a teacher for a number of years, as well as the author of a number of text books, which were used in the schools of the United States in the early days. He was a well known educator and his methods were very generally approved by the educators of the country. He died in September, 1888.
Herbert D. Webb received his education in the state of Michigan, attending the schools of Jackson and Benton Harbor, and being a grad- date of the high school in the latter place. After leaving school he first went to work on a farm, this place being not far from Benton Harbor, Michigan. After spending some time in this occupation he next came to Anderson, Indiana, where he found employment in some of the fac- tories, working in various ones at different times. This was in 1889, and he worked his way steadily upward, gaining knowledge and experi- ence. In 1900 he went into the plumbing and heating business in Ander- son and continued in this business until 1908, when he originated and established the present business.
He is at present secretary and treasurer of the Webb, Baxter Com- pany, manufacturers of vacuum cleaning machinery and machine knives. The company was incorporated in 1908 and Noah Baxter was made president. The plant is forty by one hundred and forty feet in size and
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fifteen people are employed in manufacturing its products, which are shipped to the different parts of the United States, by order.
Mr. Webb is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He has an attractive home at 605 Hendricks street. Mr. Webb was married in 1890 to Miss Louise Sher- wood, a daughter of Isaac Sherwood and Celia (Adams) Sherwood.
JRA WILLIAMS. Now retired from business and looking after his real estate business in Anderson, Mr. Williams is a citizen of Madison county, who started out as a farmer, found himself against a losing game, then managed to turn, ventured into a new field in a very modest way and by furnishing exceptional value and service in return for his customer's money, built up a local business which was highly profitable and from which he was able to retire a few years ago, and spend his later years in comfort. To his wife he also eredits a large share of the success gained in his business.
.Ira Williams, who belongs to an old and honored family of Madison county, was born on a farm in Richland township. December 12, 1855. His father was Morgan T. Williams, who was born in Surrey county, North Carolina, and the grandfather was Jesse Williams, who so far as known was a life long resident of North Carolina. Grandfather Williams owned and occupied a farin about three miles from Long Gap in Surrey county, and that was his home when death came to him. He reared 14 children. Morgan T. Williams was reared and educated in his native state, and when a young man came to Indiana. and here met and married Marindah Maynard. After their marriage they located on the farm belonging to her father, and continued as substantial farming people until the death of Morgan T. Williams on June 27, 1863, at the age of twenty years.
The maternal ancestors of Mr. Williams introduces some of the oldest families of Madison county. His mother was born in Richland township of Madison county, about April 19. 1839. Her father was James May- nard, and it is supposed that Kentucky was his birthplace. Her great- grandfather, William Maynard was a shoemaker by trade, and probably spent all his life in North Carolina. Moses Maynard, the grandfather of Mrs. Morgan T. Williams, was born near Hillsboro, North Carolina, September 23, 1763, was reared and married in that state, and from there went to Kentucky, living near the Big Sandy River for some years. From there he came into Indiana, and was one of the very first settlers of Madison county. On Killbuek Creek, he took up a homestead direct from the government, built a log cabin in the wilderness, and continued to live and perform his share of hard work and good citizenship in this county until his death. Moses Maynard died at the home of his son Barnabas in Monroe township, June 15, 1874, at the remarkable age of one hundred and eleven years. He was the oldest man in the county and probably in the state. It is indeed doubtful if any American has a sim- ilar record. He cast a vote for George Washington for president, and voted at every presidential election in the long line of quadriennial elections from the first down to and including that of 1872, when Grant was elected for the second term. Moses Maynard married Sarah Green- street, and they reared eleven children.
James Maynard, the maternal grandfather of Ira Williams. was reared and married in Kentucky and came to Indiana, accompanied by his wife and children, about 1832. Their journey was made across
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country with wagons and teams, and buying a tract of land in Richland township, eight miles from the courthouse in Anderson, James Maynard built a log house, and at once took up the task of clearing a place for his erops among the trees. For twenty years after his settlement there were no railroads in the county, and he and other settlers drew most of their wheat and other products over the road north to Wabash on the canal. Before his death, which occurred June 11, 1861, he had cleared up a great part of his land, and had made a substantial homestead. James Maynard married Sarah Fuller, who was born in Kentucky in 1813. Her father, John Henry Fuller, came either from Kentucky or Virginia, and was one of the very early settlers of Richland township in Madison county, where he also did the part of the pioneer, cleared up a farm and spent his last days there. Mrs. James Maynard died January 12, 1870. The children reared in her family were: John Henry, Patsy, Richard, Vieey, Charity, Marindah, Isaiah and Jacob. Mrs. Morgan T. Williams was left a widow with two children, and afterwards married and now lives at an advanced age in Monroe township. The sister of Ira Williams was named Sarah.
Ira Williams was about seven years old when his father died. After that he found a home with his uncle, Jacob Maynard, on the Maynard homestead, and while growing to manhood there attended the neighbor- hood schools. He was very young when he took his share in the labor of the farm, and lived at home until his marriage. He then built a house on the Maynard homestead and lived there two years. After that he was on the Fenimore farm for four years. On twenty-five acres of land which he bought near Gilman he spent five years, and the two last years all his crops failed, and that was the reason he abandoned farming, and sought a livelihood in Anderson. Mr. Williams is one of the men who have particular reason to remember the development of urban trans- portation in Anderson. When he first moved to the county seat he was employed as a driver for the old-time horse ears that ran up and down Main street, and which are pictured on other. pages of this history. When electricity was substituted as a power instead of horses, he was one of the first to handle a motor, and performed that work for two years. On account of ill health he resigned, and after one year opened a con- fectionery store. That was the foundation or beginning of what proved a very successful career. He had a very modest establishment at first, but with the assistance of his wife he soon afterwards added a restau- rant, and because they furnished wholesome food and good service they were rewarded with a constantly growing patronage, and in time devel- oped their enterprise to a grocery store, which continued to thrive until 1904, when Mr. Williams sold out and since then has taken life more easily. In the meantime he had accumulated a considerable amount of local real estate, and has given his care and attention to this since leaving the grocery business. He is now owner of nine different pieces of real estate in the city of Anderson.
On August 7, 1878, Mr. Williams married Mary L. Etchison, who was born in Pipe Creek township of Madison county. Her father, Joshua Etchison, was born in North Carolina. was reared in that state and mar- ried there, and brought his wife and two children to Indiana. Their journey was made overland, with wagons and teams, and the family first found a home in Pipe Creek township. Buying land there, he went through the hardships and the labors of the pioneer settlers. and con- tinued a farmer until his death, March 30, 1862, at the age of forty years.
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Joshua Etchison married Elizabeth Casteel. Illinois is thought to have been her birthplace, and she was a daughter of Caleb and Rebecca Cas- teel. The mother of Mrs. Williams was a true pioneer lady, and among her accomplishments she learned to eard, spin and weave, and being left a widow with seven children, earned money with the wheel and loom to support her family. For a number of years she did all her cooking by the old-fashioned fire place. Mrs. Williams now has as a souvenir of her mother's work a beautiful home-spun and woven bedspread, and has also a pair of half mitts, which her mother knitted. The flax from which they are made was grown, scutched and spun in the Etchison home in Madison county. The mother of Mrs. Williams died at the age of seventy-seven years. In the Williams home is another memento of times long passed, and that is a silk hat in good condition, which the father of Mr. Williams bought in 1855. Silk hats were much more commonly worn in those years before the war than at any time since.
JOHN E. DAVIS. For many years one of the well known business men of Anderson, Mr. Davis has spent nearly sixty years of his life time in Madison county, and has been very familiar by experience with the de- velopment of the country east of Anderson from pioneer times to the present. During the many years of his residence in the county, he has prospered, has enjoyed many of the good things of life, and has well provided for his family, and is still active and vigorous in business affairs at the county seat.
John E. Davis was born on a farm two and a half miles from Con- nersville in Fayette county, Indiana, December 24, 1849, and is a descendant of one of the very first settlers of Fayette county. His father was Thomas Jefferson Davis who was born in South Carolina, March 31, 1810. The grandfather was Paul Davis, born in North Carolina, August 6, 1769. and a son of John and Jane Davis. About the close of the Revolutionary war, the Davis family moved from North Carolina, to the southern part of South Carolina, and lived there until about 1812 or 1813. They then eame north, crossed the Ohio river, and lived near Harrison, Ohio, until 1814. Their next move brought them to the terri- tory of Indiana, and they settled in the wilderness a short distance west of the present site of Connersville in Fayette county. Two years passed before Indiana was made a state, and they were practically no settlements north of the White River. Fayette county itself was an almost unbroken wilderness, and Madison county had not yet been occupied by a single permanent white resident. Grandfather Paul Davis bought a tract of land, three miles west of Connersville, gave his labor to the clearing of a large portion of that place, and that he was a man of more than ordinary circumstances and enterprise is indicated by the fact that he erected a brick house, one of the first in that county. He lived there until after his second marriage, and then moved to Henry county awhile, but returned and died in the home of his son in Fayette county, in 1858. Paul Davis first married Margaret Alexander, who was the mother of his children. She was born January 31, 1767, and be- longed to the noted Alexander family of the Carolinas, one of whom attached his signature to the Mecklenburg declaration of independence. some years before the declaration of 1776. Paul Davis and wife reared nine children, named: George, James, Wilburn, Robert, John, Dulcina, Paul, Thomas J. and Jasper.
Thomas Jefferson Davis, the father of John E. was about four years
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old- when the family moved to Indiana, and he was reared amid the pioneer surroundings of Fayette county. That county continued to be his home until 1845, when he moved to Madison county and bought a tract of land in the timber, five miles west of the courthouse, a country now a smiling landscape of beautiful farms, but at that time little more than a wilderness, although the railroad, known now as the Big Four,' already traversed that section of the county. In the midst of the woods he built a substantial house of hewed logs, and it was in that mansion that the Davis family of the present generation had their first home. While he was in the midst of the heavy work of clearing the timber off his land, death came to him in 1855. Thomas Jefferson Davis married Maria Ball, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, a daughter of Doctor Bunnell and Rachael (Denman) Ball. Her grandfather, Aaron Ball, owned and operated a ferry across the Miami river in Ohio, and was drowned by operating his ferry over that stream. Doctor Bunnell Ball (the first name was not a title of profession) came to Indiana, and also was one of the pioneers of Fayette county. He bought government land a few miles west of Connersville, and there gave his labor to the im- provement of a farm, and continued its management until his death. After the death of Thomas Jefferson Davis, his wife was left with nine children, most of whom were still under the roof-tree, and the sons took up the work left by their father, and under the able supervision of the mother cleared the land, and tilled the soil, until they had made a pro- ductive and well improved homestead. Some years later the mother moved to Anderson, where her death occurred at the venerable age of eighty years. She was the mother of nine children who grew to maturity, namely: William, Jasper N., Eliza, James H., Doctor Ball, Sarah, Eliza- beth, Rachel A., and John E.
The early circumstances of the life of John Davis have thus been sketched in connection with the family, and he was about five years old when he became a resident of Madison county, and has a keen recollec- tion of the old log house and many of the surroundings in which he spent his boyhood. While growing up he attended the rural schools, and was still very young when he took his share of the labor in clearing up the land and tilling the soil. For several years he had the management of the home place. He subsequently moved to Anderson, and spent four years in business in the sale of agricultural implements. Then he joined forces with his brother Doctor B. Davis, and manufactured drain tile for three years. After that he returned to Anderson and followed his trade as a carpenter for some time. About 1899, Mr. Davis engaged in his present business as dealer in feed and coal at his present stand, 1015 Fifteenth Street.
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