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 17
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The early years of Garland Hancock's life were spent on a farm, for the most part, and he was educated in the common schools of Lin- wood, and Chesterfield, and in the high school of Anderson, from which he was graduated. He later attended the University of Indiana, and after he came home in 1909, he took up the voeation for which lie had prepared himself. He has been engaged in educational work for some years, has held various positions and as principal of the north Anderson school he ranks as one of the leading educators of Madison county. His two sisters, Fern and Flora, are also engaged in teaching in Madison county.
Mr. Hancock married Miss Cora Groundyke, daughter of Thomas Groundyke, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Hancock has been born one child-Donald. The family occupy and enjoy a comfortable residence in the vicinity of Linwood, and are
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the recipients of the kindly regard and sincere esteem of all who share in their acquaintance. Mr. Hancock is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in a fraternal way, and though not a member of any especial church, he is generously inclined toward all. In addition to his teaching work, Mr. Hancock finds time to give to the cultivation of a farm of 140 acres and which yields a bountiful crop, as well as afford- ing him a genuine pleasure, derived from its cultivation.
SAMUEL DOUGLAS MONTGOMERY. Among the officials of Madison county who are rendering the community signal service in the discharge of their duties, none have attained a greater degree of popularity than that which has come to Samuel Douglas Montgomery, who has served efficiently since January 1, 1911, in the office of county assessor. A resi- dent of this county since early boyhood, he was for years identified with the agricultural and stock raising interests of this section, and the suc- cess with which he met in his own affairs made his fellow citizens confi- dent that he would have no trouble in successfully handling the affairs of the county in the office which they tendered to him. That this confi- dence was not misplaced is at once evident when Mr. Montgomery's record in office is seen. He is a native of Butler county, Ohio, and was born April 18, 1859, a son of Samuel and Mary (Thurston) Montgomery, both American born.
Mr. Montgomery's grandparents were natives of England, and shortly after their marriage in that country emigrated to the United States and became early settlers of Butler county, Ohio, where the grandfather pur- chased a tract of land and spent the best years of his life thereon. He was a man of integrity, industry and enterprise, strong in his convic- tions of right and wrong, and public spirited in matters pertaining to his community. He gained and held the esteem and regard of his fellow citizens through a long life of honorable dealing, and his influence was sought in all matters of public importance.
In 1865 Samuel Montgomery came to Madison county, Indiana, purchasing a farm in Lafayette township, but later in life he moved to southern Kansas, where he spent several years. He returned to Alex- ander, Madison county, in 1892, and there spent the remaining years of his life, his death coming on February 27, 1899. Mrs. Montgomery had died many years before, when still in comparatively young woman- hood.
Samuel Douglas Montgomery attended one term in a primitive log school house in Butler county, Ohio, the rest of the years being passed in assisting his father in the work of the homestead. He also attended the school in Lafayette township at indefinite periods, and he remained under the parental roof until he was about twenty years of age, at which time he married Miss Mary C. Thomas, of Lafayette township, Madison county, the daughter of Edwin Thomas, an elderly settler and a pros- perous citizen of that township. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery settled on a farm in Lafayette township, and he has since been engaged in diversified farming. He subsequently moved to a farm in Monroe township, where he lived for some years. He was successful in his farming operations, and he gave a great deal of attention to the breeding of Short Horn Cattle. He was also a contractor in general road building and engaged in the draining of farms and roads, each of his ventures proving uniformly satisfactory in its results.
Mr. Montgomery has always been a stalwart Democrat, and while residing on his farm has served capably during one term as a member of
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the County Council. In 1910 he became the candidate of his party for the office of county assessor, and when he was elected to the office for a four year term, moved with his family to Anderson, where he purchased a modern residence at No. 1613 Fletcher street. He placed his farm in the hands of his son, Samuel Ward Montgomery, who is successfully carrying on its activities in a manner worthy of his father. This tract consists of ninety-seven and one-half acres, and is in a high state of culti- vation, testifying to Mr. Montgomery's ability as a farmer. His emi- nently acceptable method of handling the affairs of the assessor's office has not only won for him the confidence and approbation of his fellow citizens, but has gained him many friends among all classes.
On March 2, 1879, Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Thomas, and to this union there have been born five children, as follows: Edward, who is engaged in farming in Madison county ; Nellie, who became the wife of Charles D. Waymire, also an agriculturist of this section; Samuel Ward, who is carrying on operations on the homestead; Josephine, who married Hugh E. Robinson, a prosperous farmer of Monroe township, and Harvey L., also a farmer.
DR. LOT EDWARD ALEXANDER has practiced medicine and has per- formed the varied responsibilities and duties of good citizenship at Pendleton, since 1879, and is one of the best known citizens of Madison county. His name is spoken with respect on the north and east sides of the county, but it is with his home community of Pendleton that he has been most closely identified.
Dr. Alexander is descended from old American stock, originally of Scotch ancestry on both father's and mother's side. The family was founded in America by Hugh Alexander, who emigrated from Scotland in 1736 and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Farming was his occupation and that he was a man of more than ordinary standing and influence in his community is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen a delegate from Cumberland county, to which he subsequently removed to the conference of deputies called in Carpenter Hall at Philadelphia on July 15, 1776. It was at that meeting that the first free constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted. Hugh Alexander was married in 1854, to Martha Edmiston, who was also of Scotch descent. The great-grand- father Alexander, of Dr. Alexander was in the Commissary Department in Washington's army during the Revolution, and for his faithful services to the cause of the colony was given fifteen hundred acres of land, which he subsequently located in North Thumberland county, Pennsylvania. Another fact concerning the ancestors might be added. Dr. Alexander's maternal great-grandfather Brown, when a child, was stolen temporarily from his home by the famous Mingo chief Logan, and kept two days. during which time Logan made and placed on the child's feet a pair of moccasins, and after paying these evidences of his regard and showing the best possible entertainment returned the child unharmed to his parents.
Dr. Alexander's father was Cyrus Alexander, who was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1807, and followed farming at his regular vocation. He had a common school education, was a Pres- byterian in religion, and a stanch Republican throughout his adult life. His death occurred September 7, 1889. Cyrus married Mary Brown, who was born also in Mifflin county, February 20, 1814, and died August 12, 1894.
Dr. L. E. Alexander was born in Pennsylvania, and his literary edu-
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cation was acquired at Washington and Jefferson College in the city of Washington in western Pennsylvania. On March 12, 1874, he was grad- uated M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and thereafter spent one year in the Western Pennsylvania Hospital at Pittsburg, in 1875 was engaged in the Philadelphia Dispensary, and in 1876 entered the medical department of the United States Navy. He served as assistant surgeon in the United States Navy, and was for six months in the quaran- tine service on the west coast of Florida. Later he was assigned to duty on the receiving ship Potomae at the Port of Philadelphia. Dr. Alex- ander moved west and located in Indiana, in 1877, first in Fayette county, and in 1879 established his home and residence at Pendleton, where he has lived and practiced medicine for almost thirty-five years.
Dr. Alexander served one year as president of the Madison County Medical Society, and has membership in the Indiana State, the Missis- sippi Valley, and the American Medical Association. He has always been a Republican, and for the past fifteen years has served as a trustee of the Pendleton Consolidated School District. Reared in a Presby- terian family, he was affiliated with that church for some time, but now is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pendleton. Frater- nally the doctor belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On November 5, 1879, Dr. Alexander married Miss Carrie Boyd Hughes, at Cambridge City, Indiana. She received her education in the schools of Cambridge City, and is a daughter of Evan and Samantha Hughes, her father having been of Pennsylvania Dutch Stock.
CHARLES L. OLDHAM. One of the well known prosperous farming men of Fall Creek township of whom it is but reasonable that mention be made in this historical and biographical work devoted to the repre- sentative men of the county, Charles L. Oldham takes a leading place in the representative activities of Pendleton and the township. He was born in Champaign county, Illinois, in December, 1866, and is the son of A. W. and Barbara A. (Stephens) Oldham, the latter being now de- ceased, and the former a resident of Pendleton, Indiana. Both were natives of Hamilton county, Ohio. The father came to Madison county when he was about eighteen years of age, and in 1864 married Miss Stephens. He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving three years in the Union army, and seeing much of the activities of the long siege. Three children were born to these parents: Charles L., Frank F., un- married and a resident of Pendleton, Indiana; and Della May, also un- married, and living at home.
Charles L. Oldham was four years old when he came to Madison county with his parents, and as a boy in the home community he attended the district schools. He later was graduated from the schools of Spring Valley, after which he turned his attention to farming. In October, 1888, Mr. Oldham married Miss Fannie J. Tyson, who was born in Madi- son county, Indiana, in September, 1866, and was educated in the com- mon schools of her native county. They have one child, Orville W., born August 21, 1889, who is now married to Lola Smith.
Mr. Oldham and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pendleton, in which they are active and energetic with refer- ence to the work of the various departments, and fraternally Mr. Old- ham has membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. In the former order he is a Past Grand, and has held various offices in both lodges. He is a Republican and has taken
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an active part in the party ranks.' In 1912 he was the nominee for the office of commissioner of the South District of Madison county. He has a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres about a mile and a half distant from Pendleton, on Lick Creek Pike, and is recognized as one of the successful and enterprising farmers of the township.
ARTHUR WOLFE BRADY. The president of the Union Traction Com- pany of Indiana, whose home for a number of years had been in Ander- son, was born at Muneie, January 13, 1865, a son of General Thomas J. and Emeline (Wolfe) Brady. On his father's side there is a combina- tion of both Irish and English stock, while the maternal forbears were some of them German and others French. On both sides the earliest mem- bers of the family came to the United States during the eighteenth century. His father, the late Thomas J. Brady was born at Muncie in 1839, and he died at Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1904. A lawyer by profession he won distinction in military affairs, and in public life. He served throughout the Civil war, with the rank of Captain and Major in the Eighth Indiana Infantry, and was colonel of the one hundred and seventeenth and the one hundred and fortieth Indiana regiments, and was brevetted brigadier general towards the close of the war. For a number of years he was editor and publisher of the Muncie Times, served as consul at St. Thomas, West Indies, was supervisor of internal revenue, and still later held the post of second assistant postmaster general at Washington. Emeline Wolfe Brady was born at Westfield, Ohio, in 1842, and died at Muncie in 1884.
Arthur W. Brady attended the public schools of Muncie, prepared for college at a private school in Connecticut, graduated from Yale Univer- sity A. B. in the class of 1887, during the following year read law in the office of an uncle at Fort Wayne and was graduated from the law de- partment of the University of Michigan in June, 1889, with the degree of LL. B. Mr. Brady practiced law at Muncie from 1889 to 1902, and maintained an office at Indianapolis from 1902 until 1904. He was elected mayor of Muncie on the Democratic ticket in 1902, and his service in that office continued until September, 1905. He became general coun- sel for the Union Traction Company of Indiana, and in 1904 was elected president of this the largest interurban transportation company in the state. It was at that time known as the Indiana Union Traction Com- pany, and is now the Union Traction Company of Indiana. The main offices of the company were moved to Anderson in the fall of 1904, and his home has been in that city since that date.
Mr. Brady is a Democrat, and during the time of the free-silver issue of 1896 belonged to the Gold Wing of that party. In June, 1893, he married Jane Ninde, daughter of Lindley M. and Beulah C. Ninde, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She died in the same year, and in 1901 he mar- ried Caroline H. MeCulloch, daughter of Dr. James McCulloch and Caro- line J. McCulloch of Muncie. Mr. Brady has two sons: George Wolfe Brady, born at Indianapolis, August 22, 1903; and Arthur Adam Brady, born at Anderson, February 23, 1905.
WALLACE B. CAMPBELL has been closely identified with the busi- ness life of Anderson since coming to the city in 1895. He is well and favorably remembered as editor and owner of the Anderson Herald, which he built up to be one of the best equipped printing establish- ments in any city of similar size in the state. After several years of
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very successful newspaper work he turned his attention to real estate, developing one of the largest flat, apartment and business properties in the city. In addition to looking after his own property interests during the past eight years, he has been secretary of the Anderson Commercial Club, which has been a most efficient organization in the promotion of the city's industrial development.
Mr. Campbell was born on a farm in DeWitt county, Illinois, June 8, 1857. His father was Joseph Wallace Campbell, who was born near Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, on April 1, 1820, and who came to Indiana about 1840, settling on a farm near Bloomington. Mr. Camp- bell's mother, Mary Ann (Blakely) Campbell, was born near May's Liek, Mason county, Kentucky, on February 5, 1824, and moved to a farm near Bloomington in 1834. She married Joseph W. Campbell on October 19, 1843, and in 1849 they entered eighty acres of land in De- Witt county, Illinois. There were eight children born of this union. William O., the first born, served three years in the Union army before he came of age. The others were Louise J., Alice, Sarah E., Laura, Wallace B., Hilary J., and Lawrence E., all living today with the single exception of Louise J. The mother died on March 5, 1894, and the father followed her on November 18, 1896, at Roberts, Illinois. Both were almost lifelong members of the Christian church and lived exemplary lives for simplicity, integrity, gentleness and neighborly kindness.
Wallace B. Campbell lived on a farm until he was twenty-two years of age. His early education was obtained in the district schools, with the exception of two short terms in a village school. He taught school near his father's farm in Ford county, Illinois, for two years and during that time assisted at home on the farm and did one year's work in preparation for college, without an instructor. He entered the fresh- man class in Indiana University in 1880 and was graduated with the class of 1886. During his last year he had charge of the laboratory work in Botany with W. S. Blatchley who graduated the following year and who was afterward State Geologist for many years. He taught school in Montgomery county two years before graduating from the university, it being necessary to earn his college expenses in that manner. He entered the university on less than $50 and boarded himself for two . years. He was elected principal of the Paxton (Ills.) high school in the fall of 1886, and the next year he read law with Messrs. Paul, White and Humphreys of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar in that city. He opened a law, real estate and loan office at Roberts, Ford county, Illinois, but it proved a poor location, as Ford county was largely agricultural, without saloons and with very little crime to be contended with, so that the "pickings" for a young lawyer were disagreeably sparse. However, during his residence there, he tried about a dozen cases, winning each of them.
Mr. Campbell had acquired some taste for newspaper work while in college and as waiting for "cases" made no strong appeal to a man of his native energy and activity, he decided to accept the invitation of Hon. N. E. Stevens, of Paxton, Illinois, to become associated with Mr. Stevens' son, Arthur H. Stevens, in newspaper work at Auburn, Indiana. There the two young men bought the Auburn Dispatch, June 1, 1889. This proved to be a successful venture in a business way, and five years later Mr. Campbell bought Mr. Stevens' interest in the paper and ran it alone for a year, selling it in June, 1895, to buy the Anderson Herald.
When Mr. Campbell bought the Herald in the year named, as far
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as equipment was concerned, the plant was a veritable junk shop, barring the presence of some good type and one small job press. It was inanned, however, with a number of good employes, among whom was Charles H. Neff, one of the present owners. Mr. Campbell brought Mr. Edward C. Toner, of Martinsville, now another of the owners of the paper, to the Herald as city editor in October, 1895, and about the same time Harry - T. Hallam, of Auburn, came as foreman of the mechanical department, a position he still holds. Mr. Campbell's next step was to equip the plant with the best machinery money could buy. In this equipment was a Cox angle-bar web perfecting press, the first one installed in Indiana. and a Mergenthaler linotype machine, the second or third to be installed in the smaller cities of the state. The first paper published from type set on this machine was issued on July 4, 1897.
Mr. Campbell was a close student of newspaper and job printing. He frequently consulted a number of the most successful newspaper men in the state and profited by their experience. He served at different times as secretary and president of the Indiana Republican Editorial Associa- tion, and was several times sent as a delegate to the National Editorial Association meetings. Ile was frequently to be found on the programi in state and national meetings. He attributes his success in newspaper work, which is recognized throughout the state, to three things-good equipment of his plant, surrounding himself with loyal and competent workmen, and conscientious and faithful service to the community served.
The Herald was sold to Edward C. Toner and Charles H. Neff on June 1, 1901, since which time Mr. Campbell has given his attention to the buying and developing of the Campbell, Annex, Jefferson and Lin- coln flat, apartment and business properties.
When the Anderson Commercial Club was organized in December, 1905, the first board of directors selected Mr. Campbell as Club Secre- tary. He was reelected each succeeding year up to the present time. During the entire time he has served in the office at a personal sacrifice, but always with the highest regard for whatever would promote the best interests of the city. The city has enjoyed marked industrial develop- ment during the eight years of Mr. Campbell's service, much of which . has been directly due to the work of the Commercial Club. The new industries brought to the city, or the old ones retained, through work of the Commercial Club, have during that period paid out more than $3,500,000 in wages. Of this sum from ten to fifteen per cent is net profit to the city.
Mr. Campbell has always been greatly interested in the public schools. In June, 1909, he was unanimously elected a member of the School Board, serving as secretary two years and as president one year. He was president of the Board when the present new high school building was completed in 1912. During his service he stood for the most rigid economy in the expenditure of the public funds, but he especially favored an increased wage for the grade teachers, with a view of holding more of the best teachers where the greatest number of pupils might be benefited. He urged the largest development of the manual training and vocational courses and the establishment of a business course in the high school, with the hope of making all of the school work more practi- cal and useful to the great body of pupils who must depend upon the public schools for their entire education. His work on the board was carried on in a direct line with the ideas and plans of the advocates of
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vocational education, which has so lately come to be an issue of greatest importance in the public schools generally.
On October 19, 1892, Mr. Campbell married Miss Sarah E. Tarney, daughter of Samuel J. and Naney Tarney, of Auburn, Indiana. Mrs. Campbell was graduated from the State Normal at Terre Haute, Indiana. in 1884, and after serving as principal of the Bourbon (Indiana) high school for one year, was elected a member of the State Normal Faculty, which position she held up to the time she was married. In the fall of 1895 she was elected supervisor of instruction in the Anderson schools, serving in that capacity for three years, and declining reelection for a fourth year, because of her wish to retire from the teaching profession. Probably no woman in Madison county has done more practical work for the cause of education than has Mrs. Campbell. For years she was instructor in many. county institutes throughout the state, and she has revised several school readers for the American School Book Company. In addition to Mrs. Campbell's enthusiastic interest in education, which she still retains, she is greatly interested in public charity and in the work of the correctional institutions of the state. She was appointed by Governor Hanly as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Indiana Girls' School, was reappointed by Governor Marshall and for the past three years has been president of the board. She is president of the Madison County Children's Home Association, and has been since the organization of the association thirteen years ago.
Mr. Campbell, also, has a keen interest in all of these matters, and is a director and treasurer of this board of which his wife is president. Both are members of the Tourist Club and Mrs. Campbell is a member of the Clio Club, both being literary organizations . of representative order.
SPENCER G. BEVILHIMER. For more than sixty years a resident of Madison county, Mr. Bevilhimer is one of the citizens whose name and a brief record of whose career should be permanently recorded in any history of the community. He represents a family. which had its part in the early development of the county, he was himself one of the Madi- son county's soldiers for the war of the Rebellion, and since his return to the county as a veteran soldier he has had his full share in the re- sponsibilities of making a living and providing for home and family, and has also discharged his duties to the general community, with an efficiency which brings him honor.
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