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 3
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The Maplewood Cemetery Association was another enterprise with which Mr. Netterville has been conspicuously identified, and as one of the promoters of the Association has done excellent work for it since the organization was effected. A purchase was made of 300 acres of land north of White river and just opposite the city, where is platted and maintained one of the most beautiful cemeteries of the state. Mr. Netter- ville is an active member of the executive committee, now serving as its chairman.
In the line of public service, his name has long been a prominent one. In 1895, when Congress enacted a national income tax law, he was appointed by President Cleveland collector of that tax in Indiana, and he served in that capacity until the Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional and therefore void. He was chairman of the Board of Public Works of the City of Anderson from 1902 to 1906 and while serving in that position he planned and constructed the water system that now furnishes pure and healthful water to the city. He also made such other improvements in the public utilities of the city as to transform them from a revenue consuming to a revenue producing basis. In 1910 Mr .. Netterville was elected to the state legislature as joint senator from the counties of Henry and Madison, and was ap- pointed by Governor Marshall a member of the legislative visiting com- mittee of 1911 to visit the various penal, benevolent, and correctional and educational institutions of the state, and make recommendations as to their financial needs for the biennial period of 1912 and 1913. And it is gratifying to add that these duties were so well performed that Mr. Netterville was reappointed by the Governor to serve on the same committee for the legislature of 1913. He was appointed by the Lieutenant-governor to a membership on the Penal Farm Commission, of which he was afterward made chairman, and as such visited and investigated the work farms and similar correctional institutions in the United States and Canada. As a result of this investigation work he caused a law to be enacted providing for a Penal Farm for the state of Indiana, for the detention of short term jail prisoners. and this law is regarded in the state as the most advanced prison reform measure undertaken in Indiana in many years, and it is believed will go far towards relieving the state of the odium of the present disgraceful jail and prison system. In the sessions of 1911 and 1913 Mr. Netter- ville was an especially active and influential member, and he served Vol. 11-2
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ou many important committees in the senate, as well as serving as chairman of the joint committees on Ways and Means of the House and Finances of the Senate.
Mr. Netterville is a man who has ever displayed the utmost interest in the securing of industrial establishments for the city of Anderson, and has been influential in that good work to a large extent. With Colonel Storer he platted Grandview addition of four hundred lots, which has been long built up and is surrounded by such factories as the Anderson Paper Company and the American Wire and Nail Company. He is the owner of two fine business blocks on Meridian street and it is undeniable that his enterprise along many lines has materially aided in the splendid growth of his home city.
Mr. Netterville is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Masonic orders, in which he is well advanced, and he is well known for his advanced ideas of fraternalism and brotherhood. Politically, he is a Democrat, as has been stated, and has been active in the party ranks for years, serving as Chairman of the County Central Committee on a number of occasions and on the State Committee. He is known for a systematic and effective organizer, as well as a worker of the utmost energy, and has represented his party in many state and county con- ventions.
Mr. Netterville was married July 15th, 1874, and five children have come to them, three of whom are yet living. Their names, in the order of their birth, are as follows: Lorena May, George F., Victor Hugo, James J. Jr., and Emily Ross. George and Victor are deceased, the former dying at the age of seven and the latter when four years old.
The family home, which is one of the finest in the city, is located on West Eleventh street.
ERNEST M. CONRAD. M. D. One of the old and honored families of Madison county, members of which have been prominently identified with agricultural pursuits, commercial and industrial activities, aud the various learned professions since the advent of the first pioneer is that of Conrad. Among the worthy representatives of the name is Ernest- MI. Conrad, M. D., physician and surgeon of Anderson, whose native ability and devotion to his calling have won him high distinction in his profession.
Dr. Conrad was born near Lapel, Madison county, Indiana, February 20, 1870, the younger of the two sons of Zachriah and Emma (Wood- ward) Conrad. His father, who was born in this county, in 1845, became one of the prosperous farmers of the vicinity of Lapel, and later in life turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, in which he achieved an equal success. His death occurred in 1894, when the community lost one of its most energetic and progressive citizens.
Ernest M. Conrad secured his early education in the country schools near Lapel, and the high school at Anderson. In 1889, he became a student in Depauw University at Greencastle, where his studies were continued for three years. On leaving college and before preparing himself definitely for his profession, he had one year of experience in teaching school at Fishersburg. Then began his medical studies in the Indianapolis Medical College. From that institution in 1897 he was graduated M. D. and practiced at Maxwell until March, 1898, when, desiring a wider field for his activities, he moved to Anderson. The
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success that has attended Dr. Conrad's efforts demonstrates his excel- lent choice of a profession. He is a close student of his calling, keeps fully abreast of the advancements that are continually being made in the science of medieine, his knowledge is comprehensive and accurate, and his skill is demonstrated in the excellent success which has attended his efforts in the sick room. He possesses marked judgment and dis- cernment in the diagnosing of disease, and is peculiarly successful in anticipating the issue of complications. Along professional lines he is connected with the Madison County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, also having membership with the Delta Upsilon College Fraternity. To no small degree the success of Dr. Conrad has been due to his constant study and ambition to keep abreast with the advance in medical knowledge. Hardly a day passes in which he does not add something to his knowl- edge and experience by personal observation and study, and he has also taken three post-graduate courses, one in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, and one in the New York Post-graduate school, and another in the Harvard Medical College. At the present timne Dr. Conrad is giving special attention to internal medicine and diseases of children. For seven years his professional services were also directed to the public welfare as a member of the board of health and for four years he served as coroner of Madison county, having been elected on the Republican ticket.
Dr. Conrad has long been one of the Republican leaders in Madison county. From 1902 to 1906 he was chairman and secretary of the Republican County Central Committee, and in 1908 again became chair- man. Fraternally his relations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World, in both of which orders, he has numerous friends, as he has in all social circles of Anderson. The doctor, besides his professional activities, has interested himself in agriculture, being owner of a fine farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres in Anderson township.
In 1897 Dr. Conrad married Miss Charity L. Gwinn of Madison county, a daughter of Harvey Gwinn, an old resident and highly esteemed citizen. To Dr. and Mrs. Conrad has been born one daughter; Bernice E. Conrad. The present family residence is located at 2124 Meridian Street.
SILAS R. MAUZY. The career of Silas R. Mauzy, of Adams township, is illustrative of what may be accomplished by the man of energy and ·industry, for from small beginnings he has built up a business that has grown to such proportions as to give him the distinction of being the largest shipper of livestock in Madison county. Not only has he gained prestige in the business world, but in public life and social circles he has won equal prominence, and no man in his section stands higher in general public esteem. Mr. Mauzy was born on a farm in Rush county, Indiana, May 30, 1846, and is a son of Cornelius C. and Sarah (Gar- retson) Mauzy.
Silas V. Mauzy, the grandfather of Silas R. of this sketch, was born in Kentucky, and in young manhood came to Indiana with bis first wife, Rebecca Mauzy. After her death he returned to his native state and there married a Miss Barnes, and once more came to Indiana, settling in Rush county, where both passed away. Cornelius C. Mauzy was born in Kentucky, and was eight years of age when his mother died, he
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being reared by his step-mother in Rush county. After his marriage, which occurred in Rush county, he came to Madison county in 1852,- and settled on a farm in Adams township, there spending the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. He became one of the substantial men of his community, engaged in general farming and stock dealing, and at the time of his death was the owner of 192 acres of good land.
Silas R. Mauzy was six years of age when he accompanied his par- ents to Adams township, and here he secured his education in the dis- trict schools during the short winter months, his summers being given to the work on the home farm. Thus he became a thoroughly practical agriculturist and expert stock dealer, and the latter occupation he has made his life work. When he commeneed his operations were carried on on a modest scale, but gradually his business expanded, each year seeing him widen the scope of his dealings, until he is now justly acknowledged to be the largest handler of stock in Madison county, buying cattle in St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago, feeding them, and shipping them to the various markets all over the country. An idea of the extent of this enterprise may be gained from the fact that his business has run as high as $384,000 per annum. Mr. Mauzy is known as a skillful man of business, quick to grasp an opportunity, ever ready . and alert, but always fair and above-board in all his dealings. He has won the confidence of his associates and those who have had trans- actions with him, and his reputation is that of a man of business integ- rity and personal probity. He has invested his means wisely in land, owning 300 acres in Adams township, 140 acres being in the home farm. This has been developed into one of the valuable properties of Adams township and shows the care and good management which are expended upon it.
Mr. Mauzy was married first to Miss Lou Ann Gilmore, who died leaving one child: Fay, who became the wife of Woody Cooper, and is a graduate of the township schools. On July 3, 1592, Mr. Mauzy was married to Jerusha Biddle, who was born in Adams township, Madison county, Indiana, and is a sister of the Hon. Charles Biddle. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mauzy; Cophine, who is a graduate of the township schools and is now in her third year in the Pendleton High school.
Mr. Mauzy has taken a prominent part in fraternal work, and at this time is a popular member of Mechanicsburg Lodge Free and · Accepted Masons, Pendleton Chapter, Royal Areh Masons, No. 51, and Pendleton Council, R. & S. M. He also belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men, the Haymakers' Lodge, Active Lodge No. 746, Independ- .ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is past noble grand, Banner Lodge No. 416, Knights of Pythias, at Anderson, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he carries an insurance policy of $2,000. In his political belief he was, a Republican until the campaign, when he cast his fortunes with the new Progressive party. His interest in politics, however, is only that taken by every good citizen, as he has been too busy with his private affairs to enter the public arena. Good men and measures receive his hearty support, and he is justly consid- ered one of his section's representative, public-spirited citizens.
LEWIS JOHNSON. Prominent among the highly esteemed agricul- turists of Madison county who have won success through the medium of energy, industry and well-applied exertion, Lewis Johnson, of Adams
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township is deserving of more than passing mention in a work of this nature. He has been a lifelong resident of this township, and has witnessed and participated in the remarkable growth and development of its interests, which have changed it during this time from what was little more than a wilderness into one of the most flourishing and pros- perous sections of the Hoosier State. Mr. Johnson was born in Adams township, Madison county, Indiana, July 30, 1846, and is a son of James and Amanda (Johnson) Johnson.
James Johnson was born in Jackson county, Kentucky, and as a young man came to Madison county and located in Adams township, having a farm on Fall Creek, where he spent his entire life. Here he was married to Jane Johnson, who was born in Greenbrier county, Vir- ginia, and came to Madison county in 1835, and she died when Lewis Johnson was still a babe. Mr. Johnson, being thus deprived of mater- nal care, was reared to manhood by his maternal grandmother, and received his education in the district schools, although the greater part of his schooling in his youth was in the school of hard work. He was taught the numerous duties necessary for the good farmer to know, and when about twenty-one years embarked upon a career of his own, renting land, carrying on general farming, and engaging to some extent in cattle trading, which later occupation he has followed off and on during his entire career. Being sober, honest and industrious, he man- aged to accumulate enough money with which to purchase his first piece of property, and as the years have passed he has added to this from time to time, as his finances have permitted, and has erected new buildings and made other improvements on this land. This has resulted in the development of a handsome farm, the appearance of which shows its owner to be a man of intelligence and thrift, an able agriculturist and an experienced manager, while his sleek, well-fed cattle give evidence of his ability and good judgment in the line of stock raising. He has always been ready to embrace new ideas and methods, believes firmly in the use of modern machinery, and is justly considered one of the most progressive men of his section.
Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Martha A. Slaughter, who was born in Madison county, Indiana, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Fessler) Slaughter. The father was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and came to this county when he was eight years old. His father, John Slaughter, entered land from the government. Two children were born to James Slaughter and his wife, John, living in this county, and Martha, who became Mrs. Johnson. The Slaughters are an old pioneer family here. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson there have been born four daughters and two sons, as follows: Carey A .; Cora B .; Georgi- anna, a graduate of the Adams township public schools and the Pendleton High school, who also took a course in the State University and is now engaged in teaching in Adams township; Everett L., a graduate of the Pendleton High school and the State University, and also an Adams township school teacher; Stella, who has been given a good education, and now resides at home with her parents; and James L., who is engaged in farming in Adams township.
In fraternal circles, Mr. Johnson is known as a valued member of Ovid Lodge No. 164, Free and Accepted Masons. He is a man of broad and liberal views, tolerant of the opinions of others. By his own in- dustry he has won himself a competence and has reared a family that is a credit both to himself and to the community in which they are
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filling honorable places. Politically a Democrat, he has manifested a commendable interest in affairs that affect his community, and in addi- tion to serving as assessor and deputy assessor acted as door-keeper in the Fifty-third General Assembly of Indiana, in 1913. His wide circle of friends testifies to his popularity, in which his wife and children share.
AMOS UNDERWOOD. About the best means by which a man can estab- lish the highest credit for integrity and good citizenship, is to maintain a long residence in one locality, where all his neighbors know him under a great variety of circumstances, test his reliability and still continue to sustain him as a valued and valuable citizen. It is through this test that Amos Underwood has been judged one of the leading agriculturists of Adams township, while his reputation as a citizen is equally high. He is now the owner of a well-cultivated property, situated on the north- east one-quarter of section 31, where he has ever borne a reputation for integrity in business dealings and probity of character. Mr. Underwood was born March 20, 1858, in Hamilton county, Indiana, and is a son of John and Catherine (Thomas) Underwood.
Amos and Mary Underwood, the paternal grandparents of Amos Underwood, were natives of Pennsylvania, and some time after their marriage migrated to Clinton county, Ohio, where they spent the re- mainder of their careers in agricultural pursuits. They had children as follows: Amos, Reuben, Isaac, John, Zephaniah, Edward, William, Elisha; Percilla, Laura and Elihu, the last named of whom is still a resident of Clinton county, Ohio, and owns the old homestead place.
John Underwood, father of Amos of this review, was born in High- land county, Ohio, and was there married to Catherine Thomas, a native of Green county, that state. About the year 1852 they migrated to Hamilton county, Indiana, locating in Adams township, where they continued to reside until their deaths. In addition to farming, Mr. Underwood was a carpenter, a millwright and the proprietor of a mill, built the first steam sawmill in Adams township, and was always known as an industrious, energetic and successful man of business. He was a faithful member of the Friends Church. He and his wife had eleven children, as follows: Rebecca, who died in infancy; Mary E., who also died as a babe; Lydia, who is the widow of John C. Kassabaum; Reuben, who died at the age of seven years; Benjamin, who died in infancy ; Josephine, who became the wife of Charles Thistlethwaite; Percilla, who is the widow of Eli Hutchins; Harriet, who became the wife of Lenn Ragon; Amos; John T., who is married and a farmer; and Hannibal, who is deceased.
Amos Underwood was reared on his father's farm, and during his youth worked on the home place during the summer months, his educa- tional advantages being limited to occasional attendance at the district schools during the short winter terms. He was early put to work at farming, plowing, plainting, grubbing and harvesting, and the thousand and one things that are found to occupy the time of an Indiana farmer's son, thus thoroughly learning the duties of an agriculturalist which have been of such great benefit to him in later life. He also was employed in a tile mill in his youth, and after attaining his majority operated a mill of that kind for a period of five years.
Mr. Underwood was married June 14, 1888, to Alice M. Davis, who was born in Fall Creek township, Madison county, Indiana, February
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28, 1865, a daughter of Washington Davis and Mary Davis, and was educated in the Spring Valley school. To this union there have been born two children: John W., born March 24, 1892, a graduate of the common schools of Madison county, single, and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Adams township; and Mary C., born February 24, 1895, a gradute of the common schools and Pendleton High School, and now a student in Earlham College. Mrs. Underwood is a member of the Friends Church. Her husband is a member of Sicilian Lodge No. 234, Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and has been active in the ranks of his party in matters of local importance. In addition to his home farm in Adams township, he has a well-cultivated tract of eighty acres in section 27, Fall Creek township. As a general farmer and stock raiser, he has met with uniform success in his various operations, and is acknowledged to be a practical agriculturist and excellent judge of livestock. During his long residence here, he has made numerous friends, and no man stands higher in the general estecm of the community.
SAMUEL Q. MARKLE. During the past twenty years Adams town- ship has been the field of endeavor of Samuel Quincy Markle, a man of energy and push, who has been influential in business, political and social circles, and who has added materially to the growth and develop- ment of this section of Madison county. He belongs to one of the old and honored families of this part of the state, whose members have been noted for their honesty, their integrity, as well as for their promi- nent connection with commercial, agricultural and professional activities. As a worthy representative of this name, he is worthy of and receives the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
John Markle, the paternal grandfather of Samuel Q. Markle, was a native of New York State, and in young manhood came to Madison county, here becoming a pioneer farmer. He became well known to the citizens of this vicinity, arose to a position of prominence, and eventually the town was named in his honor, Markleville. Among his children was Samuel Markle, the father of Samuel Q. Samuel Markle followed in the footsteps of his father, taking up agricultural pursuits, and fol- lowed this vocation throughout a long and honorable career. He married Miss Ann Riggs, and they had a family of eleven children, of whom eight are living in 1913 : Laura, who became the wife of Mahlon Maine; Madeline, who is the wife of Jacob Swingle; Loretta, who married Jacob Keesling; Della, who became the wife of Harry Blake; Ella, the wife of D. Fesler; Quincy; James and Henry.
Samuel Quincy Markle, or Quincy Markle as he is better known, was reared on the farm of his birth, situated about one and one-half miles north of Markleville, and there received his education in the dis- trict schools. He was reared to the work of the home farm, and as was the custom of farmers' youths of his day and locality spent the long summer months in assisting his father and brothers on the home- stead, his opportunities for an education being limited to the short winter · terms in the nearby schools. He was ambitious and industrious, made the most of his chances, and thus acquired a good fund of practical knowl- edge. In 1892, with his three brothers, James, Henry and Albert, the last-named of whom is now deceased, he entered the sawmill business. None of the brothers at that time had much money to invest, but a small mill was purchased for $400, for a part of which sum they went into debt,
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and out of this humble beginning has grown the large enterprise that now bears their name. In addition to the large sawmill located near Markleville, they are now the owners of farms near that place, to the east, deal extensively in lumber, and have carried on much profitable contract work. Mr. Markle is recognized by his associates as a shrewd, astute man of business, with the ability to recognize an opportunity, the courage to grasp it, and the business capacity to carry it through to a successful termination. His career has been but another example of the successful business man coming from the farm, and through his achievements he has won the right to the title of self-made man.
In 1888, Mr. Markle was united in marriage with Miss Eva J. Van- Dyke, and to this union there have been born six children, namely : Merle, Oren, Florence, Agnes, Ward and Paul. Mr. Markle is a con- sistent member of the Baptist Church, which his wife and children also attend, and which all the members of the family have liberally supported. His fraternal connection is with Markleville Lodge No. 629, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has a number of warm friends. In his political views he is independent, believing in exercising his prerogative of voting for the man he deems best fitted for the office, irrespective of party lines. His interest in politics has been only that of a good citizen, but he has never withheld his support from any measure or movement which his judgment has told him will eventually work out for the better- ment of the community in which he has made his home all of his life. Adams township has no more representative or popular citizen.
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