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 33
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
On the 18th of January, 1881, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Mary C. Laffan, of Chicago. She died in 1890, leaving the following children : Rome H., Fred E. and Joe F. For his second wife Mr. Thompson married Mrs. Ida Beall McDowell, of Marion, a member of one of the old families of Grant county. Her father, George W. Beall. is a well known citizen. Mr. Thompson is prominent in Masonry, hav- ing taken all the degrees in the York Rite, and his affiliations are with Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M .; Anderson Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M .; Anderson Commandery, No. 32, K. T .; and Murat Temple. N. M. S., at Indianapolis. He also has affiliations with the Benevolent
588
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
and Protective Order of Elks in Lodge No. 209 at Anderson. The Thompson home in Anderson is at 120 West Seventh street.
GEORGE T. BEEBE. In the fall elections of 1912, when the voters of Madison county elected George T. Beebe to the office of county treas- urer, they voiced the expression of their confidence in his integrity, his absolute reliability and his ability to handle the affairs of one of Indiana's leading counties. It is generally found that the people of a community are not slow in recognizing true worth in an individual, and the man selected to handle the financial resources of a section is invariably one who has made a success in bis private affairs. In the case of Mr. Beebe there has been no exception to this rule, for his career has been one of earnest effort, concluding in well merited success, a success all the more commendable in that it has been entirely self gained. Mr. Beebe was born at Draw Bridge, Sussex county, Delaware. January 23, 1856. His father, John S. Beebe, was a native of Virginia and an early settler of Delaware, where for many years he was a pros- perous farmer. He married Miss Elizabeth Carey, a native of Dela- ware, and both are now deceased. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom lived to years of maturity.
George Thomas Beebe received his early education in the public schools of his native state, and in 1877 came to Madison county, Indiana, where for a time he was engaged in teaching school. Subsequently he became a student in a private preparatory school at Elwood, and after leaving there taught in the Elwood schools, but gave up his career as a teacher to become a telegraph operator in the employ of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. He continued in that office and as agent for the road for one year, and then became a bookkeeper for George Hart- ing, of Elwood, continuing with that gentleman for a short period. Coming then to Anderson, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Madison county, an office in which ne continued to serve for two years. At that time Mr. Beebe purchased his present abstract and title business from E. E. Hendcoe and Albert Small, and has since maintained his office in the Masonic Temple, where he has the most complete set of abstract books since the first settlement of Madison county. For a time Mr. Beebe served in the capacity of president of the Citizens Gas Company. He has interested himself actively and intelligently in whatever has affected his adopted city, and has steadily advanced to a place in public confidence. A Demoerat in politics, in 1912 he was the candidate of his party for the office of county treasurer, to which he was elected. and from his past record there is no doubt that he will be able to satis- factorily discharge the duties of his high position when he takes the reins of office on January 1, 1914. With his family he is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member and liberal supporter for the past thirty-five years. His popularity among all classes is general, and among the members of the Knights of Pythias in Anderson he has numerous warm friends.
In January, 1887, Mr. Beebe was married to Miss Florence Wright, born near Frankton, and to this union there have been born two daugh- ters. Helen E. and Rachel E. The elder daughter is a graduate of the Anderson high school and completed her education in the State University at Bloomington, Indiana. The younger daughter is attend- ing the Anderson high school. The pleasant family residence. at No. 830
589
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
West Eighth street, is located in one of the most exclusive residence sec- tions of the city.
ELIJAH POSEY MCMAHAN. Monroe township in Madison county is noted for its finely improved and productive homesteads, and one of these is occupied by Elijah Posey McMahan, who has lived in this county all his life, and has acquired exceptional energy and good busi- ness ability through his farming operations, and is one of the most pros- perous country residents of the county. He owns in his home place one hundred and sixty acres and has eighty acres in Boone township. Mr. McMahan has served as county commissioner of Madison county, and has for many years been an influential factor in his community.
Elijah Posey McMahan was born September 7, 1855, in Boone town- ship of Madison county, a son of Jesse and Lilly ( Williamson) Mc- Mahan. The paternal grandparents came from North Carolina in the early days, and in their family was Jesse McMahan, then a small boy. The latter was reared and spent all his active life in Madison county, and is well remembered among the old residents of this vicinity. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, namely: Elijah P .; Enoch W .; Mrs. Louisa Moore; James; Mrs. Martha Bear, who died leaving ten children ; Carolina, deceased; and Sam'I who died in infancy.
Mr. Elijah P. McMahan was born on the MeMahan farm. He grew up there. in the environments of Madison county, during the decade of the war, and as a boy was educated first in the Brunt schools, and later at the Union school. When twenty-one years of age he began his independent career as a renter, and subsequently bought his present farm. He has been successful from the start and has never lacked in means to provide for himself and family. Mr. MeMahan married Sarah A. Montgomery daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Thurston) Montgom- ery. Their nine children are mentioned as follows: Orville, who mar- ried Sarah Kirkpatrick and has two children, Wayne and Mildred; Myrtle, who married Hayes Webster, and their children are Cecil, Irene, Robert, Mabel and Jane; Lula, is the wife of J. C. Frazier, and their children are Lester, Jesse, Ruby, Victor, Opal, Fred and Grace; Emma, married James Crouse, and is the mother of Leo, William, Donald and Howard; Winnie, is the wife of Ran Allman; John, mar- ried Miss Olive Gwinn and has a daughter Isabelle; Grover is manager of the home farm; and the two youngest children were Marjorie, and Jessie, but the last named is now deceased.
As a farmer Mr. McMahan raises a large quantity of stock and also maintains a dairy, selling a great deal of milk to the dealers. For three terms he was elected county commissioner and during that time was instrumental in forwarding many improvements for the county. Mr. McMahan is a member of the Methodist church and his wife worships with the Baptist denomination.
WILLIAM L. SAVAGE. The manager of a well-improved farm of 120 acres, lying in Monroe township, William Savage is an able and worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Madison county, where he has spent his entire career. A member of the younger genera- tion of farmers, he has the hard-headed practicality inherited from a long line of agricultural ancestors, with which he combines the enthusi- asm of youth and the use of modern scientific methods and machinery. Mr. Savage was born on the old family homestead in Pipe Creek town-
...
590
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
ship, Madison county, Indiana, August 13, 1890, and is a son of Co- lumbus and Maggie (Peck) Savage.
The Savage family is known as one of the old and honored ones of Madison county, having been founded here by the great-grandpar- ents of William Savage, who came to Indiana from Vermont, the Green Mountain State, and here took up land from the government. Scipia Savage, the grandfather of William Savage, was born in the Green Mountain State, and was a child when brought to the newly opened section of Indiana. Here he married Nancy Beason, and settled down to agricultural pursuits, in which he was engaged during the remainder of his life. Columbus Savage was born in Pipe Creek township, Madi- son county, and followed in the foot-steps of his father and grandfather, adopting the tilling of the soil as a vocation. He has continued to fol- low this occupation throughout his career, and is now a well-known and substantial farmer of Boone township, where he owns a large tract of land. Columbus Savage was twice married, first to Miss Maggie Peck, and they were the parents of two children. The daughter, Nora- the elder, is deceased, and William L. is the subject of this review. The second marriage was with Miss Josina Benedict, and there were four children born of this union: Herman, Mary, Bernice, Vernice, but the youngest is deceased.
The early education of William Savage was secured in the public schools of Elwood, following which he became a pupil in the Duck Creek township schools, but subsequently returned to Elwood, where he completed his training. During this time he had been engaged in assisting his father in the work of the home place, and received a thor- ough training in all matters of an agricultural nature. At the time of his marriage, he embarked upon a career of his own, locating on a prop- erty on Alexandria Rural Free Delivery Route No. 1, in Monroe town- ship, and here he has continued to carry on general farming and stock raising operations with uniform success. He has kept fully abreast of the various changes and advancements made in his vocation, and has never been backward in adopting measures which have shown themselves to be of a beneficial nature. His intelligent management of his affairs has gained him prosperity, and a position of leadership among the younger farmers of his community.
On February 15, 1913, Mr. Savage was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Merrill, daughter of High and Mary Merrill. High Mer- rill was a machinist of Dayton, Ohio, who subsequently moved to Troy, Ohio, and thence to Hartford City, Indiana, where the last years of his life were passed. He was the father of three children: Blanche, Bessie and one who is now deceased.
Mr. Savage is a Republican in his political belief, but his connection with matters of a public nature has been somewhat limited. as he has been too busy with his agricultural operations to actively enter the political arena. However, good men and measures receive his hearty support, and he shows an active and intelligent interest in all that affects the welfare of his community. Fraternally, he is connected with the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men, in which he has many friends. With his wife, he attends the Christian church.
WELDON B. GORDEN. Since 1894, Weldon B. Gorden has been a resi- dent of section 3, Monroe township, where he is the owner of an excel- lent property of two hundred acres, lying on the Gorden Grove road,
591
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
about five miles north of Alexandria. During this time he has been connected with various enterprises of an agricultural nature, and has fairly earned the leading position which he occupies among the farm- ers of his locality. Mr. Gorden was born half a mile east of his pres- ent farm, October 18, 1859, and is a son of James and Susan (LaRue) Gorden.
Anderson Gorden, the paternal grandfather of Weldon B. Gorden, was born in North Carolina, from whence he removed to Wayne county, thence came to Putnam county and subsequently came to Madison county, where he became the first settler in section 10, Monroe township. Set- tling in the woods, he took up land from the government, cleared and developed a farm, and eventually became one of the substantial men of his community. James Gorden was also born in Wayne county and accompanied his parents to Madison county, here assisting his father in clearing his land, and, like him, becoming well known as a farmer and public-spirited citizen. He and his wife were the parents of nine children : Mary A., who is now Mrs. Leslie; Lydia E., who is deceased; Norman ; Louis; Harriet, who is now Mrs. Osborn; Albert and Colum- bus, who are deceased ; Weldon; and Catherine, who is now Mrs. Morris.
Weldon B. Gorden attended the public schools of Monroe township and Danville, and during the greater part of his boyhood and youth assisted his father in cultivating the homestead place. As a young man he went to Jefferson county, Nebraska, where he pursued a course of study in a German school for some time, and there embarked in busi- ness as the proprietor of a general store. In 1885 Mr. Gorden was en- gaged in a partnership in the conducting and editing of The Casey Banner, a weekly edition, of Casey, Illinois, and sold out in 1886 and went to Jetmore, Kansas, where he was engaged in the drug business, but in 1887, moved the stock of goods to Rocky Ford, Colorado. In 1894 he returned to Monroe township and resumed operations on the old home place, on which he has resided to the present time, his property being one of the best to be found in this section. The greater part of his attention has been devoted to general farming, but he has also met with success in stock raising ventures, and through honorable dealing has gained the reputation of being a man of the highest principles and strictest integrity. His connection with large enterprises has placed him upon a substantial footing in the commercial world, he having the distinction of being (as far as is known) the only man in Indiana who has ever purchased an entire town. During the survey of the Cleve- land & St. Louis Railroad, there sprang into being the town of Osceola, which grew rapidly as prosperity was promised by the advent of the railroad, until five hundred people were living at that point. Substan- tial buildings and residences were erected, and a postoffice located, this later being known by several other names, one of which was Mercury. The town was not considered of enough importance by the railroad, however, land values decreased, and the population diminished as rap- idly as it had grown. Mr. Gorden, realizing his opportunity for an advantageous transaction, succeeded in buying the entire town. He converted the land into valuable farming property, while the lumber of the structures here has been sold in small lots from time to time, and he is still the owner of a number of houses. which he is disposing of to neighboring farmers to be used as outbuildings.
On March 1, 1891, Mr. Gorden was married to Miss Lena Pickering, daughter of Corbley and Anna (Dyer) Pickering, and to this union
592
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
there have been born two sons: Irl W. and Kenneth P. Politically Mr. Gorden is a Republican and has always supported the policies of the party. Fraternally he is a member of the Linton Lodge of the K. of P., No. 146, located at Steele City, Nebraska.
PAUL ARMSTRONG, M. D. Among the members of the medical pro- fession in Madison county who have won merited distinction in their calling, Dr. Paul Armstrong, of Gilman, holds a prominent position. During his career he has been engaged in varied occupations in differ- ent parts of this and other countries, being known in Chicago, in Cali- fornia and in the gold fields of Alaska, and since his advent in Gilinan has identified himself actively with the various interests of this pros- perous and growing community. Dr. Armstrong was born in 1876, in Butler county, Ohio, and is a son of Dr. Alfonzo and Sarah (Ander- son) Armstrong.
Dr. Alonzo Armstrong was born in Indiana, and for forty years was engaged in the practice of medicine, until failing health caused his removal to California. Subsequently he came to Kewanna, Fulton county, Indiana, and here the remainder of his active career was passed. He and his wife were the parents of two children: Max, a graduate of the graded and high schools, who also took a course in the University of Chicago, and is now a practicing chemist of Gary, Indiana; and Paul. Dr. Armstrong first attended the public schools of his native state, following which he was engaged as an office boy with a large New York concern for three years, and at the end of that period accompanied his parents to California, where he completed his common school edu- eation. Returning to the middle West, he located in Chicago, where for three years he was engaged in the bicycle business. and then again went to California. During the gold rush that accompanied the dis- covery of that metal in Alaska, he became one of the courageous ad- venturers who fought their way over obstacles in search of fortune, and after one year returned to this country, having succeeded in accumulat- ing the means with which to pursue his medical studies. He had no doubt inherited his inelination for this profession from his father, and from boyhood it had been his ambition to become a physician, but cir- eumstances had been such that he was unable to realize his desire. After one year spent in the Louisville ( Kentucky) Medical College, he became a student at Barnes Medical College. St. Louis, Missouri, and was graduated with his degree from that institution with the elass of 1904. Following this, for a short period he was engaged in practice with his father at Kewanna, Indiana, and then came to Gilman, which place has since been the scene of his professional labors. He has been successful in building up a large and lucrative practice, his inherent skill, close application and sympathetic nature having drawn to him a representative professional business from all over this section. A eare- ful student, he has kept abreast of the advancements of his honored calling by subscription to the leading medical journals of the day, by membership in the various organizations of his vocation, and by exten- sive personal researchi.
In 1903 occurred the marriage of Dr. Paul Armstrong and Miss ยทยท Nettie Comer, the latter a native of Jasper county. Indiana. One child has been born to this union : John R., a bright and interesting lad now in his school period. Doctor and Mrs. Armstrong are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a progressive,
.
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FOUNTAIN
593
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
but his eommection with matters of a public nature has been confined to supporting those men and measures that he has believed have stood for the best interests of his community.
WILLIAM FOUNTAIN. In a history of the prominent and influential citizens of Madison county, William Fountain is eminently deserving of extended mention, for his well spent life, his agricultural ability, his loyalty to public duty and his fidelity in private life have all gained him a place among the leading residents of the community. Although he has passed the seventy-fifth milestone in life's journey, an age when most men would consider it their privilege to retire from activities, he still continues to discharge the daily routine of duties and to show a com- mendable interest in all that affects his township or its people. Mr. Fountain was born Mareh 3, 1838, near old Moss Island, just west of Anderson, Indiana, and is a son of George E. and Mary (Dodds) Foun- tain. His parents, natives of Queen Anne county, Maryland, came to Madison county and entered land in 1835, and here spent the remainder of their lives in making a home. They were the parents of eight chil- dren : Hester, Elizabeth and Edward, who are deceased; William ; James ; Washington and Matthew, who are deceased; and John, who was a Union Soldier in an Indiana volunteer infantry regiment and lost his life at Vicksburg during the Civil war.
William Fountain acquired his educational training in the schools of Anderson, dividing his boyhood between the school room and the home farm. He continued to assist his father until he attained his majority, at which time he embarked upon a career of his own, and in 1875 bought 140 acres of land in Anderson township, to which he has since added, now being the owner of 164 acres. He has made this one of the most valuable farms in the township, has erected substantial buildings, and is justly considered one of the representative men of his community.
On October 3, 1862, Mr. Fountain was married to Miss Susan Thomp- son, daughter of Lorenzo Thompson, and she died December 19, 1886, and was laid to rest at the Mooresville Cemetery. Five children were born to this union, as follows: Alonzo, educated in the old Pence school- house, and formerly engaged in farming, but for the past twenty years engaged in bridge contracting, lives in Petersburg, Ill .; Florence, who married Ira Ball, a Nebraska farmer, and has three children-Ora, Lottie and Fairy; Sylvia, deceased, who was the wife of Mellin Harri- son, and had one child; Lutha, who married Fred Noble and has one child, Nancy V .; Omie, who became the wife of Dolph Fuller, and has three children-Laura, Helena and Gordon; Walter, who was educated in Anderson township, and here married March 20, 1901, Nancy Odessie Noble, daughter of Andrew J. and Adeline (Nelise) Noble, and has three children-Leslie, Ethel and Effie.
With his family, Mr. Fountain attends the Christian church, in the work of which he has ever taken a prominent part. A life-long Demo- crat, he has served as supervisor of his township, and continues to mani- fest an interest in the success of his party. His life has been a long and useful one, and no citizen of his township stands higher in public esteem and confidence.
RUFUS ALBERT HOOVER, M. D. A rising young physician of Madi- son county, Rufus Albert Hoover, M. D., is busily engaged in the prae- tice of his profession in Orestes, where he is also serving most aecept-
594
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
ably as principal of the public school. He was born in North Carolina, but was brought up in Indiana, coming with his parents, to this state when he was a small child.
The Doctor's father, Thomas Hoover, was born, reared and mar- ried in . North Carolina. Coming with his family to Indiana, he set- tled in Hamilton county, where he spent his closing years of life, pass ing away in June, 1904. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Briles, died several years before he did, her death occurring in 1874. They were the parents of six children, namely : Mrs. Nancy Bolander; Mrs. Rachael Hoover; Andrew S .; Mrs. Margaret Halderman, who died December 15, 1901; Joseph L .; and Rufus A., with whom this brief sketch is chiefly concerned.
After his graduation from the high school in Sheridan, Hamilton county, Rufus A. Hoover taught school for awhile, and later continued his studies at the Indiana University, in Bloomington. Having then decided to enter the medical profession, he went to Chicago, where he took up the study of medicine and surgery at the Loyola University, also known as Bennett's Medical College, and was there graduated with the elass of 1911. Dr. Hoover subsequently spent a year in a Chicago hospital, where he gained practical knowledge and experience in his profession. In 1912 he located in Orestes, where he has since been actively engaged in his chosen work, and has likewise had charge of the Orestes School. He has been successful from the start, and deserves great credit for the position he has won as a teacher, a physician, a man, and a eitizen.
Dr. Hoover married July 14. 1911, Josephine Rambo, a native of Lapel, Indiana, and they have one child, Frances. Politically the Doc- tor is a Democrat; fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Sheridan, Indiana; and religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ROBERT W. THURSTON. One of Madison county's youngest stock- men, Robert W. Thurston has grown up in this county, and from his boyhood days was familiar with the town and the stock industry. He believes in farming as one of the greatest industries to which man can apply his energies, and his sueeess is almost a matter of course, since he was trained to the business in the same way that other young men are trained to enter professions or commercial lines. Mr. Thurston has the management of his father's large farm of three hundred and sixty seven acres in Monroe township.
Robert Thurston was born July 27, 1892, near Summitville, in Van Buren township, a son of Joseph Elmer and Anna ( Whitely) Thurston. Mr. J. E. Thurston, the father, is one of the best known citizens of Madison county, has lived here practically all his life, and has been a farmer, a road contractor and stock buyer. He and his wife are the parents of three children, namely: Robert, Marie and Walter.
Robert Thurston was born and reared in Madison county, attended the Summitville schools, and took a preparatory course in Alexandria, and then finished in the Fairmount Academy. On July 30, 1912, he married Miss Eva Davis. They have one child, Lois. Mr. Thurston is a member of the Christian church and his wife belongs to the Quaker denomination. Her parents were Joseph and Ellen (Dougherty) Davis.
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.