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 34
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
WILLIAM H. GOSSETT. One of the best known dealers in live stock in Madison county is William HI. Gossett, who has his home in Boone township, where he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres. He has spent. practically all his career in Madison county, has been known as a hard worker and good business man, and while accu- mulating a goodly share of material prosperity has likewise enjoyed and increased the esteem of the community for his excellent qualities of character and personalities.
William H. Gossett was born in 1853 in Highland county, Ohio, a son of William E. and Hannah Gossett. His father was also born in Highland county, was educated in the common schools, was a mechanic and carpenter, and in 1854 established his home in Madison county, Indiana. In this county, he worked at his trade of carpenter for a number of years, and lived both in Anderson and Alexandria. In later years he moved out to Missouri, and died at Odessa, in that state. His wife was born in West Virginia. and her death occurred in Odessa, Missouri. Their ten children are mentioned as follows: William H .; Eliza; David; Liddie; Emma; Alice; Charles; Marion; Oscar; Dora.
William H. Gossett was about one year of age when the family came to Madison county, and he was therefore reared and trained for his life work in this county. As a boy he attended the Smith Chapel School in Boone township, and finished his education in Alexandria, in the meantime having gone to school for one term in the Anderson city schools. When a boy he took up under his father's direction work as painter and carpenter, and up to the time he was eighteen years old was working as a contracting painter. He soon afterwards gave up his trade and began raising stock of all kinds, a vocation which he has made the basis of his active career. He has exceptional ability in this line, and is regarded as one of the best judges of live stock in Madison county. He conducts his fine farm in Boone township for the purpose of raising feed and providing quarters for his stock.
In 1877 Mr. Gossett married Emma Jones, a daughter of Elliott M. Jones. Their three children are: Walter, who married Gay Fox; Harry, who married Della Purdue, and their three children are Arthur, Donald and Fred; Blanch, who married Herman Markle, and has one child-Lola. Mr. Gossett is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men and the family worship in the Methodist church.
GEORGE W. JUDD. Left an orphan at the age of fourteen years, the boyhood and youth of George W. Judd, now a substantial farmer of Monroe township and the owner of 160 acres of land on the Elwood and Alexandria road, about three miles west of Alexandria, were any- thing but periods of inactivity. From the beginning of his career he has known the necessity of hard, industrious toil, and although he is now in comfortable circumstances because of this persevering toil, he continues to be one of the active and energetic men of his locality, alert not only in his personal affairs but in those of his community as well. George W. Judd was born on a farm in Adams township, Madi- son county, Indiana, March 18, 1852, and is a son of James and Mar- garet (Young) Judd. His father was a native of North Carolina and came to Madison county as a young man, locating first in Adams town- ship, where he owned a property. Here he continued to till the soil during the remainder of his career, and passed away when still in the prime of life. He married Margaret Young and they became the par-
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ents of two children: Emma, who became the wife of William G. Fesler, of Monroe township and she is now deceased; and George W. The Young family originated in Scotland, and was founded in Madison county by the father of Mrs. Judd, who located first in Ohio, later re- moved to Fayette county, Indiana, and came from there to Madison county, locating on a Monroe township property, where he died. Mr. Young married Jane MeLucas, and they became the parents of ten children, as follows: Malinda, Naney, Mary, one who is deccased, Rob- ert, John, George, William, Leroy and Margaret.
George W. Judd was three years of age when brought to Monroe township, and here received his education in the Orestes and Davis schools. He was fourteen years of age when his mother died, and at that time he went to live at the home of an unele, on whose farm he worked until becoming of age. He then engaged in farming with an uncle renting a small property until he had saved the means to pur- chase a forty-acre tract of land in Boone township, but two years later disposed of his interests there and returned to Monroe township, where he located on his present farm, formerly a part of the Nathan Lowry property. Here from time to time he has made valuable and substan- tial improvements to his land, machinery and buildings, and his resi- dence is a fine and modern one, having been crected but a few years ago. The excellent condition of his land testifies eloquently to his abil- ity as an agriculturist, and he has met success also in his stock raising ventures, his cattle commanding good prices. As a business man he is known to be possessed of the strietest integrity, and his connection with various large transactions has given him a firmly-established reputa- tion in the confidence of his fellow-citizens.
On February 8, 1880, Mr. Judd was married (first) to Miss Ella Black, who died February 10, 1882, and was buried in the Lily Creek cemetery. On July 9, 1892, occurred Mr. Judd's second marriage, when he was united with Miss Etta M. Moyer. To this union there have been born two children: Everett and Mary, both graduates of the Orestes High school and now living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Judd are faithful members of the Disciples of Christ, and have been liberal in their support of movements inaugurated by the Christian church. Mr. Judd holds membership in the Madison County Horse Thief Association.
HOMER E. HOWARD. A substantial and prosperous citizen of Madi- son county, Homer E. Howard, now engaged in farming in Van Buren township, was for many years identified with the mercantile interests of this part of the county, having been one of the leading druggists of Summitville. He was born September 16, 1872, in Ross county, Ohio, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Robert C. Howard.
At the age of twenty-five years Robert C. Howard migrated from his Ohio home to Indiana, locating first in Delaware county, where for five years he was engaged in business as a general merchant. Coming to Madison county in 1879, he changed his occupation, and for several years was a large and successful stock buyer and lumber dealer. He now owns one half of the farm on which his son, Homer, is living, but has nothing to do with its management. He married while a resident of Ohio Ernestine Thomas and into the household thus established two children were born, namely: Homer E., the subject of this sketch; and Edward R., who married Nora Duff, and has two children, Duff and Vaughn. Mr. Howard's mother, Mrs. Ernestine (Thomas) Howard,
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died July 2, 1876, and the father wedded Miss Dora E. Paden and to that marriage were born five children of whom three are living at pres- ent: Emmett L., a resident of Brownsville, Texas; Ralph P., residing in the same city ; and Charles W., a resident of Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Howard, the mother of these children, died January 10, 1914, and we herewith quote from a local publication concerning her life and noble deeds :
"A brief bit of history concerning the life of Sister Howard, quite inadequate, to be sure. Time and space will not permit but a few brief words but eternity will reveal it all, and in a more perfect way.
"The one thing we know-she has been a great sufferer, but bore it all patiently, and gave evidence, time after time, that her trust and confi- dence was in God.
"Dora E. Howard, daughter of Elijah and Catherine Paden, was born near Hillsborough, Illinois, Montgomery county, on the Sth day of February, 1851, and went home on the 10th day of January at 4:30 in the afternoon, 1914. She was married to Robert C. Howard at the age of 27, and came to Indiana, and has made this home since that time. To Brother and Sister Howard God gave five children, two went home before their mother. Three sons and two step-sons are left to think of and grieve for mother. She leaves one brother, who lives at Hillsborough, Illinois, and a sister, Mrs. Alfred Swindell, who lives at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, but is now here with her husband.
"Sister Howard was converted when a child and united with the Presbyterian church. After coming to Indiana she united with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and was a charter member of the Waluut Street M. E. church, of Summitville. She was a faithful member and worker in the church for many years, and until her health was so impaired that she could not. Her heart was in the work-she loved the church. To sumn it all up: She has lived a life, her battles are fought, her victories are won, a character finished, a judgment awarded, a conflict ended. She is gone. She has left a tender, kind-hearted, loving, sympathetic husband, one who did all a husband could do for a sick wife, and whose tender hands were administering to her when she slipped away. Her memory will stay close, and her spirit will administer until we join her in the paradise of God."
Acquiring his elementary education in the Zion School, of Delaware county, Indiana, Homer E. Howard completed his studies at Summit- ville, Indiana. In 1895, in partnership with his brother, Edward R., Mr. Howard established himself in the drug business in Summitville, and continued it successfully for a period of sixteen years. While there he took an active interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare, and had the distinction of putting in the Summitville Electric Light and Water Works, and of installing the first telephone line in that place. About five years ago Mr. Howard assumed possession of the 185-acre farm owned by his father and himself, and has since car- ried on general farming in a most satisfactory manner.
On April 26, 1905, Mr. Howard was united in marriage with Mary Paulin, daughter of Jesse J. and Frederica (Brunni) Panlin. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children. namely: Paul E., Frederick B. and Robert, deceased. Politically Mr. Howard is a Democrat; fraternally he belonged to the Knights of Pythias, Gas Belt No. 361. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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JOHN C. YULE. A resident of Alexandria since 1899, when he came to this city to enter the employ of the Alexandria Paper Com- pany, John C. Yule has been closely identified with the business inter- ests of this flourishing commercial center during the past fifteen years and has fairly won the right to be named among those who have aided in this locality's advancement. As sales manager for these mills, Mr. Yule has greatly extended the scope of the company's business and as a citizen his adopted community has found in him one who has had its best interests at heart. He was born at Holland Landing, Province of Ontario, Canada, on May 4, 1872, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Watson) Yule. His father, who still resides in Canada, is an employe of the English government and a well-known official of his community. Five children were borne to Andrew and Mary ( Watson) Yule, namely : Watson, John C., Edwin Watson, E. B. and Walter S.
The early education of Mr. Yule was secured in the public and high schools of Aurora, and subsequently this was supplemented by a course in a commercial college in the city of Toronto. Following his graduation therefrom, he adopted the profession of educator, and for several years was engaged in teaching school in Canada, but in Jan- uary, 1893, migrated to the United States, and for three years was engaged in railroading in Wisconsin. He next identified himself with the National Bank of Neenah, Wisconsin, but after four years went to Dallas, Texas, and was there connected with a publishing house until 1899, when he came to Alexandria, Indiana, to enter the employ of the . Alexandria Paper Company, of which his brother, Edwin Watson Yule, is secretary and treasurer. He at once, joined the selling force of. this venture and his success in popularizing the company's products gained him steady advancement until now he is capably filling the responsible position of sales manager, being at the head of an able, well-trained corps of salesmen, who under his direction have made this one of the leading concerns of its kind in the State. He is pos- sessed of marked executive ability and to this has been added a pro- gressive spirit and modern methods of attracting business that have caused him to be recognized as one of the leading men of his calling in the Middle West.
Mr. Yule was married (first) December 15, 1897, to Miss Dora Rynerson, who died February 2, 1899, leaving one child, Byron. His second marriage occurred May 14, 1903, when he was united with Miss Grace J. Crouse, of Alexandria, daughter of Jacob S. Crouse. Three children have been born to this union: George E., Mary E. and John C., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Yule are consistent members of the Chris- tian church, and have been liberal in their support of religious and char- itable movements. He enjoys the privileges of membership in the local lodge of the Masonie fraternity.
EDWIN WATSON YULE. One of the important factors in the busi- ness life of Alexandria, and an enterprise which has added materially to the prestige of this city as a manufacturing center, is that of the Alexandria Paper Company, which was founded here in July, 1900. Much of the success of this enterprise may be accredited to the efforts of its capable and popular secretary and treasurer, Edwin Watson Yule, whose location here occurred simultaneously with that of the business and who has become widely known in manufacturing circles. Mr. Yule is a Canadian, having been born in the Province of Ontario,
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in 1874, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Watson) Yule, the former still a resident of the Dominion and an employe of the British govern- ment. There were five children in the family : Watson, John C., Edwin Watson, E. B. and Walter S.
Edwin Watson Yule received his preliminary educational training in the publie schools of Ontario, following which he took a course in a commercial college in the city of Toronto. Being well trained in stenog- raphy, he seeured a position with a manufacturing concern at Aurora, Ontario, in the employ of which he remained four years, and succeeding this he spent one year with a like business at Mount Forrest, Ontario. Mr. Yule came to the United States to enter the services of a paper manufacturing concern of Menasha, Wisconsin, in connection with which, two years later, he came to Alexandria, and assisted in the establishment of the Alexandria Paper Company. He has continued to be identified with this business to the present time and through marked ability has risen to his present position, that of secretary and treasurer of this im- portant enterprise. In the management of the affairs of this business, Mr. Yule has displayed the possession of those qualities which make for success in any of the walks of life-shrewdness, versatility, perseverance and elose application, and among his associates he is recognized as one to whom they may look for advice and leadership. He is essentially a business man and has never cared for the activities of the public arena, but has found diversion in fraternal circles as a valued member of the local lodge of Elks.
On July 17, 1902, Mr. Yule was married to Miss Georgina Lemon, who was also born in Canada, a daughter of George and Sophia (Meek) Lemon. They have no children. Mr. Yule is a member of the Chris- tian church and Mrs. Yule of the Episcopal church, and they have numer- ous friends in their congregations. The family home is located at Alexandria.
JOSEPH DRAPER. In the eighty-fifth year of his life, Joseph Draper. whose home is in what is known as Scotts addition, and who is the owner of a section of land in Monroe township, is one of the venerable old men of Madison county, has been a farmer, has grown many thousands of bushels of corn and wheat and other grain erops during his career, and his record is one of which his family and fellow citizens may well be proud. Joseph Draper was born December 17, 1828, in South Hamp- ton, Virginia, the old Dominion state, a son of Thomas and Mary (Turner) Draper. Thomas Draper was also born in that section of Virginia, but his father, Ephraim Draper, came from England in colo- nial days, and located in Virginia. Thomas Draper, after all his chil- dren had been born in Virginia, moved out to Ohio, settling near Can- ton, and later moved to Rush county, Indiana, which was his home until his death. His ten children are mentioned as follows: Loren E., Ephraim W., John E., Thomas J., deceased; Joseph ; Martha, Edna, Mary and Marcella, deceased; and Margaret, who lives in Hancock county, Indiana.
Joseph Draper when a boy came to Indiana, and had his education in the common schools during the days before the modern free school system was adopted in Indiana. He worked on the farm and remained with his father up to the age of thirty-one. He then farmed his father's place for a while, was a renter and worked at wages, beginning at the Vol. II-16
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lowest rung of the ladder of life, and finally got the start which enabled him in later years to acquire a generous prosperity.
In 1855 he married Nancy Ewing, now deceased and buried in Knightstown, Indiana. He came from Kentucky and lived in Rush county up to the time of his marriage. In 1858 Mr. Draper married Elizabeth Stephens, who was born in Rush county and is buried in the Baptist cemetery of that vicinity. She was the mother of one child, Isaac S. Draper, who died at the age of fourteen. On June 15, 1862, Joseph Draper married for his third wife Annie Siler, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Reddick) Siler, and her parents were among the early settlers of Indiana. The four children of Joseph Draper and his third wife, are as follows: Mary E., who married Grant Stephenson, and has four children whose names are Effie, the wife of Roy Ladd : Lela, wife of Walter Jackson; Edith; and Mattie. Mrs. Effie Ladd has a child, Anna Kathlene, who is a great-grandchild of Joseph Draper. Martha, the second of the children. married William Blake, and is the mother of six children, Estel, Earl, Ernest, Anna, Minnie and "Little Joe." Peter T. married Elizabeth Thurston, and their two children are Arthur and Joc. John Wesley married Minnie Fuller, and they have one child. Zoe. Mr. Draper and family worship in the Christian church. "Uncle Joe" and his dear old wife live in a comfortable resi- dence in East Alexandria, enjoying the association of legions of friends. They are a peaceful and happy couple and are honored by all who know them.
ANDREW BERG. One of the prosperous farmers of Monroe township. a man who has been the architect of his own fortunes, and from a begin- ning without capital has become the possessor of a good home, Mr. Bere has spent most of the years of his active life in Madison county, and is one of the highly respected citizens of his home township.
Andrew Berg was born November 1, 1860, in Hamilton county. In- diana, a son of David and Elizabeth (Kauffman) Berg. The father came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, locating in Wayne county, Indiana, where he spent his life as a farmer. The brothers and sis- ters of Mr. Berg are as follows: Christian; Mary, deceased; John; Levi; Samuel; David ; Benjamin, deceased ; and Elizabeth, also deceased.
Mr. Andrew Berg attended school in Hamilton county, and whil .. going to school worked on the home farm, and was well equipped for his life work by the time he had completed his education and attained his majority. At the age of twenty-one he began as a renter and con- tinued in that way until he bought the forty-acre farm on which he now lives in Monroe township of Madison county. He raises good erops. and is especially interested in hogs, and he has some of the best exam- ples of the Duroc swine in Madison county. Mr. Berg is also a carpenter by trade and has built several houses and barns in Madison county, and has erected his own buildings.
June 26, 1882, he married Miss Maggie Stephenson, a daughter of William R. and Lucinda Stephenson. They are the parents of four children, namely : Eva, deceased; Grace, who married Bert Bertram. and has one daughter, Geneva; Alvie, who married Jessie Hammond: and Raymond, at home. All the children have been through school. and Mr. and Mrs. Berg have taken pains to educate them and fit theit as well as possible for their individual careers. The family worship
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in the Methodist church. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Berg is known as "Cottage Lawn Farm.'
WILLIAM F. WILSON. One of the largest land owners in Monroe township, William F. Wilson, has accumulated his vast holdings by steady industry and hard, unremitting labor, and his career furnishes an excellent example of the self-made manhood which has proved such an important factor in the development of this prosperous section of the Hoosier State. His farin at present consists of 426 acres, lying on the Muncie and Alexandria pike, about two and one-half miles east of Alexandria, and this he devotes mainly to the raising of stock, with the dairy business as a side line. Mr. Wilson was born on his father's farm in Monroe township, Madison county, Indiana, July 5, 1868, and is a son of James L. and Margaret ( Bushy) Wilson.
After attending the public schools of Monroe township, Mr. Wilson took a course in an Iowa college, in which his brother, a well-known educator, was at that time one of the tutors. As a lad he began his agricultural training, and during his entire school period spent his vacations and other spare time in working on the homestead, and when he had reached his majority became his father's partner in farming ventures, continuing with the elder man for fourteen years. In com- pany with him he purchased forty acres in the vicinity in which he now lives, and Mr. Wilson subsequently bought his father's interest in this property, and following that was engaged in various land transactions, constantly adding to his property. As his finances permitted, he erected buildings of a substantial character and bought new machinery, and his stock raising operations assinned large proportions. Untiring industry and close application to every detail of his vocation have been the priee paid by Mr. Wilson for his success, and in the meantime he has firmly established himself in the confidence of the community as a man of strict integrity and honorable dealing.
On March 16, 1893, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Vienna Carver, daughter of William Carver, whose family came to Madison county from Fayette county, Indiana. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: An infant, deceased: Everett,' Orval, Morris, Angeline and Cassie. The children have all been given good educational advantages and have wide social connections in Alexandria. With his wife and family, Mr. Wilson attends the Christian church, and has been liberal in his support of its movements. Essentially a farmer, with wide and varied interests, he has never found time to enter actively into public affairs, although he endeavors to support good men and movements and to advance the cause of education and good citizenship. Republican candidates and principles have always received his vote.
HOMER B. JONES. On the Anderson road, just outside the village of Florida, in Lafayette township, there is situated a fine rural home- stead of Homer B. Jones. This is a place of two hundred acres, of fine land, and with such improvements as are familiarly associated with modern high-class agriculture. The owner is a progressive young farmer citizen of Madison county, and a representative of the second generation of a family which had been identified with this county for many years.
Homer B. Jones was born on the farm which he now occupies on
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November 6, 1882, a son of John L. and Sallie (Lowman) Jones. His father, John L. Jones, was a large land owner and an extensive farmer of this county. His family of four children were as follows: Minnie Ragan; Bertha, deceased; Homer B .; and Dale. The father moved from his farm to Anderson about seven years ago and died about three years ago. Since then the mother has returned to the country and now resides with her son Dale at Florida. Her son, Dale, who is also a student of Purdue University, has a little place of ten acres, adjoining Florida, and operates that as a small farm.
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