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 36
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Mr. R. F. Etchison was born April 20, 1871, a son of Stephen and Charity Jane Etchison, both now deceased. Stephen Etchison was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and moved to Madison county, where he was a farmer and honored resident for many years. There were fourteen children in the family, and the four boys now living are William and Walter C., both of Oklahoma, and Albert, a resident of Saskatchewan, Canada, and R. F. Etchison.
As a boy Mr. R. F. Etchison attended the common schools and his home throughout his career has been on the farm of his present resi- dence. After completing his education, he took up regular duties of farming, and on the death of his father he assumed entire management of the estate. He and Albert subsequently bought out the interest of the other heirs in the farm, and Mr. R. F. Etchison has since then acquired individual ownership of the excellent farm, which is his present home. He married Miss Eldora Leeman. Their two children are Chandos Leone and Meredith. In polities Mr. Etchison is a Democrat. On his farm he raises stock and the usual agricultural erop of this sec- tion, and by his thrift and industry is winning a substantial place for himself and family.
OLIVER H. STOKER. Situated on the Stoker Road about two and a half miles from Elwood is the well improved and prosperous rural home of Oliver H. Stoker, who has made an excellent account of his time and energy as a Madison county farmer, and has one of the best improved farm estates in Pipe Creek township. The farm, most of which belonged to his father, and has been in the possession of the Stoker family for a great many years, consists of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent soil, and Mr. Stoker devotes it to mixed farming, raising first class stock, and the various agricultural crops of this county.
Oliver H. Stoker was born on this same farm, February 18, 1870, a son of William R. and Mary (Canaday) Stoker. The late William R. Stoker, well remembered among the sterling citizenship of Madison county for many years, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and was a boy when brought to Madison county. He had some schooling in his native state and finished in Indiana. He came to Madison county in company with his parents, James and Rebecca Stoker. James Stoker, the grandfather of the Pipe Creek farmer first named, was thus the founder of the family fortunes in this part of Indiana. William R. Stoker and wife were the parents of three children. Oliver H., Martha, married Richard MeClure, and their two children were named Edna and Howard. The third was William Franklin Stoker, now deceased. Up to the time of his death he owned and occupied the farm adjoining his
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brother's Oliver H. William F. Stoker married Catherine Higbee, and they were the parents of two children.
Oliver H. Stoker as a boy attended the old Canaday school, which was a familiar institution of the neighborhood in which he was reared, and completed his education in the Frankton public school. While going to school he had his share of the farm duties, and after the death of his father he and his brother joined in the management and conduct, of the home estate, which was a place of two hundred acres but increased to three hundred and twenty acres. When his brother died the farm was divided and Mr. Oliver H. Stoker now owns one hundred and sixty acres, and is giving it his best efforts and is prospering probably as well as any fariner in this section of the county.
On September 19, 1901, Mr. Stoker married Miss Jennie Antle, daughter of George W. and Wilhelmina ( Euble) Antle. Her father was a farmer, and owned a good homestead near Elwood. Mr. and Mrs. Stoker were the parents of four children. Their names are: Mildred Naomi, Thelma Hortense, Halden A. and Benjamin Franklin. Frater- nally Mr. Stoker is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a Repub- lican voter.
J. L. WEBSTER PECK, M. D. Practicing medicine at Frankton since 1895, Dr. Peck has one of the best country practices in Madison county, and by his success and individual character and ability is a credit to the present medical fraternity of this county. He came here soon after leaving medical college, and after proving his skill and gaining the confidence of the community has always enjoyed a liberal share of its patronage and stands high both as a doctor and citizen.
J. L. Webster Peck was born in Howard county, Indiana. a son of William and Sarah ( Foland) Peck. The father and mother were both natives of Hamilton county, and William Peck gave his life to the min- . istry of the Methodist church. The five children in their family were named Maggie A .; Jennie, deceased; Ethleen, deceased; Halsie, de- ceased; and Dr. Peck.
Owing to the fact that his father's ministry required frequent removal of residence, Dr. Peck spent his boyhood in a number of dif- ferent localities in Indiana, and ten ded various schools in the course of his educational career. He was a student in the high school at Hagers- town, spent two years in the DePauw University, and was graduated in medicine at Indianapolis. In 1895 he located at Frankton, and has since had his office in this town.
On January 10, 1900. Dr. Peck married Mary A. Prosser, daughter of Emanuel and Susan Prosser. The four children born to their mar- riage are Earl P., William L., Alice Beatrice and Mary Vivian. The doctor belongs to the Madison county and the State Medical Societies, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his family worship in the Methodist church.
THE HOOSIER POET (By J. L. F.). JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY, born in Greenfield, Hancock county, Indiana. where he was reared, educated, and spent his boyhood days, is entitled to a place in the history of Madison county.
Mr. Riley for several years made his home in Anderson, where he was connected with the local press as reporter on the Anderson Domo-
JAMES W. RILEY
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crat. This was while Todysman and Croan were its publishers, 1876-80. During this period Mr. Riley began to develop as a local poet.
His first production that gave him "a name" was "Leonainie," a supposed unpublished poem by Edgar Allen Poe, which had for years been lost, and found among his papers. Mr. Riley had this poem pub- lished in the Kokomo Dispatch. The editor of the Anderson Herald, who had on many occasions belittled Riley's pretensions as a poet, gave large space to its publication, and great praise to its sentiment, oblivious to the fact that it was from Riley's pen. When the secret was out and the world gave praise to the author, his old-time critic. joined in the procession and helped to make Riley a real poet.
Mr. Riley's genial disposition and plebian ways made him a favorite in Anderson. The "devil" in the printing office was as close to him as the editor. The man on the street was treated as cordially as the "nabob" of the city. A man possessed of such qualities could not be other than a favorite. His verses demonstrate that his heart-throbs are with the common folk.
Madison county does not elaim Riley as a native son, but glorifies in the fact that he once lived within its bounds. Mr. Riley has sung the songs that reach the heart. But few men live to hear and see what esteem is placed upon them by their fellowmen. This distinction Riley has enjoyed. The writer believes that a flower placed in the hands of the living, or a good word spoken to a friend, is worth more than a moun- tain of bouquets placed upon his bier, and therefore gives place in this work to Mr. Riley's face and one of his dearest compositions.
OUT TO OLD AUNT MARY'S
Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine, In those old days of the lost sunshine
Of youth-when the Saturday's chores were through, And the "Sunday's wood" in the kitchen, too, . And we went visiting, "me and you," Out to old Aunt Mary's?
"Me and you"-and the morning fair, With the dewdrops twinkling everywhere; The scent of the cherry-blossoms blown - - After us, in the roadway lone, Our capering shadows onward thrown- Out to old Aunt Mary's !
It all comes back so elear today ! Though I am as bald as you are gray,- Out by the barn-lot, and down the lane We patter along in the dust again, As light as the tips of the drops of the rain, Out to old Aunt Mary's.
The few last houses of the town ; Then on, up the high creek-bluffs and down; Past the squat toll-gate, with its well-sweep pole; The bridge, and the old "babtizin'-hole," Loitering, awed, over pool and shoal, Out to Old Aunt Mary's.
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We eross the pasture, and through the wood, Where the old gray snag of the poplar stood Where the hammering "red-heads" hopped awry, And the buzzard "raised" in the "clearing" sky And lolled and circled, as we went by Out to old Aunt Mary's.
Or, stayed by the glint of a redbird's wings, . Or the glitter of song that the bluebird sings, All hushed we feign to strike strange trails, As the "big braves" do in the Indian tales, Till again our real quest lags and fails --- Out to old Aunt Mary's .-
And the woodland echoes with yells of mirth That make old war-whoops of minor worth,- Where such heroes of war as we ?- With bows and arrows of fantasy, Chasing each other from tree to trec Out to old Aunt Mary's!
And then in the dust of the road again : And the teams we met, and the countrymen ; And the long highway, with sunshine spread As thick as butter on country bread, Our cares behind, and our hearts ahead Out to old Aunt Mary's .-
For only, now, at the road's next bend To the right we could make out the gable-end Of the fine old Huston homestead-not Half a mile from the sacred spot ' Where dwelt our Saint in her simple cot- Out to old Aunt Mary's.
Why, I see her now in the open door Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o'er The clapboard roof !- and her face -- ah, me! Wasn't it good for a boy to see -- And wasn't it good for a boy to be Out to old Aunt Mary's ?-
The jelly-the jam and the marmalade. And the cherry-and quince-"preserves" she made! And the sweet-sour pickles of peach and pear, With cinnamon in 'em, an all things rare !- And the more we ate was the more to spare, Out to old Aunt Mary's.
Was there, ever. so kind a face And gentle as hers, or such a grace Of welcoming, as she cut the cake Or the juicy pies that she joyed to make Just for the visiting children's sake -- Out to old Aunt Mary's.
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The honey, too, in its amber comb One only finds in an old farm-home; And the coffee, fragrant and sweet, and ho! So hot that we gloried to drink it so, With spangles of tears in our eyes, you know- Out to old Aunt Mary's.
And the romps we took, in our glad unrest !- Was it the lawn that we loved the best, With its swooping swing in the locust trees, Or was it the grove, with its leafy breeze, Or the dim hay-mow, with its fragrances -- Out to old Aunt Mary's.
Far fields, bottom-lands, creek-banks --- all We ranged at will-where the waterfall Laughed all day as it slowly poured Over the dam by the old mill-ford, While the tail-race writhed and the mill-wheel roared- Out to old Aunt Mary's.
But home, with Aunty in nearer call, That was the best place, after all !--- The talks on the back-porch, in the low Slanting sun and the evening glow, With the voice of counsel that touched us so, Out to old Aunt Mary's.
And then, in the garden-near the side Where the bee-hives were and the path was wide,- The apple-house-like a fairy cell -- With the little square door we knew so well, And the wealth inside but our tongues could tell- Out, to old Aunt Mary's.
And the old spring-house, in the cool green gloom Of the willow trees-and the cooler room Where the swinging shelves and the crocks were kept, Where the cream in a golden languor slept, While the waters gurgled and laughed and wept- Out to old Aunt Mary's.
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And as many a time have you and I- Barefoot boys in the days gone by -- Knelt, and in tremulous ecstacies Dipped our lips into sweets like these, -- Memory now is on her knees Out to old Aunt Mary's.
For, O my brother so far away, This is to tell you-she waits to-day To welcome us :- Aunt Mary fell Asleep this morning, whispering-"Tell The boys to come." And all is well Out to old Aunt Mary's.
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JAMES O. LEE. As cashier of the Frankton Bank since 1902, Mr. Lee has had the executive direction of an institution that plays a very im- portant part in the local business activities of this section of Madison county, possessing much influence both as a citizen and as a man of business. Mr. Lee has earned his place as a result of high ability and through steady attention to business since leaving college, and has ac- complished a great deal of worthy work since he entered upon his active career.
James O. Lee was born in 1870, on the nineteenth day of Septem- ber, in Hamilton county, Indiana, near Perkinsville. His parents were Luther and Ella (Dewitt) Lee. The father, also a native of Hamilton county, was a merchant by occupation and was also engaged in the canning business at Perkinsville. The three children in his family com- prised James O., Frank and Claude. James O. Lee first attended the schools in Perkinsville, was then' in the Normal College at Danville, spent the years 1890-91 at DePauw University, and was graduated with honors at Lexington. Kentucky. During eleven years of his active life, both during and subsequent to his college days, he was engaged in teaching school. Another honor that came to him in early life was that of appointment as chief journal elerk in the Indianapolis Legislature, a position which he held for one year. He became identified with the milling business at Frankton and was connected with the establish- ment until the plant was destroyed by fire. He entered the Frankton Bank in October, 1902, since which time he has been cashier, and practically the manager of the affairs of the bank.
On December 27, 1893, Mr. Lee was married to Miss Luella Wise, daughter of William II. Wise of Perkinsville. They have two children, Mabel and Wilbur, both of whom are now attending school in Frankton.
Fraternally Mr. Lee is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was re- cently a candidate for the office of county clerk on the Republican ticket, and is known for one of the young leaders of that party in Madison county. He is a Methodist in his religious affiliation, and he and his family worship in that church.
- GEORGE WASHINGTON BAKER. Since 1880 a resident of Madison county, Mr. Baker has resided on his present farm for the past 13 years, and is one of the capable men whose industry and energies are each year adding to the substantial wealth and prosperity of Madison county. Mr. Baker's homestead is situated six miles northeast of Elwood in Pipe Creek township.
George W. Baker was born in 1854 on the tenth of March, in Dear- born county, near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a son of John and Senor (Moore) Baker. The father was born in southern Indiana, and his death occurred in Ripley county, where he was buried. The children in the family were as follows: George W .; Rachael; Harvey, also a resident of Madison county; James; and Ida, who is now the widow of Chas. Baxter.
George Washington Baker as a boy attended school in Ohio and Ripley counties, Indiana, completing his education in the latter county. While going to school he worked on a farm and has always known and experienced the value of industry and good honest work. In 1880 he moved to Madison county, and in 1892 had progressed so far as an independent farmer and business man that he bought his present estate.
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On November 21, 1878, Mr. Baker married Miss Sarah Rigor, a daugh- ter of Andrew and Harriet (Humphrey) Rigor. Her father was born in Kentucky and came to Decatur county, Indiana, when a young man, and brought up his family on a farm. There were eight children in the Rigor family, namely: Hannah, deceased; Sarah, Mrs. Baker; Joshua; Wesley ; Permela; Lula; Amy, deceased; and Leonard. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of four children, who are named as follows: Clifford, who is married and a resident of Canada, and has three children, George, Ruth and Lois; Floy, the wife of William Hoop; John, in high school at Elwood; and Vere, who graduated from the grade schools. Mr. Baker has given all his attention to general farm- ing and stock raising and has each year put back a large share of his profits in improvements which in the course of time have made his estate one of the best and most valuable in this locality. He has a .large and commodious barn for the shelter of his grain and stock, and all his implements and facilities are in keeping with modern agricul- ture. Mr. Baker is not only a progressive farmer, but also a progress- ive in politics, having adopted the new principles and policies first formulated in a campaign platform in 1912. He and his family are members of the Friends church located in Pipe Creek township.
ASBURY M. MOORE. A retired farmer now making his home at 2020 E. Main street in Elwood, Mr. Moore is one of the estimable members of Madison county citizenship. He has had a career of industrious and profitable farming and early in life adopted the vocation of culti- vating the soil as the most important labor of man. While not actively engaged in producing the crops of the soil he still owns a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, situated on the county line road about three and a half miles south of Elwood.
Mr. Moore is known among his friends and associates as a gentle- man of high standing. He was born in Tipton county, Indiana, April 21, 1860, a son of Joseph and Angeline (Armfield) Moore. The father was a native of Wayne county, Indiana. He moved to Madison county in 1836 and was one of the old families which located in that section of the county. There were only two sons and the other is Azro F. Moore, now a druggist in Tipton. Mr. Moore as a boy attended the Darrow schools, and finished his education in the Tipton high school.
He began his career by working as a farm laborer, at monthly wages, and also worked for his father for several years. He finally bought out the interest of his brother in the home farm, and during the suc- ceeding years gradually acquired an excellent property which has proved a competence. Besides his fine farm above mentioned he is the owner of considerable town property. Mr. Moore was married Sep- tember 28, 1881, to Miss Eva Richardson, now deceased. She was the mother of two children, Fern, deceased, and Bertha L. now the wife of Jesse Rice. For his second wife Mr. Moore married Miss Clara B. Hughel October 2, 1892, and their two children are Marie and Clariee.
Mrs. Moore is a native of old Madison county, born April 13, 1864, and was reared and educated in her native county. She is a member of the Eastern Star of Tipton, Indiana, and she and husband are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church at Tipton.
Fraternally Mr. Moore is an honored member of the Masonic Lodge, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Maccabees. He is a great friend of Indiana's excellent school system and while a resident of Vol. II -- 17
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Tipton, was a member of the board of education of the city schools. He is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife, take the good of their means, and spend part of it in travel. They spent six months on the Pacific slope, most of the time at Seattle, Washington.
WILLIAM H. WISE. An example of first class stock and general farming enterprise is found in Pipe Creek township, along the Dun- dee and Frankton Roads, on the ninety acre homestead of Mr. Wm. H. Wise, a progressive farmer. who has spent nearly all his life in this section of Indiana, and while getting his share of the world's goods, he has also exercised the qualities of good citizenship, and is a man thor- oughly esteemed throughout his township.
Mr. Wise was born in Jackson township of Madison county, near Perkinsville, on January 5, 1861. His father is Alexander Wise, one of the old and honored residents of Madison county, a sketch of whom and his family will be found on other pages of this work. William H. Wise was reared in the home established by his father in Madison county, and was given unusual advantages both in education and in opportunities for getting properly started in life. As a boy he attended the country schools of the township, and also became familiar with the duties of the home farm. His education was finished in the De Pauw University at Greencastle, and after leaving college he taught school for some time in Madison county. From the school room he turned his attention to farming, and having given much of his ener- gies to this occupation and having made it a real business, he has accomplished probably more than most of his contemporaries in the same line of activities. Mr. Wise is a broad-minded man. and performs his share of community publie spirit and is highly honored in his home locality. As a young man, in addition to the other school advantages just mentioned he attended for one term at the Danville Central Nor- mal School.
On September 19, 1886, he married Florence Kimmerling Dipboy. Mrs. Wise was reared in the family of her grandmother, and took the latter's name. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Wise are Bessie, Blanche, and Carol. The family worship in the Methodist church.
HON. J. M. FARLOW. A former state senator from Madison county, one of the most influential men in the Democratic party of this locality, Mr. Farlow has been a member of the bar for the last quarter of a century and has his home and office at Frankton, from which vicinity he has a large clientage. The residents in that locality repose a great deal of confidence in Mr. Farlow's judgment and ability as a lawyer, and he is usually retained in connection with most of the litigation from this portion of the county.
J. M. Farlow was born on the twenty-first of July, 1839, in Tipton county, a son of Reuben and Elizabeth (O'Dell) Farlow. The grand- parents moved from the old homestead of North Carolina to Tipton county, in the early years of the last century, and about 1833 located in Pipe Creek township of Madison county. Reuben Farlow was a young man when the family came to Indiana, and made a very success- ful farmer in Madison county. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, and the three now living are Lafayette, Lucinda, and Senator Farlow. Hon. J. M. Farlow attained his early schooling in Tipton county and his last school days were spent in the old Picker-
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ing schools. He early applied himself to farming as an occupation, has occupied himself with various enterprises and taught school for ten terms. In the meantime he took up the study of law at leisure intervals and under such instruction as he could obtain, and was finally admitted to the bar and engaged in practice, which he has now continued successfully for twenty-five years or more.
In 1861 he married Miss Malinda Haskett. Six children were born of that marriage. One of these is Viola, wife of John Foland, and their three children are Earl, J. M. and Ellen. A younger daughter than Viola is Kate, wife of Charles Whitehead, and their four children are Cecil S., Virgil, Grant and Ione. On March 12, 1904, Mr. Farlow married Miss Margaret Peck, a daughter of William and Sarah (Foland) Peck, and a sister of Dr. Peck of Frankton. There are no children by the second marriage.
Mr. Farlow was honored by his fellow citizens in Madison county by election for two terms to the House of Representatives, and later was sent to the State Senate for two years. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and fraternally is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Blue Lodge at Frankton and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men. His family are members of the Methodist church.
MARTIN GAVIN. As manager of his father's farm of one hundred and forty acres, located on the Elwood Pike about five miles north of Elwood, Mart Gavin, as he is familiarly known, is one of the progress- ive young farmers of. Madison county, and bas laid a substantial foundation for a successful career.
Mart Gavin was born where he now resides, July 1, 1891, a son of Martin and Elizabeth (MeManaman) Gavin. His father was born in Ireland, was twelve years old when he came to America, and after landing in New York City, the family came west and finally located in Rex county, Indiana, where he was reared to manhood. He later came to Madison county, and from modest beginnings has acquired a gener- ous estate and prosperity, and is one of the influential men of this section. The eight children in the family are named as follows: Mame, Michael, Nora, Nellie, Mart, Maggie, Ruth and John.
Martin Gavin as a boy attended the country schools and finished his education in the Catholic school at Elwood. All his early associa- tions were with farin life, and when he arrived at manhood he was well prepared to take up the management of the old estate, which he now conducts in a progressive and up-to-date manner, and is one of the men who are proving the profitableness of agriculture in Madi- son county. He is well known socially in Elwood and vicinity, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat.
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