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 37
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
WILLIAM ETCHISON. A resident of Madison county during the greater part of his life, and an honored and respected farmer of Pipe Creek township, where he is the owner of one hundred and seven acres, Mr. Etchison has applied business methods to his work, has won a good material degree of prosperity, and has provided well for his family.
William Etchison was born in Jackson township, Madison county, September 18, 1855, a son of Jackson and Mary (Wise) Etchison. The father was a native of Wayne county, Indiana, and the paternal grand-
618
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
parents came to Indiana, originally from North Carolina. Among the children of Jackson Etchison were William, Mrs. Nancy Worley, Johu W., Margaret A., and Mary Olive.
William Etchison as a boy spent part of his time in Hamilton, and part in Madison county. He grew up on the farm, became conver- sant with all its duties, and activities, and principally during the winter term attended the school of his neighborhood.
Mr. Etchison wedded Miss Margaret J. Worley, March 2, 1876, and to this marriage have been born the following children: Cyrus Jack- son, Raymond and Nellie Alice, all deceased. The living children are, Cora M., wife of Minor McClead and they have three children, Guy, Forest and Margaret; Ora Austin wedded Miss Bertha Duncan and they have four children, Edna E., Ernest L., John M., and Glen D .; Mary K. is wife of Irvine Robbins and they have six children, Nellie B., Kenneth, Harry W., William H., Leonard R. and Mabel M .; Willard C., married Miss Jessie Waymire and they have one child, Orville D .; Virgil A., married Miss Mary Major; Lenna Fay is the youngest and resides at home.
Mrs. Etchison, wife of the subject is a native of Madison county, Indiana, and was born March 27, 1853, the second child in a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, born to Elijah and Rachel K. (Fifer) Worley. There are nine of this family living at present, 1914.
Father Worley was a native of Virginia and was an agriculturist. Politically he was a strong advocate of the Republican principles. He died in Pipe Creek township. Mother Worley was also a native of Virginia, Both of Mrs. Etchison's parents are deceased. She was reared and educated in Madison county, Indiana, and has nobly done her part as wife and mother.
When Mr. and Mrs. Worley began their married life they had little cash capital, but by dint of hard toil, frugality and being honest, they have reared a large family and have one of the best farms of one hundred and seven acres in Pipe Creek township. A beautiful frame residence, pretty grounds and fine outbuildings further enhance its value, and their farm is called "The Maple Grove Stock Farm."
WILLIAM. A. RYBOLT. Now occupying and engaged in the improve- ment of a nice farm of eighty acres of land lying on the Elwood Pike near Leisure postoffice, about six and a half miles north of Elwood. in Duck Creek township, William A. Rybolt is best known and has made his most successful record not as a farmer, but as a driller of wells in the oil and gas regions, and has been connected with the oil and gas fields in Indiana and elsewhere for a number of years.
William A. Rybolt was born September 24, 1867, in Highland county, Ohio, a son of William and Emma C. (Brown) Rybolt. Wil- liam Rybolt, the father, came to Indiana, when his son William was one year old, and settled in Grant county. There were only two chil- dren in the family, and the sister is Glycera.
William A. Rybolt has the early training and experience of the farmer boy, and attended the public schools of Duck Creek township. He was made thoroughly familiar with the activities of a farm, and was well trained in habits of industry and thrift, but when he took up farming independently he encountered difficulties which were discourag- ing and which caused him to abandon the occupation for a time. After-
619
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
wards he started a second time, but was again unsuccessful through bad luck and sickness. These two somewhat disastrous experiments caused him to leave farming and go to the gas and oil fields, where he operated as a skillful driller for a number of years. In that work he has- been unusually successful, and has made a good deal of money. At his mother's death the home farm of eighty acres was left to his management, and Mr. Rybolt is now engaged in building it up and improving it into a model estate. He purposes as soon as he has his land in a satisfactory condition to return to the gas and oil business.
On December 15, 1897, Mr. Rybolt married Miss Cora Steele, a daughter of H. S. Steele, of Elwood, a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Rybolt are members of the Christian church, and in polities he is a Republican, and largely interested in public affairs.
HARVEY A. WAYMIRE. As a breeder and raiser of fine Percheron horses, Mr. Waymire has a reputation throughout Madison county. The "Shade Land" stock farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Duck Creek township, and on the rural free deliv- ery route No. 28, out of Elwood, is a model place of its kind, and its improvements and adaptations to the uses of modern stock raising are the results of an exceptional degree of enterprise on the part of Mr. Waymire. He began his career in this county some years ago, with a small amount of capital and by thrifty management has become one of the most popular citizens of this community.
Harvey A. Waymire was born on the farm which he now occu- pies in Duck Creek township, a son of Jacob and Julia (Greenlee) Way- mire. His father was born in Warren county, near Independence, Indiana, in 1853. His parents were Henry and Hulda Waymire. Jacob Waymire attended the common schools, worked on the home farm dur- ing his school period, and was reared and has spent his career in Madi- son county, to which county he came with his parents when he was a boy. As a farmer he was successful and was long known as one of the substantial men of the vicinity. The children of Jacob and Julia Way- mire were: Oris H., William C., Harvey A., and Lula M., the wife of E. L. Wiggins, M. D.
Harvey A. Waymire as a boy first attended what was known as the Old Waymire school, and finished his schooling in the new Waymire school in Duck Creek township. While spending five days in the week at school he worked in the morning and evening on the home place, and most of his Saturdays and summer vacations were spent in the activities of the home farm. When he got his independent start in life, it was on eighty acres of land, and since then he has prospered and added to his land holdings, until he now has one of the best im- proved and most profitable estates in Duck Creek township.
On August 14, 1896, Mr. Waymire married Miss Pearl M. Fox, a daughter of John and Mary (Ring) Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Waymire are the parents of three children : Jacob L., Mary F., and John H., all of whom are attending the local schools. Fraternally Mr. Way- mire is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is an elder in the Christian church, and votes the Democratic ticket.
I. W. CARR. A resident of Madison county since 1884, Mr. Carr is a prosperous farmer of Duck Creek township, residing on rural free delivery route No. 31, and getting his daily mail from Elwood. His
620
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
neighbors regard him as one of the prosperous and substantial men of the township, and he is owner and operator of a fine estate of one hundred and fifteen aeres. He began life without money, worked hard to get his start, and all his success may be credited to his individual efforts and enterprise.
I. W. Carr was born December 27, 1858, in Rush county, Indiana, and belongs to a family which became identified with Rush county during the pioneer days. His parents were James R. and Sarah J. (Miller) Carr. The father was born in Rush county, and Grandfather Isaac Carr settled there from the state of Kentucky. James Carr and wife were the parents of four children, of whom I. W. was the oldest. The others are Roy, Charles V., and Ora, the last named being deceased.
I. W. Carr as a boy attended the common schools in Rush county, and not only learned the lessons taught in books, but also acquired the more valuable instruction of honest industry and thrift as incul- cated at home. He worked diligently on the home farm, and when about twenty-two years of age started out for himself by renting a tract of land in Rush county. Later he bought a small farm and has steadily prospered from early manhood to the present time.
On March 31, 1881, Mr. Carr married Sarah A. Lines, a daughter of Aaron N. Lines and Jennie (Wain) Lines. Both her parents are now deceased. The one child born to Mr. Carr and wife is Omer, who married Ora Haines and has one child, Gladys. Mr. Carr is a Demo- erat in politics and has served as trustee of Duck Creek township. Mr. and Mrs. Carr's pretty country home is known as "Locust Grove Stock Farm."
THOMAS E. PALMER. The business interests of Elwood, Indiana, have grown so rapidly within the last decade that today it is known as one of the leading manufacturing centers of Indiana, and its present industrial importance may be accredited to a class of progressive. enter- prising and energetic men of business, whose modern methods and ear- nest efforts have made the name of the city known all over the coun- try. As manager of the Ames Shovel & Tool Company, Thomas E. Palmer holds an acknowledged position of prestige among Elwood's leading business citizens. He has resided here only since 1902, but during this time has shown himself capable of discharging .every trust given him, and at the same time has manifested a commendable public- spiritedness that has made him a leader in movements for the general welfare of his adopted community. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey, December 8, 1862, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Reid) Palmer.
.
George Palmer, the paternal grandfather of Thomas E. Palmer, was born in England, was there married, and subsequently removed to Scot- land, where he passed away at the age of eighty years, his wife dying when eighty-six years old. They had only one child, Thomas. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Palmer was William Reid, who was mar- ried in his native Scotland to Elizabeth Heron, and some time there- after emigrated to the United States and settled at Trenton, New Jersey, where he died at the age of seventy years, after spending his life iu inventing and at the carpenter's trade. His widow subsequently moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she passed away at the age of eighty-six years. But two of their children grew to maturity: Margaret; and Jane, who became the wife of James Horton, of Cleveland, Ohio.
1
,
621
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Thomas Palmer was born in England, and as a child was taken by his parents to Scotland, where he was educated and grew to manhood in the city of Glasgow, there learning the iron industry in all of its branches. He came to the United States about the year 1850, and located first at Troy, New York, and later became superintendent of the Trenton Iron Works, at Trenton, New Jersey. Some years later he removed to the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where he became connected with the Cleveland Rolling Mills, and was identified therewith until his death in 1908, aged eighty years and some months. He was a thorough iron master, as were also his father and grandfather before him, the latter having built the first rolling mills in Scotland, and during the Civil war Thomas Palmer was engaged extensively in the manufacture of gun-barrel steel. His wife died two years after her husband, aged about eighty years, and in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he was also a member. They were the parents of seven children: George, who resides at Joliet, Illinois; Elizabeth, who is the wife of William R. Fairlie, of Glasgow, Scotland; William R., residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut; Thomas E .; Maria. who became the wife of W. E. Wright, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Sarah, who is deceased.
Thomas E. Palmer was but a child when taken to Cleveland, Ohio, by his parents, and in that city he grew to manhood, attending the public and high schools. It was not unnatural that he adopt the iron business as his life work, and as a young man he showed he had inherited the inclinations and tendencies of his forefathers by entering the employ of the Cleveland Roller Mill Company. As the years passed his abilities won him steady promotion, and at different times he was employed with the Carnegie Steel Company, and the American Steel and Wire Company, at Beaver Falls and Braddock, Pennsylvania. In 1902 he came to Elwood as local manager for the Ames Shovel and Tool Company, the other officers of the concern being as follows: Hobart Ames, president; Oliver W. Mink, treasurer; Charles H. Myers. W. J. Alford and Julius C. Birge, vice-presidents; William H. Ames, secretary; and H. P. Cormerais, assistant secretary. The original plant of this company was established at North Easton, Massachusetts, in 1774, and the company was not incorporated until more than one hundred years later. in 1875, but the concern now owns a number of plants, the production of that at Elwood being shovel plate, which is shipped to the factories in other cities and manufactured into shovels. It is the largest shovel producing company in the world, and has factories at the following points: North Easton, Massachusetts; T. Rowland's Sons, Incorporated, at Cheltenham, Pennsylvania ; George Griffiths Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the H. M. Myers Company, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; the Wright Shovel Company, at Anderson, Indiana; the St. Louis Shovel Company. at St. Louis, Missouri; and handle plants in New England and the Southwest. The Elwood plant employs about 150 people, the production being 700 tons of shovel plate per month, and the building being a steel structure, the heaviest contructed building in the state. The pay-roll is between $8,000 and $10,000 per month, and the plant is operated continuously, twenty-four hours per day, with three shifts of men, the product meeting with a ready sale in the leading markets all over the world.
Mr. Palmer has gained the full confidence of his business associates, who have come to rely upon his sound judgment, his keen perception and
E
622
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
his business acumen. He is a member of Beaver Valley Lodge No. 478, F. & A. M., and Harmony Chapter No. 256, R. A. M., both of Beaver Falls. His support is given to Republican candidates and principles, but he is not a politician, his large business interests occupying his entire attention, and he has had no inelination to hold public office. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Palmer is also a member.
On October 4; 1894, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Lillian May Dean. who was born at Harlansburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Hall) Dean, both of whom died at Beaver Falls, Pennsyl- vania. There were four children in the Dean family: Minnie, Lillian May, Edith Clare and Helen. To Mr. and Mrs. Palmer there have been born three children: Dorothy Dean and Margaret Reid, both of whom died in early childhood; and Thomas Dean.
PATRICK SHAY. From 1853 until his death in 1907, Patrick Shay was one of the sterling citizens and hard-working and substantial men of Duck Creek township in Madison county. Coming to America when a young man, he began life in a strange country, and among a strange people and by exercise of the qualities inherent in his character, and by a steadfast industry and devotion to the principles of honest living, he gained independence, provided liberally for his family, and left an honored name, which is cherished by his descendants.
Patriek Shay was born in Ireland, 1816, a son of Kenneth Shay. Kenneth Shay never left his native land, and was a shoemaker by trade in the old country. He had three children, two sons, Michael and Patrick, and a daughter. The daughter died in the old country, and Patrick and Michael both immigrated to America, and spent most of their years in Madison county, where they died.
Patrick Shay was a young man when he came to America, and spent the first five years of his residence in Boston, Massachusetts, the old "Bay State." From there he moved to Rush county, Indiana, and in 1853 came to Madison county, where he settled on a farm. He lived quietly but industriously, and gained for himself a place in com- munity affairs.
The children in his family were named as follows: Thomas; Michael ; John; Kenneth; Matthew; Mrs. Mary White; Mrs. Emma Smith; and Julia and Andrew, deceased. The sons Thomas and Michael with their mother, Bridget (Scanlan) Shay, now manage the home farm of one hundred and forty acres on the Windfall Pike, about five and one- half miles northwest of Elwood and also eighteen acres lying east of the homestead. The sons are prosperous farmers and stockmen, and are worthy successors of their honored father. The father during his life- time built the comfortable residence in which the family now live, and the Shay place is regarded as one of the best improved farms in Duck Creek township. The family worship in Elwood at St. Joseph's church, and all are active members of that congregation.
RICHARD A. MCCLURE. Madison county is noted for its fine farm- steads, many of which have been under cultivation since pioneer days. In Duck Creek township, about four miles northeast of Elwood, is located one of the most attractive and valuable, the home place of Richard A. McClure. Its chief industry is cattle raising, and Mr. McClure aims to develop a high grade of stock and to make his place
.
!
:
623
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
profitable from every point of view. The farm contains two hundred acres, is worth considerably more than one hundred dollars an aere, and its fields give evidence of a high state of improvement. Like many other prosperous men of the present time Mr. MeClure began without any capital to speak of, and in less than twenty-five years had accumu- lated a fine estate entirely through his own initiative and industry.
Richard A. McClure was born February 20, 1857, in Brookville, Indiana, a son of James and Anna (McCaw) McClure. His father was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and came to America with his parents, James and Katherine MeClure, who moved to Indiana, and located at Brookville, where they became farmers and stock raisers. James McClure followed farming as his regular occupation, and he and his wife were the parents of nine children, namely: John F .; Katherine, deceased; Richard A .; Eliza J .; James Coburn, deceased; Margaret A .; Henry F .; Scott, deceased; and one that died in infancy.
Richard A. McClure as a boy attended the country schools near Brookville, Indiana, and finished his education in the Brookville high school. He learned the lessons of thrift and industry at an early age and remained on the home farm, contributing his labors to the family until he was thirty years old. In 1887 he came to Madison county, where he began his independent career, as a tenant. As a tenant he farmed the very estate which he now occupies as owner, reeciving a part by inheritance and paying for the remainder from the proceeds of his hardy toil and successful management. At this writing Mr. McClure has just finished one of the most attractive rural residences to be found anywhere in Madison county. The house contains four- teen rooms and is built on modern lines, and with the facilities and conveniences which make country life attractive, and in comparison place a residence in the city at a low discount. The McClure home- stead stands off the road, about twenty yards, and with its attractive surroundings of trees and outbuildings, easily ranks as one of the finest places in the county. All the out buildings are also new, and since coming to this place Mr. MeClure has increased its value by many thousand dollars.
On February 7, 1894, Mr. McClure married Martha E. Stoker. Their two children are Edna A., and Howard S., both attending school. Fra- ternally Mr. McClure is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he and his family worship in the Christian church, and in politics he is a Republican.
MICHAEL MEYER. One of the attractive and valuable farms of Duck Creek township, located on the township lines between Boone and Duck Creek townships, is the Michael Meyer place. Its proprietor, Mr. Meyer, bought the land a number of years ago when it was almost entirely a landscape of trees and stumps. He went in debt to acquire posses- sion of this first property and toiled both early and late in order to make his regular payment and finally to reach independence. Since early life he has been accustomed to hard work, has learned the lessons of successful agriculture, and has made his farm a homestead which measures well up to the best standards of Madison county rural homes. His farm has been largely shaped out by his own labors and plans, and represents both a comfortable home and a gratifying success. He raises most of the crops familiar to Madison county, and makes a specialty of live stock.
U
624
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Michael Meyer was born June 5, 1858, in Franklin county, Indiana, a son of Martin and Maggie (Fierston) Meyer. Both the parents were natives of Germany, where they were married and then came to America, first locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. The father had a career in which hard work and progressive industry finally brought him to a comfortable prosperity. In Cincinnati he worked at any honorable occupation which he could find and finally moved to Franklin county, Indiana, where he began as a farmer, later he raised truck, and was a huekster for some twenty years. After that he lived a retired life enjoying the fruits of many well spent years. His last days were spent in Elwood, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. The children in his family are mentioned as follows: Barbara, deceased; Kate; Joseph, deceased; Michael; Mary; Lizzie. deceased, and Margaret.
Michael Meyer was reared on a farm, assisted his father in growing the vegetable and fruit erop which were their specialty on the home place, and in the intervals of this occupation he attended the common schools. When ready to begin life on his own account, he rented a small farm in Franklin county, and was afterwards employed at monthly wages for four years. Finally his capital reached a point where he possessed a couple of cows and two horses. He then borrowed four hundred dollars and coming to Madison county rented a portion of the old Roberts farm for seven years. During this time he was grad- ually getting ahead in the world, and finally was able to purchase the land, which comprises his present place. Most of that land was in timber, and he had already contracted to clear off the woods and sell the timber, before concluding his purchase of the land. With the pro- ceeds of his timber he made his first payment, and from that time to the present has steadily prospered until he is now owner of the one hun- dred and sixty acres comprising the original farm. Since then he has also added one hundred and twenty acres and is now owner of two hun- dred and eighty aeres in Madison county. His success has been most honorably won and he deserves to stand in the front ranks cf Madison county farmers.
In March, 1878, Mr. Meyer married Miss Mary Senefeld. They have become the parents of ten children, namely: Joseph, who is married and has two children, Sylvanus and Marie; Mary, who married Martin Goans and has five children named Blanch, Ceeil, Mervel, Wil- liam, and Helen; William M., at home ;. George, August, Carrie, Anna. Michael, Jr., Tillie, and Claire.
Mr. Meyer is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rigdon, Indiana, and the family are church members and take au active part in the Catholic church at Elwood, Indiana, and in benevo- lent affairs. In politics he is a Demoerat. As a farmer he devotes much of his time and has made a great success in the raising of Hamp- shire hogs and Belgian horses. His stock raising is really his diversion, as well as his vocation, and he finds both profit and pleasure in man- aging the farm estate, which he has won as a result of his own hard work and intelligent management.
WARD K. CANADAY. Born in the township of his present residence and on the farm which he now occupies and cultivates, Ward Canaday is one of the progressive young agrieulturists of Madison county, and at an early age has established himself solidly in the industrious and
-
625
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
business enterprise of the country, and is a man of influence in his community.
Mr. Ward K. Canaday was born on July 20, 1886, on the farm of eighty acres, located on the south Douglas road, about three and a half miles southeast of Elwood. On this same place was born his father, the late Nathan Canaday. Nathan Canaday, who was one of Madison county's prominent farmers, until his death a few years ago, married Anna Connor, and their two children are Jessie and Ward. Nathan Canaday was first married to Elizabeth Ferguson, and the two chil- dren by that marriage were Vernon and Rowena, the latter the wife of Otis Heck and the mother of one child, Maurice.
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.