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 38
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. Ward Canaday was reared on the home farm, and as a boy attended the Canaday school in this vicinity. That school having taken its name from the family and representing the local prominence of the family in this vicinity. After leaving the common school he finished his edu- cation at Elwood, and then for about six terms was engaged in teaching in this county. He then turned his energies to farming, and ou the death of his father took the management of the home estate. On August 14, 1907, he married Miss Dovie Wayniire, daughter of David and Cynthia (Ring) Waymire. Her father David Waymire came from Wayne county, Indiana, and was a son of John S. Waymire, who was the founder of that family in Madison county. David Waymire spent his active career as a farmer, and was the father of four children, whose names follow : John E., who married Carrie Jones and had one son named Harland; Ernest, who married Lottie Bagley, and their chil- dren are Okla and Arnold; Maud, the wife of Ed. Adair, and the mother of Lowell and Russell, and Mrs. Canaday. Mr. and Mrs. Canaday are the parents of two children, Helena and Loral. The family worship in the Christian church, and Mr. Canaday is in politics a Democrat.
JOSEPH R. CANADAY. Madison county has many fine farms and they are owned to a large extent by members of old families of this section, in a number of cases the land having been acquired by heritage. A wide stretch of 457 acres of fertile soil in one body lying about two miles from Anderson, is owned by Joseph R. Canaday and his father, Harrison Canaday. The latter also owns 400 acres in Lafayette township. Joseph R. Canaday, although now retired from active life, continues to be one of the influential citizens of his community and a man whose good management, natural ability and persevering industry have placed him in the front rank of this section's substantial residents. Mr. Canaday has resided in this section since his sixth year, and during his long resi- dence here has formned a wide acquaintance in agricultural circles, fairly earning the regard and esteem in which he is universally held. IIe was born August 24, 1859, between Richmond and Milton, in Wayne county, Indiana, and is a son of Harrison and Elizabeth (Howard) Canaday. A review of his father's life appears on another page of this work.
Joseph R. Canaday accompanied his parents to Madison county in 1865, and his boyhood home was a small frame house situated not far from Anderson, although in later years the family acquired a more commodious and comfortable residence. As a lad he attended the old Dillon schoolhouse, and later supplemented this by attendance at the school at College Corners, and in the meantime, like other farmers' sons of his day and locality, spent the spring, summer and fall months in the work of the homestead. He was thoroughly trained in all matters con-
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sidered necessary for the successful agriculturist to know, proved an industrious workman and apt scholar, and when twenty-one years of age his father rewarded his persevering efforts by giving him charge of the homestead, where he embarked upon a career of his own. He is now the only representative of the family here, his one sister, Mrs. George Quick, being at present a resident of Indianapolis. Mr. Canaday has been successful in his general farming and stock raising operations, hav- ing brought his property to a high state of cultivation and always find- ing a ready market and top-notch prices for his cattle. He has been a firm believer in the use of modern machinery and methods, combining the practicality and sturdy industry of former years with the use of improved equipment and scientific treatment of this time, with exceed- ingly satisfactory results. His career has been one of steady advance- ment, marked by the strictest integrity, and as a reliable man of affairs his reputation is firmly established among his neighbors and business associates.
Mr. Canaday was first married to Miss Lavina Coburn, daughter of Amos and Elizabeth (Stover) Coburn, and to this union there were born two children: Cora, who married Richard Powell, and is a resi- dent of Anderson; and Lovina, who married Claude Roney, and has one son, -- Joseph. Mr. Canaday's second marriage occurred October 3, 1895, when he was united with Miss Dora Belle Cooper, daughter of Isaac and Mary E. (Hoel) Cooper, early settlers of Madison county, and well known agriculturists of Adams township. There were seven chil- dren in the Cooper family : Harry, who is deceased; Dora Belle, who married Mr. Canaday; Cora, now Mrs. Walker; Fannie, who married Mr. Fattick; Walter; Ruby, now Mrs. Mitchell; and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Canaday have one son: George Harrison, a bright and interest- ing lad who is attending the public schools of Anderson.
In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Canaday has been inter- ested in breeding Shetland ponies and has built up a large trade in this line. He has taken an active interest in political matters, although not as an aspirant for public honors. With his family, he attends the Christian church, and at all times has given his support to its move- ments.
EDWARD OSBORN. A member of the present Indiana legislature from Madison county, Mr. Edward Osborn represents the progressive farm- ing element and the substantial rural citizenship of his section of Indiana. He is himself a practical and successful farmer, has a large acquaintance and is very popular in his home county, and by experience and native ability is well fitted to represent the interest of his constituency in the legislature.
Edward Osborn makes his home on 80 acres of fine land on the range line road in Pipe Creek township. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, May 6, 1859, a son of Thomas and Mary (Claypool) Osborn. Both parents are deceased and buried at Elwood, and the family has long been prominently known in this state. Mr. Osborn's grandfather, Redin Osborn was a pioneer of this state and one of the early members of the legislature. Mr. Osborn's father was a California forty-niner, and came back home with a greater degree of wealth won on the gold coast than most of the adventurers who went out from this state during those days. Thomas Osborn, the father, was born at Brookville, Indiana, and with the exception of his California experience devoted practically all his
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life to blacksmithing. There were three children in the family, and the other two are Charles Osborn at Elwood, and Mrs. Cora Brier.
Edward Osborn as a boy was reared in his native county, where he attended the common schools, and he also attended Old Smithson College in Cass county. On leaving school he skilled himself in the blacksmith trade, and worked at that for some years during his youth. When about twenty-four years old he took up farming as his regular vocation, and by application of energy and good management has made a creditable record in this line. On May 31, 1884, he married Miss Emma Greenlee, daughter of John and Angelina (Bartlow) Greenlee. Her father was originally from Pennsylvania, and first settled in Franklin county, Indiana, where Mr. Osborn was born. Mrs. Osborn was one in a family of eight children, the others being Leora, Clara, Cassius M., Mollie, Flora, Mattie, and Ida. Mrs. Osborn is a Methodist.
Fraternally Mr. Osborn is a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Elwood, Indiana. One daughter was born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Osborn -- Bessie, who wedded Clarence Legg, and they reside in Madison county. The pretty estate of Mr. and Mrs. Osborn is one of the beautiful homes in Pipe Creek township, and they are citizens who take much pleasure in the entertainment of their many friends. Mr. Osborn is a popular man amongst his colleagues in the halls of legisla- ture, and reflects eredit on his home county of Madison.
C. R. WRIGHT, M. D. For more than twenty years an active physi- cian of Madison county, possessing the ability and skill which bring suc- cess in this profession, Dr. Wright has a splendid practice at Frank- ton and vieinity and is known among hundreds of families throughout this community, as both a kindly and able doctor and a friend and good counsellor. Dr. Wright began his career without wealth or influence, earned his way through medical college, and since beginning practice has enjoyed all the features of suecess.
C. R. Wright was born November 18, 1362, in Burlington, Iowa, where his parents William T. and Ellen (Sumpter) Wright were resi- dents for a few years. The father was a prosperous farmer, a native of Fayetto county, Indiana, and spent about two years in the west, after which he returned to Union county, and then came to Madison county, locating in Jackson township. He owed a valuable farm, and was recognized as a substantial and honorable citizen in all his relations with the community. There were three children in the family, Dr. C. R., Flora, and James H. Wright. Dr. Wright attended the common schools, and then attained a certificate and taught school in the districts of Jackson and Monroe township of Madison county, and by this means he had earned enough money to see him through school, and took a pre- paratory course in the Central Normal College at Danville, and then entered the Indianapolis Medical school, where he was graduated M. D. in 1888. The first year of his practice was at Windfall, Indiana, in Tipton county, where he attended his first regular patient. The follow- ing year was spent at Linwood, and from there he moved to Frankton, and established an office which he has maintained now for more than twenty years.
Dr. Wright was married in February, 1891, to Miss Anna Morning- star, whose father was a farmer originally from Morgan county. The two children of the doctor and wife are Mary and Julius. The family belong to the Presbyterian church, and take a very prominent part in
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all church affairs. The doctor is affiliated with the Blue Lodge of Masonery, and is connected with various medical organizations. Mrs. Wright passed away in January, 1906, and is buried in Maplewood cemetery near Anderson.
THOMAS J. KING. One of the successful farmers and a citizen always held in high esteem was the late Thomas J. King, who died at his home in Pipe Creek township, March 10, 1912. The late Mr. King was a man of thorough industry, knew how to apply his energies to the com- plicated tasks of farming, with the best results, and in all his relations he stood honorably toward his community.
The late Thomas J. King was born in a log cabin on the home farm which he occupied at the time of his death, on January 30, 1858. He was a son of Washington and Elizabeth (Howard) King. The Howard family came to Indiana from North Carolina. Washington King, the father, was a son of William King, who came to Indiana from the state of Ohio. The parents had the following children: William, Joseph, Rinda, Catherine, Barry, and Frank, (who were twins), Thomas J., Margaret, Jonathan, Daniel, and Ozro.
Born in the old log house which before the war was the home of the King family in Pipe Creek township, Thomas J. King grew up in this locality, and for his education attended what was known as the King school house. His attendance at school was alternated with work on the farm, and he was a farmer all his life. On the day he was married he moved his residence to a portion of the old homestead farm, renting land, and thus beginning his career.
Mr. King married March 8, 1883, Miss Eliza J. Johnson, a daughter of Penn and Eliza ( Wilborn) Johnson. The father came from North Carolina, and for many years was a farmer near Elwood. The seven children in the Johnson family included Mrs. King, the oldest: Wil- liam, Lewis, Harley, Rindy, Catherine and Eliza. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. King are mentioned as follows: Rose, who wedded W. R. Johnson, is the mother of four children, Hessel, Russell, Lucia and Helen, the last named being deceased; Floy, who is single and lives at home; Willard;' and Arthur, who is a school boy. The son, Willard, manages the home farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres, and has his home in a house located a short distance below that of his mother. He rents the place and is a very progressive and indus trious agriculturist. Willard King wedded Miss Flossie Little April 5, 1913. She comes from one of the good families of Madison county and received a good education, both in the publie and high school. The King family is one which commands the respect and esteem of all who have the pleasure of their friendship. Their home is in a pretty cot- tage and is the abode of hospitality. The late Mr. King was affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, and the family all worship in the Methodist church.
JAMES W. CARLTON. The owner of eighty acres of fine land on what is known as the East Coon Valley Road, and on rural route No. 33 out of Elwood, James W. Carlton is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Pipe Creek township, and has spent practically all his life in Madison county.
He was born on a farm in this county September 14, 1862, a son of Robert and Lavonia (Atwell) Carlton, he being the only child of the
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parents. He received his education in the Coon Valley school, and from early boyhood worked on a farm and learned its duties.
Mr. Carlton has been twice married, first to Miss Dora Etchison, daughter of Richard and Amanda (Carter) Etchison and to this mar- riage were born two children --- Mayne and Mayme L. Mr. Carlton's second marriage was to Mrs. Alice (Cunningham) Jeffries, a daughter of Samuel and Dorcas E. (Nance) Cunningham. By her first mar- riage to Mr. Jeffries, there was born a daughter, Levada, and she is liv- ing in Pipe Creek township. Mrs. Carlton's father was a native of North Carolina and was one of the prosperous agriculturists of Monroe township. They also had one son, by name Andrew J., the brother of Mrs. Carlton. Mr. Carlton is a member of the United Brethren church, but his father was in sympathy with the Christian church. Politically he is a Progressive Republican and in a fraternal sense is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Carlton was a Pythian Sister. She is an affable lady and is an able factor in making her home one of the pleasant and peaceful abodes. Mr. and Mrs. Carlton have the good will and esteem of the people of Pipe Creek township.
ABRAHAM R. PROCTER. Among the successful Madison county farm- ers of the present day, probably none has won his prosperity by more thorough reliance upon his individual efforts and by a more complete process of industry, self-denial, and thrifty management than Abraham R. Procter. Mr. Procter is now regarded as one of the most substantial stock men and farmers in the northern part of the county and is owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Pipe Creek and Duck Creek townships.
Mr. Procter was born April 3, 1863, in Franklin county, Indiana, a son of John and Elizabeth (Shockley) Procter. The paternal grand- father came to Indiana from New Jersey, locating in Franklin county, where John Procter was born. The children of John Proeter and wife numbered eight, the following four being now living: India, Thomas, Harvey and Abraham R.
Mr. Procter enjoyed his early schooling in Franklin county and was a worker on the home farm all the time he attended school. When he started out on his own account it was as a renter, and on a very small scale at that, but with every year since his beginning his resources have increased, and he can say that every dollar he owns was made by his honest efforts. Mr. Procter moved to Madison county on March 4, 1896, and rented a portion of his present farm. He later bought a part of the land, and has gradually increased it until he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres and has placed practically all the modern improvements upon the estate.
On February 9, 1888, Mr. Procter married Miss Anna Dare of Franklin county, and a daughter of James and Ruthana (DuBois) Dare. The four children born to their marriage are as follows: Roscoe, now bookkeeper for the Washburn-Crosby Company at Cleveland, Ohio; Blanch, the wife of Ed McCord; Harry and Elzie, both at home. Mr. Proeter is independent in politics, and he and his family are attend- ants of the Methodist church.
WILFRED SELLERS, secretary, treasurer and manager of the kitchen cabinet manufacturing company of G. I. Sellers & Sons, at Thirteenth
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and North Carolina streets, Elwood, belongs to that type of successfu! business men who have risen to the top through hard work and con- scientious application to the duties given them to perform. The ability to rise, meet and master situations spells success, and thus Mr. Sellers has steadily fought his way to the front rank, overcoming obstacles by the sheer force of his own resource and capacity. He is a native of the Hoosier State, and was born at Kokomo, May 10, 1884, a son of George I. and Rebecca (Kellar) Sellers.
Alfred P. Sellers, the paternal grandfather of Wilfred Sellers, was a carpenter by trade and an early settler of Howard county, being the builder of the barracks at Kokomo. There he passed away advanced in years, as did also his wife, who had borne the maiden name of Mary Cole. They were the parents of the following children: Lewis, John, William, George Ira, Alice, Flora, Cora, Elizabeth and Mattie. Mr. Sellers' maternal grandfather was William H. Kellar, a native of Kentucky and an early settler of Howard county, Indiana, where he conducted a sawmill and was also engaged in farming. He died at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife, who had been formerly Miss Garr, of Kentucky, survived him a long time and passed to her final rest when eighty-six years old. They had children as follows: Mary, Lewis, Hite, Edward, Kate, Charles, and Rebecca.
George Ira Sellers was born in Howard conty, Indiana, and there received his education, following which he learned the trade of car- penter with his father. He later turned his attention to specializing in stair-building, and while thus engaged formed the idea of manu- facturing kitchen cabinets. This business he started in a small way at Kokomo, in 18SS, and the excellence of the product soon gained it a wide sale, the working force of the plant growing rapidly from twenty-five to one hundred and thirty skilled mechanics. In 1905 the Kokomo plant was destroyed by fire, and in December of that year Mr. Sellers came to Elwood and purchased the plant of the Elwood Furni- ture Company, which he remodeled to suit his own business, and here he continued to be actively engaged until his death, September 19, 1909, when his widow succeeded him as president of the concern. A business man of the old school, who believed that strict honesty and integrity were the surest mediums through which to attain success, and proved it, Mr. Sellers had the fullest confidence and respect of his business associates. He was possessed of a mind fertile in resources, means and expedients, and was never at a loss for a course to pursue. The Chris- tian Church knew him as a liberal supporter, his adopted town as a public-spirited citizen, his acquaintances as a loyal friend, and his family as a kind husband and indulgent father, while the business world lost in his death one who had been steadfast in maintaining high principles. He and his wife, who was also born in Howard county, Indiana, were the parents of six children, as follows: Ellena G., wilo is the widow of James Parsons, of Elwood; Ida B., who is the wife of Harry Hale, of Fairfield, Indiana; Wilfred; Mary E., who is the wife of Henry Striker, of Elwood; Charles E., residing at Fort Wayne, Indiana; and George L., of Kokomo.
On completing his studies in the public schools of Kokomo, Wilfred Sellers entered his father's factory, thoroughly learning every detail of the extensive business, from the bottom rung of the ladder to the top. When the Elwood business was founded, he was admitted to partner- ship with his father, and became secretary, treasurer and manager of
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the firm, positions he has continued to occupy to the present time. He has inherited much of his father's mechanical genius and business ability, and is known as one of the leading business men of the younger generation here, having shown himself eminently capable to handle the large interests of the manufacturing plant. In addition, he is the inventor of an ant-proof castor and is now acting in the capacity of manager of the Sanitary Castor Company, at Elwood. These have met with a large sale, while the famous Sellers kitchen cabinets have estab- lished a market in almost every large city in the United States and Canada.
On October 21, 1909, Mr. Sellers was married to Miss Marjorie F. Shoemaker, daughter of William and Mary E. (Young) Shoemaker, and to this union there has been born one daughter: Mary Rebecca. Mrs. Sellers is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is popular in religious and social circles of Elwood. Mr. Sellers is a Democrat in political matters, but has not sought public office. His fraternal con- nections are with Quincy Lodge No. 230, F. & A. M., the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, in all of which he has numerous friends.
ALEXANDER WISE. A large farm of four hundred acres partly in Lafayette and partly in Pipe Creek township represents the business enterprise of Alexander Wise, one of the oldest native citizens of Madi- son county, and one who has spent practically a lifetime of efforts in the cultivation of the soil. As a farmer he has won material prosper- ity, and at the same time has lived with honor in all his relations with his community and fellow citizens.
Alexander Wise was born August 2, 1838, in Madison county, and was a son of John and Harriet (MeClintock) Wise. His father, John Wise, was originally from the state of Virginia, and was only a boy himself when he accompanied his father, Martin Wise, grandfather of Alexander, to the middle West. John Wise grew up and took up the occupation of farmer, acquired a large estate, and finally passed away, enjoying the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. The chil- dren in his family are mentioned as follows: Martin, deceased; Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Alexander, Jennie, William, Samantha, wife of Noah Rine, and Margaret, wife of George Schuyler.
Alexander Wise as a boy attended the public schools in Perkins- ville, and throughout the period of his school attendance he was also engaged in the experiences and duties of the home farm. In 1859, on the 24th of November, he married Hannah Moore, a daughter of John Moore. The eight children of Mr. Wise and wife are: William H., who is married and has two children; Jennie, wife of Joseph Love; Sarah, who is the wife of J. Swain, and has three children; Rose, wife of Albert Wilburn, and the mother of three children; Grace; Myrtle, who is married and has four children; John, who is married and has three children; and Martin, who is married and has three children. Mr. Wise is one of the old members of the Methodist church in Pipe Creek township. On his farm he is engaged in the raising of stock, and has built up an estate which is an honor and credit to his township.
Mr. Wise is one of Indiana's grand old men and he has a double record-a record as an honest, and successful citizen and a soldier's record. He enlisted in the 142nd I. V. I. and served his county as a soldier under the grand old general, "Pap" Thomas, whom the "boys in blue" would follow into the jaws of death. His terin of service lasted Vol. II-18
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nine months, when he received his honorable discharge and returned to his home, to again don the civilian's garb. Mr. Wise is quoted in his locality, among his many friends as one of the "Prince of the Pioneer," of old Madison county.
WALTER R. WERKING has been connected with the Nicholson Fi !! Company for the past twenty years and during this time has worked his way steadily up from the position of shipping clerk to that of office manager of this progressive Anderson concern. Such a record is ample evidence of his steady perseverance and close application to the details of the business, and his able management of this line of the business stamps him as one of the alert and energetie business men of the eity. Mr. Werking is a native son of Madison county, having been born in the village of Pendleton, March 13, 1873, the only living son of James H. and Elizabeth K. (Jackson) Werking.
James H. Werking was born in 1842, in Indiana, and was reared and educated in this state. At the outbreak of the Civil war he answered his country's call for volunteers by enlisting in Company I, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served faith- fully and valiantly with that organization during four years and six months, receiving his honorable discharge with an excellent record. At the close of his military career, he entered business life at Pendleton, and subsequently came to Anderson, and is still a resident of this city, although he is now living a retired life. Mr. Werking married Miss Elizabeth K. Jackson, who was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, and she died in 1901.
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