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 48
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Charles C. Dehority was reared in Elwood, where he attended the public and high schools, and following this spent two years in Eartham College. He began his own business career by trading, dealing in stock and farming. which he followed actively up to 1895, and then took a position in the old Farmers Bank, which was later merged with the First National Bank, of which Mr. Dehority was one of the incorporators and cashier until 1899. In 1900 and 1901, he served Madison county as county treasurer, and in January, 1903, when the Elwood State Bank was incorporated, with a capital stock of $75,000, he accepted the posi- tion of cashier, in which he has continued to act to the present time. He has labored faithfully in behalf of this institution, and has succeeded in popularizing its coffers, his own pleasant personality having been such as to make him numerous friends among the depositors. His ener- getic nature, however, has not allowed him to devote all of his activities to one enterprise, and various business enterprises have benefitted by his support and co-operation. He was one of the promoters of the Elwood Electric Light Company and the Elwood Street Railway. von- tures which have proven of inestimable value to the city; is treasurer of the Elwood Lawn Mower Manufacturing Company ; and is interested in the Home Storage and Manufacturing Company, and owns the con- trolling interest and is president of the Frankton Bank. Among his business associates he is known as a shrewd, capable and progressive man of business, with the courage and ability to handle large measures, but also with the quality of conservatism, so necessary to the successful banker. He possesses the full confidence of those who have been engaged in transactions with him, and is looked to for leadership when important movements are promoted.
On December 7, 1890, Mr. Dehority was married to Miss Lola Inpp. who was born in Elwood, Indiana, daughter of George W. and Belle (Stokes) Hupp, the former a native of West Virginia and the latter of Ohio. Mrs. Dehority's parents are still living in Elwood, where they were early settlers, and have three children, namely: Lola; Aihrt ; and Maude, the wife of Arthur O'Brien. Mr. and Mrs. Dehority have had one child, a son, George H.
Mrs. Dehority belongs to the Methodist Church, and is widely known
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in religious and social circles of Elwood. Her husband is a thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to Quincy Lodge No. 230, F. & A. M .; Elwood Chapter, No. 109, R. A. M .; Anderson Commandery No. 32, K. T., Indianapolis Consistory, R. & S. M., and Murat Temple, .1. ... O. N. M. S. He also holds membership in Elwood Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A stauch Democrat in his political views, Mr. Dehority was a delegate to tl ... National Convention of his party at Denver, in 190S, and also attended the St. Louis and Baltimore conventions. He was chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee for one term, and in addition to acting in the capacity of county treasurer, as before stated, has been police commissioner. He has rendered signal services both to his party and to his community and his publie career has been as free from blemish and as marked by fidelity to duty and high principles as has his business and private life.
ANDREW J. BEHYMER. Of the history of Elwood from the beginning of the era of natural gas, one of the most conspicuous and sole factors was Mr. Behymer, at that time publisher of the only newspaper in the: town, and during the succeeding twenty odd years a public spirited and energetic citizen, and the leading member of the local bar.
Mr. Behymer moved from Tipton to Elwood in 1889, and bought and began the publication of the Elwood Free Press. He also bought the Democrat and consolidated them and then conducted the one paper as the only journal in Elwood. He quickly built up a large circulation and an influential place for his journal, and made it an organ for the support and expression of Democratic opinion. Natural gas had been struck in this section before his arrival in Elwood, and on account of the wonderful supply the opportunities were presented for the develop- ment of a great industrial city at Elwood. The development of such a city depended upon the initiative and enterprise and local citizens, and Mr. Behymer through his paper was especially active and prominent in advocating the advantages of the locality and the necessity of the citizens 'taking hold and securing factories and other industries for their local- ity. His paper practically led the boom which transformed Elwood from a quiet rural community into one of the flourishing industrial cen- ters of eastern Indiana. Among other movements to which he gave his influence and efforts during that time was the organization of a board of trade, and he served for three years as one of the active members of the board.
Andrew J. Behymer was born at Mount Holly, Ohio, March 1, 1850. His parents were William and Martha (Littleton) Behymer, the for- mer a native of Garrard county, Kentucky, and the latter of Clermont county, Ohio. On the father's side the grandfather was Solomon Behy- mer, and he and his wife were both natives of Virginia and lived to old age. Their five children were Samuel, John, Lucy Brown, William and Joseph. On the mother's side the Littletons were natives of Pennsyl- vania, the grandfather being a farmer and becoming an early settler in Clermont county, Ohio, where he died a comparatively young man. The only child in the Littleton family was Martha who subsequently became Mrs. Behymer.
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William Behymer, the father, was reared on a farm in Kentucky. and when a boy moved into Ohio, where he learned the trade of cooper and for some time was also engaged in the occupation of running rafts
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and barges down the Ohio river in the river traffic. His father, Solomon B., had settled near Mount Holly, and it was in that vicinity that he grew to manhood. He subsequently went to Rush county, Indiana, where he became a farmer and also did some coopering making barrels for the use of his neighbors. After nine years residence in Rush county he moved to Grant -county, locating near Rigdon where he spent the remainder of his years. During the Civil war he enlisted and saw three years of arduous service and the wounds and exposures which were part of his war experience undoubtedly abbreviated his life. His death occurred in 1890 when sixty-eight years, five months, and twenty days old. He was a very popular member of his community, and was elected and served as constable of his township in Grant county for six or seven years after the war. He was then elected a justice of the peace and served for four years in Greene township. The family were members of the Methodist church. The mother is still living and is now eighty- seven years of age. The eleven children in their family are noted as follows: The first born, died in infancy; Mary Jane, wite of Jacob Hiatt of Rigdon; Perry, a lawyer at Ordway, Colorado; Andrew J .. of Elwood; Rebecca A., wife of J. L. Newkirk of Sexton, Indiana; John O., of Tipton, editor of the Tipton Times; Franklin Pierce, a teacher and township trustee at Elwood; William H., of Rigdon; Christopher R., who lives near Fairmount, Indiana; Emma, now deceased, who was the wife of Alfred Corbin; Melvina, who married Lee Jones.
Mr. Andrew J. Behymer spent nine years of his childhood in Rush county, Indiana, but reached manhood while the family had its home in Grant county. The usual years spent in attending school in his case happened to fall within the Civil war period, and as his father was absent in the army, he was allowed to attend irregularly, and subse- quently had to make up the deficiencies of early training by hard appli- cation and self effort. He became a student in the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and after leaving that institution took up the work of teaching, and altogether has had sixteen terms of work as a teacher to his credit. During his work as teacher he was also engaged in farming and also studied law, was admitted to the bar, and took up active practice. He was admitted to the bar in 1880 and spent the first nine years of his professional career at Rigdon and in Tipton, from whence he moved to Elwood, and in this city has been identified with either the newspaper business or with the law ever since.
On March 19, 1874, Mr. Behymer married Miss Mary E. Thrasher, daughter of Josiah and Amanda M. (McConell) Thrasher. Mrs. Behy- mer was born on a farm in Grant county, six miles west of Fairmount, and her parents were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Fayette county, this state, both being now deceased. She was one of the follow- ing five children: Alonzo, Nancy J., Martha, Mary E., and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Behymer are the parents of six children, whose names are: Harley O., Clarence, Grover, Grace, Linnie, and Hazel. Harley O. died when about one year of age, and Grover at about the same age, while Clarence was sixteen years of age when death came to him. Grace is the wife of David Goldnamer, and their home is in Anderson. Lin- nie married George Livingston, of Piqua, Ohio, and resides at Decatur, Illinois, and their three children are Walter, Clarence, and Lester Jack- son. Hazel is at home with her parents. Mr. Behymer's church is the Methodist, while his wife is a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Behymer is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.
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He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans, and in politics is an ardent Democrat. He has been honored with special distinction in public affairs and represented his district in the lower house of the Indiana legislature for four sessions.
In 1891 he served as chief of the engrossing and enrolling clerks of the house of representatives. Mr. Behymer's office in Elwood is in the Harting Block, while his home is at 1814 North C Street.
JOSEPH A. DEHORITY. The banking interests of a community are necessarily among the most important, for financial stability must be the foundation stone upon which all great enterprises are erected. The men who control and conserve the money of corporation or country must possess many qualities not requisite in the ordinary citizen, and among these high commercial integrity, exceptional financial ability, poise, judgment and foresight may be mentioned. Public confidence must be with them, and this fact has been demonstrated again and again, when panics that have even threatened the stability of the Government have been averted by the wisdom, sagacity and foresight of the men whose whole training has been along the line of finance. A citizen whose name is widely known in banking circles of Indiana, and who, although now somewhat retired from financial affairs, still controls large interests in various lines of endeavor, is Joseph A. Dehority, of Elwood, late president of the First National Bank of this place, and now the direct- ing head of the Home Storage and Manufacturing Company and the Curtisville Tile and Briek Company. He is also possessed of large realty interests in this section, and is prominent in public, social and fraternal life. Mr. Dehority was born in Elwood, Indiana, June 23, 1871, and is a son of James H. and Jane ( Hannah) Dehority.
James Madison Dehority, the paternal grandfather of Joseph A. Dehority, was born in Delaware, and was a man of wide experience and diversified talents. In early life he became a practitioner of law, sub- sequently entered the ministry of the Methodist Protestant Church, later became a large grain dealer, and had also large interests in mer- cantile and financial enterprises. He died in Elwood at the age of eighty years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Huffman, passed away in February, 1899, in advanced years. Of their children. only two lived to maturity: John and James. The maternal grand- father of Mr. Dehority was James C. Hannah, more familiarly known as "Beek" Hannah, who, with his wife, Elizabeth (Hansel) Hannah, was an early pioneer of Blackford county, Indiana. Later they came to Madison county and settled in Elwood, where Mr. Hannah followed the trade of a blacksmith. At the time of his death in 1909, he was eighty-two years of age, his wife having passed away many years ago. They were the parents of a large family of children, four of whom are still living, namely: John, Monroe, Jane and Ada.
James H. Dehority, the father of Joseph A. Dehority, was reared as a farmer boy in Hamilton county, Indiana, until December 24, 1856, when he was brought by his parents to Elwood, being then nine years of age. Here he grew to manhood, attending the public schools, and was taken into the grain business by his father, with his brother John. Later they embarked in the general mercantile field, and in 1874 erected a large merchandise store building, a brick structure located on the cor- ner of Main and Anderson streets, this building being destroyed by fire in 1892. At the same time they embarked in a private banking busi-
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ness, and in 1881 organized the Farmers Bank, of which James H. Dehority was cashier. This was conducted until 1892, when Mr. Deho- rity organized the First National Bank, and of this institution he was president until his death, April 30, 1899, when he was fifty-four years, five months of age. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, of which his wife, who survives him, is a consistent attend- ant. Mr. Dehority was a man of much more than ordinary financial and business ability, and always so condueted his affairs as to gain the con- fidence and good will of all with whom he had transactions. He had the welfare of his community at heart, and was ever ready to assist move- ments making for progress or the general public welfare. He and his wife had four children: Joseph A .; Edward C .; Tillie M., who is the widow of B. R. Call, and resides in Los Angeles, California; and Ione, now deceased, who was the wife of George Platt.
Joseph A. Dehority has spent his entire career in Elwood. After securing his educational training in the public schools, he entered the Farmers Bank as a collector, and when the First National Bank was organized became assistant cashier of that institution. Later he was made cashier, then became vice-president, and finally was made presi- dent of this old and stable institution, a position which he capably filled until his retirement in 1909. Since that year he has been giving the greater part of his attention to the management of the old family home- stead, of which his father owned a part, this being now a traet of 320 acres located in the heart of the city of Elwood. As stated before, Mr. Dehority is president of the Home Storage and Manufacturing Company and of the Curtisville Tile and Brick Company. His wide and varied interests make him an influential factor in the commercial and financial life of the city, and he has withheld his support from no movement which is calculated to promote the interests of Elwood or its people. Among his associates he is looked to for guidance, counsel and leader- ship, and his connection with any enterprise is ample assurance of that venture's entire stability.
On May 20, 1896, Mr. Dehority was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E. Beale, of Rushville, who was born in Rush county, Indiana, daughter of Richard and Mary (Lockridge) Beale. As a young man, Mr. Beale went to Australia, where he was engaged in mining, and while there was married, his wife dying after giving birth to two sons: Stewart and Richard. Later, on coming to this country, Mr. Beale mar- ried Mary Lockridge, and they became early settlers of Rush and Frank- lin counties. They also had two children: Clara and Margaret E. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Dehority has been blessed by the birth of two children: Joseph and Richard, of whom the latter died at the age of eighteen months. Mrs. Dehority is a member of the Presbyterian Church, which her husband also attends. He belongs to Quincy Lodge No. 200, I. O. O. F., in which for four years he has been commander of the Patriarchs Militant, and also holds membership in the local lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men.
CHARLES E. FENELON. It was not until January, 1912, that Charles E. Fenelon came to Elwood and here established the Elwood Monu- mental Works, but even in the brief time that has elapsed he has aecom- plished a greater degree of advancement in the business than would be regarded as possible by the casual observer. His methods are such as to
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inspire confidence and win for him the patronage of his fellow towns people and the business of which he is the leading spirit is making rapi .: strides in and about the community. Mr. Fenelon comes by his skill and talent for the business honestly, for his father before him was a granite and marble sculptor, and he reached a pleasing degree of promi- nence and prosperity in the marble business in Vermont between the years of 1871 and 1905.
Charles E. Fenelon was born in Barre, Vermont, on December 5. 1881, and is the son of Nicholas and Rose (Ross) Fenelon, both native> of France, but the mother being of Italian parentage. These parents were blessed with twelve children, of which number only six grew to mature years. They are: John, Anthony, Louisa, Charles E., Augu -. tus and William. The others died in childhood. All the living member- of this family are skilled musicians, most of them professionals and holding high places in the musical world. The father was a granite and marble sculptor of exceeding great skill, and he came to America in 1871, as has already been mentioned, and located in Barre, Vermont. where he engaged in the marble business. He continued therein most successfully, reared his family and gave them excellent educations in their chosen profession, and in 1905 suffered the loss of the sight of one of his eyes. He soon after retired from business, and returned to France with his wife, and they are now residents of Marseilles, where they are spending their declining years in never-to-be-forgotten atinos phere of Sunny France, their native land.
Charles E. Fenelon was reared in Barre, Vermont, and in common with others of his family, attended the public schools, and learned t !. granite and marble cutter's trade from his father. who felt that if lix. equipped his sons with a practical trade, they were free to follow what- ever profession they chose thereafter. Young Fenelon lived at home until he reached his majority, then took up the study of music, for which he possessed a natural and unusual talent, as did all the others of the family, and after some training, began to travel with his brothers and sisters, and they visited practically every city of note in the United States. He gave up the life of the road in 1909, engaging in the muisi business in Indianapolis and there continuing up to January, 1912. when he came to Elwood and here established himself in the business in which his father had trained him. The Elwood Monumental Works. located at 1421 South A street, is the result of his efforts, and is one of the most up-to-date and complete establishments of its kind in this section of the state. As a result of the thorough training Mr. Fenelon received in his father's workshop, he is one of the best marble an .! granite workmen in the business, and in his more busy seasons he employs a number of skilled workmen about the plant. As an artistic designer and sculptor, he would look long to find his superior, and the designing of monuments and markers is safely left to his skill and judgment by those who want the best. He carries a fine stock of marbi .. and granite monuments, both foreign and domestic, and in the bri. : time that he has been established here has come to be recognized as of to be reckoned with when matters of that order are up for consideration.
On December 23d, 1905, Mr. Fenelon was married to Miss Ada Ross, the daughter of Charles and Adaline Bianchi. Two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Fenelon was born in Connecticut, as were her parents, who are now residents of Ne ...
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Henry Bronnenberg
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Bedford, Massachusetts. She was one of three children, the others being John and Harry.
Mr. and Mrs. Fenelon are members of the Lutheran church of Elwood, and he is fraternally associated with Lodge No. 230, A. F. & A. M., and Elwood Chapter No. 109, Royal Arch Masons. He still keeps up his interest in music and is a member of the Indianapolis Society of Musicians, and musical director of the Elwood Military Band.
HENRY BRONNENBERG. It is by no means an empty distinction to have lived actively and usefully in any community for a period of nearly ninety years. At this writing the venerable Henry Bronnenberg of Chesterfield has passed his eighty-ninth birthday. IIe was born in Madi- son county, at a date so early that his life had its beginning at the same time with civilization in this part of the state. Mr. Bronnenberg is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of Madison county's pioneer citizens, and without question is the oldest native son. He has been both a witness and an actor in the changing developments of a long time, covering the entire history of Madison county, so far as the work of white men is concerned. He is a pioneer, has been successful in his work and business, and is still a hale and hearty man, enjoying the highest esteem of a large community.
When he was quite young there were several tribes of Indians still inhabiting Madison and Delaware counties, in fact he saw the last tribe leave this part of the state, the squaws and pappoose on ponies and the chiefs on foot. In the early times this country abounded with such game as deer, wild turkeys, raccoon, squirrels, with many other species of smaller game and the rivers abounded with many kinds of fish, so he has lived to see this county grow and develop from a wilderness to a great and prosperous country. In fact all the old settlers that first located in this county and cleared the forest have passed away.
Henry Bronnenberg was born in Union township, Madison county, Indiana, September 4, 1824. At that time, it is of interest to note, Indiana had been a state only eight years, and the capital had not yet been estab- lished at Indianapolis. Practically all of northern Indiana above the White River was one unbroken wilderness, and the Bronnenberg family was one of the first to penetrate the wilds of this part of the state. His parents were Frederick and Barbara (Oaster) Bronnenberg, natives of Germany. His father came to the United States when about sixteen years old, settled in Pennsylvania, and from there moved to Madison county, about the year 1820. Madison county of course at that date did not exist by name, and he was here at the organization of civil government in this locality. He followed the work of a pioneer farmer, and died in this county when seventy-eight years old. Of the eleven children eight grew to maturity and Henry is now the last and only survivor.
Mr. Henry Bronnenberg is one of the men who were produced by the pioneer system of training. By reference to the chapter on education in this history, it will be noted that the only schools existing while he was growing up were the so-called subscription schools, supported by a com- munity for the benefit of the children and usually only a few weeks in each year. Mr. Bronnenberg attended such a school, conducted in a log, cabin, and his recollection embraces such erude instruments as the old- fashioned quill pen, the rough slab benches on which the scholars spent the dreary hours of school time, a building heated with a fireplace, lighted through a window which was merely a hole in the wall, covered with greased paper, and the instruction was confined to the rudimentary
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three R's. With all that primitive training he acquired that practical industry, which combined with his keen business sense and energy enabled him to succeed mueh above the ordinary.
Mr. Bronnenberg has long been known as one of Madison county's successful men. At one time he owned more than fifteen hundred acres of land, and gave to each of his children a valuable farm. He is a well preserved man for his years, has good hearing and eyesight, and is prop- erly termed one of the grand old men of the community in which he has spent his life.
In 1847 Mr. Bronnenberg married Miss Mariah Forkner. Eight chil- dren were born to this wife. After her death he married Hannah Perkins, who died in 1910. Mr. Bronnenberg for his third wife married Mrs. Ophelia (Crouch) Borders. She was born in 'Kentucky, a daughter of Absalom Crouch, a native of Garrard county, Kentucky.
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