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 51
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Mr. Fuller was married first to Miss Ella Millspaugh, and to this union there were born two children. Tillman and Rena. the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Fuller's second marriage was to Miss Cynthiana Schocy, by whom he had these children : Ollie, who is deceased ; Frank : Grover; Ray Rex; Pauline; Muriel; William; Garnett, who is deceased. Mr. Fuller is a Democrat in his political views, but has not been par- ticularly active in public affairs. The members of his family are con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal and Baptist churches.
ELMER E. HOEL. Many of the most successful agriculturists of Madi- son county are carrying on operations on farms on which they were born, their long association with which has made them thoroughly familiar with soil and climatic conditions and thus has enabled them to gain a full measure of success from their operations. Prominent among this class of representative men is Elmer E. Hoel, of Adams township, the owner of 146 acres of well-cultivated land on section 15, who is known in his community as a public-spirited citizen and able man of business. Mr. Hoel was born on his present farm in Adams township, Madison county, Indiana, August 6, 1863, and is a son of Martin W. and Sarah (Richwine) Hoel, both now deceased. His parents were natives of Ohio and on first coming to Indiana located on land in Rush county. from whence they subsequently removed to Madison county. Here they spent the remainder of their lives, making a comfortable home for their family and developing a good farm. They were highly esteemed in their community as law-abiding Christian people, who were known for their charity and hospitality. To them there were born four children, namely : Elmer E., of this review; Mazie, who became the wife of George Zukle; William, an agriculturist of Adams township; and Thomas, who resides in Oklahoma.
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Like other farmers' sons of his day and locality, Elmer E. Hoel divided his boyhood between attending the district schools of his locality during the winter months and assisting his father in the work of the home farm during the summer seasons, and thus grew to manhood, receiving a liberal mental training, while his physical welfare was not neglected. He was thoroughly instructed by his father in the numerous subjects upon which the successful farmer and stock raiser should be informed, and on reaching manhood embarked upon an agricultural career of his own, and his industry, perseverance and energetic effort has resulted in a well merited success. He has his tract of 146 acres under a high state of cultivation, and upon it may be found a full set of farm buildings, substantial in character and modern in architecture. He raises large crops which find a ready sale in the adjacent markets, where his fine cattle bring top-notch prices. For a number of years Mr. Hoel has operated a threshing machine during the seasons and in this as in other lines he has achieved satisfactory results. He is progressive and energetic in all things, and to the possession of these qualities may be attributed much of his success.
On February 16, 1890, Mr. Hoel was married to Miss Lydia Bowers, who was born, reared and educated in Henry county, Indiana, and to this union there have been born two children: Thamer, born September 22, 1891, who received his education in the public schools of Adams township, and is now assisting his father in the cultivation of the home- stead; and Chrystal, born February 3, 1897, who is still attending the public schools. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Hoel are rearing two nieces, Elizabeth B. Bowers and Ruby Garnett. Mr. and Mrs. Hoel are honest, hospitable people, whose home is ever open to their hosts of friends. They are consistent members of the Christian church and have been active in religious and charitable movements. Mr. Hoel's political affiliations are with the Democratic party, bat outside of taking a good citizen's interest in matters that pertain to the welfare of his section, he has not been active in political matters.
HENRY V. BECK. An industrious and well-to-do agriculturist of Van Buren township, Henry V. Beck holds an assured position among its respected citizens, his industry, uprightness, and neighborly dealing hav- ing gained for him the confidence and esteem of the community in which he has so long lived. A native of Madison county, he was born in 1846, in Monroe township, of pioneer ancestry.
His father, John Beck, came from North Carolina to Indiana, settling in Madison county while a large part of the country roundabout was in its pristine wildness. Taking up a tract of land from the Government, he erected a log cabin for the use of himself and family, and labored with true pioneer grit and courage to redeem a farm from the wilder- ness. He married Mary E. Shelton, who was likewise a native of North Carolina, and she ably assisted him in his efforts to establish a home, doing her full share of the pioneer work, which included the carding, spinning and weaving of the homespun material in which she clothed her little family, which consisted, beside herself and husband, of two chil- dren, namely: Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Woods: and Henry V., the special subject of this brief biographical sketch.
As a boy and youth Henry V. Beck attended the Whitehall school, a pioneer institution of learning in which he obtained a practical know !- edge of the common branches of study. When out of school he assisted
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his father in clearing and improving a homestead, gaining wisdom and experience in regard to agriculture. When ready to start in life as a farmer, Mr. Beck rented land in Van Buren township, and managed it so efficiently and well that he saved money, and when he had accumulated a sufficient sum to warrant him in becoming a landholder he bought his present farm of seventy-nine acres, which is finely located on the Ander- son and Marion road, or pike, about two miles north of Summitville.
Mr. Beck married, in 1866, Nancy Hoppes, daughter of Samuel aud Lavina Hoppes, and of the nine children born of their union seven are living, namely : Cornelia, wife of a Mr. Johnson; Alma, wife of Mir. Simmons; John; Oley; Mert; Fleet; and Burrel. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the Christian church, and have reared their children in the same faith.
HARRY SAVAGE. Some of the most successful of Madison county's farmers are men of the younger generation, who are applying modern methods to their work with very satisfactory results. In this class is Harry Savage, the owner of a well-cultivated and valuable property of eighty acres, located on the Gillman road, in Monroe township. Mr. Savage has been the architect of his own fortunes. in that the success he has achieved has come as a direct result of his own efforts, for when he embarked upon his career he was given neither financial assistance nor the support of influential friends. He is a native of Madison county, having been born in the vicinity of Perkinsville, in Jackson township, .in 1883, and is a son of Walter and Nancy (Welchom) Savage. Ilis father, a native of the state of Iowa, migrated to Indiana as a young man, and here has passed his subsequent career, being one of the sub- stantial citizens of Jackson township, where he owns a large tract of land. He and his wife have been the parents of seven children, namely: Gertrude, who became the wife of Mr. Brown; Harry; Glenn; Warren, who married Myrtle Hancock; Ray ; Everett; and Orval, who is deceased.
Harry Savage received his education in the graded schools of the city of Anderson, and during his vacation periods assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm. At the time of his marriage ite gave up his employment in the mills of that city and turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, starting in a modest manner and grade. ally increasing the extent of his operations. Mr. Savage is now the owner of a well-developed tract of eighty acres, which repays him for the intelligent and industrious labor he has expended upon it, and the success which has come to him is but the just reward therefor. In addi- tion to general farming, he has engaged in stock raising, and he now has a large herd of well-fed, sleek cattle, his stock at all times commanding top-notch prices in the markets.
In January, 1909, Mr. Savage was married to Mrs. Fannie (Hood) Duffy, widow of Ed. Duffy, by whom she had one son-Harold. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Savage: Paul and Nancy. Richard Hood, the father of Mrs. Savage, was born in Rush county, Indiana, and as a young man came to Madison county, Indiana. purchas- ing a farm about one mile west of Alexandria, on which he carried on operations during the remainder of his active career. He married Mary Ellsworth, whose father was a Scotchman by birth, and who removed to Ireland and thence to the United States, settling at an early time in Madison county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hood are now deceased. They
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were the parents of two children: Fannie, who married Mr. Savage; and Bella, who was married September 29, 1910, and has one child.
Mr. Savage is a member of Prible Lodge of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has numerous friends. He has devoted his entire atten- tion to the cultivation of the soil and to his home, and has had neither time nor inclination to enter public life.
. W. EDWARD TERWILLIGER. Four miles east of Elwood on the Dundee pike is situated one of the finest rural homes of Madison county, excel- lent not alone in the fertility of its soil and the value of its crops, but also for its many exceptional improvements. The Terwilliger farm com- prises two hundred and thirty-three and a half aeres of rolling and well drained land, and Mr. Terwilliger is devoting its acreage to general farm- ing and stock raising. He has shown much enterprise in his business career, and enjoys the respect and admiration always paid to a success- ful man.
W. Edward Terwilliger was born September 8, 1885, in Allen county, Ohio, near the city of Lima. His parents are D. F. and Flora (Crider) Terwilliger. His father is a well known farmer and land owner and is county commissioner of Madison county. The children in the family of the parents are named as follows: Oscar; W. Edward; Harvey; Bertha ; Lilly; Ethel; Arthur, and Alton.
W. Edward Terwilliger was a child when the family left Allen county. Ohio, and moved to Tipton county, Indiana, his father locating in what was then a swamp, but is now considered among the best land in Indiana. Mr. Terwilliger was married October 3, 1906, to Miss Nora Glass, daughter of J. H. and Otilda (Meyer) Glass. Mrs. Terwilliger was the only child of her parents, and she had the advantages of a good home and was well educated. Mr. and Mrs. Terwilliger have one child, Jean. born December 12, 1907. The family worship in the Presbyterian church.
JOHN D. HAYS. In the vicinity of Frankton is the old Wise home- . stead, familiarly known throughout this region, and now occupied by Mr. John D. Hays, one of the progressive agriculturists and public spir- ited citizens of this part of the county. Mr. Hays operates one hundred and sixty acres of land, raises grain and stock, and each year turns over a good amount of business to the credit side of his ledger.
. John D. Hays was born September 30, 1866, in Rush county, Indiana, a son of Alexander and Margaret (Duncan) Hays. By occupation his father was also a farmer, and during the period of the Civil war served as a Union soldier, enduring the hardships of many campaigns during that great war. There were two other children in the family, namely, Lindy, the wife of E. Harold, and the mother of twelve children; and Pearl, who married a Mr. Fowler.
John D. Hays spent his youth in Rush county, was reared on a farm and attended common schools, and had a practical training in the occu- pation which he has made his vocation in life. Mr. Hays married Miss Cora Reason, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Morris) Reason. Her father was born and reared in Rush county, was a farmer who owned a large amount of land in that section and is still living there. In the Reason family were eighteen children, most of whom grew up and acquired an honorable and substantial position in life. The five chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Hays are Fay. Raymond, Ivan, Gurma and Gerald.
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The last three are now attending school. Mr. Hays is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, votes the Republican ticket and he and his family worship in the Christian church.
WILLIAM PENN CUNNINGHAM. The history of the business achieve- ment of William Penn Cunningham is one that is well worthy of men- tion in this work, and is one that shows forth the sturdy qualities of the man better than mere words of praise could ever do. From a small beginning, one bit of advancement has steadily and consistently followed another, year by year, until he has long since been reckoned among the more successful and prosperous farming men of the community or of the county. His property, indeed, extends into Delaware county, a fine place of one hundred acres lying just across the line between Madison and Delaware counties. His Madison county farm comprises a forty- acre tract, and other property also figures significantly upon his tax list. He has long taken a leading part in the community that holds his abid- ing place, and shares in the esteem and regard of the best people of the town.
William Penn Cunningham was born in 1860, the first day of Febru- ary being his natal day, and West Virginia the place of his birth. He is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Thompson) Cunningham, the father a man of Scotch parentage, but of Virginia birth and breeding. He was the son of Thomas Cunningham, who came to these shores from his native Scotland in young manhood, and in West Virginia established the family. Benjamin Cunningham entered upon a farming life and was fairly prosperous in his ambitions. He reared a family of ten children, named as follows: Anna; Alice, deceased; George; David, deceased; William Penn; Samuel, deceased; Joseph ; Kate; Ida; Sarah, and Mary.
In common with his brothers and sisters, William Cunningham attended the district schools of his day in West Virginia, and he was twenty years old when he left his Virginia home and came to Henry county, Indiana. In his boyhood home, he had been proficiently trained in the work of the farm, and he hired out to a farmer in Henry county, with whom he worked for four consecutive years. He later took up rail- road work and was employed as foreman of a erew for some time, but gave up the work to identify himself once more with farm life. It was his wish, however, to reach a degree of independence in his work, and instead of hiring his services to some farmer, he rented a farm which he pro- ceeded to operate on his own responsibility. He had soon realized a profit sufficient to permit his purchase of a piece of land comprising twenty-seven acres, which he was able to add to from time to time, by the exercise of his best judgment and by practicing a rigid economy in everything. He lived on his original purchase of twenty-seven aeres for three years, then moved to another farm in the vicinity of Sulphur Springs, and for eight years the home of the family was located there. It was then that the truck farming idea seized Mr. Cunningham, and he bought fifteen acres of fine land which he devoted to truck gardening exclusively, and was rewarded for his foresight by a tidy sum that lie realized from a few seasons of work. The next purchase that Mr. Cun. ningham made was that of a 160 aere tract near Delaville, Indiana, which he later sold and bought the Moffett farm. This also proved to be a good "buy" and he sold it in turn, realizing. quite a sum from the transaction. He later bought another hundred acres and upon this place he located his son. His next purchase was a Middletown property and
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some two years ago he bought his present place, which he put in fine shape, making a number of splendid improvements, and bringing it up to a high standard of excellence.
In 1884 Mr. Cunningham was married to Emma Lovett, the daughter of David and Vashti Lovett, the father a West Virginian by birth, and an early settler of Adams county, Ohio. Both parents are now deceased. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, Laurell L., who married Ollie Bronnenberg. They have one child, Merrill.
The family are members of the Church of the Seven Day Adventists, and are active in the work of that body.
JAMES F. MADDEN. Manager of the P. Madden Grocery at 809 South Harrison street in Alexandria, Mr. Madden has been identified with the business enterprise of Madison county for the past sixteen or seventeen years, having come here with his father, the late Patrick Madden, who established the present grocery house in Alexandria. Three generations of the Madden family have lived in Indiana, and the various members have always borne the responsibilities of life with credit and honor and have given much to their respective communities through their honest and effective industry.
James F. Madden was born in Richmond, Indiana, November 19, 1863, a son of Patrick and Ann (Merrigan) Madden. The paternal grand- father was Bernard Madden, who married Letitia Rafferty. He was a hard worker all his life, though he never followed a profession or any of the skilled trades. His death occurred at Richmond, Indiana, and his wife's in Rushville, this state, the former at the age of sixty-two and the latter when about ninety-one years of age. There were ten children in the family, three of whom died when young, and the seven who reached maturity were Patrick, John, Bernard, Thomas, Mary Ann, Ellen and Michael. On the mother's side the grandfather was James Merrigan, who married Catherine Kinney. Both were ratives of County Longford, Ireland, and came to America and landed at New Orleans on June 2, 1850. After living for one year in Cincinnatti, they came to Indiana, locating in Cambridge City, where James Merrigan followed various pur- suits. His death occurred when he was about fifty years of age. His wife died in Rushville at the age of eighty-five. In Ireland they had followed the occupation of farming. The four children in the Merrigan family were John; Bridget, who married Matthew Cunningham; Maria, who married James Stuart; and Ann, wife of Patrick Madden.
The late Patrick Madden was twelve years of age when he came to America with his parents. They first settled at Syracuse, New York, where he grew to manhood. His first regular occupation was farming, after which he took up railroading, and about the time he reached man- hood he moved to Richmond, Indiana, with his parents. After his marriage he moved to New Madison, Ohio, where he continued in the railroad service. He remained at New Madison six years, after which he came to Rushville, Indiana, thence moving to Cincinnati, which was his home for four years, and in 1896 established a grocery business at Alexandria. He was a capable and energetic business man, and con- ducted a successful grocery at Alexandria until his death, which occurred May 21, 1912, when he was seventy-seven years and seventeen days old.
The late Patrick Madden on the fifteenth day of December, 1862, mar- ried Miss Ann Merrigan, who was born in County Longford, while her
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husband was a native of County Mayo, Ireland. They became the par- ents of ten children, nine of whom lived to maturity, the names being as follows: James F .; Mary; Lillian; Bernard; John P .: Catherine, wife of Charles T. O'Brien; Emma; Ida; Florence; and Cecelia, who died when two years of age. The parents were both devout members of the Catholic church, and the mother is still living in Alexandria, where she and her family enjoy a host of friends.
James F. Madden spent a considerable part of his boyhood in Rush- ville, where he obtained his first schooling. He went to Cincinnati, O., where he began his career as a railroader, being a railroad clerk in the operating service, but gave up that occupation to accompany the family to Alexandria, in 1896. Since that time he has been his father's manager in the grocery business, and the success of the enterprise has been largely due to his ability to make friends and customers, and to furnish first-class goods at fair prices. Mr. Madden is independent in politics, and sees more in business than he does in party activities. He is an enterprising, publie spirited, business man, and enjoys the full respect and esteem of all his community.
PROF. JOSEPH L. CLAUSER. The educator of today is called upon to meet and overcome many obstacles of which those of an older day knew practically nothing. The enlarging of the curriculum of the pub- lie schools, with the demand for the practice of pedagogy, necessitates a long and careful training, and assiduous subsequent study and re- search on the part of those to whom is entrusted the molding of the plastic mind of youth. Popular demand has resulted in the produc- tion of a class of men who as educators have had no equal in the history of the world. Their profound knowledge of their work, their keen enthusiasm for their honored calling, their sound judgment and keen ยท insight into human nature, all go to make them eminently able to give to each pupil the individual attention now regarded as so necessary for the proper rounding out of character. Among the men of Madi- son county who have distinguished themselves as educators in a broad and comprehensive way, none is more worthy of mention than Prof. Joseph L. Clauser, superintendent of the public schools of Elwood. For nearly a quarter of a century he has been devoted to his profes- sion, and his rise therein has been steady and consistent, until today he stands among the foremost men of his profession in this part of the State. Prof. Clauser was born at Owasco, Indiana, June 12. 1869. and is a son of William and Caroline (Kuhns) Clauser, natives of Pennsyl- vania.
Joseph Clauser, the paternal grandfather of Joseph L. Clauser. was born in the Keystone State, and was there engaged in agricultural pur- suits throughout a long and useful life, passing away full of years and honored by all who knew him. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Gross, was also born in that State, and like her husband, attained advanced age. They were the parents of but two children: William and Mary. Henry Kuhns. the maternal grandfather of Prof. Clauser, was also born in Pennsylvania, and was a farmer by occupation. At an early day he came with his family to Clinton county, Indiana, where he settled on a large tract of land, and became one of the substantial farmers of his section. Mr. Kuhns married Catherine Zimmerman, of Pennsylvania, and they died in old age, having been the parents of
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the following children : David, Charles, Jonas, Samuel, Catherine, Eliza- beth and Caroline.
William Clauser was born in Pennsylvania, and in that State grew to manhood on his father's farm, his education being secured in the district schools. When still a young man he migrated to Carroll county. Indiana, where he became an early settler, locating on a farm near Owasco. There he spent the remainder of his life, clearing his land and making a comfortable home for his family, and winning the regard and esteem of those who had transactions of any nature with him. Ilis death occurred on the homestead in 1888, when he was sixty-seven years of age, his wife having passed away during the previous year, when she was fifty-eight years old. Both were faithful to the teachings of the Lutheran Church, and reared their children in that belief. Their family consisted of ten children, as follows: William H., who is a resi- dent of Delphi, Indiana; Samuel P., who also makes his home at Delphi ; John F., who is a resident near Owasco, Indiana; Charles E., who is deceased; Dr. George A., a well known practicing physician of Bridge- water, South Dakota; Albert F., who is deceased; Prof. Joseph [ .. , of this review; Amos C., who is deceased; and one child who died in in- fancy. There was but one daughter, Sarah, who died at the age of sixteen.
The early education of Prof. Joseph L. Clauser was secured in the district schools in the vicinity of his father's farm near Owasco and like other farmers' lads his training was limited to the short winter terms, the rest of the year being spent in the work of the homestead. He was thoroughly trained in agricultural matters, but it was not th .. young man's intention to become a tiller of the soil, and he later se- cured the opportunity to take a course in the Northern Indiana Nor- mal school. Following this he became a student in the Indiana State Normal School, at Terre Haute, Indiana, from which well-known in- stitution he was graduated in 1902. In 1908 he was the recipient of the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the Indians State University, at Bloomington, and later took similar degrees in Columbia University, New York. Prof. Clanser entered upon his ca- reer as an educator in 1889, and since that year has taught each year except one, that in which he was securing his degrees. For six years he was a teacher in the schools of Carroll county, Indiana, and subse- quently became superintendent of schools at Rossville, a position which he also held for six years. During a like period of time, he was super- intendent of the city schools of Mitchell, Indiana, and he was then called to the same position in Elwood, where he has labored during the last five years. A learned scholar, thorough and conscientious in his work. with that happy faculty for imparting his own knowledge to others. he is withal an attractive, pleasant man, who makes friends easily and retains them by the force of his personality. He is popular alike with teachers, pupils and parents, while his able handling of the educational problems that have come before him has gained him the entire confi- dence of the general public.
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