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 54
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Cicero Riley Reeves was born on a farm in Hancock county, Indiana, May 3, 1864, and comes of old American stock. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Caroline (Harlan) Reeves. His father, born in Brown county, Ohio, was brought to Rush county, Indiana, when ten years of age, and about two years later to Hancock county, where he followed farming prosperously for many years, until his death in 1903, at the age of seventy-five. He was a man of no small influence in his community, served sixteen years as a justice of the peace, as township trustee eight years, and for two years was a member of the Indiana State Legislature. His wife was born in Fayette county and spent her active life in Han- cock county. Mr. Reeves' brothers and sisters are: Dr. A. J. Reeves of Toledo, Illinois; Arthur C. Reeves, a retired farmer of Knightstown, Indiana; Judge A. B. Reeves, of Dodge City, Kansas; Charles F. Reeves, court reporter at Anderson ; and Mrs. J. S. Simmons, Mrs. J. R. Titus and Mrs. John L. Kennedy of Hancock county.
The common schools supplied Mr. Reeves with his early training, followed by attendance at the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois. His career as a worker began at the age of eighteen, and the first four years were spent as a teacher. His home has been in Ander- son since August 29, 1887, and he is probably the oldest established photographer in the county.
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Mr. Reeves is an Independent in politics, and affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Loyal Order of Moose. His church home is the First Christian church of Anderson. On Octo- ber 16, 1887, he married at Wilkinson, Indiana, Cecelia G. Turner, daughter of Frank L. and Jennie Turner. Her father was a publisher. The children of their marriage are: Earle C., Ruth V., Nilah E., Mary J., George A., and John M.
C. M. CORBET. Hickory Grove Dairy, a tract of forty acres lying in Lafayette township, is one of the valuable agricultural properties of Madison county, where its proprietor, C. M. Corbet, has a fine herd of Jersey cattle and supplies milk, cream, butter and other dairy prod- ucts to the people of the adjacent towns and villages. Mr. Corbe: belongs to the new order of agriculturists, who are conducting their operations along modern lines, and has found that by specializing in this branch of farm work he can attain a fuller measure of success than by following general lines. He was born February 20, 1861, near the city of Lima, in Allen county, Ohio, and is a son of the Rev. T. W. and Elizabeth (Robbins) Corbet.
Rev. T. W. Corbet was born in Pennsylvania, and was reared on a farm, but early in life decided to become a minister of the Gospel, and accordingly was placed under the charge of a prominent educator of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of that day. He was eventually ordained a minister of the Lutheran church, and for a long period of years made his home at Lafayette, Ohio, where his charge was located. He and his
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wife were the parents of six children, as follows: Emma, Howard, Mary E., C. M., Ella and Edward.
C. M. Corbet was given excellent educational advantages, receiving his early training under the preceptorship of his father, and subse- quently becoming a student in Northwestern University, Ada, Ohio, from which he was graduated. After leaving school Mr. Corbet went to Middlepoint, Ohio, and was in the grain business for ten years. He then worked in a grocery store at Van Wert, Ohio, and Anderson, Indiana, and afterward, or about seven years ago, he embarked in the dairy business. At that time he embarked upon a business eareer of his own, coming to Lafayette township and establishing the dairy busi- ness of which he has been the proprietor to the present time. His herd of Jersey cattle is one of which he has every reason to be proud, and his business is constantly growing, owing to his able and progressive management. He has taken every precaution .to observe the rules of hygiene, his buildings are well-lighted and ventilated, and sanitary conditions prevail throughout the property, assuring his customers of a fresh, clean product and excellent service. Mr. Corbet is, first of all, a business man, and the struggles of the political arena have not suffi- ciently interested him to make him a seeker for publie honors. He has, however, manifested a commendable inclination to be of service to his community in the duties of good citizenship, and men and measures calculated to bring about able government have always found in him a stanch and hard-working supporter.
On April 15, 1886, Mr. Corbet was united in marriage with Miss Belle Parmenter, of Allen county, Ohio, the ceremony being performed at Lafayette, Ohio, by his father. Mrs. Corbet is a daughter of IT. D. and Mary (Nash) Parmenter, formerly well-known people of Allen county. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Corbet, namely: Fay, Arthur, Vina, LeRoy, Howard, Alice and Emmet, of whom Fay, Arthur, Vina and Emmet are now deceased. Both the Parmenter and Corbet families are connected with the Lutheran church, and have been active in its work and charities.
CLYDE D. SCHURTZ, M. D. The regular profession of medicine at Alexandria, Indiana, has been ably represented during the past sixteen years by Dr. Clyde D. Schurtz, a physician of recognized ability, whose native talent has gained him high standing in his honored calling. Dr. Schurtz was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, January 16, 1859, and is a son of James and Sarah (Krepps) Schurtz.
James Schurtz was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and as a young man moved to Northumberland county, that state, where in 1841 he was married to Miss Sarah Krepps. On their wedding journey the young couple traveled by buggy to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph county, near White Pigeon, where Mr. Sehurtz purchased a farm, and there he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, when he was seventy-three years of age. He was a successful farmer, an influence for good in his community, and possessed the high regard and esteem of his fellow- citizens. His widow lived to be seventy-six years of age, and died in 1894, at the home of her son, Dr. Reuben Schurtz, of Streator, Illinois, her funeral taking place at the German Lutheran Church, of which she had been a faithful member. Mr. and Mrs. Schurtz were the parents of ten children, as follows: Mary Jane, who became the wife of A. G.
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Barton, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Henry Albert, a resident of Three Rivers, Michigan; David A., living at Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Hannal. Elmira, who married David Mandigo, of Riverside, California; D: Reuben, living at Streator, Illinois, a well-known physician; Orr, whoy. home is at Negaunee, Michigan; Dr. Perry, a practicing physician of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dr. Clyde D., of this review; Freddie, who died at the age of two and one-half years; and Dr. Frank B., a physi- cian of Spring Valley, Illinois.
Clyde D. Schurtz was reared on his father's farm on White Pigeo !: Prairie, Michigan, and secured his early education in the district schools' and the Constantine and Kalamazoo Union school. He subsequently studied dentistry, and after receiving his degree practiced that profes- sion for three years, then commencing his medical studies in the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Later he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which noted institution he was graduated in 1885, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and almost immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Eatou. Ohio. From that city he went to Coal City, Illinois, and then to Peoria. in the same state, and in the early part of the winter 1897 came to Alexandria, which city has since been his field of practice. He has been able to build up an excellent professional business, and his large and representative practice has been secured through the recognition of his ability, and his success in a number of complicated cases. Always an assiduous student, he continues to keep fully abreast of the changes and advances in his profession, subscribing to the latest periodicals, and taking a keen interest in the work of the Madison County Medico! Society and the Indiana State Medical Society, of which organizations he is a valued member. He is a Progressive in his political views but has preferred to devote himself to his profession rather than to enter into the activities of publie life, although he has an intelligent know !- edge of the various public questions of the day and actively supports movements for the betterment of his community and its people. H. has been prominent in fraternal work for some years, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of Alexandria Lodge, No. 235, Free and Accepted Masons, Alexandria Chapter No. 99, Royal Arch Masons, and Alexandria Council No. 85.
On February 3, 1908, Dr. Sehurtz was united in marriage with Miss Rilla Fishero, who was born June 26, 1872, at Wallace, Indiana, daugh- ter of Peter and Clara Elizabeth (Ward) Fishero. This family is of French origin, the name having been originally spelled Fougerousse. Mr. and Mrs. Fishero are natives of Indiana, and for many years were residents of Alamo, although they now make their home at Marshall. this state. They are the parents of two children: Rilla and Lucy. Mrs. Schurtz is a member of the Christian Church, and is a general favorite in social circles of Alexandria.
HENRY M. KEMP. Madison county has no more progressive farmer and citizen than Henry M. Kemp. With a large estate, acquired prin- cipally through his own exertions, he has employed the best methods of modern agriculture to make it produce and give it the character of a modern business enterprise. Mr. Kemp has the distinction of having been the first farmer in all this part of Indiana to use steam power in plowing his land. Then, too, he was one of the first country residents in Madison county to own an automobile, both for pleasure and business.
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Though he has done much to promote his own success, Mr. Kemp had the advantage of two generations of solid family success behind him. His family is one of the oldest iu Madison county. His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers, and his father took hold where the grandfather left off and accumulated a large fortune for that time in the form of farm lands and other property. Mr. Henry M. Kemp has directed the facilities of his age to the improvement and cultivation of his lands, and has made a striking suecess.
Henry M. Kemp was born in Jackson township, March 7, 1862. His ancestry runs back to his father, David W. Kemp, who was born in the same township, through Grandfather Henry Kemp, who was born in Frederick, Maryland, and through great-grandfather Gilbert Kemp, also a native of Maryland. Gilbert Kemp was reared and married in his native state, and eame westward and settled in Hamilton county at a time which pictures him as one of the very earliest pioneers. Entering large tracts of government land on the south side of White River, he improved the water power at Shepard's Ford, built a saw and grist mill, which was among the first institutions of the kind in a large ter- ritory, and continued to operate the mills and superintend the clearing and cultivation of his lands until his death at a good old age. Grand- father Henry Kemp was a youth when the family moved to Indiana, and at the age of twenty-seven years he married Huldah Wise. This marriage connected him with the family of the oldest settlers in Jackson township of Madison county. Her parents were Daniel and Mary (Mil- ler) Wise, the former of whom had entered the first land in Jackson township. The interesting history of the Wise family will be found elsewhere in the sketch of Lorana Coy. Henry Kemp was himself one of the early settlers of Jackson township, having entered land direet from the government in sections two and eleven of township nineteen, range six east, now known as Jackson township. That was many years before the era of railroads, and transportation facilities were limited to the rough roads constructed across the prairies and through the woods. Grandfather Kemp in the early days took his surplus products to Cin- cinnati, with team and wagon, and it often required two weeks to make the trip to that city and back. His first home was a log cabin, typical of many others in early Madison county, and as his means increased he built good frame buildings, and continued to live on the old homestead in Jackson township until his death at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife survived him and died in advanced years. The only child of their marriage was Daniel W. Kemp, father of Henry M. Kemp.
Daniel W. Kemp was reared on the old farm, had a practical educa- tion in the early district schools, and adopted the life of farmer. He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, and in his generation was one of the most successful farmers and business men of Jackson -township. His acreage was increased until it aggregated seven hundred and twenty acres, all in the home township. When the natural gas dis- coveries were made, he sunk a gas well on his land, and distributed this product through six miles of pipe, which he laid. His health finally failing he went to Ocalla, Florida, where he died the second day after his arrival, at the age of sixty-five. David W. Kemp married Leannah Moore, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of John Moore. She now lives in old age at Anderson. The four children of their marriage were: Henry M., Florence, Ansel David, and Walter.
Henry M. Kemp grew up in Jackson township, and while still a boy Vol DI-25
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attending school learned all the practical duties of farm life. When: the was ready to start for himself, his father gave him ten acres as .. tbuilding site, and he proceeded to cultivate a portion of his father'. land. Later he inherited some land, and has added to it by purchas .. until he is the owner of one of the big farms of Jackson township, com prising three hundred and sixty-five acres of land. The Kemp farm iis situated about six miles west of Anderson. Everything about the place indicates the thrifty and progressive farmer. There is a fine set of fine frame buildings, including a comfortable residence, barns and cout ibuildings, and all the improvements measure up to the best stand- ards of Madison county agriculture. His barn is a conspicuous struct- turelbuilt in a circular form, eighty feet in diameter; flanking the main ibarn are two large silos, one of which has a capacity for the cut of ttwelve acres, and the other for fifteen acres. In every way Mr. Kemp jhas kept abreast of the times, and modern methods. and all his machinery is first-class. He does general farming and stock raising. and has made his business pay good dividends, practically every year.
In :1886 Mr. Kemp married Alice Tappan. She was born in Ander- son, a daughter of John and Mary (Snodgrass) Tappan. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are: John, Theresa, Irene, Rachel. Lois. and Gilbert. Mr. Kemp's father was a good Methodist and a Repul. llican. Henry M. Kemp cast his first vote for James G. Blaine, in 1884, and has consistently supported the party ever since. Fraternally he is affiliated with Lapel Lodge No. 386, Knights of Pythias.
THAD M. MOORE. The manager of the Union Real Estate Company. with offices in the Union Building at Anderson is an excellent repre- sentative of a pioneer Madison county family. Mr. Moore bas lived iu this county practically all his life, has been a farmer, merchant, public official, and is now the executive of one of the leading real estate firms of the county.
Thad M. Moore was born at Summittville in Madison county, June 21, 1865. His father, Columbus W. Moore, was also born at Summitt- wille. To the occupation of farming he devoted the best years of his life, and at the height of his young manhood became a soldier of the Union, and enlisted in 1861 in Company D of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He gave faithful service as a soldier. and then returned to his home state, and after a few years residence in Madison county, moved in 1870 to Indianapolis. He returned to Summittville, where he died the later part of 1871. He married Margaret Hite, o!' Rush county, a. daughter of Jacob Hite, one of the old residents of that county. After their marriage they located in Summittville, where the father was engaged in business.
Thad M. Moore attended the village schools in Summittville, and also the high school, and after leaving high school entered the University of Valparaiso, where he was a student for two years. On his return to Sun- mittville, he lived on a farm in that vicinity for a time, and then became employed in the general store at that time operated by his grandfather in Summittville. During that period of his life he married Miss Claudiai Fawcett, a daughter of William and Clarinda (Pavey) Fawcett.
After his marriage Mr. Moore located on a farm, and was identified with general farming and stock raising for a number of years. He pros- pered in that calling, and continued it until 189S. He then moved to Summittville, and was appointed assistant postmaster and in 1900 Was
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elected county assessor on the Republican ticket, serving ten years in that capacity. After his term of service, he engaged in business at Anderson, and in 1911 became manager of the Union Real Estate Company.
To Mr. and Mrs. Moore the following children were born: William C., now a student in the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis; Frank T., George S., and Kathleen, all at home. Mr. Moore owns a good farm in Madison county, having his place well stocked and he gives his personal supervision to its operation. The family reside on the farm during the summer season, and the rest of the year is spent in Anderson. Mr. Moore is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
WILLIE EVERETT CLYMER. As the popular proprietor of the lead- ing livery business of Elwood, Willie Everett Clymer is well known to the citizens of his community, who have recognized and appreciated the fact that he has endeavored to give them the best of service. He has followed this line of business ever since boyhood, and is thoroughly familiar with its every detail, thus being able to cater to the tastes of his many patrons. ' He is a native of Elwood, and was born here April 19, 1868, a son of Royal H. and Elizabeth (Hart) Clymer.
Massy Clymer, the paternal grandfather of Willie Everett Clymer, came with his wife to Madison county from Ohio, took up government land, settled among the pioneers, and cleared and developed a farm, on which they spent the remainder of their years, passing away in old age. They had eleven children : Daniel H., Margaret, Huldah, Calvin, Royal H., Lou, Mattie, Mury, Elizabeth, Lovina and Elmira. Mr. Clymer's maternal grandparents were natives of Ohio and also early settlers of Indiana. They were the parents of five children, namely : Lewis, Ellen, George, John and Elizabeth. Royal H. Clymer was born at Columbus, Ohio, and was still a boy when brought to Madison county by his parents, the family settling on a farm. He received his education in the public schools of his locality and grew to manhood as a farmer, but eventually became a teamster in and around Elwood during the logging days. He has been a resident of Elwood for forty years, thirty-eight of which have been passed in the livery business, and as the present head of the firm of R. H. Clymer & Son, he is widely known and very popular. His wife died in 1889, in the faith of the Methodist Protestant church, of which Mr. Clymer has been a life- long member. . They were the parents of six children, as follows: Markie; Willie Everett; Cora, who is the wife of L. A. Sites; Myrtle who married Frank E. DeHority; Ernest; and Lola, who is the wife of Charles Lyons. Ernest and Markie both died in early childhood.
Willie E. Clymer was reared in Elwood, and this has always been his home, with the exception of two years, when he was still a small child, when he resided in the country. His education was secured in the public and high schools here, and on leaving the latter began to work for his father, whose partner he became when he was nineteen years of age. Mr. Clymer has continued as a member of the firm of R. H. Clymer & Son, and is considered one of the substantial men of the city.
On June 20, 1886, Mr. Clymer was married to Miss Lennie Lutes, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, daughter of Julius and Annie (Patterson) Lutes, natives of Ohio and early settlers of Hamil- ton county. Mr. Lutes died in 1887, at the age of forty-four years,
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and Mrs. Lutes still survives and is sixty-four years of age. They had four children, of whom two are now living: Lennie and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Clymer had one child, who died in infancy. They are mem- bers of the Methodist Protestant church, in the movements of which they have been active, and Mr. Clymer holds membership in the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He is a stalwart Demo- crat in his political views, and has served his fellow-townsmen in the capacity of alderman for seven years. He belongs to that class of citi- zens who advance the interests of any community, and can be relied upon to support all movements of a progressive nature. His popn- larity is evidenced by his many warm friends and admirers.
JOHN P. DOWNS. Success in any of the pursuits of life usually challenges the admiration of the world. It matters not whether in the profession of law, medicine or literature, or in the theological domain, in the military or civil life, or in business pursuits, it is the one dis- tinguishing and distinctive characteristic of all business transactions. In the commercial world, alone, the subject of these lines, in his sphere of labor and activity, has distinguished himself as an active. energetic business man, and has demonstrated the fact that success may be attained through the exercise of habits of industry and perse- verance and that to the man of merit belongs the full measure of stic- cess and worldly prosperity. John P. Downs, wholesale butcher and stock buyer, of Elwood, was born in Grant county, Indiana, near the village of Rigdon, September 10, 1871, and is a son of Jesse F. and
Mary A. (Rybolt) Downs. His paternal grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania who settled in Grant county, Indiana, at an early date, and here spent the remainder of their lives in the tilling of the soil, dying when advanced in years, with the full respect and esteem of their acquaintances. They were the parents of the following children: Jesse F., Cale, George, William, Sarah, John, Abraham and Mary. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Downs were Isaac and Sarah Rybolt, who came to Indiana at an early date from Ohio, and settled in Grant county, where they also followed farming and attained to advanced years. They had quite a large family of children, among whom were Mary, Rachel, Maria and Jolin.
Jesse F. Downs was born in Grant county, Indiana, and there was reared to manhood, being well educated in the public schools and receiv- ing a thorough training in all matters pertaining to work of an agri- cultural nature. On attaining his majority, he engaged in farming on his own account, and there died on his sixty-acre tract, in March, 1900 aged about fifty-seven years. His wife, also a native of Indiana, still survives him and makes her home in Elwood. They were originally members of the United Brethren church, but later became identified with the Methodist denomination, in which Mr. Downs frequently preached. During the dark days of the struggle between the North and South, he donned the uniform of his country and for three years fought valiantly in its defense, participating in some of the most hot!y- contested battles of the war. He was a stalwart Republican in polities and always actively supported its candidates and principles. Mr. and Mrs. Downs were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity, as follows: John P., who makes his home at Elwood; Charles, living in Pipe Creek township, Madison county, where he foi- lows farming; Garfield, also living in Pipe Creek township; Frank.
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who is a resident of Indianapolis; and Irene and Dale, who make their home with their mother in Elwood.
John P. Downs was reared in Grant county on his father's farm, his education being obtained in the district schools of his vicinity, which he attended during the short winter terms. As a young man he entered his present business, beginning in a modest way to buy stock and carry on farming, and the former business has grown to such pro- portions that he is now known as one of the leading men in his line in this part of the county. He is energetic and alert, ever ready to grasp an opportunity, and possesses the ability to carry his ventures through to a successful conclusion. His career has been one of indus- try and constant energy and his well-directed efforts have been rewarded by a merited success. Following in the foot-steps of his father, Mr. Downs is a Republican, but has not been an office seeker. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. The pleasant, modern family home of the Downs is located at No. 1526 North A street.
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