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 57
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In 1894 Mr. Shirley was married to Florence Beard, a daughter of the state of Virginia, where she was reared and educated. They have three sons: Beard, the eldest, is sixteen years of age; Raymond, age fourteen; and Joseph S. All three are attendants at the Pendleton high school, and give promise of worthy accomplishments with the passing years.
Mr. and Mrs. Shirley are members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Shirley has long been a trustee and a member of the official board of the church. In his politics he is a Prohibitionist, and is active and prominent in the work of that party. Mr. Shirley is. a man who has led a clean and wholesome life, and has many excellent traits which have won for him a place in the general regard of his fellow beings that is most enviable. He had little chance to educate himself in his youth, his schooling being of the district school variety, but he has supplemented that meager training with lessons learned under the greatest of all schoolmasters, experience; and he has been one who was able to profit by his mistakes as well as by his successes and victories. He has the unqualified respect of all who know him, and is cherished in his community as an excellent friend and neighbor,
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while the quality of his citizenship is known and appreciated through .. out Madison county.
MICHAEL JOSEPH FOGERTY. In every large community there are found business men- who have risen to successful walks of life througi. the medium of their own efforts, and in this respect Elwood is no excep- tion to the rule. Few, however, of the business men of this place hav .. been the architects of their own fortunes in so great a degree as has Michael Joseph Fogerty, secretary and general manager of the Elwood Iron Works Company. In his youth he received only ordinary educa- tional advantages, but his perseverance, his industry, and his inherent ability have allowed him to forge steadily to the front, and today he is recognized as an important factor in the business life of his adopted city. Mr. Fogerty was born at Bellefontaine, Ohio, September 24, 1875, and is a son of Patrick and Anna (Curran) Fogerty.
Patrick Fogerty, the paternal grandfather of Michael J. Fogerty, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated from his native land to Canada. and came thence to the United States, settling in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where the grandfather died when nearly ninety years of age, his wife also attaining advanced years. He followed farming and railroad con- struction work, was a steady, industrious workman, and had the respec; of those who knew him for his sterling qualities of heart. He married Julia Griffin, and they became the parents of five children, namely: John, Patrick, Daniel, Jeremiah and Mary. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Fogerty, also natives of Ireland, were pioneer settlers of Indiana, and lived first at Mount Jackson and later at Indianapolis, where bot !. died in old age, the parents of five children: Mary, Julia, Anni .. Bridget and Daniel.
Patrick Fogerty, father of Michael J. Fogerty, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and was a lad when brought to America by his parents. For seven or eight years the family resided at Quebec, but subsequently came to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where the youth grew to manhood, and where he still resides. As a youth he served as a fireman on the "Bee Line," but later embarked in business as the proprietor of a general store, although for the past several years he has lived a retired life. His wife passed away in 1894, in the faith of the Catholic church, of which he is also a member. Mr. and Mrs. Fogerty had a family of nine children, of whom six grew to maturity: Catherine, the wife of Robert P. Dickinson, of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Michael Joseph; Margaret, single. of Bellefontaine; James, living in that city; Jeremiah J., whose home is at Lima, Ohio; and Julia, single, who lives at Bellefontaine.
Michael Joseph Fogerty received his education in the publie and parochial schools of Bellefontaine, and as a lad received his introduc- tion to business life as a clerk in his father's store in his native place. He first came to Elwood, in 1898, and here was content to accept a posi- tion as a laborer, although this was but a means to an end, for from that time he steadily advanced as his ability, industry and faithfulness won him promotion. Becoming bookkeeper and salesman for the Elwood Iron Works Company, in September, 1901, he was made general man- ager of the concern, a position he continued to hold until July 1, 1910. when the company was reorganized, and he became a part owner, secre- tary and general manager, offices he has continued to hold to the present time. This institution was established in 1889 by John Holleran, James B. Baird and Gustav Kramer, and at that time employed ten or fifteen
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hands. At the present writing on an average of eighty-five skilled men are employed in the manufacture of tin-plate machinery, glasshouse machinery and grey iron castings, the pay-roll amounting to about $75,000 per annum. Wayne Leeson is the president of this venture, the business of which extends all over this country and Europe. Much of the success of the Elwood Iron Works Company has come as a direct result of the untiring efforts of its manager, whose progressive ideas, shrewd business judgment and able handling of matters pertaining to employes and employment have served to keep the business free from those misfortunes and setbacks that have meant the undoing of more than one large enterprise. Among his associates Mr. Fogerty is held in the utmost confidence, while his men respect him for his ability and esteem him for his fairness.
On June 8, 1904, Mr. Fogerty was married to Miss Genevieve A. Hueper, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, daughter of Franklin and Rose (Reinhart) Hueper. Mr. and Mrs. Hueper still reside in Louisville, where Mr. Hueper has a prosperous painting and decorating business. They have two daughters: Genevieve and Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Fogerty are the parents of four children: Robert, John, Mary and Joseph. They belong to the Catholic church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hiberians and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In political matters, he is a Republican, but has taken only a good citizen's interest in the affairs of the public arena, having been too busily occupied in making a place for himself in the business world.
REUBEN NEESE. Now retired from active business cares, but still one of the largest landholders in Jackson township, Reuben Neese has made a large and worthy suceess, won entirely as the result of his own well directed efforts. When he and his wife began housekeeping it was in a log cabin home and on a few acres of ground, with practically no improvement. Around that little nucleus he has since built up one of the finest agricultural properties in Madison county. Mr. Neese is known today to be one of the wealthy farmers in the county, and stands high in the regard of his fellow men wherever known.
Reuben Neese has for more than sixty-five years considered Jackson township his home. He was born in that township, January 24, 1847. He comes of a long line of American ancestry, and in almost every generation there appeared a pioneer, one among those who pushed the boundaries of civilization further west. His father was Jacob Neese, born in Meigs county, Ohio, in 1804. The grandfather was Henry Neese, born in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and married, and from which state, he took his family to Ohio, at a time when Ohio was in the far west. The journey was made in flat-boats down the Ohio river until they came to the nearest point to Meigs county, in which county Grandfather Neese was a pioneer. Buying land, he improved a farm, and remained there until his death.
Jacob Neese, father of Reuben was seven years old when, in 1811, he saw the first steamboat go down the Ohio river. That boat had been constructed at Pittsburg by a member of the Roosevelt family, and just a century later, in 1911, an exact duplicate of that pioneer vessel steamed down the river from Pittsburg to New Orleans. When he was eighteen years old Jacob Neese left the parental home and went to western Virginia, where he served an apprenticeship in learning the
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tanner's trade. Completing that training, he entered the employ of John Moore, who owned a farm, a grist and saw mill, and a distillery on Mill creek, in Shenandoah county, Virginia. By his ability he soon rose to the position of superintendent of the industry, and married a daughter of his employer. In 1835 Henry Neese and family came to Indiana. The journey was made across the country, and all the move- able household goods were brought along in a wagon. At the end of each day the family camped by the wayside. Arriving in Madison county, Jacob Neese bought a tract of timber land in section twenty- seven of township twenty, range six east, now a portion of Jackson . township. A log house was built in the woods, and it was in that rude home that Reuben Neese was born. Later Jacob Neese built a mill 0 :: Pipe creek, and superintended both farm and mill until his death in 1861.
Jacob Neese married Sarah Moore, whose family has a long and interesting record. She was born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, 2 daughter of John Moore, who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsyl- vania, and a granddaughter of John Moore, a native of the same locality, while her great-grandfather was also John Moore. The last named moved from New Amsterdam, New York, to Lebanon county. Pennsylvania, where he was an early settler. He sceured land from the. Penn Proprietor and the deed written on parchment, is still preserved by his descendants, who own and occupy the original tract of land. On that original land purchase John Moore built a large stone house, which is still standing and in good condition. In that house he lived until his death. John, son of the John who first settled in Lebanon county was an only child and inherited the homestead, where he remained a life long resident. He reared a large family. His son. John Moore, grandfather of Reuben Neese was reared in Pennsylvania. but when a young man moved to Shenandoah county, Virginia, and did the work of a pioneer in that vicinity. His father had given him a tract of land, located about four miles east of Mt. Jackson. There he improved the water power, built a flour and saw mill, also a distiller ;. and cleared and cultivated a large amount of land in the vicinity. commodious brick house which he built is still standing, and is always kept in excellent repair. It was in that home that John Moore spent his last years. He married a Miss Heiser, a life long resident of Virginia.
Jacob Neese and wife reared eight of their eleven children, namely : Louisa, Amanda, William, Sarah, Eliza, John, Hannah and Reuben.
Reuben Neese was fourteen years old when his father died. His mother died when he was but five years old, and his father married a second time. After living with his step-mother one year Reuben Nees? started out for himself, and from that time forward was self-sup- porting. His early employment was in different lines of work, up to the time of his marriage, and his first enterprise after that event was in the grocery trade at Perkinsville. The venture did not prove profitabl ... and he closed out and took up the trade of shoe making. Later he bought twenty acres of land in section twenty-seven in Jackson township, and on that small tract he began his career as an independent farmer. Practically the only improvement on the land was a log house, and it was in that humble abode that he and his young wife spent six happy years. Success rewarded their thrift and industry, and with the accumu- lation of means other land was bought, and in the course of years the
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results now show in a fine estate of five hundred and eighty acres in Jackson and Pipe Creek township.
Since 1890, Mr. Neese and wife have had their residence in the village of Perkinsville. For nine years there he conducted a thriving · store, and also served two terms in the office of postmaster. With the well earned prosperity, Mr. Neese and wife have taken life easily in recent years, and spent much of their time in travel. They have visited nearly all sections of the United States, and a part of each winter is spent in the south. Among his other interests, Mr. Neese is a director in the Farmer's Trust Company of Anderson. Before her marriage, Mrs. Neese was Clara Webb. She was born near Bell Brook, in Greene county, Ohio, and her father was Isham Webb. Her grandfather, Henry Webb, a farmer by occupation, spent all his career in Greene county. The father of Mrs. Neese learned the trade of blacksmith, and moving to Indiana conducted a shop at Rushville for a time, but later took up his residence at Perkinsville in Madison county, where he died at the age of fifty-three. Isham Webb married Phebe Vaughan, who was born in Green county, where her father John Vaughan was a farmer. Mrs. Neese was a child when her mother died, and she was reared in the home of a step-mother. The only child born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Neese was John S., who died at the age of twenty-two and one-half years. Mr. Neese is a Republican in politics. He has never cared for the honor of office, but for a number of years served as a committeeman .. He attended the Methodist church in Perkinsville, and in that city he assisted in the organizing of the Red Men.
ELMAN G. VERNON. Among the old and honored families of Madi- son county whose members have contributed through their activities to the material welfare of the community along agricultural and com- mercial lines and also to the higher culture, that of Vernon is deserv- ing of more than passing mention. One of the oldest enterprises of the city of Anderson is the firm of E. G. Vernon & Son, which was established in 1868 by Elman G. Vernon. This firm handles coal, cement, lime and practically every class of builders' supplies except- ing lumber and building brick.
Mr. E. G. Vernon, who some years ago retired from business and is now enjoying life on a farm a few miles from Anderson, was born in Madison county in 1848, has lived here all his life, and after his early education started out as a young man without any backing, and for many years conducted the principal line of drays for the trans- portation of goods in the city of Anderson. This business led naturally into the establishment of yards and warehouses for the supply of lime, coal and cement to the local trade. In addition he bought a grain elevator situated on the Panhandle Railway tracks at the corner of Main and Fifth streets, and for a number of years was one of the large handlers and shippers of grain from Anderson.
Both during his residence in Anderson and since he left the city Mr. Vernon has always been an enterprising citizen and much inter- ested in the upbuilding of his community. A Republican in politics, he has been liberal in his views, and has often supported the best man regardless of party affiliations. Many people associate his name not so much with business as with music, and in his younger days he was a proficient musician himself and took a prominent part in the organized musical activities of Anderson. He was the first tuba player in the
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county, and one of the organizers of the band which was known da tthe ."Saw Filers Band," which all of the older residents well remen .- ber. As a musician he classed along with such men as Carl Makepice .. S. D. Varpell, George Kline and Professor Dallas H. Elliott, the chan- pion cornet player of the west. In his active business carcer no o. · ever doubted his honesty and integrity, and he has taken into lin, retired life the respect and esteem of hundreds of Madison county people.
`E. G. Vernon retired from active business in August, 1895, and tthe business has since been owned and managed by his son Charles W., and conducted under the old firm name. Charles W. Vernon was born at Anderson February 2, 1872, was educated in the Anderson public schools and the Bryant and Stratton business college at St. Louis. Missouri, and after graduating from the latter in 1891 took up his present business. Charles W. Vernon affiliates with the Blue Lodge and Chapter degrees of the Masonic Order, the Woodmen of the Worldi. and is one of the prominent younger business men of the city. In October, 1910, he married Miss Esther Boston of Pendleton, daughter of Benjamin Boston.
JUDGE JOHN F. MCCLURE. Since he began his practice at Anderson more than thirty years ago, Judge McClure has enjoyed many of the better distinctions of the law and public life, and has accepted mimer. ous opportunities to upbuild his community and uplift its civie stand- ards. In the history of the city itself he will perhaps always be hes: remembered as mayor of Anderson at the beginning of the period of development following the discovery of natural gas. Then if ever the city needed a firm and progressive head, and it was a matter of special good fortune that Judge MeClure was mayor during the four years following 1886. In his profession and in the larger publie service of the state, greater honors came to him in the office of circuit judge. which he held for twelve years, and at the present time he is a mem ber of the public service commission of Indiana.
Judge McClure represents one of the oldest families of Indias.a. one which has been established in this state lacking only six years of a century. The historical town of Brookville was the birthplace of John F. McClure on December 24, 1852. It might be mentioned that Brookville, though a small town of not more than two thousand popu- lation, has probably furnished as many men to the useful and dis tinguished offices of state and nation as any other city in Indiana. Two of the early governors of Indiana, two United States senators. General Hackleman, who fell at the battle of Shiloh, General Lei Wallace, Hiram Powers, the sculptor, several governors of other states supreme judges and state officials and college presidents have honored Brookville as their early home, and through their accomplishments in politics, law, literature and art, have reflected honor on that old tow !! at the extreme southern end of the state. The McClure family. which left Ireland in the early years of the nineteenth century in order to escape the economic and civic conditions under which they were living. not only found prosperity in the New World, but have added many useful citizens to various communities. While none of the family have perhaps attained the very highest distinctions, they have all bert worthy of their Scotch-Irish ancestry, and several others besides Jude. MeClure have attained some of the valued honors of public life and have all left worthy names.
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The founder of the family in this country was James McClure, grandfather of Judge MeClure. With his wife and two sons, William and James, he emigrated from County Sligo, Ireland, and settled near Brookville, Indiana, in 1820. He was one of the pioneer farmers in that part of the state. He was a well-read man, particularly on religious subjects, and was a member of the Methodist church for more than sixty years and took much interest in church affairs from the time of his arrival in this country until his death in 1869. James McClure married Catherine Likely, who was born in County Sligo, where she was married, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-nine years. Her membership in the Methodist church continued for nearly three-quar- ters of a century. When she came with her husband to America she was accompanied by her brother William, who located near Brookville and became a successful farmer. The five children, all sons, of James and Catherine MeClure were : Richard, William and James, who were born in Ireland, and John W. and Henry C., born at Brookville. When the family emigrated the son Richard remained with an uncle in Ire- land, but subsequently came to America and became a farmer on an extensive scale at Olney, Illinois. He was a veteran of the Civil war, and was mustered out with the rank of major of the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers. The son William was a stock dealer, and never married. John W., another uncle of Judge McClure, was born in Brookville. Indiana, in 1822, and at one time held the rank of lieutenant in the National Guards. The youngest son, Henry C., was born in Brookville in 1825. All these sons are now deceased, and all of them reached manhood and reared families except William.
James McClure, Jr., father of Judge McClure, was born in County Sligo, Ireland. April 2, 1818, was two years of age when the family emigrated to the United States and settled at Brookville, and his edu- cation was a product of the primitive country schools that were found in Southern Indiana before a real system of public education was intro- duced. He became a farmer and stock raiser, followed those voca- tions all his life, and acquired more than ordinary prosperity. He owned nine hundred and sixty acres of land situated in Franklin and Madison counties, and this land included the one hundred and thirty- three acres which had been bought by his father on settling near Brook- ville. He was always interested in public affairs but never sought any official place, and his public service was limited to work on behalf of the schools in his community and in connection with the improvement of the highways. James McClure married Ann McCaw, who was the old- est child of David and Jane (Shera) McCaw, the father being a native of Ireland, and the mother a native of Ohio. David McCaw was for many years a prosperous farmer living in the eastern part of Franklin county, Indiana. James McCaw, brother of Ann McCaw, gave three years of service as a private soldier in Company G of the Thirty-seventh Indiana Infantry.
John F. McClure had the usual experiences of a farmer's son until finishing his college course and entering upon his profession. His education was the result of attendance at country schools, at Brookville College one year, that being followed by the classical course in the Old Asbury (now DePauw) University, where he graduated salutatorian of his class in 1879. In the meantime he had pursued the study of law for two years and following his graduation from college was for one year principal of the high school at Anderson. In 1880 Judge
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MeClure began the practice of law at Brookville, being associated with Thomas H. Smith under the firm name of Smith & McClure. Locating in Anderson in 1881, he has since made that city his permanent home, and began practice as a member of the firm of Carter & MeClure. With a growing success as a lawyer, he was soon drawn into public affairs, and in 1886 was elected mayor and re-elected in 1888. He began his . services as mayor in May, 1886, and with the discovery of natural gas in the following year took up real estate business, and had an active part in developing and extending the limits of the older city, at the same time giving his publie spirited cooperation to every movement which might enable Anderson to make the most of the great opportu- nities which began with the natural gas era. Both to his office as mayor and to his professional and business relations he was one of the leader's in, the industrial development of those early years. In association with Thomas B. Orr, now president of the Building & Loan Associa- tion of Anderson, he laid out what was known as the Avenue Addition, consisting of some six acres in what is now a prominent part of Ander- son, and . on the organization of the Irondale Real Estate Company became its secretary. This company has some of the largest real estate holdings in the vicinity of the city, and did much to develop its properties and add to the permanent resources of the city by locating several industries.
An active Republican since easting his first vote, Judge McClure was chairman of the Madison county Republican committee for four terms from 1888 to 1894, and in 1896 a member of the Republican State Advisory committee. His service as mayor of the city covered the years from 1886 to 1890, and be also served a year in the city couneil and two years as eity attorney. In 1896 he was elected judge of the circuit court, and by his re-election in 1902 served twelve years. His record on the bench was one of impartial, systematie and efficient performance, and of the great number of cases tried before him few appeals were taken and there was an exceedingly small proportion of reversals. His long services as a lawyer, man of affairs and judge, brought him recognition over the state at large, and his appointment as a railroad commissioner in 190S brought him to an office for which his experience and attainments well fitted him. He was re-appointed in 1912, and on the creation of the public service commission of Indiana in May, 1913, was made a member of that larger body, and his term «expires in 1916.
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