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 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
JOHN WILLITS JONES. Madison county from its early pioneer his- tory to the present time has had the benefit and the productive labors of different members of the Jones family, one of whose best known mem- bers is Mr. John W. Jones of Fall Creek township. The industrial and social character of a community is the result of its citizenship, and among the many family groups which have contributed in this important regard to the development of Madison county, none could claim more credit than the Jones family, through its various representatives since early pioneer times.
- Mr. John W. Jones the Fall Creek township farmer and stockman, was born in the township where he now makes his home on December 22, 1865, a son of Captain Jonathan and Elizabeth (Busby) Jones. Jonathan Jones was born in West Virginia in 1832 and died in March 1898. He came to Madison county with his parents when he was a boy, and the Jones family established itself in Fall Creek township and
1
397
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
took part in the pioneer work which then awaited the coming of every new settler. Jonathan was reared in Fall Creek township and received his education in one of the old log school houses which was the chief feature of the educational system prevailing here during the first half of the century. These schools were invariably supported by a private subscription, and were primitive in all their facilities and methods of work. Jonathan Jones married Elizabeth Busby, who was born on an adjoining farm in this county, her father having entered the land from the government. That farm is now known as the the old Lewis D. Kin- nard farm. After their marriage Jonathan Jones and wife made their home in Monroe township near Alexandria. Then in April, 1861, the Civil war having become reality, after having threatened its fury for a number of years, he organized Company D of the Thirty-Fourth Indiana Infantry, and was chosen captain. He was out at the front and in the campaigns of his regiments for about two years, when failing health compelled him to resign his commission and return home. After he had sufficiently recuperated, Governor Morton appointed him a drafting offi- cer, and he served for some time in that capacity. About the close of the war, Captain Jonathan Jones sold his farm in the northern part of Madi- son county and moved to Fall Creek township, and bought the Scott farm, situated on Lick Creek. That remained his home until 1884 at which date he moved into the city of Anderson, which remained his home until his death. His wife passed away in 1871. He was one of the prominent citizens of Madison county during his time. He was for eight years county ditch commissioner and was also assessor of Fall Creek township. Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fel- lows. There were nine children born to the parents, and the eight now living are as follows: Mahala, wife of F. P. Jackson of Anderson, Indiana : Matilda Jones of Anderson; Isaac B. Jones of Pendleton; Sarah, who is unmarried and resides in Anderson; Etta, wife of Justice Frampton, who resides in California ; John Willits; and Morrison B. of Anderson.
Mr. John W. Jones was reared in Fall Creek township and received his education in the public schools of this locality. He spent most of his early years ou a farm, and along with such schooling as the local schools afforded, has acquired a thorough knowledge of the principles and prac- tices of first-class agriculture. When he was about twenty-six years of age, on October 7, 1891, he married Miss Ella Haines, who was born and reared in Fall Creek township. In March, 1891, a few months previous to his marriage, Mr. Jones moved to the city of Anderson, where he was engaged in the ice business. This industry occupied his time and atten- tion until February, 1911, at which date he sold out his interests in the Anderson plant, and moved back to Fall Creek township. Since then he has been an out and out farmer, is the owner of 90 acres of some of the best land in the township, and makes a specialty of the raising of hogs and cattle, shipping his stock by the carload. He also has realty in Alexandria and Madison. Mr. Jones is a man of wide experience both in business and in farming, and has applied business-like methods to his present enterprise and is regarded as one of the most successful men in the agricultural line in Madison county. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the order of Elks and has for a num- ber of years been one of the influential men in the Republican party. He is a member of the Universalist church and his wife a member
398
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
of the Society of Friends. Mr. Jones and wife have an attractive rural home, and both are among the prominent members of local society.
SAMUEL SWAIN. The old citizenship of Madison county had no bet- ter representative than the late Samuel Swain, who was born in Fall Creek township in the decade of the forties, and who died on the 9th of September, 1913. He had been continuously identified with this section of the county throughout practically all the years that intervened since the pioneer period. Mr. Swain was an infant when the first railroad was brought through the county and in the vicinity of his old home- stead, he was a boy in his teens when the Civil war broke out, and he witnessed practically every innovation and improvement which has been the teacher in a great civilization of a nation during the last half of the nineteenth century.
Samuel Swain was born February 14, 1848. It was his distinction, such as is possessed by comparatively few of the residents of Madison county, to have been born in a log cabin. That log cabin was situated on the farm where he made his home at the time of his death. A log cabin at that time was not necessarily a sign of poverty nor shiftless- ness, but was rather a representative habitation, consistent with the period of development through which the country was then passing. As a matter of fact Samuel Swain belonged to one of the thrifty and substantial Quaker families which settled in early Fall Creek township. His parents were Woolston and Mary A. (Thomas) Swain. Woolston Swain was a son of Samuel and Martha (Briggs) Swain. Both the grandparents were natives of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and spent all their lives in that portion of the old Quaker state. Woolston Swain came to Indiana in early manhood, and at Indianapolis met Miss Mary A. Thomas, who had come to Madison county in 1834, belonging to one of the first, families to locate in this county. After their marriage in 1843, they located in Madison county, and spent all the rest of their lives in this vicinity on this farm. The father was a farmer, and he and his wife were active members of the Friends church. They were the parents of five children, named as follows: Anna M., who is unmarried; Samuel; Rebecca, who is unmarried; Joseph ; and Frances L., the wife of Joseph Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio, president of Swarthmore College and president National Educational Society.
Samuel Swain was reared on the farm where he afterward lived and attained his education in the old district schools near this farm, and also in the Spiceland Academy. During his early manhood he obtained a certificate and taught the district school, during the winter term, while during the summer he carried on his farming operations. Mr. Swain never married, and after his father's death he assumed the active man- agement of the home farm of one hundred and twenty acres. In the profitable cultivation of this estate he proved himself to be one of the most capable agriculturists and stock raisers in the county. Mr. Swain was a birthright member of the Friends church in this locality. In politics he was a Republican, though he was never interested in party affairs, and was always a supporter of good government. In his farm- ing operations he made a specialty of raising high-elass live stock. Mr. Swain in his business and civic relations was a quiet unassuming man, who always performed his proper share of responsibilities, and never obtruded himself into the conspicuous activities of public life. His un- married sisters always made their home with him, and together they
.
.
%
399
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
kept the old estate as one of the best centers of the old-time life in Madison county.
JOHN W. LEWARK. Madison county's citizenship contains few mem- bers whose careers have illustrated so well the varied battle with fortune and with circumstance as that of Mr. John W. Lewark, of Pendleton. Mr. Lewark came to Madison county a runaway boy, obtained his educa- tion between periods of hard work, went from this county to the Union ranks in the great war between the states, and since returning a veteran from that conflict has been one of the honored citizens and business men of Pendleton.
John W. Lewark was born in the city of Anderson on Ninth Street, April 20, 1842, a son of Andrew T. and Margaret (Marshall) Lewark. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio, and each of them when young came to Wabash, Indiana, where they were married. The family were residents first of Wabash and then of Anderson. The mother died when John W. was seven years old, and he was then bound out to David Kunts of Wabash. His adopted home did not prove con- genial, and was the scene of much hardship to the growing boy. He had few comforts and practically no opportunity for schooling, and was employed nearly all his time in hard work in a brickyard and other occu- pations. When he was fourteen years of age he had reached the limit of his endurance and on Christmas day of 1856 he ran away from the Wabash home in which he had spent several years. He came to Madison county in the fall of 1857, where a half-sister lived. He remained with his half-sister for some time, and subsequently moved to Anderson where he secured work in a brickyard. In 1858 he located at Pendleton, being then sixteen years of age, and did farm work for some time. In 1861 he had begun work at the carpenter's trade and was getting along very prosperously in this work until August, 1861, when the demands upon his patriotism caused him to throw down his tools and enlist for the war of preservation of the Union. He became a member in Company D of the Thirty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers, and saw long and arduous service in the Army of the Mississippi and continued a soldier until November 6, 1865, when he received his discharge in Texas.
On returning to Pendleton, he took up work at the carpenter's trade, and followed this vocation energetically until February, 1872. At that date he engaged in the livery business and it is this line of enterprise with which his name has been identified at Pendleton for forty years. Mr. Lewark is one of the oldest liverymen in Madison county, and by straightforward dealing and good management has made a reputation throughout his part of the county and no business man in Pendleton enjoys more esteem than this pioneer liveryman.
On May 2, 1867, he married Miss Emily E. Shattuck who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came to Indiana in 1866, being a teacher in the Pendleton schools up to the time of her marriage. After forty years of happy married life, she passed away on May 3, 1907, and was the mother of six children, namely: Anna, wife of William Tague; Clara, wife of Morris Townsand; Amy, the widow of Frank Datros; Mina, wife of Frank Homan; Edith C., who is Mrs. Alley; and Clarence L., who is a resident of North Carolina.
On March 16, 1910, Mr. Lewark married Mary Robins of Anderson, this county. Mrs. Lewark was born in Madison county in March, 1862. Mr. Lewark has always been a member of the Methodist church since
400
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
his boyhood. He is a popular member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lie, and is affiliated with Madison Lodge A. F. & A. M. For many campaigns he was an active Republican voter, but in 1912 joined the Progressive ranks.
OSCAR F. MINGLE, D. V. S. A resident of Pendleton for the past four years, and the only doctor of veterinary surgery in that locality, Dr. Mingle is a progressive young citizen and has made a very excellent success in his profession and in general affairs of citizenship in this locality.
Osear F. Mingle was born in Hancock county, Indiana, May, 28, 1878, a son of Madison and Martha D. (Jackson) Mingle. The father now makes his home in Pendleton and the mother passed away in the fall of 1906. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are living in 1913.
Dr. O. F. Mingle, the youngest of the family, received his primary education in the district schools. His early schooling was accomplished during the winter months, and in the summer time he assisted in the work of the home farm. After leaving the common schools, he had a varied experience as a farmer, and during that time evinced a great fondness for horses and live stock in general. This fondness extended through a natural study and close observation of the habits and nature of the domestic animals, and it was from this predisposition that he finally entered the Indianapolis Veterinary College in the fall of 1906. He was graduated D. V. S. in 1909, and then located at Pendleton to begin his active practice. He has no competition in this district, and has a large practice throughout the country-side. The doctor is a member of the alumni association of his college and is also a member of the Indiana Medical Association.
Dr. Mingle married in 1900 Miss Dora F. Kirkman, of Fall Creek township. Mrs. Mingie is a graduate of the common schools and has spent practically all her life in this section of Madison county. They are the parents of one son, Carroll K., who was born November 8, 1902. Carroll is a student in the Pendleton schools and has a record as a school boy probably not excelled anywhere in the county, since throughout his school period he has never been absent at a regular school session nor tardy and is now in the fourth grade of the public schools.
Fraternally Dr. Mingle is affiliated with Madison Lodge A. F. & A. M. and with the Knights of Pythias Lodge. His wife is a member of the Methodist church in Pendleton. Politically Dr. Mingle is a Demo- erat, though he has never taken much part in political affairs. He is the owner of forty acres of land in Hancock county, Indiana, and with the prosperity which at this early date he has already won through his energy and progressive ability, the future looks large with commerce for him and family.
A. W. COOK. One of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Fall Creek township, Mr. Asahel Walter Cook has spent the most of a long life of eighty years in this county, has given a long period of service as a teacher and educator, and for a number of years was a trustee of his home township first elected in 1890 for five years. then re-elected in 1899 for another four years. The opportunities for such service in behalf of the public come only to the man whose integrity and efficiency are proved beyond all doubt to the citizenship, and the fact of public
.
401
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
service alone extended over a number of years is a high tribute to the character of any citizen.
Mr. A. W. Cook, who is a birthright member of the Society of Friends, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1833, so that he came from the center of the old Quaker colony into the Quaker settlement of eastern Indiana. His parents were George W. and Elizabeth (Walker) Cook. Both parents were natives of York county, Pennsyl- vania, whence they came to Indiana in 1847 and located as early settlers in Madison county, their location being at Huntsville. The father was a farmer in that vicinity and died there in 1861. His wife survived for thirty years, passing away in 1891. They were the parents of eight children, and six of the family are still living.
Mr. A. W. Cook was reared in Pennsylvania, where he received his education in the public schools, and on October 26, 1854, was married to Hannah C. Garrettson. She was born in the same county as her hus- band, was reared on a farm, educated in the public schools, and after their marriage they located on a farm. Mr. Cook began teaching school when he was nincteen years of age, and his experiences as an educator continued for many years. This occupation he alternated with that of farming, and it was his practice to spend the winters in teaching while he conducted the operation of his farm during the summer. In this way he taught thirty-two terms of school, and twenty-two of these were taught in Indiana in Madison county. For twelve terms he was princi- pal of the Huntsville school in Fall Creek township. Among the older educators of Madison county, probably not one is better remembered and stands in higher esteem among the great number of pupils who still survive and remember hin than Mr. Cook.
In 1890 Mr. Cook was elected a trustee of Fall Creek township. After serving some five years he vacated the office, but was soon afterward recalled by the citizenship, and altogether gave nine years of service in the office of trustee. He was also for six years supervisor of his town- ship. Mr. Cook in 1890 sold his farm east of Pendleton and moved to the town of Pendleton, where he has since made his home. At the present time his chief occupation is in writing fire insurance. In poli- ties he has been a Republican practically since the organization of that great party.
The three living children of Mr. Cook and wife are as follows : Teresa C., who is the wife of Joseph H. Michael; Melissa G., wife of George Rogers; Mary E., wife of Charles Hedrick. The family are all members of the Friends church. Mr. Cook is affiliated with Madison Lodge No. 44 A. F. & A. M. and has been an active member of this fraternity for a great many years. He is in every way a progressive business man, has upheld all his duties of citizenship, and has been honored in his many relations in the useful services to his community.
GEORGE M. OVERMAN. President of the Madison County Abstract Company at Anderson, Mr. Overman has been successful in the real estate and insurance business at Anderson for more than ten years, and in the abstract company is at the head of one of the solid and pros- perous institutions of this county. He has served as president and man- ager since 1907. Mr. Overman has had a varied but generally success- ful career, has been a farmer and stock raiser in early life, followed mercantile lines for a number of years, and finally located permanently
TSW
402
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
in Anderson, where he is held in high esteem both as a business man and citizen.
George M. Overman was born in Henry county, Indiana, near Maple Valley, September 17, 1868. He is the youngest of the children born to Nathan and Elizabeth V. (Wales) Overman. His father was born in Pesquotank county, North Carolina, in the vicinity of Elizabethi City, in 1830, and his wife was also a native of that state. The founder of the family in Indiana, was Grandfather Robert Overman, who in the pioneer days settled in Greenwood at Maple Valley in Henry county, and with the labor of his own hands hewed and built a one-room log cabin into which he moved his family. He spent many years in clearing up the farm, and when the settlers had increased in number he laid out a town site which he named Elizabeth City in honor of the town in North Caro- lina where he had spent his boyhood. Robert Overman was a settler in Henry -county in 1832, and lived there until his death on January 27, 1875. His wife, Fanny Overman died October 8, 1865. Nathan Over- man, father of George M., was reared and educated in Henry county and was a substantial farmer during his career. He moved to Shirley, Henry county, and afterwards went to California. His death occurred April 10, 1911. in his eighty-second year, while his wife passed away, November 7. 1907.
Educated in the country schools of Indiana, until he was fourteen years of age, George M. Overman completed his education in the high schools of Knightstown and Central Normal College at Danville, Ind. When he left school he returned to the homestead farm where he had received a thorough training in industry and thrifty habits during his vacation periods, and was engaged in general farming and stock raising for nearly two years. He next became a commercial salesman, selling pianos and traveling all over the states of Indiana and Kentucky. Dur- ing 1894-95, associated with J. M. Fisher, under the name of Overman & Fisher he was in a music store for twelve months. After that he rep- resented the firm of "V. W. Kimball & Company of Chicago in selling pianos and organs in different territories of Indiana, and in March, 1899, was transferred to the Kentucky territory, where he continued the sale of musical instruments with Montinegro & Rheim, of Louisville, Kentucky. Resigning this position he came to Anderson, and in August, 1901, entered a partnership with his brother, R. E. Overman, under the firm name of Overman Brothers, Real Estate & Insurance. Some time later he bought his brother's interest, and has since amplified the busi- ness to include life insurance and the handling of general real estate and farm lands. He is regarded as one of the best imformed and most reliable real estate men in this section of Indiana, and in consequence enjoys a large and prosperous business.
In August, 1900, Mr. Overman was married to Miss Adda L. Newby of Knightstown, Indiana, a daughter of Jabes and Sarah J. (Stites) Newby. There have been four children born to their union, namely : Donald N., Sarah E., Margaret F., and Harold B. Mr. Overman has been honored with the office of clerk of the Modern Woodmen, Camp 3690, of Anderson, and is one of the very popular men of his home locality. His residence is at 706 East Lynn Street.
HON. WILLIAM A. KITTINGER. A former state senator from Madison county, ex-prosecuting attorney of Madison and Hamilton counties, and for many years closely connected with the political and public
403
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
affairs of the county, Mr. Kittinger has been both a prominent and use- ful citizen of Anderson for more than four decades, and throughout that time has practiced his profession of the law. As a criminal lawyer Mr. Kittinger is probably unsurpassed in this section of Indiana, and is a man of the highest standing in his profession and as a citizen.
Mr. Kittinger was not born to fortune, and probably few successful men in Madison county today have overcome during their youth more obstacles than Mr. Kittinger. He was born in Wayne county, near Richmond, Indiana, October 17, 1849. His father, John Smith, was a native of Germany, a shoe maker by trade and after coming to America - settled at Richmond, Indiana. There he married Miss Delilah Turk, who was born in Virginia, where her father died, and was brought by her mother to Wayne county, Indiana, where she grew to womanhood. She died in 1850, when her son William was about one year old, and the father John Smith then returned to Germany, in order to secure his interests in an estate, but was never heard of again, after leaving Indiana. He left behind two children, the oldest of whom, Thomas, died at the age of three years. William A., an orphan baby, was taken into the home of William L. Kittinger, and in this way he adopted the name by which he is now known and honored. Mr. Kittinger in 1855 moved to Henry county, Indiana, and was engaged as a saw mill operator and farmer near Middletown. In that vicinity. William A. grew up and as an orphan boy without influential relatives or friends had only limited advantages and nearly all his time was taken for the work about the home and farm, so that his schooling was very meagre. Industry, ambition and perseverance have always been qualities of his character, and it is owing to these faculties that he won a successful position in life against many and heavy odds. He finally gained a sufficient education to enable him to teach school, and when eighteen years old taught in Union town- ship of Madison county, and was afterwards similarly employed in Lafayette township. The summer seasons were spent in farm work and in reading law, and while a very young man he also became interested in the ministry and was licensed to preach in the Christian church. His first license was obtained in Darke county, Ohio, and his second at Rich- mond, Indiana, and for two summers he supplied vacant pulpits in different sections of the state. Finally Mr. Kittinger took up the study of law in the office of Judge E. B. Goodykoontz at Anderson. On August 2, 1872, he was admitted to practice, and at once moved to Missouri, and opened an office at Bolivar in Polk county. He had just begun to get acquainted and earn his first fees in Polk county when a telegram announced the failure of the bank at Anderson in which his money was deposited, and he at once returned to the city, in order to look after his hard earned savings. On his return he took up the practice of law, and in that way has been engaged in his profession in this city for forty years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.