USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 33
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Omer U. Carl was reared in Peru and primarily educated in its pub- lic schools, graduating from the high school in 1890. In September of the same year he entered De Pauw University, completing the work of
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his junior year in 1893. While a student in De Pauw University his work in the scientific department created the inclination to study medi- cine and during these years he did preparatory reading in vacation periods under the direction of Drs. Griswold, Ward and Brenton. He entered the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati in the fall of 1893, graduating in April, 1896. Soon after graduating, he embarked in the practice of his profession at Waupecong in Miami county, where he resided until removing to Peru in October, 1903. He opened an office in that city in January, 1904, and has been actively engaged in the prac- tice ever since. Dr. Carl is a Republican and while not active in the ranks of his party takes a decided stand in all matters that appertain to the welfare of the city where he has elected to spend the remainder of his life. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias and is honored and respected in the member- ship of these orders.
Dr. Carl was married September 22nd, 1898, to Miss Clara S. Dawes of Peru. Three children have been born to them, Cecil Churchill, who died in infancy; Margeret M. and Catherine C. Carl. Both Dr. and Mrs. Carl are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Carl was reared in Peru and it may be mentioned that she was graduated from the Peru High School as a member of the same class from which Dr. Carl was graduated in 1890.
MILO P. CONN. Perhaps no man comes into closer contact with the farmers in any agricultural community than does the general merchant who supplies their needs. He it is who knows and understands their financial condition, for extending credit to them during the off seasons, as he is often obliged to do, he receives true statements of their prospects. In his establishment the farmers gather to discuss the various important matters of the day, and very often movements that have a direct bearing on the welfare of the community are inaugurated in the general mner- chant's place of business. Among the citizens of Loree, Indiana, none stand higher in public confidence and esteem than does M. P. Conn, proprietor of the general store, elevator and coal yard, ex-postmaster, and trustee of Clay township. Mr. Conn belongs to the class of citizens who have been able through their own efforts to build up large enterprises from small beginnings, and his carcer has been one of commendable and well-directed effort.
Mr. Conn is a native of the Hoosier State, born in Wabash county, November 27, 1867, a son of John S. and Elizabeth (Manning) Conn. He was about ten years of age when he was brought to Miami county, and here, in the country schools, completed the education that had been started in Wabash county. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and for a time in young manhood rented land and carried on operations of his own, but on March 1, 1894, entered the mercantile field as the proprietor of a small storc. Mr. Conn's start in business was a modest one, as his original stock invoiced about five or six hundred dollars, but he was determined and persistent in his efforts to succeed, and his activities were so well directed that he soon began to attract trade from all over the countryside. As his trade grew, he enlarged his quarters and put in a larger and better stock, carefully selecting his goods accord- ing to the needs of the people of his community, who were not slow to appreciate the efforts that were being made in their behalf. Mr. Conn soon saw the opportunity for success in an elevator and coal business, and, having the courage of his convictions, established these lines of business at Loree, where they have proved of great convenience to the people. He has met with success in each of his enterprises, and is now
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RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. MILO P. CONN
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considered one of the substantial men of his section. Probably if asked the secret of his success, Mr. Conn would give as the principal reason that he has always worked faithfully and industriously. This, in con- nection with the fact that he has always been honorable in his business dealings and that he has inherent business qualifications, spells the reason for his rapid rise in fortune. In April, 1894, he was appointed postmaster at Loree, a position he held until January 1, 1909. In 1908 the citizens of Clay township elected him to a place as the township trustee, where he is ably serving the community in which he has lived for so many years. He has shown some interest in fraternal work, and at this time is a member of Crescent Lodge No. 280, of the Masonic order, and of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Bunker Hill No. 299. With his family, Mr. Conn attends the Brethren Church.
On September 26, 1889, Mr. Conn was married to Miss Louville Long, daughter of Jeptha Long, and they have had children as follows: Arvel; Vern; Mary, who married Ray Kunkle; Mildred; John Bart; Everette L. and Omar P.
JOHN Q. A. HOWES. Seventy-eight years of the eighty-four years of John Q. A. Howes' life were spent in Miami county, and when he passed on at his home in Jefferson township he had the distinction of being one of the oldest residents, as well as one of the most highly esteemed, in the county. A farming man, he gave the best years of his life to the furtherance of the agricultural industry in his commu- nity, and his success in his chosen field of activity was one well worthy of the name. Mr. Howes was born in Warren county, Ohio, on March 28. 1828. and he was the youngest of the nine children born to the union of Henry and Ruth (Blaisdell) Howes. The father, Henry Howes, was born in Vermont on April 12, 1784, a son of Joseph Howes, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a man of English birth and ancestry. Early in life Henry Howes took up his abode in Vermont and there he met and married his wife, whose father, Perret Blaisdell, was also a soldier of the Continental line. Thus is established the claim of the family to Colonial ancestry, and their right to membership in the various patriotic organizations dependent upon service in the War for Independence.
From Vermont Henry Howes moved with his young family to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and thence to Warren county, in the same state, and there they remained until 1836, in which year they came to Miami county, Indiana. Mr. Howes was a blacksmith by trade, and he fol- lowed that occupation until he came to Indiana, his activities after that period being devoted to the farming industry. He did not carry on his farming on an extensive scale at any time, however, but gave some time and attention to the blacksmith business. When he settled in Miami county he bought a piece of land in Section 32, in Jefferson township, about a mile east of Mexico, and there he passed his remaining days. Both he and his wife died in Jefferson township, where they enjoyed for years the hearty good will and genuine friendship of the entire community. He was a Whig in his politics, and with his wife had mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
John Q. A. Howes was but six years old when he accompanied his parents and others of the family to the Miami county farm home. Of the nine children, of which he was the youngest, it may be mentioned here that all are now deceased, he having been the last to pass away. Mr. Howes' boyhood days were passed in helping to grub, clear, plant and harvest, much after the manner of other boys of that day, and such education as he received in the schools of that period was undeni-
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ably slender. He by no means passed his life without adding a vast store of knowledge to himself, for he was a constant reader and a most excellent observer, and nothing escaped his notice that might prove of future benefit to him. He was about twenty-one years old when on April 19, 1849, he married Orpha Murden, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Williams) Murden, both natives of England where they were married, and who settled on Section 20, Jefferson township, Miami county, in 1834. Mrs. Howes and two sisters, Mrs. William Smith and Martha Howes, the widow of Abel Howes, of Peru, are the only mem- bers of the Murden family now living in Miami county.
Mr. Howes, like his father before him, was an exceedingly indus- trious man. His early life was passed in general farming, but in later years he devoted himself extensively to stock-raising, in which he gained a pleasing success and prominence in the town and county. A Repub- lican in his politics, he gave stanch support to the activities of that party in so far as his influence and abilities extended. He was a Methodist, reared in that faith by his worthy parents, and he ever gave loyal sup- port to the church of his faith. He was a man who commanded uni- versal respect and esteem because of his many sterling qualities and his blameless and altogether upright life, and when he died at his home on February 13, 1912, the town lost one of its finest citizens, and a man who left a strong impress for good upon the social and civic life of the community. His widow still survives him, and is now living in the village of Denver, in the eighty-fifth year of her life. She was born in Maryland, in Baltimore county, on March 22, 1828, and was six days older than her husband. She is the mother of three sons,-William Henry, Timothy and Sheridan.
WILLIAM SIMONS AND CHARLES E. SIMONS. The name of Simons is closely associated with that of Miami county, Indiana, since for three generations members of this family have taken an active and prominent part in the affairs of this county. Both William Simons and his son, Charles E. Simons, have held prominent places in the agricultural life of the community, and in the death of the father, Miami county lost one of her best citizens. He left, however, a worthy representative of the honorable old family name, in his son, who has made a success of his life and has won the respect and friendship of all with whom he has come in contact.
William Simons was born in Miami county, Indiana, on the 12th of April, 1848, Jefferson township being his native township. His father, Elmore Simons, was born in Virginia and was there married, and began life as a farmer. He emigrated with his family to Miami county, Indiana, during the early days of the county, locating first on section 25, in Jefferson township, and later removing to section 31 where he lived until his death. William Simons grew up on this backwoods farm, and a farmer's son of that early day had little opportunity for an education. His educational advantages were confined to the old fash- ioned log schoolhouse, and the age at which he left school was an early one. He married Nancy J. Surbur and began the battle of life with little or no help, save that which came from his own strong nature. He became known as an extremely hard-working man, and, indeed, it was this very anxiety of his to provide a comfortable home and give his children a good education, that led to his breaking down under the strain. He was too unselfish, never sparing himself, and the burden which he carried was too heavy, for he died at the comparatively carly age of fifty-seven years. William and Nancy Simons had three chil- dren : Forest Montell, a resident of Jefferson township and unmarried ;
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Robert T., married and a resident of Mexico, Miami county ; and Charles E. Mrs. Simons is living and resides at Mexico, Indiana.
Charles E. Simons, the youngest of his parents' children, was born on the old home place on section 31, Jefferson township, on the 31st of July, 1876. He attended the common schools of the county and then entered the high school at Mexico, where he was a student for three years. When he was about seventeen years of age he began life for himself, starting in the butchering business. Not caring for this work he next became a fireman on the Wabashı Railroad, being thus employed for two years, but when his father died he returned to the farm, and he has been engaged in farming since that time. He inherited eighty acres of land on section 25, in Jefferson township, from his father and here he began the agricultural life. He continued to operate this farm until 1910 when lie traded it for one containing eighty acres on section 33. This he in turn traded in 1912 for 220 acres in Wabash county. In February, 1913, Mr. Simons removed to Denver, Indiana, where he has since made his home.
In politics Mr. Simons is a Democrat, and in the fraternal world he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1908 he was elected a mem- ber of the Board of Township Trustees, and has filled this office since that time.
On the 15th of April, 1900, Mr. Simons was married to Miss Elsie M. McClain, a daughter of William S. and Sarah E. (Sullivan) McClain, of Cass county, Indiana. Mrs. Simons is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
FREDERICK M. ROBERTS. One of the honored veterans of the Civil war who went out from Indiana is Frederick M. Roberts, who is one of the prominent farmer citizens of Butler township. Mr. Roberts is a native son of Indiana, and has made a creditable record not only as a soldier but as a citizen and business man. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana, August 3, 1842, a son of Archibald and Phebe (Allen- duff) Roberts. His paternal grandfather was Archibald Roberts, and his maternal grandfather was Frederick Allenduff.
The early life of Mr. Roberts was spent on a farm, and while grow- ing up he received a country school education, such as was afforded to the boys and girls of Indiana during the forties and fifties. He had almost reached maturity when the war broke out. On the sixth of July, 1863, he enlisted in Company D of the One Hundred and Six- teenth Indiana regiment. That was a six-month regiment, and was organized at Lafayette. From there it went to Fort Dearbon in Michi- gan, then to Detroit, from there embarked on the steamer Morning Star and crossed the lake to Cleveland, and from there by rail to Cincin- nati, and Camp Dick Robinson. There the regiment was brigaded with! other regiments, and began the march overland to Tennessee. The regi- ment during the winter of 1863-64 did a great deal of scouting and marching duty, and was in two skirmishes. In the skirmish at Walk- er's Ford, a soldier of Company F was killed and two members of the Company to which Mr. Roberts belonged. During the course of the winter five members of the regiment were taken prisoners. On March 1, 1864, Mr. Roberts was mustered out with the regiment, and returned to Indiana and remained about a year. Then on February 10, 1865, he enlisted in Company F of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana. Company F was organized in Camp Carrington, at Indianap- olis, and served in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. From Harper's Ferry the regiment marched to Winchester, and was at Charleston,
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Virginia, when Lee surrendered and the war closed. The regiment was mustered out at Stevens Station, was disbanded and paid off at Indianapolis, August 5, 1865. Mr. Roberts' captain during his first service was Abraham Claypool, and Col. Rice commanded the regiment. The officers of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana under whom he served were Colonels Taylor and Boswell.
Mr. Roberts was one of the founders of the Salem Baptist church in Fountain county. He took an active part in the building up of this church in 1872. While he himself is not a church member, and does not even attend church, yet he believes in the institution and has always contributed his support liberally to the maintenance of church and charity. Although he now lives one hundred miles away from Foun- tain county, he has made the statement that he would gladly give fifty dollars to any committee or person who would reorganize the Salem Baptist church of Fountain county, known as Roberts Chapel. His mother was a member of the Roberts Chapel and it was built upon her farm, she having given the land for that purpose, and was one of its most devout members and most regular attendants during her lifetime.
In 1895 Mr. Roberts married Miss Eva Thomas, a daughter of Jacob S. and Elizabeth Stanley Thomas. Her grandfather was Archi- bald Thomas, and her mother was the daughter of Robert Stanley. Her father's people came from Wales, while the maternal ancestry was English. The Thomases came from Virginia to Ohio, where the parents were married and then moved to Butler township in Miami county, settling on the farm which is now owned by Mr. Roberts. This farm adjoins the Frances Slocum residence, and the house that stood on the place at the time Mr. Thomas arrived was a log cabin built in the midst of the woods and still stands there. The land was originally canal land, having been a part of the tract turned over from the government land to the builders of the canal, and afterwards sold by the canal people to actual settlers. Mrs. Roberts' mother made the first dress worn by Mrs. Bondy, the Indian woman who is buried in the Indian cemetery adjoining the Roberts farm. It was in her honor that the people of Miami county a few years ago erected a monument, and that is now one of the historic land marks of this county. Mrs. Roberts' father drove overland from Urbana, Ohio, to Miami county, being several days enroute. His location was at the village of Peoria in Miami county, and he was engaged in the mill business there until his establishment was burned down. He then returned to the farm and remained on it until 1896, in which year Mr. Roberts bought the old estate.
The father of Mrs. Roberts died September 4, 1899, at the age of eighty-eight years, and her mother died in 1873 at the age of fifty-seven.
Mrs. Roberts received her education in the Wabash Seminary and the Peru High School. The home of the Thomas family continued in the original log house until 1880, in which year Mrs. Roberts' father built an eight-room house, which was standing when Mr. Roberts took possession. Since that time the house was burned to the ground, and for a time Mr. and Mrs. Roberts had their residence in Peru. Since that they erected the present comfortable dwelling, and have main- tained their residence in the country. Mr. Roberts had two children by his first marriage: Walter A., married Nellie Mounts and they had one child Josephine. Nellie Roberts died, and her husband then mar- ried Ora Harrison. Edith M., the second child, married Charles Wal- lace, and their children are Fred and Florence. The pretty home of Mr. Roberts is known as "Rolling Acre Farm."
JAMES A. LONG. A resident of Butler township for nearly forty years, Mr. Long came to this county when a boy, and by many years of
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"WEST VIEW FARM" RESIDENCE OF HARLEN E. PLOTNER
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industry and good management has acquired property and has identi- fied himself with the enterprise of his community in such manner that he is regarded as one of the most substantial and influential citizens of Butler township. He is proprietor of a store at Peoria, and owns a great deal of high priced farming land in that vicinity.
James A. Long was born in Wabash county, in Waltz township, January 1, 1860. He is a son of Jeptha Long, and a grandson of John Long. The maiden name of his mother was Lavinda Lutz, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Lutz. The family moved from Wabash county, to Miami county, in November, 1874, and located in Butler township. The father first settled in Miami county in 1843 and the mother in 1846 and here they were married. They were here while the Indians were still lingering in this part of the state. In 1849 the father went out to California, where he remained until 1851, and was more successful than most of the California forty-niners, since it was there he got his substantial start, and with the accumulations of those two years, he returned to Indiana, and was afterwards a man of substance in his community. On returning to Indiana he bought a farm in Wabash county, and lived there until 1874, when he moved to Miami county. He then located at a home near Peoria, where he lived until his death on January 12, 1900. The mother is still living at the age of eighty years, and bears her age with ease.
James A. Long remained at home with his parents up to 1883, and then bought a store in Peoria. He has conducted this store ever since for a period of thirty years. His son Raymond, who teaches school dur- ing the winter season, has charge of the store during the summer. Mr. Long has bought several farms in Miami county, and resides on one near the village of Peoria, called Long View. He also owns the farm near the Mississinewa River on the old Bondy Indian Reservation. He bought this place of one hundred and fifty acres from the Bondy Indians, after it had been owned by eight different Indian descendants. On that place the old Indian known as White Rose is buried. From the springs known as Monument Springs, the farm is known as the Monu- ment Spring Farm. The Long View estate comprises two hundred acres. Mr. Long is a man of progressive ideas, and has improved all his farm property to the very best advantage.
Mr. Long is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Peru, and with Miami Lodge No. 52 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His business ability and personal integrity has commended him to his fel- low citizens, and they chose him as township trustee, an office which he held from 1905 to 1909. He is a Republican in politics and for twenty- one ycars served as postmaster at Reserve, his wife having also held the office for four years.
On November 7, 1886, Mr. Long married Eva J. Poor, a daughter of Archibald and Isabelle Poor. They are the parents of eight children named as follows : Raymond G., who married Armedia Laudenschlager ; Hazel Pearl; James Thompson; Naomi Eva; Ruth Beatrice; Helene Guinevere; Robert Louis Stephenson; and John Donald. The children were all provided with a good home and liberal educational advantages, and attended the schools of Peoria. Raymond is a graduate of the Peru high school, and Hazel graduated from the Marion Normal College.
HARLEN E. PLOTNER. A native son of Miami county now carrying on operations in Harrison township, Harlen E. Plotner is recognized as one of the inen to whom is due the agricultural supremacy of this part of the State. He is the owner of a well improved farm of 130 acres, and his success in his personal affairs, as well as the high esteem in which he is Vol. II-15
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held by his fellow townsmen, has caused him to be elected to membership on the township advisory board, on which he is now capably serving. As an agriculturist, as a citizen and as an active worker in affairs of the church, he has justly earned the right to be named as one of his section's representative men. Mr. Plotner was born on a farm in Butler township, Miami county, Indiana, July 22, 1867, and is a son of George W. and Sarah (Smith) Plotner.
George W. Plotner was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, a son of Elijah Plotner, and was a young man when he first came to Miami county, settling in Jefferson township. He was residing in that township at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, when with other patriotic young men of his locality he enlisted August 16, 1861, to serve three years in the Union army, becoming a corporal in Capt. Horace S. Foote's Company A, Eighth Regiment, Indiana Cavalry. With this organiza- tion he saw much hard fighting, serving therewith from 1861 to 1865, and at the close of a faithful and valiant military service was discharged September 24, 1864, and returned to the home of his parents, who had removed to Butler township, Miami county. On October 4, 1866, he was married to Miss Sarah Smith, who was born in Fairfield, Ohio, a daughter of George C. Smith. In October, 1867, Mr. Plotner purchased a farm of his own in Clay township to which he moved. In September, 1871, he traded this land for another property in the same township, but in 1874 or 1875 went back to Butler township, there purchasing a part of the old Plotner homestead. Mr. Plotner came to Harrison township in 1895, and this was his home at the time of his death, October 16, 1901.
Harlen E. Plotner received a common school education, and was reared to the life of an agriculturist, remaining under the parental roof until the time of his marriage. He then embarked upon a career of his own, locating on a farm of some size in Washington township, but was not satisfied with conditions as he found them, and made several moves before coming to his present property, which had been originally entered by James D. Dryer. Here he now has 180 acres, having recently added 50 acres to his original 130 acres, all in a high state of cultivation, which he devotes to general farming, although he has also met with uniform success in stock raising operations. He has been progressive in his methods, honorable in his business dealings and earnest in his support of whatever his judgment has told him would be of benefit to his community, and as a result his standing is that of a valued and highly esteemed citizen. His buildings have all been erected by him, and are commodious in size, modern in architecture and substantial in character, greatly enhancing the value of the property. Modern machinery is used exclusively, and the entire property shows the beneficial effects of up-to- date, Twentieth-century management.
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