USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 12
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Politically, Mr. Hunt is a Democrat. and in religious matters is a Bap-
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tist. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, including the Hay- makers degree; the Knights of the Maccabees, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America. He has passed through all the chairs in the last named order, also in the Knights of Pythias lodge.
WILLIAM H. BROWN.
The name of the late William H. Brown stands out distinctly in the list of enterprising and skillful farmers and successful stock raisers in Montgom- ery county in a past generation, for he was a man who believed in carrying into his every-day work progressive ideas and so far as practicable trans- planting the old order of things to the new ; however, he had to admit, as do all fair and broad-minded men, that many of the methods employed by our fathers and grandfathers in agricultural pursuits have never been improved upon. Mr. Brown was a good citizen and a splendid neighbor, hence was popular with all who knew him. He supported every movement that had for its object the general good of the community, delighting in seeing new re- forms enforced. He, while laboring for his own advancement, never ne- glected his duties to his neighbors, but was helpful, kind, obliging and be- lieved in the old adage that it was better to live and let live. So he was a good man, and his name is eminently deserving of perpetuation on the pages of local history.
Mr. Brown was born on November 8, 1830, in Rush county, Indiana. He was a son of Lucius Brown and wife, who were from the state of New Jersey, having made the long westward journey over the mountains and through the vast wildernesses as early as 1828, locating in Rush county, Indiana, where they remained a number of years, then removed to Boone county, this state, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm, and on that place our subject remained until a young man, when he went to Illinois, where he remained for two years, then came back to Boone county, this state. When twenty-one years old he came to Montgomery county, where he pur- chased forty acres of land, to which he later added, prospering through hard work and good management until he owned several fine farms totaling nearly six hundred acres, which he brought up to an excellent state of improvement and cultivation, and on which he kept a good grade of live stock and had
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Priscilla Brown
2
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established a comfortable set of buildings. He also owned property in the city of Newport.
Mr. Brown was twice married, first to Nancy J. Routh, on May 8, 1853. To this union nine children were born, namely: Ailey A., Mary E., Eliza E., John M. L., Telitha E., Willis T., Edward L., Charles K., deceased, and James O. Nancy J. Routh, the mother, died December 30, 1873.
Mr. Brown was married the second time on April 19, 1878, to Priscilla Hays, the daughter of John Newton and Martha ( Martin) Hays. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Kentucky. Grandfather Hays came to Montgomery county, Indiana, in a very early day and settled in Union township, where he farmed. Martha Martin came to this county when a young girl with her brother, and they settled in Union township. John Hays took an interest in public affairs, and he served a term as trustee of Scott township. His family consisted of five children, namely: Berilla Ann, George T., Phoebe, Daniel C., all deceased ; Priscilla, who married the subject of this memoir.
Seven children were born to William H. Brown and wife, namely : Esta, Bertha A., Martha, Stella E. is deceased. Newton H., and Lulu. By her first marriage to Henry R. Canine, Mrs. Brown became the mother of one child, Maud M. Canine.
Politically, Mr. Brown was a Republican, but he never sought or held public office. He was a member of the Christian Disciple church, and fra- ternally belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons.
The death of Mr. Brown occurred in 1906 at the age of seventy-six years.
ARTHUR ALBERT McCAIN.
Arthur Albert McCain, the present able and popular postmaster of the city of Crawfordsville, and a newspaper man, was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, December 1, 1868, and is a son of Thomas Hart Benton McCain and Salome Snow (Longley) McCain. The father was born in Clinton county, Indiana, on January 24, 1839, and was a son of Hugh B. and Minerva ( Doug- lass) McCain. The McCains are descendants of a long line of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Hugh B. McCain was a farmer. His death occurred in the year 1893. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. During the Civil war he was a very strong Union man. Thomas H. B. McCain, father of our subject, worked on the home farm when a boy and at the commencement of
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the war of the states he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, in which he served with distinction for a period of three years. He was sergeant-major of his regiment during the first year of his service, and the last year he was first lieutenant of Company I, in the same regiment. He participated in a number of important campaigns and battles, such as Stone's River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and those of the Atlanta campaign.
After his career in the army he returned to Indiana and began publish- ing the Delphi Journal, later removing to Lebanon, this state, where he published the Patriot for eighteen months, then went to Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, and published a Republican paper for six months. Returning to Indiana in 1868, he purchased the Crawfordsville Journal, and brought it up to a paying business, proving himself to be a very capable editor and mana- ger. He continued to publish the Journal until his death, which occured on May 1, 1898. His widow is still living in Crawfordsville. He did much for the general upbuilding of the city and he was held in the highest esteem by all with whom he came in contact. He belonged to McPherson Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically, was a staunch Republican. He was postmaster of Crawfordsville from 1873 to 1881, filling the office with much satisfaction to all. He and Salome Snow Longley were married on May 7, 1867. She lived at Lebanon, Indiana. To this union two children were born-Arthur Albert, subject of this review ; and Fred T., manager. of the Journal.
Arthur A. McCain grew to manhood in his native city and here attended the common schools, later entering Wabash College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889, having spent several years in that historic institution, being a student in the preparatory as well as the regular college branches. He quite naturally took to newspaper work and began as a reporter on his father's paper, working in this capacity one year, then became business manager of the same, continuing successfully thus until October, 1901, then became editor, which position he still holds, however, has not been active since becoming postmaster. He has kept the paper up to the high standard it knew in the days of the elder McCain, and it has continued to be a power for the upbuilding of this section of the state, wielding a wide and ever growing influence, and it has become a very valuable medium for advertisers. Its mechanical appearance is all that could be desired in modern newspaper work, and its columns teem daily with the world's most important and brightest news. Its editorial page is recognized as a molder of public opinion. The plant is well equipped with up-to-date machinery and all modern appli- ances necessary in issuing a live newspaper of the twentieth century.
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Mr. McCain was appointed postmaster at Crawfordsville on December 12, 1911, and is still incumbent of that office, the duties of which he is dis- charging to the eminent satisfaction of the people and the department. Mr. McCain has been successful from a financial standpoint and is a stockholder in several manufacturing concerns. He is a Republican, and is very active in the local affairs of his party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur.
Mr. McCain was married on October 23, 1895, at Indianapolis, to Ethel Rondthaler, a native of Pennsylvania, her birth having occurred in Bethlehem, that state. To this union two children have been born: Kather- ine Louise, who is attending high school, and Robert Benton, a student in the public schools.
FRED T. McCAIN.
Among the newspaper men of Montgomery county the name of Fred T. McCain, secretary of the company that publishes The Crawfordsville Journal, has long been familiar, and he has made his influence felt in a most potent manner in the locality of which this history treats, and he is not unknown to the wider journalistic fraternity of the state, occupying as he does a prom- inent place in his profession and standing high in the esteem of the fraternity wherever he is known. He has literally grown up in a newspaper office, fol- lowing in the footsteps of his honored father in a professional way, the elder McCain proving to be an able preceptor, and was long regarded as a man of influence in the affairs of Montgomery county.
Mr. McCain was born in this county on July 24, 1874. He is a son of Thomas Hart Benton and Salome (Longley) McCain. The father was born in January 24, 1839, in Clinton county, Indiana, and his death occurred on May 1, 1908. The mother of our subject was born on July 5. 1841 in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and she is still living in Crawfordsville.
T. H. B. McCain devoted the major portion of his life to newspaper work. He was editor of The Crawfordsville Journal for a good many years. Prior to that he was a teacher at Thorntown. He was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served gallantly for a period of three years.
Two children were born to T. H. B. McCain and wife, namely : Arthur A., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work: and Fred T., of this review.
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Fred T. McCain received a common school education, later was a student at Wabash College.
On December 16, 1902 he married Helen Krause, who was born on Janu- ary 13, 1880. She is a daughter of J. S. and Frances (Luckenbach ) Krause. She and her parents were born in Pennsylvania, her birth occurring at the town of Bethlehem, and there she received a common and high school educa- tion.
To Mr. and Mrs. McCain two children were born, namely: Frederick, born November 2, 1903, is attending school ; and Samuel, born August 15, 1910.
Mr. McCain has practically spent his active life with The Crawfords- ville Journal, which he has helped to make one of the leading newspapers in western Indiana. He was elected secretary of the firm in 1909, which posi- tion he is still holding to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Politically, Mr. McCain is a Republican. He belongs to the Commercial Club, and takes much interest in the affairs of his city.
GEORGE THOMAS WILLIAMS, M. D.
The medical profession of Montgomery county has no abler or worthier exponent than Dr. George Thomas Williams, of Crawfordsville, a man who has been favored by nature with all the necessary attributes to render one successful in this laudable field of endeavor. But notwithstanding the fact that he has the proper attributes he has not depended on this solely, having studied hard and in fact left no stone unturned whereby he might advance himself, keeping fully abreast of the times in all phases of his vocation, and, being a man of genial and kindly address, he has won not only the confi- dence of the people here but also won his way into their affections so that his wide circle of patients might also be termed his friends.
Dr. Williams was born in Brown township, this county, on June 8, 1865, and is a son of Henry and Nancy J. (Gott) Williams. The father was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, October 14, 1836, and was a son of Elder Garland and Harriet (Mitchell) Williams. The paternal grand- father of our subject was also a native of Shelby county, Kentucky, and was a son of Joseph and Julia Williams, both of whom came to Kentucky in a very early day and there established the future home of the family and be- came influential and well known in Shelby county. A brother of Joseph
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Williams served in the war of 1812 under General Andrew Jackson. Gar- land Williams was a farmer and also an ordained minister of the Baptist church, in which he did a great work among the pioneers and in its early his- tory preached at Crawfordsville. His death occurred in Kentucky. His wife also died there. Henry Williams came to Crawfordsville in 1861. He was a cabinet maker by trade and this trade he followed here in connection with carpentering and contracting for a number of years, and became well known in this line of endeavor throughout the county. He is now living re- tired at Brown's Valley. He is a deacon in the Baptist church, a Democrat, and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Henry Williams and Nancy J. Gott were married on November 27, 1863. She was born on December 23. 1845, in Brown township, this county, and here she was reared to womanhood and was educated. She was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (VanCleve) Gott. Her death occurred in April, 1900.
Four children were born to Henry Williams and wife, namely : Lillian E. married J. C. Allen, and they live at Brown's Valley, this county ; Charles G. is a cabinet maker, and lives in Crawfordsville; Mary L. died in October, 1900; and George T., of this review.
Dr. Williams grew up in his native county and received a good common school education. He began the study of medicine in 1882. He subse- quently entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, from which in- stitution he was graduated with the class of 1887. Soon afterward he estab- lished himself in the practice of his profession at Russellville, but remained there only two months, when he came to Brown's Valley, where he remained seventeen years, enjoying a large and successful practice. Then he went to Frankfort, but remained there only six months, when he came to Craw- fordsville, where he has since remained and is regarded as being in the front rank of local medical men, and he has a good practice, his patients being found all over the county. In order to further equip himself for his chosen life work, Dr. Williams took a post-graduate course in New York at the Post-Graduate School of the University of New York.
Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat, and while he is loyal in the sup- port of his party he has never been ambitious to hold public office, preferring to give his attention exclusively to his professional duties.
On October 17. 1888, Dr. Williams was married to Mary E. Todd, who was born in Brown township, May 2, 1866. She is a daughter of John- son and Ruth (VanCleve) Todd, the former a farmer of Brown township. Both of Mrs. Williams' parents are now deceased.
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FRED ATWOOD DENNIS, M. D.
One of the younger generation of physicians in Montgomery county, who is deserving of specific mention in a work of the nature of the one in hand is Dr. Fred Atwood Dennis, of Crawfordsville, a man who seems to combine all the essential attributes of head and heart that go to make up the popular and successful physician and, having somewhat specialized on the treatment of tuberculsis, he has won a wide reputation in the same, and he is a man to whom the future years must needs hold much of promise.
Dr. Dennis was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 20, 1876, and he is a son of Milton P. and Clorinda H. (Wheeler) Dennis. The father was of Quaker descent, and for many years engaged successfully in the wholesale tea and tobacco business in Indianapolis. He traveled some time for a Terre Haute firm, and in the year 1879 located in Crawfordsville, as a wholesale and retail grocer, at the corner familiarly known to all old-timers as the Dennis corner, which was a regular meeting place for them. Mr. Dennis was a successful business man and was highly respected by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1890. He was a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, also was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having during the war of the states been a member of Company D, First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served throughout the war. He was for some time a guard in government service on the banks of the Missis- sippi river, in St. Louis, Missouri. He married Clorinda H. Wheeler in September, 1872. She was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, near West- field. To this union seven children were born, six of whom are living at this writing.
Dr. Fred A. Dennis, of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of Crawfordsville, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1894. Having determined upon the medical profession early in life, for which he had a decided natural bent, he began reading medicine with Drs. Gott & Taylor, and in 1895 he entered the Indiana Medical College, where he made an excellent record, and from which he was graduated with the class of 1898. He then began the practice of his profession at Alamo, where he remained two and one-half years, during which time he got an ex- cellent start, and, seeking a wider field for the exercise of his talents he came to Crawfordsville, where he has continued in the general practice to the present time very satisfactory results, enjoying a large and growing patronage. He has made a special study of tuberculosis and is regarded as
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an authority and expert in the same. He was elected county health officer, in which position he served with much credit and satisfaction for one year.
Dr. Dennis is a Republican, and fraternally he is a Mason, attaining the Knights Templar degrees. He was married on July 29, 1903, to Hen- rietta Gilkey, a daughter of James R. and Alice (Wilcox) Gilkey, a well known family of Ripley township, this county, who located in Union town- ship. She was born on October 2, 1880.
To the Doctor and wife one child has been born-Margaret E. Dennis, who is attending school.
Dr. Dennis is medical director for the Commonwealth Life Insurance Company. He is a fellow in the Sydenham Society, a college organization.
FAYE O. SCHENCK, M. D.
Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional knowledge, and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to suc- cess has made Dr. Faye O. Schenck, of Crawfordsville, successful in his chosen calling and for a number of years he has stood among the scholarly and enterprising physicians and surgeons in a community long distinguished for the high order of its medical talent. While yet young in years, he has shown what ambition, close application, and an honorable impulse can ac- complish no matter how great obstacles may be encountered.
Dr. Schenck was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, April 12, 1878, and he is a son of Henry and Isabelle (Orr) Schenck. The father was born on October 31, 1853, in Crawfordsville, being the only son of Ruleff and Mary (Snook) Schenck. Ruleff Schenck was a native of Ohio, from which state he came to Montgomery county, Indiana, when a young man and when this country was little improved. Here he clerked in a store for a number of years. He was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity he long served the people of this locality. His death occurred in 1859. Mary Schenck was the only child of her parents. Her death occurred in 1865. Henry Schenck lived on a farm until he was sixteen years of age, then learned the tinner's trade, later working as journeyman tinner, and in 1888 he opened a shop on South Water street, Crawfordsville, and has since been located there, enjoy- ing a good business. Politically, he votes independently. He belongs to the Tribe of Ben-Hur, Improved Order of Red Men, including the Haymakers. He belongs to the Presbyterian church.
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Henry Schenck and Isabelle Orr were married on February 20, 1877. She was born in Ohio on February 12, 1856, and she came to Indiana when a child with her parents. Two children were born to Henry Schenck and wife, namely: Faye O., of this sketch; and Myrtle B., who is the wife of William H. Madir, of Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
Dr. Schenck grew to manhood in his native city and was educated in the public schools here, graduating from the high school in 1896. When a young man he learned the tinner's trade under his father, but desiring to enter a professional career he began the study of medicine and entered the Indiana Medical College (now University) at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. He served as interne in the City Hospital in Indianapolis for a period of fourteen months. He then went to Crawfordsville and opened an office, where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice, and ranks among the most successful and popular physicians in Montgomery and adjoining counties. He is medical examiner for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, also the John Hancock, the Scranton, and the Central States Life Insurance Companies.
The Doctor is independent in politics. He belongs to the Presbyterian church, is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Tribe of Ben- Hur, and the Improved Order of Red Men, including the Haymakers, being treasurer of the local lodge.
Dr. Schenck was married on October 21, 1908, to Anna Winter, a daughter of Mrs. Catherine Winter.
RICHARD N. CORDING.
The subject of this sketch has long enjoyed distinctive prestige among the enterprising men of Montgomery county, having fought his way onward and upward to a prominent position in the circles in which he has moved, and in every relation of life his voice and influence have been on the side of right as he sees and understands the right. He has long ranked with the leading business men and substantial citizens of the town of Wingate. He has always been interested in all enterprises for the welfare of the community and has liberally supported every movement calculated to benefit his fellow men. Mr. Cording has witnessed wonderful progress and improvement during the time he has lived here, has been a very important factor in local growth and prosperity, and has an extended circle of acquaintances throughout the county who wish him well, for his life has been exemplary in every respect since cast-
RICHARD N. CORDING
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ing his lot with our people. He has taken a surprising interest in our institu- tions in view of the fact that he was born under alien skies and was taught to respect another flag. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having started in life at the bottom of the ladder and, unaided, ascended to a topmost rung through the exercise of those attributes that never fail to win.
Richard N. Cording was born in Somerset, England, November 10, 1851. He is a son of John and Jane (Norrish) Cording, both natives of England, and there they grew to maturity, were educated and married and reared a large family, nine children having been born to them; one died in early infancy, a daughter grew to womanhood and passed away, and a son also grew up, dying in middle life, but six of the brothers and sisters are yet living and actively engaged in life's duties. The children were named respectively : Edward, the eldest; Richard N., subject of this sketch; John, William, Anna (deceased) ; Lucy, the wife of John Marson of South Haven, Michigan; Laura, wife of William Herron who lives in Attica, Indiana; and Thomas, who was a well known citizen of South Haven, Michigan, is now deceased; Alice, the youngest child, is deceased.
John Cording, father of the above named children came to the United States with his family in 1867, coming on west from the eastern coast where they landed after a tedious journey, and they located in Illinois, upon whose broad, virgin prairies they found a pleasant home, but did not long remain together. It was in the bleak month of January that they arrived there, and by spring they were squared away ready to begin raising a crop. The father was a skilled agriculturist, and devoted his life to general farming and stock raising with gratifying results. His death occurred at an advanced age on April 19, 1910, his wife having preceded him to the grave in July, 1905.
Richard N. Cording spent his boyhood days in England and there at- tended the public schools. Upon arriving in Illinois he first located in the town of Forrest, where he remained but one year. He then came to Indiana and engaged to work by the month for Hugh Meharry, a well known resident of Montgomery county. An energetic, tactful and quick-thinking young man, thoroughly versed in the various phases of agriculture, our subject gave his employer eminent satisfaction and continued in his service four years, during which time he saved his money and got a good start. At the expira- tion of this time he found a home and employment with Isaac Meharry, for whom he worked faithfully three years. Then, having mastered the ins and outs of stock raising as well as tilling the soil, and the general management of
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