USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 18
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
Edgar A. Rice grew to manhood in this county and he received a good education in the common schools, later attending the Central Normal at Danville, Illinois, also the Indiana State Normal in Terre Haute.
January 5, 1902, he was united in marriage to Ona M. Surface, who was born in Illinois on June 16, 1883. She received a common school edu- cation, and she was a daughter of Aaron F. and Amanda (Talbert ) Surface.
The following children were born to our subject and wife: Helen E., born March 2, 1905, is in school; Meredith, born October 25, 1909.
Mr. Rice began life as a teacher in the schools of Montgomery county in 1897, following the same with success for several years. In 1900 he came into the court house as deputy county clerk under Mr. Kennedy, and he con- tinued in that position for a period of eight years with much satisfaction to all concerned as may be ascertained by his long retention there. He mastered well every detail of the work in that office, and in 1908 the people of the county showed their appreciation of his services and their confidence in his integrity by electing him clerk of Montgomery county, the duties of which he discharged in a manner highly acceptable to all.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order. Lodge No. 50, at Crawfordsville, also the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tribe of Ben-Hur, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
Mr. Rice owns his own home in Crawfordsville. He is president of the Crawfordsville Investment Company, and is a director in the Crawfords-
932
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
ville Young Mens' Christian Association. He is a member of the Country Club, and is superintendent of the Christian Bible school. In all of the above he is active and influential and stands well in all circles in which he chooses to move.
HENRY D. SERVIES.
One of the popular officials of Montgomery county is Henry D. Servies, the present able and popular incumbent of the office of county recorder, the duties of which he is dicharging to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He is widely known throughout this section of the Wabash country, having spent his life here and for many years been successfully engaged in business, principally merchandising, and he has been a progressive man of affairs in all walks of life, and has gained the undivided respect of the people as a result of his industry, exemplary habits and his public spirit.
Mr. Servies was born near New Market, Montgomery county, Indiana on June 3, 1856. He is a son of William T. and Nancy C. (Jones) Servies, both natives of Kentucky from which state they came with their parents to Montgomery county this state, when they were children and here they grew to maturity and were married and spent the rest of their lives. The father is now deceased, his death occurring in 1885. The mother is living at the old home. They were honest, hard-working and highly respected people.
Henry D. Servies grew to manhood in his native county and received a fairly good education in the local schools. Early in life he decided upon a mercantile career, and upon reaching his majority launched out in that line of endeavor, soon giving every evidence of an unusual native ability in that direction, and he soon had a good start. He began business in the town of Ladoga, and after enjoying an extensive patronage there for a period of two years, sold out and opened a general merchandise store in the town of New Market, which he continued to conduct with his usual gratifying results until 1879, when he sold out. He then turned his attention to agriculture, farm- ing on an extensive scale during the next ten years, then accepted a position as secretary of the American Spoke & Wheel Company, which responsible position he occupied in an eminently acceptable manner for a period of two years, then returned to the merchandise business, establishing a drug store at New Market, and soon had built up a good trade.
Being an ardent Democrat and having long taken an active part in local
933
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIAN.I.
party affairs, Mr. Servies, in 1908, was elected recorder of Montgomery county, and he discharged the duties of this office with such commendation that he was re-elected in 1912 an dis at this writing incumbent of the same, giving satisfaction to all concerned, irrespective of party alignment.
Fraternally, Mr. Servies is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in all of which he is prominent.
Mr. Servies was married in 1875 to Belle Howard, a native of Mont- gomery county, where she grew to womanhood and received her education, and here her people have been well known since the early days.
To our subject and wife have been born six children, named in order of birth as follows: Lettie M., Charles M., Walter L., Ernest O., Cora A., Ruth C.
Religiously, Mr. Servies and his family are Methodists, and stand well in the congregation.
DR. BERTRAND EMIL MAY.
The science of osteopathy and other drugless methods of healing have made great strides during the past decades, finding followers all over the civilized world, especially throughout America. That satisfactory results are obtained goes without saying else these systems would have perished in their incipiency, for it seems that in this age of the world most any new method of healing, religious sect, cult or ism can get a ready following, but they must all show definite results and show them quickly or their followers fall away, leaving them without sufficient support to stand. Osteopathy has come to stay. Its principles are sound, its methods practical, its results pleas- ing to the public in general, so there is no reason why it should vanish from the niche it has so securely obtained during its comparatively brief life. One of the most popular and able exponents of osteopathy in Montgomery and surrounding counties is Dr. Bertrand Emil May, of Crawfordsville, a man who justly ranks in the van of professional men of this section of the Hoosier state.
Dr. May was born at Potomac. Vermillion county, Illinois, on Novem- ber 4. 1876. He is a son of George A. and Ella ( Buckingham) May. The father was born in Kentucky in 1839, and there he spent his earlier years, but when a young man came to Illinois and established the permanent home
934
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
of the family in Vermillion county and he is still living there, making his home in Danville where he has built up a large real estate business. His wife was born in Delphi, Indiana.
Dr. Bertrand E. May received a good common school education at Potomac, Illinois, later attending the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, where he remained two years, later attending the American School of Osteopathy in that city, where he made a splendid record and from which he was graduated with the class of 1898.
After his graduation he came to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and began the practice of his profession, and here he has remained to the present time, having built up an extensive and lucrative practice which is constantly grow- ing, his patients, many of them, coming from remote localities.
Dr. May is a Republican. He was a candidate for county treasurer in 1908, but was defeated, after making a splendid race, by only twenty-one votes. He is now a Progressive, being deeply interested in the new move- ment. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Dr. May was married on June 25, 1902 to Esther Clement, a daughter of Frank and Laura (Hutton) Clement. She is a native of Crawfordsville, where she grew to womanhood and was educated.
To the Doctor and wife one daughter has been born, bearing the name of Frances Helen May.
GEORGE FELIX MYERS.
A well known gentleman of Crawfordsville is George Felix Myers, now living in honorable retirement, but for a long lapse of years he was a suc- cessful business man, engaging in various pursuits in all of which he proved to be a man of tact, energy, and the possessor of a high sense of honor, and thus ever enjoyed the good will and confidence of all with whom he had deal- ings, and as a public servant, as superintendent of the county farm, he dis- charged his duties ably and conscientiously, to the commendation of all con- cerned. Thus for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he is one of the veterans of the great army that saved the nation from treason during its severest crisis, he is eminently entitled to mention in a volume of the province assigned to the one at hand.
Mr. Myers was born in Fountain county Indiana, August 26, 1833, and
935
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
he is a son of Noah and Mary M. Myers. The father who was born in North Carolina in 1810, was an early settler in Fountain county. His wife was also a native of North Carolina. There they grew to maturity and were married. They located in Montgomery county in 1846, establishing their home at Alamo, where Mr. Myers engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness for a period of ten years, removing in 1856 to Covington and retired from the active duties of life. However, he later came to Rockville, Parke county, and engaged in the hotel business until his death, which occurred in January, 1882. He was a Democrat, and in religion a Lutheran. His wife died in Crawfordsville at a ripe old age.
George F. Myers was educated in the common schools, and he clerked in his father's store until the breaking out of the Civil war, having in the meantime, however, spent a year in Sioux City, Iowa. He enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Light Artillery and served throughout the conflict with much credit and faithfulness, participating in a number of important campaigns and many battles. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned home and engaged in the butcher business at Rockville for a period of six years, during which time he built up a large trade. He then entered the revenue service as storekeeper at Terre Haute, which position he filled with satisfac- tion for a period of four years, after which he resumed the butcher business in Rockville, but a year later became time keeper on the railroad at Attica for two years. After that he went to Arkansas and engaged in saw milling one year. He then cut heading for Henry Alfry, the well known mill man, for a period of seven years. Then he took charge of the county farm in Montgomery county, which he managed for four years, after which he spent four more years as inspector for Henry Alfry, then was again in charge of the county farm for a period of six and one-half years. Much improvement was made in the farm during the time of his supervision. He finally pur- chased a farm west of Crawfordsville which he conducted with his usual success for a period of ten years, then moved to the county seat and engaged in the grocery business one year. He is now living retired from the active duties of life.
Politically, Mr. Myers is a Republican. He is a member of the Mc- Pherson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Crawfordsville.
Mr. Myers was married on May 10, 1857 to Mary E. Jarvis, a native of Parke county, Indiana. To this union two children were born, one being deceased; the other is Minnie E. Myers, who is living at home.
936
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOSEPH WALTER STIPE.
No better eulogium can be pronounced upon a community or upon its individual members than to point to the work they have accomplished. Theories look fine upon the printed page and sound well when proclaimed from the platform, but in the end it is effort in the various lines of industrial activity which develop the man and tells on society. This is essentially a utilitarian age, and the man of action is very much in evidence. Such a man is Joseph Walter Stipe, one of the best known citizens of the eastern part of Montgomery county, a retired farmer and capitalist, of New Ross, and as such it is a pleasure to contemplate briefly his career and character. Inti- mately associated for years with the industrial development of Walnut town- ship and taking a prominent part in the public affairs of the county, he has not been underestimated by the people who long since learned to appreciate his true value as a potent factor in the body politic. Though a man of unpreten- tious demeanor, he possesses the silent but powerful force that attracts men, the mental qualities that grapple them to him as it were, with hooks of steel, and the tact and magnetism that makes men as well as events subserve his just purpose.
Mr. Stipe was born at Shannondale, Montgomery county, Indiana, November 21, 1853. He is a son of John and Eliza ( Higgason) Stipe. The father was born in Harrison county, Indiana, in December, 1820, and the date of the mother's birth is July 21, 1826. She was a daughter of William and Sally Ann (Herron) Higgason. The father came to Montgomery county in 1829 and settled in Franklin township, where he remained until his marriage ยท when he was thirty-one years old. He then went to Shannondale, this county, and engaged in the saw mill business for a year, then came to Walnut town- ship, Montgomery county, and bought a farm from the heirs of Webster Rob- erts, and there he lived until the death of his wife whereupon he moved to New Ross, living with our subject until his death at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His death occurred while our subject lived in Boone county.
Only two children were born to John Stipe and wife, Joseph W., of this sketch, who was born in the old Presbyterian church at Shannondale; and John William, who was born July 15, 1862, and died March 28, 1890. Al- though five Stipe men settled in Indiana in the early days our subject is the only one of the name now living here.
Mr. Stipe received a common school education and spent one term at Mooresville, Indiana, then took up farming on the home place, later purchas-
Joseph. W. Stipe
937
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
ing one hundred and twenty acres in Jackson township. He lived in an old log cabin on the home place the first year he farmed there. He remained in Jackson township thirty years, during which period his rise was steady and certain and he ranked among the leading farmers and stock raisers of the township for many years, finally, accumulating a comfortable competency through his close application and able management, he retired from active farming, moving to the village of New Ross, where he has a beautiful and modernly appointed residence. He still owns the old home place, two hun- dred and thirty-nine acres in Walnut township; four hundred and thirty acres in Jackson township, and fifty-two acres in Union township. It is all well improved and valuable land, that lying in Union township being especially desirable since it is nearly inside the city limits of Crawfordsville and will make a splendid residence addition.
Mr. Stipe was married on September 15, 1874 to Elizabeth Evans, who was born on January 23, 1855. She is a daughter of William B. and Ariann (Powell) Evans. The older members of the Evans family came to Mont- gomery county from Kentucky in a very early day and established their future home here.
Mrs. Stipe was called to her eternal rest on September 14, 1910, at the age of fifty-six years. This union was without issue. On April 17, 1912. Mr. Stipe was united in marriage to Rose L. Harple, who was born August 30, 1873. She is a daughter of John and Lydia Ann (Jennings) Harple. The father was a native of Logan county, Ohio, and the mother was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. They spent their lives on a farm, and to them the following children were born: Mary, George are both deceased; Viola, Douglas, Anna, Rose (wife of Mr. Stipe), Floyd and Pearl. The parents of these children are both deceased.
Politically, Mr. Stipe is a Democrat and while he takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs he has never cared for office, preferring to devote his attention to his large farming properties.
BENNET BEARD ENGLE.
The family represented by the gentleman whose name introduces this article has always been classed with the best and thriftiest of Montgomery county, the interests of which they have ever had at heart and sought to promote whenever proper occasion presented itself.
938
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Bennett Beard Engle, the present able and popular county auditor of this county, is one of the best known members of this excellent old family. He was born in December, 1874, in Union township, Montgomery county, Indiana, and is a son of Bennett W. and Whillie ( Beard) Engle. The father was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, January 19, 1820, and was a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Pollock) Engle. Michael Engle was born in Ireland and when a young man he emigrated to America and here spent the rest of his life, becoming well established in the New World through his industry. His death occurred in 1828. His wife was a native of England, and she died in 1830.
Bennett W. Engle, father of our subject, lived with his brother until 1833 when he came to Rising Sun, Indiana, where he clerked in a store until 1845, when he came to Crawfordsville, Montgomery county. Here he soon became an influential factor in the affairs of the county and became owner and editor of the Crawfordsville Review, which he conducted satisfactorily for a period of three years, when he was appointed by President James K. Polk as "receiver of the public money," the duties of which he performed in a highly commendable manner until he was removed by President Zachary Taylor on account of political differences. In 1852 he became local editor of the Crawfordsville Review, and in 1853 took a position as cashier of the Elston Bank. This he held in a manner satisfactory to all concerned for a period of forty-three years. His death occurred in 1896. Politically, he was a stanch Democrat. He attended the Episcopal church, and, fraternally, belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Bennett W. Engle and Whillie Beard were married on September 13, 1854. She was a daughter of Hon. John and Maria (Burroughs) Beard. The father of Mrs. Engle was born in North Carolina, January 4, 1795, and, after spending his boyhood in the South, came to Wayne county, Indiana, in an early day, and in 1823, took up his residence among the pioneers of Union township, Montgomery county, this state. Here he became influential in public affairs and was justice of the peace many years. He was elected to both houses of the state legislature, being a member of that body for a period of twenty-five years, during which he performed a praiseworthy service for his constituents and for the general good fo his location and the state. He had the honor of being known as the father of the present excellent public school system of Indiana. He was a man of fine intellectual attainments, strong personality, and honesty of purpose and he was for over a quarter of a century one of the best known and influential men in western Indiana. He
939
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
was a member of the board of control of the Blind Asylum for six years. He was receiver of public monies at the land office in Crawfordsville, under President Benjamin Harrison's first administration. He was an uncompro- mising Republican. His death occurred on September 29, 1874, when seventy-nine years old, after an honored career, and his passing was regarded as a distinct loss to the people of Montgomery county and the Wabash valley country as well as to the state. He married in 1816, and his wife, Mrs. Maria Burroughs, also lived to an advanced age, dying in- 1884.
Bennett B. Engle, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Union township, Montgomery county, and he spent his boyhood days in much the same manner as other youths of his time, receiving a good educa- tion in the local schools. He engaged in various pursuits with more or less success, until his election as county auditor, the duties of which responsible position he discharged so satisfactorily that he was re-elected and is at this writing serving his second term. He has proven to be, according to com- mon consent, one of the best public servants the county has ever had. He is careful, painstaking and obliging as well as energetic.
Mr. Engle is prominent in Masonic affairs. He is past master of the local doge of Masons. He is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is at present secretary of all the Masonic bodies of Crawfordsville.
ASHER WERT.
This is an age in which the farmer stands pre-eminently above any other class as a producer of wealth, and there is a rapidly growing sentiment among the dwellers of the great cities that the rural districts are the best, being most desirable from a number of standpoints, the principal one being health of both body and mind, for without that nothing else matters very much; so they are going back to the soil in ever-increasing numbers, for there they not only find a greater independence but really have more of the good things of life. The farmer does not have to put forth such strenuous efforts to feed himself and his family. He simply takes advantage of the winds, the warm air, the bright, life-giving sunshine, the refreshing rains, and handling nature's gifts rightly, reaps the rewards that always come to patient, persist- ent toil. One of this number is Asher Wert, who has spent his life in Mont- gomery county successfully engaged in general agricultural and stock raising
940
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
pursuits, having ranked for many decades among the leaders in these lines of endeavor and owning one of the choicest farms in Union township, just outside of the city limits of Crawfordsville in which city he now lives, prac- tically retired from the active duties of life.
Mr. Wert was born on March 10, 1844, near Alamo, Montgomery county. He was a son of Richard and Amanda (Compton) Wert, an hon- ored old couple who came to this locality when it was practically a wilder- ness and here became comfortably etsablished by their industry. They have both been long deceased.
Asher Wert grew to manhood on the home farm and he received such education as the early schools of those times afforded. He began life for himself when young as a farmer, and, working hard and being economical, he soon had a start and eventually became one of the substantial and prosper- ous men of his township, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty- three acres of fine and valuable farming land just outside of Crawfordsville and this he placed under a high state of improvement and cultivation. In connection with general farming he always made the raising and preparing of live stock for the market a specialty, and he has long been considered one of the best judges of live stock, especially cattle in Montgomery county, and he is still engaged in buying and selling cattle and feeding them for the market. He has also long been one of the largest hog raisers in the county. No small portion of his comfortable competency has been realized out of live stock. In 1900 he gave up active farming and moved into the city of Craw- fordsville and built the present beautiful home at 509 East Market street. It is attractive from an architectural stand point and is modernly appointed and neatly furnished throughout.
Politically, Mr. Wert is a Democrat and has been more or less active in local party affairs, and was for about eight years road supervisor. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he holds to Quakerism in his religious belief. He is treasurer of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society, and has done much toward its success, taking an active and intelli- gent interest in the same.
Mr. Wert was married on October 21, 1875 to Angeline Hankins, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 3, 1848. She is a daughter of John L. and Orpha H. (Hancock) Hankins. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother was born in Kentucky. They came to Montgomery county in 1873, locating near Alamo where they became very well established through their close application and economy and were highly respected by
941
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.
their neighbors. They are both now deceased. There, on the old home- stead, Mrs. Wert grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools.
The union of our subject and wife resulted in the birth of two children, named as follows: Rose Lee, now the wife of John B. Line, of Craw- fordsville; and Pearl Oral, who died in infancy.
MILTON L. NEES.
Success has come to Milton L. Nees, the present able and popular county surveyor of Montgomery county, because he has worked for it along legitimate lines and has closely applied himself. He is an excellent example of the successful self-made man, and is eminently deserving of the con- spicuous position which he now occupies in the estimation of the people. He is a man who has never for a moment permitted untoward circumstances to divert his attention from the goal he had in mind when starting out in life. He has never waited for someone else to do what he should do himself, and he might be cited to the young men of his county as an example worthy of their careful study.
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.