USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 19
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Mr. Nees was born in Owen county, Indiana, March 21, 1873, and is a son of David A. and Sarah A. ( Kennedy) Nees. The father was a farmer, and shortly after the birth of our subject he moved to Kansas, locating at Independence, and there his death occurred in 1883. Mrs. Nees then re- turned to Owen county, Indiana, where she is now living.
Milton L. Nees received a good education in the common schools of In- dependence, Kansas, and the Owen county rural schools, later attending school at Spencer and Valparaiso, Indiana. After passing through the nor- mal at the latter town, he began teaching in Owen county, which line of endeavor he continued with much success and satisfaction to the people for a period of seven years, during which time he took a high rank with the leading educators of that section of the state. But finally tiring of the school room and having long entertained an ambition to become a civil engineer he took a course in this science with the International Correspondence Schools, and at the same time managed to secure considerable practical ex- perience. so he became well fitted to enter the arena of his chosen life work, having prepared himself principally during the summer vacations while he was teaching.
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Mr. Nees came to Montgomery county in 1901 and here worked at his profession until 1906, when he was elected county surveyor. He made such a splendid record, doing his work so skillfully and conscientiously that he was re-elected in 1908, in 1910 and 1912, which is certainly sufficient evi- dence of his popularity in the county and of the explicit confidence which the people repose in him. He has been a close student of all phases of this field of endeavor and has kept fully abreast of the times. During this period of his incumbency Mr. Nees has done much for the permanent good of the county, such as the construction of twenty-five gravel roads, and there are at this writing seventy-five others under way.
Politically, Mr. Nees is a Democrat and is active in the affairs of his party. Fraternally, he is a chapter member of the Masons and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Tribe of Ben-Hur and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Nees was married on June 5. 1901, to Lulu Turner, a native of New Ross, who was born there on June 25, 1880. This union has been blessed by the birth of three children -- Ruth, Sarah and Marcella.
ANDREW N. FOLEY.
The legal profession of Montgomery county has an able exponent in Andrew N. Foley, of Crawfordsville, who is one of the best known of the younger generation of attorneys and one to whom the future seems to beckon with special promise. He has worked hard, built himself up from the bottom of the ladder by persistent, honest endeavor and has worthily attained the large success in his chosen field of endeavor that he now occu- pies. He is a conscientious worker, leaving nothing undone whereby he may further the interests of his clients. He knows the importance of going into court well prepared, and he has great weight with juries and the court, owing to his never-failing courtesy, his earnestness and logical reasoning. He has kept well abreast of the times in all phases of jurisprudence and is familiar with the statutes of Indiana. He is a man who believes in giving the best there is in him to whatever task he undertakes, and this is one of the principal secrets of his success. Another thing, he never waits for some- one else to do what he should himself perform.
Mr. Foley was born on November 19, 1877, in Coal Creek township, Montgomery county. He is a son of John A. and Bridget (Coleman)
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Foley, both natives of Ireland, the mother being born on June 22, 1850. John A. Foley left his native land when a young man and emigrated to America, coming direct to Montgomery county, Indiana, and locating in Coal Creek township, on a farm, and there he became very well established through his industry and perseverance, ranking among the leading farmers of his township. He devoted his life to argicultural pursuits. In 1888 he moved to Wingate, and his death occurred at an advanced age on July 4, 1912. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religion a stanch Catholic. His wife preceded him to the grave on February 14, 1897. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are still living, namely : Michael E., of Indianapolis, was born on September 14, 1872, was graduated from Wa- bash College in 1899, then spent one year in the Columbia Law School in New York, atter which he returned to Montgomery county, and for a period of nine years from 1900 to 1909, he was in partnership with Judge Thomas, of Crawfordsville, and became one of the leading lawyers of this section of the state. He is at present counsel for the Terre Haute, Indianapo- lis & Eastern Traction Company. James E., the second child born to John A. Foley and wife, first saw the light of day on April 6, 1874, is still farming on the home place in Coal Creek township, this county; William L., born June 18, 1875, is a farmer in Coal Creek township: Andrew N., of this review ; Charles N., born February 24, 1879, is also farming in Coal Creek township.
Andrew N. Foley grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work when a boy. He received a good common school education, after which he began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed continuously for a period of ten years with great suc- cess, during which his services were in great demand, for he gave eminent satisfaction to both pupil and patron, he having been both an entertainer and an instructor in the school room. But believing that the law was his true bent, he finally tired of the school room and turned his attention earnestly to the law. He entered the Indiana Law School at Indianapolis, where he made an excellent record and was graduated with the class of 1907, of which he was valedictorian. Thus well equipped for his life work he began practice at Covington, Indiana, as deputy prosecuting attorney, and re- mained there for a period of two years, giving eminent satisfaction and getting a good start. In 1909 he came to Crawfordsville and entered into partnership with Judge Thomas, with whom he has continued to the present time, enjoying a large and lucrative clientele.
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Mr. Foley was married on April 5, 1899, to Mary A. Crane, of Hoops- ton, Illinois. Her death occurred on March 10, 1904. To this union two children were born, one of whom is deceased; Bernard B. is in school.
Politically, Mr. Foley is a Democrat; religiously, a Catholic; and fra- ternally, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, and the Tribe Ben-Hur.
IRA CLOUSER.
Selecting the law as his sphere, early in life, Ira Clouser, the able and popular prosecuting attorney of Montgomery county, and one of Crawfords- ville's best known professional men, has devoted his energies exclusively to that, ignoring other aspirations to make himself what he is today, well nigh a thorough master of legal science in all its ramifications. The common law, the statutes of Indiana, the history, progress and growth of jurisprudence, as well as the higher and more abstruse principles of equity, are all completely at his command, constituting him one of the leaders of the local bar, which position is readily conceded to him by his associates. As a practitioner he is cautious, vigilant and indefatigable, contesting every point with unyielding tenacity and employing his vast store of legal knowledge in sustaining his positions and attacking those of his adversary. . In argument Mr. Clouser is clear, forcible, logical and convincing, his irreproachable personal character and untarnished honor giving him great weight with juries, and his known ability and learning equally impressing the bench. Such a man is a credit to the community, and his life forcibly illustrates what energy and consecutive effort can accomplish when directed and controlled by correct principles and high moral resolves, his character being the expression of a strong, virile nature, and his name is entitled to a conspicuous place in a work of the province assigned to the one in hand.
Mr. Clouser was born in Sugar Creek township, Montgomery county, Indiana, October 15, 1874. He is a son of Daniel and Mahala ( Hampton) Clouser.
Daniel Clouser was born on January 17, 1833 in Ross county, Ohio. He is a son of John and Margaret (Orick) Clouser, the former born in 1777 in Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to Ohio soon after the close of the war of 1812, in which he served. He remained in Ohio until 1822 when he moved to Indiana, when Daniel Clouser was five years old, and here John Clouser spent the rest of his life, dying in 1868. He was a man of many trades. He ran a saw mill in Ohio and after coming to Indiana he continued
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IRA CLOUSER
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to operate a saw mill, also a grist mill. These mills or combination mill was located in Sugar Creek township. Montgomery county, and patrons came from all over this section of the country. His wife, Margaret Orick, was born in 1771. Her grandmother came from Ireland. The death of Mrs. Margaret Clouser occurred about the time she reached the century mark. Five children were born to John Clouser and wife, Daniel being the only one living at this writing, he having been the youngest in order of birth; the others were named Mary, Alfred, Henry and George, all long since deceased.
Daniel Clouser received what little education he could while growing to manhood amid pioneer environments, attending school in an old log school house with puncheon floor and seats and greased paper for a window pane. He has lived to see Sugar Creek township develop from a veritable wilderness to one of the most advanced farming communities in the state and he has been active in the progress of his community and is one of our most substantial farmers and honored citizens.
On October 6, 1859 Daniel Clouser married Mahala Hampton, who was born on February 7, 1840, in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and was a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Booher) Hampton, her parents being from Tennessee.
Eight children were born to Daniel Clouser and wife, all surviving but one ; they were named as follows: Mary, John, Chestley, Sarah is deceased; Frank, Marion, Ira, subject of this sketch; and Grace.
Daniel Clouser has lived in Sugar Creek township seventy-six years, and is therefore perhaps the oldest inhabitant of this part of the county. He has always engaged in general farming and stock raising, also ran the Clouser mill for many years, and was postmaster there quite a long time. He has always been one of the prominent and influential citizens of the northeastern part of the county, and no man is held in higher esteem, for his life has been exemplary in every respect. He is owner of a finely improved and productive farm of four hundred and forty-two acres of valuable land in Sugar Creek and Franklin townships. He remodeled his. dwelling some time ago and has a large, pleasant home and a good set of outbuildings. An excellent grade of live stock is always to be seen about his barns and fields.
Politically, Daniel Clouser is a Democrat and has long been a leader in local public affaris. He served as justice of the peace in Sugar Creek town- ship for some time, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that re- flected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all con- cerned. His decisions were characterized by uniform fairness to all parties and they were seldom reversed at the hands of higher tribunals.
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Ira Clouser received a good education in the common schools, the preparatory department of Wabash College and two years in the regular col- lege work here, later attending the Indiana University at Bloomington for a year and a half. In 1900 he began reading law in the office of Johnston & Johnston, and, making rapid progress, was admitted to the bar in 1902. He then established himself in the practice at Ladoga, opening an office there on August 12, 1903. He soon had a good practice there, and became attorney for the Ladoga B. & L. Company. In 1910 he was elected prosecuting at- torney of Montgomery county, and his record was so eminently commendable that he was re-elected to this responsible post in 1912, and is still discharging the affairs of the office in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has been connected with a num- ber of important cases in this connection and has been very successful in the trial of the same. One of the most important of these was the Jeffries mur- der case, in June, 1911. He has been prompt and effectual in the discharge of his duty in bringing about better moral conditions in the city of Crawfords- ville and throughout Montgomery county. He has lost but one case during his practice as prosecutor in circuit court.
Fraternally, Mr. Clouser is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the Knights Templar, the Order of the Eastern Star, having been worthy patron of the latter, and filled all offices in the Blue Lodge. He is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple at Indianapolis. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, the Progressive Order of Sons of America, and the Phi Kappa Psi, the latter a Wabash College fraternity. He is an uncompromis- ing Democrat and has for some years been a local leader in the party.
Mr. Clouser was married on October 26, 1904 to Alice Sands, a lady of many estimable characteristics. She was born, reared and educated in Mont- gomery county, and is a daughter of Wilson and Mary Sands, a prominent family of Darlington.
ROBERT HAMILTON WILLIAMS.
Among the younger generations of lawyers in Montgomery county who give unusual promise of great future success the name of Robert Hamilton Williams, of Crawfordsville, must stand among the first in the list, for both nature and training seem to have combined in making him an attorney of rare power. All this, however, he takes as a matter of course, having
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worked hard, and to those who put forth effort, continued and close, for a long period, success comes not as a surprise but as their legitimate reward. He is a plain, unassuming gentleman who is well liked by all who know him.
Mr. Williams was born on January 10, 1876, at Fincastle, Putnam county, Indiana, and he is a son of James Chrittenden Williams and Mary Alice (Bridges) Williams. The father was born near Mt. Vernon, Ken- tucky, December 15, 1849. In 1852, when he was three years of age, his parents moved with him to Putnam county, Indiana, and here established themselves on a farm. James C. Williams has also devoted his life to farming with much success, living now on a good farm in Putnam county. Mrs. Williams was a native of Putnam county, her birth having occurred there on November 4, 1855.
Robert H. Williams was reared on the home farm and there he as- sisted with the general work when a boy, attending the district schools dur- ing the winter months. He later attended the high school at Fincastle, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892. He then entered DePauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, teaching school one year and attending the university the next, thus being able to defray his own expenses for a higher education. He was in school at DePauw about three years. He then entered the Indiana Law School in Indianapolis, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1904, having made an excellent record there.
After finishing his education, he came to Crawfordsville and began the practice of his profession in the law office of Schuyler Kennedy, in which he remained for nine months, then went to the office of Whittington & Whit- tington, working there as law clerk until 1906, when upon the retirement of one of the members of the firm he succeeded him, the firm name becoming thereupon Whittington & Williams. This partnership continued with much success until the death of Mr. Whittington, since which time Mr. Williams has practiced alone, having built up an extensive, ever growing and lucrative patronage, and ranking among the leading attorneys of the local bar, figuring conspicuously in many of the important cases in this section of the state. He has remained a close student and is thus a capable, well informed. cau- tious and earnest lawyer who guards carefully the interests of his clients, and, being a logical and forceful speaker, he has great influence over juries.
Mr. Williams in his fraternal relations is a member of the Masonic Order, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Tribe of Ben-Hur. Re- ligiously, he is a Universalist, and in politics a Republican.
Mr. Williams was married on December 23, 1900, to Winnie Louisa
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Stanley, of Fincastle, Indiana. She was born there on January 9, 1880, and is a daughter of Dr. Logan and Angeline (Forsher) Stanley, a well known family of that place. There she grew to womanhood and received her early education. To this union one child has been born-Ward Stanley Williams.
DUMONT M. PECK.
The popular and well known mercantile firm of Warner & Peck in Crawfordsville is deserving of the ever growing prestige which is theirs, be- cause they have given their thousands of pleased customers honest goods and courteous treatment and have sought, so far as possible, to carry the prin- ciples of the Golden Rule into their everyday work. They are each men of industry and sound judgment and while laboring for their own advancement have at the same time sought to advance the general welfare of Crawfords- ville and Montgomery county.
Dumont M. Peck was born in Newton county, Indiana, January 20, 1877. He is a son of Egbert A. and Gertrude (Morgan) Peck, both of whom are still living in Newton county.
Dumont M. Peck grew to manhood in his native county and there re- ceived a good common school education, subsequently entering Wabash Col- lege, where he made a splendid record and was graduated with the class of 1900. He then entered the mercantile field in Crawfordsville in partnership with Lee S. Warner, under the firm name of Warner & Peck, and they have continued to the present time with ever increasing success until they carry a large and carefully selected stock at all seasons and have built up an ex- tensive and lucrative trade, many of their customers coming from all parts of the county, and their store is a favorite stopping place with the people of the rural districts for here they find everything pleasant and are accorded uni- form courtesy by both management and clerks.
Mr. Peck has been very successful in a business way and he is secretary and treasurer of the Crawfordsville Heating Company, and is second vice- president of the Central States Life Insurance Company. He is also vice- president of the Commercial Association. In all these responsible positions he is giving the utmost satisfaction to all concerned.
Politically, he is a Republican, but has never been especially active in public matters. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, having at- tained to the Knights Templar degrees, also belongs to the Ancient Arabic
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Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple, at Indianapolis. He is a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and the Patriotic Order Sons of America. In all of these he takes considerable interest.
Mr. Peck was married in September, 1905, to Juliet A. Warner, and to this union one child has been born, David W., who is now attending school.
JOHN HENRY BEESON, D. D. S.
One of the most promising of the younger professional men of Mont- gomery county is Dr. John Henry Beeson, a popular and skilled dentist of Crawfordsville. He is already well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his calling, but he is making every effort to learn more of the art of al- leviating the ills of suffering humanity in his particular field of endeavor. It has not been so very long ago that a man who devoted his entire atten- tion to the teeth could not be found except in the few largest cities of the country, the country family physician being relied upon to extract with his rusty forcepts the aching molar-there was no other thing to do, it was be- lieved; however, for reasons which scientific men are unable to clearly ex- plain, the people of two or three generations ago, or even one, had teeth which did not readily decay, and it was not uncommon for one to reach the Psalmist's three score and ten years with a full set of good teeth. Such a thing today is perhaps very improbable. So we must have skilled men to preserve our teeth, and thus our general health.
Dr. Beeson was born on March 10, 1883, in Marshall, Indiana. He is a son of Stephen K. and Ellen M. Beeson, who are still living in Parke county, having a good home there as a result of their industry and there they are highly respected, being people of industry and honesty.
Dr. Beeson grew to manhood in his native county and there received a good education in the common schools, after which he spent two years at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. Having long entertained a lau- dable ambition to enter the dental profession he, while yet but a boy, began directing his efforts in this direction, and with a view to perfecting himself in the same, so far as modern methods are concerned, he entered the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, where he made a splendid record, and from which institution he was graduated in 1908.
Returning to his native community he at once opened an office at Mar-
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shall, Parke county, where he remained a short time and was getting a good start, but seeking a wider field for the exercise of his talents he came to Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, in 1909, and here he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession with ever increasing success, and now enjoys a large and lucrative patronage and is fast taking a position in the front ranks of the leading dentists of the Wabash valley country. He has a neat and sanitary office, fully equipped with all the improved and modern devices and appliances to insure quick and high grade service.
Dr. Beeson is a member of the Masonic Order, including the Royal Arch Masons; also the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of Veterans, and the Delta Sigma Delta at Indianapolis.
On August 23, 1910, Dr. Beeson was married to Winnie Davis, a daughter of George Davis and wife, of Crawfordsville, a well known local family, and here Mrs. Beeson was reared to womanhood and was educated.
The Doctor takes an interest in military affairs, and is the efficient second lieutenant of Company B, Second Infantry, Indiana National Guard.
CHALMERS ELEAZAR FULLENWIDER.
The career of Chalmers Eleazar Fullenwider, who is a well known dealer in real estate and loan business in Crawfordsville, has been a varied and interesting one, and has provved that he can make a success of other lines of endeavor except farming, which has been his chief life work. Al- though a native of the locality of which this history treats, he spent a quar- ter of a century of the most active years of his life in the Blue Grass state. His actions have ever been the result of careful and conscientious thought, and when once convinced that he is right, no suggestion of policy or per- sonal profit can swerve him from the course he has decided upon. He has sought to do his full duty in all the relations of life, and he has won and retained the good will of all who know him.
Mr. Fullenwider was born in Brown township, Montgomery county, Indiana, August 19, 1844. He is a son of Eleazar and Lavinia ( Allen- Fullenwider. The former was the son of Jacob and Katie (Winters) Fullenwider. Eleazar was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, February 5, 1802, and there he spent his young manhood, being twenty-eight years of age, when, in 1830, he left the "dark and bloody ground" country and came to Sugar Creek township, Montgomery county, Indiana, where he entered
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one hundred and sixty acres from the government, and remained there four years, then removed to Brown township, where he bought land which he farmed until his death, on May 5, 1871. He became well known among the early-day citizens of the county and was respected for his industry and hon- esty. In early life he was a Whig, but when that party ceased to exist and the Republican party was formed in the early fifties, he identified himself with that party, with which he remained the rest of his life. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. He married Lavinia Allen in Shelby county, Kentucky, where she was born on October 15, 1802. Her death occurred in Brown township, Montgomery county, Indiana, at an advanced age.
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