USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 22
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One of the successful young farmers of Sugar Creek township who is keeping abreast of the times is J. E. Dykes, who was born on December 9, 1878, in the township and county where he still resides. He is a son of James and Louisa (Smith) Dykes. The father was born on April 11, 1841, five miles from Atlanta, Georgia, and there he grew to manhood and re- ceived his education, removing from there in 1865 to Boone county, In- diana, and subsequently coming to Montgomery county, and here establish- ing the permanent home of the family. His death occurred on December 29, 1910. He had been very successful as a general farmer. For a fuller mention of him the reader is directed to the sketch of Arthur Paddack, ap- pearing elesewhere in this work.
Nine children were born to James Dykes and wife, namely: Samuel A., born October 23, 1869; Mrs. Joanna Boots, born July 4, 1871 : Robert Martin, born December 6, 1873: Abner, born July 23, 1875, died August 9, 1900; Olive May, who married a Mr. Paddack, was born April 6, 1877; James E., subject of this sketch: Donnie Belle, horn October 9, 1880, died August 21, 1882; Mary Catherine, born May 21. 1882; Stella Flossie, born February 17, 1885, died September 23, 1910.
J. E. Dykes received a common school education. He has been twice married. first, on March 23, 1899, to Stella Ollinger, who was born in Brown's Valley, this county, on November 4, 1873. and died July 10, 1902. Subsequently, Mr. Dykes married Carrie Johnson, on March 5, 1903. She
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was born on April 11, 1876. She is a daughter of Thomas H. and Alabama (Gray) Johnson.
Two children were born of the subject's first union, namely : Gladys M., born December 27, 1899, and Clarence M., born November 13, 1900, are both in school. There has been no issue of the second union.
Mr. Dykes has always farmed in Sugar Creek township, carrying on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of good breeds of live stock, which finds a very ready market owing to their superior quality. He moved to his present farm in the fall of 1879. It is the old home place, and consists of one hundred and eighteen acres, all but six acres of which is under cultivation and it can all be tilled. It is well tiled, well fenced and otherwise well improved.
Politically, Mr. Dykes is a Republican, and he belongs to the Christian church. He is a trustee of the church, and is superintendent of the Sunday school.
JOHN ARTHUR PADDACK.
John Arthur Paddack, a representative citizen of Sugar Creek town- ship, Montgomery county, belongs to the number who are today among its most enlightened and enterprising farmers. Beginning at the lowest round of the ladder, he has aimed high in his chosen vocation, and by ever looking upward, relying on his own responsibility, he has gradually worked his way through life until now he can begin to see the dawn of the time when he can be free from the daily cares and responsibilities that "fret and wear the soul," according to the poet, for life's work, while in a measure pleasurable, is to most, irksome and monotonous, and that man is, or should be, happy, who, when the autumn of life comes, can take things easy, looking backward on his career of industry and accomplishment.
Mr. Paddack was born on March 24, 1871, in Madison township, Mont- gomery county. He is a son of Josiah and Caroline (Husted) Paddack. The father was born in Union county, Indiana, October 18, 1845, and his death occurred on January 2, 1877. The mother was born in Union county, this state, in 1845, and is still living in Darlington, Indiana. Their parents grew up in their native community and received common school educa- tions, and they spent their lives on the farm, Mr. Paddack having been a large farmer and stock raiser, and he was the first to bring fine short-horn cattle to this county, and he was one of the best known and most successful
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stock men here in his day. He was a loyal Republican, but not a public man. preferring to stay pretty close to his farm and home. His family con- sisted of five children, namely: Clyde, John Arthur, Cora L., Frank B., and Josie.
John A. Paddack was reared on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy. He received a good education in the com- mon schools, and on March 20, 1895, he was united in marriage to Olive M. Dykes, who was born in Montgomery county, April 6, 1877. She is a daughter of James A. and Louisa A. (Smith) Dykes. The father was born April 1I, 1841, and his death occurred on December 29, 1910. He was a native of Georgia. We quote the following from a local paper, printed at the time of the death of Mrs. Paddack's mother :
"Louisa A. Smith was born in Mississippi, November 17, 1844, and died at her home, two miles west of Calfax, Indiana, August 27, 1901, aged fifty-six years, nine months and ten days. She was married to James Dykes January 16, 1869. To them were born nine children, seven of whom, with the husband, survive her, a son dying a little more than a year ago and a daughter in infancy. For several years Mrs. Dykes had been a great sufferer, and her death had been apprehended for some time.
"Although in pain almost beyond human endurance, when not under the influence of medicine, she was conscious and greeted her friends with a smile and kind word, and when asked how she was would say, 'I am resting, or did rest easy,' which ever it might be, never complaining but always patient and often thinking and suggesting things to be done for other suf- ferers.
"She united with the Christian church at Colfax in June. 1900, and it was a great pleasure to her to worship there when her health permitted. On the afternoon of the last meeting day her pastor and the choir came to her home and prayed and sang. She listened with tears rolling down her cheeks and looking into the face of one of the watchers after her eyes had been raised heavenward, said, 'I am all right.'
"She was ready to go and often wished for death to relieve her of her misery. She is not dead but sleepeth, and if we could raise the veil and look into eternity a frail hand would beckon us on. Some day we'll cross the dark waters and meet mother with arms outstretched to welcome us to our Saviour's home."
To John A. Paddack and wife one child was born, Reed D. Paddack, born April 29, 1899, who is now in school.
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Mr. Paddack has always engaged in farming and stock raising. He owns one hundred and twenty acres in Sugar Creek township, which is all tillable but three or four acres. It is fairly well tiled and otherwise im- proved and he has a comfortable home. He is making a specialty of Barred Plymouth Rock chickens and Poland China hogs.
Fraternally. he belongs to the Masonic Order at Darlington, and is a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association. He is a member of the Potato Creek Methodist Episcopal church, and is superintendent of the Sunday school there. Politically, he is a Progressive.
DAVID MYER.
David Myer, one of the enterprising farmers of Wayne township. Montgomery county, is one about whom it is a pleasure to write. He is modest in his opinion of himself, not claiming the worth and importance that others are ready and anxious to ascribe to him. He is quiet and unas- suming in manner, as such characters always are, and holds the high place which has been given him in the public favor by right of what he is, and not of what he claims. It is a grateful task to write of such an one, and the only danger is, that sufficient merit will not be ascribed; yet the hearts of his friends, and they are very many, will supply any lack of words on the part of the writer, or any failure to express happily the true thought.
Mr. Myer was born in Ohio on October 13, 1845. He is a son of William and Hannah (Kimball) Myer. The father was a native of Ohio, where he grew to manhood, was educated and spent his earlier years, com- ing to Fountain county, Indiana, in 1853, where he lived nine years, then removed to Jones county, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life, dying there many years ago. He spent his entire life on a farm, was a hard worker and an honest man. His family consisted of ten children, named as follows: Benton, who lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; David, of this review ; Jane, William, Evelyn, and John are all deceased; Julia and Emma are living : Mary is deceased; Albert lives in Oklahoma City.
David Myer grew to manhood on the home farm and assisted with the general work on the same when a boy. He received a good common school education in the schools of Cain township, Fountain county. Early in life he took up farming, and has remained active in the same to the present time. He is the owner of a well improved and productive farm of one
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hundred and sixty acres in Wayne township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has a comfortable home and convenient out- buildings.
Mr. Myer was married on February 1, 1866, to Maria Bever, daugh- ter of Henery and Mary (Heiston) Bever. They were early settlers of Fountain county, the family having been well known there since the pioneer days.
Nine children have been born to our subject and wife, named as fol- lows : Ellen, Alice, David, Emma, Martha, Harry, Howard, Henry and Bertha.
Mr. Myer is a member of the advisory board of his township. While living in Fountain county he was one of the county commissioners for a period of three years, and was also justice of the peace for a period of twelve years. As a public servant, he has ever been most faithful in the discharge of his duty and has given eminent satisfaction to all concerned. He is a member of the New Light Christian church.
WILLIAM SNOW.
William Snow, widely known and highly respected as one of the most energetic, self-reliant and enterprising citizens of Madison township, Mont- gomery county, has for several years been intimately associated with the best interests and upward progress of his neighborhood, and to his assist- ance is due many of the valuable and permanent improvements of the local- ity, for he has taken much interest in the affairs of his adopted community and has made many warm friends since coming here.
Mr. Snow was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, April 17, 1866. He is a son of Abner and Ellen (Ashmore) Snow, both natives of Illinois, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married. The paternal grand- father of our subject came from Vermont to Vermillion county, Illinois, in a very early day, being among the pioneer settlers there. The Snow family has been one of the best known in that county from the days of the first settlers to the present.
Five children were born to Abner Snow and wife, namely: Albert, Jessie, William (our subject), Lucias, and Bertha. They are all living at this writing.
William Snow grew to manhood in Vermillion county, Illinois, and
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there he received his education in the common schools. Early in life he took up farming and soon had a good start in life, and he continued to follow general agricultural pursuits with much success until 1910, when he moved to Montgomery county, locating in Madison township, where he still re- sides, owning a well improved and productive farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres, with a good dwelling and good outbuildings.
Mr. Snow was married on February 27, 1889, to Julia Chandler, daugh- ter of James and Zerelda (Bennett) Chandler. They were natives of Ken- tucky, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and from there they came to Vermillion county, Illinois, in an early day and became well established through their industry.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snow, namely: Orval, Vohn, Ura, Varmen, Fay, and Thelma.
Politically, Mr. Snow is a Republican, but he has never sought or held public office. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons at Linden ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Fairmount, Illinois; and the Modern Woodmen of America at Jamaica, Illinois.
FRANK STACKHOUSE, M. D.
One often hears the assertion, "This is an age of specialists." And the familiar sentence is certainly a true and incontrovertable one. It has not been so very long ago when "jack of all trades" was as common as the first quoted line, now one seldom hears it. The professional man, especially, the same as the mechanic, that does not specialize wins no more than mediocre success, if that, for competition is relentlessly fierce everywhere and he who covets pronounced success in anything must be able to do whatever he under- takes not only better but with greater despatch than his competitors. A few decades ago when a person received from some of the comparatively few medical colleges of the land his degree of Doctor of Medicine he was sup- posed to be able to correct most all kinds of the ills of which flesh is heir and he was called upon for everything. He did the best he could, according to his limited knowledge, and as might have been expected that "best" was miserable failure in many cases. But science, one of the most potent of modern gods to which humanity of the twentieth century bows, arose from his lethargic repose of centuries and cried, "Onward," and today we note a wonderful transformation. In no one branch of science, perhaps, has there
DR. FRANK STACKHOUSE
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been greater development and specialization than in medicine. The old fam- ily doctor no longer treats all ills. We go to many different specialists, and, of course, get quick and, as a rule, satisfactory results.
One of the most successful and widely known specialists in Montgom- ery county is Dr. Frank Stackhouse, of Crawfordsville, who maintains a splendidly equipped and popular sanitarium here, to which hundreds of patients annually come, and they are all unstinted in their praise of the Doctor and his rapidly growing institution.
Dr. Stackhouse was born on May 2, 1865, in Orange county, Indiana. He is a son of Sanford and Lydia (Harris) Stackhouse. The father was born in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, in 1828, and the mother's birth oc- curred in Orange county, Indiana, in 1830. She grew to womanhood in her native county, was educated and married there. Sanford Stackhouse was a well educated man, and he followed school teaching as a life work, in which he was very successful, his services being in great demand wherever he was known. His death occurred at Decatur, Illinois, at which city his wife also died.
Dr. Stackhouse received excellent educational advantages. After pass- ing through the common schools and spending one year in the normal at Terre Haute he began life for himself by teaching school, which he fol- lowed with much success and satisfaction to all concerned for a period of seven years. Finally, tiring of the school room and believing that his true bent lay in another direction, he began the study of medicine, in which he made rapid progress. In 1893 he entered a medical school in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he made a splendid record, and was graduated in 1896. He first began practice at Cates, Indiana, remaining there for a period of thir- teen years, during which he enjoyed a wide and ever growing patronage. Then he took a special course of one year in chronic diseases, after which he located in Crawfordsville, where he has since remained and has gradually built up one of the most satisfactory practices of any of the local medical men and now has an eighteen-room sanitarium, well arranged, sanitary, con- venient and equipped with every modern and approved device and apparatus for the successful carrying on of his special line of practice. He now does only office practice, confining himself to the treatment of catarrhal and chronic diseases. He is meeting with pronounced success, and hundreds of patients who emerge annually from his now noted sanitarium are unstinted in their praise of this benefactor of the human race.
Fraternally, the Doctor is a Mason, having attained the degree of
(62)
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Knights Templar. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the United Brethren church.
Dr. Stackhouse was married to Lula A. Marshall, of Fountain county, Indiana, in February, 1900. She grew to womanhood in this locality and received a good education here. To this union one child has been born, Doris B., who is in school.
GEORGE MAHOY.
We are glad to write of a man who has lived for something more than the mere hoarding of dollars, although it would seem that necessity makes this the first requirement, but in supplying our natural wants it is not neces- sary to neglect all other of life's good things, such as helping one's neigh- bors, cultivating the mind, making better the moral and spiritual attributes and, in short, living as the Creator intended for us to live. One of the highly respected families of Montgomery county, whose members have tried to do their full duty in the affairs of the locality since they came here in the pioneer epoch is the Mahoy family, who are certainly deserving of our at- tention at this time, one of the best known of the present generation being George Mahoy, successful farmer of Sugar Creek township, whose name forms the caption of this sketch.
Mr. Mahoy was born in this township and county on April 5, 1856, and here he has been content to spend him life. He is a son of George and Lydia (Daugherty) Mahoy. These parents were both born in the state of Ohio, the father in 1820. There they grew to maturity, received meager educations, and were married, and they spent their lives engaged in farm- ing, coming to Montgomery county in an early day and establishing the permanent home of the family in Sugar Creek township. The death of the father occurred on April 5, 1875. They were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Margaret Hulvey, Mrs. Alice Cook, Mrs. Vena Gray, Mrs. Iva Boots, Joe, and George, of this review.
Mr. Mahoy was married on August 22, 1889, to Margaret Baer, who was born on. February 28, 1860, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Joseph and Ada (Summers) Baer. The father's death occurred in 1884. The mother was born on January 1, 1830, and died in 1904.
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Mrs. Mahoy grew to womanhood in the native community and received her education in the common schools.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mahoy, namely : Willard, born February 1, 1890, is at home; Harry O., born December 14, 1891, died March 18, 1894; Zola F., born December 20, 1894, is at home; Mary E., born June 30, 1897, is attending school; Haven, born August 11, 1901, is also attending school.
Mr. Mahoy has always followed farming, moving on his present place in the spring of 1901, prior to that he had lived for two years on a farm near Garfield, Indiana, and before that in Tippecanoe county. He is the owner of eighty acres, all tillable, well fenced and well tiled and otherwise properly improved, and he carries on general farming and breeding, keeping an excellent grade of live stock, and no small part of his annual income is de- rived from this source. He understands well the care and handling of stock and takes a delight in this kind of work, and his fine stock is much admired by all. He has a good home, which he built himself.
Politically, Mr. Mahoy is a Republican; fraternally, a member of the Knights of Pythias at Darlington, and he is a member of the Potato Creek Methodist Episcopal church, being a trustee of the same.
NATHAN C. TURNIPSEED.
Examples that impress force of character on all who study them are worthy of record in the annals of history wherever they are found. By a few general observations the biographer hopes to convey in the following paragraphs, succinctly, and yet without fulsome encomium, some idea of the high standing of the late Nathan C. Turnipseed, for many years one of the well known and successful farmers and stock men of Sugar Creek town- ship. Montgomery county. Those who remember him best will readily acquiesce in the statement that many elements of a solid and practical nature were united in his composition and which during a series of years brought him material success and the high regard of his fellow men in the locality of which this volume deals, his life and his achievements earning for him a conspicuous place among his compeers. He was a man of kind impulses, neighborly, indulgent to his family and sought to carry into his every-day life the precepts of the Golden Rule, and was therefore a fit man to pattern after if we would be both successful and honored.
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Mr. Turnipseed was born on October 15, 1855, in Highland county, Ohio. He was a son of Thomas and Mary (Chaney) Turnipseed. The father was born on May 19, 1830, in Ohio, and died on April 22, 1869. The mother was born on February 8, 1831, and died on March 30, 1875. The father of our subject was a mason by trade, which he followed in con- nection with farming. His family consisted of seven children, only one of whom is living at this writing.
Nathan C. Turnipseed received a common school education. When about twenty-one years old he removed from his native state to Montgom- ery county, Indiana, and here he spent the rest of his life, engaged in gen- eral farming and raising and breeding live stock. On December 2, 1879, he was united in marriage to Martha Boots, who was born June 24, 1859, in Montgomery county, and she grew to womanhood in Sugar Creek town- ship. She is a daughter of Asa and Elizabeth (Rice) Boots. The father was born on May 10, 1820, in Ohio, and his death occurred on December 29, 1902. The mother was also born in Ohio, in 1824, and her death oc- curred in April, 1861. To these parents five children were born, two of whom are still living. They were named: Anna is deceased; Ella is de- ceased; Charlotte is deceased; George is living; and Martha, widow of the subject of this memoir.
Mrs. Turnipseed received a good common school education. She has five children, named as follows: Clarice, born July 6, 1880, married Will- iam Jobe, and they live in Kansas; Eleanor, born February 8, 1882, mar- ried Frank Custer, a farmer of Sugar Creek township; Marie, born August 19, 1884, is living at home with her mother; Asahal, born May 13, 1893, is also at home; and Thomas B., born on March 2, 1896, is still a member of the family circle.
Mrs. Turnipseed is the owner of a valuable and productive farm of two hundred and fifty-three acres in Sugar Creek township, which is well . improved and on which stand a good set of buildings. She is a woman of more than ordinary business ability and is carrying on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale.
The death of Nathan C. Turnipseed occurred on February 17, 1913. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He held membership at the Potato Creek Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a trustee for many years. He was a Republican in politics, was active in party affairs, and held several offices in the county. He was highly es- teemed by all who knew him and was a good and praiseworthy citizen in every respect.
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JOHN L. GRAHAM.
Another of the thrifty and deserving tillers of the soil in Sugar Creek township, Montgomery county, whom the biographer deems worthy of an extended notice in this work, for reasons which are too apparent to need comment, is John L. Graham, a man who has never permitted discourage- ments and obstacles to thwart him in his race for material success, which is rightly one of the chief aims of all normal, right-minded men, and, be- cause of his honesty in his general dealings with the world, he has been deserving of whatever of good has come his way.
Mr. Graham was born on November 3, 1869, in Shelby county, In- diana, where his early boyhood was spent, he having been about thirteen years old when, in 1882, he accompanied his parents to Montgomery county, in which place he has since resided. He is a son of Richard and Ruth (Parrish) Graham. The father was born near Dublin, Ireland, but when a boy he emigrated to the United States, where he spent the rest of his life, dying on November 24, 1911, at the age of seventy-four years, his birth having occurred in 1836. The mother of our subject was born on March 1, 1834, in Marion county, Indiana, and her death occurred on May 28, 1899, when sixty-five years old. The education of Richard Graham was very limited, he having attended school about three weeks out of each year when a boy. His family consisted of only two children, both still living, namely : James O., born July 11, 1866, married a Miss Musgrave, and they live in Indianapolis, and John L., of this review.
John L. Graham grew to manhood on the home farm and was a very busy boy. He received a common school education. He was first married on March 22, 1892, to Mary King, whose death occurred on June 4, 1906, when in the prime of life, she having been born on November 1, 1872, near where our subject is now living in Montgomery county. She was a daugh- ter of John W. and Maria (Pedrick) King, the former still living, the mother being deceased.
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