USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 24
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maintains his residence in the town of Alamo, where he is owner of a cozy home. He is also the owner of several valuable lots in Alamo.
Mr. Ham has remained unmarried. Politically, he is a Progressive and is much interested in the new movement for better government. In religious affairs he is a member of the Christian church, and, fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Alamo.
CALEB THAYER.
The name of Caleb Thayer is too well known to the people of Madison township, Montgomery county, to need any formal introduction here, for his life has been spent practically in this locality where, for a number of dec- ades he followed general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He is now living retired from active farming and is spending his declining years in quiet at his pleasant home in the attractive little village of Linden. He is the efficient and popular justice of the peace, and he is a man who has in every way deserved the large degree of success that the Fates have decreed for him, for he has not only worked hard but has lived uprightly and has been neighborly and charitable. He is one of our honored veterans of the Union army.
Mr. Thayer was born on March 12, 1844,, in Greene county, Pennsyl- vania, and when a child he moved with his parents to Indiana and here he has been content to spend the rest of his life. He is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Stoops) Thayer. The father was born in Pennsylvania. His death occurred in 1849. The mother was also born in Pennsylvania, and her death occurred soon after that of her husband, in 1850. They grew to maturity in their native state and there received limited educations, and they devoted their lives to general farming. Politically, Joseph Thayer was a Whig, but he was never an active public man. His family consisted of four children, two of whom are still living; they were, Joseph is deceased; Henry was the second in order of birth; Caleb, of this review ; Nathan, the youngest, is deceased.
Caleb Thayer grew to manhood on his father's farm, and he received his education in the common schools at Westley, this county.
When the Civil war came on Mr. Thayer went forth amidst its dangers and hardships to do what he could toward suppressing the rebellion, having enlisted in the Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Kirk-
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RESIDENCE OF CALEB THAYER
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patrick, in Company G, in August, 1861, at Sugar Grove, Tippecanoe county. He served in that company about two and one-half years. His first engage- ment was at Perryville, Kentucky. Later he fought in the great battle of Stone's River, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, then in the two days' battle at Nashville, also at Corinth and Lookout Mountain. . In the summer of 1864 he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-second Mounted Infantry, under Captain Mann, at Sugar Grove, Indiana. While in this regiment he participated in the sanguinary conflict at Franklin and a number of skirmishes, and he was within a mile of Jefferson Davis, the Confederate President, when he was cap- tured. Later on our subject was transferred to the Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but he never went to his regiment, and was honorably discharged in September, 1865. at Edgefield, Tennessee, after a very faithful and gallant military career of which his family and descendants may well be proud.
After the war Mr. Thayer returned to Sugar Grove, Tippecanoe county, where he had located before hostilities began, and there he soon had a good start as a general farmer and stock raiser and these lines he continued to give his attention to with gratifying results as the years advanced until 1909 at which time he, having accumulated a comfortable competency through his able management and close application on his fine farm in Tippecanoe county, removed to Linden, Montgomery county, selling his farm, and here he still resides.
Mr. Thayer was married on December 10, 1874, to Eveline Miller, who was born in Tippecanoe county on February 23, 1855. She was a daughter of Alexander and Martha A. (Lane) Miller. The father was born in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1835, and his death occurred on June 26, 1899. The mother of Mrs. Thayer was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1833, and her death occurred on June 26, 1886.
To Alexander Miller and wife nine children were born, four of whom are still living.
Mrs. Eveline Thayer received a good common school education, notwith- standing the fact that she had to walk about four miles to and from school, yet she applied herself carefully to her text-books.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thayer, six of whom are still living, namely : Mattie M., born August 5, 1875, married Leroy Haynes, and they live in Tippecanoe county; Wilbert, born September 5, 1880, married Mary Hendricks and they live in White county; Dayton O., born November 25, 1883 has remained single; George C., born June 20, 1886; Otis L., born
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May 16, 1889 ; Claude A., born May 30, 1892; Frederick E., born December 4, 1897; Everett H., born September 3, 1902, died March 27, 1910; the other two children died in infancy.
Mr. Thayer is the owner of one of the most commodious homes in Lin- den. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both at Romney. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he has ever been a staunch Repub- lican, and he was appointed justice of the peace at Linden to fill an unexpired term, and this office he is still holding to the satisfaction of all concerned, his decisions being always fair and unbiased.
JAMES A. PETERSON.
One of the most conspicuous figures in the present-day history of Mont- gomery county, in the industrial world, is James A. Peterson, banker and business man of Darlington. Equally noted as a citizen whose useful career has conferred credit upon the community and whose marked abilities and progressive qualities have won for him much more than local repute, he holds today distinctive precedence as one of the most successful men that ever inaugurated and carried to successful termination large and important under- takings. Strong mental endowment, invincible courage and a determined will, coupled with an honesty of purpose that hesitates at no opposition, have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor in the financial and business world and a leader of men in important enterprises. He is essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he undertakes; and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself has resulted in liberal financial returns, while at the same time he has won and retained the confidence and good will of all classes, and is eminently entitled to conspicuous mention in a volume of the province assigned to the one in hand.
Mr. Peterson was born on January 10, 1872 in Montgomery county, Indiana. He is a son of John and Hannah (Dain) Peterson. The father was born in Ohio, July 25, 1829, from which state he came to Indiana when a small child with his parents and here he spent the rest of his life, dying on January 27, 1897. The mother of our subject was born in Indiana, and she is still living, making her home in Darlington. John Peterson devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He was a quiet, home man, taking
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little part in public affairs. He was a Republican, and for a number of years was county commissioner. His family consisted of five children.
James A. Peterson of this sketch grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work when a boy. He received his education in the local public and high schools, later attending a business col- lege in New Albany, Indiana. On June 8, 1892, he married Nora Hunt, who was born in Montgomery county. May 3, 1873, and she received a similar education to that of Mr. Peterson.
Five children have been born to our subject and wife, four sons and one daughter, namely : Herbert W., born March 11, 1893, is attending the Chi- cago Technical University, taking the course in architecture; J. Harold, born December 10, 1896 is attending high school; Charles Husted, born April 19, 1899; Henry Hunt, born November 25, 1905; and Mary Hannah, born July 22, 1907.
Mr. Peterson made his start on the farm where he remained until he was about eighteen years of age. In 1891 he entered the first bank that was organized in Darlington as bookkeeper, known as the Peoples' Bank. There he remained until 1902, meanwhile mastering the various phases of the bank- ing business, and in March of the last named year the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Darlington was organized, being a private bank with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars. In November, 1906, this bank was made a state bank, retaining the old name, the new capital stock being twenty-five thousand dollars, and a surplus of six thousand dollars. Its development has been rapid, but substantial, and its popularity has grown with the years, until it is today one of the most popular, safest and conservative institutions of its kind in the county and the largest tax paying bank in Franklin township. Its officers are: President, Albert Cox; Vice-President, William Hampton ; Cashier, James A. Peterson; Assistant Cashier, Joseph E. LaFollette.
Mr. Peterson was one of the organizers of a private bank at Kirk- patrick, Indiana, March 2, 1909, under the name of The Bank of Kirkpat- rick. Officials: President, L. C. Grimes; Vice-President, M. A. Dix; Cashier, Harry Wright. Mr. Peterson i's a director of this bank, and he was president of the same until January 1, 1913. Its large success and favorable prestige has been gained very largely through the able management and wise counsel of our subject.
In 1894 Mr. Peterson was one of the organizers of the Building and Loan Association, becoming secretary of the same. It has been one of the most successful organizations of its kind in Montgomery county. In 1896
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the Darlington Telephone Company of Darlington was organized, of which Mr. Peterson has been manager for the last fifteen years and he has built it up to one of the best equipped and most satisfactory systems in this part of the state. In 1895 Mr. Peterson was one of the organizers of the water works system of Darlington, known as the Darlington Water Works Com- pany, which installed the present splendid system in this thriving little city. This company has four good wells from which an abundance of the finest water is obtained. It also affords excellent fire protection for the city. Mr. Peterson is now manager of this company, which, like everything else with which he has been affiliated is a pronounced success. Thus we see that he is a very busy man and an important factor in the affairs of this section of Montgomery county. He is by nature an organizer and promoter, seldom making a mistake, and his promotions are always along safe and legitimate lines.
Politically, he is a Republican, but has never been especially active in public life, preferring his happy modern home and his large business affairs. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a trustee in the same.
THEODORE HANKINS.
Among the enterprising citizens of New Ross, Montgomery county, who have forged to the front through sheer persistency and the application of sound business principles is Theodore Hankins, one of the best known under- takers of Walnut and surrounding townships. He is a man who believes in assisting in furthering the general interests of his vicinity while laboring for his own advancement and, having dealt honorably with his' fellow men he has won their good will and respect.
Mr. Hankins was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, March 8, 1858. He is a son of John L. and Orpha ( Hancock) Hankins, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Kentucky. John L. Hankins came to Mont- gomery county on August 16, 1865, and settled in Ripley township, estab- lished a good home and there he and his wife spent the rest of the earthly days and reared their family of eight children, who were named as follows : Angeline, Sarah Jane, Caroline, Albert, Theodore (our subject ), Alexander, Victoria and Ada Austin are both deceased.
John L. Hankins became an influential man in his township and he filled the office of justice of the peace for a period of twenty-five years, his
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long retention in the same being sufficient evidence of his high standing in the community and of the universal trust reposed in him, of his sane and fair decisions and impartiality. He had also been a justice of the peace in Ohio before he came here, and was also a constable in his native state. His death occurred on January 9, 1899 at the age of eighty years. His widow sur- vived until 1905, dying at the age of seventy-three years.
Theodore Hankins grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work when a boy. He received his education in the common schools of Montgomery county, then worked at the barber busi- ness for a period of twenty-five years, becoming one of the most skillful and popular tonsorial artists in this part of the county. During twelve years of that period he also did some business as an undertaker, and he farmed for six years. He spent three years in Pittsburg and Waynetown, and also spent some time in several other places. He started a barber shop at New Ross, Walnut township, in 1888 and remained there until 1890. On September Ist of that year, he turned his attention exclusively to the undertaking busi- ness in which he is still active, having thus been continuously engaged at the town of New Ross for nearly twenty-three years. He is well equipped in every respect for insuring high grade and prompt service and he understands every phase of the undertaking business. He has been very successful and has built up quite an extensive and satisfactory business.
Mr. Hankins was married on September 8, 1889, to Rose E. Morrison, who was born on January 12, 1863. She is a daughter of Thomas E. and Nancy ( Routh) Morrison, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Butler county, Ohio. They were early settlers in Montgomery county, Indiana, and here Mrs. Hankins was born, reared and educated in the com- mon schools. She is one of a family of six children, four sons and two daughters.
Three children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Harold, died December 25, 1891 ; Hazel, born October 14, 1893; Everitt, born Decem- ber 19, 1903 is at home.
Fraternally, Mr. Hankins is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at New Ross. He is a Democrat and religiously belongs to the Christian Disciples church.
The wife of Mr. Hankins passed away on May 15, 191I, at the age of forty-eight years, three months and twenty-seven days.
To Thomas E. Morrison and wife, mentioned above, the following chil- dren were born: Mary E., born August 3, 1845; John, born December 22,
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1847; Marion, born March 14, 1850; Jesse A., July 9, 1853; James E., July 7, 1857; Rose E., who married Mr. Hankins, was born January 12, 1863.
Nancy Routh, mentioned above, was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 29, 1823. Thomas Morrison was born on January 6, 1821. They were mar- ried on October 30, 1844. The death of Mr. Morrison occurred on August 21, 1887; and that of his wife on January 6, 1910. Marion Morrison died on October 15, 1888. The Morrison children were all born in Montgomery county.
SAMUEL R. PEACOCK, M. D.
The life of the scholarly or professional man seldom exhibits any of those striking incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract attention to himself. His character is generally made up of the aggregate qualities and qualifications he may possess as these may be elicited by the exercise of the duties of his vocation or the particular profession to which he belongs. But when such a man has so impressed his individuality upon his fellow men, as to gain their confidence and through that confidence and his individual merit rises to an important place in the locality in which he resides his name is worthy of mention on the pages of history. Dr. Samuel K. Peacock, of Ladoga, is one of the men of Montgomery county, who, not content to hide his talents amid life's sequestered ways, has by the force of his will and a laudable ambition forged to the front in a responsible and exacting calling, and earned an honorable reputation in one of the most useful of professions. His life has been one of hard study and research from his youth and since maturity of laborious professional duty, and he is eminently deserving of the success he has achieved and the high esteem in which he is universally held.
Dr. Peacock was born at Oakville, Ontario, Canada, June 15, 1867. He is a son of William G. and Isabella ( Buchanan) Peacock.
The father was of English ancestry, and was a son of William Peacock and wife, of Suffolk, England. The mother's parents were from the north of Ireland.
Dr. Peacock grew to manhood in the Province of Ontario and attended the schools in his native locality, graduating from the high school at Oakville. He entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo in the fall of 1888 and was graduated from the same in 1892. He began practicing medi- cine in Chicago, where he remained until in January, 1894, when he located in Ladoga, Indiana, where he has ever since been engaged in the practice and
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where he has built up a large and lucrative patronage. His brother, also a physician, came here later and is now practicing in Darlington. They both belong to the county and state medical societies, and our subject is a member of the Masonic order, and politically he is a Democrat.
Dr. Peacock was married on June 6, 1900 to Lois B. Walterhouse, of Indianapolis. She was a graduate nurse. Her father, Major Thomas Walterhouse, was a well known attorney in Muncie, Indiana. He served with distinction in the Union army during the Civil war, and for meritorious conduct was promoted through the various grades to that of major. He helped organize the Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in which he was successively second lieutenant and captain in Company B, and in August, 1862 was commissioned major of his regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Richmond, but, by reason of superior officers being shot down, he took command. He was taken prisoner, but was paroled. He was again sent to the front and was in the service until 1863 when, after a brilliant career, he resigned on account of ill health and was honorably discharged. After the war he practiced law in Muncie the remainder of his life, and was regarded as one of the leaders of the bar of that section of the state. He was born in 1832 in Genesee county, New York. In early life he was in turn a teacher, jeweler and watch maker. He and Zerelda B. Kemper were mar- ried in 1857. She was a sister of Dr. G. W. H. Kemper. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic Order, belonged to the Baptist church and was a Repub- lican. His wife was the youngest child of Arthur Smith Kemper and Patience Bryant Kemper. Her brother, the noted Dr. G. W. Kemper, widely known for his writing of the medical history of Indiana as well as for his eminence as a physician. The Kemper genealogy is, in part, as follows : Arthur Smith Kemper, son of John, son of Henry, son of John, born in 1692, son of John George, of Germany, son of Johann, also of Germany. Johann lived in Musen in Westphalia, Germany, in 1649. His son John George was an elder in the Lutheran church there, and his son John came to Virginia as early as 1714 and subsequently settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania. His son Henry, moved to Kentucky. John, son of the latter, lived in Garrard county, Kentucky, where his death occurred in 1833. John, son of Arthur S., married Patience Bryant, and they lived in Decatur county, Indiana. Patience Bryant was a daughter of John Bryant, of Virginia, whose father, John, Jr., of Virginia, was a son of James, Sr., of England. James Bryant, Sr., came to Virginia about 1700. John Bryant was born in Cumberland county, Virginia, in 1760, and although a mere boy he served fifteen months
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as a private soldier in the American army during the Revolutionary war, later becoming sergeant in the Virginia troops, and he participated in the bat- tle of Guilford court house and after the war he drew a pension. There is good ground for believing that his father was also a soldier in the War for Independence.
To Dr. Samuel R. Peacock and wife three sons have been born, namely : A. Kemper, Albert Bryant, and Samuel Rogers.
The Doctor has a nice home in Ladoga, which is built on the site of the old Baptist church, across the street from the present high school. He also has a brother in Chicago who is a physician. His father was a contractor and farmer. The mother is a relative of President James Buchanan. Grand- mother Peacock was known in her maidenhood as Harriett Ashbey. Grand- mother Buchanan was Isabella Moore before her marriage. Grandfather Buchanan and wife came from County Armagh, Ireland, and was a distant cousin of President Buchanan, and were scholarly people.
Personally, Dr. Peacock is a plain, unassuming, hard-working gentle- man, friendly in a quiet way and always a student.
OTHEL L. OSBURN.
Although young in years Othel L. Osburn, of Wayne township, Mont- gomery county, well known contractor and at this writing trustee of his town- ship, has succeeded admirably at his life work and at the same time his record and reputation are first class for integrity and reliability in all matters entrusted to him. His success thus far has been achieved by improved oppor- tunities, by untiring diligence and by close study and correct judgment of men and motives. In every walk of life his career has been upright and honorable, and he is well liked by all who know him; but this is not to be wondered at, rather to be expected, when one learns that he is a representative of one of the best and most honorable old families of this county, the reputation of which he has ever sought to keep untarnished.
Othel L. Osburn was born on February 29, 1872 in Wayne township, this county. He is a son of R. S. and Mary (Grenard) Osburn. The father was born on February 21, 1849, and the mother was born on February 19, 1852. The father is still living, making his home in Rogersville, Missouri, where he is engaged in the newspaper business. The death of the mother occurred in 1877.
ORTHEL L. OSBURN
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The father of our subject became a well educated man, principally through his own efforts. He taught school for some time in his earlier years, becoming a newspaper editor later in life, and was very successful in both lines of endeavor; he published a paper in the town of Rogersville and it be- came a very influential factor in that country. R. S. Osborn has also farmed some. His family consisted of but two children, namely: Othel L., of this sketch; and Bertha, who was born August 15, 1878, is living in Montgomery county, Indiana.
Othel L. Osburn received a good common school education, and attended high school in Waynetown. He began life by working on the farm which he followed until about six years ago when he turned his attention to bridge and road contracting in this county which he has continued to follow with pro- nounced success to the present time. He constructs his bridges for the most part of concrete, and his work is most satisfactory in every respect for it is both well and honestly done and he is kept busy all the time, being one of the best known contractors in his line in this part of the country. He has been very successful in a financial way and was the owner of a good farm which he operated on a large scale until the spring of 1912 when he sold it, and has since devoted his attention exclusively to contracting.
Mr. Osburn has never married. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, both at Waynetown. He is a member of the Baptist church, and politically votes the Democratic ticket. He has always taken much interest in the affairs of his party and is regarded as one of the local leaders in the same. He has filled most acceptably the offices of supervisor, assessor and trustee, honestly and faithfully discharging the duties entrusted to him, for the past fourteen years .. At the present time Mr. Osburn is in charge of the construction of a consolidated school at Wayne- town, which will be the largest building in the county outside of Crawfords- ville.
LLEWELLYN GLEN COPPAGE.
The name of Llewellyn Glen Coppage has been carried throughout the United States through his famous hats, the "Ben-Hur Brand," which he has long manufactured at Crawfordsville and for which there is a great demand, for in this, his specific line of endeavor, as in everything else, he has sought to do honest and conscientious work, having been trained in his youth to do
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