USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 29
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Dr. William F. Batman grew to manhood on the home farm near Bain- bridge, and there laid the foundation for a strong constitution that has stood
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him so well in hand in the practice of his arduous professional duties. His early education was received in the common schools and Bainbridge Aca- demy. At the age of seventeen he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. R. French Stone, then of Bainbridge, now of Indianapolis, a physician of much learning ,a writer of note and later a professor in the Central Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis. He studied three years with Dr. Stone, then in 1878 entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, where he was taught in surgery by such eminent authorities as Gunn and Parkes, and took a special course in chemistry under Professor Haines. The following year he entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, an institution that was second to none at that time. The faculty included a number of the most eminent physicians of their day, men like Doctors S. D. Gross, J. M. DcCosta, and Robert Barthalow. While there he also took a special course in surgery under Dr. J. Ewing Mears, one of the most eminent surgeons of Philadelphia. Dr. Batman was graduated from Jefferson Medi- cal College in March, 1880, and then entered upon the practice of medicine at Roachdale, being associated with Dr. W. C. Harris.
After three years practice at Roachdale, Dr. Batman went to Bellevue Hospital, New York City, where he received a certificate in Physical Diag- nosis. In this subject he was instructed by Professor Edward Janeway. He also attended lectures and saw special operations at the Woman's Hos- pital, by the famous Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, and took a special course of in- struction from this famous specialist. He saw Dr. Emmett's operations in Gynecology. He attended the clinical lectures of Loomis and Otis, and heard the last course of lectures delivered by the late Professor Austin Flint.
Being by this time well prepared in all branches of medicine and surgery. Dr. Batman returned to active practice at Roachdale, in 1884. There he remained six years, building up a large practice. In the fall of 1889 he re- moved to Ladoga, where he has practiced ever since, having practiced at Ladoga longer than any other physician now here. He has an exceptionally well equipped office; and notwithstanding the fact that his practice is large and its demands often arduous, he has remained a close student of the de- velopments of his profession, and keeps up with the advances in the practice. While in Putnam county, he was president of the Putnam County Medical Society. He belongs to the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society. In 1890 he was a delegate from this county to the American Medical Association at Nashville, Tennessee. In 1896 and 1897 he was vice-president of the State Medical Society.
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His contributions to professional literature relate to important papers and reports of cases, which have been read before the organizations with which he is connected.
Close application to his profession has not made him narrow. Ile is active in the Democrat party, of which he is a stanch adherent.
In lodges, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Masons, both at Ladoga. In Masonry he has taken every degree of the York rite, his membership in the Chapter and Knights Templar being at Crawfordsville. He is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, his membership being at Murat Tem- ple in Indianapolis.
Dr. Batman is a great lover of music and became a skilled violinist. From his southern ancestry he inherits their fondness for fine horses, of which he is a judge, and usually he has a valuable string of them in his stable.
August 29, 1882, Dr. Batman was united in marriage with Miss Ida E. Harris, daughter of his old partner at Roachdale, Dr. W. C. Harris and Jane (Dodd) Harris. Her father was an old and popular physician of Roach- dale and well known. She was born and reared in Putnam county, where she received a good education.
Dr. Batman and wife have one daughter, Mabel T., wife of Earl M. Harshbarger, of Ladoga.
For those who know Dr. Batman, no comment is necessary, either as to his character or as to his standing as a physician. However, history being written more for those who shall come after us, it is proper to say that he seems to be not only well educated as a physician, but naturally adapted to the practice, in which he is unusually successful. As a man in his community he is regarded as unselfish, public spirited, a good neighbor, and a thorough gentleman of upright character.
NATHAN HULETT.
It would be indeed presumptuous for the biographer to make any at- tempt to introduce to the readers of this work the name of Nathan Hulett, of Clark township, for he is known practically to everybody in Montgomery county where his long, honorable and industrious life has been spent and where he has labored for the general good of the locality while advancing his individual interests. So, his large material success and the universal high regard in which he is held have been well merited.
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Mr. Hulett was born in the township and county where he is still resid- ing, having first seen the light of day here on September 28, 1846. He is a son of Gilson and Winefrede (Clark) Hulett. Gibson Hulett's parents came from Kentucky and settled in Putnam county, Indiana, probably near Green- castle, in an early day, and in that couty Winefrede Clark was born, and she and Gilson Hulett were married in Clark township, Montgomery county. She was a daughter of Willis and Hannah (Allen) Clark. Her parents came from Kentucky in a very early day, her mother having made the trip here on horseback. These parents later moved across into Clark township, Mont- gomery county, buying a farm in the southeastern part of the township, and Mr. Hulett still owns part of their farm. Gilson Hulett purchased part of
their farm and Mr. Hulet still owns part of that. The death of Gilson Hulett occurred in August, 1851, when Nathan Hulett was about five years of age. He left a wife and two children, Nathan and John W. The latter lived and died in Clark township. The mother afterwards married George Morris and lived in Clark township, until late in life when she and her hus- band moved to a farm he got near Danville. She spent her last years in Clark township, dying there during the early seventies.
Nathan Hulett grew up on the home farm in Clark township, remain- ing there until his mother moved to near Danville. When a young man he worked out at farming in that locality.
On March 26, 1868 he married Mary Grantham, daughter of Wesley and Caroline (Miller) Grantham. Wesley Grantham was a son of Jesse Grantham and wife, who were early settlers in Jackson township, Putnam county, and there Wesley Grantham grew to manhood and married Caroline Miller, also a native of Putnam county. She was a daughter of James and Nancy (Lee) Miller. After his marriage Wesley Grantham lived in several different localities before establishing a permanent home. He lived a short time in Clark township, this county, later moved to Missouri, but finally located about seven miles southeast of Ladoga. There he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, now owned by Mr. Jeffries and adjoining the Miller farm. There the children grew up, and there Mr. Grantham farmed until about 1880 then moved into Ladoga and retired from active work on the farm and gave the younger children a better chance to attend school. Later he bought the T. H. Messick farm northeast of Ladoga, crossed by the Midland railroad. The title to right of railroad to run across the farm was in the legislature when he bought it and of course he became involved in the suit in that way. The suit continued in court over eighteen years, until
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after Mr. Grantham's death, when the Grantham estate finally was vindi- cated by the courts. Beside the Messick farm he purchased some land at the southeast edge of Ladoga now owned by Rev. Brooks, and also a tract a mile east of Ladoga known as the old Sammy Brown farm.
He was an ardent prohibitionist and spent both time and money in furthering the fight against liquor. He was a life-long member of the Methodist church and was a liberal contributor to its support. In fact, dur- ing his life he gave more to support the church than he had left when he died, having always been very active in church work and usually held some official position in the church.
Wesley Grantham and wife were the parents of two children, an equal number of sons and daughters; Mary Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Nathan Hulett, subject of this review.
The mother of Mrs. Hulett passed away in 1891. She was also an earn- est church worker, belonging to the Methodist church, and later in life joined the Christian church and diligently trained her children to follow in the same way.
The death of Wesley Grantham occurred on May 14, 1903, one day be- fore his seventy-eighth birthday. He was a large hearted, charitable, hospitable man, who could not turn a deaf ear to the pleas of the suffering and needy.
After his marriage, Mr. Hulett began farming on ninety acres of land that his brother owned and a year or two later bought out his brother's inter- est. It was ten or fifteen years before he purchased more land, when he traded forty acres for eighty acres, assuming incumbrances, which he later paid. Since then he purchased a twenty acre tract adjoining the eighty tract, and added more from time to time until he eventually owned about five hundred acres in the southwestern part of Clark township. He has since divided a part of this among his sons-in-law, but still retains three hundred forty-three and one-half acres. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
Three daughters have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Eva, Ella and May. The first named is the wife of John W. Dean, the second is the wife of Robert Hicks, and the youngest married Cecil C. Click. They all live in the southwestern part of Clarke township. A separte sketch of each of these gentlemen will be found elsewhere in these pages.
Mrs. Hulett passed to her eternal rest on December 10, 1909. As a wife she was devoted to all the interests of her husband and was a valuable help-
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meet. She was a member of the Christian church and was always fond of church work. As a mother she manifested instinctive solicitude for the wel- fare of her children, making their interests her interest, and installing into their lives an assurance of the inheritance of the life immortal. When she realized her end was near she called the family to her bedside and bade them farewell admonishing the children to be good to their father, then gently fell asleep. Since her death Mr. Hulett has made his home with his children, to whom he is always a kind father and anxious to provide for their welfare. He is a worthy member of the Christian church, is well known and highly esteemed by all who know him.
SAMUEL HENRY OTTERMAN.
Few men of a past generation in Montgomery county were held in higher esteem than the late Samuel Otterman, who, now that life's fitful fever is over, is sleeping serenely in the "windowless palaces of rest." His memory will long be revered by the vast host of people who knew him and admired him, for he was a man in whom all took a delight owing to his sterling hon- esty, his charitable nature and his readiness to help in the furtherance of any movement looking to the general upbuilding of the community. He was one of our sterling native sons whom we owe so much to, for he grew up here when the land was just being redeemed from its wilderness fastness, and, working long and hard, redeemed, with others, the fertile fields and the fine farms which we of today enjoy and which are now so valuable. We can never say too much regarding these splendid, brave and courageous pioneers and pioneers' sons, many of whom literally took their lives in their hands and, not counting the cost, forged ahead to the goal of success. Our subject inherited the courage and persistent qualities of his forebears who cast their lots in the new country, away from the pleasant hearthstones of their child- hood and the advantages of civilization.
Mr. Otterman was born in Section 22. Clark township, Montgomery county, on May 10, 1842. He was a son of Lewis and Hettie Otterman, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was the fourth child in a family of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity.
Samuel H. Otterman grew to manhood on his father's farm where he assisted with the general work when a boy, and during the wintertime he at- tended the district schools and received the usual elementary education of the boys of his time. In July, 1870, he married Mary Roberts, a daughter of
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Larkin and Hannah ( Byram) Roberts. She lived near Greencastle, Putnam county until she was about ten years of age. Her mother had died there while she was an infant and little Mary grew up without her loving care.
When Mrs. Otterman was ten years old the home was broken up and she was brought to live with Mr. and Mrs. Adam Keys, near Browns Valley, not far from Parkersburg, remaining there until she was sixteen years of age then came to the home of Lewis Otterman where she resided two years then married Samuel Otterman, one of the sons of Lewis Otterman. Samuel being the eldest son he continued to live with his father and mother until they died and afterwards remained on the home place, which he operated in a most satisfactory manner, keeping it well improved and reaping abundant crops as a result of his good management and energy.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Otterman, namely : Albert, born January 7, 1871 lived on the farm until the death of his father and now he lives with his mother in Ladoga; Hettie married Jeff Whelan, of Birmingham, Alabama, and they have three children, Everett, Charles and Lucile; Dora married Leaton Dougherty who is now attending veterinary college in Chicago, and they have one daughter, Ruth; George, Jr., born January 8, 1884, married February 22, 1905, Edna Zimmerman, and they have three children, Irene, Marie and Eugene, and they live in Ladoga; Allie married Lee Starks; they live on a part of the old Otterman homestead and have two sons, Walter and Herman.
Samuel Otterman was a member of the Christian church, of which Mrs. Mary Otterman is also a worthy member. Early in life he joined the Foun- tain Christian church of which he continued a faithful member until the end of his earthly existence. He willingly took up his father's mantle and so long as he was able he continued to discharge his duties to the church, and every Sunday he could be seen, with his family, on foot or in some conveyance making his solemn way to the Lord's house. His last illness was of long duration but he bore it with characteristic Christian fortitude, until he was called to his reward on October 24, 191I at the age of sixty-nine years. Physically he was a robust, rugged man, an indulgent father, kind husband and good neighbor. For more than forty years he and his good wife trod peacefully and hamoniously life's rugged pathway together, helping and en- couraging each other, and now that he is gone to her has fallen a share of the responsibility that was his in rearing the family and upbuilding the home. She now lives in Ladoga with her two sons, Albert and George, and there, as in her former communities she has many warm friends.
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JOHN FRANKLIN ROYALTY.
History and biography for the most part record the lives of only those who have attained military, political or literary distinction or who in any other career have passed through extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves in their day and gen- eration for the possession of those qualities of character which mainly con- tribute to the success of private life and to the public stability-of men who, without brilliant talents, have been exemplary in all their personal and social relations, and enjoyed the esteem, respect and confidence of those around them -ought not to be allowed to perish : for all are benefited by the delineation of those. traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common walks of life. Among the individuals of this class of a past generation in Montgomery county was the late John Franklin Royalty, for some time the able and popular editor of the Wingate News, who had the interests of his town and county at heart, which he sought to promote whenever possible. His life history was distinguished by the most substantial qualities of char- acter and exhibited a commendable career of private industry, performed with moderation and crowned with success, and his memory will long be revered by the people of this locality.
Mr. Royalty was born on November 14, 1872, in Crawfordsville, In- diana. He was a son of Andrew Jackson Royalty and Mary (Britton) Roy- alty, both parents being natives of Montgomery county, the mother having been born in Crawfordsville, and near that city they established their home, conducting a fruit farm for years. They were the parents of two children, John Franklin, of this review, and Fred W., who lives in Danville, Illinois.
Mr. Royalty grew up in his native community and received a good edu- cation in the common schools. In 1892 he was united in marriage to Lily J. Palin, daughter of Henry and Keziah (Boord) Palin. Her father was a native of North Carolina, from which state he came to Indiana in an early day, locating in Fountain county among the first settlers, and there he de- veloped a good farm through his industry and close application and followed general farming and stock raising there the rest of his life. His family con- sisted of nine children, named as follows: Winfield C. lives in Wingate, this county; Mary Ann is deceased ; Julia Emma married Dr. Robert Clay- pool, of Williamsport; Emma married Fred Wales, and they live in Eliza- beth, New Jersey; Ella May married John McWhinney; Charles C. is de-
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JOHN F. ROYALTY AND FAMILY
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ceased ; Lily J., widow of Mr. Royalty, of this memoir; K. Maude, who lives in Indianapolis; and Glee Erma, who is deceased.
The union of Mr. Royalty and wife was blessed by the birth of one child, Henry Jackson, who lives at home.
Mr. Royalty was for a number of years prior to his death editor of the Wingate News, which paper he made a very potent factor in this locality. He greatly increased its circulation and prestige and made it one of the best newspapers of its class in this part of the state. He was a well read and well informed man, kept fully abreast of the times and was a man of energy, sound judgment and foresight. This paper was started by his father in 1900.
The death of Mr. Royalty occurred on June 6, 1910, at the age of thirty- seven years, when in the very prime of life and when the future seemed to promise most. His death was accidental and came as the result of a railroad accident at the town of Mellott, Indiana.
Mr. Royalty was not active in public affairs and never held office; how- ever, he always did what he could in advancing the interests of his locality. Religiously, he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a man of good habits and friendly manners.
JOHN W. DEAN.
Success as a general farmer has come to John W. Dean, of Clark town- ship, Montgomery county, partly because he has given his sole attention to his branch of endeavor, ignoring other lines in order to become more proficient in the one that he liked best, also partly because he has never held back, wait- ing for someone else to perform the tasks which he himself should do.
Mr. Dean was born in Jackson township, Putnam county, Indiana, on June 21, 1869. He is a son of George Matilda ( Epperson) Dean. His mother was a native of Putnam county and his father came from Kentucky. When John W. Dean was seven years old the family moved to Clark town- ship, this county and there the lad grew to manhood on the home farm on which he worked, attending the public schools in the winter time, and lived until his marriage, which occurred in 1891. He chose as a life partner Eva Hulett, daughter of Nathan Hulett and wife. To this union two children have been born, Earl and Beulah.
Ever since he became of age, Mr. Dean has engaged in farming for him- self. He now owns one hundred acres in the southeastern part of Clark
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township, in Section 27, where he has a well cared for and productive place. Mr. and Mrs. Dean belong to the Christian church in their neighborhood.
The death of the father, George Dean, occurred on April 14, 1910, and the mother is now living in Roachdale.
JAMES B. ELMORE, POET. (The bard of Alamo. )
In the domain of literature Indiana has gained a place of distinction and pre-eminence, being now by universal consent, the successor of Massachusetts as the literary center of America. No state has produced such a brilliant galaxy of stars in the literary firmament as has Indiana. In the long list of her native writers we may mention a few such as James Whitcomb Riley, Joaquin Miller, Edward Eggleston, Lew Wallace, Booth Tarkington, George Ade, David Graham Phillips, Maurice Thompson, Gene Stratton Porter and Meredith Nicholson, to say nothing of scores of lesser lights. Montgomery county has had her full share of the glory in literary genius, here having been born Meredith Nicholson, and here the great author of Ben-Hur spent prac- tically all his life; but it is as the home of statesmen that this county excels. To give a comprehensive reason for the first place in literature in the western hemisphere being held by the Hoosier state would be indeed quite out of the question, whether it has been the result of the meeting of the sterling pioneer elements of the East and the West, or a superior system of education, or whether there is greater natural inspiration and more effort is being made to produce literature here than in other states must be left to conjecture. But the state should be proud of its eminence in this respect. Among those who have contributed materially, of recent years, locally, at least, to its prestige as a literary center, stands James B. Elmore, of Montgomery county, well known as "The bard of Alamo," who is a native son of the locality of which this his- tory deals, whose productions marked by depth of thought and adroit polish have given him a stanch following. It is of course extraneous to the func- tions of this publication to enter into manifold details concerning the careers of the many representative citizens whose names find a place within its pages and in the case at hand it can be hoped to present only a succinct but we hope accurate and worthy tribute to this talented son of the far-famed Wabash valley country, made familiar to the wide world through the tender but masterful strokes of Paul Dresser.
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Mr. Elmore was born on January 25, 1857. in Ripley township, Mont- gomery county, Indiana. He is a son of Matthias and Mary ( Willis) El- more. The father was born in 1809 in Ohio and his death occurred in 1892. The mother was also a native of Ohio. Matthias Elmore grew to manhood in his native locality and there received a meager education, going no farther than the "rule of three" in mathematics, but, being a great reader and a man of quick perception he became well educated. He took a great deal of inter- est in politics, and was a Whig up to the race of Gen. William Henry Har- rison for the Presidency. He was a carpenter by trade, and he helped build the first Methodist Episcopal church in Crawfordsville. His chief life work, however, was farming. His family consisted of seven children by his first wife and six by his second wife. He was three times married but the last union was without issue. His first wife was a cousin of William English, a well known politician and capitalist of Indianapolis, of the past generation. The second wife was the mother of the subject of this sketch. The third wife was known in her maidenhood as Virginia Kyle. Of the entire family of thirteen children, only five are still living.
James B. Elmore received a common school education, later attending high school, but his ambition for a collegiate course was never realized. How- ever, he has remained a student all his life, has done a vast amount of miscel- laneous reading and is a well educated man. He began life for himself as a school teacher, which he followed for a period of twenty years prior to his marriage. He gave eminent satisfaction to both pupils and patrons and his services were in great demand.
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