History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II, Part 30

Author:
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Indianapolis, A.S. Bowen
Number of Pages: 664


USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 30


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On February 14, 1880, Mr. Elmore was united in marriage to Mary Ann Murray, who was born in Missouri, May 23, 1863, and is a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Templin) Murray, the father a native of Kentucky.


The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of five chil- dren, three of whom are still living, namely : Maud L., and Nora are both deceased; Roscoe M., born October 1, 1882, married Myrtle Lattimore, and he is one of the successful public school teachers of Ripley township; Grace, born on January 17, 1885, married Nathan Drolinger and they live in Veed- ersburg: Albert Murray, born September 20. 1889. married Lula M. Seits ; they live in Ripley township, and have two children, a son, named after our subject, James Byron, Jr., and a daughter, Margaret Angeline.


James B. Elmore is a lover of what the great Methodist bishop, William A. Quayle, would call "God's glorious outdoors" and. having the love of mother nature in "all her visible forms" in him, as do all poets, he has spent


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his life in the rural districts, starting out on the farm, investing, at the time of his marriage, the sum of four hundred dollars, his total worldly wealth, in thirty acres of land, a part of his present farm. There he lived for some time in a log cabin, and farmed and taught school. Finally, he purchased eighty acres more, going in debt for the same; later he traded that eighty for one hundred and sixty acres near home, and this he still owns. Subsequently, he purchased eighty acres from his father, from whom he heired another eighty, later bought sixty acres south of home and then purchased one hun- dred and sixty north of his home farm, and at this writing he is the owner of an aggregate of five hundred and forty acres of valuable land, nearly all tillable, well tiled, well fenced and otherwise improved in an up-to-date man- ner. He has a commodious home and substantial outbuildings and he makes a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs and Pole cattle, and he also keeps a good grade of medium size horses. Everything about his place denotes sys- tem, good management and that a gentleman of industry and taste has the management of this valuable farmstead well in hand, and is deserving to rank among Montgomery's foremost agriculturists.


Fraternally, Mr. Elmore is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Waynetown, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Alamo, and the Woodmen at Crawfordsville. Religiously, he holds membership with the Christian church, and politically, he is a Democrat.


When Mr. Elmore was a boy in school he began writing poetry, which soon proved him to be one of nature's gifted children, for even at that early age his verse possessed unusual merit and won for him the soubriquet of "The Bard of Alamo" which has since clung to him. Some of his best verse was written when he was teaching school, one of the most meritorious being "The Belle of Alamo," and "The Red Bird." From time to time he con- tinued writing as the muse dictated, and eventually gathered his best verse into book form, under the title of "Love Among the Mistletoe; and Other Poems," which was well received. He continued to write, and two years later put out "A Lover in Cuba ; and Other Poems." A few years later fol- lowed another volume of verse, "Twenty-five Years in Jackville," and then appeared from his facile pen, "A Romance in the Days of the Golden Circle." His last volume was "Autumn Roses." They all bore the unmistakable stamp of genuine poetic merit. and each succeeding volume broadened its author's fame and audience until today his name has not only covered America but is known all over the world, much of his verse being especially liked in France. His name is frequently seen attached to poems of fine finish and


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original theme in the New York, Indianapolis and other metropolitan jour- nals.


Mr. Elmore's services as a lecturer has been in considerable demand and he has lectured in many colleges and other institutions throughout Indiana, being especially well received in Indianapolis. The advancing years seem to give him a deeper penetration into nature and the soul as well as rendering his verse finer in every respect and we may hope for greater things from him in the future.


"Let our annals be well written That it stand a scanning test. Those of fame are never hidden; They shall live among the blessed."


-J. B. E.


CORNELIUS LEONARD CANINE.


The Canine family has been among the well known and energetic in Montgomery county since the pioneer days, and, being people who lead up- right and helpful lives, they have always enjoyed the good will and high regard of their neighbors. One of the best remembered was the late Cor- nelius Leonard Canine, who spent his long, industrious and commendable life in his native vicinity in the southwestern part of the county, where he operated a good farm and did what he could toward the general upbuilding of the locality.


Mr. Canine was born on the old Canine homestead in Brown town- ship, February 22, 1827. He was a son of Ralph and Margaret Canine, who came to this county from Kentucky, arriving in the wilderness here on Janu- ary 1, 1826, making the overland journey from Shelby county, Kentucky, which required some little time owing to rough roads, or no roads at all. Ralph Canine was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of Peter Canine and wife. Peter Canine was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The family originally came from Holland. Peter Canine had six sons, three of whom settled in Montgomery county, one in Howard county, one in Johnson county, and one in Ohio.


Ralph Canine entered government land near Waveland for himself and also for his sons, Peter, William. John and James-three hundred and twenty acres for himself and probably one hundred and sixty acres for each son. Afterwards he bought other land in that vicinity. The Union Primi-


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tive Baptist church was organized in his house with eight constituent mem- bers, on the fourth Sunday in October, 1826. Ever since its organization that church has had its regular monthly covenant meeting on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of the month. Ralph Canine was one of the first deacons in the church. He was a grand character and did much good among the first settlers. He reached the advanced age of ninety-two years. Politi- cally, he was a Democrat.


Cornelius L. Canine grew to manhood on the home farm here and he lived within a mile and a half of the home place all his life, engaged success- fully in general farming and stock raising. He was a quiet, unassuming, home man. He took a great interest in vocal music, and was known far and near as a leader in singing, and his services were in frequent demand to lead the singing at old settlers' meetings all over this part of the country. He was active in Democratic politics, but never sought office.


Mr. Canine married Keziah Montgomery, daughter of James and Phoebe (Fisher) Montgomery. Her parents came here from Shelby county, Ken- tucky, in 1832, when she was about five years old, and settled northwest of Whitesville, in Union township. The land is still in possession of their descendants, being owned by a grandson, Grant Ward.


The following children were born to Cornelius L. Canine and wife: Mary Catherine, and Sylvia Ann, both deceased. Marion Montgomery Can- ine lives in Crawfordsville, and operates a poultry farm there. He is an elder in the Primitive Baptist church, his membership being still in the old church that was started in his grandfather's house. He joined the church when he was seventeen years old, and has been faithful to its teachings ever since. He married Celia Jane Russell, of Parke county, and they have three sons, William Banks, Charles Russell and Cecil Clare, all married. William B. lives near Danville, Illinois. Charles lives near Marshall in Parke county ; and Cecil lives in Indianapolis. Edna Lovia Canine, fourth child of the subject of this sketch, married J. T. Deere, and to them nine children were born; the mother died in November, 1893. Anna Canine married Caleb Cobb, of Bedford, Indiana. Walter DeBracket Canine lives west of Ladoga, where he owns eighty acres of farm land ; he is married and has one daughter. Eva is the wife of George W. Harshbarger, of Clark township. William Rice Canine died when twenty-four years old. Louise Alice married Dudley Myers, and they live at Carmi, Illinois. Cornelius Leonard Canine, Jr., lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. Banks has two daughters, Celia Henson and Viola Russell. Charles has a son, Roy Russell.


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Celia Jane Russell was born in Parke county, Indiana, near the village .of Marshall. She is a daughter of William Banks Russell and Elizabeth (Elder) Russell, who came from Kentucky to that county in an early day. Banks married Agnes Henson from near Danville, Illinois. Charles married Dolly Myers, of Parke county. Cecil married Minnie Mish, of Crawfords- ville.


The death of Cornelius L. Canine occurred in June, 1898. Keziah Canine died June 11, 1894.


J. W. CRANE.


No tiller of the soil in Coal Creek township, Montgomery county, is more deserving of the success he has achieved in his chosen vocation than J. W. Crane, of near Wingate, for he has not only worked honestly and per- sistently in order to advance himself, but has been a close student of agricul- tural methods-the best known to twentieth century husbandmen. He has been quick to make proper use of such as applied to local conditions, and it is a satisfaction to look over his fields during the crop seasons and to note their fine condition and the thriving crops they are growing, whether one is a farmer or not-for who is not pleased with a prosperous rural scene, in all its peace, suggestion plenty and rare beauty? He has taken every advantage of local conditions and has made a very careful study of the soil, the various crops adapted to them, climatic conditions and whatever should be observed by the modern agriculturist.


Mr. Crane was born on January 28, 1861, in Fountain county, Indiana, and is a scion of a worthy old family. For a complete history of his parents and the Crane family we respectfully direct the reader to the sketch of J. R. Crane, appearing on another page of this volume, these gentlemen being brothers.


J. W. Crane, of this review, received a good common school education. On September 20, 1891, he married Bertha M. Coffing, who was born in Fountain county, this state, on November 8, 1870. She is a daughter of Daton and Mary A. ( Markis) Coffing. She grew to womanhood in her native community and received a good common school deucation.


J. W. Crane has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Poland China hogs, which, owing to their superior quality, always find a very ready market when offered for sale. He also


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keeps a good grade of milk cows. His farm consists of seventy-nine acres, all tillable and under a good state of improvement and cultivation, and it is well tiled. Mr. Crane has a neat, substantial home, which he built himself, and he is well fixed to enjoy life in every respect.


Politically, Mr. Crane is a Progressive, and during the recent Presi- dential campaign was active in the work of the new movement in his locality. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Wingate. He takes an interest in whatever tends to better the conditions of his township and county. Mrs. Crane is a member of the Christian church, and with her husband fre- quently attends the same.


WALTER H. McBEE.


Nature, in her green mantle, is nowhere more lovely than in that part of Montgomery county set aside by survey as Madison township. Cozy farm houses nestle in gentle quietude amid green orchards which dot the landscape in every direction, presenting a scene of plenty and prosperity, though in some parts it has the appearance of newness. This division of the county has been settled for many years, and scenes once familiar to the older residents are rapidly fading from view. Only too frequently is it the case that those who have been reared in such a picturesque locality fail to appre- ciate its natural beauties and advantages. But this has not been the case with Walter H. McBee, a well known farmer of this vicinity.


Mr. McBee was born in the above named township and county on May 18, 1856. He is a son of William Z. and Mary E. (Shobe) McBee. The father was born in Grant county, West Virginia, from which country he came to Indiana in 1852 and settled in Madison township, Montgomery county, having made the journey here on horseback. The mother of our subject was born in Ross county, Ohio, and she came to Montgomery county, Indiana, with her parents who settled in Madison township as early as 1838. William Z. McBee devoted most of his life to farming, but in his old age he left the farm and moved to the town of Linden where he was interested in a bank, and there his death occurred in 1910 at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. His widow is still living in Linden.


Walter H. McBee grew to manhood on the home farm in Madison town- ship and there he assisted with the general work, and he received his educa- tion in the common schools, then took up farming and is still active, owning


WALTER H. McBEE


RESIDENCE OF WALTER H. McBEE


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a well improved and productive farm of one hundred acres and he makes a specialty of raising live stock, especially hogs.


Mr. McBee was married on December 23, 1884 to Mary E. Shotts, daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Severs) Shotts. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Ohio. Andrew Shotts came to Montgomery county. Indiana, as early as 1830 and settled in Madison township when the country was sparsely settled and little improved. Further mention of the Shotts family is found in this volume under the caption of Arthur R. Shotts.


Grandfather Severs settled in Walnut township, this county in a very early day.


Eleven children were born to Andrew and Nancy Shotts, seven of whom are still living.


Seven children were born to William Z. McBee and wife, six of whom are still living, namely: Walter H., of this review: Martin Z., Mary Olive, Minnie, Sarah Melinda, Robert F. is deceased ; and William T., the youngest of the children.


Walter H. McBee is a Democrat, and he was a member of the advisory board for one term, and was also at one time appointed superintendent of gravel roads. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons. He attends the New Light Christian church.


Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McBee, named as follows: Maud, who married Walter Hoss, lives in Madison township, this county; Nancy E., Elsie, Isaac C., and Minnie, are all at home.


JONATHAN NUTT.


Fame may look to the clash of resounding arms for its heroes; history's pages may be filled with a record of the deeds of the so-called great who have deluged the world with blood, destroyed kingdoms, created dynasties and left their names as plague spots upon civilization's escutcheon ; the poet may embalm in deathless song the short and simple annals of the poor ; but there have been comparatively few to sound the praise of the brave and sturdy pioneer who among the truly great and noble is certainly among the deserving of at least a little space on the category of the immortals. To him more than to any other is civilization indebted for the brightest jewel in its diadem, for it was he that blazed the way and acted as van gnard for the mighty army of progress that within the last century has conquered Indiana's wilderness and


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transformed it into one of the fairest and most enlightened of the American commonwealth's domains. One of the pioneer families of Montgomery county was that represented by our subject, Jonathan Nutt, a venerable agri- culturist of Union township, he is one of the few connecting links between the remote days of the first settlers and the present, being a son of an early settler, and he has lived to see the county develop from a wilderness to what it is today.


Jonathan Nutt was born on land entered by his father in Union town- ship, Montgomery county, his birth having occurred on September 1, 1829. He is a son of Edmund and Elizabeth ( Mann) Nutt. Edmund Nutt was born in Virginia where he spent his earlier years and from which he migrated to Montgomery county, Indiana, in the early twenties, and entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Union township. This he cleared and de- veloped into a good farm. He was a hard worker and a good manager, and constantly added to his holdings, until at the time of his death in 1863 he was the owner of over two thousand and two hundred acres, being one of the largest land owners in the county and one of its most substantial and best known citizens. He had devoted his entire life to farming and stock raising. which he carried on very extensively. He had a large family, twelve chil- dren, only two of whom are living at this writing. Politically, he was a Whig, later a Democrat, but he never held office nor aspired to any. He married soon after coming to this county to Elizabeth Mann, a daughter of an early settler who came from Ohio where she was born. Only three fam- ilies were known to be in the county when the Nutts and Manns took up their residence here. Members of each did much toward starting the physical, moral and intellectual work of civilization here. Mrs. Elizabeth Nutt was a woman of fine character, and a coincidence worthy of notice is that in their deaths only thirteen days intervened. The two remaining children are Jona- than, of this review; and Sanford Nutt.


Jonathan Nutt received a very limited education, for he had much hard work to do, and in early life had to shift for himself. He began farming when young and has continued this line of endeavor to the present time, with ever increasing success, having added to his holdings from time to time until he now has nearly four hundred acres in Union township, Montgomery county, all valuable, productive and well improved, all under cultivation. While he still has general supervision of his place the work on the same is done by his son-in-law. He has long kept a good grade of live stock and has been very successful in handling the same along with general farming.


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He has a pleasant home and good substantial outbuildings. He has always been to the front in matters of interest to the general community. Now in his declining years he can enjoy the prosperity which is his right as the result of hard work and frugal, honest ways.


Politically, Mr. Harding is a Republican, and in religious matters is a Methodist.


In 1860, Mr. Harding was united in marriage to Mary Ann Cooper, a native of Montgomery county, where she was reared and educated, and where her people were well known in the early days.


To Mr. and Mrs. Nutt were born two children, Ora, wife of Clinton Snyder ; and Flora L., who is at home.


The death of our subject's wife occurred in 1899.


GILBERT HOWELL.


The following is a brief sketch of the life of one who, by close attention to his chosen profession, has achieved marked success in the world's affairs and risen to an honored position in the field of fraternal journalism, and is well known and highly esteemed among the enterprising men of the city with which his interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered re- markable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful and lucky accident and no tragic situation. Mr. Howell is a man of honest convictions and sincere purposes, his upright career and wholesome moral influence making him respected by all who have come in contact with him, and as editor of The Chariot, the official organ of the great Tribe of Ben-Hur, his influence is most potent, and extends to many thousands of people through- out the land.


Gilbert Howell was born in Miami county, Ohio, July 16, 1857. He is a son of Ephraim R. and Elizabeth (Brelsford) Howell. The father, Ephraim B., was born in Trenton, New Jersey, May 20, 1816, and was a son of Daniel B. and Deborah B. (Boiles) Howell. Daniel B. Howell was also born in Trenton, New Jersey, the year of his birth being 1781. He was thus cradled in the very storm center of the Revolution. His father was David Howell, a native of Wales, who came to the United States about 1750, and settled in New Jersey. He was proprietor of the famous "Black Horse" tavern in Trenton. He served in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the seven men detailed to capture General Rahl, commander of the Hessians. He was


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a non-commissioned officer, and served throughout the war, participating in many of the leading engagements. The musket which he carried is now in possession of the subject of this sketch, who very highly prizes this heir- loom of his great-great-grandfather.


After the close of the Revolutionary war David Howell returned to his tavern and continued to conduct the same until his death, when his son, Daniel B., succeeded to the management of the noted hostelry until 1820, when he moved to Miami county, Ohio, and there entered a tract of land from the government. He was one of the early settlers in upper Miami valley and worked hard clearing and developing this wild land, but event- ually had a productive farm and a comfortable home as a result of his indus- try He continued to reside on the farm until his death, which occurred at an advanced age.


Upon the death of Daniel Howell, his son, Ephriam B., father of our subject, assumed management of the farm, and followed general agricultural pursuits in a very successful manner until his death, on February 15, 1897.


Deborah Boiles, wife of Daniel B. Howell, mentioned above, was a na- tive of England and was the daughter of a Methodist minister. Her death occurred in New Jersey in 1818, two years prior to the removal of the little family to Ohio.


Elizabeth Brelsford, wife of Ephriam Howell, was a native of Char- lottsville, Virginia, and was of one of the early families of the Old Dominion, her birth occurring August 5, 1820. She and Ephraim B. Howell were mar- ried at Fletcher, Ohio, February 22, 1845. Her death occurred on August 25, 1891. They were people of sterling honesty, industry and hospitality, and were highly respected by the people of their community.


Gilbert Howell was educated at Fletcher, Ohio; however, his education was limited, but this early lack has been more than supplied in later life, and by close home study and wide miscellaneous reading he has become a well informed man. He began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed two years. When nineteen years old he began clerking in the store of J. & A. W. Prugh, Piqua, Ohio, where, after a year, he was made mana- ger of the store, remaining as such for several years. The next twelve years were spent by him on the road for the Favorite Stove and Range Company, giving his usual high-grade and acceptable service. During that time he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Fraternal Publishing Company at Piqua, Ohio. This marked his initial step into the printing and publishing business which was destined to play a very important role in his later life. In this he


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learned every mechanical phase of the business, mastered with increditable swiftness the ins and outs of the same, then was sent by the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen to Cleveland, Ohio, to edit the offi- cial paper of that organization, "The Buckeye Workman," and he remained in that capacity for a period of five years, giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned and proved himself to be by nature, as well as training well quali- fied for any position of trust and responsibility in the field of journalism. His ability being generally recognized throughout the country, in 1900 he resigned his position in Cleveland to become editor of "The Chariot," the official organ of the Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur, published at Crawfords- ville, Indiana, and here he has remained to the present time, with still greater success than characterized his work in Cleveland. He has done much to brighten the general mechanical appearance of the publication, and has brought it to its present high order of efficiency, making it rank with the best of its kind in the world. He is not only a business man of keen acumen, but is a forceful, convincing and entertaining writer.


He belongs to the various Masonic Orders, including the Knights Tem- plar. the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple, at Indianapolis. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. and Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Improved Order of Red Men.


He is also a member of several of the fraternal insurance societies, and is president of the National Fraternal Press Association, which body was organized by him sixteen years ago, and which under his judicious manage- ment has become strong and influential. He is also doing a very commenda- ble work as president of the Indiana Fraternal Congress. Politically. he is a Republican, and in religious matters a Methodist.




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