USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 32
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Arthur R. Shotts was born in Madison township, Montgomery county, September 22, 1867. He is a son of Andrew and Nancy D. (Severs) Shotts. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother was born in Ohio. The father's birth occurred on March 23, 1816, and he died on March 9, 1878, In early life he came to Montgomery county, about 1828, locating on a farm on which he spent the rest of his life; however, he at first lived near Harris- burg, living for a time on the old William Henry Harrison farm. His fam- ily consisted of eleven children, named as follows: John H. is deceased; Orin A .; Samuel M. is deceased; Isaac P., Ira A., Ernest W., Mary E.,
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James N., and William A. are both deceased; Andrew H., and Arthur R., subject of this sketch.
Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked hard when a boy. He received his early education in the common schools, after which he took up farming and is still actively engaged in general and mixed farming and stock raising, and has been very successful, making a specialty of short-horn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs.
Mr. Shotts married, on January 25, 1891, Jane Gushma, daughter of John and Caroline Gushma, her parents being early settlers of Tippecanoe county.
Mr. Shotts has no children, but he is rearing a little girl. Politically, he is a Democrat, and fraternally, belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Linden.
Our subject's father had the first fenced farm in Madison township. Grandfather, Henry Shotts, who married Lemina Garland, was born in Vir- ginia, and there spent most of his earlier life, finally moving to Indiana in the twenties, and he died in Montgomery county.
MILTON H. STUCKEY.
The history of Montgomery county reveals the handiwork of many a great and noble soul who wrought heroically and unselfishly. Her smiling fields and splendid homes, her high grade institutions, her happy, prospering people, speak volumes of someone's steadfastness of purpose, of someone's strength of arm, courage of heart, activity of brain, of someone's sacrifice. But time, the grim obliterator, before whose destroying fingers even the stub- born granite must, in the end succumb, is ever at his work of disintegration. Beneath his blighting touch even memory fails, and too often a life of glorious achievement is forgotten in a day. "Lest we forget" then, this tribute to the late Milton H. Stuckey, for many decades one of the best known agricul- turists of Sugar Creek township is penned. A son of a pioneer, he himself grew up amid pioneer environment and here he was content to spend his life and he took much interest in the general upbuilding of the community. It is the desire of the biographer as it must be of all who knew him, that his deeds and his character be recorded for the benefit of those who follow after. By no means rich, as mere worldly possessions are, he was rich in those char-
MR. AND MRS. MILTON H. STUCKEY
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acteristics that go to make the loyal. public-spirited citizen and honored man of affairs.
Mr. Stuckey was born February 16, 1845 in Montgomery county, Indi- ana. He was a son of Abraham and Eliza (Powers) Stuckey. The father was born in Pennsylvania, and his death occurred in Warren county, Indiana. The mother was born in Ohio. They spent their lives on a farm and came to this county when it was just being redeemed from the wilderness and here they established the permanent home of the family which consisted of seven children, all now deceased.
Milton H. Stuckey grew to manhood on the home farm in Sugar Creek township, and there he worked hard when a boy. During the winter months he attended the district schools. Early in life he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which he continued to follow with satisfactory results all along the line.
On July 12. 1866, Mr. Stuckey married Mary E. Smith, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on March 21, 1844. She is a daughter of Henry and Nancy (Goodhart) Smith, both natives of Ohio, the father born in 1809, and died on January 4, 1855; the mother was born in 1815, and died August 6, 1910. They came to this county in an early day, and here became successful farmers and spent the rest of their lives.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey, all living and named as follows: Mrs. Alice W. Cook; Mrs. Emma Hampton; Mrs. Elanora Wall; William B .; Wallace ; Mrs. Melissa Johnson; Mrs. Julia Harris : Mrs. Mary D. Crow; Warner L., born September 17, 1885 on the old home place in this county, on which farm he still lives, received a common school educa- tion, and on September 11, 1911 he married Mary E. Blake. She was born in Grant county, Indiana, January 25. 1893, and is a daughter of Charles and Sarah B. (Evans) Blake. Warner L. Stuckey and wife have one child, Charles Arthur, born August 26, 1912. Wesley O. is the youngest child of the subject of this memoir.
The wife of our subject has lived on the present farm since April, 1867. The place consists of one hundred and ninety acres, of valuable land, all till- able but twenty acres. It was placed under a good state of improvement by Mr. Stuckey, who was a hard worker and a good manager. The twenty acres mentioned is in pasture and, all in all, the farm is a most desirable one. Politically, Mr. Stuckey was a Republican, but he was not much of a public man, remaining quietly on his farm until death summoned him from his labors on May 3. 1910, at the age of nearly sixty-five years.
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WILLIAM WINTER WASHBURN.
One of the successful and well known business men of Crawfordsville and one of her worthiest native sons is William Winter Washburn, the scion of a sterling old family that figured more or less prominently in the early- day affairs of the locality. He is a man who has succeeded in the various lines of endeavor which have claimed his attention because he has looked carefully to details, has exercised sound judgment and been uniformly fair in his dealings with his fellow men, consequently he has ever enjoyed their implicit confidence and good will and he is in every way deserving of the position he has attained as a citizen of Montgomery county. He is vice- president and director of the Citizens National Bank of Crawfordsville.
Mr. Washburn was born near New Richmond, Montgomery county, Indiana, January 1, 1864. He is a son of George W. and Louise J. ( Whet- stone) Washburn, both now deceased, the father's death having occurred at New Richmond in 1905, the mother having preceded him to the grave in 1900.
William W. Washburn received a good common school education, later taking a course in Wabash College, where he made a good record. After leaving school he traveled for some time, then took a position in the Corn Exchange Bank in New Richmond, as vice-president, afterwards becoming president of that institution. He was one of the organizers of that bank, and its growth and success were due for the most part to his able manage- ment and wise foresight and under his direction it became one of the sound and popular institutions of this section of the Wabash valley. He remained with that institution until 1906, when, seeking a larger field for the exercise of his business talent, he removed to Crawfordsville, and became vice-presi- dent and director of the Citizens National Bank, which position he has con- tinued to hold to the present time to the eminent satisfaction of all con- cerned, and he is universally recognized as one of the substantial and in- fluential men in financial circles in Montgomery county. He is also engaged in the brokerage business, with offices in the Crawford Hotel, and enjoys an extensive patronage in this field of endeavor.
Politically, Mr. Washburn is a Democrat, and while he has never sought political preferment, he has shown himself to be deeply interested in the welfare of his county. Fraternally, he is a thirty-second degree Mason, is a Knight Templar, and belongs to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple at Indianapolis. He is also a member of the
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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he belongs to the Phi Delta Theta, a college fraternity.
Mr. Washburn was married on September 3, 1884, to Mary Engle, of Crawfordsville, where she was born, reared and educated, and where her family has long been well known and highly esteemed.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Washburn has been graced by the birth of three children, namely: Gould Engle, teller in the Citizens National Bank at Crawfordsville; George Bennet is a freshman in Wabash College; John Beard is a freshman in the high school at Crawfordsville.
GRANT COOK.
The old Buckeye state has sent, perhaps, more enterprising settlers into Montgomery county, Indiana, than any other state, with Kentucky a close second, and thus we owe that state a great debt of gratitude, for the men and women who have come from within her borders have been empire builders and have plunged bravely into the work of redeeming the wilderness fast- nesses of the fair Wabash country until today this is one of the leading agri- cultural sections of the Middle West. The Ohioans have been reckoned as courageous, indomitable workers, never halting at any barrier no matter how imposing or sinister, and, not only that but they have been, as a rule, people of law-abiding and high moral impulses, glad to contribute in any way to the furtherance of civilization in the new countries where they settled, not being contented merely to make a living for themselves and families. Such people are always welcome in any community, for reasons too apparent to need dwelling on here. One of this number who is deserving of special mention in these pages is Grant Gook, successful farmer of Sugar Creek township.
Mr. Cook was born at Clermont, Ohio, September 21, 1864. He is a son of William Henry and Nancy (Wyatt) Cook. The father was born on January 17, 1833, in Ohio, and there also the mother was born, September 7, 1833. They grew to maturity in their native state, received common school educations and there were married and spent the earlier part of the mar- ried lives, finally removing to Montgomery county, Indiana, where they be- ·came well established through their industry. The father has always been a farmer and he is still living in this county. His wife died December 11, 1901.
Ten children, nine of whom are still living, were born to William Henry Cook and wife, namely: Edward F., John Q. is deceased ; William T., Eu-
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gene J., Grant W., of this sketch; Everet, Hattie, Ellen, George H. and Mattie.
Grant Cook grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked hard when a boy, assisting his father with the general duties during the crop seasons, and in the winter months he attended the common schools in his district.
On December 11, 1891, he married Clara Marsh. She was born on January 26, 1871, in Montgomery county, Indiana, and is a daughter of John F. and Julia (Peterson) Marsh. The father was born in the state of Ohio, April 13, 1845. The mother was born in Montgomery county, on March 2, 1849, and her death occurred on July 28, 1909.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, seven of whom are still living, namely: Perry A., Harry is deceased; Mabel, Roy and Ray- mond are twins; Myrl, Florence and Martha.
Politically, Mr. Cook is a Republican, but he has never been very active in public affairs, preferring to devote his attention to his home and his farm. He has never followed any line of work other than general farming and stock raising. He owns one hundred and two acres, all tillable with the exception of about ten acres. It is well tiled, well fenced and otherwise well improved, and he has a good, convenient dwelling which he built himself. He always keeps a good grade of live stock.
WILLIAM H. MARTIN.
To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and re- spected even from childhood deserves more than mere mention. It is no easy task to resist the temptations of youth and early manhood and plant a character in the minds and hearts of associates that will remain an unstained figure for all time. One may take his place in public life through some vigor- ous stroke of public policy, and even remain in the hearts of friends and neighbors, but to take such a position by dint of the practice of an upright life and without a craving for exaltation and popularity, is worthy the high- est praise and commendation. The late William H. Martin, one of the sturdy citizens of Scott township, Montgomery county, Indiana, who was well and favorably known throughout this community, was a man respected and honored, not because of the vigorous training of his special talents, but be- cause of his daily life, which was a record of real, true manhood. Strong
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and forceful in his relations with his fellow men, he gained the good will and commendation of his associates and the general public, ever retaining his reputation among men for integrity and high character, and never losing that dignity which is the birthright of a gentleman. He lived and labored to worthy ends and as one of the sterling citizens and representative men of his community during past years, his memory merits a tribute of honor on the pages of history.
William H. Martin was born in Scott township, Montgomery county, Indiana, on July 26, 1849, and he was the son of James Green Martin and wife, who are referred to at length in the sketch of F. A. Martin, elsewhere in this work, and therefore need not be mentioned fully here. The subject's early boyhood was spent in Scott township, where his father followed farm- ing and also operated a saw-mill. During his youth the family removed to Warren county, Indiana, where they remained until the death of the parents, while the subject was a young man. Mr. Martin then spent about two years with a brother in Boone county, this state, at the end of which time he returned to Scott township, this county, and for two years was employed as a farm hand by William T. Servies, whom he had known from boyhood. This was a fortunate engagement for the subject, for he also gained the greatest boon that can bless a man, namely, a good wife, in the person of Mary A. Servies, daughter of his employer and to whom he was married on December 30, 1875. She was born and reared in Scott township and the two had been acquaintances from childhood. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin moved to the northwest quarter of section 9, where he had bought eighty acres of good land, and they remained in this home as long as Mr. Martin lived. He engaged in general farming, in which he was successful and as he prospered he bought more land until he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of as good land as the township afforded. He was energetic and industrious, systematic in his methods, and a good manager in his business affairs, so that he was numbered among the enterprising and sub- stantial farmers of his community.
In his political belief, Mr. Martin was a Democrat and gave stanch support to that party, though he never was a seeker after the honors or emoluments of public office. Religiously, he was an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a steward for many years and a trustee for a time. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, in which he had passed through all the chairs of the local lodge. Hle was a man of clean habits, upright life and honest motives,
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and devoted himself to the interests of his family, church and community. He was devoted to his home and family and to his children he gave every educational advantage possible. Mr. Martin's death occurred .on February 24, 1907: in the fifty-eighth year of his age, his death being generally con- sidered a distinct loss to the entire community, while to those who knew him best there came a deep sense of personal bereavement.
To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born the following children: John T. died at the age of seventeen years. Wallace B., who lives near Linnsburg, followed farming up to 1912, but is now working at the carpenter trade ; he married Nannie Miller and they have three sons, Wendell, Chester and Ken- neth. Charles died in July, 1903, at the age of nineteen years. Maud is the wife of David Douglass, a farmer in the northern part of Scott township, this county. James William, who lives on a farm three miles east of Ladoga, married Fern Corn, the daughter of Asa Corn, and they have three sons, William, Russell and Robert. Harvey died in April, 1910, when twenty- two years old. Eva Lou is the wife of Harley Spencer, who is freight agent for an interurban line at Lafayette. Claude, who lives on the home farm with his mother, was married, in August, 1912, to Ethel Delano, daughter of Nathan S. Delano.
Mrs. Martin still manages the home place, keeping everything in good repair and not allowing the productive value of the land to run down. She is a woman of many graces of head and heart that have commended her to the friendship and esteem of all who know her. She is kind and considerate of the needs of others, ever desiring the welfare and comfort of those about her rather than her own pleasure.
CHARLES HICKS.
It is gratifying to see the younger generation of farmers of Montgomery county trying to improve the methods which their grandfathers employed in tilling the soil, not that the latter were not all right in their day; but condi- tions have changed and consequently a change had to be made in agricultural methods in order to ge the maximum results from the minimum expenditure of labor. It is not necessary here to enumerate these changes, for they are too apparent-the vast transformation from the country with its far-stretch- ing and wild forests, the new soil and different climatic conditions found by the pioneers to those found today. One of the most scientific of these younger
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tillers of the soil is a scion of one of our worthiest and best known old fam- ilies, whose good reputation both for industry and clean living he has sought to keep untarnished.
Mr. Hicks was born in this township and county on February 17. 1875, near where he now resides. He is a brother of Martin Hicks, whose sketch on another page of this work gives the Hicks ancestry.
Charles Hicks grew to manhood on the home farm, where he helped with the general work when a boy, and he received a good common school education. On November 24, 1897, he married Lettie Duckworth, daughter of James J. and Mary ( Mark) Duckworth. She was born in Hendricks county, this state, near North Salem. Her father was from Bath county, Kentucky, and came to Indiana with his mother, who was a widow with sev- eral children. The family established a comfortable home near North Salem, where James J. Duckworth spent the rest of his life engaged in general farming. His death occurred in North Salem on January 3, 1911, at the age of seventy-six years, eight months and fifteen days. He outlived his wife a number of decades, she having passed away when Mrs. Hicks was a small child. When Mrs. Hicks was about five years old her father moved into North Salem and there she lived until her marriage and attended the schools there, passing through the high school.
When Charles Hicks was twenty-one years old he began farming for himself. Up to that time he had farmed for his widowed mother. Upon reaching his majority he began tending some land of his own, but continued to reside with his mother until his marriage, after which he moved to a farm he owned a miale north of where lie now lives. Seven years later, having in the meanwhile gotten an excellent start, he purchased his present home place in the east one-half of Section 25 which joins his first tract on the south, the two tracts making a fine farm of two hundred acres on which he follows gen- eral farming and stock raising on a large scale. He has brought his land up to a high state of improvement and cultivation through his close application and good management. He has a good set of buildings and an excellent grade of livestock is always to be found on his place.
Mr. Hicks is a member of the Masonic Order, and he and his wife are both members of the Christian church.
To our subject and wife three children have been born, namely : Herbert Cecil, born July 25, 1899: Gladys Marie, born September 2, 1903; and Har- lan Eugene, born on September 2, 1912.
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WILLIAM FISHER.
Those who know William Fisher well are not surprised that he has won success at his chosen vocation, that of tilling the soil, for he is a man who has been a close student of whatever pertains to his chosen life work, believing that the best methods are none too good. He has kept his farm in Sugar Creek township in fine condition so that its old-time richness of soil has not been depleted by the many years of succeeding crops which are gathered in abundance from his fields annually, and he ranks with the foremost general farmers and stock raisers of the northeastern part of the county where the Fisher family has long been well and favorably known.
Mr. Fisher was born in the township and county where he still makes his home on August 26, 1863. He is a son of Samuel and Nancy J. (Corns) Fisher. The father was born in Vinton county, Ohio, in 1831. He received a common school education, came to Montgomery county, Indiana, when a young man, and here devoted himself to general farming, until his death in February, 1875. Politically, he was a Republican, but never specially active in public affairs. The mother of our subject was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1833, and here grew to womanhood, received a common school education and spent her life here, dying in 1870. Her parents were among the first settlers in this county and members of the same have been well known here.
Samuel Fisher's family consisted of eight children, six of whom are still living. He was twice married, and his second wife was the mother of our subject.
Until he was eleven years old William Fisher spent his early life on the home farm and there assisted with the general work during the crop seasons and he attended the district schools in the winter time. From eleven years of age up to the time of his marriage, on October 3, 1889, he was thrown on his own resources, working out as a farm hand until he was twenty-six years old, when, on December 3, he was married to Martha M. Waugh, who was born in Sugar Creek township, this county, in 1867, and is a daughter of M. B. and Sarah (Saulsberry) Waugh, a highly respected family. Here Mrs. Fisher grew to womanhood and received her education in the public schools.
The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of four chil- dren, namely : Hallie P., born June 13, 1893, is at home: Frank W., born
WILLIAM FISHER RESIDENCE
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March 31, 1895; Ralph B., born October 7, 1897; Lloyd MI., born November 3, 1902.
Mr. Fisher began farming for himself when a young man and he has continued this vocation through life until today lie is very pleasantly situated on a finely improved and productive farm of two hundred and forty acres in Sugar Creek township, all of which is tillable but about forty acres. It has a natural drainage and is well suited for a stock farm, Mr. Fisher having long devoted considerable attention to raising a good grade of live stock of all kinds and specialized in the Poland China breed. He has made the improve- ments himself on this choice farm, and he has one of the best homes in this part of the county.
Politically, he is a Prohibitionist. He belongs to the Masonic Order at Colfax. He holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church of Potato Creek.
WILLIAM T. SERVIES.
The name of William T. Servies, long since a traveler to that "undis- covered bourne from whence no traveler e'er returns" is worthy of perpetua- tion on the pages of history, for it is a name that stands for wholesome living, progressiveness in agriculture and cleanliness in public affairs, and the younger generation might do worse than to pattern their future careers after his : it would mean to them work with little idling in the shade of the trees by life's wayside, but it would also mean a comfortable measure of material suc- cess and what is more to be desired-a good name and irreproachable char- acter. Like many another of the helpful people who came into Montgomery county when it was in its first stages of development and here did their full share of the further work required to bring about the desired transformation from a wilderness to one of the finest farming sections in the state, Mr. Servies hailed from the Blue Grass state across the great river to the south, but nearly all his life was spent here.
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