USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 36
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William Thompson was a Democrat and was more or less active in public affairs. He was a trustee of Ripley township for a period of four years. He was a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association.
Taylor Thompson grew to manhood on the home farm in Ripley town- ship, and there assisted with the general work when a boy, and received his education in the common schools; however, his education was limited and had to be made up in after life by miscellaneous home reading, but this and
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close observation and actual contact with the world, supplied well the defi- ciency.
Mr. Thompson was twice married, first, on November 25, 1874, to Ida M. Sidle, who was born May 28, 1854, in this county, a daughter of Joseph and Matilda (Taylor) Sidle. Her death occurred on February 20, 1906, leaving three children, one having died, namely: Cora, who married George F. Anselm, was born on August 12, 1876; they live in Indianapolis, and they have one child, Elizabeth, born September 3, 1910: William Lee, born November 24, 1880, married Catherine Holmes, and they also live in Indian- apolis ; they have one child, William Holmes Thompson, born June 30, 1905; Harry died in infancy.
Mr. Thompson was married a second time on November 15, 1911, his last wife being Catherine Kelley, who was born in Fountain county, In- diana, in 1863, and she grew to womanhood and was educated in her native community. She is a daughter of John and Catherine (Downs) Kelley.
Mr. Thompson made his start in life on the farm, carrying on a general farming business with success until March 3, 1893, when he retired from active agricultural pursuits and moved to Crawfordsville, where he entered business. After coming here he became active in politics and held the posi- tion of bailiff of the court here for the past sixteen years. He was con- nected with the Democratic County Committee since 1888, and his influence and counsel contributed much to the success of the party here. Shortly before his death he was in the race for postmaster at Crawfordsville, and, owing to his general popularity and peculiar fitness, his appointment was regarded by his friends as most probable, seventeen hundred representative voters of Crawfordsville having endorsed his candidacy.
Mr. Thompson was always an ardent Democrat, following in the foot- steps of his honored father in this respect. Fraternally, he belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Thompson owned a substantial residence in Crawfordsville, also several valuable pieces of property in the same section of the city.
On May 6, 1913, Mr. Thompson was called to his Maker, at the age of fifty-eight years.
The Crawfordsville Journal, of May 7, speaks briefly :
" 'Taylor,' as he was known by hundreds of personal friends, has been a leader in Democratic politics for the past fifteen years. He was county chairman at one time several years ago, and since that time has had more to do with the success of his party than any other man in it. His active
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political career and his work as court bailiff gave him a wider acquaintance perhaps than any man in Montgomery county. He knew everybody in the county. He was an excellent judge of human nature, and few men were able to run the gauntlet of his inspection without being accurately weighed."
ORPHEUS W. BRATTON.
In a county like Montgomery, where there are so many men of excellent moral character, pronounced business ability and social nature, it would be hard indeed to determine who would be most worthy. There are some, how- ever, who are generally conceded by their neighbors to take a place in the front ranks of usefulness and influence. Such is the gentleman above named, who manifests an abiding interest in the intellectual development and spiritual upbuilding of the community in which he lives as well as in its material pros- perity and who, while managing his own affairs in so prudent a manner as to take his place among the solid men of Walnut township, yet finds time to serve his fellow men in various ways.
Orpheus W. Bratton was born on June 18, 1862, northwest of Mace, in Union township, this county. He is a son of Charles L. and Catherine (Dice) Bratton.
Charles L. Bratton, one of the pioneer settlers of Montgomery county, was born in Augusta county, June 19, 1819, and there he spent his early boyhood years, being fourteen years old when, in 1832, he accompanied his parents in a four-horse wagon from the Old Dominion to Montgomery county, Indiana, leaving Virginia on September 12th, and reaching here October 12, 1832. They traveled through the week and rested on Sunday and greatly enjoyed their rough overland journey through the woods and wilderness. His parents were William and Mary G. Bratton. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and both his grandfathers were in the Revolutionary war. His father was a Jackson Democrat, a Whig, then a Republican. His mother was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Charles L. Bratton went to school in a log cabin and sat on puncheon benches, and had greased paper for windows. He lived with his father until he was twenty-five years old, having always been a farmer. He became owner of a productive and well-kept farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which stood a substantial two-story brick house, about five miles from Crawfordsville. On January 11, 1844, he married Catherine Dice. She
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O. W. BRATTON AND FAMILY
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was born on November 9, 1824. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Her death occurred in 1883.
Charles L. Bratton continued to reside on his farm in Union township until late in life, and in the early nineties he sold his place and lived with his children, spending some time with first one, then another, until his death, on December 21, 1902, at an advanced age. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church from his twenty-third year until his death, and toward the latter part of his life was a deacon in the church. He was a Good Tem- plar, a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association, and was a loyal Republican. He cast his first vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison in 1840. He was a well read man, and was an intelligent, prosperous and honored citizen. He retained the patent to the land where he lived so long, which patent was issued to Charles Johnston, and signed by President Andrew Jackson.
Ten children were born to Charles L. Bratton and wife, namely : Mary, who married Andrew Smiley, lived all her life near Mace; David was mar- ried and had two children, one of whom is still living; David was a farmer and lived near Mace; William is engaged in merchandising and the fish com- mission business at Cortez, Florida; Ella was the wife of Joseph W. Ward, and lived south of Crawfordsville until her death, in August, 1912; Johnnie died when two years old; Charles M. lives in Crawfordsville ; James B., de- ceased, lived in Lebanon, where he died in December, 1909; Harvey B. lives near Linnsburg; Orpheus W., subject of this sketch; Rachel Jennie married Joseph A. Ward, and lives in Cass county, Indiana.
Orpheus W. Bratton grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work, and he received a good education in the common schools.
In January, 1887, Mr. Bratton married Ida M. Schenck, daughter of Jacob and Frances (Tilly) Schenck. She was born in Boone county, In- diana. Her mother died when Mrs. Bratton was a little child, and this event broke up the home. There were at that time also two little brothers, who grew to manhood and are still living-Milton and John, the former residing near Colfax, and the latter in Wyoming. After the death of the mother of these children the father moved about a great deal, living for awhile in Putnam county, but most of the time in Montgomery county, not far from Linnsburg. The father, Jacob Schenck, spent his old age with his daughter, Mrs. Bratton, and died at her home on February 3, 1899.
After his marriage Orpheus W. Bratton began farming for himself a
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mile and a half southeast of Linnsburg, beginning on rented land, and there he continued for about fifteen years, during which he got a good start. This was the Ward farm. For eight years before her marriage, Mrs. Bratton had lived with the Ward family. About nine years after marriage Mr. Bratton bought eighty acres where he now lives in Section 29, Walnut town- ship. Remaining on the Ward farm about six years longer, he moved to the place where he has since resided, buying forty acres about 1900, in addition to his former purchase, making his holdings now aggregate one hundred and twenty acres of good land, well improved and under a high state of cultiva- tion.
Politically, Mr. Bratton is a Republican, and he takes an active interest in party affairs. He was trustee of Walnut township from 1905 to 1909, and has been twice on the township advisory board. In 1912 he was nom- inated for county commissioner, but it was a bad year for his party, the whole ticket being defeated. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Mace, in which lodge he was Master of Exchequer for twenty years. He also belongs to the Tribe of Ben-Hur, the Modern Woodmen, and, religiously, the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Bratton is also a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Tribe of Ben-Hur.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bratton, namely : Ralph, born November 14, 1887, married Bessie Linn, and lives near Mr. Bratton's place in Walnut township, on a farm; Sherman is a veterinary surgeon and is practicing his profession at Walton, Cass county; Raymond is at home with his parents; Ruliff, now nine years old, is attending the district school. The other children all attended business college; Sherman was graduated in April, 1912, from McKillip Veterinary College, and has been very successful in the practice, getting a good start.
LEANDER M. TRIBBY.
Leander M. Tribby, a leading agriculturist of Coal Creek township, Montgomery county, may well be classed among the representative farmers. to whose ambition, energy and intelligence much of our national prosperity is due. In all his transactions the worthy gentleman of whom we write has always displayed a scrupulous regard for the rights of others, has never been known to wilfully wrong or defraud another, and his reputation is unspotted in financial circles. He gives intelligent heed to politics and other questions
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affecting the general good of his township and county and has long been re- garded as a leader in local affairs. He is a gentleman of genial address and exemplary habits and, like most all the natives of the Blue Grass region, is a courteous and well-mannered gentleman, taking a delight in contributing to the happiness and well being of his neighbors and friends, and he also takes a delight in keeping untarnished the excellent name which the Tribby family has ever borne.
Mr. Tribby was born on December 28, 1848 in Kentucky, and there he spent his early boyhood years, being twelve years of age, when, in 1860, he accompanied his parents from his native state to Montgomery county, Indi- ana, and here he has since been content to reside. He is a son of William and Mahala (Myers) Tribby. The father was born in Kentucky, and there he grew to manhood, was educated and spent most of his life, living only two years after coming to Indiana, his death occurring here in September, 1862. He devoted his life to farming for the most part, however, he was a carpenter by trade at which he worked in connection with farming. The mother of our subject was also born in Kentucky, and there grew to womanhood and received a common school education.
To William Tribby and wife were born seven children, three of whom are still living.
Leander M. Tribby grew to manhood on a farm and during the winter months he attended the common schools in his neighborhood.
On September 29, 1896, Mr. Tribby was married to Mrs. Margaret (Wilson) Patton, who had been previously married. She was a daughter of John and Nancy Coons, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The wife of our subject was born on March 21, 1862. She was reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools.
To Mr. and Mrs. Tribby one child was born, Gaylord Tribby, whose birth occurred on October 6, 1898.
Mr. Tribby began farming for himself early in life and he soon had a good foothold, and succeeding years has found him further advanced until he is today one of the successful and well known general farmers and stock raisers of the northwestern part of the county. He is the owner of a finely improved and highly cultivated farm of two hundred and twenty-four acres in Coal Creek township. His fields are well-tilled, well fenced and other- wise in up-to-date condition. On the place stands a splendid set of outbuild- ings, including a commodious and neatly furnished residence which Mr. Tribby himself built. It is in the midst of attractive surroundings.
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Politically, Mr. Tribby is a Democrat and he has always been more or less active in local public affairs, and he served his township very acceptably as supervisor in 1908. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at the town of New Richmond, and in religious matters he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN M. WHITE.
Biography, more than anything else, commands the most interested at- tention for the reason that it is a record of those who, in times gone by, trav- eled the thorny pathway of life as companions, acquaintances, friends or rela- tives. To preserve from forgetfulness the simple story of their experiences and record their acts, however uneventful, is a task attended with much pleas- ure to the writer and fraught with great good to humanity. Especially is this the case when the subject has passed the allotted three score and ten and, like some grand old forest trees, its companions all gone-stands alone, crowned with the weight and honors of years, calmly awaiting the change that soon will cause its once proud form to lie as low as its fellows.
One of the venerable citizens and successful farmers of Montgomery county is John M. White, of Ripley township, who was born in Covington, Fountain county, Indiana, December 25, 1838, a son of William B. and Elizabeth White, both natives of Tennessee. William White, the paternal grandfather, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He came to Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1817, subsequently leaving there and moving to Fountain county, locating on Coal Creek, finally moving to Vermillion county, this state, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there on January 10, 1847.
The following children were born to William B. White and wife, named as follows: Albert F. is deceased; James A., Mandy Lorina is deceased ; Horace H. is deceased : Elmira S., John M., of this review; Thomas Franklin is deceased ; William Bloomer.
John M. White received his education in the public schools, and he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he did his share of the work. Early in life he took up farming, which he has continued to the present time, being still active. He is now the owner of two hundred and eight acres of productive and well improved land, on which he has carried on general farming and stock raising with much success.
Mr. White was married on September 1, 1859, to Rena B. Wert, daugh-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN M. WHITE
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ter of David and Rebecca (Balse) Wert, and to this union five children were born, namely: Edgar and Aaron are both deceased; William E. is teaching in the Alamo schools; Alonzo lives in Waynetown, Indiana; Jesse is teaching in the university at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The wife and mother passed to her eternal rest on November 10, 1892, and on February 28, 1894. Mr. White married Emma Hatt, daughter of Joseph V. and Mary ( Keyes) Hatt, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Delaware ; they are both now deceased. This last union of the subject and wife has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. White is a Republican, but he has never held or sought public office. He is a member of the Christian church.
JOHN PARKS EVERSON.
Few residents of Montgomery county are as well and favorably known as the enterprising farmer and representative citizen, but now retired from active labor, whose life story is briefly told in the following lines, and none stand higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides and for the material advancement of which he has devoted much of his time and influence. The family of which he is an honorable representative has been identified with the history of this section of the state for many years, his ancestors having come here in an early day and taken a prominent part in the upbuilding and development of the county. That the early settlers of Montgomery county and their descendants have done their work well goes without saying, and to them the present generation is in- debted for the present high standard of civilization and improvement which is everywhere in evidence throughout the county. The subject of this sketch, during his active years, took a prominent part in this work of development, in which his efforts were rewarded with a due meed of success, and today, as he descends the western slope of life's journey, he can look back in pleasant retrospect over the trail of the past years, recalling with pleasure the days when, as one of the sturdy band who were building a new country here in the West. he labored and toiled for the benefit of those who might come after him. He is now enjoying that rest which his former years of ardnous toil so richly entitle him to.
John Parks Everson was born on October 30, 1841, on a farm in Union township, Montgomery county, Indiana, the place of his birth being now in-
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cluded in the corporate limits of Crawfordsville. He is a son of George W. and Rachel (Hankins) Everson, and a grandson of Jacob Everson, who entered a tract of government land near Whitesville in an early day. George Everson was born probably in Pennsylvania, and lost his mother by death when he was quite young. From Pennsylvania he went to Butler county, Ohio, where he was married to Rachel Hankins. About 1832 he and his wife, together with his father, Jacob Everson, came to Montgomery county, George renting the Jonathan Powers farm, at the edge of Crawfordsville, and it was there that the subject of this sketch was born and reared. Crawfords- ville at that time was a very insignificant place, comprising a land office and a log court house, with a few stores and residences, the latter being of the primitive type common in those days. There was no market there for farm products, the farmer being compelled to take his stuff to Lafayette or Terre Haute. Settlers in this section at that time were far apart and wild animals, such as wild hogs, deer and wolves, were numerous and often a menace to the new settlements. Upon the death of Jacob Everson, his son, George, bought the interests of the other heirs to the home farm which the former had entered near Whitesville, and on that place the subject of this sketch spent the last years of his young manhood. Only eight or ten acres of the tract were cleared when they went to live on it, and this was the poorest and highest part of the farm. When the lowlands were cleared and drained they proved to be the richest and most productive portion of the estate. There George Everson spent the rest of his days, his death occurring in 1887, when eighty-one years old. His wife had passed away in April, 1878.
In the clearing, improving and cultivation of this farm, John P. Ever- son took an active and prominent part. In 1861 he was married, at which time he rented a farm near Whitesville and began life on his own account. He was fairly successful in his efforts, continuing the pursuit of agriculture until 1880, when he quit farming and, buying a saw-mill at Whitesville, he was engaged in the lumber business there during the following seven years. He then sold out there and went to Crawfordsville, where for a number of years he was successfully engaged as a lumber buyer for several concerns. He devoted himself to this employment for about five years, at the end of which period he returned to Whitesville and resumed farming. In Novem- ber, 1905, Mr. and Mrs. Everson came to Scott township and have since then made their home with their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Byrd. Mr. Everson is the owner of a small farm in Clark town- ship, this county, which he rents.
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Fraternally, Mr. Everson has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for about thirty-five years, and he and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church at Ladoga. For about thirty-five years Mr. Everson was a member of the Indiana Horse Thief Detective Associa- tion, and as a captain of a squad he did much effective work for the asso- ciation. At one time he discovered a store being robbed and, running in, grabbed the burglar single-handed, and while struggling with him the owner of the store came in and shot the burglar dead. At another time, while en- gaged in the capture of a thief, eighteen shots were fired. He had many other exciting and often dangerous experiences while engaged in the work of the association and was considered one of the most courageous and effi- cient members.
In 1861 John P. Everson was united in marriage with Rebecca A. Gun- tle, who was born near Whitesville, Union township, Montgomery county, the daughter of George Guardian Guntle and Rebecca A. (Bailey) Guntle. Her father, who was born in Little York, Pennsylvania, was a son of Jona- than and Julia Ann (Sneivley) Guntle, natives of Germany, who, to pay for their passage across the ocean to this country, were put on the auction block and their services for three months sold to the highest bidder. George G. and Rebecca Guntle came to Montgomery county in 1832, traveling in a wagon, and locating near Whitesville on the 5th of September. Here Mr. Guntle entered a tract of government land, on which not a stick had ever been disturbed, and here Mr. Guntle at once entered upon the task of creating a home in the wilderness. While he was getting a space cleared for a cabin, the family lived in their wagon, not having even a bedstead. When the cabin logs were in place, the cracks between were filled with mud, and in this primi- tive home they began life, their experiences being much the same as those of other pioneers in this new country. There these parents spent the remainder of their days, and it was in this humble home that Mrs. Everson was born and reared, six children having been born to her parents before they came to this country. To Mr. and Mrs. Everson were born five children, namely : James W., Isom and Joseph E. are living; Charles A. died at Hoopeston, Illinois, in May, 1903, leaving a widow and eight children, who now make their home at Hammond, Indiana; Hattie B. is the wife of Thomas J. Byrd, of Scott township, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Everson make their home and who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
In 1911 Mr. and Mrs. Everson celebrated the golden anniversary of the marriage, and it was an enjoyable occasion, a large number of guests being
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present to offer their congratulations to their old friends. Mr. and Mrs. Everson both enjoy excellent health, retaining to a remarkable degree their physical and mental faculties. Because of their sterling qualities of charac- ter, they are held in the highest esteem throughout the community which has been honored by their residence for so many years.
DANIEL SMITH.
Among the venerable farmers of Montgomery county, no one is more worthy of a place in her chronicles than is the gentleman of whom this is a life record, as he is a member of a family whose history has been closely connected with that of this region for more than half a century. Daniel Smith, of Ripley township, who has attained the advanced age of eighty- three years, has proved a very useful acquisition to the citizenship of the county since he took up his abode here, his ability as a farmer making him a valuable assistant in maintaining and extending the most important of the industries of this region. He is a self-made man in the broadest sense of the word and the architect of his own fortune. He has been a resident of the Wabash Valley country for many decades, and during that time has been one of the chief promoters of its upward progress, laboring harmoniously with other co-workers in the march of improvements, and winning, in his efforts for the common good, the esteem of the community by whom he has been surrounded, and he in every way is deserving of the high regard in which he is universally held, for his life had been carefully lived with regard to right and wrong, and he has been helpful to his neighbors.
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