USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 37
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Mr. Smith was born in the state of Ohio, on December 1, 1827. He is a son of Solomon and Jane (Marshall) Smith. Th father of the subject was a farmer all his life, and he settled in Ohio in a very early day. His family consisted of six children, of whom Daniel, of this review, is the only one living.
Daniel Smith grew to manhood on the home farm, and there worked hard when a boy, for the sons of all pioneers had plenty to do in developing the virgin soil and winning a living from resisting Nature. He had scarcely any opportunity to obtain an education, schools being scarce in his time and were taught only a few months in the winter time. However, later in life, he read extensively and became a well informed man on current topics.
On November 1, 1857, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Catherine
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DANIEL SMITH AND FAMILY
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Thomas, who was born in Ohio April 17, 1838. She proved to be a very faithful helpmeet, and she was called to her eternal rest on April 17, 1905.
Seven children were born to Daniel Smith and wife, five of whom are still living, namely: Edward, Howard, Hamlet, Lenley, who is postmaster at Alamo, this county ; Daniel is deceased; George is also deceased; and Estella, the youngest, married Harry Cheney, and they have one child, Ruth. They live with the subject and Estella keeps house for her father.
Mr. Smith learned the carpenter's trade when a young man, and he be- came a very skilful workman, his services being in great demand. He fol- lowed his trade until he was fifty years old, when he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing the farm which he still owns in Ripley town- ship, and here he has become quite well established, and has engaged suc- cessfully in general farming and stock raising. He is the owner of one hun- dred and sixty acres, well improved and under a fine state of cultivation, Mr. Smith having made all the improvements himself. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings. His land is all tillable, and it has been so well looked after that it has retained its original fertility and strength of soil. Although now one of the patriarchs of the country, he is comparatively well preserved, and looks after his farm and live stock in a general way. He attributes his long life and his health to steady and temperate habits and right thinking. He first came to Montgomery county in 1835, and since then has been one of our most enthusiastic citizens, and has lived the life of a good citizen in every respect.
Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican; however, he has never been much of a worker politically. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order at Alamo, and he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
ED. T. McCREA.
The gentleman of whom the biographer now writes is widely known as one of the honored citizens of Montgomery county, for Mr. McCrea has been actively identified with the agricultural interests of Coal Creek township for many years and has been interested in public affairs. His well directed efforts in the practical things of life, his capable management of his own busi- ness interests and his sound judgment have brought to him prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by a man of energy and am- bition who is not afraid of work and has the ambition to continue his labors,
(71)
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even in the face of seemingly discouraging circumstances. Mr. McCrea has been content to spend his long life in the Hoosier state, and he is truly a pro- duct of pioneer days, for having been born here more than three quarters of a century ago, he has lived through the wonderful epoch of change that has taken place, and he recalls many interesting incidents of his early life in the woods when practically everything was different from what it is today. He is now living practically retired from the active duties of life, merely over- seeing his fine farm in a general way, the actual work being done by renters, and his declining years are singularly free from wants and cares. He is one of our honored veterans of the Civil war that rendered conspicuous service to the Union.
Ed. T. McCrea was born on April 20, 1836 in Shelby county, Indiana. He is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Templeton ) McCrea. The father was born in the state of New York in 1787, and his death occurred in Indiana on March 18, 1859. He was a tanner by trade, and he also followed farming. He spent his early life in his native state, finally removing to Shelby county, Indiana, where he established the future home of the family. The mother of our subject was born in 1805, and her death occurred in March, 1852. Ten children were born to John and Elizabeth McCrea, six of whom are still living.
Ed. T. McCrea grew to manhood in Shelby county, this state, assisting with the general work about the place, and he received a common school edu- cation. On July 30, 1867 he was united in marriage to Jessie L. Draper, who was born on February 22, 1846. She is still living.
Three children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Edward H., who is the possessor of rare natural talent as a musician, lives at home : William, who married Mary Copeland lives in Greentown, above Koroma ; John married Mary A. Hadley, and they live in Coal Creek township, this county.
Mr. McCrea worked with his father in the tanning business for some time when a young man, later launching out in the general merchandise busi- ness which he was engaged in at the commencement of the Civil war. He gladly left a growing business and the comforts of home and went out amid the horrors of war in order to do what he could toward suppressing the hosts of treason, and he endured the hardships of camp, march and battle. On August 28, 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-third Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, at Shelbyville, and was at once elected captain of that company. He served in Kentucky and Tennessee, then from Cumberland Gap returned
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back north to the Ohio river. He was engaged in fifty-five battles and skirmishes. He was honorably discharged on September 16, 1864, having proved, according to his comrades, a very faithful soldier for the government.
After his career in the army Mr. McCrea returned to Indiana and took up general farming and stock raising, making a specialty at one time of Polangus Black cattle, he having been the first man in Montgomery county that raised this popular breed for sale, and he became widely known in this way. Owing to the superior grade of his cattle they found a very ready market.
Mr. McCrea is now the owner of one of the finest farms in Coal Creek township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, all tillable and under a high state of improvement. He gave each of his children forty acres and at one time owned four hundred acres. He is now retired and rents out his land.
Politically, he is a Progressive and is much interested in the new move- ment. He has long taken a leading interest in public affairs, and has wielded a potent influence for good in his locality in a civil way. He was a trustee in his county for one term, and was a representative to the legislature two terms, during which he did much for the permanent good of his locality and won the hearty commendation of his constituents. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order at New Richmond. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, being a trustee in the same.
EDWARD S. MILLER.
A representative young farmer of Madison township, Montgomery county, who is succeeding at his chosen life work because he is willing to work hard and persistently and deal honestly with his fellow men. He is quick to adopt any new method pertaining to his work. He is the scion of one of the honored and well known old families of this locality, and he has ever made an effort to keep the good name of the same untarnished.
Mr. Miller was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, May 24. 1878. He is a son of David S. and Sarah Miller. These parents were both natives of the state of Pennsylvania, where they grew to maturity, received their educational training in the old-fashioned schools and there were married. They came to Montgomery county, Indiana. in an early day and settled in
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Madison township, where they developed a good farm and here they are still living, being now advanced in years.
Eight children were born to David S. Miller and wife, four of whom are still living.
Edward S. Miller, of this review, grew to manhood in his native locality and assisted with the general work on the home place, and received his edu- cation in the common schools, then took up general farming and is still actively engaged, having become very well established.
Mr. Miller was married on December 25, 1892, to Maud Weller, daugh- ter of John T. and Mina (Lynch) Weller. Her father was a native of In- diana, and her mother was born in Ireland, from which country she emi- grated to the United States when young in years, and here she met ad mar- ried Mr. Weller. They settled in Union township, Montgomery county, in an early day, and here they became well established through their industry and spent the rest of their lives here. Their family consisted of three chil- dren, two of whom are still living.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, namely: Stanley and Dorothy, both at home.
Mr. Miller has never taken an active part in public affairs and has never held office. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both at Linden. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist church.
CAPT. HENRY H. TALBOT.
The respect which should always be accorded the brave sons of the North who left their homes and the peaceful pursuits of civil life to give their services, and their lives if need be, to preserve the integrity of the Union is certainly due Capt. Henry H. Talbot, one of the successful agriculturists and esteemed citizens of Montgomery county. He proved his love and loyalty to the government on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situations, exposed to summer's withering heat and winter's freezing cold, on the lonely picket line a target for the bullets of the unseen foe, on the tented field and amidst the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of the musketry mingled with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar made up the sublime but awful chorus of death. To the heroes of the "grand army" all honor is due; to them the
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country is under a debt of gratitude which it cannot pay, and in centuries yet to be posterity will commemorate their chivalry in fitting eulogy and tell their knightly deeds in story and song. To this rapidly vanishing host into the phantom army of the silent land belongs the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article, still left with us to thrill us with reminiscences of those stirring times of the early sixties.
Capt. Talbot was born at Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky, Septem- ber 6, 1841. He is a son of Courtney and Elizabeth (Harp) Talbot. The father was born on September 3, 1804 in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and the mother was born in Fayette county, that state, on July 14, 1813. Nicholas Talbot, the paternal grandfather, was born in Virginia, November 10, 1781. John Kennedy, the great grandfather of our subject, was born October 16, 1742, and he served in the Revolutionary war. Capt. Talbot has a copy taken from record for a grant of land of two thousand and seven hundred acres located on Kennedy's creek, Bourbon county, Kentucky. It was issued in favor of his great grandfather, John Kennedy, and his brother Joseph Ken- nedy, the same land being located and surveyed by Maj. Daniel Boone, Octo- ber 16, 1779.
Capt. Talbot received such education as the early times in which he was a boy afforded, and early in life he took up farming which he has always followed. and he is now the owner of a large, productive and finely improved farm near Crawfordsville on which he has long carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has always taken a great deal of interest in preparing a good grade of live stock for the market. He has a pleasant home in the midst of attractive surroundings, and it is his intention to spend the rest of his days amid rural scenes, being a great lover of nature in all her forms and it is his hope that his last view of earth will be on waving grain fields and blooming meadow lands.
While his father was the owner of many slaves, Captain Talbot enlisted for service in the Federal army in the first call for three months' troops at the outbreak of the war. Later, as a member of Company C, Seventh Kentucky Cavalry, on June 1. 1862, he saw much hard service, but, according to his comrades, he proved to be faithful and gallant no matter how arduous or dangerous the tasks assigned him. His first battle was at Richmond, Ken- tucky, August 30, 1862, and afterwards he was in scores of battles and skirm- ishes, his hardest service being against Longstreet around Knoxville, Tenn- essee, in the winter of 1863-64. He participated in the Atlanta campaign, and was in the great Wilson cavalry raid, which started from Eastport,
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Mississippi, and the regiment to which our subject belonged found itself in Florida at the end of that undertaking. Our subject was in the last battle of the war at Westpoint, Georgia, April 16, 1865. For meritorious conduct he was twice promoted, first to second lieutenant and secondly, to the captaincy of his regiment, and as an officer he won the confidence and respect of his men and superior officers. During his military career he was twice wounded, once through the right breast and once through the right leg. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, July 17, 1865. Captain Talbot was the only one of his family in Kentucky to join the Union army, others of his relatives joining the Confederate army.
After his career i nthe army Captain Talbot returned home, and resumed farming, later coming to Montgomery county. Indiana, where he has since re- sided. He was married on June 6, 1872 to Hettie A. Evans, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Woodruff) Evans, of Waveland, Indiana. To this union the following children were born : May Wood Talbot and Ethel Talbot Sparks, the last named is the widow of the late Wallace Sparks, formerly clerk of Montgomery county.
Captain Talbot has been a Republican for the past fifty years, however in the campaign of '1912 he allied himself with the Progressive party under Colonel Roosevelt. He has served one term as county councilman.
Captain Talbot is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he served two terms as post commander of McPherson Post, No. 7, at Craw- fordsville. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, having been a Mason for the past fifty years, holding membership with Montgomery Lodge, No. 50. He is a member of the Rural Detectives, and in this organization he had the honor of constructing its secret work.
ED. LAWERENCE.
Montgomery county can boast of few more progressive and successful agriculturists, stock dealers and business men than the well known gentleman whose name furnishes the caption of this review. He has long been con- sidered one of the leading farmers of Browns Valley and as a citizen is in- telligent and enterprising, combining within himself those sterling qualities of manhood that make not only a useful member of society, but a leader in whatever he undertakes. He has ever had an honest determination of pur- pose and an obliging nature which impels him to assist others on the high-
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way of life while making plain the path of prosperity for himself and family. He is a public-spirited man and has not withheld his aid from any worthy movement having for its object the general improvement of his township and county.
Mr. Lawerence is the scion of a fine old Southern family, many of whose winning personal attributes he seems to have inherited. He was born July 7, 1857 in Montgomery county, Virginia, and there he grew to manhood, received his educational training and remained in the Old Dominion until he was twenty years old when he came to Indiana where he has since remained. He is a son of Francis W. and Gertrude (Grills) Lawerence, both natives of Virginia, the father's birth having occurred in March, 1826, and he died in October, 1895; the mother was born in 1828, and her death occurred in 1884. The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade. His family consisted of eight children, five of whom are still living.
Ed. Lawerence, of this sketch, was married on August 1, 1880, to Martha A. Bennett, a native of Indiana. Her death occurred on February 15. 1890. On November 26th of that year, Mr. Lawerence married Kate Armstrong. who was born in Montgomery county, this state, and here she grew to woman- hood and was educated. She is a daughter of a highly respected old family.
Four children constituted our subject's family, two of whom are still liv- ing. One of these children was by the first wife, the other three by the sec- ond. They were named: Frank, who is deceased; Willa is living at home ; Mary Fern and Forest E., twins, the latter being deceased.
Mr. Lawerence began life for himself as a farmer and this he has con- tinued to follow to the present time in connection with the stock and grain business, in all of which he has been very successful. He was located at the town of New Market, shipping cattle, hogs and sheep, and buying and selling grain. He built up a very extensive business and is widely known all over this section of the state. He is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of fine land in Brown township, all tillable but about thirty-two acres. It is well tiled, in fact, modernly improved in every way, and on the place stand a substantial and convenient set of buildings.
Mr. Lawerence in his fraternal relations is a member of the Masonic Order at Waveland, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at New Market. Politically, he is a Democrat and he has long been an influential factor in local political affairs, being a leader in his part. He was elected sheriff of Montgomery county in 1906, and served in that capacity for a period of four years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent
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satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment, in fact, accord- ing to the consensus of opinion he proved to be one of the most faithful and popular officials the county has ever known. He looked after the interests of the people with just the same care and sound discretion that has always characterized his personal life. No shadow of suspicion ever rested on his official record, and he fearlessly and impartially discharged his duties under the law, as he saw and understood the right. Personally, he is a man of pleas- ing address, genial, obliging and neighborly, and he has so ordered his every- day life that he has won the confidence and good will of all with whom he has come into contact.
CHARLES TINSLEY BRONAUGH, M. D.
The writer of biography dealing in the personal history of men engaged in the various affairs of everyday life, occasionally finds a subject whose rec- ord commands exceptional interest and admiration and especially is this true when he has achieved more than ordinary success or made his influence felt as a leader of thought and a benefactor of his kind. Dr. Charles Tinsley Bronaugh, of New Ross, Montgomery county, is eminently of that class who earn the indisputable right to rank in the van of the army of progressive men by reason of a long and strenuous career devoted to the good of his fellows, to the alleviation of their physical sufferings, he occupies a position of wide influence and has made a name during his more than a quarter of a century of practice in Walnut township which will long live in the hearts of the people. During the latter decades of the period of development of this section he has been not only a successful practitioner, but hàs aided in whatever way possible for the betterment of the condition of the people, and his name has become a household word throughout the locality.
Dr. Bronaugh was born in Gerard county, Kentucky, March 19, 1854. He is a son of Robert N. and Mary (Taylor) Bronaugh. The father was born in 1819 in Hendricks county, Indiana, and there also, in the same year, the mother was born. They both grew to maturity in their native county and received common school educations, and there they were married, subse- quently removing to Kentucky where they resided until 1863 when they moved back to Lizton, Hendricks county, where they spent the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of seven children, namely: Elizabeth C. is the eldest ; Nancy, George T., are both deceased; Charles T., of this review; Mary V., John W. are both deceased; James is the youngest.
DR. CHAS. T. BRONAUGH
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Dr. Bronaugh was educated in the common schools of Hendricks county, and early in life he determined upon a medical career and began to prepare for the same, subsequently entering the Indiana College of Medicine at Indianapolis from which he was graduated with the class of 1884, and he at once began practicing at the village of New Ross, Montgomery county, remaining here continuously to the present time, building up a very extensive and lucrative practice during this period of nearly thirty years.
The doctor was married in 1889 to Sadie Everson, daughter of James K. and Hannah Everson. Hers is one of the oldest and best known families of the county. The death of Mrs. Bronaugh occurred in 1890, without issue.
Politically, Dr. Bronaugh is a Democrat. He held the office of county coroner for two terms in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs.
ISAAC NEWTON MEHARRY.
It has been well said by one of the great writers of olden times that the deeds of men live after them, so it is but just that the deeds of the man whose name heads this sketch should be remembered for the benefit of his posterity. His life was such that the future generations of the name will with pride read its history. He was a self-made man, possessing a large store of gen- eral knowledge and good business tact, and with a determination that was characteristic of the man, he set about when a boy making for himself for- tune and an honored name at the same time. With industry for his motto, he plodded up the rugged hill that leads to success, and became one of the most substantial farmers and prosperous citizens in the northwestern part of Montgomery county, leaving behind him a large and valuable landed estate, but what is more to be appreciated by his family and descendants, the record of an honored life and untarnished name, Mr. Meharry having a number of years ago been gathered into the sheaves of that grim reaper who, in the lines of the poet Longfellow, "Reaps the bearded grain at a breath and the flowers that grow between." The life of such a man has a wholesome influence on the comunity which he honored by his citizenship.
Isaac Newton Meharry, for many years a leading agriculturist of Montgomery county and the able president of the Farmers' Bank at Win-
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gate, was born on February 16, 1842, at the home where his widow now resides, near the town of Wingate, Coal Creek township, this county. He was a son of Thomas and Eunity ( Patton) Meharry. Thomas Meharry was born in Ohio and his wife in West Virginia, August 16, 1802. They were married in Brown county, Ohio, December 4, 1827, where she had moved with her parents at the age of ten years. In the spring of 1828, they left the Buckeye state and came to Montgomery county, Indiana, here establishing the permanent home of the family, developing a good farm by their industry and close application, and here they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1874 and the mother's death occurred on August 7, 1887, while on a visit in Fountain county. They were the parents of seven children, all now deceased but two daughters. Their children were named as follows: Mrs. Jane P. Dick, of Tolono, Illinois; William, who lived in Tolono, deceased; Mrs. Ellen Martin, of Attica, Indiana: Jesse, who lived at Tolono, Illinois, deceased; A. P., who also lived there, deceased; Isaac Newton, of this memoir, and Abraham T. were twins; the latter is also de- ceased.
Isaac N. Meharry's career was somewhat unusual in that the place of his birth, his home during life, and the place of his death are located within the enclosure of his late home, and within a radius of twenty-five feet. He assisted with the general work on the home farin as he was growing to maturity, and in the winter months he attended the common schools, study- ing one year at Wesley Chapel; in fact, it may be said that he remained a student the rest of his life, being a wide reader, and he became a well in- formed man.
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