USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 48
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Fraternally, Mr. Kirkpatrick is a Mason, holding membership in the New Richmond lodge. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias here, he having assisted in organizing both these lodges. He belongs to the Country Club at Crawfordsville. Politically, he is now a Progressive, and in religious
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matters belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, being a trustee of the same.
Mr. Kirkpatrick owns a fine and modernly appointed home in New Richmond, and he owns large farming interests in Montgomery county. Personally, he is a pleasant gentleman to know, genial, obliging and a man of unswerving integrity.
OATH LONG.
No pioneer who braved the wilds of Montgomery county three-quarters of a century ago is deserving of remembrance by his descendants and those who came after to share the fruits of the strenuous labors of these self- denying and self-sacrificing men more than Oath Long, who, although long a sleeper in "death's garden where we all shall meet," yet has an influence for good and whose life of industry and honesty is worthy of imitation by the youth who would succeed at his chosen life task and at the same time do some good while passing through this so-called "mundane sphere."
Mr. Long was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1794, and was a son of Gideon and Elizabeth Long, both natives of England, and as all records were long ago lost no data can be had of them, except that they emi- grated to America in colonial days and spent some time in Pennsylvania, later invading the wilderness of Indiana and establishing the family home in Union township, Montgomery county, where they spent the rest of their lives and died here.
Oath Long grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, and when thirty-six years old, in the year 1830, he came to Montgomery county, Indiana, and here determined to cast his lot permanently, for although the country was wild, he had the sagacity to foresee for it a great future and he set to work with a will clearing and improving his one hundred and sixty acres of land which he entered from the government near Crawfordsville and eventually became one of the leading general farmers of Union township, his fine farm being located about three miles from the present county seat. His were the usual pioneer hardships, privations and experiences of the first settlers in a heavily wooded country where settlers were indeed few, where there were no roads, bridges, stores and where everybody was poor. His death occurred on September 16, 1877.
Politically, Mr. Long was a Democrat, and a member of the "old school" Baptist church.
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He was twice married, first to Martha Vail, in Butler county, Ohio, where he lived for some time after he left Pennsylvania, before coming to Indiana, and in that county she died in early life, leaving two children, Louisa and Abram, both of whom have long since passed away. On June 17, 1823, while still living in Ohio, he married Sarah Titus, who was a native of Virginia, born there on August 29, 1801. She was a daughter of Samuel and Polly Titus, who left Virginia for Ohio in an early day, later coming on to Montgomery county, Indiana, where they established their home and died here. The death of Mr. Long's second wife occurred on January 6, 1879. Six children were born to this last union, namely: Wilson, born April 24, 1824, married Sarah Ann Newhouse in 1848, and he died on Sep- tember 14, 1889; his wife died May 16, 1907. Lydia, born January 24, 1825, married W. T. McCoy in 1849, and they are both deceased; Samuel T., born November 23, 1838, died December 8, 1911; Huet, born November 25, 1832, is now living in Darlington, Montgomery county ; William, born Octo- ber 16, 1835, lives on a farm east of Crawfordsville; Benjamin lives in Craw- fordsville, Indiana.
THOMAS B. NICHOLSON.
That Thomas B. Nicholson, the photographer of Crawfordsville, pos- sesses the artistic temperament to a marked degree goes without saying among those who are familiar with his fine work. He has imagination, a love of the beautiful in nature and a delicate and skillful touch. He is a man who has been taught by his worthy father, before him, to take infinite pains with his work and deal honestly and courteously with those with whom he comes into contact. He is therefore, one of the popular and honored citizens of Montgomery county and his work is to be seen all over this part of the state, his patrons coming, many of them, from remote distances.
Mr. Nicholson was born in Franklin, Indiana, February 12, 1866, and he is a son of John and Mary L. (Davidson) Nicholson. The father was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, on a farm, July 12, 1825. For many years he was a resident of Franklin, this state, where he engaged in painting, in connection with cultivating fruit, and later he learned the art of daguerreo- typing. In 1872 he removed to Kokomo, Indiana, and from there, in 1879, to Crawfordsville, where he opened an art gallery. As an artist and photo- grapher John Nicholson was a great success and found much pleasure in the
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study of theology, poetry and physiology, being a man of decided aesthetic qualities. His was a useful life, and he was beloved by all who knew him, was highly respected. His death occurred in 1893.
John Nicholson was a member of the Christian church. He married Mary L. Davidson, of Franklin, Indiana, in 1861. She is still living, making her home in New York City.
Thomas B. Nicholson was educated in the Crawfordsville high school, and then learned the art of photography under his father, and this he has continued to make his life work, maintaining his studio at the old stand, and he has been exceptionally successful. He has remained a close student of his profession and has kept well abreast of the times in all phases of the same, the art of photography having made as pronounced strides as any other branch of science. His work is regarded by experts as equal to any of the present day in this country.
Mr. Nicholson was married on April 5, 1893, to Anne Kenyon, a daugh- ter of Wylie and Mary (O'Neal) Kenyon, an excellent family of Crawfords- ville, where she grew to maturity and received her education.
To our subject and wife have been born two children, namely: Thomas Lawrence and John Kenyon, both in school.
WILLIAM K. MARTIN.
True biography has a more noble purpose than mere fulsome eulogy, The historic spirit, faithful to the record; the discerning judgment, unmoved by prejudice and uncolored by enthusiasm, are as essential in giving the life of the individual as in writing the history of a people. Indeed, the ingenu- ousness of the former picture is even more vital, because the individual is the national unit, and if the unit be justly estimated the complex organism will become correspondingly intelligible. The world today is what the leading men of the past generations have made it, and this rule must ever hold good. From the past comes the legacy of the present. Art, science, states- manship and government are accumulations. They constitute an inherit- ance upon which the present generation have entered, and the advantages secured from so vast a bequeathment depend entirely upon the fidelity with which is conducted the study of the lives of the principle actors who have transmitted the legacy. One ,of the men of Montgomery county who is entitled to a biographical record in a work of the province assigned to the
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one in hand is William K. Martin, one of the best known and most pro- gressive of Crawfordsville's business men, having long devoted his energies to 'various lines of important endeavor which he has carried to successful issue here.
Mr. Martin was born in this city and county on August 7, 1869. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Grimes) Martin. The father was born on May 10, 1838, in Union township, Montgomery county, just south of Craw- ยท fordsville four miles. He is now living in Crawfordsville. The mother of our subject was born in 1843 in Union township, this county, and she grew to womanhood here and was educated in the local schools. Her death oc- curred in 1904.
William Martin was a farmer in early life. He organized the first dairy business in Crawfordsville, and in 1873 he went into the ice business, in which he has continued ever since, the firm being known as the Craw- fordsville Ice & Cold Storage Company, and is now incorporated. A very large business is carried on, which has gradually grown with advancing years under the able management and wise foresight of Mr. Martin.
To William Martin and wife three children were born, namely: Matie, born in 1864, has remained single: Eva, born in 1866, married A. E. Rey- nolds, and they are living in Crawfordsville; and William K., subject of this sketch, is the youngest.
William K. Martin received a common and high school education, later attending Wabash College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1887. In January, 1895, he married Julia Bromley, who was born in this county in 1870, a daughter of William and Angeline ( Crane) Bromley, a well known and highly respected family of this locality. These parents were born in Ohio, from which state they came here in an early day and became very comfortably established through their industry, and here Mrs. Martin grew to womanhood and was educated in the common and high schools. The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.
Mr. Martin, after finishing school, went into the ice business with his father, in which he has remained to the present time. In 1904 he became connected with the Citizens National Bank of Crawfordsville, was at first a director, then became vice-president in 1906, the duties of which position he is still discharging in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and honesty and to the satisfaction of patrons and stockholders. He was one of the first trustees of the local electric light company when it went out of the hands of the city government and was placed in the hands of trustees. He (78)
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was trustee of this company for about four years, giving satisfaction to all concerned. In 1907 he purchased an interest in the Home Telephone Com- pany. Mr. Martin was manager of this company for two years until the company was sold. In December, 1909, he was made general manager and director of the Crawfordsville Heating Company, and he has been secretary of the ice and cold storage company in which he and his father are interested since its incorporation in 1897. He is also connected with the Crawfords- ville Trust Company, in which he is a stockholder. He was also for a time connected with the Ben-Hur Traction Company until it was sold in 1910. He has been very successfully in a financial way and is one of the substantial and influential business men of Crawfordsville, in which city he owns an attractive and modernly appointed home.
Mr. Martin is a member of the National District Heating Association, the Indiana Bankers Association, and the Indiana Ice Manufacturing Asso- ciation, the Middle States Ice Manufacturing Association, and director in the Indiana Manufacturers and Shippers Association. Politically, he is a Republican. He is affiliated with the First Methodist Episcopal church. When in college he belonged to the Sigma Chi fraternity. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Tribe of Ben-Hur, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
FRANK W. HARVEY.
Among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Wayne township, Montgomery county, is Frank W. Harvey, who has spent his life on the old home place and has kept it so well tilled that it has retained its original fertility and is one of the desirable farms in the western part of the county. He has not permitted anything to divert his attention from the care of the home place, taking a just pride in the same ever since he was a boy, and he has also striven to maintain the high standard of citizenship set by his worthy father before him, consequently he has ever enjoyed the good will of his neighbors and acquaintances.
Frank W. Harvey was born on the farm where he still resides, in Wayne township, Montgomery county, Indiana, January 19, 1872. He is a son of Joseph M. and Sarah (Dwiggins) Harvey, long a well known family of this locality.
Joseph M. Harvey came of the pioneer stock of Montgomery county,
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and for many years materially contributed to its growth and prosperity by his work as a practical farmer on section 22, Wayne township. He was born in Union county, Indiana, January 29, 1829, and was three years old when the family removed from there and settled near the town of Alamo, Montgomery county. His parents were Hudson and Sarah (Rinker) Har- vey, the father also a native of Union county. Late in life they removed from the Hoosier state to Iowa, where they spent their last days, his death occurring in 1870, his widow surviving until 1876. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, namely: Joseph M., father of our subject : Mary Ann, who was born in Union county in 1832, married John A. Fisher, of Iowa, by whom she had six children, and died in 1868; Martha Jane, born in this county in 1834, married Will Roe, of Iowa, and they became the parents of seven children; Lydia, born March 28, 1839, married Will Ray- born, of Iowa, and five children were born to them; George N., who was born in 1836, was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the Tenth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, and died while in the service in 1862, at Camp Davenport. leaving a wife (formerly Lucinda Roe) and three children, who grew up and continued to reside in Iowa.
Joseph M. Harvey's first independent work as a farmer when he began life for himself was on a tract of wild land, partly prairie and partly timber, in Iowa, which he had taken up from the government. He resided on that some nine years, and then, returning to his native state and to Montgomery county, he bought the property on which his son, Frank W., of this sketch, still lives, and which was destined to be his home the remaining years of a busy and fruitful life. He engaged in mixed farming, raising considerable grain, and a good class of stock, with which his farm was well supplied. He left an estate of two hundred acres of valuable land in a good condition. He was a man of genuine worth, of inflexible honesty, and was revered and trusted by all with whom he associated, who deplored his loss when death removed him from their midst, on July 11, 1891. A Christian in every sense, he was deeply attached to the Christian church, of which he was a devoted member until he was called to his reward, and was an elder therein ten years, also an earnest teacher in the Sunday school. For many years a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Waynetown, his fellow associates conducted his funeral with all the ceremonies of the fraternity. Politically, he was allied with the Republicans, but was not an office seeker. While the War of the Rebellion was raging, however, he did noble service for his country for three years as a member of the Thirty-second Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry.
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The wife who so ably assisted Joseph M. Harvey in his life work and to whom he was married in Iowa in 1853, bore the maiden name of Sarah Dwiggins, but she was known to her friends as "Sally." Their union was blessed with nine children, of whom we have the following record, seven of them still living: Mary E., born in Iowa in 1853, was married in Indiana to Thomas D. Young, a carpenter, who established their home in East St. Louis ; Sarah E., born in Iowa, October 17. 1856, married Alphonso Sumner, a barber of Waynetown, Indiana; Martha I., born in Iowa, November 28, 1858, married W. Zuck, of Waynetown; Albert H., born in Iowa in 1860, died the following year; Houston L., born in Iowa in 1862, married Laura Small, and they began housekeeping on the paternal homestead; Carrie, born in Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1866, married Charles Owen, of Wayne- town; Carl B., born in 1868, married Lulu Small, also began housekeeping on the home farm; Maud, born in 1870, died in 1878; Frank W., subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the children. The above named children were well educated in the high school at Waynetown, from which Carrie and Burt were graduated in the year 1886, and, with the exception of Frank W. have all taught school. They have nearly all been teachers in the Sunday school connected with the Christian church, of which they are all active members, their mother having also belonged to that church. The father of these children was also a school teacher in his early life. The mother was born in June, 1833, and she was called to her eternal rest on April 29, 1897. She was a native of Indiana, where she grew to womanhood, and, like her husband, received a common school education.
Frank W. Harvey grew to manhood on the home farm and helped his father with the general work here, and in the winter months he attended the common schools in his neighborhood, later the high scool at Waynetown. In March, 1893, he was united in marriage to Nellie Williamson, who also re- ceived a good common school education.
To our subject and wife five children have been born, namely: Maude Esther, born on December 26, 1893, is teaching school; Frank L., born Sep- tember 1,. 1897, is attending school; Mary, born February 24, 1900, is also attending school; Doris, born August 11, 1903; and Alice May, born May 26, 1907.
Frank W. Harvey has always lived on the home farm, and has followed general farming and stock raising. He is the owner of eighty acres of well improved and valuable land, all tillable. It lies well and no tile is. needed. Politically, he is a Republican, but is not active in public matters.
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HENRY H. GOODBAR.
One of the most extensive farmers of the southern part of Montgomery county, of a past generation was the late Henry H. Goodbar, a man who stood high in the estimation of those whose desire was the uplifting of the general civilization of the community. No move having the betterment of his locality in view but found in Mr. Goodbar a most ardent champion and contributor. His genial and gentlemanly bearing upon all occasions, that which made him so highly esteemed to all with whom he came into contact, became emphasized by the passing of years until no one in Scott township more fully exemplified the elements of the old-time country gentleman, whose courteous demeanor and genial presence added materially to the pleasure and comfort derived by the visitor whenever he was a guest. It has been to such staid and substantial men, whose good common sense shaped the course of events, that the great prosperity of this section has been largely due, and our only regret is that more of the minute matters of the life of the subject cannot be here more fully portrayed.
Mr. Goodbar was born on October 26, 1815, near Mount Sterling, Ken- tucky. He was a son of John H. and Mary Goodbar, both natives of Vir- ginia, where they spent their earlier years, and from which state they removed to Kentucky in the early days and they spent most of their lives engaged in farming.
Henry H. Goodbar grew to manhood on the home farm in the Blue Grass state, where he found plenty of hard work to do, and he received a limited education in the common schools of his vicinity. When he reached manhood he married Mary J. Foster, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, May 23, 1833, and here she grew to womanhood and received a limited education in the common schools. She was a woman of sterling character and took a great deal of interest in church work. Her death oc- curred in December, 1904.
Five children were born to Henry H. Goodbar and wife, namely : Eliza- beth, born January 15, 1858, married J. E. Lidikay, of Ladoga, Indiana, and her death occurred a number of years ago; J. Harvey was born February 1, 1859; Florence, who married a Mr. Fudge, was born July 14, 1863: William N., born February 12, 1865 ; Charles L., born in February, 1868.
Mr. Goodbar came to Scott township. Montgomery county, when a young man and here he spent most of his life, where he and his brother owned together eighteen hundred acres of land and farmed and raised live
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stock on an extensive scale, and there our subject devoted his attention to his work, never taking much interest in political affairs other than to assist in anything that made for the betterment of his locality and country. On this old homestead, which was settled in 1829, Mr. Goodbar reared his family. He was one of the best farmers in the township, working hard and managing well, and a large measure of material success attended his efforts. He kept the place well improved in every way and a good grade of live stock was always to be seen about the fields and large barns, for he took a delight in raising and preparing for market all kinds of stock.
Politically, Mr. Goodbar was a Democrat, and religiously a member of the Universal church.
The death of Henry H. Goodbar occurred on April 26, 1886.
CLIFFORD VANCE PETERSON.
No more comprehensive history of a community or even of a state can be written than that dealing with the life work of those who, by their own energy and endeavor have gained the honor of being known among their fellow-men as progressive and forward-looking citizens. One of Crawfords- ville's young business men deserving of this honor is Clifford V. Peterson. While Mr. Peterson has been winning his way to the front in the business life of his home city, he has demonstrated that he is the possessor of many of the commendable qualities of the true gentleman. He is one of the worthy native sons of Montgomery county. Although he was actively engaged in newspaper work for a number of years, Mr. Peterson is now connected with the Central States Life Insurance Company, of Crawfordsville ..
Clifford Vance Peterson was born in Sugar Creek township, Montgom- ery county, November 20, 1879. He is the only son of John Quincy and May (Campbell) Peterson. His father and mother were both natives of Montgomery county and came from good parentage. His father was the eldest son of Silas and Lorinda (Dain) Peterson, and was born October 29, 1850. Silas Peterson, for year's one of the successful and influential farmers and stock raisers of Montgomery county, was a native of Greene county, Ohio, where he was born near Xenia, January 20, 1825. His father, Solo- mon Peterson, who was born in Virginia in 1790, emigrated west to Ohio as a young man. Later he came to Indiana and with his family settled, in the fall of 1830, on what was known as the Potato Creek prairie in Sugar Creek
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township, Montgomery county, thus becoming one of the earliest settlers and pioneers of that locality. He resided there until his death in 1851.
Silas Peterson spent his entire life as a resident of Sugar Creek town- ship. He and his good wife resided at the old Peterson homestead continu- ously for more than fifty-five years. Mrs. Peterson died in 1904 and her husband survived her ten months, dying in March, 1905, at the age of eighty years. John Q. Peterson, their son, was also a life-long farmer. He died in 1909. He was married in 1878 to May Campbell, daughter of Alexander and Sophia Campbell. Her father was a native of Ohio, who came to Mont- gomery county in an early day, and lived here until his death in 1906. Mrs. John Q. Peterson died in February, 1883, leaving two small children, Clifford and Georgia, who is now Mrs. Royal B. Cox, of Darlington.
Clifford V. Peterson received his common school education in the dis- trict school near his boyhood home and later entered Wabash College, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1900. Shortly after his graduation he began newspaper work as a reporter on The Indianapolis Sentinel. He possessed a natural bent toward journalism and gave The Sentinel eminent satisfaction. He was filling the responsible position of Sunday editor when the publication of the paper was discontinued. Mr. Peterson then became connected with The Crawfordsville Reviews, of which he was the city editor for several years. Being energetic and conscientious in his work, Mr. Peterson did his part in maintaining high newspaper stand- ards in Crawfordsville. Mr. Peterson became connected with the Central States Life Insurance Company in 1911 as assistant secretary and a member of the Company's Board of Directors. An incident showing Mr. Peterson's energy and ambition is seen in the fact that while busy in his newspaper work in Indianapolis he yet found time to study law, taking the night course in the Indianapolis College of Law, from which he was graduated in 1904.
Mr. Peterson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of Crawfordsville Commandery No. 25, Knights Templar, and also of Murat Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. While in Wabash, Mr. Peterson was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta college fraternity. He is a member of the board of trustees of Center Presbyterian church and also of the board of directors of the Crawfordsville Young Men's Christian Association.
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