USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 49
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Mr. Peterson was married October 31, 1905, to Miss Mary Alice Wat- son, daughter of William W. and Mary Watson, highly respected citizens of Crawfordsville. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of one child, Eleanor Mary.
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SAMUEL W. GALEY.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to com- mand the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the record of the well known agriculturist whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be difficult to find among the farmers of Union township, where he has long maintained his home and where he has labored not only for his own individual advancement and that of his immediate family, but also for the improvements of the entire com- munity whose interests he has ever had at heart.
Mr. Galey was born on March 3, 1850, in the township and county where he still resides. He is a son of Samuel Smith Galey and Eliza Galey. The father was born in Kentucky in 1810, and the mother's birth occurred in that state in 1811. There they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and in an early day left their native country and established their permanent home in Montgomery county, Indiana, and here developed a good farm. The death of the father occurred on February 16, 1893, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years, having survived his wife thirty-two years, her death having occurred in 1861, when she was in the prime of life.
To Samuel S. Galey and wife ten children were born, all now deceased but three. The father was not much of a public man, preferring to remain at home as much as possible. He was at first a Whig, later voting inde- pendently.
The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and when a boy he assisted his father with the general work about the home farm. On September 18, 1872, he married Mary C. Bennett, who was born in Kentucky on March 20, 1851. She is a daughter of John and Sarah Bennett. Mrs. Galey received a common school education. Her death oc- curred on December 16, 1909. She was a strong character, a devout member of the Presbyterian church.
Four children were born to Samuel W. Galey and wife, namely: Eliza, born August 28, 1874, married John Harris, and they live in Union town- ship: Warner B., born March 20, 1878, married Myrtle Galloway, and they are engaged in farming in Union township: John S., born April 28, 1882, married Clara B. Hall, and they make their home in Crawfordsville; William Otis, born December 24, 1892, is assisting his father with the work on the home farm.
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Mr. Galey has always followed general farmning and stock raising, and his efforts have been successful all along the line. He is the owner of a well improved and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Union township, all of which is tillable but thirty acres, which is in timber. From time to time he has added an improvement here and there as they were needed until the advancing years has found his place one of the most desirable from every standpoint in the locality. He carries on general farming and stock raising, paying particular attention to the latter, and he formerly raised black cattle.
Politically, Mr. Galey is a Republican, but he has never taken a very active interest in public affairs. He is an influential member of the Presby- terian church, and a deacon in the same.
ABNER DENMAN WILLIS.
Abner Denman Willis came of a line of pioneer stock whose Indiana his- tory began with the very early settlement of the state. He was born January 14, 1834, near Alamo, in Montgomery county, Indiana, on the farm which his father secured by parchment deed from the national government. He was a son of Benjamin Willis and Susanna ( Butts) Willis, to whose lot fell the task of rescuing a fertile farm from the primeval wilderness. The settlement of his father on government land, however, was not the beginning of the family history in Indiana. The first Benjamin Willis, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to Indiana in the early twenties from near Dayton, Ohio, where he had married Nancy Allison and raised a large family. He was buried near a favorite tree on his farm. Glowing reports of the fertility of the soil near Alamo brought the younger Benjamin to Montgomery county just after his marriage. There were born to them nine children, of whom eight grew to manhood and womanhood. There were Steven Decature, Abner Denman, Julia Ann, Amanda Jane, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, Sarah Elizabeth, Joseph Martin.
Abner Denman was apprenticed to a tinner in Crawfordsville until he was old enough to attend a school of higher learning, when he entered Barn- abas Hobbs Quaker academy at Bloomingdale, Indiana. After graduation there, he taught a district school for several years and while teaching in Ver- million county in the winter of 1863-1864 he met Frances Ellen Comegys, a pupil, to whom he was married on September 29, 1864, near Danville, Illinois.
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He operated a traveling photograph gallery, having become especially pro- ficient in the making of daguerreotypes. In 1866 he moved to Crawfords- ville where he bought a photograph gallery, which he operated for twelve consecutive years. In 1878 he moved to Harrisonville, Missouri, where he operated a photograph gallery for three years, after which he returned to Crawfordsville, where he remained in the photograph business until 1898, when he died of pneumonia while on a business trip to Harrisonville, Missouri. He was the father of six children, of whom three died in infancy .. Those who lived were Nathaniel Parker, Lucius Comegys, and Anibel Ellen.
For thirty years A. D. Willis was one of the most widely known citizens of Montgomery county. He took an active part in politics both national and local and was a stanch Democrat although he never held any political office. He was a student of more than ordinary diligence and depth. His affiliations were with the Christian church and the Masonic order, but he delved into many philosophies, being an especial admirer of the philosophy of Sweden- bourg. He spent a great deal of his leisure time reading and discussing these philosophies and became known all over the country side for his erudition and his love for literature of the better class. One of the tenets of his faith was a scrupulous honesty and forehandedness, which led to the accumulation of a comfortable competence, although he never had a large income. As a schoolteacher he was a strict disciplinarian and was known as one of the most successful in the county. As a photographer, in which profession he became best known, he earned a reputation for a conscientious work and the scrupulous care with which he kept faith with his clients. He was buried on December 9, 1898, in Oak Hill cemetery, the funeral being conducted by the Masonic order.
NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS.
Nathaniel Parker Willis, oldest son of Abner Denman Willis and Frances Ellen (Comegys) Willis, was born at Crawfordsville, Indiana, on August 21, 1868. From the time he entered upon young manhood until his tragic death in Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 27, 1909, at a time when he was making an effort to see his little daughter, Mary Frances Willis, who had been ruth- lessly taken from him, he held positions of peculiar esteem and some promin- ence in the communities in which he lived. As a boy he lived with his parents for a short time in Missouri, after which he was brought by them to Craw- fordsville where he diligently pursued his studies in the public school. He
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graduated from the Crawfordsville high school in 1890, winning the free scholarship to Wabash College, which was the prize for the most meritorious grade. He elected not to go to college, however, and began the printing trade, apprenticed in the office of Bayliss Hanna, who was then publishing the Craw- fordsville Review. ¿ In time he came to have the reputation of being the fastest compositor in the town. In 1892 he secured a position as government mail carrier, but did not remain at this vocation very long.
As a boy he had done much work in the photograph gallery conducted by his father and he left the government service to take charge of this busi- ness, in which he was singularly successful, both from a business and artistic standpoint. He was a prominent exhibitor at the exhibitions, winning the first prize in Class B at the exhibit of the Indiana photographers association in 1897. In 1898 and 1899 he again exhibited in the association and took second prize in the same class. He took third prize in the Milwaukee exhibit of 1899 and in 1897 he secured a medal from the Photographers Association of America.
Leaving this business he engaged in the same business at Chicago from whence he launched into the sale of a cure for the liquor habit, in which, after a few months of hard struggle, he was successful up to the time of his death.
While in Chicago he was married, his wife dying a few weeks after the wedding ceremony. Several years later he again married Hattie Bell, of Ladoga, but the union was not a happy one. He took his liquor cure business to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived for three years, there his daughter, Mary Frances, was born, after which he removed to Indianapolis, which remained his place of residence.
Shortly after his return to Indianapolis, his wife ran away, taking with her their little girl, Mary Frances. . The remainder of his life was devoted largely to attempts to see the child who was secreted in various parts of the country. The child was eventually taken to Arkansas and in the courts of Little Rock he obtained permission to visit his child at stated intervals. In 1909 he made his customary visit to Little Rock to see Mary, and was secur- ing an order of the court to have her with him at his hotel for a period of two weeks, when the man W. Y. Ellis, whom his divorced wife had married, shot him without warning while in the court room.
In the subsequent trial many letters that the subject of this sketch had written to his daughter were read and they showed such a tender regard for the child that the spectators in the court room were moved to tears. For the last few years of his life a desire to see his child was his abiding passion.
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Nathaniel Parker Willis was a man among men. He had a strong per- sonality, unquestioned probity and honor were ever his chief considerations. In the world at large he will probably best be known for his work in founding the Crawfordsville Camp, Patriotic Order Sons of America. As a charter member, he remained one of its chief supporters, helping it over the rough roads when it was in its infancy and taking a prominent place in its councils when it became strong. He held many offices in the Crawfordsville Camp and at one time was honored with election as the head of the organization in Indiana. He was buried under the auspices of this lodge in the cemetery at Crawfordsville, Indiana.
JOHN H. RUSK.
Another of the enterprising and thorough-going farmers and stock raisers of the favored Brown's Valley country in Montgomery who is de- serving of special notice among the industrious workers and honored citizens of the locality of which this volume treats is John H. Rusk. This is true for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the Rusk family has been one of the best known in this county from the days when settlers were few and little of the rich land had been redeemed from the wilderness, they being among the earliest to note the natural advantages here and to cast their lot permanently in this locality of the far-famed Wabash Valley. And it is also true partly because the several members of this old family have borne reproachless reputations, having lived upright lives and have aided in such general public improvements as made for the good of all.
John H. Rusk was born on October 24, 1854, in Montgomery county. He is a son of William and Lucy ( Harrell) Rusk. The father was born on the day of the battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812; his birth hav- ing occurred in Maryland, from which state he removed to Indiana when a boy. He was thrice married, his second wife being the mother of our sub- ject. The death of William Rusk occurred in September, 1882. The mother of our subject died in 1855.
The parents of our subject received very meager educations, since op- portunities for book learning were limited when they were young. William Rusk devoted his life to general farming. Politically, he was a Democrat in his earlier years, but after the Civil war he turned Republican. He was the father of sixteen children by his three wives. Eleven of the children are still living.
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John H. Rusk grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a common school education. On June 7, 1883, he was married to Paulina Ramsey, who was born in this county, on December 1, 1859, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools. She is a daughter of David and Mary A. (Galey) Ramsey. David Ramsey was a soldier and died while in the service of his country.
Paulina Ramsey was born on the same farm on which she now lives, which was entered by her great-grandfather, James Galey, on October 8, 1823. Four generations of this family have been born on this place.
The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of one child, Carl A., who was born on November 27, 1887. He married Amy Pope. He is a farmer and lives near his father.
John H. Rusk has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, carrying on stock raising. He is the owner of one hundred and seventy-two acres, about thirty acres of which is not tillable: however, it is level and could be plowed. His fields are well tiled and the place is otherwise well improved. He has an attractive, substantial residence, which he built himself, and he has lived continuously on this place for a period of twenty-eight years. He is still actively engaged in diversified farming.
Politically, he is a Republican, and in religious matters is a Baptist, being a trustee in the local congregation. He has long been regarded a pillar in this church, and is one of the leaders in the work of the denomina- tion in the southern part of the county.
FRED BROWN ROBINSON.
The popular city clerk of Crawfordsville, Fred Brown Robinson, is a young man who deserves mention within these pages and who has in. every way proved himself worthy of the trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens, for he has the interest of his home city at heart, is energetic and the exponent of correct personal habits. He comes of one of our worthy families and seems to have inherited many of the attributes of his forebears which are distinguishable in the gentleman of courtesy and obliging nature which is generally recognized in our subject.
Mr. Robinson was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, December 5, 1878. He is a son of Samuel M. and Katherine (Smith) Robinson. The father was born on Main street, Crawfordsville, April 4, 1847, and in this city also
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occurred the birth of the mother, on March 26, 1850. Her death occurred on August 3, 1961. John R. Robinson, the paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was born near Springfield, Ohio, and he came to Crawfordsville in an early day and engaged in the mercantile business, becoming prominent in business circles, and later in politics. He served for inany years as trustee of Union township. He was a Republican. He married Lydia Robinson King. Her death occurred in 1865. He died in 1884.
Samuel M. Robinson was educated in the common schols. When the Civil war broke out he tried to enlist for service in the Union army, but was rejected on account of his youth. Upon reaching maturity he became mana- ger of the general store of John B. Brown, continuing in that position for a period of eighteen years, his long retention being evidence of his ability and trustworthiness. He resigned in 1880. This store was located at the corner of East Main and North Green streets, Crawfordsville. He then went into the clothing store of Eli Kahn on East Main street, as manager, giving his usual satisfaction. In February, 1882, he was appointed postmaster under President Arthur, in which office he served for four years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the peo- ple and the department. In 1886 he entered the vehicle business, being asso- ciated with the late J. P. Walter and D. J. Wodward, in the Harter block on East Main street. In 1889 he and Mr. Walter engaged in the horse and mule business, and he has continued this line of endeavor most successfully to the present time. Politically, Samuel M. Robinson is a Republican. He is a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur. He and Katherine Smith were married on December 23, 1869, and to them four children were born, namely: Char- lotte, who died October 21, 1905; a son died in infancy ; Fred Brown, of this review ; and Mabel, who lives at home.
Fred B. Robinson was educated in the Crawfordsville schools, and when a young man he learned photography under Willis, completing the same in 1889, having become an expert in this line, which he followed with much suc- cess in Crawfordsville and Veedersburg, Indiana, and Champaign and Gales- burg, Illinois. Returning to Crawfordsville in 1905, he took a position with the Crawfordsville Water & Gas Company, which he filled with credit and satisfaction until 1909, when he was elected city clerk, taking office on Jan- uary 1, 1910, and is now serving a four-year term, giving the utmost satis- faction to all concerned. During the Presidential campaign of 1912 he was the Republican county chairman. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, being secretary of the local lodge, is also a member of the
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Masonic Order, and the Crawfordsville Chapter, No. 40, Royal Arch Ma- sons. Hs is treasurer of the Municipal League of Indiana, filling both these responsible positions with much satisfaction.
Mr. Robinson was married on February 20, 1912, to Eva S. Stewart, of Dayton, Ohio.
FRANCIS W. KRITZ.
Everywhere in our favored land are found men who have worked their way from comparatively humble beginnings to leadership in diverse avenues of endeavor and to positions of trust as custodians of the people's interest. Such an one is the well known gentleman whose name is the caption of this article, Francis W. Kritz, successful merchant at Waveland and the present able and popular postmaster there. Not only has he been signally successful in the prosecution and management of his own affairs, but as a public official his name is deserving to rank with the capable and conscientious men of Montgomery county who have been entrusted with public offices here. He is widely and favorably known throughout the Wabash Valley district of which this history treats, while in the discharge of every duty of citizenship he lends his active support and hearty cooperation to every movement having for its object the public good.
Mr. Kritz was born in Montgomery county on December 22, 1861. He is a son of Prof. Henry Seymour Kritz, who for many years was principal of the preparatory department of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, and in view of his eminence as an educator in western Indiana for more than half a century and his popularity as a man and citizen a record of his life and labors will be given before resuming that of our immediate subject.
Professor Kritz was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, February 14. 1825, the son of Henry and Sarah (Sherman) Kritz, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. The parents came to Indiana in 1820, locating among the early pioneers in Jefferson county, and there spent the rest of their lives. The father learned cabinet making when young and fol- lowed that for some years. He eventually became a man of wealth and re- tired from active life a number of years before his death. He had one child, Henry S.
Professor Kritz was educated in the common schools of his native county and in a seminary at Madison, Indiana, and while there was appren- ticed to a paper mill manufacturer, and learned the trade. While working
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at the same in Indianapolis, in 1845, he was caught in the machinery and so disabled in his right hand as to be disqualified for working longer at this employment. Finding a change of occupation necessary, he decided upon a career as teacher, thus what was seemingly a very untoward circumstance proved to be a great blessing in disguise, for had the accident not have oc- curred he probably would have spent his life in a vocation that would have resulted in little if any good to humanity, and education would have lost a most worthy exponent. In order to prepare himself for a professional teacher, Mr. Kritz entered Hanover College in 1847. Here he applied him- self with such diligence that although he was working his way through col- lege by tutoring the preparatory classes two hours a day, he completed the full classical course in a year's less time than that usually required and was graduated second in a class of twenty. Previous to entering college he had taught in a public school two years. In 1852 he took charge of the Presby- terian Academy at Waveland, Montgomery county, and remained there more than twenty years, or until 1873, his long retention in this most trying and responsible position being evidence of his ability as an instructor and of the confidence and esteem reposed in him by the pupils and patrons of the school, which in those days was widely known of its type, being of high school grade, preparing students also for college. At that time it em- ployed a corps of four teachers, and had from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty students. Under the administration of Professor Kritz the school became widely popular, known all over this section of the Middle West, receiving students from ten different states, many of whom have since become distinguished in the professions, and in the various pursuits of busi- ness life. The school also made a splendid record during the War of the Rebellion, furnishing not only a large number who served in the ranks, but also many who attained distinction as colonels, majors and captains in the Union armies.
In 1873 Professor Kritz came to Crawfordsville as principal of the high school, and three years later was made superintendent of the city schools. While serving in this capacity, he was, at the earnest request of Professor Bassett, then principal of the preparatory department of Wabash College, made his associate. Entering Wabash College in 1877 with the rank of full professor he taught the preparatory Greek and English until 1881. On the resignation of Professor Bassett in that year he was made principal of the department, and continued to have charge of the preparatory Greek and Latin classes until several years later. He was aided by various assistants. The department
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has always had from seventy-five to one hundred students annually and has acquired a reputation for efficiency and thoroughness enjoyed by very few preparatory schools, and this prestige has been due in no small measure to the efficient work of Professor Kritz. However, this department has been practically abandoned at Wabash, for several reasons not implicating the quality of the department. Professor Kritz retired from this work in 1896.
While engaged in the public school work Professor Kritz was a frequent and very acceptable institute worker and teacher, and was long and widely known as an enthusiastic, progressive educator. He was one of the most valuable men of Wabash College, for his task was that of laying the founda- tion for later instructors to build upon. Personally, he is a very pleasant genial gentleman, and by his earnest, conscientious devotion to duty won the confidence and good will alike of professors, students and citizens. He always took a great interest in public affairs, and although he never sought or desired office, he was a constant and intelligent reader of political journals and always voted the Republican ticket. He also has very decided religious convictions, and is a worthy member of the Presbyterian church, having been a ruling elder in the same for forty years. But few professional teachers in western Indiana made so long and so successful a record, and still fewer have so impressed their personality on their pupils. Hundreds of men and women, now in middle life, widely scattered in many states, who had the opportunity of studying under him, reverence his name.
Professor Kritz was married in 1855 to Mary A. Brush, of Waveland. Fourteen children were born to this union, eight sons and six daughters, three sons passing beyond in infancy. Those remaining constituted a happy house- hold in the pleasant family home at Waveland, where they have an attractive dwelling and surroundings.
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