USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 5
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Mr. Merrell was born in Wayne township, this county, July 17, 1853. He is a son of Daniel and Anna (Tracey) Merrell, a pioneer and highly re- spected farming family of Wayne township. The father was born in Butler
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county, Ohio, in 1819. His grandfather was a native of England, and died there at an advanced age. Benjamin Merrell, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Ohio, being a representative of one of the first settlers of that state, and from there he came with his family to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1827, locating among the pioneers, being one of the first settlers in what is now Ripley township, entering land from the government on the Perryville road, and here his death occurred a few years later before he had finished the hard task of developing the place from the wilderness. It was in the year 1833 that he died, but his widow survived many years, dying at an advanced age in 1879. Six children were born to them, namely: Daniel, father of our subject; Sarah, who married William White, of Illinois, and died in Wayne township, this county: Anna, who first married a Mr. Boyd, and after his death became the wife of a Mr. Brown, who died while on a trip to California : Effie who married a Mr. White and lived in Illinois thereafter until her death; James, who was born after the family came to Indiana, established his home in Grant county, and who married Rosanna Reede; and John, who was also born in this state, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and died from a disease contracted while in the army.
When Daniel Merrell started out in life for himself, he went to Wayne- town, where he worked at the cooper's trade. Saving his earnings, he subse- quently purchased eighty acres of land, continuing to work at his trade until he had paid for the place. As he prospered through hard work and good man- agement, he added to his original eighty, from time to time, until he became the owner of one hundred and one acres of valuable land, and this he placed under good improvements and a fine state of cultivation. While living in Waynetown, fire destroyed his residence, but nothing daunted, he forged ahead and became a man of easy circumstances, building a substantial residence and barn on his farm in 1880.
Daniel Merrell and Ann Tracey were married in Wayne township, this county in 1843. She was a daughter of Basil Tracey and wife. After a happy married life of eighteen years, Mrs. Merrell was called to her rest in 1861. Eight children were born to them, namely: Mary Elizabeth, born in 1844, married a Mr. Shipman, a farmer of Benton county, Indiana; Sarah Ann, born in 1847, died in 1848; Lydia, born in 1849, married J. H. Biddle, of Benton county ; Thomas, born in 1851, died in 1852: Basil T., subject of this sketch ; Nancy A., who was born in 1856, died in 1886; William B., who was born in 1858, married a Miss Rusk, of Moundsville, Missouri; and John D.,
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who was born in 1860, married Maggie Johnson, and he established himself on his father's farm. Daniel Merrell, father of the above named children, was a second time married, in 1863, this time to Mary Combs, who was a native of Kentucky. In 1891 his second wife died.
Daniel Merrell was a Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in religious mat- ters. He took the interest of a good citizen in local public affairs and held a number of minor offices, having for many years discharged the duties of justice of the peace and assessor, also supervisor of his township. He was known to all his neighbors as a man of unblemished reputation, kind, honest and chari- table. He was summoned to his eternal rest in 1897.
Basil T. Merrell grew to manhood on his father's farm and there he as- sisted with the general work when a boy, and he received a common school education. He left the farm when sixteen years of age and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some time, finally branching out into the contracting business which he followed with success for four years, then entered a furniture store, in connection with which he had an undertaking establishment, at Waynetown, and this line of endeavor he continued for a period of fifteen years with much success, then he purchased the old home farm which he has continued to operate, keeping it well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and in connection with general farming he has handled a good grade of live stock. In company with William Rider he organized the Waynetown Bank, of which he became vice-president, spending twelve years in the bank and on the farm, making both a pronounced success. In 1898 he was elected county treasurer in which office he served two years with much satisfaction to his constituents, and they re-elected him to the same important position in 1902, and again in 1906, thus serving six years in this office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the praise of all concerned.
Mr. Merrell assisted in the organization of the Crawfordsville State Bank in 1904, since which time he has served as director in this popular institution. All the while he has continued to manage his farm. He has an attractive residence in Crawfordsville. He has been very successful from a financial standpoint. He is business manager of the Crawfordsville Review.
Politically, he is a Democrat and has long been active and influential in the ranks. He was county chairman for three times, and he piloted the party into power the last two campaigns.
Fraternally, Mr. Merrell is also well known. He is a thirty-second de- gree Mason, having attained the Knight Templar degrees, also belongs to the
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Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also is a member of all branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and holds membership with the Tribe of Ben-Hur, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
The domestic life of Mr. Merrell began on July 13, 1873, when he was united in marriage to a lady of refinement and a representative of a highly esteemed family, Nannie Bonnell, daughter of Alfred and Catherine (Ed- wards) Bonnell.
The union of our subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely : Alfred D., of Crawfordsville; Etta, wife of C. B. Munns, of Waynetown; William, a farmer of Wayne township; Stella is the wife of E. Bold, of Waynetown; Clarence F., an attorney at Fargo, North Dakota; Ruth, is attending college at Oberlin, Ohio.
DANIEL REMLEY.
In many respects the career of Daniel Remley, long one of the most pro- gressive agriculturists and stock raisers of Montgomery county, who is now living, practically retired from the active duties of life, in the city of Craw- fordsville, is peculiarly instructive in that it shows what a well defined pur- pose, supplemented by correct principles and high ideals, can accomplish when one has ambition to succeed along legitimate and well defined lines. The splendid success which has come to Mr. Remley is directly traceable to the salient points in his character. With a mind capable of planning, he combined a will strong enough to execute his well-formulated purposes, and his great energy, sound judgment, keen discrimination and perseverance have resulted in the accumulation of a handsome property. He is a scion of one of the old and influential pioneer families of Montgomery county, the excellent reputa- tion of which he has kept unsullied.
Daniel Remley was born on the old homestead west of Crawfordsville, on July 8, 1841. He is a son of John and Sarah (McCain) Remley, a complete sketch of whom is found on other pages of this volume.
Our subject grew to manhood in Union township, assisting with the gen- eral work on the large home farm, and he received his early education in the district schools. He continued to work at home until he was thirty-two years of age, when he removed to a farm given him by his father, a valuable piece of land in Walnut township. It was a very attractive, productive and desir-
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able farm, comprising two hundred acres of well-tiled land, highly cultivated and provided with a modern and well-appointed set of buildings. Here he continued to carry on general farming and stock raising until a few years ago when he removed to Crawfordsville for the purpose of educating his children. He had been very successful in a financial way, having managed well, especially as a stock man, having kept standard grades of livestock of all kinds on his place. ยท
Mr. Remley was married on January 25, 1872 to Angie Stout, who was born March 29, 1854, in Union township, this county, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the local schools. She is a daughter of Joel and Lucinda (Switzer) Stout. Joel Stout, was a farmer who owned a good farm west of Crawfordsville. He was born in Fayette county, Indiana, and was a son of William Stout, who came to this state from Butler county, Ohio. He married Esther Turner, and to this union nine children were born. Wil- son Stout was one of the early settlers of the county, and located on an ex- cellent farm west of Crawfordsville. Joel Stout came to Montgomery county when a young man and here he and Lucinda Switzer were married. She was a daughter of Peter Switzer, and a relative of General U. S. Grant. The father of Peter Switzer was a native of Virginia, whose father had come to this country from Switzerland. Peter Switzer's mother was a daughter of Peter Grant. His parents were reared and married in Kentucky, and in 1829, removed to Indiana, settling on a farm west of Crawfordsville. Peter Switzer lived to up towards the century mark. The Switzers were all Methodists in religion, and Republicans in politics. Ten children were born to Peter Grant Switzer and wife. The death of Mrs. Lucinda Stout occurred on January 25, 1888.
To Daniel Remley and wife three children were born, namely: James Albert, is a successful farmer in Union township, this county; Ollie, who is deceased, was an artist of rare ability, painting in oils or using crayons with equal skill; Ethel, who is also talented as an artist, is living at home.
Daniel Remley has long been numbered among the best citizens of his native county, and his home is associated with much that has forwarded its interests, both materially and in a higher sense. He is active in religious matters, being an elder in the Union Presbyterian church of Walnut town- ship for many years. His father was one of the founders of that church. His wife and children are also members of this church, and all have been identified with Sunday school work. Politically, Mr. Remley is a Republican. He is a member of the National Horse Thief Detective Association.
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WILLIAM S. COON.
Among the well-to-do and reputable agriculturists of Montgomery county none occupy a more honorable position in the regard of his colleagues than the gentleman whose name heads this article. He is a student of everything that pertains to his vocation and has always adopted the best of improved methods of cultivating the soil and in raising live stock. He is well regarded in his community not only because of his industry but also because of his readiness to lend whatever aid that is demanded of him in furthering move- ments calculated to further the material, civic and moral affairs of Coal Creek township, and Montgomery county.
William S. Coon was born on February 20, 1856 in Fountain county, Indiana. He is a son of Isaac and Ruth (Stephens) Coon. The father was born in Ohio in 1823, and the mother was born in Indiana in 1826. Here she grew to womanhood, received a common school education and spent her life, dying on September 29, 1859. The father of our subject spent his earlier years in his native state, and there received a public school education, but re- moved from Ohio to Indiana when a boy and here he spent the residue of his years, devoting his life to general farming, becoming well established in Foun- tain county. He reached the advanced age of eighty years, being called to his reward on January 5, 1893.
Isaac Coon became the father of sixteen children, nine of whom are still living. He was twice married, and there was an equal number of children born of each marriage-eight.
William S. Coon grew to manhood on the home farm and there in Foun- tain county he received a good common school education. On September 4, 1878 he was united in marriage to Mary C. Koon, (no relation). Mrs. Coon was born on September 4, 1859, in Coal Creek township, Montgomery county, and hence she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Temple) Koon, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Ohio. They received the usual educational advantages of their time and spent their mature years in Indiana, becoming well established in Coal Creek township, Montgomery county. Two children were born to them, Mary C., wife of our subject ; and a son, deceased.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. William S. Coon, namely : Calvin, born July 2, 1879, is married and lives at Wingate ; Christopher, born July 11, 1880, is married and lives on the county line ; Clarence, born August 31, 1881, is married and also lives on the county line; Clifford, born June 4,
WILLIAM S. COON AND FAMILY
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1883, is married and lives in Coal Creek township, this county; Clyde, born May 27, 1892, lives at home, assisting his father with the general work on the farm; Cora, born October 24, 1901, is attending the home schools.
William S. Coon has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, with ever increasing success, until he is today owner of one of the choice and finely improved farms of Coal Creek township, consisting of two hundred and eighty-four acres. It is all tillable and is under a high state of cultivation, and is well tilled. Our subject has always handled a good grade of live stock. He built the residence which he and his family still occupy when he first took possession of the place.
Politically, he is a loyal Democrat, and was for two years a member of the advisory board.
JOHN R. CRANE.
The name of John R. Crane is well known over the northwestern part of Montgomery county where he has long been engaged extensively as a buyer and shipper of live stock, and he has also followed general farming successfully in the vicinity of the town of Wingate. He is a man whom the farmers have learned to rely upon, consequently he is one of the most suc- cessful stock buyers that this locality has ever known.
Mr. Crane was born on September 28, 1857 in Fountain county, Indiana. He is a son of Joel and Mary (Taylor) Crane. The birth of the father occurred in 1817 in Warren county, Ohio, from which state he came to Indiana when a boy and here he became a prosperous farmer and a well known citizen of Fountain county, dying in the year 1902. The mother of our subject was born in Kentucky, and she too reached an advanced age, dying in 1900. They were a hard-working, hospitable, honest couple who were well liked by all their neighbors. They received meagre education in the common schools of their day. and they spent their lives engaged in general farming. Their family consisted of seven children, all sons, namely : Oliver H., Louis C., Cyrus, John R. (our subject), A. F., J. W., and Ira A. They were all reared on the farm and assisted their father with the work on the same during their boyhood days, and they had the advantages of good com- mon schools.
John R. Crane began life for himself as a general farmer which had remained one of his chief vocations, however, he now turns his attention very largely to handling of live stock, which he raises, buys, and ships, and is
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doing an extensive business. He is the owner of eighty acres of land in Fountain county, which is well improved and productive. He resides in a pleasant, large home in Wingate, and he has a fine ten acre feed lot in the same town. He has been very successful in his life work, and is one of the substantial men of Coal Creek township.
Politically, Mr. Crane is a Republican, but he has never sought public office. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order and the Knights. of Pythias, both at Wingate.
Mr. Crane has been twice married, uniting with his second wife on November 27, 1902. This union was to Mrs. Carrie O. (Webb) Butler, she having been previously married to a Mr. Butler. She is a daughter of Horace and Sarah Ann (Phillip) Webb, a highly respected family. Mrs. Crane received a good common school education.
Mr. Crane's second union has been without issue, but there were three children by his first wife, living, namely : Abel C., Lulla and J. Forrest. These children are all living at home and have received excellent educational advantages of which they are making the most. The family is well known in this neighborhood and, being neighborly and of good personal character- istics they are liked by all who know them.
BEN S. MYERS.
The Old Dominion, "the mother of Presidents," has perhaps sent from her vast domain of rich valley and rugged mountain more people "worth while," who have gone into other states of the Union and there proved their mettle by what they have done in the way of upbuilding new localities, than any other, the great Empire state not excepted. The Virginians are also uni- versally noted for their hospitality and genial address. One of these worthy sons, one of the few who has selected Montgomery county, Indiana, is Ben S. Myers, for many years one of the most extensive and active contractors of Crawfordsville, known throughout the United States and Canada, also as an expert poultry judge. He maintains here a large establishment, mak- ing shipments of his superior grade of fowls and fancy eggs, and no man in Indiana is regarded as a better authority in this line, or indeed, in any other state as to that matter. Poultry raising has been given a great impetus by him, and he has done inuch to better the grades. Not so very long ago when those who devoted their attention exclusively to raising poultry were com-
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paratively few, this line of endeavor was sort of a side line with farmers; but during the past decade conditions have changed and everywhere we find men prospering by giving their exclusive attention to the raising of poultry, all kinds and colors being raised, each fancying his breed is the best. But notwithstanding this increase, the demand is still far in excess of the supply, which fact renders it certain that the poultry business will continue to be one of the important industries of the country.
Mr. Myers was born in the state of Virginia on June 20, 1852, and he is a son of James W. and Anna E. Myers, who spent their earlier years in that state, remaining there until 1854, when they removed to Danville, Illi- nois, the subject being then two years old, and there they established the family home, the parents spending the rest of their lives there.
Ben S. Myers grew to manhood at Danville and received a limited edu- cation in the common schools, having been thrown out into the world on his own resources when a boy as a result of domestic troubles. He apprenticed himself to a brick mason, and after learning same followed that for several years and was regarded as an expert. On August 10, 1872, he came to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and worked in the building of the old high school. The following spring he went into the contracting business with A. S. New- ton and built several buildings in Irvington and Spiceland, Illinois, then re- turned to Crawfordsville and worked on the court house, and continued con- tracting under the firm name of Myers & Swan, and they did a large and successful business in this part of the state, many of the most important buildings in this and nearby cities standing as monuments to their skill as builders, such as the old Y. M. C. A. building, Carnegie library, Masonic temple, Center Presbyterian, Baptist and Christian and United Brethren churches, the Crawfordsville Trust Building, the coffin factory, the nail fac- tory, Poston brick plant and Big Four station. In 1904 this partnership, which had been so successful for several years, was dissolved, after which Mr. Myers engaged in the business alone, continuing with ever increasing suc- cess. During this period he built the following school houses in Crawfords- ville: Breaks, Garfield and Smartsburg; the Darlington Addition, and addi- tion to the wire works, the J. J. Darter and Poston residences.
In 1877 Mr. Myers turned his attention to poultry and began raising the famous "Black Langshans," and he is possibly the oldest breeder of that stock in the United States. From that time until the present, a period of over thirty-five years, he has had ever increasing success, until they have been the means of carrying his name broadcast throughout the land and into foreign countries. His first exhibit was in Indianapolis in 1887, in the
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Meridian Rink Building. Since that time he has had prize winners in Kansas City, Denver, New Orleans, Nashville, Columbus, Chicago, Indian- apolis, New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati and St. Louis. For twenty-two years he has been one of the credited judges of the American Poultry Asso- ciation, and was one of the first to have a judge's license in this large asso- ciation. He has gone all over the United States and Canada as a judge of poultry shows, and his decisions have ever been characterized by fairness and sound judgment and satisfactory to all concerned. At this writing he has about one hundred pure-bred "Black Langshans," and inquiries about them are coming in constantly from all over the country. He is well equipped for the proper care of his poultry and eggs, everything about his poultry yards being of the most approved kind. He owns one of the commodious and attractive residences in Crawfordsville, beautiful from an architectural standpoint. This pleasant dwelling is presided over with commendable grace by a lady of refinement, known in her maidenhood as Frances Brande- camp, representative of a highly respected and well known family of this city, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is of German parentage.
The union of Mr. Myers and wife has been blessed by the birth of five children, namely : Paul J., Charles J., L. J., Benjamin Herbert and Bessie Helena, the two latter being twins.
Mr. Myers is prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership with the local lodges of Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America. The Elks home in Crawfordsville was built by Myers & Son. Politically, the subject is a Republican. He is a good mixer and, being an obliging, jovial gentleman, is popular with all with whom he comes in contact.
F. F. CUMMINGS.
There could be no more comprehensive history written of a community or county or even of a state and its people than that which deals with the life work of those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have placed themselves where they well deserve the title of "prominent and pro- gressive," and in this sketch will be found the record of one who has out- stripped the less active and less able plodders on the highway of life, one who has been consistent in his life work and never permitted the "grass to grow
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under his feet," one who, while advancing his own interests has not neglected his full duties to the general public, at the same time upholding an honored family name. Such a man is F. F. Cummings, of the Cummings Auto Com- pany, a well known and rapidly growing concern at Crawfordsville.
Mr. Cummings was born in Champaign county, Illinois, May 23, 1883. He is a son of Marshall F. and Minerva (Porter) Cummings. The father was a prosperous planing mill man and contractor of Indianapolis, spending the latter part of his life in the Hoosier capital and dying there on March 7, 1910. His widow survives and still makes her home in Indianapolis.
F. F. Cummings was a child when his parents removed from Champaign county, Illinois, in 1887, and he grew to manhood in the metropolis and there received his education, which included a course in a business college, after which he went to work in his father's planing mill where he remained until he was nineteen years old, during which time he mastered the various details of that line of work. He then took up railroading, securing a position as brakeman on the Pennsylvania road, but after a year of that dangerous and arduous work he returned to the planing mill where he remained until four years ago when he and his brother, H. S. Cummings bought out the Alfrey Auto Company at Crawfordsville, and they have built up a large and rapidly growing business. They handle the Ford and Hudson cars and conduct a general repair house, also storage for autos, handling supplies of all kinds, gasoline, oil, etc. Their patrons come from all over this locality, and an evidence of their success as salesmen is seen from the fact that most of the cars in Montgomery and adjoining counties seem to be the makes which they handle. They understand every phase of their business and are prepared to do promptly high grade work.
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