USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 6
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H. S. Cummings was born on August 13, 1885, and was educated in Indianapolis. Like his brother he learned the planing mill business under his father and followed the same until he came to Crawfordsville a few years ago. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and he and his brother are both standpatters in politics, voting the Republican ticket. These young men have made a fine start in the business world and the future promises much for them.
F. F. Cummings was married on February 20, 1905, to Lillian E. Robin- son, daughter of C. M. Robinson, a plumber of Indianapolis. To this union two children have been born, namely: Marshall F., and Marion N.
On October 2, 1910, H. S. Cummings married Della Bruner, the daugh- ter of Joseph Bruner, of Hillsboro, Indiana, a carpenter by trade. Mr. Cummings belongs to the Masonic lodge, and politically is a Republican.
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W. E. McWILLIAMS.
There are several business houses in the city of Crawfordsville that are not only thorughly typical of the comprehensive growth and increasing im- portance of the place, but also distinctly a source of public pride, delineating as they do the general business enterprise and commercial sagacity of some of our leading citizens. Such an establishment is the McWilliams Furniture Company, of which W. E. McWilliams, one of the most thorough going, enterprising business men of Montgomery county is the head. He is widely known throughout this locality, having spent the major portion of his life in this section of the Wabash Valley country, although a native of the land of the "big muddy water," but he was brought to an adjoining county when a child and his manhood years have been passed in this part of Hoosierdom. He has displayed excellent judgment and more than ordinary business acu- men. He gives almost his entire attention and thought to his business enter- prise, is careful and exact in his transactions and has the pleasantest relations with his patrons and the general public.
W. E. McWilliams was born in Clinton county, Missouri, August 8, 1868. He is a son of Dudley and Dora (Elder) McWilliams, who removed to Parke county, Indiana, when our subject was twelve years old, in the year 1870, and there the family continued to reside until 1908 when the father re- moved to Center Point, Texas, where he still resides. He has devoted his life successfully to agricultural pursuits and is known as a man of industry and honesty wherever he has lived. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in fraternal affairs belongs to the Masonic Order.
W. E. McWilliams grew to manhood on the home farm in Parke county and there assisted with the general work during the crop seasons and in the winter time he attended the common schools. He began life for himself by farming and raising stock, handling mules, horses and other stock of a good grade, and was successful from the start, carrying on general farming in con- nection with handling live stock. His place was located near Marshall, and there he continued operations until 1908 when he came to Crawfordsville and bought out G. W. Newlin's furniture store, and he has since been engaged in this line of business with ever increasing success. He carries one of the finest lines of complete furnishings, carpets, rugs, stoves, etc., to be found in western Indiana, showing at all seasons an up-to-date and carefully selected stock, and he draws his hundreds of patrons from all over the county, for here they know they will receive uniform, counteous and honest treatment.
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His place of business is located on Washington street, and is known as the McWilliams Furniture Company. He carries a stock that would invoice between ten thousand and fifteen thousand dollars at all times, and he has been very successful in a financial way.
Mr. McWilliams is a public-spirited man and always aids any movement which has for its object the betterment of his city or county. Fraternally, he belongs to the Tribe of Ben-Hur, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and until recently was a member of the Knights of Pythias.
GEORGE P. RAMSEY, M. D.
One of the most promising and best known of the younger physicians and surgeons of Montgomery county and vicinity is Dr. George P. Ramsey, who, while yet young in years has shown himself to be the possessor of all the varied attributes necessary in the makeup of the successful minister to human ills, having a decided natural talent in this science and also an engag- ing personality, being a man who commands the respect and confidence of his patients and consequently gets speedy results. He has made a host of friends since establishing himself in his profession here, and is one of our worthiest home boys and in every respect a most creditable representative of the medical profession in a community long noted for the high order of its talent.
Dr. Ramsey was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, February, 18, 1876, and he is a son of William T. and Tabitha J. (Hightower) Ramsey, the former born in Lexington, Kentucky, finally coming to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he established the permanent home of the family. Here he and Tabitha J. Hightower were married, she having come with her parents to Montgomery county when young.
Dr. Ramsey grew to manhood in his native city and here he attended the common schools, and was graduated from the local high school with the class of 1896. Early in life he determined upon a career as a physician and with this end in view he entered Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis (now known as the Indiana Medical College). Here he made an excellent record and was graduated with the class of 1900. While in that institution he became a member of the Galenien society, a student literary body and was quite influential in the same.
After leaving college, Dr. Ramsey located at Newton, Fountain county,
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where he remained six years, building up a satisfactory practice. He then removed to Whitesville, where he remained three years with like success. Seeking a larger field for the exercise of his talents he came to Crawfords- ville in 1909, and opened an office which he has since maintained, ever enjoy- ing a large, growing and lucrative patronage. He has kept well up-to-date in his profession by close study as well as practical experience.
Fraternally, the Doctor is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Knights of the Maccabees, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Owls, in all of which he is deservedly popular, being nest physician of the last named order. Politically, he is a Republican. For two years he very ably and acceptably discharged the duties of county coroner. Religiously, he is a Baptist.
Dr. Ramsey was married on May 15, 1907, to Fannie Smith, of near Whitesville, where her family is well and favorably known.
LOUIS BISCHOF.
An enumeration of the enterprising men of the Wabash Valley country and especially of Montgomery county who have won recognition and suc- cess for themselves and at the same time have conferred honor upon the locality where they reside would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of Louis Bischof, who, while yet young in years, became one of the substantial and most representative business men and influential citizens of the city of Crawfordsville, which position he has continued to maintain, con- ducting an extensive mercantile establishment. He has ever held worthy prestige in mercantile circles and was always regarded as distinctively a man of affairs and has wielded a potent influence among those with whom his lot has been cast, having won definite success and shown what a man of lofty principles, honesty of purpose and determination can win by proper effort. He stands in the front rank of the men who honor his calling and because of his industry, integrity and courtesy he enjoys the good will and respect of all classes.
Louis Bischof was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, February 19, 1860. He is a son of Jacob and Minnie Bischof, both natives of Germany, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married and there spent their earlier years, emigrating from the famous city of Heidelberg to the United States in 1856, and locating at Terre Haute, Indiana, where they became well
Louis Bischof
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established and to them were born the following children: Louis, subject of this review; Mrs. Fannie Kahn, of Crawfordsville; Morris Bischof, who lives in Chicago; Mrs. Dora Bernheimer, of Terre Haute: John Bischof, who lives in Crawfordsville: Mrs. Carrie Levi, who resided in Cincinnati, and Abe Bischof, both deceased.
Louis Bischof was only eleven months old when his father died. His mother survived many years, reaching an advanced age, and died some twelve years ago.
Louis Bischof grew to manhood in the city of Terre Haute and there he received his education in the public schools. When seventeen years of age he came to Crawfordsville and began his business career in 1877, and has always been a merchant, having had a decided natural bent for that line of endeavor, and his rise has been gradual and certain, each year finding him further advanced than the preceding. His first store was a one-story room in Washington street. By his courtesy, thrift and splendid business judg- ment, his store soon outgrew his limited quarters there, so larger accommo- dations were secured by the purchase of a story and a half building on Main street. Within a short time this, too, proved inadequate to the fast-growing business, when an adjoining room of equal proportions was added. With the growth of Crawfordsville and the constant increase of activity in its com- mercial life this building soon proved too small to meet the demands of the business. Mr. Bischof then built his present substantial and commodious structure, with a forty-three foot front and one hundred and sixty-five feet in depth, with basement and four floors. The building is modern in all its appointments, with electric passenger and freight elevators, its own electric lighting plant, pneumatic cash system and every feature of up-to-date store service.
When Mr. Bischof began business he employed only five people. One hundred employes are now on the pay roll of the Louis Bischof Big Store. A very large and carefully selected stock of general merchandise is carried, a new stock purchased each season, and the thousands of satisfied and regular customers of this mammoth enterprise know that here they always receive honest and courteous treatment, which is uniform to all classes. One reason Mr. Bischof is enabled to sell his goods at a much lower figure than other merchants is because he buys his goods in enormous quantities, hence pur- chases them lower than if bought in small lots here and there. Thus he gives his customers the benefit of this reduction. His fine store is neatly arranged, tastily kept and is a comfortable place both winter and summer, everything
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being provided for the comfort of customers, and it is the favorite gathering place for farmers' families from all over Montgomery and adjoining coun- ties when in Crawfordsville. Everything is managed under a superb system.
In 1907 Mr. Bischof incorporated the business under the name of the Louis Bischof Big Store, a unique feature of the incorporation being that it is organized on the co-operative plan. At the present time there are over three thousand stockholders of this great store living in Crawfordsville and Montgomery county, who, impelled by a common interest, take a personal pride in the success of the enterprise, and are making it one of the best and largest stores in the state.
In addition to being the president of the corporation mentioned above, Mr. Bischof has always given liberally of his time and money to the better- ment and advancement of the city of Crawfordsville, whose interests he has ever had at heart, having great faith in its future and favorable location as a commercial center.
Mr. Bischof is a member of DeBayard Lodge, Knights of Pythias; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Crawfordsville Lodge No. 483. He is also a member of the B'nai Brith.
Mr. Bischof is a member of the Crawfordsville Commercial Club and a director in the same. He is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Trust Company. He is also president of the Louis Bischof Big Store of Ladoga, Indiana, where a large business is carried on with the surrounding country, this being one of the largest and most complete department stores in the Wabash country, and, like its sister establishment in the county-seat, would be a credit to a town much larger than Ladoga.
MARION E. CLODFELTER.
No more popular or able exponent of the legal profession is to be found in Montgomery and surrounding counties than Marion E. Clodfelter, of Crawfordsville, a man who seems to combine, by both nature and training, all the elements essential in the makeup of a first-class lawyer. He is a man of broad mind, alert, energetic, and always has the interests of his clients at heart, sparing no pains in their behalf, and, being a man of exemplary char- acter he has the confidence and good will of the people of this locality. He is the scion of a worthy old pioneer family and the name Clodfelter has been a well known one in the annals of the Wabash country for many decades,
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consequently is eminently deserving of prominent mention in any history of this part of the Hoosier state.
Mr. Clodfelter was born in Putnam county, Indiana, June 29. 1844, and he is a son of Mathias and Mary M. (Sayler) Clodfelter. The father was born in North Carolina in 1816, and the mother's birth occurred in Tennessee in 1819. They both were brought to Putnam county, this state when mere children, by their parents. The father, Mathias Clodfelter, was a farmer and miller and well known here in the days of the earliest settlers. Here Mathias Clodfelter and Mary M. Sayler grew to maturity and were married in 1838, moving from Putnam to Montgomery county in December, 1814, and locating on forty acres of land in Ripley township. This ground was cleared by Mr. Clodfelter and, being a hard worker and a good manager he prospered and added to his original holdings until he owned an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres, and this he continued to farm suc- cessfully until his health failed, when he removed to Alamo and opened a grocery store which he conducted for six or eight years, building up a large trade with the surrounding country. He then retired from the active duties of life and moved to New Ross where his death occurred. He was one of the first township trustees of Ripley township, and was for some time justice of the peace. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religion a Universalist. The death of his wife occurred in Crawfordsville. She was a woman of rare attributes, being a natural botanist and she knew medical varieties of plants and herbs, and she doctored her own family very successfully. Thirteen children were born to Mathias Clodfelter and wife, four of whom are living at this writing, namely : Evelyne is the wife of Rev. T. E. Ballard; Ellie is the wife of E. E. Ballard; Minnie married J. R. Etter ; and Marion E., of this review.
Marion E. Clodfelter grew to manhood in this native county and here received a common school education, later entering Waveland Academy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1872, with the degree of B. C. He began life for himself as a teacher, in which field of enedavor his rise was rapid and he had the honor of serving Montgomery county as its first superintendent of schools, and he deserves much credit for the successful manner in which he disposed of the huge task of organizing the schools of the county. He has always been in sympathy with the local educational work and has done much in furthering the same. Finally tiring of the school room and deciding that his true bent was toward legal circles he took up the study of law with Koons & Evans, of Crawfordsville, studying part of the
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five years that he was engaged in teaching. He began the practice of his profession at the town of New Ross in 1878, remaining there two years and, then, seeking a larger field for the exercise of his talents, he removed to Crawfordsville in 1880, and he has been continuously and successfully en- gaged in the practice here ever since, or for a period of thirty-two years, during which time he has figured prominently in the important cases in the local courts and has attained a position in the front rank of attorneys of western Indiana. He is ever a profound studeent, and has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his vocation. He is a careful, painstaking and energetic advocate, and as a speaker has great weight with a jury, being a logical, forceful and not infrequently truly eloquent speaker. He is always busy and has built up a large and lucrative practice.
Politically, Mr. Clodfelter is a Progressive, and is much enthused in the work of the new party. He belongs to the Masonic Order and to the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America.
Mr. Clodfelter was married in 1873 to Lucinda C. Myers, a lady of re- finement and education, and a daughter of William Myers, a worthy early settler of Fountain county. To this union two children have been born, namely : Stella I., who is the present court reporter of the local courts; and Cora Donna, wife of Ward Williams. Mrs. Clodfelter was born in Fountain county on October 4, 1854.
Mr. Clodfelter enjoys the distinction of being the first person to hold a life certificate to teach school in Montgomery county.
LUTHER R. LONG.
It is, or at least should be, the pride of every American that there are no bounds set on the limits to which legitimate ambition, perseverance and right ideals may not aspire. Although one may be born and reared under the most discouraging environment, he is, notwithstanding, able to break such bonds and rise to any and every station of honor and usefulness in the land. The attributes do not necessarily have to be of a transcendent nature to enable him to accomplish this result. It is more the way the individual does it and his skill in seizing opportunities presented than to any extraordinary qualities innate in him. Accordingly it is very often found in the United States that the men in exalted positions in both the civic and business world possess no higher ability than thousands of other citizens. They have simply taken bet-
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ter advantage of their circumstances than their fellows. And this truth runs through every occupation. The tiller of the soil who makes a greater success than his neighbors does so because he has found the secret of rising above the surroundings which hold others down.
One of this type of men in Montgomery county is Luther R. Long, the present county commissioner, and for many years one of our leading farmers and stock men, now living in retirement in his pleasant home north of Craw- fordsville.
Mr. Long was born on August 7. 1847 in Brown county, Ohio, where he spent his earlier life and received his education, and from there he came to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1874 where he has since resided. He is a son of William and Anna (Davis) Long. The father was born on September 6, 1810 in Brown county, Ohio, and there the mother was also born on March 6, 1812. There they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and spent their lives engaged in general farming, and to them four children were born. They are now deceased, the father's death having occurred on August 14, 1889, and the mother passed away at a very advanced age in September, 1906.
Luther R. Long was married on October 28. 1874. to Caroline Purdum, who was born August 19, 1854, in Brown county, Ohio, and there she grew to womanhood and received, a common school education. She was a daughter of Aaron and Margaret Ellen (Colgin) Purdum, the mother having been born in Delaware, and the father in Ohio.
Four children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Lawrence R., born September 17, 1875, married Helen Webster, and they live in Fort Worth, Texas; Pearl, born January 17, 1878, married in 1911 to Frank D. Noland, and they live in Montgomery county ; Ann, born April 29, 1881, mar- ried Mahlon D. Manson, and they live in Terre Haute, Indiana; and Luther L., born July 17, 1885, married Zula Russell, and they live in Crawfordsville.
Mr. Long has always engaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with pronounced success all along the line. He owns a finely im- proved and productive farm of one hundred and seven acres, all tillable and well tiled. In connection with general farming he has raised fine live stock, handling a superior grade of trotting horses, which have been greatly admired by all who have seen them. He has a commodious and well furnished home and substantial outbuildings.
Politically, Mr. Long is a Democrat, and he has been county commissioner of Montgomery county since 1906, filling the office in a manner that has re- flected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He belongs to the Horse Thief Detective Association.
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JOHN FRANKLIN WARBRITTON.
If there is one thing which distinguishes the American business man over those of any other country it is the faculty with which any and all oc- cupations are readily taken up by him and made successful. In the older countries it was customary for the son to follow the father's pursuit. "Fol- low your father, my son, and do as your father has done," was a maxim which all sons were expected to adopt. It was in such countries as the United States that full swing can be given to the energies of the individual. A man may choose any business or profession he desires, and he is limited only by competition. He must meet the skill of others and give as good service as they, or he will not get the positions, the prestige, or business. Such adapta- tion to any work or business is well shown in the career of John Franklin Warbritton, well known real estate dealer of Crawfordsville, and formerly a popular recorder of Montgomery county.
Mr. Warbritton was born in Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, on March 6, 1865. He is a son of Samuel N. and Amelia A. (Seaman) War- britton. The father was born in Scott township, Montgomery county, In- diana, December 5, 1831. He was a son of Peter and Phoebe Warbritton, early settlers of this county, and well known to the pioneers of this vicinity.
Samuel N. Warbritton devoted all his active life to agricultural pur- suits, with the exception of two years, which were spent at Rockville, where he was engaged in buying horses for the Union army, during the latter part of the Civil war. He and his wife are still living near the place where he was born, living now in retirement, after years of successful endeavor.
John F. Warbritton was educated in the country schools, and was graduated from the Ladoga Normal in 1885, then began life for himself by farming, which he followed two years, then clerked at New Market for a period of twelve years, giving satisfaction to his employers. He then came to Crawfordsville and engaged in the clothing business, and was getting a good start in this line when the Republicans elected him county recorder, which office he held for a period of eight years, in a manner which reflected much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment, giving his best efforts to the work and proving to be one of the most faithful and praiseworthy officials the county has ever had. After his term of office had expired he engaged in the real estate business, which he still continues on an extensive scale, having built
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up a large and growing business. No man in the county is better posted on the value of both city and rural property than he.
Fraternally, Mr. Warbritton is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
In February, 1886, Mr. Warbritton was married to Laura A. Rush, daughter of V. J. and Jennie Rush. She was born in New Market, Mont- gomery county, Indiana, in 1868, and here she grew to womanhood and re- ceived her education.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Warbritton, namely : Ernest R., who is in business with his father; and Blanche, who is at home.
ELMER W. REAM, D. D. S.
The dental profession of Montgomery county has an able and popular exponent in the person of Dr. Elmer W. Ream, of Crawfordsville, who has acquired a very high order of ability, believing in the most progressive methods, and he has left nothing undone nor spared any expense in preparing himself for this important field of endeavor or to equip his office properly in order to insure the highest grade of work possible in the briefest time. He is evidently of a decided mechanical turn of mind and more or less of the artistic temperament, so it is not to be wondered at that he has met with un- usual success in his chosen life work. Added to this natural bent is his in- . dustry and perseverance, being willing to put forth any effort in order to learn a little more of this, one of the world's most important and useful professions. Then, too, he is a gentleman of integrity and a uniform courtesy which have won for him a wide circle of warm friends since casting his lot with the people of Montgomery county some years ago.
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