USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 52
USA > Indiana > Parke County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 52
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Fraternally. Dr. Strong belongs to the Masonic order at Judson : the
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen, both at Hills- dale, this county. He has been active and influential in these bodies for some time. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. He takes considerable in- terest in politics, being a stanch Democrat, and in 1909 he was elected county collector, which office he still holds to the satisfaction of all concerned.
JACOB G. DAVIS.
In giving a list of the enterprising and respected citizens in Parke and Vermillion counties none is deemed worthier of representation in a work of this nature than Jacob G. Davis, the well known business man of the town of Dana; not that he has accomplished startlingly big things or served in high public positions, but that he has been a man of industry and honesty, of public spirit and helpful to those about him, such men being needed in every com- munity.
Mr. Davis was born June 5, 1865, in Vigo county, Indiana, the son of W. T. and Mary (Bonty) Davis, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Parke county, Indiana. The father came to Indiana when a sinall boy and here spent the rest of his life, engaged in general farming until fifteen years before his death, when he gave up farming and established a meat mar- ket. The mother of our subject passed away on August 8, 1875. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living.
Jacob G. Davis grew up in his home community and received his educa- tion in the common schools. After he became of age he began in the meat market business, which he has followed with much success for a period of twenty-seven years, enjoying a wide patronage and a lucrative business, hav- ing worked for himself exclusively for the past fifteen years. He owns and operates the only meat market in Dana. His place is well equipped and here the public is always enabled to secure what it wants in the meat line at all seasons. He owns his place of business and the home where his son lives, also twenty-six acres of good land northeast of Dana, all tillable and well tilled, on which is a good cattle barn and slaughter yard.
Fraternally, Mr. Davis belongs to the Masonic order. the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen. all at Dana. He belongs to the Methodist church and is a trustee in the same. Politically, he is a Republican and is much in-
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terested in local public affairs, having aided in no small way in the develop- ment of his community along all lines.
Mr. Davis was married on March 23, 1889, to Rosella D. Landers, who was born on December 6, 1889, in Vermillion county, Indiana, and reared and educated here. She is a daughter of Lyon R. Landers. To this union five children have been born: William H., who married Lilly Randolph; Ernest E. L., Byron Baily, Milton A. and Joseph.
ASA A. HESS.
One of the successful, self-made men of Vermillion county is Asa A .. Hess, formerly a hardware merchant at Dana, but now engaged in the insur- ance business. He is a man of marked enterprise and capability, and he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has long been an important factor in business circles in this locality and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unabating energy, unbending integrity and industry that never flags.
Mr. Hess was born in Edgar county, Illinois, April 19, 1873, the son of Samuel and Thana (McGuire) Hess, both parents natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they grew up, were educated and married. The father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and his death occurred on April 1, 1881, at the age of forty-four years. Five children were born to Samuel Hess and wife, namely :. Lena died in infancy ; Clinton is deceased; Asa A., subject of this sketch: Ira, who lives at Clinton, Indiana; and Della, who resides at Dana, this state.
Asa A. Hess grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work when he became of proper age. He attended night school for a time in his youth, but he is principally self-educated, having re- mained a student all his life, and is widely read. On June 20, 1909, he was united in marriage to Edith L. Clover, daughter of William and Alice Clover, both natives of Indiana. Mrs. Hess's paternal grandparents were early settlers in this section of the state. The union of the subject and wife has been with-'- out issue.
Mr. Hess has always taken an abiding interest in public affairs and he is at this writing city treasurer of Dana. For six years he was successfully engaged in the hardware business at Dana, enjoying an excellent trade with
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the town and surrounding country, always carrying a large stock, under the firm name of Hess & Hess. He then took an automobile agency in Indiana and built up a large business in this field. About two years ago he took up an insurance business at Dana, which he has since continued and in which he is making a pronounced success.
Mr. Hess is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal supporter of the same. He has long taken a great deal of interest in the affairs of Dana and community and has done much in the upbuilding and general progress of the same, his efforts being fully appreciated by all.
JESSE E. HADDON.
The names of those men who have distinguished themselves through the possession of those qualities which daily contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence of those about them, should not be permitted to perish. Such a one is Jesse E. Haddon, well known druggist at Dana, Vermillion county, and formerly post- master at that place, a veteran of the Spanish-American war and a man who has proven his patriotism and public spirit on numerous occasions.
Mr. Haddon was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, March 29, 1870, the son of James and Nancy ( Short) Haddon, the father also a native of Sullivan county. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and both he and his wife are now deceased, the death of the subject's mother having occurred when he was young.
Jesse E. Haddon was reared on his father's farm in Sullivan county, on which he worked when of proper age, during the crop seasons, and in the winter time he attended the public schools, then entered Darmutt Central Normal College, where he studied pharmacy, and after his graduation there he began teaching school in Sullivan county, which he followed with success for some time. At the commencement of the Spanish-American war he en- listed in the hospital corps of the United States army and served throughout the war in Cuba and Porto Rico, in a most faithful and efficient manner. He was discharged on April 8, 1899. Returning to Indiana, he took up the drug business at Dana in 1900 and has continued the same to the present time with ever-increasing success, enjoying a large patronage with the town and sur-
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rounding country, always carrying a complete and carefully selected stock of drugs and drug sundries.
Mr. Haddon was married in 1902 to Margaret Griffiths, daughter of John E. and Jane (James) Griffiths, both born in Wales, from which country they came to the United States about 1870, when the wife of the subject was about eight years old. The Griffiths reside in Clinton township, Vermillion county, and a fuller sketch of them will be found elsewhere in this work.
Four children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: John, James, Eugene and Max, all at home with their parents.
Mr. Haddon has always taken a deep interest in public affairs and his support may always be depended upon in any movement looking to the general development of his community. He was postmaster at Dana under Roose- velt's administration, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that was highly acceptable to the people and the department. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, both in Sullivan county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JAMES F. BURNETT.
A citizen of Helt township, Vermillion county, Indiana, who is too well known to the readers of this history to need a formal introduction here is James F. Burnett, for here he has spent practically all his life and has been active in the affairs of the township and county, always supporting such meas- ures as made for the general success of the same, and he has led a life that has upheld the good name of his progenitors. He is one of our honored veterans of the Civil war, and for many reasons is eligible to representation in this work along with other leading citizens of this and Parke county.
Mr. Burnett was born in Helt township. Vermillion county, Indiana. June 17, 1844, and is a son of James F., Sr., and Rosanna (Kaufman ) Burnett, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of North Carolina. The former was seven years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents, his father, William Burnett, locating in Sullivan county, near the town of Merom. He was a miller and followed that in connection with farming all his life. James F. Burnett, Sr., grew to manhood in Sullivan county and was educated in the common schools there, and there he was married. after which he moved to Vermillion county and located about two miles east of Dana, and there he con-
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tinued to reside until his son, James F., Jr., was seven years old, at which time he removed to the town of Dana, where he spent the balance of his life. His family consisted of eight children, namely: William is deceased; Samuel . is deceased; Mary Tabitha was next in order of birth; James F., of this re- view; Hester is deceased; Joel lives in Hutchinson, Kansas; Hannah lives in Vermillion county ; Leaner died when eleven months old.
Of the above named children, three proved their patriotism during the national crisis in the early sixties by enlisting in defense of the flag. William enlisted in 1861 in Company I, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry; he was captured at the battle of Chickamauga and was confined in Libby prison, later removed from there to Andersonville, where he died December 15, 1864. Samuel enlisted early in the war in Company G, Seventy-first Indiana Volun- teer Infantry and was captured at Tazewell, Tennessee, January 19, 1864, and sent to Andersonville prison, where he died June 16, 1864. James F., the sub- ject, enlisted on February 13, 1863, in Company G, Seventy-first Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, and he served very faithfully in the Army of the Cumberland, fighting with that great division of the Union army in many important battles and participating in a number of campaigns. He was captured at Macon, Georgia, and sent to Andersonville in 1864, and was paroled in 1865, returning to his company after being exchanged. He relates with much interest the hor- rors of that terrible prison, and had he not been a young man with an iron constitution he could not have survived. He was awhile at the front in Gen- eral Stoneman's cavalry, and accompanied Sherman on the Atlanta cam- paign, later being sent to relieve prisoners at Andersonville and was captured. He has in his possession a roster of the survivors of Andersonville, which shows between eight hundred and nine hundred names.
Mr. Burnett was married on November 11, 1866, to Frances Whalen, daughter of James and Lydia Ann (Wright) Whalen. These parents for- merly lived near the great Mammoth cave in Kentucky. The father devoted his life to blacksmithing. His family consisted of seven children, namely : Frances, Ardella, Rachael, James, Monroe, Mary and Nancy. Mr. Whalen came to Edgar county, Illinois, where he settled at the town of Paris, and there the wife of the subject was born March 24, 1845. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burnett, namely: William, John, Fred, Otis; Morton, who was drowned in Kansas, after 1900.
Mr. Burnett has been elected four different times marshal of the town of Dana, and has given the utmost satisfaction in this capacity. having the
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confidence and good will of the people whom he has sought to serve honestly and as ably as possible. His chief life work has been farming.
Mr. Burnett is a member of the Baptist church, and of the H. D. Wash- burn Post No. 220, Grand Army of the Republic. His grandfather, William Burnett. was a soldier under General Jackson at New Orleans.
JOHN W. REDMAN.
The efforts of John W. Redman, well known furniture dealer and under- taker at Dana, Indiana, and formerly joint representative to the Indiana Legis- lature, have proven of the greatest value to his fellow citizens as well as to himself. He has shaped his career along worthy lines, and his efforts have been discerningly directed along well defined channels of endeavor. He is a man of distinct individuality, of marked sagacity, of undaunted enterprise, and in manner he is genial, courteous and easily approached. His career has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world and his activity in industrial, commercial and civic circles forms no unimport- ant chapter in the history of Vermillion county.
Mr. Redman was born in Helt township, Vermillion county, Indiana, January 25, 1855. He is a son of Wesley and Martha (Wishard) Redman, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Kentucky. Wesley Redman was young in years when he came with his father and settled in Helt township, this county, two and one-half miles east of Dana, where the family became well established and well known. The father of the subject devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. His death occurred in 1855, when his son, John W., was but nine months old. The mother survived until October 8, 1866, passing away when the subject was eleven years old. Two children were born to Wesley Redman and wife, Margaret J., who married J. P. Merri- weather, is deceased, and John W., of this review.
John W. Redman was educated in the common schools of Helt town- ship, also spent one year in Bloomingdale Academy and three months in a com- mercial college at Terre Haute. He began life for himself as a general farmer, which he continued several years, then went into the furniture and undertak- ing business at Dana, which he has continued with ever-increasing success to the present time, having been thus engaged since July 20, 1876. He draws his customers from over a very wide territory. He always carries an excellent
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and up-to-date line of furniture, and promptness and high grade service as an undertaker is his aim.
Mr. Redman was married on November 13, 1877, to Maria Taylor, daughter of Samuel and Nancy E. (Henderson) Taylor. The father died in 1869. The mother, who makes her home with the subject, has attained the advanced age of ninety-two years, and is in very good health.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Redman, Charles W., born December 10, 1878, died August 8, 1886, when six years old, and Claude M., born October 27, 1880, married Essie Pauley, daughter of W. H. Pauley and wife; two children have been born to them, Edward, whose birth occurred on October 27, 1903, and Francis, who was born on June 5, 1906.
Mr. Redman has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has been an influential factor in the Democratic party in this locality for more than a quarter of a century. He was postmaster at Dana during Cleveland's first administration, from April, 1885, to June, 1889. He was elected joint representative from Vigo, Vermillion and Sullivan counties in 1892, and served one term, during which he did much for the good of this section and made his influence felt for the general good. As a public servant he ever dis- charged his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents.
Fraternally, Mr. Redman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias; also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, all at Dana. In religious matters he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
EDWARD JONES.
In such men as Edward Jones, well known mine expert of Clinton town- ship, Vermillion county, there is peculiar satisfaction in offering their life histories as justification for the compilation of works of this character-not that their lives have been such as to gain them particularly wide notoriety or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts re- posed in them, have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all.
Mr. Jones was born in Clay City, Clay county, Indiana, August 18, 1878, and he is .a son of Edward Jones, Sr., and Susan ( Spoonmore ) Jones. .
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the father a native of Wales and the mother of Kentucky. The elder Mr. Jones spent his early life in his native country, but desiring a land of greater opportunities, he came to America in 1867 and located in Brazil, Indiana, where he followed the mines in various capacities for some time, then came to Parke county, this state, about 1884, settling at Sand Creek, where he con- tinued with the mines. His family consisted of eight children, namely : Ellen, Kittie (who died when young), Edward, of this sketch, Philip, Sadie, Will- iam, Thomas and Gertie.
Edward Jones, Jr., grew up under the parental roof-tree and received a common school education. Early in life he turned his attention to mining and has continued to follow the same in various phases of endeavor. At this writing he is mine boss for J. K. Deering & Company, who own and operate No. 3 Klondike mine, which has a capacity of two thousand tons of coal daily and is one of the valuable mines of Vermillion county. Mr. Jones is respon- sible for everything in the mine, men, mules, equipment, etc. He is giving eminent satisfaction in this connection and is regarded as a most faithful and efficient employe by the owners.
Mr. Jones was married on August 29, 1899, to Azuba Barron, daughter of Frank and Alice (Lewis) Barron, both natives of Virginia, from which state they came to Parke county in an early day and settled here. They had seven children, namely: Azuba, wife of the subject; Robert, Minnie, Rose, Elsie, Maud and William. The subject has no children.
JAMES NEWTON ARTHUR.
The enterprise of James Newton Arthur, the efficient and well known young engineer in the mining region of Vermillion county, has been crowned by success as the result of rightly applied principles, which never fail in their ultimate effect when coupled with integrity, uprightness and a congenial dis- position, as they have evidently been done in the present instance, judging from the high standing of Mr. Arthur among his fellow citizens whose un- divided esteem he has justly won and retained among a wide acquaintance in Clinton township.
Mr. Arthur was born in Greene county, Indiana, March 5, 1881, and he is a son of Peter and Nancy Arthur, both born in Indiana, where they were reared. educated and married and made their home, for the most part, in
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Greene county, but the later part of their lives was spent in Vigo and Sullivan counties. They became the parents of three children, namely: Noah E., Charles F., and James Newton, of this sketch, the latter being the youngest of the family.
The subject grew to manhood under the parental roof-tree, spending his boyhood days in Sullivan and Vigo counties and he received a practical edu- cation in the public schools.
Mr. Arthur was married on December 22, 1905, to Myrtie Pearl Clark, daughter of Nathan and Louisa Clark, a highly respected family of their neighborhood. To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely : Earl died when a little over a year and a half old; the second child died in infancy ; Effie and Mamie are both at home.
Mr. Arthur has devoted his life, principally, to mining engineering, and has become an expert in mining machinery, understanding well every phase of modern machinery of mines. He is a close observer, has much natural ability and he has kept well read on his chosen subjects, thus being conversant with every department of the same. He has filled with success various positions about the mines and at present he is engineer of No. 3 Klondike mine, owned by J. K. Deering. He is responsible for all the machinery in this big mine, which has a capacity of two thousand tons of coal daily, his duties being very responsible and requiring close attention. He makes a daily inspection of all the machinery, and he is regarded by his employer as one of the most trust- worthy and efficient men in this mine. In religious matters Mr. Arthur be- longs to the Methodist church.
JAMES GARFIELD DUGGER.
Although named for a President, James Garfield Dugger will doubt- less never be the chief executive of the United States, or a leader in states- manship in any way; but, nevertheless, he is filling and will continue to fill well his niche in the world's affairs and will therefore perform his allotted task just the same as if he had been destined by Fate to be a leader of men in the political arena, for all good work is commendable, no matter in what line of endeavor or by whom performed. So he succeeds in this world who does well and conscientiously what he finds to do.
Mr. Dugger, who is one of the best engineers in the mining section of Vermillion county, was born in Clinton township, this county, on April 15,
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1881, and is the son of James A. and Margaret ( Stover) Dugger. The ma- ternal grandparents of the subject were among the early settlers of Vermillion county, and here James. A. Dugger has spent his later life engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising, in which he has been successful. He and his wife were both born in Tennessee, in which state.they grew to maturity and were married and there they continued to reside until 1865, when they moved to Vermillion county, locating in Helt township. The mother of the subject was called to her eternal rest in 1886. The father is still living in Clinton.
Twelve children were born to James A. Dugger and wife, namely : Will- iam, Charles, Lem, Lillian, Samuel, Lewis, James Garfield (the subject), David, Florence, Clara, Mckinley, and one child who died in infancy.
The subject grew to manhood in his native community and when of proper age assisted with the general work on the home farm during the sum- mer months, and in the winter time attended the public schools. On July 30, 1904. he was united in marriage to Christina Morgan, daughter of A. E. and Hannah (Henderson) Morgan, both natives of Vermillion county, Indiana, where they grew up and were married. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dugger, named as follows: James, Louise and Mabel.
Mr. Dugger has been a student of engineering for some time and has become an expert in his line. He is at present holding a very responsible posi- tion as engineer of Crown Hill mine No. 4. one of the best equipped and up-to-date mines in the Clinton district, operated by electricity, with all mod- ern machinery. His duties as engineer consist in hoisting coal, taking care of all the machinery in the mine, engines, boilers, etc., having general supervision of the machinery end of this great mine. He has performed his work in a most able and acceptable manner to his employers. Mr. Dugger is a member of the Baptist church.
JOHN O. WALTER.
One of the most efficient and energetic mining engineers of Vermillion county, Indiana, is John O. Walter, a man who early in life began following the mines and made this special phase of mining his careful study so that he has become very proficient in his line and his services have been in great de- mand. He is at present holding a very important position with one of the Crown Hill mines, and is giving his employers eminent satisfaction.
Mr. Walter was born on January 16, 1882, two miles west of Clinton.
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Indiana. He is a son of Charles F. and Mary ( Foltz) Walter, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Virginia. They are living in Clinton at this writing, and seven of their children are still living.
John .O. Walter was reared in his native community and he received his education in the common schools, where he applied himself very closely to his text books and received a very practical knowledge of general things, lay- ing the rudiments of an education which has since been broadened by home reading and by actual contact with the world.
On April 11, 1908, Mr, Walter was married. to Maggie Scott, who was born December 8, 1888, east of Brazil, Indiana, and there she grew to woman- hood and was educated in the common schools and her parents were well known in that community. Two children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Anna May, born January 16, 1909, and William Wayne, born September 9, 19II.
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