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 64
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 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
JOHN E. HARSHBARGER.
A name too well known to the people of Rosedale and this section of Parke county to need any formal presentation by the writer of this brief life record is that of John E. Harshbarger, a successful insurance and real estate dealer, who has forged to the front in his line of endeavor through persist- ency and honorable dealings with his fellow men, thus enjoying their confi- dence and good will. He is also known to be a man who takes a keen interest in the affairs of his community and is not averse to lending such aid as he may in furthering all movements having as their object the general good of the same.
Mr. Harshbarger was born in Florida township, Parke county, Indiana, April 9, 1858, and he is a son of Henry and Mary (Doty) Harshbarger. The father was a native of Ohio, where he spent his earlier days and from which state he came to Indiana, when a baby, with his parents, Christian and Sallie (Dean) Harshbarger, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Dutch stock. Henry Harshbarger was the head of the family in Indiana, and the father of five children, namely: Ella is deceased; John E. is living; Emily is deceased; Jerry and Henry were the two youngest and are both deceased, dying in childhood. Grandfather John M. Doty, Sr., came to Parke county in 1814. and entered government land in 1816. and soon after married Sarah McLain.
John E. Harshbarger was born on his father's farm, and he grew to manhood on the farm after coming to Indiana, and there assisted his father with the general work. He received his education in the rural schools of his neighborhood, later finishing his course at Ladoga College. He is an ex- cellent type of a self-made man. He first started in life for himself by clerking in a store. Then he was in the employ of the Parke County Coal Company, and later went into business for himself in the general mercantile business, but eventually sold out to Couley & Son, general merchants, who are still conducting the business at Rosedale. Mr. Harshbarger had by this time a good start, having managed well and built up a good trade with the
671
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
surrounding country. He then went into politics and was clerk of the court for a period of four years, giving the utmost satisfaction in that capacity to all concerned, especially to his Republican constituents.
Mr. Harshbarger was married in 1883 to Mary E. Nicholson, who is now deceased. To this union two children were born: Gertrude and Gilbert, the latter deceased. Mr. Harshbarger was married a second time in 1900 to Nellie Myers. This second union has resulted in the birth of two children, Jennie and Katharyn, both attending school at this writing.
Mr. Harshbarger is a member of the Christian church and his wife be- longs to the Presbyterian church. He was bookkeeper and later cashier of the Rosedale National Bank, and filled these responsible positions in a manner eminently satisfactory to the stockholders and patrons of the bank.
CHARLES B. THOMAS.
A desire to do honest work, render high-grade service and promptness have made C. B. Thomas, of Rosedale, successful in his life work, and he has become one of the leading undertakers of Parke county because of these and other necessary qualities which he was quick to see and determine upon when he started out to fight the battle of life for himself.
Mr. Thomas was born November 3, 1878, in Putnam county, Indiana, the son of William and Elizabeth (Ewing) Thomas. William Thomas was also a native of that county, and he devoted his life to general farming and threshing. His family consisted of the following children: Alice is de- ceased; Dora is next in order; Eliza is deceased; Henry and Oscar; Frank is deceased; Elmer, who lives in Oklahoma, is state senator at this writing ; C. B., of this sketch ; Ona is deceased, as is also Bertha; Fred and Cleve were the two youngest.
C. B. Thomas spent his boyhood in Putnam county and started, at an early age, to the public school in Brunnerstown, and in 1904 he went to the Barnes school at Indianapolis, where he learned enbalming, graduat- ing from that institution with a splendid record. He had worked on his fath- er's farm up to the time he went to school. Following his graduation he went to Brazil, where he worked for a time at undertaking, then came to Green- castle. He then went into business in the country, later coming to Rosedale. Parke county, where he has since remained and has built up a very extensive patronage as an undertaker, ranking with the best in this and adjoining counties. He is ably assisted in his business by his wife.
672
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Mr. Thomas was married eleven years ago to Lettie Mae Vinzant, (laughter of William and Wealthy (Cox) Vinzant. To this union two chil- dren have been born, Clema Nellie and Cleo Gladys.
Mr. Thomas and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have made a host of friends since coming to this locality, for they are pleasant people to know, neighborly, sociable and hospitable. Mr. Thomas has remained a deep student of all that pertains to undertaking and embalm- ing, keeping up with the latest and most approved methods and he has met with pronounced success.
SAMUEL COBLE.
There can be no greater honor than to serve one's country honestly and conscientiously in any capacity, but when the nation's integrity is at stake and it becomes necessary for the citizen soldiery to leave the common pur- suits of life and go into the conflict, risking limb and life, it is a much greater sacrifice and the honor attached thereto is higher than almost any other known to man. Of this worthy class belongs Samnel Coble. for a long lapse of years one of the successful men of affairs of Parke county and a citizen who has served with rare ability and credit the people of this locality in various public capacities, but who is now living in honorable retirement in his pleasant home in the town of Rockville, which he has helped to develop and make a good place to live in. He is held in high esteem, also because of the fact that he is a veteran of the great war between the states, a public spirited citizen and has long led an active and useful life in this county, bearing all the while a reproachless character.
Mr. Coble was born in Carroll county, Ohio, July 15, 1838. He is the son of George and Mary A. (McKakhan) Coble, the father being a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Virginia, from which state she came to Ohio when a girl and to that state also came the elder Coble, when a young man, and they were married there. There they remained until 1850. when they came to Indiana and located in Raccoon township, Parke county, later moving to Florida township. this county, where he remained until his death in 1875. having devoted his life to general farming, in which he was success- ful and was highly respected wherever he was known. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1871. They became the parents of eight children. seven of whom are living, namely: Samnel. of this review ; Susanna, deceased : Eliza- beth : Mary : Angeline is deceased : Amanda, George and Margaret.
SAMUEL COBLE.
673
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Samuel Coble was reared on his father's farm in Carroll county, Ohio, and he received his early education in the public schools. He accompanied his parents to Indiana in 1850 and continued to assist his father in the work on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, then worked by the month on a farm for two and one-half years.
Mr. Coble was thus engaged when the war of the Rebellion broke out, and he enlisted on August 14, 1862, in Company G, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served in a most faithful and gallant manner until the close of the struggle, seeing much hard service and participating in many important campaigns and great battles. He was captured at Spring Hill, Tennessee, March 5, 1863, with fifteen hundred others and was taken to Libby prison. Col. John C. Coburn, of Indianapolis, was his commander. He remained in prison twenty-six days, when he was paroled. He went from there to Annapolis, Maryland, thence to Camp Chase, at Columbus, Ohio, then Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana, and was legally exchanged. He returned to his command in June following and did guard duty on the rail- roads during that summer and the ensuing fall and winter. In the spring at the reorganization of the army he was put in the Twentieth Corps, com- manded by Gen. Joe Hooker, and he took part in the following battles : Resaca, Golgotha. New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, the siege of At- lanta, and the battle of Averasboro, North Carolina, February 16, 1865, and many others. He then accompanied Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. After taking Savannah, Georgia, they crossed into the Carolinas, living off of the country as they went, destroyed the railroad and went on to Golds- boro, and were at Raleigh, North Carolina, when Lincoln was assassinated,. soon after which Gen. Joe Johnston surrendered. Mr. Coble was then sent to Washington, D. C., where he participated in the Grand Review, and there he was mustered out, soon after which he returned home. He then resumed working by the month, which he continued for a year.
On August 18, 1867, Mr. Coble was united in marriage to Carrie Mark, daughter of Thomas F. Mark. She was born in Hendricks county, Indiana. Of this union there was no issue.
. After his marriage Mr. Coble moved to a rented farm in Florida town- ship, Parke county, where he lived six years, during which time he got a good start. He then purchased a fine farm of two hundred and four acres west of Rosedale, where he moved and carried on general farming most suc- cessfully for a period of eighteen years. Selling out in 1890, he bought of S.
(43)
674
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
T. Catlin three hundred acres in section I, of Florida township, which fine and valuable farm he still owns, and which he placed under a high state of modern improvement and cultivation. He also owns an excellent farm of one hundred and ninety-six acres in Adams township, this county, also two valuable residences in Terre Haute. He resided on his three-hundred-acre farm for a period of ten years. On March 4, 1901, he removed to Rock- ville, having accumulated a handsome competency, and there purchased a modern and attractive residence on Howard avenue, one of the most desir- able homes in the city, and there he has since resided, surrounded by all the comforts of life as a result of his earlier years of strenuous endeavor and good management.
Mr. Coble has always taken an abiding interest in public affairs, and in 1892 he was elected county assessor, in which office he served four years in an able and most acceptable manner. He was appointed county commis- sioner for the second district, while he was in the state of Florida in 1904, and he was elected to this office the following fall and re-elected three years later, thus serving six years in all. It is the general consensus of opinion that the county never had a better commissioner, and during his incumbency he did much for the permanent good of the community.
While in the army Mr. Coble kept a diary which is very interesting. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, is a Mason, and a Republi- can in politics. Mrs. Coble belongs to the Christian church. The subject and wife have spent several winters in Florida. They are splendid people to meet and have a host of friends throughout Parke county, indeed wherever they are known.
HENRY ALLBRIGHT.
When Henry Allbright, township trustee and progressive farmer, be- gan life for himself he did not seek any easy road to prosperity, but began to work hard to advance himself, and this has been one of the principles of his success in life, for the man of energy and thrift always accomplishes something. It may not be what he had expected, if he be a very ambitious man; but one thing is certain, nothing is accomplished without industry and persistency.
Mr. Allbright, who is the owner of a finely improved and productive farm of forty acres in Vigo county, Indiana, but whose interests have also long centered in a way at Rosedale, Parke county, was born December 24,
675
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
1862, in Raccoon township, Parke county, Indiana, and is a son of John and Rachael ( Barnes) Allbright. His father was a native of Virginia, where he spent his early boyhood, leaving there when a young man and coming to Indiana, settling in Parke county, where he became well established through hard work and honest dealings with his fellow men. He married and became the father of eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, Henry, subject of this sketch, having been sixth in order of birth.
Henry Allbright grew to manhood in Raccoon township and there he attended the rural schools at the Hartman schoolhouse. He has a wife, Julia Fenquay Allbright, and a daughter, Prepple Allbright. Henry Allbright started in life for himself as a farmer and this has continued to be his voca- tion.
DAVID WILLIAMS.
The present popular and efficient postmaster at Rosedale, Parke county, David Williams, is a man who has lived to good purpose and ranks with the leading citizens in his community, whose interests he has ever had at heart and done what he could to promote, being a man of public spirit and industry. His exemplary character and obliging nature have won and retained the good will and respect of all who know him.
Mr. Williams was born March 22, 1866, in Syracuse, Ohio, and is a son of David and Hannah (Hitchens) Williams. The father devoted his life to coal mining and has been deceased some time, having remained in Meigs county, Ohio. He was a native of Wales, from which country he came to Canada when a young man, remaining in the Dominion some time be- fore coming to Ohio. His family consisted of eight children, namely: John A .; William F .; David, of this review ; Catherine is deceased: Thomas C., Ollie, Lydia and Daniel.
David Williams grew to manhood in Meigs county, Ohio, and there re- ceived his education in the common schools, and when but a boy he began working in the mines, which he continued until taking the office of postmas- ter at Rosedale, Indiana. He served his time through all the different posi- tions about the mines and has become one of the best informed men in the business of coal mining in this vicinity.
Mr. Williams was married on February 14, 1892, to Emma Ogden, daughter of John and Mary Ogden, the former born in England and the lat- ter in Ireland. To the subject and wife three children have been born, name-
676
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ly : Norma, Mamie and Everett, all attending school at this writing. The Williams family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Williams came to Parke county, Indiana, in 1887, and during the years of his residence at Rosedale has made a host of friends and has taken much interest in public affairs, doing what he could in the upbuilding of the town and community. Politically, he is a loyal Republican and is in- fluential locally in the party. He has served in the town council and was ap- pointed postmaster in 1911, of which office he is still incumbent and whose duties he is discharging in a manner highly acceptable to the people and the department.
GEORGE WASHINGTON JACKS.
A leading agriculturist of Parke county is George Washington Jacks, proprietor of a finely improved farm in Adams township, being among its ยท pioneer farmers, having maintained a home here all his life, being one of the native sons of the township who have done so much to develop his com- munity in all its phases until it ranks with the leading communities of this section of the state, and now, in the golden evening of his life, this venerable citizen is enjoying the fruits of a well spent life and the esteem of a wide circle of friends.
Mr. Jacks was born in section 32, Adams township, Parke county, In- diana, August 7, 1835, on the farm which he now owns, and is a son of Reu- ben and Hannah (Irvin) Jacks. Reuben Jacks was born in North Carolina, October 22, 1809, and from there he went to Tennessee early in life to make his home. He came to Parke county, Indiana, in 1831, and located on the land now belonging to the subject, when the country was wild and sparsely settled, and here he began life in typical pioneer fashion. He developed a good farm in due course of years, which has never left the hands of the fam- ily and which has been so carefully cultivated as to retain its original fertility.
To Reuben Jacks and wife were born twelve children, namely: Samuel E. is deceased; George W., of this review ; Daniel W., William M., Julia A. are all deceased; Rachael S. was next in order ; Sarah E. is deceased ; Martha E. and Mary E. were next in order: John Q. is deceased; R. K. and Mag- gie B. were the youngest. All of the above named children grew to man- hood and womanhood and were married and reared families except William M. Two of them were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war. William M. served in Company K. Fourteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry;
677
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
he was disabled, was furloughed and died at home. Daniel was a soldier in the Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
George W. Jacks grew to manhood on the home farm and there made himself useful during his boyhood days, and in the school months he was to be found with the usual text-books in the schools of his home district. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years old. He was married March 10, 1859, to Hila A. Sapp, daughter of George and Phoebe (Hudson) Sapp. These parents came from Clermont county, Ohio, and here became well established through their industry, and were people of the best character.
Three children were born to Mr. Jacks and wife, namely: Anderson M. married Frankie Kerr, and they have two children, Frank, who is married, and Fay; W. B., who married Anna E. Cox; Martha A. married Ezekiel A. Williams, and they have eight children, namely: George, who married Florence Miller, has one child, Adaline, who is a great-granddaughter of the subject ; Alva, deceased; Edith, Hila; Harold, deceased; Hubert, Gertrude, Homer.
Mr. Jacks has a well improved and very productive farm of five hundred eighty-six and one-half acres, which he keeps well stocked with an excellent grade of live stock. He has a commodious dwelling and large, convenient out- buildings, everything about the place denoting thrift and good management, and he is very fond of his home. He was married a second time, his last wife being Susan B. Asbury, who died about six years ago.
Mr. Jacks is a Republican, but he is not a politician, though he is inter- ested in public affairs and supports all measures looking toward the general improvement of his county. The Jacks family are all affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. H. MYERS.
Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever since the primal existence of labor and has been the pivotal industry that has controlled for the most part all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy have been devoted. Among this sturdy element of Parke county, whose labors have profited alike themselves and the community in which they live, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
J. H. Myers, who is a scion of one of our worthy old families, was born at Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, May 10, 1853, and here he has continued to reside, being contented to spend his life in his native community. He is a.
678
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
son of James and Meriah (Painter) Myers. The father came to this state from Ohio, but was born in Pennsylvania, and when a young man he came to Indiana unaccompanied. His father remained in the East all his life. James Myers was a carpenter by trade and became a very skilled workman, his serv- ices being in great demand among the early settlers. His family consisted of nine children.
J. H. Myers grew to manhood in this county and he received a good practical education in the common schools, partly at Rockville and partly in the country schools. On December 9, 1877, when twenty-four years of age, he was united in marriage to Nancy J. Pollard, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Pierce) Pollard, a highly respected old family of this locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers the following children have been born: William, Stacy, Alma Leona, Charles Otis and Gladys Marie.
Mr. Myers turned his attention to farming when a young man and this has continued to be his vocation. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, and is at present the owner of a productive and highly improved farm of sixty-six acres on a by-road near the hospital, in Adams township. The state hospital commission bought forty acres of the farm of one hundred and six acres for a dairy farm. Mr. Myers has studied the various phases of farming and has carefully rotated Iris crops and added various improvements from time to time until he now has one of the most desirable places in this part of the county. He has a cozy home and a number of convenient and substantial outbuildings.
LEWIS E. ADAMS.
One of the best known farmers and highly respected citizens of Adams township, Parke county, during a past generation was the late Lewis E. Adams. a man who did much toward the general upbuilding of his locality, who played well his part as a public spirited citizen and whose memory will long be revered by a vast host of friends. He was a man of industry, believed in employing all his time to advantage, and in keeping his farm in first-class condition, so that it ranked with the best and most desirable in the com- munity. He was a man of generous impulses, hospitable and charitably in- clined, who delighted in assisting others on the highway of life. He came of one of our sterling old pioneer families and he took a delight in keeping its name untarnished. He was equally noted as a stock man, handling large num -. bers of animals from year to year.
679
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Mr. Adams was born on the old Adams homestead in the Wabash bot- toms, Parke county, Indiana, on September 12, 1856, and was a son of John E. and Elizabeth (Bullington )Adams. The father was but a child when he accompanied his parents from Kentucky to Parke county, Indiana, they be- ing among the earliest settlers here. They began life in the woods, literally hewing out their farm from the wilderness. Neighbors were very few and very far removed in this part of the state at that time; there were no roads and all manner of wild game infested the jungles.
Lewis E. Adams grew to manhood on the home farm and there he as- sisted with the general work when he became of proper age, and he received his education in the rural schools of his neighborhood. When he reached maturity he began farming for himself and soon had a good start. He became the owner of a splendid farm in his native locality on which he carried on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Adams was married on April 19, 1885, to Rosa M. Staggs, daugh- ter of John and Lavina Staggs, and the subject and wife became the parents of six children, all sons, namely: Merrett, who lives in Seattle, Washington, is a member of the city fire department; Clay married Ethel Wood; Park, Eschol, John and George all live in Seattle, Washington.
Politically, Mr. Adams was a Democrat, but was not a public man. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Baptist church. The death of Mr. Adams occurred on January 3, 1902.
R. J. RUSING.
One of the venerable agriculturists and stock raisers of Parke county is R. J. Rusing, who owns a highly improved and productive farm of ninety- one and a fraction acres on the Rockville and Greencastle road, about four miles from the county seat. He is a man who has contributed in no small de- gree to the material and civic welfare of the township in which he has long resided, for he is not only a man of industry and clean personal habits, but is public spirited and likes to see things progress, the old give way to the new and better.
Mr. Rusing was born in Franklin county, Indiana, June 11, 1836, the son of John and Loviah (Thompson) Rusing. The father also was born and reared in Franklin county, and there the subject grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools, working on the farm during his school period as much as time would permit. When still a young man he came to Parke
680
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
county, this state, and worked out at farm work until he could get a start. He saved his money and purchased his present home place, which he has im- proved from time to time until it is one of the choice and valuable farms of the township, where he has met with continued success as a general farmer and stock raiser, having a pleasant honie and good outbuildings.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.