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 69
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 69
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John R. Mc. Miller grew to manhood on the home farm and there as- sisted his father with the general work, finding plenty to do in helping re- claim the farm from the wild state. He received a limited education in the common schools. On October 6, 1872, he was married to Delia J. Paine,
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who was born in Clay county, Indiana, October 19, 1846, and there she grew to womanhood and received a public school education. She is a daughter of Joseph and Julia (Webster) Paine, her parents having spent their lives in Clay county, both being now deceased.
Four children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Harvey, who married Hattie Ray, and they live in Parke county; T. Howard is sin- gle and is living at home; Grace married Harley Boatman, and they live in Rosedale, this county ; Florence married Homer Wood, and they also live in Parke county.
Mr. Miller engaged in farming when a young man, then moved to Terre Haute, where he spent ten years successfully engaged in the shoe business, but finally, tiring of city life, he returned to the farm, where he has remained, being now the owner of one hundred and ninety-two acres of well improved and productive land in Raccoon township; he also owns with his brother forty acres in Clay county. He keeps part of his land rented out, but still lives on his place and has a cozy home and is very comfortably established.
EDWIN G. McCORMACK.
Having always led a life along lines of sobriety, industry and integrity. Edwin G. McCormack, one of the best known business men of Perrysville. Vermillion county, has become one of the influential men of his community whose interests he has ever had at heart and sought to promote, along moral, educational and material lines, thereby winning and retaining the good will and friendship of all who know him.
Mr. McCormack was born on July 3, 1864, in Perrysville, Indiana, and here he has been content to spend his life, having always had faith in the town's future. He is a son of Smith and Sarah (Baldwin) McCormack. The father was born in Danville, Illinois, in 1837 and his death occurred in 1903. The mother was born in Canada, from which country she came to the United States when a small girl. She is still residing in Danville, Illi- nois. She received a good education and in her younger years taught school for some time. Smith McCormack spent his life principally in the butcher business, maintaining a shop in Perrysville, Indiana, many years, in which town his father, James McCormack, was also engaged in the butcher busi- ness. Thus the subject came by his vocation quite naturally, having liter- ally grown up in the butcher business. The McCormack family has been one
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of the most influential and best known of Perrysville's citizens. Eight chil- dren were born to Smith McCormack and wife, three of whom are still living.
On November 24, 1887, Edwin G. McCormack was united in marriage to Anna L. Smith, who was born on August 2, 1866, at Covington. Indiana, and, like the subject, she received a common school education. To this union three children have been born, namely: Jeanette, who married Floyd Gra- ham, is living at the village of Gessie, this county, where he is employed as telegraph operator ; Gertrude is teaching school; Sarah is at home.
Mr. McCormack has always been engaged in the butcher business. He was in partnership with his father until about 1889, and in February, 1899, he and N. R. Smith formed a partnership, buying out Mr. McCormack, sen- ior, which continued until. in February, 1900, the subject purchased the in- terest of Mr. Smith and since then has been operating his shop alone, having the only shop in Perrysville. He has built up a very extensive and lucrative patronage and his customers come from all over the township. He owns the building where he maintains his modernly equipped shop, also his home and ninety acres of rich and well improved bottom land. He also owns a slaughter-house and does his own butchering. He has been very successful in a business way.
Politically. Mr. McCormack is a Republican, but is not an active worker in the ranks. He belongs to the Woodmen lodge at Gessie.
PATRICK WELCH.
Inheriting the thrifty characteristics of the Celtic race, whose blood flows in his veins, Patrick Welch, a well known farmer of Helt township, Vermillion county, has succeeded at his chosen calling, having worked ear- nestly and honestly for what he today possesses, asking no man to do either his work or his planning. He is a man who believes in attending strictly to his own affairs, but he is at the same time neighborly and lends his support in the furtherance of those objects which make for the general good of the locality.
Mr. Welch was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, March 16, 1855, and he is a son of Robert and Bridget (Maher) Welch, both natives of county Waterford, Ireland, where they spent their earlier years,, received. their educational training and were married, and from there they emigrated to America, landing in New York City. In 1860 they established the per-
(46)
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manent home of the family in Vermillion county, Indiana, and here they spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of five children, namely : John, Johanna, Mary, James, and Patrick, of this sketch, who is the youngest of the family.
Patrick Welch grew to manhood in his native locality and received his education in the schools of Montezuma, then took up general farming, which he has continued with ever-increasing success to the present time.
Mr. Welch was married in 1875 to Margaret McAuliff, daughter of William and Bridget (French) McAuliff, both natives of Ireland, the father having been born in county Cork and the mother in county Waterford. They spent their earlier years in their native land, but came to this section of In- diana in a very early day, when the country was wild and Indians still plentiful. Mr. McAuliff lacked only two months of being one hundred years old when he died. He became very well established in the new world and was popular among the pioneers. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Welch, namely : William J., Mary, Robert L. and . Margaret.
Politically, Mr. Welch is a Democrat, and while he has always been more or less interested in public and political events, he has never sought to be a leader in party affairs, and has never been a candidate for public office. preferring to devote his attention to his farming and to his family, and he has therefore become well fixed. He is a stanch member of the Catholic church and a liberal supporter of the same.
WILLIAM F. PEER.
One of the useful citizens of Helt township and one of her most scien- tific husbandmen is William F. Peer, a man who takes infinite pains with that which he deems worth while and this trait, together with those that al- ways win when rightly applied, has resulted in a large measure of success attending his efforts all through his active life and today he is the owner of a splendidly improved and productive farm and a good, comfortable home.
Mr. Peer was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, July 13, 1858, and is a son of John and Matilda (Cruseau) Peer, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Ohio, and he is living about a mile southwest of the sub- ject. the mother being deceased. John Peer has devoted his life to farming and has been very successful. His family consisted of eleven children, ten of whom are still living.
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William F. Peer was married August 29, 1882, to Elizabeth Brad- berry, who was born in Illinois in June, 1858, and her death occurred on December 24, 1908, after a happy married life of over a quarter of a cen- tury. She was a good, industrious woman, and reared her children very carefully. To William F. Peer and wife were born five children, named in order of birth as follows: Angy married Charles Parr, and they live with the subject on the farm; Claude has remained single: Ethel married Ed. Dickson, and they live in Illinois; Oakey married Ed. Scott, a carpenter, and they also live in Illinois: Paul, the youngest, is at home.
Mr. Peer, as stated, has always devoted his energies to general farming and stock raising, and he is now the owner of an excellent place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in a choice section of Helt township; it is all tillable land and he has made all the improvements on the same, it being well tiled, well fenced and the dwelling and outbuildings all in first class condi- tion. A good grade of live stock is to be seen in his fields, and he is making a very comfortable living and laying by for "rainy days" ahead which must come in every life.
Politically, Mr. Peer is a Democrat, but has never been a public man. and religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
SAMUEL STAATS.
No more painstaking farmer is to be found in Vermillion county than Samuel Staats. He was taught to be painstaking and to have system about his work when he was a boy and he has never lost sight of that valuable admonishing, so it is no wonder that marked success has attended his efforts in his chosen field of endeavor, and, having managed well and been persistent, he is deserving of what he has attained in a material way.
Mr. Staats was born on June 6, 1849, on the farm where he is still re- siding, near Dana, Vermillion county, Indiana, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Cummins) Staats. The father was born May 3, 1801, in West Vir- ginia, and there he grew to manhood, was educated and married, his wife having also been a native of West Virginia, born March 13. 1805. There they resided until after their first two children were born, coming to Indiana in January, 1829. Joseph Staats was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was popular in his denomination and did a great deal of good among the pioneers. He was justice of the peace for two terms and was
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known for his fairness to all parties. His wife died on May 10, 1889, and his passing followed three months later, August 31st. Twelve children were born to these parents, three of whom are still living.
Samuel Staats, the youngest son, grew to manhood on the home farm which the father settled and received a good common school education. On August 15, 1883, he married Claribel Ford, who was born November 30, 1852, in Indiana, a daughter of Valentine Ford. She also received a good education and followed teaching for a period of sixteen years with much success, her services being in great demand.
Samuel Staats and wife have an adopted daughter, Edna, who married Ivan Hill. They live a half mile southeast of where the subject lives. Mr. Hill is an energetic farmer.
Mr. Staats has always been a farmer and succeeding years have found him farther advanced all the while; however, early in life, he clerked in a store in Terre Haute one year. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of excellent and well improved land, all tillable but about fifteen acres, which are in pasture. His farm is well tiled; in fact, one of the best im- proved farms in the township, as well as one of the best equipped and most modern homes.
Mr. Staats has been a life-long Republican, but is progressive in politics, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Dana. He attends the Metho- dist church.
FRANK SPENCER.
One of the citizens of Parke county who has shown that he is able to succeed at various callings is Frank Spencer, now engaged in general farming and stock raising in Greene township. The family of which he is a very creditable representative is one of the old and highly respected ones of this vicinity, which they have lived to see develop from a wild state to one of the foremost farming communities in the Wabash region, and they have not only helped in the material development of the same, but have supported all measures looking to the moral and educational and civic betterment of the township and county.
Mr. Spencer was born on March 6, 1873. in this township and county, and is a son of George W. and Mary (Clark) Spencer. The father was also born in Greene township, Parke county, Indiana, and here grew to manhood, received such education as the early schools afforded and has here spent his
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life, successfully engaged in farming, and is still living in his native locality, but is now living retired. His wife, who also was a native of this county, born in 1843, died on October 3, 1912. Ten children were born to these parents, all still living but one.
Frank Spencer grew up on the homestead and assisted his father with the general work there, and in the winter time he attended the common schools. On August 30. 1898, he was united in marriage to Ellen Johnson, who was born on August 30, 1874, in Parke county, on the farm now owned by the subject. Here she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of James and Matilda (Lanning) Johnson. To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Dorothy A., born September 7. 1899: Raymond, born August 1, 1901 : Robert, born Jan- uary II, 1907, and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Spencer in his early life followed farming and also taught school awhile, then tried railroading for some time as telegrapher on the Cincin- nati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, at Milligan. After leaving the road he resumed farming, which he has continued successfully to the present day, being now owner of one hundred acres, seventy-five of which are tillable, in Greene township. Parke county. It is well tiled and otherwise modernly im- proved, and he has a good home.
Mr. Spencer is a Democrat, but is not especially active in party affairs. and in religious matters he attends the Christian church.
JESSE H. RUSSELL.
One of the most highly respected citizens of Parke county, Indiana, lives in Liberty township, near Kingman. Indiana: he is a member of the Friends church and has always stood high in the church, in his work in the commun- ity, and in the regard of his friends and neighbors. His experience has been extensive in that part of the country and his reputation as an excellent farm- er is wide. He is Jesse H. Russell, a man of highest integrity and ability. one of the most reliable citizens of Liberty township.
Of Jesse H. Russell's ancestors this much is known: Joseph Russell emigrated from Ireland to Maryland and later moved from there to Penn- sylvania. Except of one son. Hugh, there is nothing known of his wife and family. Hugh married, but the name of his wife is not known, and to them were born three children. Hugh again being the name of the only son. He
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married Mary Ann Sill, whose father also had emigrated from Ireland, and to this union were born nine children, Hugh F. being the seventh child.
Hugh F. Russell was born in Ohio, moving to this state when he was very small. When he became of age he settled on a farm in Parke county, and was very successful as a farmer. He died in January, 1909. The mother of Jesse H. Russell was Elizabeth (Shoop) Russell, who was a native of Parke county, Indiana, and died in 1877. She became the wife of Hugh F. Russell on October 16, 1851. They had eight children, six of whom are now living, Jesse H. being the second in order of birth.
Jesse H. Russell was born on October 17, 1853, in Sugar Creek town- ship, Parke county, Indiana. He spent his early life on the farm in much the same manner as the majority of youths on Indiana farms in those days- going to the common schools, helping with the farm work outside of school hours and during vacation seasons, and joining the healthy out-of-doors sports which appeal to American youth. After finishing school he turned his attention to agriculture as his work.
Mr. Russell was married on April 11, 1880, to Martha Kennedy. In 1887 she died, and later, on March 16, 1892, he married Lydia E. Hodson, who was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, May 3, 1863. She received a common school education in Liberty township, No. I school. Mrs. Russell's father was in the Civil war, answering the call for volunteers with other brave and loyal Northern men. Jesse H. Russell had six children, two by his first and four by his second wife. Leroy is dead, but Nora, Letha V., John, Hester and Lola La Vern are living.
Mr. Russell has always devoted himself to his family and his work, and his industry and good management have been well rewarded. He owns sixty acres of land in Liberty township of the most productive ground, which he keeps in the very best of condition. He also has an interest in two hun- dred and eighty acres of good land. Mr. Russell has made all of the improve- ments on his place himself, and has one of the best equipped farms in the county. Jesse H. Russell is one of the best known and most respected men in Parke county, as he has always proved himself a kindly neighbor and friend, and given many the benefit of his good judgment and well balanced mental habit on many propositions of both personal and public importance. Mr. Russell is a Republican, speaking politically, and he has always stood earnestly and honestly by his convictions. Such men, working in their own immediate circles, do much for the establishing of every righteous cause and the bringing about of reforms of which the nation as a whole stands in need.
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JOHN A. TOLIN.
Although now living in honorable retirement in his commodious and pleasant home in the beautiful city of Rockville, John \. Tolin has long been regarded as one of the most enterprising and public spirited citizens of Parke county, and his name needs no introduction to the readers of this work. He was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of the county, also widely known as a stock raiser on an extensive scale. He has always manifested an abiding interest in the public welfare of his community. His long life has been a most active one in every respect, and has resulted in much good to his fellow men and the community at large, throughout which he is held in the highest esteem which he well merits in every way.
Mr. Tolin was born near Cloverdale, Putnam county, Indiana, July 16. 1848. His parents were Richard J. and Rebecca (Mark) Tolin. The father was born in Kentucky and the mother was also a native- of the Blue Grass state, each representing fine old Southern families, and there these parents grew to maturity and were educated and spent their earlier years. Richard J. Tolin came to Putnam county, Indiana, with his father, A. B. Tolin, in an early day and there the latter spent the rest of his life, dying in 1880, and was buried at Brick Chapel church, that county. Richard J. Tolin removed to Kansas, where he spent the rest of his life, dying there in 1893, at the age of seventy-three years, having been preceded to the grave by his wife about a year before. They became the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living, John A., of this review, and Henry and James Tolin, both living in Kansas.
John A. Tolin spent his boyhood on the home farm in Putnam county, Indiana, and from there he removed with his father to Kansas in 1863, he being then about fifteen years of age, and he received most of his education in the North East Kansas Seminary, in Jackson county. He returned to In- diana in 1874, after teaching school several years in the Sunflower state. He continued teaching for a time after coming to Indiana, teaching in all six or seven years. He was very successful in this line of endeavor and had he desired to continue in the same he would doubtless have become one of our most popular educators. But he turned his attention to general farming and in due course of time became one of the leading agriculturists and stock men. carrying on general farming on a large scale and becoming the owner of a valuable and productive farm of over five hundred acres in Florida town- ship, this county, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and
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cultivation. He also owns fifty acres of good land adjoining the town of Rockville, besides a valuable property in Rockville, consisting of a fine mod- ern home. He has worked hard and managed well.
Mr. Tolin was married on October 3, 1877, to Louisa M. Johnson, a native of Parke county. Indiana, being the daughter of a highly esteemed old family here. To this union four children have been born, two of whom are deceased, namely: Glenn is cashier of the bank at Pittsboro, Indiana, in which he and his father own the controlling stock, and he makes his home in that city ; George works on the farm; Willard died about three years ago; one child died in infancy.
Mr. Tolin retired from active farm life and removed to Rockyille, in 1904 and here he has since lived a quiet life.
The subject and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he being one of the stewards of the same and is a trustee of the church and cemetery at Mt. Pleasant church, which is in the neighborhood of his farm in Florida township. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Mecca. He is a man of pleasing address, obliging, charitable and neighborly, and has always been held in the highest esteem by his wide circle of friends.
EDWARD F. McCAMAN.
The gentleman to a review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith respectfully invited is among the progressive citizens of Helt township, Vermillion county, who by energy and correct methods has not only achieved success for himself, but has also contributed in a very material way to the commercial, civic and moral advancement of his place of residence, for he has ever been an advocate of right living and industrious habits. In the course of an honorable career Mr. McCaman has established himself in a liberally remunerative enterprise and won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens during the years of his residence here since coming from his native state of Illinois quite awhile ago.
Edward F. McCaman was born in the state of Illinois, January 15, 1863. and he is a son of Tillman and Sarah (Myers) McCaman, both of whom were born in Kentucky. in which state they spent their earlier years and from which place they emigrated to Illinois in an early day. There they became well established through their industry and frugality and there they reared their family, the following children having been born to them: John.
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Nancy, Harry, Ephraim R., Stephen, George, Edward F., of this sketch; and Rosa, who was the youngest in order of birth. The father of the above named children followed farming all his life and both he and his wife are now deceased, leaving behind them records of worthy lives.
Edward F. McCaman grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the regular work when he became of proper age, and during the winter months he attended the rural schools in his neighborhood, re- ceiving a good practical education in that manner. In 1888 he was married to Alda MacRoberts, daughter of Alfred and Mary O. (Fisher) MacRob- erts, a highly respected family of their community. Both Mrs .. McCaman's parents were born in Kentucky, where they spent the early part of their lives, but came to Vermillion county, Indiana, in an early day and here be- came useful citizens. One child has been born to the subject and wife, Homer T. McCaman, who lives at home.
Mr. McCaman has long taken much interest in public life, and in 1908 he was elected trustee of Helt township, being the present incumbent of that office, and, having been re-elected, his term will not expire until 1914. He is giving the utmost satisfaction in this office. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at St. Bernice, Indiana, also the Re- bekahs and the Encampment, and the Ben-Hur lodge at Clinton, also the Modern Woodmen of America at the town of St. Bernice. He is prominent in fraternal circles in this section of the state. Religiously, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and liberally supports the same.
CAPT. SAMUEL J. HALL.
The Union soldier during the great war between the states builded wiser than he knew. Through four years of suffering and wasting hardships. through the horrors of prison pens and amid the shadows of death, he laid the superstructure of the greatest temple ever erected and dedicated to hu- man freedom. The world looked on and called those soldiers sublime, for it was theirs to reach out the mighty arm power and strike the galling chains from off the slave. preserve the country from dissolution, and to keep unfurled to the breeze the only flag that ever made tyrants tremble and whose majestic stripes and scintillating stars are still waving liberty to all the earth. For all these unmeasured deeds the living present will never repay them. Pension and political power may be thrown at their feet, art and sculpture may pre-
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