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 71
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 71
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
Ten children were born to Alfred R. Newlin and wife, namely: El- vira and Elmira, twins, the former born October 26, 1852, and the latter October 27, 1852; Mary F., born June 9, 1855, died November 20, 1861; Margaret A., born November 21, 1856, died April 7, 1895; Finettie, born June 14, 1858, died July 26, 1894; Eli, born September 6, 1860, died De- cember 23, 1862; Joseph A., born February 25, 1864; Lewis A., born De- cember 27, 1865; Robert A., born November 12, 1869; Clendore, wife of Dr. Sherrill, born March 4, 1874, was the tenth and youngest child.
Alfred R. Newlin devoted his life to general farming and stock rais- ing. In 1896 he moved to Newport from Vermillion township, where he
740
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
had long maintained his home. He is spending the last years of his life in retirement. Politically, he is a Democrat, but never aspired to office.
Dr. Sherrill is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 242, at Newport. He belongs to the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
J. F. SKIDMORE.
The Skidmore family is too well known in Vermillion county to need any formal introduction to the readers of this history, for they have been active in the affairs of this locality for a period of ninety-three years, having been among the very earliest settlers of this section of the Wabash valley, and here they did their full share in the work of transforming the wilderness into one of the choice agricultural regions of the Hoosier state, and they also laid the foundation for civic and moral progress, being people of high ideals and honorable character.
One of the best known members of this sterling old family is J. F. Skidmore, an enterprising farmer near Newport, who was born in Helt township, Vermillion county, Indiana, January 29, 1857, the son of William M. and Amelia W. (Anderson) Skidmore, the father having been the first male white child born in Vermillion county, his birth occurring in 1819. He grew up amid early pioneer conditions and much hard work fell to him, in the way of clearing and developing the wild land. The family endured many privations and hardships, for there were no improvements, no roads, bridges, nearby trading posts or even neighbors, but they were hardy sons of the soil and could not be daunted by hardships. Here the father of the subject spent his life engaged in general farming and stock raising and school teaching, becoming one of the leading citizens of Helt township. He was joint representative of Vigo and Vermillion counties in 1868 to 1872. His death occurred here on May 27, 1881. The mother of the subject was born in Posey county, Indiana, and her death occurred in 1890 in Helt town- ship. To these parents six children were born, all still living but one, who died in infancy. The father was a Republican. .
J. F. Skidmore grew up on the home farm and there assisted with the general work. He received his education in the public schools, and he has made farming his life work, with the exception of a year and a half, when he operated a butcher shop at Dana. In 1900 he moved to his fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres, two hundred of which is under cultivation and
741
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
well improved, and here he is still carrying on general farming and stock raising in a manner that brings him a comfortable competency. He makes a specialty of raising black Angus cattle, which, owing to their superior qual- ity, find a very ready market; also makes a specialty of Ohio Improved Chester hogs, which are greatly admired by all who see them. He has made many extensive improvements on his farm of late years and has a commod- ious and pleasant home three and one-half miles from Newport. He has made all by hard work and good management, with no outside aid.
Mr. Skidmore was married in 1888 to Susan E. Reed, daughter of Franklin E. and Elisa A. (Ingall) Reed. The father was born in North Carolina, from which state he came north with his father when young and followed farming in Illinois, just west of St. Bernice. Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Amelia A., who married Henry Starr, is living on the home place of William Skidmore; Dorothy M. is at home ; and Archie is deceased.
Politically, Mr. Skidmore is a Republican, and he was on the advisory board one term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Horsethief Detective Association. He be- longs to the Friends church.
-
MELVIN L. HALL, M. D.
The name of Dr. Melvin L. Hall, of Newport, Vermillion county, has been a household word in the locality of which this volume deals for more than a quarter of a century, for while yet a young man he won a wide repu- tation in the medical profession and showed what a man of careful mental training, honesty of purpose and an abundance of zeal and persistence can accomplish, although his early advantages were none too flattering. He was naturally endowed with the capacities of the successful practitioner of medicine, at least this would be inferred judging from the eminent suc- cess he has attained.
Dr. Hall was born in Vermillion county. Indiana, on May 10, 1846, the scion of a sterling pioneer family, the son of W. B. and Nancy (Jor- don) Hall, the father having been born in Virginia in 1798 and the mother in Kentucky, each representing excellent old Southern families. They came to Vermillion county, this state, in the early days of its settlement and here established the permanent home of the family, devoting the rest of their lives
742
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
to general farming. Thirteen children were born to them, four of whom are still living, namely: Samuel J., who resides in Vermillion township, this county ; Emanda was next in order ; J. W. is a traveling salesman and makes his home in Kansas ; and Dr. Melvin L. of this sketch.
Dr. Hall grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy. After passing through the public schools in his home community he entered Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he remained one year, then began the study of medicine at home, which he continued a year, then entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louis- ville, where he remained six months. He then began practicing, which he continued five years, following which he went to New York City and en- tered Bellevue Hospital, the noted medical college of that place, where he re- mained until his graduation in March, 1876. He soon afterward returned to Newport, Indiana, and has since been successfully engaged in general practice here, having enjoyed a large and lucrative patronage, and taking a position in the first rank of medical men in this section of the state; how- ever, now that old age has begun to advance on him he has curtailed his practice to a few old families that have always engaged his services, having begun to gradually retire from the active duties of life.
Dr. Hall was married in 1895 to Ella P. Parrett, daughter of John W. and Lydia (Zenor) Parrett, old settlers in Vermillion county. Mr. Parrett is of English descent. He has spent his life in the ministry of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and in farming. The union of the subject and wife has been without issue.
Politically, the Doctor is a Republican. He belongs to the State Medi- cal Society and the American Medical Association, and was formerly a member of the National Medical Association, and for fifteen years he served very ably and acceptably as city health officer of Newport. Frater- nally, he belongs to the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mrs. Dr. Hall is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of finely improved and valuable land in Vermillion township, this county, which is kept rented. The Doctor owns his attractive dwelling at the corner of George and Market streets, Newport, also several valuable pieces of prop- erty here.
In 1872 a society was organized, known as the Western Indiana His- torical and Scientific Association, and the subject was made the recording secretary. Many important subjects, historical and geological and in other lines, were investigated during the ten years that the organization held to-
743
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
gether. Dr. Hall is a stockholder in the Citizens Bank at Newport, also a stockholder in the First National Bank at Dana, Indiana. He has been very successful in a business way and has laid by an ample competency for his declining years.
C. A. WINTER.
One of the worthy native sons of Vermillion county, Indiana, who has made a success in life and has at the same time upheld the dignity of an honored family name and proved himself to be a citizen of proper public spirit is C. A. Winter, the present popular postmaster at the town of Eugene.
Mr. Winter was born in Highland township, Vermillion county, on Sep- tember 18, 1876, and he is a son of William N. and Alice M. (Hain) Win- ter. The father was born in this county, to which his father removed from Virginia in an early day, settling at the town of Perrysville, and from that time to this the Winters have been prominent in this locality, which they have helped develop from a wilderness to its present high state of civiliza- tion. The father of the subject grew to manhood here and assisted his father in developing the homestead, and he spent the rest of his life successfully engaged in general farming, carpentering, truck and fruit raising. His death occurred when his son, C. A., was seven years of age, in February, 1883. His family consisted of four children, namely: Katie, who married John Pottmeyer, of Logansport, Indiana, where he is engaged in the cabinet- making business; the second child died in infancy; C. A., of this review; Fred J. moved to Houston, Texas, in 1909, and is engaged in the real estate business there. The father of these children was a Republican and was very stanch in his support of the party. The Winter family are Presbyter- ians.
C. A. Winter received a common school education, passing through the high school at Perrysville. He began life for himself on the farm, continu- ing in that line of endeavor until he removed to the town of Eugene in 1906, where he engaged in the general mercantile business. In November, 1907, he was appointed postmaster there, and he held that office continuously to the present time in a manner that has reflected much credit upon his ability and integrity and to the eminent satisfaction of the people and the department. He is the owner of forty acres of well improved and productive land, part of the old farm of his wife's people, and about a year ago he pur- chased his present commodious and attractive home, remodeling it exten-
744
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
sively, and built a new cement porch, and he has a substantial brick dwelling, which is neatly furnished.
In 1901 Mr. Winter was united in marriage to Lizzie Hughes, daugh- ter of Hiram and Mary R. (Hudsonpiller) Hughes, her father having been one of the old settlers of Vermillion county, in which Mrs. Winter was born, reared and educated, and here she taught school successfully for a period of eight years. One child has been born to our subject and wife, Ruth Winter.
Politically, Mr. Winter is a Republican and has been active in the ranks, though he votes independently in township and county affairs. He belongs to the Masonic order at Perrysville.
J. T. SIMPSON.
Since coming to Vermillion county J. T. Simpson, well known mer- chant of Newport, has enjoyed in the fullest measure the public confidence because of the honorable methods he has ever followed, and, being the pos- sessor of the pleasing manners and obliging nature of the typical Kentuckian, he has won and retained a wide circle of friends in this section of Indiana.
Mr. Simpson was born in Monroe county, Kentucky, November 2, 1872, and he is a son of J. C. and Melissa (Bushong) Simpson, both parents na- tives of the same county and state in which the subject was born. There they grew to maturity, were educated and married, spending their early lives there, and in 1886, when their son J. T. was fourteen years old, they left the Blue Grass state and moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, and engaged in farming. They are now living in the town of Rockville, Parke county. A fuller sketch of them appears on another page of this volume.
J. T. Simpson was reared on the home farm and helped with the work about the place when a boy, and he received his education in the public schools, principally in Montgomery county. He began life for himself by farming, which he followed for a period of ten years, then came to New- port, in 1901, and entered the bakery business, in which he met with much success from the start. This he continued until 1905, when he established the store which he has since continued, his store being one of the busiest and best known in this part of the county. He carries at all seasons a large, carefully selected and up-to-date stock of general merchandise and does an extensive business with the town and surrounding country, many of his reg- ular customers coming from remote distances, for here they know they will
745
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
be accorded uniform courtesy and honest treatment. He carries a six- thousand-dollar stock and is well located in the southwest corner of the pub- lic square.
Mr. Simpson was married on November 27, 1901, to Rachael Brown, daughter of E. B. and Susan (Brindley) Brown. Mr. Brown was born and reared in Vermillion county and in his earlier life was a farmer, later ran a hotel awhile, then was elected treasurer and he served two terms. Dur- ing the Civil war he served in the Union army. He is now living retired in Newport. Four children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Mary died when two years old; Garrett B. died in infancy; Mariam A., who was born May 23, 1906, and Thomas C., whose birth occurred on January 27, 1907.
Politically, Mr. Simpson is a Republican and has been active in the party. He was at one time candidate for sheriff of Vermillion county and was defeated by only two votes.
Fraternally, Mr. Simpson is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Lodge No. 242, at Newport, and he is past chancellor in the same. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, having started in life with little aid from any one, and he has made hon- estly and by his own hard work every dollar which is today his. Personally, he is a man of splendid physique, six feet six inches tall, well proportioned, weighing two hundred and twenty pounds.
MATTHEW M. SCOTT.
One of the most prominent and influential citizens of Clinton, Indiana, is Matthew M. Scott, whose place in the business life of that community is unquestioned, as he is interested in almost every phase of business and has made a marked success. He is also a prominent figure in the social and political life of Vermillion county, and has gained a reputation for honesty, integrity and sober judgment in financial matters that has made him a financial adviser for his many friends over that part of the state.
Mr. Scott is a grandson of Joseph and Rebecca (Crusen) Scott, who were well known in southern Indiana. His father. Matthew W. Scott, was born in that part of our state on February 17, 1823, and died July 23, 1908. His mother is Mary (Mann) Scott, who was born on July 9, 1829. She was also a native of Indiana, and still lives here, making her home with her
746
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
daughter, Mrs. John A. Wittermood. Mr. Scott's parents received common school educations. His father was a farmer until the last few years of his life, when he retired. He had eleven children, seven of whom are still living.
Matthew M. Scott was born August 12, 1864, in Vermillion county. Indiana, and spent his early life in this county, receiving a common school education. He was married October 19, 1898, to Daisy E. Robison, who was a lady of good intellectual attainments and a fine education. She was born October 10, 1869, and received a common school education, and gradu- ated with the first class from the Clinton high school. She was a teacher in Clinton for thirteen years, her special work being in the primary grades, where she was very successful, and she was missed very much when she gave up her work.
Mr. Scott entered into the clothing and gents' furnishing business after finishing school, with George W. Edwards, who at that time was postmaster at Clinton and Mr. Scott was assistant. They managed their store, which was located in the postoffice building in connection with the postoffice, and did very well there. In 1889 Matthew M. Scott moved from the postoffice building, with the business in which he was a half owner, and later dissolved partnership with Mr. Edwards and took his brother in with him. Upon the death of his brother, Mr. Scott took Ruben C. Martin into the business with him under the name of Scott & Martin, and they were very successful up until January, 1911, when they sold their business to Ivan W. Scott, who now conducts the business. Mr. Scott owns a number of valuable business proper- ties in Clinton, among which is the Scott & Martin block, which he built in 1907. He also owns his home and a number of houses in Clinton, which he holds as rental investments. Besides this property, Mr. Scott owns a farm seven miles west of Clinton, Indiana. There are about four hundred and eighty acres in this farm and most of it is fine tillable soil. He has about fifteen hundred rods of tiling and expects to put in more. It is called the "Woodland Stock Farm," and is one of the best natural stock farms in the western part of Indiana. He has been raising some short horn cattle, but is usually interested in general stock raising, at which he has been very suc- cessful.
Mr. Scott has no children and has been able to give a great deal of time to the general public, taking an active interest in every movement for im- provement in his home city. He is trustee and treasurer of the Presbyterian church. He is also a political leader and the Democratic party has made him mayor and councilman. Mr. Scott is also actively interested in the large financial institutions in his city, being one of the directors of the Home Loan
747
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
and Savings Association and a director of the Citizens Bank, which latter position he has held for three years. He has held a responsible place on the finance committee of the Home Loan and Savings Association for the last fifteen years and up to the present date has not had a single foreclosure. His sagacity and foresight in all business deals not only makes him a valuable man to all the institutions with which he is connected, but has made him one of the most popular and highly respected citizens of his county, to which he has given the benefits of his high attainments during all these years. It means a great deal to a community to boast of such a financier, citizen and friend as Mr. Scott, and it is to such men that the country must look for con- tinued prosperity.
CHARLES R. COOPER.
When we look at the successful men of today, it is found that the major- ity of them started in business in a modest way and have gradually built up their holdings until they have reached large proportions. Success comes more often by hard work and consistent, careful attention than by great strokes or lucky fortune. It is men who have succeeded in their own line, and have reaped abundant reward for their labor, who have done the most to forward the general welfare in their community. Among those most prominent men in Clinton, Vermillion county, Indiana, who have been suc- cessful, is Charles R. Cooper, who is interested in the only large saw-mill in his county.
Mr. Cooper is the son of David and Ellen (Butcher ) Cooper, both natives of the state of Indiana. His father was born near the center of the state March 4, 1845, and died in March, 1875. His mother was born July 27, 1847, and died in 1878. David Cooper had a common school education and followed the carpenter's trade through his life. He and his wife had only the one son, Charles R. Cooper, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, June 3, 1867, where he received a common school education.
On March 20, 1888, he married Emma Seward, who was born in November, 1867. Mr. Cooper early became interested in the saw-mill busi- ness, and in 1894 he went into partnership with A. C. Butcher. Their mill was small and they started with a very small trade, but they have gradually increased in capacity, as their business grew, until now they can turn out daily about seven thousand feet of lumber, and they operate the only saw- mill in Vermillion county.
1
748
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Mr. Cooper and his wife are the parents of six children, all of whom are at home. There are Maggy, Mary, Maude, Clarence, Charles, Jr., and William. The children were all born and educated in Clinton, and it is a very happy family that lives in the home that Mr. Cooper owns. He also owns a number of lots in Clinton, and with his partner, A. C. Butcher, owns the mill and two lots.
Charles R. Cooper has not only given his careful and consistent attention to his own business, but has found time to take an active interest in the social and civic life of the community. He held the office of councilman for four years in Clinton and during that time gave his efforts to every progressive movement which came up. He is still an ardent progressive, and his influ- ence is felt and his judgment respected by his friends and neighbors, as he has always proved himself an honest and just man in his dealings with his fellow citizens.
M. B. CARTER.
The backbone of this country is made up of the families which have made their homes through their own honest and persistent work; who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside; who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it; who attend to their own business and are too busy to attend to that of others; who work on steadily from day to day, taking the sunshine with the storm and who rear a family to a comfortable home and an honest life. Such people are always welcome in any community. They are wealth producers, and Vermillion county is blessed with many such, among whom is the subject of this sketch, son of a pioneer, veteran of the great Civil war, and at present the popular postmaster at Newport.
M. B. Carter was born in Highland township, Vermillion county, In- diana. December 27, 1843, and he is a son of Absalom C. and Sidney (Chenoweth) Carter. The subject was reared to manhood in his native locality and educated in the common schools there; however, his schooling was limited, for when but a boy he began working on the farm, and when the Civil war came on. although he was but a lad of nineteen years, he en- listed in Company B, Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry, in May, 1861. about a month after the first call for troops, and he was at once sent with the army to the South and took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh. Champion's Hill and the siege of Vicksburg, and many skirmishes, later
749
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
came north and fought at the battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia, also Win- chester, that state. He proved to be, despite his youth, a faithful and gal- lant defender of the Stars and Stripes. He was discharged at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1865, after his two terms of enlistment had expired, he hav- ing re-enlisted in 1864, in the same company and regiment. After the war he returned home and took up farming, which he followed with much suc- cess until 1886, when he moved to his pleasant home in Newport, where he has since resided. He was appointed postmaster at this place in 1912, and is at this writing very ably discharging the duties of the office in a man- ner that is highly acceptable to the people and the department. Politically, he is a Republican. For four years he was county recorder, and he was county assessor for six years, filling these offices in a highly creditable manner. Fraternally, he is a Mason, and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Shiloh Post No. 249.
Mr. Carter was married in 1868 to Fannie Moffet, and this union re- sulted in the birth of one child, Grace, who married Bird Davis. In 1882 Mr. Carter married Miss Sallie Elbertson, from whom there was no issue. In 1888 he married Miss Amanda Kerdollf, by whom he has one child, Fannie, who is assisting her father in the postoffice. Mr. Carter has al- was been regarded as one of our most public spirited citizens, lending his hearty support to all measures looking to the general good of his county.
VALZAH REEDER.
The name of Reeder is one which has been long known in the neighbor- hood of Clinton, for the first to bear it in that vicinity was among the early settlers. And from the time when the first of the name came here to the pres- ent, those who have borne the name have been men of honor and integrity, women of virtue and goodness, always doing their part to help in the com- munity, and their lives have been examples of the substantial worth among citizens whose positions in life have not been such as to make them very widely known, or to gain them high applause, but who form the solid founda- tion upon which all the superstructure of our civilization is built and without whom our present greatness could not exist.
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.