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 72
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 72
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Valzah Reeder was born on September 9, 1870, the son of J. Wesley and Elizabeth Ann (Smith) Reeder. His grandfather, Nelson 'Reeder, was a native of Ohio, who came to this county when a small lad, with his parents,
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and here spent the remainder of his life. His father, J. Wesley Reeder, was born on August 26, 1845, and has spent all his life in Clinton township, and now resides in Clinton. His mother was born in Virginia on July 4, 1848. Both his parents received no more than a common school education. Their family consisted of five children. The subject was born in Clinton township and there spent his early life on a farm. He attended grammar school and spent one and a half years in high school.
Valzah Reeder was married on October 20, 1892, to Minnie Kerr. She bore to him two children, John W., now nineteen years old, and Amelia, who died at the age of nine months. Minnie Reeder passed from this life on October 6, 1896, after a little less than four years of wedded life. On Janu- ary 6, 1898. Mr. Reeder was married to Olive I. Gosnell, a native of Clinton township. She is the mother of three children, Fred Nelson, Van and Ruth.
Mr. Reeder owns forty-six acres of land and, with his brother, owns one hundred and ninety-one acres, all in Clinton township. They carry on gen- eral stock farming, which they find profitable. In politics Mr. Reeder is a Republican, and he is now township trustee, having satisfactorily filled the office for three years. Before that time he was deputy assessor under W. William Pugh, the present assessor, and in all his official relations he has uniformly made friends of the people of the township by his methods of dealing with them. Mr. Reeder is a Mason, a member of the commandery, and is also an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He is a young man who has made good, and whose future, judging from his past, will be that of a man of the highest usefulness to his community.
REV. ALBERT C. BUTCHER.
The life of Albert C. Butcher, well known resident of Clinton, Indiana, has resulted in much good to his fellow men, for while laboring for his own advancement he has never neglected his duties to others. He believes the duty of everyone while passing through this world is to do all the good he can, help his neighbors who are in need of succor of any kind, and thereby one will be strengthened for his own battle.
Mr. Butcher was born on September 17, 1858, in Putnam county, Indi- ana, and there he grew to manhood and received a good common school edu- cation. He is a son of Joe and Lina (Sailor) Butcher, the father a native of Kentucky, from which state he removed to Indiana when about twelve years
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of age and he spent the rest of his life in this state. After his death his wife removed to Missouri, where she died. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom are still living. The father was a millwright by trade. Politically, he was a Republican. Clark Butcher, the subject's paternal grandfather, lived in Kentucky. Grandfather Sailor was a native of Germany, from which country he came to the United States when young in years.
Albert C. Butcher was married on March 8, 1876, to Ellen Henkel, who was born on March 29, 1859, in Putnam county, Indiana, where she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She was a daughter of Joe and Elizabeth (Sullivan) Henkel. She died on March 4, 1891. and on February 24, 1893, Mr. Butcher was united in marriage to Ida Parmer, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, and her death occurred on August 14, 1906. Mr. Butcher's third marriage occurred on April 7. 1907, to Ella Norton, who was born in Tennessee on January 12. 1891, the daughter of James and Sarah (Day) Norton. She received a common school educa- tion. Mr. Butcher is the father of twelve children, eleven of whom are still living, namely : Mattie, Elma, Della. Aaron. Lena, Nora, Minnie, Homer, William, Ruth, Godfrey and Ora, and an adopted son. James Long Butcher.
Starting in life as a farmer, by hard toil Mr. Butcher soon forged ahead financially. In 1901 he came to Clinton and purchased a half interest in the saw-mill owned by his brother James, the remaining interest being later bought by C. R. Cooper and himself, who still run the business under the firm name of Butcher & Cooper. When he came to Clinton Mr. Butcher purchased property and erected a residence on the banks of the Wabash river. A few years later he erected a large and commodious residence in Fairview Park, which was soon afterwards destroyed by fire. He is now the owner of a store at Fairview Park, and the saw-mill and other property, all of which he has won by persevering efforts and sound business methods, so that now he is enjoying a substantial income.
Upon locating in Clinton, Mr. Butcher began to preach in the church of the United Brethren in Christ, in which denomination he had been ordained a minister three years previously. The congregations to which he preached in Clinton were composed mostly of those not familiar with church walls. and among them he worked with definite results. As his congregation in- creased, he conceived the idea of forming a new sect, where fashion and style should not be the standard of a member's worth. So the new church was launched, officers elected and a discipline promulgated for the government of the church. The subject is now bishop of this denomination and his work
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has been blessed with splendid results. The church continues to grow and now possesses many thousands of dollars in property. He is a preacher of more than ordinary ability and has been popular with all congregations where he has labored.
Mr. Butcher is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Clinton. Politically, he is a Progressive, as might be expected, for he be- lieves in the world moving forward, laying aside the old and unsound and assuming the new and sound.
WILLIAM COX, SR.
One of the leading farmers and citizens of Parke county is William Cox, Sr., a man whom the entire community trusts and respects, for his long life of honor and usefulness speaks for itself.
Mr. Cox is the owner of a finely improved and productive farm of three hundred and thirty acres, which he keeps well tilled and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has a pleas- ant home and attractive surroundings. Mr. Cox was born on April 24, 1844, near Owensburg, Greene county, Indiana, and he is a son of John B. and Mary (Mayfield) Cox. The father was born in North Carolina, and, in 1826, when seven years old, his parents brought him to Lawrence county, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools, and early in life took up farming. In 1856 he came to Parke county, locating near Rockville, and there reared his family, which consisted of the following children: William, of this review : Sarah J. and Mary E. are de- ceased : John T .; Clara, deceased; Oscar; Caroline, deceased; Anna, Cora and Homer.
William Cox, Sr., came to Parke county with his father and the rest of the family in 1856 and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work, and he received his education in the com- mon schools. Early in life he turned his attention to general farming and this he has always carried on with ever-increasing success. He proved his patriot- ism and courage when only eighteen years old by enlisting in Company G. Seventy-first Regiment, Sixth Cavalry, and he served with much faithfulness and credit in defense of the Union in its titanic struggle with the hosts of re- bellion. He participated in the battle at Richmond, Kentucky, in which his regiment lost all of its field officers. Then Jones Biddle was appointed colonel.
WILLIAM COX, SR.
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Mr. Cox was promoted to second lieutenant before the close of the war. After serving three years in a most creditable manner Mr. Cox was honorably dis- charged, and mustered out at Pulaski, Tennessee, June 17, 1865. He had seen much hard service and suffered the horrors of prison life, having been captured in Georgia by the Confederates and confined for some time in Andersonville Prison at Florence, South Carolina.
After the war Mr. Cox returned home and resumed farming, and in 1868 he was united in marriage to Phoebe Lewis, and to them three children have been born, namely: Amberzilla, who married J. W. Crouch, and they have six children, Irene, Irma, Paul, Lewis, Marie and Harold. Winnie Cox mar- ried Henry Gilfoy, and they have five children, Lucile, Raymond, Lena, Will- iam Philip and Lewis Wayne. Sylvia Cox married O. B. Phillips, and these children have been born to them, Mary, John, Robert, William, Martha and Margaret.
Mr. Cox is an interested member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is active in the affairs of the local post. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian church, which he liberally supports. The Cox family has stood high in this locality ever since they located here over a half century ago and during that period they have done much toward the general development of the vicinity.
ROBERT E. GUINN.
It has truly been said that in America no one need lack for education who really desires it, and this is proved by the example of Mr. Guinn. Having received somewhat limited advantages in his youth, after farming for several years, he took up the study of law by correspondence and, persevering in his self-set task, in a comparatively short time he fitted himself for the practice of this profession, in which he has met with a reasonable and well-deserved success and has established himself as a man of honor and integrity.
Robert E. Guinn is the son of Matthew and Eliza ( Cook) Guinn. His grandfather, William Guinn, was an early settler of Kentucky, where he passed the remainder of his life. His father was born in Kentucky, on September 16, 1821, and died on September 15, 1898, having lived within one day of seventy-seven years. His mother was born in Kentucky and died in September. 1880. Both father and mother were so situated in youth that they had limited advantages in schooling. They spent their lives in farm- (48)
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ing, and were well respected in whatever community they lived. Of their fourteen children, six are now living.
Robert E. Guinn was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on December 21, 1871. He attended the common schools, then, at his maturity, went to Illi- nois and took up farming. In 1899 he came to Clinton and began the study of law by correspondence. In 1908 he actively took up the practice of law, devoting to it his whole time. For four years before taking up the practice of law he had served as justice of the peace and was afterwards appointed deputy prosecuting attorney for his county. He is now again serving as justice of the peace and his decisions and methods of trying cases are com- mended by the bar of Clinton.
In November, 1892, Mr. Guinn was married to Mary E. Delaney, who was born in Illinois in July, 1876, and received a common school education there. . To this marriage were born seven children, Floyd, the oldest of whom, was eighteen in March, 1912. The remaining children are Lloyd E., Goldie Edith, Robert Pearl, Kenneth, Charles Harrison and Harold Franklin, and they form an interesting and attractive family. Mr. Guinn owns a handsome and conveniently appointed home in Clinton. In politics he is a Progressive. his religious affiliations are with the Methodist church, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen, the Owls, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is well known in Clinton and Vermillion county, and is looked upon as one of the rising and promising citizens of that community.
GUY H. BRIGGS.
There are few men in Vermillion county whose years number no more than those of the subject of this sketch, who can point to as many achieve- ments as his record discloses. He began as a farmer on a small scale on a rented farm, saved his earnings, bought land and prospered, entered the con- tracting business, in which his high executive ability enabled him to carry out successfully and profitably all his undertakings, and now he ranks among the foremost citizens of Vermillion county, than whom no one is better known. He is yet but a young man, scarcely in the prime of life, and the promise of his earlier life is that his future years will continue to be years of usefulness to his community.
Guy H. Briggs was born on October 9, 1874. in Vigo county, Indiana. Ilis education was received in the common schools and his boyhood was spent
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on the farm, where his observant nature led him to learn many lessons which were lost on many of his fellows less acute of perception. He farmed until his marriage, on December 15, 1895, to Theresa A. Reeder, the daughter of J. W. Reeder. She was born on October 7, 1872, and received an education similar to that of Mr. Briggs. The young couple went to housekeeping in a two-room cottage on a rented farm south of Clinton, on which they lived as renters for six years, at the end of which time they purchased the farm. Now Mr. Briggs owns three hundred acres of land in Vigo county, two hun- dred of which are tillable, one hundred and seventy acres in Clinton township, Vermillion county, and one hundred and thirty-five acres in Eugene township, Vermillion county, besides several smaller tracts, making his total holdings aggregate more than six hundred acres. For several years Mr. Briggs has been engaged as a railroad and gravel road contractor in Park and Vermillion counties and had a contract for goods for the Tuberculosis Hospital. The last two years he has devoted his time largely to the real estate business, and has shown himself as well adapted to this as to the other businesses with which he has been connected.
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are the parents of two children, Herbert Ray, born in June, 1897, who is now in the third year of high school at the age of fifteen, and Ruth Marie, born in February, 1906.
Mr. Briggs now lives in Clinton, in one of the most attractive homes in the county, and he also owns a beautiful country home designed in the colonial style. His fraternal affiliations are many, for he is a member of the Masons, the Mystic Shriners, the Elks, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Redmen, Modern Woodmen and Lions, takes an active part in all, and is well known fraternally in his own and neighboring counties. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and has served four years as trustee of his township, giving general satisfaction. Mr. Briggs is a jovial and entertaining companion socially, and these qualities have added to his popularity among those who know him.
ALLEN FRAZER.
It is signally consonant that in this work be incorporated at least a brief resume of the life and labors of Allen Frazer, who has long been one of the influential citizens of Vermillion township -- in fact, was born here and has spent his life in this community, being a connecting link between the present and the pioneer period in which he spent his childhood and of which he has
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many interesting reminiscences. Through his efforts his community has reaped lasting benefits, for his public spirit and exceptional business capacity have been directed along lines calculated to be for the general good. A man of forceful individuality and marked initiative power, he has been well equipped for leadership in his community, while his probity of character and his genial personality, obliging nature and common charitableness have won the good will and esteem of all who know him.
Mr. Frazer was born in the township and county where he is still living on June II, 1847, and he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Norris) Frazer. The father was born in North Carolina in 1815, and the mother was born in Whitewater, Indiana. William Frazer came to Indiana when he reached his majority, and located in Vermillion county, among the early settlers, estab- lishing the permanent home of the family in Vermillion township. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed in connection with farming, having entered some prairie land here. He built many of the first homes in this sec- tion of the state.
Ten children were born to William Frazer and wife, namely: Felix is deceased ; Alex is living in Dana, this county ; Allen, of this sketch; Melvin, now living on the liome place; Caroline is still living; Emeline, Albert, Johnnie are all deceased; Ann was next in order; Olive is living at Morton- ville, and Indiana was the youngest. William Frazer was a Republican. His death occurred in 1872, and his wife died in 1901.
Allen Frazer grew to manhood on the home farm and received a common school education. He began life as a farmer and, with the exception of four years when he worked in a saw-mill, has always followed general farming and stock raising. He has also done some carpenter work. He is the owner of one hundred sixty-nine and one-half acres in Vermillion township, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation, having made all the improvements himself. He has made a specialty of raising Poland China and Berkshire hogs and short horn cattle, and owing to the superior quality of his live stock they have ever found a very ready market. He has a good residence and substantial outbuildings.
Mr. Frazer was married in December, 1872, to Mandy Merriman, daugh- ter of Manson and Julia Ann (Sears) Merriman. Her father was an old settler of Tennessee, coming to Vermillion township, this county, in an early day and here followed farming. He and his wife are both now deceased. Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: The first died in infancy : Ura married J. Agra, and they live in Newport : James mar-
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ried Carrie Nichols, and he is farming in Vermillion township. Mrs. Frazer died on November 15, 1892.
Mr. Frazer is an ardent Republican and he was commissioner of his county in 1903, giving entire satisfaction to all concerned.
R. A. ALLEN.
Among the successful business men in Clinton, Vermillion county, Indi- ana. R. A. Allen, the foremost lumberman in that part of the county, ranks high as a man of ability, keen business judgment and unquestioned hon- esty and integrity. He started in business modestly and by his industry and determination has helped to build up a large business, and, as his education has been obtained through practical experience, he knows each department of the company's affairs and is able to understand the point of view of those whom he employs.
Mr. Allen was born August 20, 1851, in Vermillion county, Indiana. His parents were Alanson H. and Margaret (Fleming) Allen. His father was born in Indiana in 1827, and died here June 28, 1854. His mother was a native of Ohio, born January 5, 1834. and died February 2, 1902. Both of his parents received common school educations. His father was a saw- miller, and was highly respected in his community. Alanson H. and Mar- garet Allen had two children, but R. A. Allen is the only one surviving. After R. A. Allen finished his education in the common schools he wanted to go out into the business world and learn its ways from the very beginning. He started to work as a clerk, but only remained in this position for a few years. On December 18, 1889, Mr. Allen married Lu Martin, who was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on September 28, 1856. They have no children.
Soon after he was married R. A. Allen entered the lumber business and ran the yard for Whitcomb & Company. In 1904 he bought them out, with T. C. Martin as his partner, and they have been very successful. When they started Mr. Allen and Mr. Martin carried on their business in a couple of small open sheds. As they became better known and their business grew they had need of greater facilities, and in 1911 they built their present busi- ness plant, a brick structure one hundred and thirty-two feet by one hundred and fifty-nine feet, with an office building besides. They can now carry in stock about two hundred thousand feet of lumber. Aside from lumber, they handle all kinds of building material. including plaster, lime and everything
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that is needed in their community along that line. There are only two other lumber yards besides their own and they furnish lumber and building ma- terials for that part of the county. The business is now on a solid paying basis and both Mr. Martin and Mr. Allen feel rewarded for their work.
R. A. Allen has also taken an active part in the social and political life of Clinton. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Clinton and of the Christian church. Mr. Allen is an ardent Democrat, and though he has always been deeply absorbed in his business and has held no office, he has always afforded his party great aid in using his influence to sup- port it. Mr. Allen owns his home in Clinton, Indiana, as well as three rental properties and several lots. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Greeley county, Kansas. He has earned every step of his way to success and richly deserves it, and all along his way he has done his best for the good of those around him. Clinton may well be proud of his achieve- ments.
ROBERT HARRISON.
Among the wealthy, retired farmers now making their homes in Clin- ton, Vermillion county, Indiana, is Robert Harrison, a native of Virginia and heir to the blue blood, loyalty to opinions, and courage in standing for the right with which the oldest state in the Union seems to endow her chil- dren. Though born in Virginia, Mr. Harrison has long been a loyal Hoosier, and is now one of the most highly respected citizens and prominent men in Clinton.
His father was Benjamin Harrison, who was born in Virginia on Febru- ary 8, 1805, and died in Indiana on February 8, 1897, on his ninety-second birthday. His mother was also a native of Virginia, being born in that state on January 19, 1806. She died in Indiana in 1882. His parents came to Indiana shortly after they were married, believing that a broader field of work and richer rewards lay in what was then considered the West. His father settled on a farm in Vermillion county and was a very successful farmer. His friends and neighbors recognized the honesty and justice of Mr. Harrison and he was soon a leader in his community. He was made justice of peace and held that position for forty years, never being out of office. The justice of his decisions may be appreciated by the fact that no case that he decided was reversed when taken to a higher court.
Robert Harrison's mother was Jane Anne Bright, and she and her hus- -
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band had thirteen children, six of whom are still living. Robert was born in Virginia, October 11, 1831, and was one year old when his parents moved to Indiana. He was educated in the best common schools then offered by the state, which were very meagre, and spent his early boyhood on the farm.
On February 6, 1855, Robert Harrison married Elizabeth Fisher. She was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, June 23, 1833, but was early brought to this state and spent her youth in Vermillion county. She is the daughter of James and Elizabethi (Briscoe) Fisher.
After his marriage, Mr. Harrison became interested in farming on his own account and lived on his farm in Vermillion county for about sixteen years. He is now retired, having sold his sixty-six acres of land to his grandson, and is now living on his income, though still managing all of his own affairs. He and his wife are the parents of five children: Benjamin married Clara Ockerman, and they live five miles north of Clinton, in Helt township, Vermillion county ; James married Josephine Chun, and he is a mail carrier in Denver, Colorado; Annabelle is the wife of G. R. Hopkins and lives on a farm two miles west of Clinton; Jane Ann married Sherman Bullock, who is in the hardware business in Terre Haute, Indiana; Briscoe married Cora Sparks, and lives in Clinton.
Mr. Harrison is very comfortably fixed in Clinton, owning his own home and a couple of rentals. He is a leader, both socially and politically. He is a Republican and has always been a credit to his party.
WALTER G. PHINNEY.
This age might properly be called the electrical age, and the man who is an accomplished electrician holds a prominent place wherever he may go. Because of this fact Walter G. Phinney has quickly established himself in Clinton and Universal, Indiana. As he is eager for improvement along all lines, and is willing to work for any movement which means progress for his community, he has taken his place among the leading men in that part of Indiana, and holds an important place in the great Bunsen system which is giving the country the benefit of the coal fields in Vermillion county.
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