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 75
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 75
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PHILLIP A. ROBERTS.
The majority of the foremost people in Clinton, Vermillion county, In- diana, are connected with the coal mines in that part of the state. These coal fields are very productive, and it is only within the past ten years that the work there has become so organized as to give the public the benefit of the mines. Phillip A. Roberts is in Clinton because of the mines, as he is a successful and experienced miner.
Mr. Roberts is the son of William F. and Eliza ( Darr) Roberts. His father was born in Ohio October 3, 1837, and is still living. His mother, who was born in 1843 in Ohio, died in 1880. Both parents had a common school education. They had three children, all of whom are living. William F. Roberts was a farmer for a while, and then turned his attention to gen- eral merchandise, and is well known and highly respected in the community in which he lives.
Phillip A. Roberts was born August 13, 1871, in Iowa, and received a common school education. On the 8th of May, 1895, he married Mary Grace Hunter, who was born July 14, 1876, in Vermillion county, Indiana, and was educated in the common schools of this state. They have six children, all of whom are at home. Their first child was Don, and then come Doyne, Lloyd, Howard, Nellie and Elva.
Mr. Roberts has always been interested in coal mining and has had a
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broad experience in his work. He was first employed in the mines in Kan- sas. From there he went to Illinois, and then to Missouri. He came to Indiana in 1894, and went to work in this field, and he was with the Dering Company when they took the mine here, three years ago. He has been very thorough in his study of this work and understands the work through practi- cal experience. He now is superintendent for J. K. Dering Coal Company of the shafts in mines Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8.
Besides his work in the mines, Mr. Roberts has been very much inter- ested in all the affairs of the community and is proving himself an active and reliable citizen in Clinton. He is a Republican, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Clinton. He has been very thrifty and owns his own home. Such men, working out their own fortune, further commerce and add to the wealth of the district in which they live.
LEE ROY STEWART.
Among the successful teachers of Vermillion county, Indiana, stands the subject of this sketch, who has not only gained a high standing among his fellow educators, but has also attained a prominence in other lines of effort unusual in one of his years. Of a studious and investigating nature, he has not been satisfied with the simple routine of his professional life, but has delved into the past and by his researches into fields that to many offer little attraction, he has earned for himself high honor and distinction.
Lee Roy Stewart is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Dora Stewart and was born at the family home on the banks of the Wabash, near Newport, Indiana, on September 10, 1889. He attended the public schools, graduating from the Newport high school in 1909, after which he took special training in the Indiana State Normal School. For the past four years he has been successfully engaged in teaching in the common schools near Newport. "Skimmie," as he is familiarly called by his associates, has for some time been making a special study of aboriginal life in Parke and Vermillion coun- ties, and is already held to be an authority on Indian life in his territory. He is actively associated with archeologists all over the world, being an active member of the International Society of Archeologists. His collection of In- dian artifacts is the best in western Indiana. He is a very busy man, for, in addition to his regular school work and his archeological studies, research and writings, he finds time to write occasional articles for the Hoosier State, and has acted as special correspondent for several newspapers. "I sleep
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when I get time," is his slogan, and he pretty nearly follows that program, for he is indefatigable in his studies, keeps thoroughly up-to-date in his peda- gogical work, and has written several valuable and interesting volumes, among them, "In the Land of Wigwams," which is a resume of Indian life, manners, customs and implements, for busy students; "Mortuary Customs of Vermillion County" and "Mound Exploration of Vermillion County" are works which contain much valuable data and information, most of which has been collated and brought to light through the personal investigations of the author. Notwithstanding his busy programme, Mr. Stewart finds time to spend with his friends socially and is held in high esteem by all who enjoy his acquaintance.
On May 28, 1911, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Orpha M. Reed, the daughter of William H. Reed and wife, of Dana, Indiana.
PERRY HUXFORD.
This is an age in which the farmer stands pre-eminently above any other class as a producer of wealth. He simply takes advantage of the winds, the warm air, the bright sunshine and the refreshing rains, and with the help of the Creator and by virtue of his own skill in handling nature's gifts, he creates grain, hay, live stock and vegetables, all of which are absolute neces- sities to the inhabitants of the world. Nothing truer was ever uttered than that by the great Commoner of Nebraska : "Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy the farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city."
One of the leading farmers of Florida township, Parke county, Indiana, is Perry Huxford, who was born on April 9, 1867, on the old Huxford home- stead in this county, and he is a son of John and Matilda (Driver ) Huxford, a well known old family here.
Perry Huxford grew to manhood in Florida township and there went to the common schools, working on the home place during his school years. His father was well-to-do, one of the most substantial agriculturists of the county, and when the subject reached the age of twenty-one years the elder Huxford gave him three thousand dollars, and the lad started in life for himself, buying the farm on which he still lives, consisting of about one hundred and thirty acres of fertile and fine farming land on the Huxford road in Florida township. He has met with misfortune, but has never been the kind of man to admit defeat, always forging ahead, despite obstacles. At one time he lost
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one thousand dollars on hogs, but recovered from this set back in due course of time.
Mr. Huxford was married on February 19, 1887, to Mary A. Gellar, daughter of W. C. Gellar and wife, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Ivan R., who attended Purdue University, is at home; Tilla and Dilla, twins; Floyd is deceased; Bryan was next in order of birth, and Orvena is the youngest child. ,
Mr. Huxford is a member of the Christian church, and politically he is a Democrat, but he has never been in any respect a public man or seeker after public honors.
HARRY BALES.
The family of which the subject of this sketch is an honored representa- tive has been known in Vermillion county since the pioneer period and the record they have made has been one of which Mr. Bales can justly be proud. for his ancestors left a priceless heritage to their posterity, the memory of names and good deeds which time can neither obliterate nor dim. As a pro- gressive agriculturist he ranks among the leaders in the vicinity of the town of Dana and as a citizen he is public spirited and useful.
Harry Bales was born February 23, 1867; on the farm where he still resides, in Vermillion county, Indiana, and he is a son of Caleb and Mary (Jordan) Bales, both natives of Indiana, the father born in Helt township, Vermillion county, and here devoted his life successfully to farming and died here on May 12, 1901. The mother's death occurred in 1872. They were the parents of two children, Harry, of this review, and E. C., who is connected with him in farming.
Harry Bales grew to manhood on the home place and there began work- ing when but a boy. He received a good common school education in the neighboring schools and at the Dana high school. On September 19, 1893, he was united in marriage to Tott Crane, who was born January 14, 1867, in Helt township, Vermillion county, and there she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of Stephen and Mariam Crane, a highly respected family of Helt township. To the subject and wife one child has been born, Mariam, whose birth occurred on January 22, 1900.
Mr. Bales began farming for himself early in life and has always fol- lowed this line of endeavor. He and his brother are now owners of three hundred and six acres of finely improved and productive land. nearly all
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tillable but about sixty acres, and is fairly well tiled, most of the present in- provements having been made by the subject, except the residence, which was built by his father. General farmning, together with stock raising, is carried on extensively and most successfully, everything about the place denoting good management.
Fraternally, Mr. Bales is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias at Dana, and in his church relations he is a Methodist. Politically, Mr. Bales has for some time been active in the ranks of the Republican party. He was appointed county commissioner in May, 1911, succeeding Mr. Davis. deceased, and this position he has filled to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned.
JAMES H. ELLER.
Among the young men identified with the mining interests of Vermillion county who have gained a place among the leading citizens of their commun- ity is James H. Eller, at present the mine boss of the J. K. Deering mine No. 2, near Clinton. He comes of a family whose men have been accustomed to be leaders, and he himself is a strong representative of the ancestral virtues. His forefathers were residents of North Carolina, a state whose sons, wher- ever they have gone, have made themselves noted for their independence and aggressiveness, combined with a strong loyalty to duty.
James H. Eller is the son of Calvin and Sally (Hodge) Eller, and was born in Belmont county. Tennessee, May 21, 1869. Calvin Eller was born in Ashe county, North Carolina, April 12, 1830. He later removed from the state of his nativity to Tennessee. When a mere stripling he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war, and, in part as a result of his experience there gained, he was chosen a captain in the Confederate army, and fought entirely through that long and losing struggle, in loyal defense of the rights of his state. His war record was admirable, and exhibits him as a brave and fear- less leader, ever careful of the welfare of the soldiers under him. At the close of the war he became the superintendent of a cotton mill in Tennessee. and later, in the spring of 1881, he removed to Indiana. Here he was in- terested in the lumber business for a time, then turned his attention to farm- ing. He is now living in Fairview, Indiana, and in his old age is enjoying the respect of his neighbors. Sally Hodge Eller, his wife, was born in Ten- nessee, and died there in 1870.
James H. Eller, after spending his youth in connection with the lumber business of his father, entered the mines in 1888. His first work was in the
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Norton Creek mine, north of Clinton. Later he was with the J. K. Deering Company, and on June 26, 1911, he came to the J. K. Deering mine No. 2 as boss, which position he now holds. During his twenty-five years' experience he has thoroughly learned mining in all its branches, and he is one of the most valuable men in the service of his company. Fraternally, Mr. Eller is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows at New Goshen, and of the Red Men at Clinton. He is a member of the Methodist church, in which he takes an active part, and in politics has never swerved from the stanch Democracy of his fathers.
On November 2, 1894, Mr. Eller was married to Ida A. Battin, the daughter of Elijah and - (Newkirk) Battin. She was born in south- ern Indiana, on November 3, 1875. To this marriage were born four chil- dren, Margaret, Maud, Wilma and Grace, all at home, and these four charm- ing daughters make their home a happy one for their parents and for each other.
HENRY SHEW.
Henry Shew was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, November 14, 1815, and died at his home south of Clinton, Vermillion county, Indiana, May 12, 1904, being eighty-eight years, five months, and twenty-eight days of age. He emigrated to this state when but a boy, over seventy years ago, and settled on the farm where he died. He was married to Irene Hedges July 2, 1840, who was born December 3, 1823, in Clinton township. Her parents were William and Permelia Hedges, who came from New York and were among the first settlers of this country. She was the oldest of nine children. They established their home on a portion of the old Shew estate, about one-half mile south of Bethlehem church, the land having been pre- empted by his father, Daniel Shew. Here they spent their lives in content- ment, not alone enjoying the pleasures of the community, but making life pleasant for others as well by their kind and unselfish deeds.
To this union were born five children, Lysander, Lester, Mrs. Lura Ann Hay, of Paoli, Kansas; Mrs. Direxa Pinson and Mrs. Allie Boatman.
This family circle was not broken by death until March 8, 1900, when the youngest daughter, Allie, was called to her home beyond. Only a short period of four years elapsed when the father was called to his long rest. Now that Death had made his inroad into the circle, it was only another short period of three years when the mother was called to join those gone before. Her death occurred Monday, April 8. 1907, after an illness of only a few days with pneumonia.
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HENRY AND IRENE SHEW-A PICTURE OF PIONEER DAYS.
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With the departure of grandma and grandpa, the old home is left like the outgrown shell of life's unresting sea. Many are the friends who have missed their kind and loving words, but will always remember the beautiful life which they have left as a monument greater than any erected by mortal man. When contemplating the many happy reunions of relatives and friends at the old homestead, how sad to have to realize that its light has gone forever.
CLAY E. THOMAS.
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled; who fly from this occupation to that ; who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting schools, churches and property of the public. The family of which Clay E. Thomas, progressive farmer of Ver- , million township, is a most worthy representative is one of the old and highly honored ones of Vermillion county, who have been content to spend their lives in this locality, which they have seen develop from the wilderness to the high advancement which it claims today, and they have not only taken a lead- ing part in this work of progress, but they have lived honest and intelligent lives, lending their support to all measures looking to the general good.
Mr. Thomas was born on the old Thomas homestead in this township and county on May 20, 1867, and he is a son of Jacob and Eliza ( Bates) Thomas. The father was born in Vermillion county, on the same farm as was the subject, in 1838. The paternal grandfather of the subject was Eli Thomas, who was born in southern Indiana and who devoted his life to farming, coming to this county in a very early day and here he died. The father, Jacob Thomas, spent his life here and followed farming, and here his death occurred in 1896, his wife having preceded him to the grave in Sep- tember, 1874. They were the parents of two children, Clay E., of this sketch, and Omar T., who died in early life.
Ten children were born to grandfather Eli Thomas and wife, five of whom are still living, namely: Louise J., who married J. S. Lonberger ; Jerome B. lives in Cayuga; Winfield P. lives in Newport; Wesley D., a graduate of Wabash College, lives in Chicago; Harris P., also a graduate of Wabash, lives in Boston.
The father of the subject was a Republican, and he served as trustee of Vermillion township and was also county commissioner for six years. Fra- ternally, he was a member of the Masonic lodge at Newport.
(50)
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Clay E. Thomas grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a common school education. In 1892 he was married to Alta Jones, who died in 1901. To this union one child was born, Lawrence D. Thomas. The sub- ject was married a second time : in 1903 he was united to Almedia Walthall, daughter of William and Lydia (Branson) Walthall, old settlers of Ver- million county, farmers in Vermillion township, but they are both now de- ceased. Two children were born to this second union, Edgar W. Thomas and Lewis William Thomas.
Mr. Thomas has always followed farming and he has been very success- ful as a general farmer and stock raiser, being now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-eight acres, well improved and well cultivated. He raises graded logs, feeds and sells cattle, and is regarded as an excellent judge of all kinds of live stock. He has made all the modern improvements on his place himself, and he has a cozy home and substantial outbuildings. He belongs to the Friends church. His aunt, Mrs. Lonberger, is a member of the Eastern Star of Newport. Her husband was a Mason.
EDGAR R. HARRISON.
One of the most progressive and energetic citizens of Clinton, Ver- million county. Indiana, is Edgar R. Harrison, who has long been connected with the J. K. Deering mines in that part of the country. He is one of the foremost men in his community, always interested in every movement that tends to bring Clinton to the front in business and social life. He has used his influence to bring about cleaner political methods in that district, and has always stood for the rights of the laboring classes.
Mr. Harrison is the son of Clarence and Sopha (Weber) Harrison. who are both natives of Indiana. Clarence Harrison was born May 30, 1854, and is still living. His wife was born in 1861 and died in 1893. His father worked in the mines for a while, and was afterwards a policeman in Clinton. He had five children, all of whom are still living.
Edgar R. Harrison was born December 28, 1878. in Covington, Indiana, but the family left there when he was very young and came to Clinton, where Mr. Harrison spent his boyhood and attended the common schools. He was married to June M. Johnston, who was a native of Illinois, born April 18, 1884, and who received a common school education, supplemented by some special training.
During 1896 and 1897 Mr. Harrison was interested in a bakery. but
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he soon found that his father's experience had a strong hold on his life and he decided to become a miner. He entered the mines of the J. K. Deering Mining Company and worked very faithfully there until he became boss of mine No. 2. He now is the boss of the J. K. Deering mine No. 5, having held this position since the first of January this year. Mr. Harrison and his wife have had six children, all of whom are at home. They are Raymond, Mar- garet, Dorothy, Esther, Arthur, Katherine and Louise. They all live on the home that their father owns near the mine where he is now occupied.
Mr. Harrison belongs to Lodge No. 1199, Order of Owls, in Clinton. He has always been progressive in politics, voting for the best man, rather than being restricted to conservative party demands. He was councilman for a while and was very careful and just in his performance of his duties during this time.
Mr. Harrison's thrift and activities in the public welfare have made him a substantial citizen, and he is also highly respected by his neighbors and friends. Though we do not always appreciate the fact, it is the workers in a community who are representative of that community, for it is the product of their own toil, and with this as a standard, Edgar R. Harrison may well stand as a standard bearer in the ranks of Vermillion county.
ISRAEL LAKE.
The long, active and unselfish life of Israel Lake, one of the best known citizens of Hillsdale, Vermillion county, has been one of untold help- fulness, for he has been active in the ministry for a period of thirty-five years, during which time he has won an abiding place in the hearts of the hosts of people whom he has addressed on behalf of the higher life, but, being a man of humanitarian impulses, he has not only led a life of usefulness by word. but also by deed, and hundreds can attest who have been the recipients of his kindness. He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed men in this locality, being as familiar and as popular in Parke, Fountain and Warren counties, as he is in Vermillion, numbering his friends by the scores in all of them.
Mr. Lake was born about four miles west of the village of Hillsdale, Vermillion county, Indiana, June 28, 1837. He is a son of William and Margaret (Thompson) Lake, both natives of Indiana and both now deceased. They spent their lives on a farm, and were honest, hospitable and well liked
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by the pioneers among whom they resided. They became the parents of nine children, four of whom are still living.
Israel Lake grew to manhood in his native community and assisted with the general work on the home farm, and he has spent practically all of his life in his native county, which he has seen develop from a wilderness to one of the choice sections of the state, and in this development he has played no in- conspicuous role. Schools being few and of very inferior quality and the work of the farm hard and of a nature which could not spare him, young Lake had no chance to secure an education and he did not learn to write until he had entered the army, but this early lack of mental training was made up for later in life by home study and close observation. It was in 1861 that he enlisted in the Union army, in the Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry, in which he served very faithfully for a period of three years, lacking three weeks, under David Shelby and Capt. James Jordan. Mr. Lake saw considerable hard service, participating in seventeen battles and several important cam- paigns. After an honorable discharge he returned home and some time after- wards took up home study with a view of entering the ministry of the Christ- ian church, and in due course of time he began preaching and continued active for a period of thirty-five years, during which he served many congregations and built up the work in many places, converting hundreds to a new life and doing an incalculable amount of good in many ways. He has always been popular with the people of this section of Indiana, and he is still active in church work, still preaching at Hillsdale.
On November 12, 1908, Mr. Lake was united in marriage to Mary J. (Wilkins) Vinson, a daughter of Rev. Zephaniah Wilkins, who was also a minister. She has two daughters by her former marriage, namely: Anna E., who married John Lovelace, and Carrie, who married Frank Campbell.
Mrs. Lake is also a minister in the Christian church and has been doing a most praiseworthy work for years. Like her husband, she took the home study course for the ministry prescribed by the conference of that denomina- tion. She is still active in church work and is regarded by her very wide circle of friends and acquaintances as a woman of rare personal attributes of head and heart. She owns a good home in Stone Bluff, Fountain county, which she rents. Mr. Lake owns a cozy dwelling in Hillsdale.
Fraternally, Mr. Lake belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Montezuma. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and politically is a Progressive.
Mrs. Lake is a charter member of Rebekah Lodge No. 671, at Stone Bluff, Fountain county, Indiana.
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JOHN D. BURKS.
One of the first citizens of Parke county, who passed away during the early part of this century, was John D. Burks, for many years one of the most highly respected men in Howard township. He was a man whose un- questioned honesty and integrity made everyone trust him, and whose kindly nature and unprejudiced justice endeared him to all.
John D. Burks was born May 12, 1845, in Parke county, Indiana. His father was Silas Burks, a native of Kentucky. He died in Union township, Parke county, June 9, 1886. His mother still lives in Washington township. Silas Burks was a farmer, spending most of his life in Parke county. He had ten children, four of whom are still living. John D. Burks spent his early life on the farm in Parke county, attending the county schools, and working on the farm.
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