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 77
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 77
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day and followed farming, becoming well known among the early settlers. John .\. Hughes was reared and educated in this county, and early in life took up farming here, which he has continued. Fourteen years were de- voted to the management of the county poor farm, which he operated with mnich success and satisfaction to all concerned. He and Ann Merriman were married on June 14, 1884. She is a daughter of Jonathan Merriman. To John A. Hughes and wife were born the following children: Beatrice, Ralph V .. and John Clyde, who died in infancy. The father is a member of the Methodist church. He is a Republican and was county treasurer from 1906 to 1910, filling the office with much satisfaction to all concerned. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- men of America. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of well improved and productive land.
Ralph V. Hughes grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the common schools of his neighborhood, and he followed farming for some time upon starting in life for himself. From 1907 to 1910 he was em- ployed in the county treasurer's office. After this he engaged in the grocery business for six months with Martin Hollingsworth, then entered the Citi- zens State Bank at Newport as cashier, which position he has since held to the satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank, being known as a courteous, obliging and strictly honest gentleman who merits the respect of all. Some time ago, in partnership with H. T. Payne, he purchased the New- port Hill Garage from S. M. Robbins, and this he still owns.
Mr. Hughes is a member of the Methodist church. Politically, he is a Republican, and is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Ma- sonic order, the Knights of Pythias, Order of the Eastern Star, Pythian Sisters, Royal Neighbors and Modern Woodmen of America.
GEORGE E. DICKENSON.
In any community, the man who is ready to accept new ideas that will help him and his neighbors, the man who looks the question of the common good of himself and his neighbors, politically, socially and in a business way. straight in the face, and whose judgment is not biased by prejudice and slander, is the man who is responsible for the progress of the community. If it were not for him the world would stand still. There are a number of such men in Vermillion county, Indiana, and George E. Dickenson, of Clinton. Indiana, holds a prominent position in their ranks.
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Mr. Dickenson was born on a farm in Fountain county, Indiana, Febru- ary 18, 1882, son of Joe and Emma Dickenson. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in the early part of the nineteenth century. He received an ordinary education in that state, and moved west, where he was occupied as an engineer. He married Emma Williamson, a native of Fountain county, Indiana, and they lived in this state for many years. Mr. Williamson died in Danville, Illinois, March 24, 1910, and his wife still lives in Clinton, Indiana. They had five children, three of whom are still living. Joe Williams is well remembered as a veteran of the Civil war, as one of those men who left their homes and families in the cause of the Union in 1864 and sacrificed some of the best years of their lives on the altar of the nation. His record of those days will be cherished by his descendants for many genera- tions.
George E. Dickenson lived the early part of his life on the farm, receiv- ing a common school education, which has been liberally supplemented by experience and reading. He was married July 24. 1905, to Bessie M. Peck, who was born August 24, 1883. From his youth Mr. Dickenson has been interested in coal mines, and in 1902 he became an engineer at Crown Hill mine No. 2, where he is still working. He is very much interested in progress in his work and is a member of the United Mine Workers of America. His' ideas are progressive along all lines and he is an ardent upholder of the new political party, which is the work of men such as Mr. Dickenson.
Mr. Dickenson has two boys, Donald and Ralph, and by training them with the new thoughts to which he has been so receptive himself he will for- ward his service to his community and his country.
BENJAMIN O. CARPENTER.
One of the well known business men of Perrysville, Vermillion county. Indiana, is Benjamin O. Carpenter, widely known for many years as pro- prietor of the local mills, a man who seems to possess just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and at the same time not appear over bold. As a result of these strong and happily blended qualities, Mr. Carpenter has not only met with a large measure of material success, but has won a host of friends throughout the locality of which this history treats, being well known to all as a man of influence, integrity and business ability and as a gallant veteran of the world's greatest war, during which he did what he could toward the perpetuity of the Union.
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Mr. Carpenter was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on September 12, 1842, and is a son of John and Ellen (Euel) Carpenter. The father was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1808, and his death occurred in December, 1868. The mother was born in Ohio and her death occurred in Indiana about 1843. John Carpenter followed farming in his earlier years, but later owned and operated a mill in Warren county. He took a deep interest in politics and was one of the first to ally himself with the Republican party in 1856 and encourage its organization. His family consisted of seven children, five of whom are still living.
Benjamin O. Carpenter received a good public school education. On January 31, 1867, he married Mary Davidson, who was born on June 3. 1848, in Vermillion county, Indiana, at Perrysville, and here she grew to woman- hood and received a common school education. She was a daughter of Dr. Fanton and Mary (Lacy) Davidson, a well known family of Perrysville in a past generation, Mr. Davidson being now deceased. To the subject and wife two children have been born: Bertha is deceased; Carl is married and is engaged in the telephone business in Perrysville, and at this writing he is serving as township trustee.
Benjamin O. Carpenter first began life for himself as a farmer, later turned his attention to the milling business in Perrysville, and this has since been his vocation. He now owns the Perrysville Flouring Mills, which turn out from two to four barrels of flour an hour, and, owing to the superior quality of the output, it finds a very ready market all over the country. He has been very successful in the milling business and is one of the best known mill men in this section of the state. Besides his mill property, he owns a large and pleasant home in Perrysville. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is treasurer and a steward-in fact, has long been one of the main pillars of the local congrega- tion. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order at Perrysville.
Mr. Carpenter enlisted in 1862 in Warren county, in Company D, Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Louis Stephens, and he saw much hard service, participating in many of the great battles of the war, including Stone's River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and those incident to the Atlanta campaign, in which he engaged for one hundred and twenty days, being in almost a continuous skirmish and battle. He then went to Lovejoy Station, where there was a fight, then was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, and was in the battle there, after which he did not see much service, having been mustered out at Nashville on June 6, 1865, and honorably discharged, after which he returned home and resumed milling.
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THOMAS GREGORY.
Among the chief assets of the self-made man is the broad and thorough knowledge he has of every detail of his business and his familiarity with the point of view of those who work for him, for, as a rule, the self-made man has started at the lowest rung. of the ladder in his particular line of business and climbed steadily upward through efficiency in every department. Thomas Gregory has in this way learned the business of mining, and the high position he now holds in that industry in Vermillion county, Indiana, has been won through his persistence and industry.
Vermillion county cannot, however, claim this man as a native. He was born in Lancashire, England, May 9, 1855, the son of William and Sarah (Derbyshire) Gregory. William Gregory was born March II. 1803. in Lancashire. England, and his wife was also a native of that country. dying there before her husband and son came to the United States. For the last twenty-eight years of his life William Gregory lived in Vermillion county. Indiana. His occupation during his whole life. both in England and in this country, was that of a miner and mine manager, and he was very successful in his work. He had eleven children, three of whom are still living. The boyhood of Thomas Gregory was spent in England. and from the age of ten years he was attracted to the mines, his highest ambition being to work in them and accomplish some of the enormous tasks which he witnessed in child- ish awe. As soon as he was old enough and had completed his common school education, his father allowed him to take some of the minor positions in the mines, and from that time on his progress in this work was steady. In 1875 he came to this country for the first time, and later came here perma- nently, settling in Vigo county. Indiana, where he lived for thirty-one years, up to November. 1911, when he took up the work in Vermillion county.
January 1. 1875. Mr. Gregory was married to Ellen Howarth, who also was a native of England. being born in that country in 1854. They have had eleven children, nine of whom are still living: Mary married Mr. Garwood, a mine boss near Bunsen: Samuel is dead: Sarah married Mr. Steward, of Shellville, Indiana, and they live in that place: Isabell married Mr. Tanner: James is attending Wabash College, and spends his vacations in the mines at Bunsen: William Gregory died; Eleanor is single; Elizabeth is living at home : Betty is dead. and John and Nina are living at home.
Mr. Gregory is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Order of the Owls, and is connected with the Travelers'
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Protective Association. In all his activities Mr. Gregory has always stood for the highest integrity and worked for the greatest good for the largest number. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and has been a Republican since he has been in this country. He has progressed steadily in his work, doing all the duties of every task carefully, and he has held every position in the mine from the bottom up. He is now superintendent of the Universal Bunsen Coal Company mines. He has thrived and now owns two pieces of property in Vigo county where he is highly thought of and respected as one of the best citizens and best informed miners in this part of the country.
DAVID W. GRIFFITHS.
Many of the commendable traits characteristic of the sturdy Welsh people are noticeable in David W. Griffiths, one of the efficient mine bosses of Clinton township, Vermillion county, and it has been through those traits of thrift, perseverance, fortitude and adherence to right principle that has caused him to win in his battle with the world. He has never had the habit of depending on someone else to do either his planning or his work, and when he had a given task to perform he took up the same with alacrity and care- fulness, believing in the old adage that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. He is also a man of integrity and always reliable.
Mr. Griffiths was born in the southern part of Wales, October 10, 1866, the son of John and Mary (Evans) Griffiths, both of whom were natives of Wales where they grew up, were married and spent their lives, never coming to America, and they both died in their native land. They were hard work- ing honest people.
David W. Griffiths grew to manhood in Wales and there received his education, and. believing that better opportunities existed for him in the United States than in his own country, or anywhere in the British Isles or the Continent, he set sail for our shores in 1883, when twenty-seven years of age, landing in New York City. Soon thereafter he came on to Danville, Illinois, where he took up mining, later going from there to Sullivan county, Indiana, thence to Clinton, Vermillion county, and here he has since remained. following the mines, in which line of endeavor he has become an expert and is at this writing mine boss of Crown Hill No. 4, which mine has a depth of two hundred and seventy-four feet and a capacity of seven hundred tons of coal daily. This mine is run entirely with electricity, having three motors, not a single mule being used about the mine. It is one of the best and oper-
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ated in the most up-to-date manner of any mine in this locality. The sub- ject's position is a very responsible one. He has charge of everything and is responsible for whatever is under the ground-machinery, men and equip- ment of all kinds. But he has everything under a superb system and no trouble is experienced, for he understands perfectly every phase of the mining business, and gives the utmost satisfaction to his employers.
Mr. Griffiths was married in 1887 to Maggie James, daughter of William and Jane James, and to this union seven children have been born, named as follows: Annie, who married John Wilson, of Clinton, this county; Jennie, Lizzie, Margie, John, Martha and Blodmen. The younger children are all at home. Fraternally, Mr. Griffiths is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and religiously he belongs to the Christian church.
GEORGE L. FINNEGAN.
Although George L. Finnegan has only been in Vermillion county a few years, he has made himself necessary to the community and is popular with his friends and neighbors. He has in his blood a Celtic strain which has enabled him to look at life with a half humorous, half serious attitude, and take all that comes to him in an optimistic and sensible way. This character- istic, together with his determination and his amiable way of dealing with his fellowmen, have given him a place of responsibility in the mines in Ver- million county.
Mr. Finnegan is the son of Patrick and Adilia (Mogan) Finnegan. His father was born in 1840 in West Virginia, and died in May, 1885. His mother was born in 1844 in Ireland. She came to this country at the age of eleven years, and she died on November 11, 1884. Both Patrick and Adilia Finnegan had a common school education. George L. Finnegan was born December 20, 1878, near Urichsville, Ohio. As soon as he finished his edu- cation in the common schools he went to Virginia, taking a position in the dry goods store of his uncle in Wheeling. He was not satisfied with that work and went to work in a printing office, where he stayed about a year. After this he became an apprentice with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From there Mr. Finnegan went to Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where he took a position with the Frick Coke Company.
On the 6th of September. 1905, Mr. Finnegan married Anna Belle Brow. who was born April 9, 1884, in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where she spent her girlhood days and received a common school education. They have had no
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children. After his marriage, Mr. Finnegan worked for several companies in Pittsburgh, chief of which was the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works. In 1910 he came to Illinois with the Bunsen Coal Company, with whom he had become identified, and from there it was the natural thing to come to Ver- million county, Indiana, where this company is largely interested. He came to Clinton in April, 1911, as master mechanic with the Bunsen Coal Company, and is proving himself to be a valuable man to the company. Mr. Finnegan is an Elk at Scottdale, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Catholic church, and is Republican in his political convictions. He is a man of broad experi- ence, and is so bright, intelligent and energetic that he is a great addition to the mining industry in Vermillion county, Indiana.
JUDGE A. GARWOOD.
One of the energetic young mine workers of Vermillion county who has been very successful in his work in the mines near Clinton, Indiana, is Judge A. Garwood. Great benefits for the whole state of Indiana are derived from these coal fields in Vermillion county, and they not only supply a large part of the state with this very essential product of nature, but bring to this part of the country the best miners in the United States. We have many examples of this, especially in those mines that are controlled by the Bunsen Company, and it is with this concern that Judge A. Garwood is connected.
Mr. Garwood is the son of Judge Levy and Milly (Grawl) Garwood, natives of Indiana. His father was born in the early part of the nineteenth century, and died January 7, 1873, his mother dying the same year. Both his father and mother had a common school education, his mother being a school teacher for a number of years. They had three children, all of whom are still living. Judge A. Garwood was born October 26, 1873. in Blackford county, Indiana. His parents both dying that year, the boy had to overcome many things when he was young that most children do not have to contend with. He received a common school education and married at the age of twenty-two on January 16, 1895. His wife was Mary Gregory, who was born in England on June 9, 1876. They have had seven children, namely : Nellie Gregory, deceased; William, Ninabelle, Thomas Lee, Judge, Norman and Eubert are at home.
Judge A. Garwood, as a boy, became interested in farming and as soon as he finished school he turned his attention to agriculture as his life work. Later, however, his attention was attracted to mining, and he gave up his farm
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and went to work in the mines in Fountain county, Indiana. For three years he was a street car motorman, and then he came to Vermillion and in 1911 he went to work with the Bunsen Company.
Mr. Garwood has been actively interested in the affairs of Clinton since he has lived there. He is a good, reliable citizen and has gained the highest respect of his friends and neighbors. He is a Redman at Bunsen and a member of the United Mine Workers of America. He is an industrious man and of the saving rather than the extravagant and careless type. Judge A. Garwood owns a home in Terre Haute, Indiana, but has not yet invested in property in Clinton. Indiana. Any community should welcome such a resident and Mr. Garwood has indeed proved himself worthy of esteem.
CHARLES M. LOWLOR.
Among the successful miners in Vermillion county, near Clinton, Indi- ana, is Charles M. Lowlor, who is a native of Indiana, and was attracted to this part of the state by the coal fields of the vicinity. He is now one of the most prominent citizens of Clinton, and is a man of influence both in the mines, with his fellow-workmen and among his neighbors and friends. He has taken an active part in the great machine which is giving the whole state the benefit of the coal, and his efforts have met with reward.
The subject's father was E. M. Lowlor, who was born December 22, 1847, in Indiana, and is still living, his residence also being in Clinton. His mother was Marguerite (Fulwilder ) Lowlor, who also was a native of Indi- ana, being born near Rockville. She died September 6. 1891. E. M. Lowlor has been a blacksmith nearly all his life and is very well known in his com- munity. He had four children, three of whom are still living.
Charles M. Lowlor was born October 12, 1870, near Rockville, Indiana. He spent his youth around the forge and helped his father a great deal in his work. After finishing the common schools, Charles M. Lowlor turned his attention entirely to the trade of a blacksmith for a while. In 1896, on the 5th of July, he married Emma M. Hall, who was born February 7, 1877, near Covington, Fountain county, Indiana. She had a common school education. Charles M. and Emma M. Lowlor are the parents of six children, all of whom are living at home. The first child was Lawrence, and then came Levy, Lola. James, Louise and Clyde.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Lowlor left his father's forge and started out for himself in the blacksmith business. He was dissatisfied with this
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work, however, and in 1903 he determined to take up mining. He got a splendid start, being made top boss at mine No. 16 with the Brouillet's Creek Coal Company, and he found the work very much to his liking and was suc- cessful in his position. Later he came to Clinton, Indiana, with the Oak Hill Coal Company, and soon went to work for the Ed. Shirkie & Bogle Mine Company as top boss, and now holds this position.
Mr. Lowlor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is active in the work, especially where his influence may be of value. He is a Demo- crat and a loyal upholder of the principles of his party. It is such men as Mr. Lowlor, honest, industrious, conscientious and progressive citizens, who form the main strength of this country, and, though not accompanied by the flare of torchlight and the beating of drums, it is the work of these men that counts in the end.
DR. FLOYD MORTON KEARNS.
One of the most promising veterinary surgeons of Vermillion county is Dr. Floyd Morton Kearns, of West St. Bernice. He is yet young in years, but he has proven that he has a great natural ability in his chosen field of endeavor and that he has very carefully and thoroughly prepared himself for his vocation. He has not been practicing long, but he has had most encourag- ing success and has already gained the confidence of the people of this section of the county, and a most successful future is freely predicted for him. Added to his skill and acute knowledge of the horse, is a genial and obliging manner and honesty of purpose, which have made him popular with those with whom he comes in contact.
Dr. Kearns was born on March 26, 1890, in Vermillion county, Indiana, and he is a son of Grant and Rose ( Richard) Kearns. The father was born on December 7, 1867, in Harrison county, Missouri, and the mother of the subject was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, on February 17, 1866. They each received common school educations. They are living in West St. Bernice, being very comfortably established, the elder Kearns being engaged in farming. They are the parents of two children.
Dr. Kearns was reared in his native community and there he received a good education in the public schools. Later he went to Chicago and took a full course in the Chicago Veterinary College, where he made a splendid record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1911. He soon returned to Vermillion county and opened an office for practice at
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the village of West St. Bernice, in the spring of that year. He has no compe- tition nearer than Dana, and therefore has an excellent field and has gotten.a most encouraging start. He has been very successful with all cases. In con- nection with his father, he owns a well equipped and modernly appointed veterinary office and livery barn, and they are well prepared to accommodate the general public and have a good trade, which is constantly growing. They are also owners of a productive and valuable farm of eighty-two acres at Hills- dale, nearly all under cultivation.
Fraternally, Dr. Kearns belongs to the Masonic order at Dana, and the Woodmen at that place. He has remained unmarried.
HARRY J. RICHARDS.
One of the deserving young men of Vermillion county who has won suc- cess solely because he has worked persistently for it is Harry J. Richards, one of the most expert machinists of this locality and who is now general fore- man of the round house at West Clinton, where he is popular with his em- ployers and the men, owing to his high grade work, his conscientious manage- ment and his genial personal characteristics.
Mr. Richards was born on August 9, 1884, at Bedford, Indiana, the son of G. A. and Louise (Evans) Richards. The subject's paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania. G. A. Richards was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. His wife, Louise Evans, also a native of this state, died on May 6, 1909. They were both educated in the common schools, and they were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living. G. A. Richards took up railroading when a young man and he made this line of endeavor his principal life work. For many years he was superintendent of bridge construction and was regarded as a most expert bridge man. He is now living retired.
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