USA > Indiana > Tipton County > History of Tipton County Indiana > Part 60
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Lewis Van Briggle was born in the county and township in which he has always lived. His birth occurred October 16, 1852, and his parents, Vincent and Elizabeth (Rogers) Van Briggle, both natives of Switzerland county, Indiana, had come to Tipton county shortly after their marriage. Vincent Van Briggle worked on his father's farm in Switzerland county and re- ceived such meager schooling as his neighborhood afforded at that time. The schools he attended were short subscription schools, the teacher's salary being
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raised by subscription among the various patrons of the school and the teacher boarding around. In such a school, usually conducted two or three months during the year, Vincent Van Briggle received a practical education which enabled him to carry on all of his business. After his marriage to Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Lewis and Druzilla (Phelps) Rogers, he immediately moved to Tipton county and here entered government land in Prairie town- ship. He continued in active operation of the farm until 1860, when he moved to Groomsville and engaged in the saw-mill business. In 1867 he re- turned to the farm and continued to manage it until his death, which occurred in November, 1877. He was very successful, both as a farmer and as a saw- mill man, and at his death was considered one of the most prosperous and substantial men of the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Van Briggle were born nine children; Elizabeth, wife of Harrison C. Patrick; Peter married Sarah Ridgeley; Druzilla died at the age of twenty ; Henry, who married Jane Hall; Edward married Julia A. Land; Mrs. Clara P. Lee; Luther died un- married; Vincent, who married Minnie Disbro, and Lewis, the immediate subject of this sketch.
Lewis Van Briggle was reared on the home farm and was instructed and trained in the best methods of cultivating the soil and raising crops. His in- tellectual training was received in the district schools of his neighborhood, and when a mere youth he began work in his father's saw mill. He has been interested more or less in the saw-mill business all his life. When he was thirty-five years of age he added the manufacturing of tile and brick to his business and continued the tile business until natural gas gave out in the county. He then engaged in the hardware business, at the same time handling gravel, in which lines of endeavor he continued for some time, but. finding that he was dividing his attention between his various enterprises, he sold out his interests in the hardware business and also his gravel rights and confined his attention exclusively to his saw-mill and agricultural interests. His saw- mill is well equipped with good machinery for turning out first-class work and Mr. Van Briggle gives his personal attention to all the work done, with the result that the product of his mill is eminently satisfactory to all of his cus- tomers. He has gained a very desirable patronage and his business is on a profitable basis. In his farming he has introduced the most modern methods of agriculture and is known throughout the township as one of its best farmers.
Lewis Van Briggle was married to Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of Rollie and Elizabeth (Haskel) Smith, and they are the parents of eight
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children: Arthur, who died at the age of three years; Peter, who died in boyhood; Ina, who became the wife of Cecil Davenport, and is the mother of four children, Roy, Esther, Mary and Arthur; Lela married, first, Oliver Henry, and she subsequently became the wife of Floyd Hobbs; she was the mother of one child by her first marriage, and three by the second; Walter, who married Hulda James, has two children, Herschel and Chester. Mr. Van Briggle's first wife died in 1893, and a few years later he married Mary (Cardwell) Smith, the daughter of Joseph and Matilda ( Edwards) Cardwell. Mr. and Mrs. Rollie Smith, the parents of Mr. Van Briggle's first wife, reared a family of fourteen children : Dudley, who married Martha Purvis; Hunnewell, who married Nancy Cobb; Enoch married Flora Griffith ; Thomas married Nancy Disbro; Noble, unmarried; Lucy, who died when young; Sylvanus, who married Matilda Orem; George married Sarah Warden; Hannah married Alfred McCreary ; Elizabeth, first wife of the subject ; Frank married Ellen Pence; Charles married Mary Cardwell; William died in in- fancy ; and John, who married Jane Shuck. Mr. Van Briggle's second wife was the widow of Charles Smith, and by her first marriage she had two children, Edith, who married Frank Moulder, is the mother of three children, Florence, Ernest and Mary A., and Oliver P., who married Maggie Miller and has four children, Mabel, Nellie, Dorothy and Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cardwell, the parents of Mr. Van Briggle's present wife, were both natives of North Carolina, and were the parents of twelve children: Lucy, deceased ; Pleasant married Julia Ragan : Ann M. became the wife of Absalom Day; Elizabeth married Monterville Purvis; John, who married Amanda Disbro, and after her death, Elizabeth Shuck; Lorinda married Samuel Runk ; Clarinda became the wife of Ross Ashpaugh; James married Jane McIntire; Noah, who married Amanda Shuck, and after her death, Diana Bridgett ; Mary, second wife of Mr. Van Briggle, and George, who died in infancy; Alva, who married Myrtle McIntire.
Mr. Van Briggle has always given his hearty support to the Democratic party and during all of his career as a citizen in this county he has never held any other office than that of township assessor. However, he takes an intelli- gent interests in the political issues of the day and is well informed as to the principles of his party. He is a member of the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons and a devout member of the Missionary Baptist church, of which denomination he has been a trustee for several years. His life has been a busy and useful one and from his early youth he has depended entirely upon his own labors. All he possesses has been won through strong determina-
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tion and persistent purpose. He is well known in this locality for his sound integrity and honorable character and as a highly respected citizen he has won the admiration of his friends and acquaintances.
LOT S. ULRICH.
More than fifty-two years have dissolved in the mists of the past since the subject of this sketch was ushered upon the scenes of acting in this world, and in the lapse of more than half the century he has built for himself a solid reputation as a progressive farmer and a public-spirited citizen in the com- munity which has been favored by his residence. He has an eminently credit- able record of an industrious, conscientious man, who by an upright life has won the confidence of all with whom he mingles and has stamped his individ- uality upon the community of which he has so long been a resident.
Lot S. Ulrich, the proprietor of an eighty-acre farm in Liberty township, was born April 15, 1862, in the township where he has spent his entire life. His parents were Jonathan S. and Mary J. ( Naylor) Ulrich, and to them were born five children : Ryneldo, deceased; Edward, deceased; Thomas D., Lot S. and Silas A.
Jonathan S. Ulrich was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1826, and died in Tipton county, Indiana, in 1886. Mary J. (Naylor) Ulrich was born in Ripley county, Indiana, in 1828, and died in Tipton county, Indiana, in 1914.
Lot S. Ulrich, the subject of this sketch, received a good practical edu- cation in the Sharpsville schools and has continued to improve his mind since leaving the school room by extensive reading and close observation of the various events of the day. When still a young man his father relied upon him for assistance in the management of his large farm and in this way he gained much valuable experience which has been of great value to him in after life. Upon the death of his father, in 1886, although he was then only twenty- four years of age, he assumed complete control of his father's extensive hold- ings and has continued in that capacity since that time.
Mr. Ulrich married Elva W. Baxter, the daughter of J. K. and Ellen Baxter, and this union has been blessed with five children, but one of whom is living, Mary Ellen.
Lot S. Ulrich has for a number of years past been one of central In- diana's most scientific and successful stock feeders, marketing each year several
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thousand dollars' worth of finished live stock. He also applies. the same scientific method to his farming in general.
In the year 1906 Lot S. Ulrich was the promoter and organizer of the Sharpsville Cemetery Association and became its first president and two years later he became secretary of the association, which office he still holds. In the same year he was the organizer and became manager of the Sharpsville Cornet Band, and still remains a member of this organization. Politically, his in- terests have always been with the Republican party and has always worked to the welfare of the community and state. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Order of the Eastern Star and Maccabees.
DAVID W. ŞHUCK.
For many years this sterling citizen has occupied a distinctively promi- nent place among the leading farmers of the township in which he lives, while a continuous residence in Tipton county of many years has given him wide publicity and an honorable name throughout his county. His success has been due to his superior intelligence, sound judgment and well-directed in- dustry, while his generous nature, broad utilitarian principles and eminently progressive ideas have won him the respect of his fellow citizens and made him in no small degree a leader of thought and opinion in his community.
David W. Shuck cannot claim Indiana as his native state, his birth hav- ing occurred in Kentucky December 11, 1859. His parents, James B. and Eliza (Shuck) Shuck, were natives of Henry county, Kentucky, and after their marriage they moved to Shelby county, that state, where the subject of this sketch was born. Here they continued to reside until 1871, when they came to Tipton county, Indiana, where they have since lived. Upon coming to this county, James B. Shuck purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has continuously resided since coming to the county. To Mr. and Mrs. James Shuck were born thirteen children, seven of whom are living : Sarah became the wife of John Peters, and after his death she married Strand Sanford; John, who married Charity Winsworth; Mrs. James Graham; James A., who married Ida Woods; Richard M. married Susan Atkinson; Mrs. Lucy Rayle ; the other six children all died in childhood.
During the years of his childhood and youth, David Shuck attended the schools of his neighborhood and received a practical education which has been all sufficient for his needs. After leaving school he worked on his father's
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farm until he was twenty-three years of age, when he and his brother, John, began to follow ditching as a profession. For the next five years they were engaged in this line of endeavor, their work being a part of the contract which called for extensive draining throughout the county. At the age of twenty- five, Mr. Shuck was married and at once bought a farm of forty acres, and after operating this tract for three years, he sold it and bought his present farm of seventy-eight acres. Although beginning in a modest way, his in- dustry and well-directed energies have enabled him to make steady and sub- stantial progress and but few years elapsed after his marriage until he found himself on the high road to success. The lessons learned in youth he found of especial value, as they proved the stepping stones on which he mounted to a higher plane of endeavor. He had true thrift and economy instilled into his mind by his parents, and these qualities later enabled him to master details and utilize all his efforts in the accomplishment of that which he set out to achieve.
Mr. Shuck was married to Sarah Carter, the daughter of Thurston and Amanda Carter, and to this union there were born four children: Grover. who married Lillie Orr, has one daughter, Evelyn: Elizabeth, who married Vernon Harlow, is the mother of three children, Vivian, Margaret and Sarah E., while the two youngest sons, Everett and Noel, are still under the par- ental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Carter, the parents of Mrs. Shuck, had a family of five children, Elizabeth, Edmond, Sarah and two who died in in- fancy. Elizabeth married James Shuck first and after his death married Jonathan Cardwell, who died a few years later, and she then married Thomas Brooks: Edmond married, first, Dora Thacher, and second, Catherine Gross.
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Mr. Shuck has been a strong and prominent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and never hesitates to assign a logical reason for his political views, being well grounded in the principles on which his party is based and thoroughly informed relative to the leading public questions and issues of the day. However. he has never been a candidate for any public office, being content to serve as a worker in the ranks and devote his attention . to his agricultural interests. He has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Groomsville, Indiana, and for the past five years has been a trustee in the church. Mr. Shuck is a sound, practical business man and his career in every respect has been eminently creditable, as well as successful. It is true that in the present day the successful farmer must of necessity be a successful business man. The same good common sense and mature judgment which makes a successful manufacturer also makes a successful farmer. Mr.
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Shuck is a man of pleasing personality and he and his good wife are active members of the social life of their community, where they number their friends and acquaintances in a wide circle. The lives of such people are a benefit to any community and are such as to win for them the commendation of all with whom they come in contact.
EDWARD J. EDMONDS. 1
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In past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of commercial activity and those whose names are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become leaders in the business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter, and the victor is he who can most suc- cessfully establish, control and operate commercial interests. Mr. Edmonds is unquestionably one of the strongest and most influential of the men whose lives have been an essential part in the history of Tipton county. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and execut- ing the right thing in the right place and time are the chief characteristics of the man. These, combined with every-day common sense and guided by strong will power. are concomitants which will insure success in any un- (lertaking.
Edward J. Edmonds, the son of Jacob and Sarah (Ingraham) Edmonds, was born in Canada, September 15, 1877. Both his parents were natives of Michigan, and reared in that state four children to maturity: David B., of Elwood, Indiana : Cora, the wife of E. T. Bentley, of Detroit, Michigan; Mina D., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Edward J.
The father of the subject was reared in Michigan and has been a dealer and manufacturer of barrel hoops. He and his wife still live at Pinconning, Michigan. He was a soldier in the Civil war and served three years under the great cavalry leader, Gen. Phil Sheridan. After the war he went to Port Huron, Michigan, and entered into the lumber business. The paternal grand- parents of Mr. Edmonds lived in Michigan, where they died at an advanced age. They reared four children, Jacob. Isaac, David and Susanne. The maternal grandparents also lived in Michigan near Port Huron, and died at an old age. They had two children, Sarah and Mary.
Edward J. Edmonds was raised at Smith's Creek, near Port Huron, and began his early education at Kawkawlin, and finished his schooling at Pin-
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conning, Michigan. He then entered the railroad service, and worked for the Michigan Central Railroad at Pinconning. He was transferred to South Bend, where he continued in railroad work. Later he entered the railroad office at Elwood, Indiana, working for the Elwood, Anderson & Lapel Rail- road. In 1905 he came to Tipton, and three years ago he established his present automobile and garage business. He has one of the largest and best equipped garages in the state of Indiana, and serves an increasing business all the time.
On the 7th day of June, 1904, Mr. Edmonds married Estella Anderson, daughter of Careb and Jerusha Jane Anderson. Mrs. Edmonds is a member of the Christian church. She was born in Tipton, Indiana, her parents being natives of the county. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war. She has one living sister, Frances E.
Politically, Mr. Edmonds is a stanch member of the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is all that a man should be and deserves the well-earned popular- ity throughout the community in which he lives.
WILLIAM J. MINER.
Among the men of a past generation of Tipton county, Indiana, who have been known for their uprightness in life, common sense and moral worth. the late William J. Miner stands as a conspicuous example. He was not only a progressive man of affairs, successful in business pursuits, but a man of modest and unassuming demeanor and a fine type of the successful. self-made American. During his long career in Tipton county, he was always ready to aid in every good work and was always active in the support of laudable public enterprises.
The late William J. Miner was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, August 4, 1837, the son of Richard and Linda Mira (Jackson) Miner, the father a native of Union county, this state, and the mother of Wayne county, Indiana. They were the parents of eleven children: William J .; Louisa, who married Joseph Hawsher; Melvin, of Lawton, California; James M., who died at the battle of Chickamauga ; Jabez E. ; Sylvanus, deceased; Jasper M .. deceased; Laura, who died when young ; Medora J., widow of Charles Barnes, of Elwood, Indiana ; Frank A., deceased, and Mary, who died when one year old .
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Richard Miner was a farmer in young manhood in Union county, In- diana, and came to Tipton county about 1843, locating in the eastern part of the county, where he engaged in farming for some years. He also served as judge of the probate court while living on the farm and for more than fifteen years served as justice of the peace in the county. His death occurred in Elwood in 1875, in his sixty-fourth year, his wife surviving him a number of years and dying at the age of eighty-six years. He and his wife were both loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was a local preacher of that denomination. He was a stanch Democrat all his life and took a con- spicuous part in political campaigns.
The paternal grandparents of William J. Miner were pioneers in Union county, Indiana, where they lived to a ripe old age. They came from North Carolina and reared a large family in this state: Noah, James, William, Richard, Jabez, Adam, Garrison, Joseph, Hezekiah and Anna. The maternal grandparents were James and Martha Jackson, both being pioneers of Wayne county, Indiana. Early in life they moved to Marion county, this state, where they lived for the remainder of their days. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were the parents of a large family, Isaiah, Newton J., Carter T., Nancy, Rachel, Re- becca, Linda Mira, Sarah and Perlina.
William J. Miner came from Hendricks county, Indiana, to Tipton . county with his parents when he was four years of age. All of his schooling was received before he was fourteen years old, and at that time he went to Elwood, where he clerked in a store for about a year. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a wagon-maker and worked at that trade until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served three full years in the war, going out as a private, was soon promoted to sergeant, then to second lieutenant and finally to first lieutenant. He participated in thirteen battles and skirmishes, was twice hit with minie balls, but only slightly wounded. After the war he went back to Elwood, where he engaged in the dry goods and hardware business, also maintaining stores for a time at Franklin and Windfall. During his career as a merchant he served as trustee of Wildcat township, Tipton county, and in 1886 he was elected county auditor, filling that office for four years. Following his terin as county auditor, he went into. the abstract business in Tipton with Messrs. Clark and Seright, which firm continued together for several years. Mr. Seright then withdrew and the firm continued under the name of Clark & Miner, incorporated with a capital stock of nine thousand dollars. " They have the most complete set of abstract
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books in the county. Mr. Miner was actively identified with the various busi- ness interests of Tipton and was for many years president of the Citizens National Bank. In fact, he was its president from the organization of the bank. It was organized first as a state bank, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and was later incorporated as the Citizens National Bank, with a capi- tal stock of one hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Miner was married on April 24, 1866, to Elizabeth M. Guisinger, daughter of Dr. John and Mrs. Guisinger, and to this union were born three children : Orpha, the wife of Frank J. Bower, who lives in Tipton, and is the mother of five children, Paul, Miner, John, George and Elizabeth, deceased; Gertrude still lives at home; Paul died April 25, 1912; he was married to Nellie M. Mavity and left one child. Ruth. Mrs. Miner was a native of Ohio, her father being also a native of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Guisinger reared a large family, Martha, Elizabeth M., Mary, Minerva A,, Margaret, Amanda, Nora, Catherine, Nettie, Frank, Earl. Walter and several who died while young.
Mr. Miner was a stanch Democrat and was more or less actively identi- fied with politics in the county all his life. As has been stated, he held two public offices at the hands of his party and performed efficient service for the citizens of the county. All the members of the family are adherents of the Catholic church and contribute liberally of their means to its support. Mr. Miner will be remembered as a manly man of pleasing, but dignified presence, a student and an influential man in the circles in which he moved. Of good character and unflagging energy, he stood as a conspicuous example of well- developed American manhood, and his position as one of the community's representative citizens was conceded by all who knew him. His death oc- curred on November 10, 1913, aged seventy-six years. At the time of his death the following resolutions were adopted by the board of directors of the Citizens National Bank of Tipton :
"Whereas, William J. Miner has been called from his earthly home to return to his Heavenly Father and to join the companionship of the noble dead :
"Therefore, be it resolved by the remaining members of the board of directors of the Citizens National Bank of Tipton. Indiana, that. in the death of William J. Miner, who was unanimously chosen president of the bank during its existence, we deeply feel the loss of our honored and respected president.
"In all his business relations he was calm, considerate and judicious. He
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was ever ready to accommodate and render justice to his fellow man. In the midst of his earthly affairs, even when under the stress of bodily affliction, he ever maintained a cordial relationship with his brother men and fervently gave the love of his heart to his Creator. All who entered into his acquaint- anceship learned to respect and to love him. His venerable countenance will be greatly missed in the monthly meetings of the directors of the bank; and we, as officers of the bank, from our intimate relations with William J. Miner, bear witness to his sterling honesty and exalted character. We tender our sincere sympathy and condolence to his bereaved widow and family.
"Resolved, That a copy of the resolutions be entered on the records of the Citizens National Bank, that a copy be delivered to the widow and a copy be published in the Tipton Daily Times and the Tipton Daily Tribune.
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