USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 60
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From reliable data the branch of the Sherwood family to which John D. belong's appears to have descended from one of three brothers who came to America from Eng- land prior to the war for independence. His direct ancestor entered the American army in the Revolution and was either killed in battle or died in the hospital, as nothing definite could afterward be learned concern- ing him. His son, Adaiah Sherwood, set- tled in Virginia, where he reared sixteen children, one of whom was David, whose birth occurred in 1802, and who in 1829, set- tled in Delaware county, Ohio, where he died January 23, 1873. James J. Sherwood, son of David, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, February 27, 1829, and at seventeen . Whitley county has done much to advance learned the tanner's trade. Later he started a tannery of his own in his native county. On February 22, 1875, Mr. Sherwood was married to Miss Jennie Sherwood, of but in a few years closed out the business
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the same family, their grandfathers having been brothers. Mrs. Sherwood was an effi- cient and popular teacher and a lady whose urbanity and culture have made her highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood have one son, Justus J .. who was born July 22, 1876, and who is a partner in the brick and tile business. Justus J. Sherwood graduated from the Columbia City high school and taught school in Thorncreek township, when he took charge of the tile factory, having since de- voted himself to that work, proving a ca- pable, straightforward business man. Ac- tively interested in public matters, he visited the Republican national convention in Chi- cago that placed Mr. Roosevelt in nomina- tion for the presidency. Mr. Sherwood is a Republican, and in 1888, was chosen town- ship trustee though in a normally strong Democratic township. But one trustee before him had been a Republican and none has been so chosen since. He is a Methodist and a contributor to the support of the church.
HEBER A. BEESON.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Whitley county, his birth having occurred February 10, 1878. and he is the son of H. H. Beeson, one of the county's substan- tial farmers. After attending the country schools he finished his academical education in the Columbia City high school, mean- time spending vacations on the farm, thus securing a "sound mind in a sound body," which is the most valuable of all possessions. At the age of seventeen he entered the hard-
ware store of William A. Tulley as clerk, but after three years returned to the farm for two years. He then entered the business college at Fort Wayne, and after a special course in bookkeeping, secured employment with the Provident Trust Company, but at the end of a year became bookkeeper in the Columbia City Bank, and in six months was made clerk and general assistant.
December 24. 1904, Mr. Beeson was married at Peru, Indiana, to Miss Lutrella Love, who was born in Kosciusko county, being the daughter of Rev. L. W. Love, at present minister of the United Brethren church, at Frankfort, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Beeson have an only daughter. LaVon Edna. Mr. Beeson is a Republican, a Mac- cabee and a Knight of Pythias.
FRANK E. KENNER.
Among the younger generation of busi- ness men in Columbia City, few are better or more favorably known than Frank E. Kenner, who is a native of Whitley county. and son of Andrew Kenner, and has spent his whole life where the name has long been familiar by reason of the family's identifi- cation with the county's interest. His birth occurred November 13. 1876, and from the time he reached school age he was busy with his studies in local schools, until in 1901, when he became a student in the busi- ness college at Fort Wayne, taking a course in bookkeeping. He soon secured a posi- tion as bookkeeper in the City National Bank, though in November. 1905. he was made general assistant. He is regarded as
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one of the capable and reliable members of the staff of this popular institution.
April 1, 1904, Mr. Kenner was united in marriage with Miss Addie K., daughter of David Hyre, of Thorncreek township. They have one child, Helen. Mr. Kenner owns a pleasant home on North Line street. The family attend the services of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and in his political affiliations Mr. Kenner renders allegiance to the Republican party.
THOMAS R. MARSHALL.
In glancing over the biographical history of the western states, any man who has not thought upon the tendencies of our popular institutions would be astonished at the num- ber of prominent men who have raised them- selves to high places of power and usefulness by their unaided energies. This fact, whil it is a source of honest pride in every American heart, also teaches a lesson of deep philosophy. It enables every right thinking man to rise in his own estimation and to put a juster estimate upon his own intrinsic worth. It proves to him that the seeds of ability and virtue have not been hoarded up for a favored few, but have been sowed broadcast among the people. Though all cannot gain the highest point, every ef- fort to attain it is an advance towards the great end of individual and national pros- perity and a benefit alike to the public, as well as to the individual that makes the effort.
The subject of this review has earned a place in the honorable company of self-
made men and stands four square to all the world, with a true conception of the respon- sibility of citizenship and a comprehensive grasp of those great questions and issues which test the standing of men in a free and enlightened commonwealth. When a mere boy he learned the great truth which so many fail to grasp, that energy is talent and time is capital, and throughout a long and satisfactory career he has acted upon this knowledge with constant and unvarying success.
Thomas R. Marshall occupies a position in the front rank of the northern Indiana bar, while his eminent legal abilities and long and distinguished service in the prac- tice of his profession have won for him an endearing fame throughout the state in which he has achieved such signal honors. Long a member of the leading law firm of Colum- bia City and ever active in promoting meas- ures for the public good, he has become wide- ly and favorably known among the people of his own and neighboring counties.
Mr. Marshall is a native of Indiana and dates his birth from the 14th day of March, 1854, being a son of Daniel M. and Martha A. (Patterson) Marshall, who were both descended from ancestry which has been il- lustrious in the country since a period ante- dating the war for American independence. Indeed some of his antecedents were quite prominent in colonial affairs and later a dis- tinguished member of his family, John Marshall, who served in the Revolutionary struggle, became chief justice of the United States and one of the world's greatest and most honored jurists. The paternal grand- father of the subject was Riley Marshall, who came to Indiana from Greenbrier count-
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ty, Virginia, in an early day and settled in Grant county, where he acquired six hun- dred and forty acres of land, on which the city of Marion now stands. He was an honored pioneer, took an influential part in the growth and development of the above county, after the organization of which he was elected the first clerk of the circuit court. The mother's family also includes the names of a number of men who achieved honorable distinction, among them being Charles Car- roll, of Carrollton, a hero of the Revolution and a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D .. LL. D., president of the Western Theological Semi- nary in the city of Pittsburg, was her uncle and one of her cousins. Rev. Lynn Milligan. chaplain of the state prison of Pennsylvania. has earned world-wide repute as a reformer. spending his entire salary to advance the interest of the work in which he is engaged. Daniel M. Marshall, the subject's father, a native of Indiana, studied medicine when a young man and in 1849 located at Wa- bash, this state, where he practiced for a short time, and then moved to Lagrange, Missouri. He was a politician of more than local repute, a firm and unwavering Demo- crat of the Jeffersonian school and after changing his residence to Missouri became actively interested in public and political affairs and made his influence felt as a zeal- ous and efficient party leader. As the re- sult of a personal altercation, with a mian by the name of Duff Green. he was forced to leave Missouri and, returning to Indiana. took up his residence in Kosciusko county, where he lived until his removal to Columbia City in 1874. He retired from the practice of his profession in that year and spent the
remainder of his days in honorable retire- ment, departing this life in 1892. Dr. Marshall was not only a learned and success- ful physician, but stood high in the esteem of the public in his different places of resi- dence. Personally he enjoyed great popu- larity, and by his pleasant, genial manner won and retained many warm friendships among those with whom he associated. In addition to his activity and influence as a politician, he was long deeply interested in the Masonic fraternity, with the sound and sublime principles of which his daily life harmonized. Mrs. Marshall was a native of Pennsylvania and a lady of refinement and varied culture. She was also noted for rare beauty and for those charms of person and manner that made her a favorite in the high social circles in which she moved and which her graces adorned. Even at the time of her death, which occurred on Decem- ber 9, 1894, at the age of sixty-four years, she had lost little of her prepossessing ap- pearance, and her beauty of face and form were rivaled only by her nobility of char- acter and sterling worth. The family of Dr. and Mrs. Marshall consisted of only two children, a daughter who died in infancy in Wabash county, and the gentleman whose name furnishes the caption of this article.
Thomas R. Marshall grew up under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of an ex- cellent home and, being blessed with su- perior parentage, his life early received the correct bent and impetus which in due time developed into a symmetrical, well-rounded character. In the public schools which he attended during the years of his boyhood lie received his elementary education, but pos- sessing a positive and self-reliant nature,
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and not being satisfied with the limited op- portunities thus afforded him, he subsequent- ly entered Wabash College at Crawfords- ville, where he prosecuted his studies until completing the full course, graduating in 1873 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. Having early manifested a decided preference for the law, Mr. Marshall began his preliminary study of the same at Columbia City in the office of Hon. Walter Olds, late of the su- preme bench, under whose instruction he continued until his admission to the bar in 1875. the day he was twenty-one years old. He at once entered upon the active duties of his profession and soon made his pres- ence felt as a learned, able and discriminat- ing lawyer, receiving in due time his full share of legal business, besides winning a conspicuous place among his fellow attor- neys of the local bar. During the first two years he was alone in the practice, but in 1877, he became a member of the firm of Marshall & McNagny, which rapidly forged to the front as one of the strongest legal partnerships in northern Indiana, and which in point of continuous existence is now the oldest, as well as one of the most success- ful firms of the kind in Indiana. its style at this time being Marshall, McNagny & Clugston, the last named gentleman becom- ing a member a short time after the year indicated above. The practice of this old and reliable firm takes a very wide range and the patronage, which is large and lucra- tive, is confined principally to the best class of people of Whitley and adjacent counties, in addition to which the different members are not infrequently retained in important
cases in other and more remote parts of the state. For a number of years no case of im- portance has been tried in the courts of Whitley county in which they have not ap- peared as counsel, and among litigants there has long been a rivalry as to who should be first to arrive at their office. Mr. Marshall has served both as city and county attorney and by reason of his high professional stand- ing and eminent fitness, he was universally recommended by bench and bar to succeed Judge Olds on the supreme bench, but mat- ters over which his friends had no control prevented him from being chosen to this high station. As a lawyer sufficient has been stated in the foregoing lines to indicate Mr. Marshall's strong mentality. ripe scholarship and thorough mastery of the basic principles of legal science and the abil- ity to apply the same to successful practice. He is easily the peer of any member of the Indiana bar, has long been recognized as a master spirit among his professional brethren of Columbia City and Whitley county, and by reason of his distinguished career he has achieved marked prestige in legal circles and reflected honor and credit on the state of his nativity. Personally Mr. Marshall is a gentleman of unblemished reputation and strict integrity and his private character, as well as his public and professional record, has ever been above criticism. He is a vig- orous as well as an independent thinker and has the courage of his convictions upon all subjects which he investigates. He is also strikingly original, prosecutes his researches after his own fashion and cares little for con- ventionalism or for the sanctity attaching to person or place by reason of tradition, arti- ficial distinction or accident of birth. He is
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essentially cosmopolitan in his ideas, a man of the people in all the term implies and in the best sense of the word a representative type of that strong virile Americanism which commands and retains respect on account of inherent merit, sound sense and correct con- duct. He has ever been a close student, not only of his profession, but of all the lead- ing questions and issues before the people, while his knowledge of the world's best lit- erature is both critical and profound. As an advocate he is strong, masterful and not in- frequently eloquent and before court or jury he presents the merits of his case in clear, concise, logical arguments and with a com- mand of pure, vigorous English. He makes a careful analysis of his cases, familiarizes himself with their every detail before going to trial and by his thorough preparation and skill in conducting causes, as well as by his logical and powerful appeals to juries, has made himself a formidable antagonist and one to be feared. He attributes much of his success at the bar to his uniform popularity with courts and juries and to a strict ad- herence to the rules of conduct he prescribed for himself at the beginning of his profes- sional career, which are, never to misrepre- sent the facts of a case, never to speak un- less he has something of importance to say, and never repeat what has once been said. He has ever kept in mind that although courts and juries are compelled to listen, per- suasion is impossible when compulsion is per- mitted to be felt. Hence he takes pains not to weary their patience, but addressing him- self at once to the strong points of his case. which he marshals in logical order, he makes his arguments clear, explicit and forcible, and when the story is told he is done. In
this respect, as well as in earnestness of man- ner and form of thought, he follows in the walk of some of the most illustrious mem- bers of the American bar. Mr. Marshall has substantial interests in a number of the leading industries of the city and county.
In Masonic circles Mr. Marshall is an honored and esteemed member and has risen to the highest standing in the order, receiv- ing the thirty-third degree on September
20, 1898. He has served as presiding offi- cer in all the local bodies and as grand- master of the grand council of Indiana, and grand high priest of the grand chapter of Indiana, in all of which high and honorable positions he has discharged his duties ably and faithfully. He also belongs to the Greek-letter society, Phi Beta Kappa, which was originally organized in 1770 by the subject's granduncle, John Marshall, and associates.
Mr. Marshall was married in Steuben county, Indiana, to Miss Lois Kinsey, Octo- ber 2. 1895. She was a daughter of Wil- liam E. and Elizabeth (Dole) Kimsey, prominent citizens of Steuben county. The family are Presbyterians in church relations.
ARTHUR S. NOWELS.
As early as 1828 David Nowels came from Virginia to Jasper county, Indiana, with his father, who settled on land pur- chased from the government. The former amassed a competency as a farmer and a stock-dealer and is now, at the age of eighty- five, a retired capitalist residing at Rensse- laer. His son, Charles D. Nowels, became a
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retail lumber dealer at Rensselaer, but sub- sequently removed to Parsons. Kansas. His son, Arthur S. Nowels, was born at Rensse- laer, Indiana, August 2, 1871. He gradu- ated from high school, and immediately thereafter entered his father's yards. becom- ing a partner within a year, and remaining such until 1898. He then went to Ham- mond, Indiana, spending a year and a half clerking for a retail lumber company. Sub- sequently he owned a yard at Geneva, In- diana, but came to Columbia City March 1, 1902, and purchased the lumber business of L. E. Humerickouse, which the latter had established some years before. Under his management the business increased largely, the sales being thirty thousand dollars the first year. January 4, 1904. the business was incorporated as the Columbia City Lum- ber and Coal Company with Charles D.
The subject of this sketch is a son of Arthur J. and Louise M. North, the former a native and lifelong resident of Columbia township. Mr. North's birth occurred at the old home place December 9, 1876, and his boyhood career differed little from that of the usual boy. Being ambitious of ob- taining a good education, he succeeded in graduating at the age of fifteen. In 1896 he began teaching in Union township and having a natural adaptitude for this calling, he met with such marked success that he continued to teach for five years. To fur- ther prepare himself he became a student at the Valparaiso Normal School, and also at- tended the State University, besides taking the Chautauqua course for two seasons at Winona Lake. At the present time Mr. Nowels as president, Arthur S. Nowels as . North is a bookkeeper in the Columbia City secretary-treasurer and manager, with a National Bank. He makes his home with his parents. He is a Republican in politics. capital stock of twenty thousand dollars. The firm handles all kinds of building ma- terial, employs five men and enjoys a fine trade, the annual sales amounting to fifty thousand dollars. . Arthur S. Nowels was BENTON ELI GATES. a member and treasurer of the school board for two years. The high school building was completed during the first year of his in- cumbency and his administration met with general approval. Though a Democrat, Mr. Nowels is no politician much less an office seeker.
September 14, 1892, Mr. Nowels was married at Rensselaer, Indiana, to Miss Cora Wasson, also a native of Jasper county. They have two children, Russell and Helen. Mr. Nowels' fraternal connections are with the Royal Arch Masons and the Knights of the Maccabees.
JOHN EDWARD NORTH.
The crowning glory of this Union is that the paths to wealth and to political, social and professional distinction are open to all. and there are few whose careers better illus- trate what can be accomplished by industry, energy and integrity than the gentleman whose brief history is herewith presented. Benton Eli Gates, attorney at law, is de- scended paternally from old English stock, but American in sentiment, as is attested by the gallant part taken in the war of 1812 by his great-grandfather, Thomas Gates, who fell in the attack on Baltimore while up-
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holding the rights of his adopted country. He left his native land in 1805 and in due time acquired all the rights and privileges of American citizenship. He joined the army in 1812 and bore the part of a brave soldier, sealing with his blood his devotion to the American cause. Eli S. Gates. son of Thomas, was born in Baltimore, in 1810, and when young emigrated to Hancock county, Ohio, where he died in 1843. His wife was Eleanor Ann Gorsage. Their son, John T. Gates, was born in Hancock county, in 1839, and is by occupation a plasterer. He married Sarah J. Eckert, born in Ohio, and of Scotch descent. Sullivan Eckert. the father of Sarah J. Gates. was born and reared in Hancock county, Ohio.
Benton E. Gates was also born in Han- cock county, Ohio, on the first day of De- cember, 1863, and in 1872, came to Whitley county, Indiana, with the history of which his life has since been very closely identified. He attended school in Columbia City and also at Findlay, Ohio, later taking a course in the Methodist college in Fort Wayne. At the age of eighteen he began to teach in Kosciusko county, and followed this occu- pation for several years, earning recognition as an efficient and painstaking instructor. Mr. Gates was attracted to the law as best suited to his tastes, and accordingly, in 1885. entered the office of Haymond & Royse at Warsaw, and was admitted to the Kosciusko county bar in June, 1888. In April the year following he came to Columbia City and formed a partnership with John C. Wigent. In 1894 the firm was dissolved, Mr. Gates succeeding to the business. Later Mr. Gates and Judge James S. Collins became associated, which partnership continued un- til the death of the senior member in 1898.
In January, 1904. the firm of Gates & White- leather was formed. Mr. Gates served as deputy prosecuting attorney from 1890 to . 1892, and from 1895 to 1898, and from 1902 to 1905. inclusive. he was county at- torney. He is careful and painstaking and well versed in the fundamental principles of his profession. His achievements have been the result of untiring industry, strict integ- rity and economy both of time and means, and he is therefore what may truthfully be termed the architect of his own fortune. A Republican, he has rendered valuable ser- vice in a number of campaigns. In 1902 he became a candidate for the judgeship. Whitley county remained loyal to him throughout the contest during twenty-eight ballots, and he also succeeded in securing a number of delegates from Noble county, but failed of the nomination by the vote of but a single delegate. Mr. Gates is now serving his third term as chairman of the Republican central committee of the county, and as such has devoted much time and means in fur- thering the party's interest. He is a skill- ful organizer, and leader, his ability along this line being cheerfully conceded by all of his political associates. In 1893 Mr. Gates assisted in organizing the Whitley County Building-Loan Association and was made its secretary, which position he has since held. In 1904 he helped organize the Columbia City National Bank, of which he has remained a stockholder and director.
On April 18. 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gates and Miss Alice C. Fesler, daughter of George and Sarah Fes- ler, of Kosciusko county, the father a popu- lar local minister of the Methodist church and a pioneer of Troy township, Whitley county, where he settled in 1843 and lived
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until 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Gates are the parents of four children, John Elmer, Ralph Fesler. George Scott and Benton Earl.
JOSEPH R. HARRISON.
Joseph R. Harrison, mayor of Columbia City and one of the leading public men of northeastern Indiana, is a native of Noble county, this state, and the oldest son of James M. and Mary J. ( Richards) Har- rison, whose family history appears else- where in this volume. Mr. Harrison was born on a farm in Green township, of the above county, May 28, 1862, and in his veins flows the blood of a long line of Scotch. Irish and English ancestors, com- bining in his physical, mental and moral fibre many of the sterling qualities and charac- teristics by which these sturdy nationalities have long been distinguished. The subject's early educational advantages were such as the public schools afforded. The training thus received was afterward supplemented by a high-school course in the town of Churubusco, where he made such a rapid progress that at the age of fifteen he was sufficiently advanced to pass successfully the required examination and obtain a teacher's license. After spending a couple of years in educational work he became deputy clerk of the Whitley county court, entering upon the duties of the position in 1879 and dis- charging the same with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public for a period of eight years, during which time he ac- quitted himself with commendable fidelity and won an abiding place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Retiring
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