USA > Indiana > Indiana and Indianans : a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood, Volume V > Part 37
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From here he went to Indianapolis to accept a more important position as mana- ger of the carpet department of the W. M. H. Block Company. He was there six
years, and then for a year was manager of the cloak department of the May Com- pany, proprietors of one of the largest de- partment stores of St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1904 Mr. Gates came to Anderson and bought the bankrupt stock of Longnecker & Tate at 813 Meridian Street. He had only $1,100 of actual capital, but he soon had the business revived and prospering, with a growing trade, and from time to time it was necessary to enlarge his quar- ters and when further expansion was de- sirable he started his first branch house in 1913 at Muncie, while in 1915 he opened another branch at Fort Wayne and in 1916 established a house at Dayton, Ohio. All these branches are now doing well and the annual aggregate business is estimated at a value of fully $750,000. The business is incorporated, with Mr. Gates as president of the company. The firm employs 140 people and does business all over the Mid- dle West.
Probably the principal factor contribut- ing to Mr. Gates' success in merchandising is his faculty of infinite detail work, which has become habit and second nature with him and enables him to comprehend and direct the operations of his business even now when it is several times as large as when it was established.
Mr. Gates is also a director and stock- holder in the Anderson Banking Company, the Farmers' Trust Company, is a stock- holder in the Hill Trip Company of An- derson and the Hill Standard Company of Anderson. He also owns 640 acres of land in Saskatchewan, Canada, and this farm produced in one season 38,000 bushels of oats.
At the age of twenty-three, in 1896, Mr. Gates married Lenna Feast, daughter of Thomas S. and Barbara Jane (Bronenberg) Feast. They have one daughter, Virginia, born in 1905. Mr. Gates is independent in politics, is a member of the First Presby- terian Church, is active in the Rotary Club, and has earnestly identified himself with every movement for the general wel- fare of his city. He is affiliated with Mount Moriah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Anderson, and also with the Chapter, Council, and Commandery of the York Rite, with the thirty-second degree Consistory of the Scottish Rite and with the Mystic Shrine.
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WILLIAM TAYLOR STOTT, D. D., LL. D. Indiana perhaps more than other states has cherished and paid honor to men and women whose work and ambitions have been directed unselfishly to the enlighten- ment and welfare of humanity - work never measured by wealth or any material standards. To that already long list which is so peculiarly the glory of this state there deserves to be added the name of Dr. Wil- liam Taylor Stott, who was a brilliant sol- dier in the Civil war, was a minister and of a family of ministers of the Gospel, for over thirty years bore the burdens and re- sponsibilities of the presidency of Frank- lin College, and was president emeritus when he died November 1, 1918.
Doctor Stott was named for his grand- father, Rev. William Taylor Stott, who was born in Kentucky of Scotch ancestors. His religious zeal carried him into the sparsely settled neighborhood of Madison, Indiana, and later he made his home at Vernon. A giant in physical appearance, his mental equipment matched it well, and through his preaching more than 1,000 converts were baptized and added to the church. His work took him in fact all over the state. His last charge was at North Ver- non. More than fifty years he preached at Vernon. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 under General Hull. His death took place at the home of his son near North Vernon at the age of ninety. Long life, well balanced mental and physical powers, equanimity, earnestness and hard work seemed to have characterized all members of this family. Grandfather Stott's wife was Mary Ann Stott, and they had a fam- ily of three sons and four daughters.
Rev. John Stott, father of Doctor Stott, was born in Kentucky and married Eliza- beth Vawter. Her ancestry was no less distinguished. Her father, Richard Wil- liam Vawter, a native of Kentucky, also came to Indiana as an early day preacher. His first settlement was near Madison, but he later located at Vernon, and died there in 1868, at the age of ninety years. He was a son of Rev. Jesse Vawter, a Baptist minister. The Vawters are of French and English descent.
Rev. John Stott and wife came from Kentucky to Indiana about 1820, and after a brief residence near Madison located at North Vernon. For ten years they lived on the same farm in Jennings County, and
moved to Franklin a short time before they died. Rev. John Stott died in December 1887, at the age of seventy-seven, and his widow survived until November, 1893, when she had lived eighty-three years. Rev. John Stott as a Baptist minister had a number of charges in Jennings County as well as in other parts of the state. For a number of years he ministered to the parish known as Geneva parish at Greens- ville, Indiana, Graham, Brush Creek, and Zenas parishes in Ripley County. His last pastorate was at North Vernon. He and his wife had five children: Vawter, who died in infancy; Martha, wife of Maxa Monctieth, of Franklin; Dr. William T .; Miss Mary F., of Franklin; and Maria J., deceased, who was the wife of James N. Chaille.
Dr. William Taylor Stott was born in Jennings County, near Vernon, May 22, 1836. He spent his boyhood days on the farm near Vernon, was given his early edu- cational advantages in the academy at Sar- dinia, and with that preparation entered Franklin College in 1856-57, graduating in 1861. The July following his graduation he enlisted as a private soldier in Company I of the Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, with Thomas Pattison as colonel commanding. His ability was marked, was early recog- nized by his superiors, and he was pro- moted to captain of his company. With the Eighteenth Indiana he fought the en- tire war around the Confederacy, begin- ning with the campaigns in Missouri and Arkansas, continuing until the Mississippi River was freed of its Confederate strong- holds, and finally going east to the great battlegrounds in Virginia. In this time be took part in the battles of Blackwater, Sugar Creek, Pea Ridge, Cotton Plant, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Big Black River, Vicksburg, Mustang Island, Fort Esperanza, Baton Rouge, Berryville, Hall Town, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Newmar- ket, and Cedar Creek. The climax of his military career came at the famous battle of Cedar Creek. During the fighting Ma- jor Williams had fallen, and at this criti- cal moment Captain Stott assumed com- mand of the regiment, reformed his men, and with rare ability and coolness led them to the close of that never to be forgotten day. As a soldier, in camp, on the march or in the field, Doctor Stott maintained those qualities which now and at all times
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have made the really great soldiers-self possession, earnestness, perseverance, reso- lution-in short, character. On May 10, 1865, he was mustered out, having served continuously more than three years and six months.
At the close of the war Doctor Stott en- tered Rochester Theological Seminary, where after three years he graduated. He had received the degree A. B. from Frank- lin College, and in 1872 Kalamazoo Col- lege in Michigan awarded him the degree Doctor of Divinity, and he had the honor- ary degree Doctor of Laws from Shurtleff College in 1899 and from Franklin Col- lege in 1905.
Doctor Stott was ordained to the min- istry in 1868, and was pastor at Columbus, Indiana, during 1868-69. In. 1869 he was called to the chair of natural science in Franklin College, and during the first year was acting president of the institution. In 1872 he became a professor in Kalamazoo College at Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the chair of chemistry and physics. In a few months after Franklin College had been reorganized he was asked to assume the grave responsibility of its presidency. He remained president of Franklin College from 1872 to 1905, and in 1905 was elected president emeritus. As head of one of the state colleges of Indiana Doctor Stott showed most commendable executive abil- ity, and throughout the years exhibited a breadth of culture, keenness of percep- tion, fidelity, and perseverance in work which not only made his name an inspira- tion all over the state but gave him a rep- utation among those engaged in higher education. As a teacher Doctor Stott has had few equals. When he accepted the presidency of Franklin College that insti- tution was burdened with a debt of $13,000,- with no assets. When he retired in June, 1905, after thirty-three years of faithful and untiring efforts, the college had assets of $464,000 and only a small floating indebtedness.
The three years following his retirement from the active presidency were spent in writing a history of the Baptist Church in Indiana, for which he had been collecting data for years. That interesting work, en- titled the Baptist History, 1798-1908, was published in 1908 and comprises 374 pages, much of it a vivid narrative of the early
days of the church on the frontier. It carries the reader through the entire his- tory of the Baptist denomination in this part of the country.
From September, 1908, until May, 1911, Doctor Stott was president of the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home, being obliged to resign because of ill health. He still wrote occasionally for the magazines and denominational papers. He was always interested in the affairs of state and nation, and in the good government of his home community. He served as a member of the City Council, having been elected by his ward by the largest majority on record. His methods while in the City Council demonstrated that his aim was not to ad- vance party but to render faithful service to the city. He was a republican in poli- ties. In 1875 Doctor Stott was president of the Indiana Baptist Convention and from 1899 for a number of years was a member of the State Board of Education of Indiana. He also served as associate editor of the Baptist Outlook.
May 21, 1868, Doctor Stott married Ara- bella Ruth Tracy, of Rochester, New York, daughter of Isaac S. and Mary M. (Pierce) Tracy. Five children were born to their marriage, three sons and two daughters. Cyril H., the youngest, died at the age of seven years. Wilfred T. Stott is a highly successful journalist and is now managing editor of the Portland (Oregon) Telegram. He married Frances Dodge, of Chicago, and has a son, William Taylor, Jr., named after his grandfather. Grace E. married Rev. C. R. Parker, of LaPorte, Indiana, and has two children, Cyril R. and Ruth Eleanor. The daughter Edith married Rev. F. G. Kenny, of Marion, Indiana, and has one child, Grace Elizabeth. Roscoe Gilmore, writer and lecturer, and the youngest of the living children, resides at Franklin, Indiana. He married Isabel Por- ter, of Petoskey, Michigan. They have two children, Roscoe Gilmore, Junior, and Isabel Tracy.
FRANCIS H. DORAN is one of the oldest living native sons of Michigan City. His name is known all over LaPorte County be- cause of his long continued prominence in public affairs. His father before him had an important share in developing Michigan City as a grain center. A son
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of Francis H. Doran is Philo Q. Doran, one of LaPorte County's most prominent lawyers.
Francis H. Doran was born in Michigan City in 1847. His grandfather, Edward Doran, was a native of Ireland, was reared and married there, and brought his family to America about 1820. He landed in Canada and lived there a number of years, but spent his last years in LaPorte County. Patrick Doran, father of Francis H., was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was three years old when brought to America. He lived in Canada with his father and stepmother to the age of eleven, but not being well treated by his stepmother he ran away from home and ever afterward was self-supporting. For a time he drove a stage in Canada. As early as 1836 he came to Indiana with Abi- jah Bigelow, the Bigelows being one of the prominent pioneer families of. LaPorte County. They came to Northern Indiana with teams and wagons. Mr. Bigelow lo- cated at what later became known as Big- elow Mills, near Wanatah in LaPorte County. After these mills were built Pat- rick Doran operated them for a time and later moved to Michigan City. The rail- roads had not yet been built, and farmers transported their grain in wagons for 100 miles or more to Michigan City to seek an outlet for it. For several years Patrick Doran was in the employ of Chauncey Blair and other capitalists, and stationed in the warehouses at Michigan City as a grain buyer. He represented the interests which built one of the largest elevators on the lake front. After the railroads came Patrick Doran was in a railroad office for a time and later for forty years was local agent for the American Express Company. Though the practice was not then a general one, when Patrick Doran left the service of the express company he was granted a pension for long and faithful service. He died in Michigan City in 1890, at the ripe age of seventy-seven. Patrick Doran mar- ried Mary Ann McCulloch, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage. She died in mid- dle life, leaving four children : Maria, who married A. F. Earle; Nancy, who married L. E. Thompson, now deceased; Francis H .: and Edward F., also deceased.
Francis H. Doran obtained his early education in the public schools of Michigan
City. At the age of eighteen he went on the road as a traveling salesman for the wholesale lumber trade. He was the first traveling salesman in the lumber business out of Michigan City. His interest in pub- lie affairs and politics frequently took him out of regular business circles. In 1891 he was appointed postmaster by President Harrison and served four years. Then, in 1894, he was elected county auditor on the republican ticket. He carried the county by 258 votes, whereas Mr. Cleveland in 1892 had swept the county by 1,452 ma- jority. At the expiration of his first term he was re-elected and gave the office the benefit of his personal direction and effi- cient management for eight years. He was at one time a candidate at the primaries for state senator. He cast his first vote as a republican, and has been a stanch sup- porter of that party ever since. He has been a delegate from many districts to state conventions.
For a time Mr. Doran was connected with the Pere Marquette Railway Com- pany, and later became associated with his brother-in-law, Mr. Earle, in the undertak- ing business, and has continued that es- tablishment since the death of Mr. Earle.
Mr. Doran married Mary Ellen Quinn, who was born at Bainbridge in Putnam County, Indiana. Her father, Daniel Quinn, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer set- tler of Bainbridge. He became prominent in business affairs and was an active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Daniel Quinn married Judith Ann Hale, a half-sister of United States Senator Eu- gene Hale of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Doran have two sons, Philo Q. and Edward Ralph. Philo Q., who was born in Michigan City in 1872, was for several years employed by the Pullman Company, studied law in his leisure hours, was admitted to the La- Porte bar in 1895, and also served eight years as deputy county auditor under his father. For many years he has been one of the successful lawyers of the state. He married Laura Nye, daughter of former Lieutenant Governor Mortimer Nye. They have a daughter, Judith C. Edward Ralph Doran, second son of Francis Doran, was born in Michigan City, November 19, 1878. He was with the Studebaker Corporation as accountant, and is now connected with the Chicago Mica Company, and located
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at Valparaiso, in the capacity of expert ae- countant. He was educated in the public schools of Michigan City and LaPorte.
Francis H. Doran is affiliated with Acme Lodge No. 83, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Michigan City Chapter No. 25, Royal Arch Masons, Michigan City Coun- cil No. 56, Royal and Select Masters, Mich- igan City Commandery No. 30, Knights Templar, and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Hammond. He also belongs to LaPorte Lodge of Elks and is chairman of the Honse Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. He was reared in the Epis- copal Church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
WALTER H. LEWIS, M. D. For a number of years Doctor Lewis enjoyed an extended medical practice in and around Pendleton, but has since given his chief attention to business affairs, and is now senior partner of Lewis Brothers, druggists. Doctor Lewis' name is not unknown to the state at large, since he has sustained a number of responsibilities and honors of a general publie nature.
He was born in Fall Creek Township of Madison County, Indiana, December 25, 1849. His Welsh ancestors settled in Pennsylvania many generations ago, and the family have always been closely identi- fied with the Hicksite Friends Church. Doctor Lewis is a birthright member of that church. Doctor Lewis is a son of Si- meon and Martha (Fussell) Lewis. His father came to Indiana in 1832, crossing the country in the days before railroads, and was an early day merchant of the state. In 1847 he moved to Huntsville and conducted a general store there for many years.
Doctor Lewis was educated in the public schools and in the Academy at Pendleton, spent one year in Asbury College at Green castle, and is a graduate of medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. From 1873 until 1886 he was busy with his growing general practice at Pendleton, but since that date has been practically retired from his profession. In 1884 he and his brother Horace Lewis opened a drug store at Pen- dleton, and this is now one of the oldest establishments of the kind in Madison County. His brother died in 1911, but the firm is still carried on as Lewis Brothers.
In 1881 Doctor Lewis married Jeanette
Craven, daughter of Judge Hervey Craven, formerly circuit judge of Madison County. Four children have been born to their mar- riage. Ward C., born in 1882, is now with Columbia University Hospital Unit in France. Ruth S. married Thomas Morris, of Stockton, California, and they have one child, Esther Jeanette, born in 1916. The third child, Jeanette, is now a teacher of mnsie and drawing in the Pendleton schools. The youngest daughter, Margaret, married Dr. E. H. Clauser, of Rossville, In- diana. Doctor Clauser at the present time is at the base hospital at Camp Sheridan. Doctor and Mrs. Clauser have one child, Jean, born in 1917.
Doctor Lewis was appointed by Governor Hanly as a member of the commission to build the Southeastern Hospital of Indiana. On March 12, 1891, he became president of the Pendleton Building and Loan Associa- tion, and has continuously held that office for over a quarter of a century and has wisely directed the business affairs of the association and in such a way as to result in the permanent upbuilding and welfare of the city. He is affiliated with Madison Lodge No. 44, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Council, Royal and Select Masters, and has held all the offices in his lodge. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a repub- lican.
JOSEPH R. ROACH is one of the successful Indianapolis lawyers, with offices in the Fletcher Savings & Trust Building, and came to this city a few years ago from Terre Haute.
He was born in Vigo County, Indiana, October 16, 1878, son of John J. and Mary (Golden) Roach. His grandfather, Joseph Roach, was born in Ireland and came to America in 1848, locating at Rushville, In- diana. John J. Roach was born in 1854, and has been a well known citizen of Terre Hante for a number of years. He served twelve years on the City Council, was an ardent democrat and a devout Catholic. In the family were five children, three of whom are still living.
Joseph R. Roach. the oldest of the chil- dren, was educated in the parochial and high schools of Terre Haute, and after his admission to the bar began practice in that city in 1911. He came to Indian-
Joseph R Roach
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apolis in 1914. Mr. Roach is a democrat. He is married and has two children, Joseph R., Jr., and John H.
A future historian who may write the story of modern Indiana politics without bias, and also without fear or favor, will make Joseph R. Roach both an incidental and a vital figure in some of his chapters. If this personal feature is elaborated it will have much of the elements of a drama with the unusual variation of a villian in the plot turning the tables on other per- sonages "higher up" and eventually be- coming the instrumentality of good at the climax. Without encroaching upon the labors of another, it is proper to say here that Joseph R. Roach deserves no small share of the credit for some of the "whole- some fear of God" which now more than ever before seems to pervade the atmos- phere of politics in Indiana. The current literature on the subject found in the In- diana newspapers during the first half of the present decade and one article in par- ticular which was widely read was an ap- preciation of Joseph Roach written by Horace H. Herr, appearing in the Indiana Forum of October 17, 1915.
RICHARD W. THOMPSON, a former secre- tary of the navy, was born in Cul- peper County, Virginia. After coming to Lawrence County, Indiana, he was ad- mitted to the bar, was a member of the Indiana Legislature, 1834-36, a member of the Senate, 1836-38, was for a short time president of the Senate, was a member of Congress, 1841 and 1847, was secretary of the navy in Hayes cabinet, and he was also an author of ability. His home was at Terre Haute, and his death occurred in 1900.
JONATHAN OWEN EDGERTON, of Rich- mond, has given practically all his life to the cause of education, and even with his present responsibilities as trustee of Wayne Township his duties lie principally with the public schools of his jurisdiction.
He was born in Franklin Township of Wayne County November 8, 1857, a son of Nathan and Ruth (Rodgers) Edgerton. He is of English and Scotch-Irish ances- try, and the family on coming to America first settled in North Carolina. His father was a graduate in medicine from the Ohio
Medical College at Cincinnati but for many years also followed farming.
Jonathan O. Edgerton, second in a fam- ily of five children, grew up in the country, attended country schools, and did his share of work on the home farm until he was nineteen. He then entered the Centerville Normal School, and after two terms took up the work of teaching. In 1881 he re- ceived a diploma from Ladoga Normal School in Montgomery County. Altogether he spent twenty-five years in country and town schools as teacher, principal, and school administrator. He taught in Frank- lin, Greene, New Garden, and Wayne Townships of Wayne County. He also tanght a year in Randolph County, and was principal of the Fountain City and Webster schools. While in New Garden Township he served as township trustee from 1895 to 1900. He was a teacher in Wayne Township for eight terms and was principal of the school at East Haven Ave- nue and the National Road. Mr. Edger- ton has been a resident of Richmond since 1905.
He was elected to his present important responsibilities as township trustee in 1914, and so capably did he handle the affairs entrusted to his management that he was accorded a second term by re-election in 1916. He has always been a republican, though in 1914 he was elected on the pro- gressive ticket. He is a member of the Im- proved Order of Red Men, the Loyal Order of Moose, and belongs to the Friends Church.
In 1889 Mr. Edgerton married Miss Lois Weeks, daughter of John Wesley and Car- rie M. (Clark) Weeks of Richmond. Mr. and Mrs. Edgerton have a family of three sons and three daughters, and one of their sons, Sergeant C. W. Edgerton, is in France with the aviation department.
CHARLES C. HOLLIS has for many years been identified with the telephone industry in Indiana and other states, and at present is manager for the receivers of the Central Union Telephone Company of Muncie.
He was born in Hamilton County, In- diana, September 28, 1860, son of G. N. and Anna (Jones) Hollis. His paternal ancestry goes back to Holland, while in the maternal line he is of English stock. Mr. Hollis was only five years old when his
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mother died. His father, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1843, came to Indiana in the '50s, locating at Westfield, and in 1875 moved to Noblesville, where he was elected to the office of county recorder. After his one term as head of that office he re- mained as assistant to the successor for eight years. He then established his home at Indianapolis, but since 1914 has lived in Chicago.
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