Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 96

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

ing well the success he has attained. Liv- ing here ever since the country was rife with Indians, wolves, deer and wild turkey, he has seen the development of this section of the world from its crude beginnings to the present high state of civilization.

0 R. GIDEON P. KIDD, the oldest practicing physician in Roann, In- diana, who has successfully fol- lowed his profession in this local- ity for about twenty years, is numbered among the native sons of the Hoosier State, his birth having occurred in Richland town- ship, Miami county, October 1, 1847. His parents were Edmond J. and Christiana (De Camp) Kidd, the former a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of Addison county, Ver- mont. The family was founded in America in Colonial days. The grandfather, Ed- mond Kidd, Sr., spent his entire life in the Old Dominion, where he reared a large family. The maternal grandfather was born in the Green Mountain State, followed school-teaching throughout the greater part of his life, and died in South Bend, at an advanced age.

The Doctor's father was a cotton-spinner in Lexington, Kentucky, and in 1819 re- moved to Connersville, Indiana, where he began the manufacture of woolen goods, carrying on operations there until 1836, when he disposed of the business and pur- chased timber land in Richland township, Miami county. There he cleared half a section, making his home thereon until his death in 1861, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife long survived him and passed away in 1883, in the eighty- first year of her age. They were members of the first Methodist class and congregation

ever formed in Miami county, uniting with the church of that denomination in Conners- ville. During the war of 1812 Mr. Kidd entered the service as a member of a Ken- tucky regiment and was with General Har- rison at Fort Wayne. The Doctor now has in his possession the deeds for the two quar- ter sections of land upon which his father settled in 1836. He also has the deed to the lot which his father purchased of Asher Cox in 1821.

Upon the old home farm in Miami county, Dr. Kidd spent the days of his boy- hood and youth, acquired his early educa- tion in a log schoolhouse, where school was conducted on the subscription plan. He afterward pursued his studies in Peru and Wabash, Indiana, and then taught for two winter terms, while in the summer months he devoted his time and energies to the labor of the farm. In 1871 he began the study of medicine in Wabash, and was graduated at the Chicago Medical College on the 11th of March, 1874. He began practice in Wabash the same year and there continued until April 15, 1875, when he removed to Roann, where he has since made his home, successfully engaged in the exer- cise of his chosen profession.

On the 15th of October, 1874, was cele- brated the marriage of Dr. Kidd and Miss Mary F. Dicken, daughter of Dr. James L. and Polly (Thompson) Dicken. They now have six children, three sons and three daugh- ters, of whom five are yet living,-E. Marie, Clara, Herman D., Mabel and James G. Earl E., the second child, died at the age of seven years. Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Christian Church, and is an estimable lady who has the warm regard of many friends.

Socially, the Doctor is connected with the Odd Follows Society and the Knights of

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the Maccabees, and in politics he was a Re- publican until 1876, since which time he has supported the Democracy. He is serving as a member of the School Board, and is a warm friend of the cause of education. He is also a member of the Board of Medical Pension Examiners, which meets in Wabash. His entire life has been passed in Indiana and since 1871 he has resided in Wabash county. He has in his possession many valu- able papers of early historical importance and can relate many interesting incidents of the time when this locality was on the fron- tier. He now has a good home in Roann, and is enjoying a large and lucrative pat- ronage.

B IGGS DODDRIDGE THOMAS, deceased, was one of the leading and influential citizens of northeast- ern Indiana. He was born on his father's farm near Mount Sterling, in Fayette county, Ohio, June 30, 1837, and was a son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Leach) Thomas. His parents removed from Madison county, Ohio, locating near London, and there he remained upon his father's farm until 1857, when he left home to become a student in Delaware College, of Delaware, Ohio. Sub- sequently he took up the profession of teach- ing, and later, in connection with his brother Owen, he purchased a small tract of land of his father. He continued its cultivation in connection with school-teaching until May, 1867, when he removed to the city of Lon- don, where he purchased a queensware store of John Southern, which he conducted for about two years. In connection with his brothers he then bought and sold grain, and also took a contract for building a turnpike.

His fellow citizens, appreciating his worth and ability, called him to public office, and in 1866 he was elected Justice of the Peace. In 1872 he was appointed Treasurer of Madi- son county, and after serving for an entire term, in place of the regularly elected can- didate who had died, he retired to private life and came to Garrett.

It was in October, 1874, that Mr. Thomas made this trip for the purpose of selecting a location. He was well pleased with the country and returning to Ohio made prep- aration for a permanent location in Indiana. He again came to Garrett and purchased three farms, all joining the railroad land at Garrett. He was one of the company which purchased this land as a speculation. In June, 1875, he moved his family to one of the farms purchased and continued its opera- tion for seven years, placing much of it un- der a high state of cultivation. On the 16th of June, 1882, he came to Garrett, where he resided until his life's labors were ended. Forming a partnership with O. C. Clark, he operated a gristmill and later entered into partnership with Charles Linkenhelt, and subsequently with Judge Carpenter, now de- ceased.

Mr. Thomas was married June 7, 1862, in Fayette county, Ohio, to Mary A. Hall, who was born September 21, 1843, and is the eldest in a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, whose parents were William and Amanda (Loofbonnow) Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born the fol- lowing children: Lucinda Letitia, born Jan- uary 15, 1863, died September 14, of the same year; Josie Florence, born Angust 8, 1864, is the wife of Thomas Squires, a con- ductor now living at Chicago Junction, Ohio; Herschel William, born October 14, 1866, is train dispatcher for the Baltimore

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& Ohio Railroad, and makes his home with his mother; Grace Hall, born July 26, 1875, and Mary Lucy, born July 21, 1883, are still at home.

In his political views, Mr. Thomas was a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for John Bell. He took quite an active part in political affairs, and in 1882 was elected County Commissioner, but resigned the position a few days before his death, for he had been ill for thirteen months with dropsy and could not attend to his duties. He was a member of the old-school Baptist Church, which he had joined in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1863. In London, Ohio, he became identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was one of the charter members of Garrett Lodge. Per- sonally, he was five feet and eleven inches in height and his normal weight was about 225 pounds. He was a man of good business ability, straightforward and honorable in all his dealings and had the confidence and re- spect of the entire community. He passed away June 24, 1884, and the Garrett Her- ald wrote of him: "Our town has lost one of its best citizens and we join our citizens in tendering the bereaved family our heart- felt sympathy in their sorrow over the death of a loving husband and father. We shall always remember the deceased as a kind, genial friend and neighbor and can hardly realize that he is no more. May he rest in peace, and all who read this profit by his faith in the saving power of the religion of the Bible." The Butler Review of July 4, 1884, said: "In the death of Mr. Thomas the county loses a noble citizen, Garrett one of its ardent supporters and his family a devoted husband and father." It will thus be seen how high he stood in the estimation of those who knew him best. He was truly 45

one of nature's noble men, and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarn- ished name.

S OLOMON JOHNSON, cashier of the Upland Bank, Upland, Grant county, Indiana, is a native of this county, and has passed his whole life here. In this connection we are pleased to present a sketch of his life, and also to make personal reference to his father, who is one of the pioneers of northeastern Indi- ana.

James Johnson, the father of our subject, was born in Guernsey, now Noble, county, Ohio, in the year 1821, son of John John- son, who was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and one of the very earliest settlers of Guernsey county, to which place he went when a youth, making the journey on foot from Pennsylvania to that place. In 1811 he brought a wife from Pennsylvania to his frontier home, and there he passed the remainder of his life and died, and was buried on his farm. Of the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Shriver, we record that she was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1826, and that her marriage to Mr. Johnson occurred in the year 1843. Soon after their marriage they moved out to Indiana, and settled upon land in Jefferson township, Grant county, which Mr. Johnson had entered. He began life in the Hoosier State without any capital what- ever, and to-day he has a landed estate in Grant county comprising no less than 3,000 acres, and, with the exception of 320 acres which he inherited, he has made this large fortune all himself. For fifty-two years he and his good wife have made their home in this State, and are now ranked with its ven-

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erable and highly respected citizens. They have had eight children, only two of whom are now living: Solomon, the subject of this sketch; and Emma, wife of Solomon Wise, a resident of Jefferson township. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have one child, Ethel. Of the other members of the Johnson family, we record that all died in infancy or early childhood, except John H. and James N., who reached maturity. James N. married Miss Belle Connelley, and she, too, is deceased. They left three children, -Bertha, Elva and Alva, -the last two being twins.

Solomon Johnson was born on his father's farm in Jefferson township, Grant county, Indiana, October 14, 1848, and was reared to farm life, remaining a member of the home circle until he was twenty-five years of age. After his marriage, which occurred in 1873, he settled upon a partially improved farm in his native township and gave his whole attention to agricultural pursuits until 1893, since which time he has been cashier of the Upland Bank. He still, however, carries on his farming operations. The Upland Bank was opened November 23, 1891, as a private banking institution by his brother, James N. Johnson, who served as its cashier until his death, the subject of our sketch succeeding him November 16, 1893. He now does a general banking business.

Mr. Johnson was first married October 2, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Russell, a native of Wayne county, Indiana, whose untimely death occurred May 5, 1888. She left no children. January 2, 1894, Mr. Johnson wedded Miss Janet Myers, his present com- panion, who is a native of Decatur county, Indiana.

Fraternally, Mr. Johnson is identified with the I. O. O. F., of Upland, in which he has passed all the degrees in both the

subordinate and encampment branches, and at this writing is Treasurer of the lodge. His political affiliations are with the Repub- lican party. In connection with the history of his father, it should further be stated that during the Civil war he enlisted as a Union soldier and did his part toward help- ing to free the slaves and preserve the Union.

J OHN HARVEY WILSON, a mer- chant of Fairmount, Indiana, is one of the prominent factors in the busi- ness circles of this town.

Mr. Wilson was born in Fairmount town- ship, Grant county, Indiana, October 5, 1855, the son of early settlers of this coun- ty. Lindsley Wilson, his father, and Jane nce Davis, his mother, were both born in North Carolina, and their arrival in this part of Indiana was about fifty years ago.

The Wilsons settled in Fairmount town- ship and the Davis family in Liberty town- ship, and it was in this county that our sub- ject's parents were married. They are still living. are among the most highly respected members of their community, and are ac- tively identified with the Wesleyan Method- ist Church. During the Civil war the father served as a member of an Indiana regiment. They are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: John H., Mollie Harvey, Lucy Rush, Will- iam E., Elizabeth Dobson, Samuel Charles, and Mattie Payne.

In his native township and on his father's farm John H. spent his boyhood days. His education was received in the schools of Fairmount. When he grew up and started out in life for himself it was as a farmer, and

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for two years he was a tiller of the soil. Feeling, however, that a mercantile life would be more congenial to his tastes, he secured a clerkship in the general store of Robert Bogue, of Fairmount, with whom he remained three years. Later he clerked one year for Levi Scott. In 1881 he began business on his own account at his present stand, No. 105, North Main street, at first dealing exclusively in groceries, but subse- quently adding dry goods, boots and shoes, and now keeping a general store. He em- ploys five efficient clerks, has, without ques- tion, the largest trade in the town, and is each year increasing the volume of his busi- ness. Mr. Wilson also has an interest in the canning factory at Fairmount.

March 8, 1877, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Silona H. Brown, who was born in Tennessee in 1861, daughter of William A. Brown, now deceased, but who was for a number of years a resident of Fair- mount, having removed here when she was quite small. Mrs. Wilson departed this life May 25, 1895, leaving four children, Frances F., Oz B., Zola I. and Harry Ohr.

Mr. Wilson is connected with the Re- publican party and takes an active .interest in public affairs, especially those pertaining to his own town. He has served as a mem- ber of the Fairmount Council and on the School Board, and at this writing, 1895, is president of the latter. Fraternally, he is identified with both branches of the I. O. O. F. and is also a member of the K. of P. His fine brick residence on North Main street was completed in 1893, and is by far the finest in Fairmount. But his loving wife was permitted to enjoy this delightful home only a brief time, she being called to her home above, as already stated, in 1895. In this connection we make extract from an

obituary of her published in the Fairmount Times, May 31, 1895:

" There is nothing so impresses one with the uncertainty of life as the death of a dear one who has planned for a long and useful career on the earth. Death sheds its gloomy rays everywhere, and the young and the old alike fall beneath the blows he deals them, and it seems that at times he selects for his victims those whom we especially wish to live. This thought occurred to us upon learn- ing of the death of Silona H., beloved wife of our friend, John H. Wilson. There were but few in this community that had so much to live for. First, a happy family of young children in whom she took much pride, both in education and social matters, and in the success of her husband, of whom she was very fond. For years husband and wife had worked hand in hand for the betterment of their condition, and just on the threshold of success Death stalks into the cheerful home to undo it all ! Mrs. Wilson was of a lovable disposition, well educated and refined, and descended from a father and mother to whom the least appearance of evil was abomi- nable. The traits of her parents were notice- able in her everyday life. No deceit was in her heart. Her life was an open book that all could read. She had hosts of friends at home and abroad, and this friendship was attested by the many tokens of respect re- ceived by the bereaved husband and family in the shape of beautiful flowers in which the casket that held her remains was almost buried. Mrs. Wilson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Ladies' Aid Society, and the latter at its regular meeting on the Tuesday afternoon following her death adopted the following resolutions of respect :

"WHEREAS, It has pleased our Heav-

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enly Father to remove from our midst our beloved sister, Silona H. Wilson; and

"WHEREAS, Her presence will be missed in our society, although her health would not permit her regular attendance to our meetings, her cheerful face and loving ways brought cheer whenever present; and

"WHEREAS, In her death we realize the hand of Him who doeth all things well; therefore, be it

"Resolved, That we bow in humble sub- mission to the Divine Will.

"Resolved, That we extend to the be- reaved husband and motherless children our heartfelt sympathy and mingle our tears with theirs, and hope and pray that when the sorrows of this life are o'er that they, with us, may be permitted to greet her in that land where Death never enters.

" Call not back the dear departed Anchored safe where storms are o'er; On the border-land we left them Soon to meet and part no more; When we leave this world of changes, When we leave this world of care, We shall find our missing loved ones In our Father's mansion there."

0 R. A. HENLEY, one of the lead- ing members of the medical pro- fession of Grant county and the oldest practitioner of Fairmount, forms the subject of this article.

Dr. Henley was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, July 21, 1836, and in his infancy was brought by his parents to Indiana, their location being in Grant county. Phineas Henley, the Doctor's father, and his parents, John and Keziah (Nixon) Hen- ley, were all natives of Randolph county, North Carolina. The Henley family are of English origin and as far back as their his-

tory can be traced they were members of the Society of Friends and were prominent in this organization. The progenitor of the family in America was one Patrick Henley, who came to this country some time in the fifteenth century and located first in Phila- delphia, whence he subsequently removed to North Carolina, where several genera- tions of the family were born. Dr. Hen- ley's mother, whose maiden name was Mary Bogue, was also a native of North Carolina, her birthplace being in Perquimans county and her parents John and Lydia (White) Bogue. Her people also were of English origin and had long been residents of North Carolina, where her parents were born. Phineas Henley and Mary Bogue were mar- ried in North Carolina, and in 1837, the year following the birth of our subject, they emigrated to Indiana and to Grant county, locating on a frontier farm at the pres- ent site of Fairmount. Here, in the midst of the woods, they put up a log cabin and made a clearing, having for their neighbors the Indians; and for years living in true pio- neer style. Here the parents passed the residue of their lives and died. In their family were five children, all of whom reached maturity, and of them we make brief record as follows: Lydia and her hus- band, John Harvey, both now deceased, left one child, Angelina, who is the wife of Lemuel Pearson and has five children, their home being in Fairmount. John R., the second born, married Miss Sarah Newby and has one child, their home being in Coffey county, Kansas. Keziah is the wife of Al- lan Dillon and lives in Fairmount township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dillon have one child. The subject of our sketch was the fourth born; and Elizabeth C., the young- est, who was the wife of William P. Seal,

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and had three children, is deceased. The Doctor's father was one of the most prom- inent men who figured in the early history of Grant county. He took an active part in politics, acting with the Republican party during the latter part of his life, and served several terms as Justice of the Peace. He and his wife were among the leading mem- bers of the Friends' Church at Fairmount.

Dr. A. Henley, as already stated, was only a year old at the time of his arrival in Grant county, and on his father's frontier farm he was reared and remained until he attained his majority. In one of the primi- tive log schoolhouses, with its slab benches and broad fire-place, he conned his lessons during the winter months. In 1857, on at- taining his majority, he emigrated to Kan- sas and settled at Burlington, in Coffey county, where he entered a claim, upon which he remained two years and secured title to the same; and those two years were during the most troublous times that Kan- sas ever experienced. In those border troubles he was an active participant and did his part toward paving the way for the admission of Kansas as a free State. Before it became a State, however, he returned to Indiana with the intention of preparing him- self for a professional life, and that same year, 1859, attended college at Blooming- dale. In 1863, he was a student in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and in 1865 he graduated at Starling University, Columbus, Ohio, In the meantime, in the fall of 1864, he was drafted into the service of the Union army, and served as Assistant Surgeon, stationed most of the time at In- dianapolis. His brother, John R., also served in the Union army.

After the war Dr. Henley began his pro- fessional career at Fairmount, where he was

successfully engaged in practice until the spring of 1871. At that time he received a Government commission as surgeon for the Cheyenne and Apache Indians of Oklahoma, and spent one year at Darlington Post. At the end of the year he returned to Fairmount and has made this place his home ever since, his only absence during the last twenty-five years being in 1884, when he spent the winter in Florida.

Dr. Henley was married in August, 1868, to Miss Louisa J. Baldwin, a native of Grant county, Indiana, and a daughter of Joseph W. and Lydia Jane (Stanfield) Bald- win, early settlers of this county. The Baldwins and the Stanfields at one time owned all the land on which Fairmount is now located, the Baldwins having the north half and the Stanfields the south. The Doctor and his wife are the parents of two children, Glenn and Richard. Glenn is now a student in the State University of Mich- igan.

During the whole of his long residence in Fairmount, Dr. Henley has been a prom- inent factor in advancing the best interests of the town, religiously, educationally and otherwise. Like his forefathers, he is actively identified with the Friends' Church, and for years was a prominent worker in the Sabbath-school. For many years he has been a member of the City Council and of the School Board, on the latter for the past twenty years, and has served as presi- dent of both. Also, he has been president of the Board of Trustees of the Friends' Academy at Fairmount, and is still one of its Trustees. Politically, he has maintained his allegiance to the Republican party ever since it was organized. Professionally, he is identified with a number of medical organizations, -the Grant County Medical

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Association, the Indiana State Medical Asso- ciation, and the American Medical Associa- tion. In the first named he has officiated as president and at this writing holds the position of censor. In 1894 he was Health Officer of Fairmount. Much more might be said of his active and useful life, but the above brief sketch is sufficient to show his high standing in the town where nearly the whole of his life has been spent.

ILLIAM SCHOENAUER, Town- ship Trustee of Jefferson town- ship, Whitley county, Indiana, and a hardware merchant of Laud, is one of the progressive young men of the county. Some personal mention of him is appropriate here, and the following facts in regard to his life have been gleaned for pub- lication in this work:

William Schoenauer was born in Holmes county, Ohio, December 4, 1859, son of Frederick and Sarah (Fabra) Schoenauer, both now residents of Jefferson township, they having removed here about 1865 or '6. His father served as a Union soldier during the Civil war. At the time of their settle- ment here this part of the country was nearly all covered with heavy timber and they had to cut down the trees and clear the land be- fore any farming could be carried on. In this work of clearing the frontier farm the subject of our sketch assisted as soon as he was old enough, working on the farm in summer and attending the district schools during the winter. In this way his boyhood days were passed. In 1884 he began teach- ing school, and taught for nine consecutive winters. In 1892 he formed a partnership with S. D. Raber, in the hardware business, was associated with him until the spring of

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 96

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932