USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 19
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 19
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John A. Dagger was born December 22, 1836, in the woods of Fountain county, Indiana, and grew up amid the stirring scenes and active duties of the pioneer period. He recalls the time when the country was almost a wilderness and wild game of every kind was abundant and easily obtained. As soon as old enough to be of service, he was put to work, clearing land and fitting it for cultivation, and while still a youth in his teens he was able to do a man's
JOHN A. DAGGER.
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part at almost. any kind of physical labor. Owing to the lack of school facilities his early education was somewhat limited, but, possessing a strong and inquiring mind and a natural taste for books and study, he has since made up for this deficiency and for years has been considered the best informed man of his community. Mr. Dagger's reading has taken a very wide range, his knowledge being both general and profound. He has been a careful stu- dent of American history and his perusal of all the leading up-to-date papers, magazines and other periodicals has'enabled him to become thoroughly versed in political matters and today there are few men as familiar with the questions and issues before the people as he. A Democrat in politics, he votes from principle and, believing in the mission of his party, he has ever given it an earnest and uncompromising support. With the courage of his convictions, he is fearless in the expression of his opinions, and he arrives at conclusions only after mature and thoughtful consideration. His knowledge being appre- ciable by his fellow citizens, he has naturally become a party leader in his part of the county, and it is not too much to say that few men in the county exercise as great influence in moulding thought and directing public opinion as he.
Mr. Dagger early turned his attention to agriculture and for many years he has been among the prosperous farmers of Fountain county. His landed interests at this time are large and valuable, his farm of two hundred and twen- ty acres in Richland township being admirably situated, well drained and con- taining one hundred and forty acres of fine tillable soil, the remainder con- sisting of timber and pasturage. In connection with general farming he has achieved an enviable reputation as a breeder and raiser of live stock, his cattle and hogs being of the best grades and commanding the highest prices in the local and general markets. Mr. Dagger believes in devoting his material wealth to judicious purposes, and to this end he has been unsparing in the improvement of his farm, and beautifying and making attractive a home which. has long been considered among the finest country residences in the township of Richland.
In addition to farming and raising of live stock, Mr. Dagger has large and important interests in other lines, being a business man of high standing and an influential factor in the financial circles of Mellott and other places. He was a leading spirit in organizing the Bank of Mellott in 1901, ever since which time he has held the responsible position of president, and it is needless to state that the success of the enterprise is largely due to his judicious meth- ods and wise management. He is also a director of the Fountain County (33)
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Trust Company in Covington, in which he has a large amount of stock, and that institution is likewise indebted to him for much of the prosperity which it now enjoys.
Mr. Dagger has been an honored member of the Masonic brotherhood for a period of forty years, during which time he has risen to high rank in the order, being at this time one of the' oldest members of Lodge No. 205, at Newtown. In every relation of life his conduct has been upright and honor- able, his success much greater than that which attends the majority, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to classify him with the notable men of his day and generation in Fountain county. He was married on January 18, 1883, to Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Scott D. Clark, a mechanic of Newtown, the union being without issue.
JAMES C. CLAYPOOL.
When recording the history of a community the historian can not men- tion the lives of all who have there lived and died, but only of those who have stood out prominently from the rest, and by their ability to bring success for themselves, and to help their fellow men with whom they come in contact, have rendered their lives the proper subject of chronicle for future genera- tions. Such a one is James C. Claypool, one of the large land-owners and leaders of affairs in Shawnee township. He was born on the old homestead in Shawnee township, March 31, 1851, the son of Abel and Melissa (Hetfield) Claypool.
Abel Claypool was born in 1801 in Ross county, Ohio, attended school there, and taught school for several terms. In 1824 he moved from Schooley's Station, Ross county, Ohio, to Fountain county, Indiana, and entered part of the land where his son James C. now lives. He followed farming and stock raising and was very successful, for the stock from the Woodlawn Stock Farm, as it was then known, had a reputation among buyers. In politics he . was a Whig and a Republican, and was a representative in the Legislature in the fifties. He died in 1872. His wife was born in 1818, and died in 1868. Her father, Adam S. Hetfield, built the first brick house in Shawnee town- ship. In his day Abel Claypool was among the most influential citizens of the community, his ability and attainments commanding respect, and his opinion carrying much weight. He was the father of six children, Byron, Mar- garet, Ann B., James C., Melissa and Abel, all of whom are deceased save James C.
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James C. Claypool attended the common schools and the Attica high school. He spent one year at Wabash College, and then took up farming and stock raising, in which he has been far more than ordinarily successful. He owns a farm of six hundred and forty-five acres where he lives and one hun- dred and ten acres in the west part of the township. He also owns his grand- father's farm of two hundred and forty acres in Ross county, Ohio. The substantial and commodious house in which he lives was built the year of his birth.
On November 14, 1876, Mr. Claypool was married to Angelica C. Odell, the daughter of Telemachus Odell, of Odell's Corner. To this marriage were born seven children, of whom five arc alive, namely: Abel T., who mar- ried Carson Lemmon, is the parent of three children, Josephine C., Clara M. and Edward; Jessie; James Chester, who married Lily Burns, is the father of two children, Chester B. and Cecil; Ed, who married Clara M. Canauzer; and Edna, Ed's twin sister. Two children died in infancy.
In politics, Mr. Claypool is a Republican. He was a representative in the state Legislature in 1876, and for three terms has served on the county coun- cil. He is one of the strong men of his county, and his farm might well serve as a model of modern and scientific management, its owner's abilities being reflected in the careful manner in which it is kept, and the large profits which it produces.
ABNER HAL ANDRUS, M. D.
Success in what are properly termed the learned professions is the legiti- mate result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or grit, but professional advancement is gained only by critical study and consecutive research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to success have made Dr. Abner Hal Andrus, of Covington, Indiana, eminent in his chosen calling and, although he has been a resident of Fountain county but a few years, he stands today among the scholarly and enterprising general physicians in a community long distinguished for the high order of its medical talent.
Dr. Andrus was born in Franklin county, Ohio, May 5, 1862. He is the son of Abner and Mary (Westervalt) Andrus, natives of New York, from which state they came to Ohio when young and there became well established through their industry, being leaders in the affairs of their community.
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Receiving his early education in the public schools of his native com- munity where he grew to manhood, Dr. Andrus later entered Otterbein Uni- versity at Westerville, Ohio, where he completed his literary education. Hav- ing decided on a medical career early in life, he began bending his efforts in that dirction, and after the usual preliminary preparations Dr. Andrus entered Starling College of Medicine at Columbus, Ohio, in 1884, where he made a splendid record, and from this institution he was graduated with the class of 1886. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession at Caldwell, Ohio, being successful from the first and soon enjoying a lucrative patronage in that vicinity. Seeking a wider field for the exercise of his talents, he went to Zanesville, that state, where he was successfully engaged in the practice for seven years .. He then came to Covington, Indiana, where he has since re- mained and he now ranks with the leading men of his field of endeavor in this locality. He has remained a close student of all that pertains to his calling and has therefore kept well abreast of the times and has met with a large measure of success as a general practitioner.
Dr. Andrus was married, first, in September, 1887, to Clara Franken- burg, of Columbus, Ohio, which union resulted in the birth of two children, Kenneth, a graduate of Purdue University, and Ernest, who is attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago. The wife and mother was called to her rest in June, 1895, and on November 23, 1896, Dr. Andrus was united in marriage with Lucy Nulton, of Beverly, Ohio, where her family lias long been well known. '
Dr. Andrus is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never been specially active in public affairs, pre- ferring to devote his exclusive attention to his profession. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. He is also a mem- ber of the Ohio Medical Society and formerly belonged to the American Medical Association. He is a very companionable gentleman, straightfor- ward and honorable in all his relations with his fellow men.
EDWARD PATTON.
Fountain county furnished the home for many a pioneer who settled within its boundaries with no capital save the intelligence and physical abilities that were the gifts of his Maker and later attained a competency and a position of influence in the locality in which he chose to reside that, in after years, re-
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dounded in an enviable reputation for himself and descendants. Among the old and honored pioneers were the forebears of the subject of this sketch.
Edward Patton, the present popular and efficient postmaster at Veeders- burg, Indiana, was born nedr this town, on the old homestead, settled by his paternal grandfather, Thomas Patton, who, in 1823, entered government land, at which time there were only two other families in Fountain county. The Pattons came here from Parke county, but were originally from Virginia and were of Scotch-Irish descent. The country was indeed a wilderness when they began hewing out a farm from the dense forest in the midst of which they settled, and they endured all the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. Here they spent their lives engaged in general farm- ing, and were influential in the early development of the county.
Thomas Patton married Nancy Hendry and to them six children were born, namely: David, William ( father of the subject of this sketch), Silas; Annie, who married Solomon Hepfield; Psyche married Elijah Elwell; Mar- garet married Robert Mitchell.
William Patton was born in Parke county, Indiana, in 1821, and was only two and a half years old when he accompanied his parents to Fountain county in 1823. Here he grew to manhood and assisted in clearing and getting the place under cultivation. After six months schooling he followed farming the rest of his life and was one of the leading agriculturists of this locality in his day and generation, having accumulated seven hundred acres of valuable land .. He was a man of good business judgment and exemplary character and was well liked by all who knew him and that included most everyone in the county. His death occurred in 1906, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He married Deborah Kepner, and they became the parents of eight children, five of whom are living, namely: Volney is farming on the old homestead; Sarah married Albert Hershberger, a farmer living in California; Nancy P. married Dr. Pettit, of Veedersburg; Edward, subject of this sketch; Morton is farming on the old homestead; Francis, Marion and May are deceased.
William Patton, the father of the above named children, was a Presby- - terian, and was a deacon in the local church for many years. He was a Whig early in life and later an Abe Lincoln Republican. He belonged to the Masonic order.
Edward Patton, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm in this county and there he assisted with the general work when of proper age. He received his educational training in the common schools, after which he took up contracting, building highways and other public improvement work, which he still follows, being one of the best known contractors in this and
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adjoining counties, his work having always been honestly and well done, giv- ing eminent satisfaction in every respect. Having long manifested an abiding interest in public affairs, he was appointed postmaster at Veedersburg in 1907 and he is now serving his second term, giving eminent satisfaction to the department and the people.
Mr. Patton was married on November 9, 1888, to Belle M. Mitchell, daughter of Robert and Anne (Middlebrook) Mitchell. To this union one son has been born, Robert William Patton, a traveling salesman.
Politically, Mr. Patton is a Republican, and he has ever been most loyal in supporting his party's principles. Religiously, he is a member of the Presby- terian church and a deacon in the same. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Knights of Pythias, being one of the charter members of the latter, and he also belongs to the Commercial Club.
LEE PHILPOTT.
An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have hon- ored the locality to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of the one whose name forms the caption to this sketch. He has sustained a very enviable reputation in official circles and today is ably and satisfactorily discharging the duties of deputy treasurer of Fountain county.
Before reviewing the personal record of Mr. Philpott, it will be conson- ant to enter record concerning his paternal ancestry, as follows:
(I) About the year 1730 Charles Philpott and Elizabeth Philpott, his wife, residents of Gloucester county in England, emigrated to America and landed at a place called Benedict, in Charles county, Maryland. They settled on a stream called Allen's Fresh, seven or eight miles from Port Tobacco, in that county. Charles Philpott died about the year 1740, his widow surviving him some fifteen or twenty years. They were the parents of three sons, John, Barton and William, and four daughters, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Susan and Mary.
(II) William, the third son of Charles and Elizabeth Philpott, moved from Charles county to Frederick county, Maryland. He settled on Bennett's creek, near the foot of Sugar Loaf mountain, and died there about the year 1776. His wife's maiden name was Mary Ann Davis. Their children were
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William, Barton, John, Jose, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rebecca and Anna. During the war of the Revolution a detachinent of Cornwallis' army camped in the neighborhood of Sugar Loaf mountain, in Frederick county, and the British soldiers ruthlessly destroyed everything that belonged to the widow and chil- dren of William Philpott; so, about the close of the Revolutionary war, the living children, together with their mother, removed from Frederick county to the state of North Carolina, all excepting (III) John, who continued on to. South Carolina with a planter named Harris, and settled near a little town called Pendleton, in Anderson district. John afterwards married Lucy, the daughter of Mr. Harris, and in 1811 or 1812 moved from South Carolina to Barren county, Kentucky, where he remained until 1814, when he moved to Fayette county, Indiana. His wife died in 1816 and in due time he married Mrs. Hannah van Horn, with whom he lived until 1843, when he died. The names of his children were William, Stephen, John, Louisa, Lucinda and Harris.
(IV) Stephen Philpott married Rebecca Hawkins, of Fayette county, Indiana, and their children were John, Benjamin, James, William and a daughter, Celia.
(V) John Philpott, the grandfather of the immediate subject of this sketch, moved from Fayette county, Indiana, to Jackson township, Fountain county, in a very early day. He married "Polly" Swaim and they were the parents of the following named children: Francis, Clarinda, Jane, Cassinda, Jasper N., subject's father, Delcina and Joseph. He followed farming through life.
(VI) Jasper N. Philpott, the subject's father, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, and during all his active years he followed agricultural pur- suits in Jackson township. He was a prominent and influential citizen of his community and took an active part in local affairs, having served his township one term as assessor. He was a Democrat in his political faith, as were his ancestors. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Livingston, was a native of Pennsylvania. They became the parents of three children, namely : Ida C. became the wife of Ira E. Wilkinson and they reside at Wallace, this county ; Bertha J. is the wife of H. C. Wilkinson, also of Wallace; Lee is the immediate subject of this sketch.
(VII) Lee Philpott first saw the light of day in Jackson township, Fountain county, on January 23, 1874. He was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the public schools and in Wabash College. He has mainly followed farming during his active years, never having held
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public office until his selection as deputy county treasurer, the duties of which position he is discharging in a manner that has won him the commendation .of his fellow officials and the public alike. From 1892 to 1900 he was en- gaged in teaching school. He entered the treasurer's office in 1910 and his term will expire in 1914.
On March 22, 1900, Mr. Philpott was united in marriage with Tessa Roberts, the daughter of Albert C. and Rachel E. (Fine) Roberts, the father a native of Ohio, and the mother a member of one of the fine old pioneer fam- ilies of Fountain county.
Politically, Mr. Philpott is a Democrat and takes a live interest in the success of his party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, hold- ing membership in Blue Lodge No. 495, at Wallace, this county, and in Chap- ter No. 93, Royal Arch Masons, at Covington. He also belongs to Camp No. 9845, Modern Woodmen of America. His religious membership is with the Disciples church. Mr. Philpott has always been interested in the progress of his native county and the development of its resources, and gives his assistance and influence to all laudable men and measures to further these ends. He possesses a forceful personality .and is well liked by all who know him.
VIRGIL C. FRAZIER.
He to whom this sketch is dedicated is a member of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families of Fountain county, Indiana, and he has personally lived up to the full tension of the primitive days when was here initiated the march of civilization, so that there is particular interest attached to his career, while he stands today as one of the representative citizens of Cain township, for his life has been one of hard work which has resulted in the development of a good farm which he owns and which yields him a com- fortable living. He is held in the highest respect by all, owing to his exemplary habits, his industry and public spirit.
Virgil C. Frazier was born in Cain township, Fountain county, Decem- ber 8, 1869, and there he grew to manhood on the home farm where he made himself useful during his boyhood and in the winter months he attended the common schools in his vicinity. He is a son of William and Mary Ann (VanGundy) Frazier, both born and reared in Fountain county, and here they were married and devoted their lives to agricultural pursuits, and they were the parents of eleven children, named as follows: David lives in Boulder,
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MR. AND MRS. VIRGIL C. FRAZIER.
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Colorado; Josiah lives in Cain township; Roswell, a farmer of Tazewell county, Illinois; George is deceased; Austin makes his home in Los Angeles, California ; Druzilla married John Doty and they live in Denver; Albert is farming in Benton county, Indiana; Eli is deceased; Estella married Levi Livengood, and they live on a farm in Cain township; Virgil C., of this sketch ; Duly P., a farmer of Cain township, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume.
The father of the above named children died in 1893, at the age of seventy-three years, and the mother passed away in 1895 when seventy-two years old.
Virgil C. Frazier has remained on the old homestead where he is still successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, being the owner of three hundred and fifty acres, all under cultivation and excellent improve- ments. He has managed the old place with such skill that it has retained its original fertility and has yielded him a neat annual income. He has long handled an excellent grade of live stock and makes a specialty of full-blood Shropshire sheep. He has a fine, modernly appointed residence, and a sub- stantial group of outbuildings, everything about the place denoting thrift and good management.
... Mr. Frazier was married on December 31, 1893, to Gertrude M. Shade, daughter of Simon Shade, a well known Fountain county citizen.
Mr. Frazier is a Republican, a member of the Christian church, and a trustee in the same. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, Royal Arch Masons, Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
CHARLES M. SPENCER.
It is a pleasure to investigate the career of a successful, self-made man. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle of life alone or practically unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environ- ment, removes one by one the obstacles from his pathway to success and by the force of his own individuality succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record, briefly stated, of the popular and well known furni- ture dealer and undertaker of Kingman, Fountain county, to a brief synopsis of whose life and characteristics the following paragraphs are devoted, who while but a young man showed himself to be able to successfully compete with all classes of men in the business world.
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Charles M. Spencer was born in Worthington, Ohio, June 16, 1842. He is the son of John W. and Irene (Didrick) Spencer, natives of Virginia and New York, respectively. The father came to Indiana in an early day, locating in Fayette county, where he followed the trade of cabinet-maker, which he taught all his sons. He moved to Harveysburg, March 4, 1857, and followed his trade for fifteen years, then moved to Saybrook, Illinois, but later returned to Harveysburg, where he died in 1883, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died at the home of her son, Charles M., of this sketch, in March, 1904. Nine children were born to John W. Spencer and wife, namely: Charles M., of this review; William, Theodore, Francis, Margaret, Dewitt, Richard, Juliet and Geraldine, all of whom are deceased but the subject. The father of the above named children was a Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Charles M. Spencer attended the public schools until he was twelve years of age, then was apprenticed to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he worked for seven years. On August 20, 1861, he left the bench, ran away and enlisted in Company A, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in at Terre Haute, and was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 15, 1864, having been a most faithful soldier for the Union, and he had participated in the following engagements: Fort Donelson and battle of Shiloh two days; Perrysville, Kentucky, then made the return trip to Nashville. Here he was taken out of his regiment in October, 1862, and put into the "Pioneer Brigade" under James St. Clair Morton. This was formed at Nashville and he was with this body of noted fighting men at the great battle of Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, three days; then went to Chattanooga, and was in the battle there, then fought at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, later being mustered out as stated above.
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