USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
JAMES W. GOOKINS.
One of the influential citizens of Veedersburg is the gentleman to whose career the reader's attention is now directed who was for years ranked with Fountain county's leading merchants and who is now engaged in the real estate business. A man of excellent endowments and upright character, Mr. Gookins has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of his com- munity and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of the same along material, civic and moral lines.
James W. Gookins was born in Perryville, Vermillion county, Indiana, May 30, 1845, and is the son of Milo and Mary (Barnes) Gookins, natives of Vermont and Ohio, respectively. Grandfather Barnes lived in Vigo county, ten miles from Terre Haute, on Otter Creek prairie. He had come
591
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
from Ohio to Vigo county in a very early day. Milo Gookins, who was twenty-one years old when he left his old Vermont home, also located in Vigo county, Indiana, and there he and Mary Barnes were married, and later moved to the town f Clinton, Vermillion county, thence to Perryville. He was an early flatboat merchant, taking produce to New Orleans and bring- ing back groceries and general supplies. He continued in the mercantile business until 1852, then moved to Mansfield, Parke county, and engaged in lumbering and milling, also the dry goods business, and carried on these lines for a period of seven years, buying and selling on a year's time. in 1859 he moved to Mill Creek township, Fountain county, where he followed farming until 1863, when he was appointed Indian agent at Fort Gib. on and Fort Scott and he discharged the duties of that important position for a period of three years. He was appointed under President Lincoln. He then re- turned to the farm, where he remained until his death, in 1870. Ife was a prominent man in this section of the state, and was especially influential as a temperance worker and an advocate for good schools. His family con- sisted of nine children, namely : Matilda married James Martin, of Attica; Elizabeth died when twenty-three years of age; Julia married James A. Clearwater, who was a minister in the Methodist church for a period of fifty- two years, being now retired and living at Brazil, Indiana; Reuhama mar- ried Capt. Oliver Coffin, of Parke county, a Union soldier who died at the age of twenty-three years; Snowden B., who lives at Vecdersburg, is a car- penter by trade, and was in the army three years; James W., of this sketch. was the next in order of birth; Frank B. is a merchant at Sterling; Edward married and farmed for a time in Fountain county, later was employed in an engine works in Indianapolis, and his death occurred in December, 1905.
James W. Gookins was reared on the home farm and he received his education in the common schools, and in the Presbyterian Academy at Wave- land, Indiana. The subjeet was married in February, 1875, to Celina A. Dice, daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Rice) Dice. The Rice family made their home for some time where Henry Dice lived in this county. After leaving school, Mr. Gookins worked two years as "printer's devil," then farmed a while, later clerked for Lucas Brothers at Steam Corners and Hillsboro, re- maining with them for a period of three years, giving eminent satisfaction in every respect. He then came to Veedersburg in 1874, where he opened a store, which he operated with much success for a period of thirty years, en- joying a large and lucrative trade with the people of the surrounding coun- try, and, by his able management and fair treatment of his thousands of customers, he laid by a handsome competency, and retired from the business
592
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
in 1904. Since then he has engaged in the real estate business. He is de- serving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having relied solely upon himself. Politically, he is a Republican, and religiously is a Presbyterian.
Mr. Gookins was twice married, his last wife being Josephine Madingan, daughter of James Madingan, who was a native of Ireland, who came to this country after his marriage and when he had earned enough money he sent for his wife, who was the next youngest of a family of eight children. He came to America with nothing, but by perseverance he became well estab- lished in due time.
Two children constitute Mr. Gookins' family, Ralph D., who married Mand McNeil, lives in Veedersburg; they have three children, Rutha, Clara and Josephine, all at home; Ruth M. married Orlan A. Cassady, a traveling salesman of Spencer, Indiana; they have four children, Ralph, Margaret, James and Louise, all at home.
ELMER T. STRADER.
Elmer T. Strader, farmer and a member of an old and esteemed family of Fountain county, was born November 29, 1861, in Richland township, and is a son of Daniel and Frances Matilda (Leath) Strader, both parents early settlers and among the respected people of the community in which ey lived. Elmer T. Strader's early experience on his father's farm was conducive to good health, vigorous physical development and a determination while still young to make the most of his opportunities; accordingly he formulated plans for the future and with high ideals and noble purposes, resolved that his life should be a credit to himself, an honor to his family and of use to his fellow men. During the years of his minority he attended the public school in the vicinity of the homestead and on attaining his majority engaged in the pur- suit of agriculture, which honored calling he has since followed with encour- aging success, owning for some years past a fine farm of one hundred and forty-three acres in Shawnee township, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and improved with substantial modern buildings, good fences, etc., until he now has a house, moilern in equipment, comfortable and con- venient in its appointments, and uniting all the requirements which a first-class American home is intended to subserve. The reigning spirit in this place of abode is the estecined lady whom he married on the 8th day of July, 1903.
593
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
and who previous to that time was Miss Lora B. Barker, daughter of Thomas and Emma Barker. Mrs. Strader has co-operated with her husband in the promotion of their mutual interests and welfare, nobly seconds him in all of his endeavors, and it is not too much to say that not a little of his success in life is due to her judicious efforts and wise counsel. They have one child, a daughter, who answers to the name of Helen Louise, and whose birthi oc- curred on March 13, 1906.
Mr. Strader and wife are respected members of the Union Christian church and endeavor to make their daily lives correspond to the religion which they profess. He takes an active interest in the material advancement of the community, stands for law and order and his influence has always been on the right side of every moral question and issue. For some years he has been a member of the local Horsethief Detective Association, an organization com- posed of the best men of the township, whose efforts have been untiring in ridding the county of the lawless element which formerly infested this part of the state to the great annoyance of the farmers and to the serious loss of not a few.
Thomas Barker, father of Mrs. Strader, was raised in Parke county, In- diana, and was a well-to-do farmer and respected citizen. He married while living there Emma Morgan, who bore him six children, including Lora B., wife of the subject, whose birth occurred in Iroquois county, Illinois, March 17, 1871, but who was reared and edneated in Parke county, Indiana.
JOSEPH A. BORDERS.
The record of Mr. Borders is that of a man who by his own unaided efforts worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of affluence and influence in the business world. His life has been of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematie and honorable methods which he has fol- lowed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens of War- ren county.
Joseph A. Borders was born near Lafayette, Tippecanoe county, In- diana, on October 14, 1848, and is the son of Solomon and Margaret (Alex- ander) Borders. At the age of eleven years he was brought to Warren county and has lived here continuously since. His father was a farmer and his first years were therefore spent amid the scenes and as a participant in the labors of the farm. He received a common school education and upon (38)
594
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
starting in life on his own account, having spent his time on the farm intil 1892, he began building gravel roads as a contractor. At that time mid roads were the universal rule and he has been a witness of the wonderful transfor- mation to the present magnificent system of highways in this section of the state. He hauled the second and third loads of gravel which were used in the construction of the State road through Warren county. Ile followed road building for about four years and then took county bridge building and con- crete work, to which he has since devoted his entire attention. His work al- ways stands the test and he is therefore considered a thoroughly reliable and competent contractor. He has handled some of the largest contracts in his line. in the county and enjoys an excellent reputation among business men with whom he has had dealings.
On October 28, 1874, Mr. Borders was married to Silvia Alice Scott. who was born near Boswell. Warren county, Indiana, on August 24, 1853. the daughter of David and Alice ( Hanks) Scott. Mrs. Borders' grandfather and Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, were cousins. Mrs. Scott died when her daughter, Mrs. Borders, was but nine months' old and she was but two years old when her father died. She was then taken and reared by an aunt. She received a common school education, h. ving attended the same school as Mr. Borders, where they became sweethearts.
Politically, Mr. Borders has always given his support o the Republican party, but has never been an office secker. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and, with his wife, belongs to the Pythian Sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Borders are members of the Methodist church, she having served as president of the Ladies' Aid Society for ten years. They are both popular in the circles in which they move and their home is the frequent meet- ing place of their many friends. 1
HENRY I. AND LOUIS STARNES.
Two of the progressive and up-to-date farmers of Fountain county, who have succeeded at their chosen calling because they have been persistent and good managers, are Henry I. and Louis Starnes, the former the present popu- lar and efficient postmaster at the village of Hillsboro, and the latter the owner of a large, well improved farm in Cain township. They are men who have proven of vast worth to the community in general, for their lives have been above reproach, they having ever been known as enterprising, neighborly,
-
595
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
public-spirited and honest, and here they have been contented to spend their lives, keeping untarnished the excellent reputation of the family, which settled in this community when it was new and partly developed, and when the help of just such strong minded, brawny armed people were much needed and ap- preciated. So these gentlemen are eminently entitled to special mention in a volume of this kind.
Henry I. Starnes was born near Hillsboro, Indiana, February 13, 1872, and there he grew to maturity and received his education in the common schools of Cain township. He began life as a newspaper man, working for some time on the Veedersburg Reporter. Gaining there a definite and practical knowl- edge of the newspaper business, he came to Hillsboro in 1889, when only eighteen years of age, and operated successfully the Hillsboro Clipper in 1890, then operated with equal satisfactory results the Wingate Graphic and the Waynetown Despatch, in 1892. He then worked on various papers, and in 1898 established the Hillsboro Times, which he operated two years. He took the census of 1900 in this locality, and he was appointed postmaster at Hills- boro, December 19, 1901, and he has been incumbent of the office continuously to the present time, discharging his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of the department and the people. ITe is the owner of fifty acres of good land in Cain township.
The marriage of Henry I. Starnes occurred on A:gust 25, 1892, to Flora Temple, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Harry T., Charles F. and Etliel M. Politically, he is a Republican and has always been loyal in his support of his party's principles.
Louis Starnes was born in Fountain county, May 5, 1849. Here he grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools and in Waveland Acad- emy. He began life for himself by teaching school, which he continued suc- cessfully for a period of five years. He sold sewing machines for a year and a half, and since then he has followed farming, and is now the owner of a highly improved and productive farm of two hundred and twenty-eight acres in Cain township, on which he has a good set of buildings, and keeps some good grades of live stock at all seasons.
Louis Starnes was married on March 27, 1873, to Emily Edwards, daugh- ter of Isaac and Mary (Vessel) Edwards, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Mary C., who married Austin Kealing, of Hillsboro; Aura E. married C. R. Trowbridge, of Mishawaka; Lucretia G. married Charles Kealing : Otis J. is deceased ; Charles B. lives in Hillsboro.
Politically, Louis Starnes is a loyal Republican, and religiously he is a member and a trustee of the United Brethren church.
596
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
RUSSELL WARRICK.
One of our well known citizens and progressive men of affairs is Russell Warrick, of Veedersburg, a worthy representative of sterling pioneers of Fountain county, his maternal grandfather being one of the first two men in this locality, braving the wilds of the famous Wabash valley as early as the year 1822, when his neighbors were wild animals and Indians. He selected the site of his future home and built a log cabin in the primeval forests. It was typical of the times, built of round logs, with a huge fireplace in one end, with puncheon floors, clapboard roof and bark siding, and soon it was sur- rounded by a small clearing. Subsequently the progenitor of the Warricks started life here. With these rude beginnings in this county the Spinning and Warrick families, with wild and primitive surroundings, became Hoosiers in the correct meaning of the terni, and they have played well their parts in the subsequent development of the locality.
Russell Warrick was born in Fountain county, Indiana, September 14, 1845. He is the son of Jesse and Mary (Spinning) Warrick, both natives of Ohio where they spent their earlier years, the mother having come here with her parents in 1822. Her father, Isaac Spinning, referred to in the preceding paragraph, came here from the Buckeye state on horseback, stopping on the way at the present site of Indianapolis, and there helped raise the first log cabin, the country roundabout being a wilderness. He came on to Fountain county and entered land from the government, paying the usual fee of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He thought he was the first man in the county, but soon discovered that Samuel Stephens had preceded him by one day.
Jesse Warrick, father of the subject of this sketch, came here in a very early day from Warren county, Ohio, and here became well established as a general farmer. His family consisted of twelve children, all now deceased hut four, who were named: George, who is living at Wingate, Indiana; Russell of this review; Newton and Benjamin (twins), the former living at Veedersburg and the latter at Stone Bluff, this county.
Russell Warrick grew to manhood in this county and received fairly goo 1 educational advantages in the local schools, and here he has been content to spend his life.
On February 24, 1866, Mr. Warrick was united in marriage with Johanna Boord, daughter of Jonathan and Miriam Boord, early settlers of this county, and a highly respected family. Johanna Boord lived in Cincin-
597
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
nati when it was but a small village. Two children were born to Russell Warrick and wife, namely: Orrin F., who lives in Van Buren township, this county, and Lena, who died when two and one-half years old.
The subject has been twice married, his second wife, whom he joined in matrimony in 1906, being Mary L. Wilson.
Mr. Warrick is an honored veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted on March 13, 1865, in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he saw service with the army in Virginia and was honorably discharged at Winchester, that state, on August 14, 1865. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and also is a member of the Christian church. He has been very sucessful in a business way and has a good home and a competency. He has become one of the expert agriculturists of this section of the state, and he has for about ten years, furnished reports on crop conditions from Van Buren township to the government.
WILLIAM McGILVREY.
The gentleman whose name initiates this article is a native of Ohio, a state which has been the cradle of much of our western civilization and upon which the commonwealth of Indiana has largely drawn for its most enlight- ened, enterprising and progressive citizenship. Most of the life of William McGilvrey has been spent in the Hoosier state, for he was a mere child when brought to the Wabash country by his parents, and here he has continued to reside, having made general farming' his life work, In this he has met with encouraging success, and is now enabled to spend his declining years in hon- orable retirement, in his pleasant home in the village of Kingman, in the extreme southern part of the county, his farm lying just over the line in Parke county.
Mr. McGilvrey was born March 8, 1833, in Butler county, Ohio, and is the son of Samuel and Charlotte (Clapp) McGilvrey. The father was born in Ohio and there spent his early life and married there. In 1835 he brought his family to Mill Creek township, Fountain county, and entered land from the government, which he cleared and developed into a farm on which he made a very comfortable living, remaining there actively engaged until old age came on and he retired, moving to Covington, where his death occurred. His wife subsequently went to Kansas, where her death occurred. Their family consisted of four children, namely : John, who is living in Iowa; Will- iam, subject of this sketch; Alexander and Mary Catherine are deceased.
598
FOUNTAIN AND WARK, N COUNTIES, INDIANA.
William McGilvrey was two years old when he accompanied his par- ents to Fountain county, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received such education as the old- time schools afforded in Parke county, and 1.1 that county he turned his at- tention to general farming which he made his life work, and he became very comfortably fixed, following this vocation until October 30, 1907, when he moved to the village of Kingman, but lie still owns his well improved and valuable farm of ninety-seven acres, three miles southwest of Kingman in Parke county. He went to Iowa early in his career and there spent eight years engaged in farming.
Mr. McGilvrey was married on November 11, 1855, to Harriet A. Wat- son, daughter of Alexander and Mary (Insminger) Watson, who came from Kentucky to Parke county, Indiana, in an early day and here established the family home.
Three children have been born to the subject and wife, named as fol- lows: Mary Elizabeth, who married Edward M. Gookins, is deceased ; Frances Jane married James Bonebrake, and they live in Kingman; Amanda Emaline married Ira Bonebrake, who died when forty-one years old, leaving two children.
Politically, Mr. McGilvrey is a Republican, but he has never been es- pecially active in public affairs or held office.
WILLIAM H. CATES.
That the plenitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to be considered a most beneficial deprivation, for where ambition is satisfied and every ultimate end realized, if such be possible, apathy must follow. Effort would cease, accomplishment be prostrate and creative talent waste its energies in inactivity. The men who have pushed forward the wheels of progress have been those to whom satisfaction lies ever in the future, who have abored continuously, always finding in each transition stage an incen- tive for further effort. William H. Cates, of Kingman, is one whose well directed efforts have gained for him a position of desired prominence in the business, civic and social life of Fountain county, and his energy and enter- prise have been crowned by success. He is a man who, while laboring for his' o. n advancement, has never neglected his duties as a citizen, and his nam go down in the history of his county as one of its benefactors and a n. did much for its upbuilding and general progress.
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA. 599
Mr. Cates was born in Fountain county, Indiana, August 25, 1851, and is the son of David, Sr., and Jane ( Lindley) Cates. The father was born in Virginia, where his earlier days were spent; later he moved to the foot of the Cumberland mountains in Tennessee, for eight years, thence to Orange county, Indiana, and finally, in 1844, he located permanently in Fountain county, at the place called Cates, he being its founder, and which is at pres- . ent a thriving village. He became a prominent man in this locality and his efforts resulted in large financial success. When the railroad was built through the county he and Aaron Lindley offered to help build a station and a grade on their land if the railroad company would put a station there; they did so and named it Cates after the subject's father, as stated.
David Cates, Sr., had two children by his first wife, William H., of this review, and Elizabeth, who died when eight years of age. The elder Cates later married Catherine P. Lindley, of Parke county, and to this union two children were born, Joseph T., deceased, and Mary J., who married a Mr. Campbell.
When David Cates, Sr., came here he purchased land of David Shirk, which he cleared and developed into a good farm and there he continued to spend the remainder of his days, his death occurring on January 12, 1900. His first wife, the mother of the subject, died in 1859 at the old home.
William H. Cates, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work and received a good common school education in his neighborhood and at the Valparaiso University, grad- uating in 1875. In the year 1879 he was united in marriage with Harriet E. Lindley, daughter of Nathan and Susan (Harvey) Lindley, who came to this county from Ohio, the father having been a native of North Carolina, from which state he came overland to Ohio in a wagon in the early days, thence to Parke county, Indiana, when this country was sparsely settled.
The subject of this sketch began life by teaching school, which he fol- lowed two years, then took charge of the railroad office at Cates, later was postmaster there, then he engaged in the lumber and grain business for a period of five years at Cayuga with much success, after which he returned to the old home place, where he continued to reside until 1906, when he moved to Kingman, where he has since lived retired. He had been very successful as a general farmer and stock man, keeping the old farm well improved and well cultivated and became one of the leading farmers of the township. He has laid by a handsome competency and is the owner of valuable city prop- erty in Kingman. He has made what he has unaided and by his persistency and good management.
1
1
600
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cates, named as follows: Maud J. died when eight months old; Minnie died at the age of twenty years; Annie died when eight years old; and the death of Lizzie M. occurred at the age of fourteen months.
Mr. Cates, like his worthy father before him, has always been a man of public spirit. He donated the right of way for the railroad when it was built through his locality. He also helped with the work of building the station and making the grading and sidings, all of which made a considerable donation for one man. He is a Prohibitionist, and while he has taken more or less interest in public affairs he has never sought or held public office. He is a member of the Friends church, and a man of clean personal and social life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.