USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 34
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 34
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Elza I. Wilt was married on October 2, 1899, to Mary Napier, of Co :- ington, Indiana. Politically, he is a Democrat and, fraternally, a member of the Knights of Pythias. Like his brother. John A. Wilt, he is widely known in this part of the state and is popular with a vast circle of friends.
WILLIAM A. WRIGHT.
Every human being either submits to the controlling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects others. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the way along which others may follow with like success. Consequently a critical study of the life record of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this paragraph may be beneficial to the reader, for it has been one of usefulness and honor and for the discouraged youth standing "where meets the brook and the river of life" it abounds in both lesson and incentive. Through his own indomitable energy, perseverance. sound judgment and honesty Mr. Wright has gradually ascended the ladder until he is today one of the leading business men of the section of the Hoosier state of which this volume treats, and is a public-spirited citizen who has done much for Fountain county.
William A. Wright, owner of extensive telephone and other interests, who maintains his home near the town of Hillsboro, was born in Richland township, Fountain county, March 29, 1852, and is the son of Thomas and Martha (Rohrer) Wright. The father was born on the Atlantic ocean while his parents were emigrating from Ireland to America, and the mother, who was the second wife of Thomas Wright, was a native of the state of Mary- land. Thomas Wright was a weaver by trade. Ile eame to Fountain county in 1840 and located in Richland township, where he bought land and followed farming in connection with weaving. His death occurred in 1883. at the age
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FOUNTAIN ASHER METY CODSTARS INDESSA.
at the age of seventy som years. Trods was the Eagles of the belowing children: Ezra, who for a faithier im Warren county, thea at the age of eighty-two years; Mary J. married and lives in Nebraska, William A., of this sketch : Melisa married Joseph 11. Miller, of California. The last four named were by Thomas Wright's second wife, the first named by his first mariage with a Miss Snyder. Thomas Wright was a member of the New Light Christian church, and politically was a Democrat.
William A. Wright grew up on the home farm in Richland town hip and! in his community lic received a good education in the common schools, later taking a course in the State Normal School at Terre Haute. He began life for himself by teaching schools winters and farming during the summer months. for a number of years, until he got a good start. Later he turned his : ttention to the telephone business nd has been very successful in this line of endeavor. He is the owner of the Hillsboro Telephone Company, also owns a half in- tere t in the Waynestown Telephone Company, both of which he has built up to splendid systems and has made them very paying investments. He is also heavily interested in the Hillsboro State Bank, and he has a valuable and finely improved farm of nearly three hundred acres, one of the choice farms, in fact, in the county.
Mr. Wright is a Democrat and has long taken an active and influential part in local political affairs. He has been county assessor, county commis- sioner and trustee of Richland township, discharging the duties of these posi- tions in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the people. Fraternally, he is a Mason, and he is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he is a large contributor, also con- tributes to the support of the Christian church.
Mr. Wright was married to Bina Neal, daughter of John Neal, a well known citizen of Richland township, Fountain county. Five children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Leory, Thomas (deceased), Beu- lah, Martha and Alice.
JESSE E. FUNK.
A great essay written long ago said that "When one has given the best that is in him to a work, he experiences a feeling of satisfaction." While this statement may seem rather broad, yet a greater truth than this was never spoken. Whether one is successful or not in what one undertakes, if he realizes
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN CORSTIUS TEMAS-N
that nothing on his part has been left nadone, he fold ledes for water This does not mean that the unsuccessful per con feel- not a good over Human of the successful over victory. When one does his best and if neces Fol yo pas a double reason to be happy. To this class belongs fesse F. Fink, care of the best known and most substantial farmers of the northern part of Poland county. for he has always done his bestand has succeeded.
Mr. Funk was born in Davis township Fountain comuns. Indiana Jones 21, 1867, the scion of two of the prominent old families of this section of the Hoosier state. He is a son of Hiram and Mary \. ( Marvin) Funk, both Lopo a ] reared in Davis township also. Great-grandfather Funk was a native of Germany, from which country he came to America in an early day and settle : in Fountain county, Indiana, where he spent the rest of his life, being a hardy pioneer here, and from that remote day to this the Folks have been well and favorably known in the region of the famous Wabas !. Elijah Funk, paternal grandfather of the subject. was also an active and successful man in the carly history of the county. He had a family of four children by his first wife, and two children by his second wife, both still living. Three children were born 10 Hiran and Mary A. Funk, namely : Margaret E., who married James Tay- lor, of Davis township, this county : Emma C. married Alfred Carlson, also of Davis township; and Jesse E., of this sketch, was the youngest.
The father of the above named children was a Democrat and was active in county affairs for several years. He was county commissioner for two terms, and he also served three terms as township trustee, was also township assessor for one term. As a public servant he gave eminent satisfaction to all concerned and was well known throughout the county. Hiram Funk and wife are both still living, now making their home at Lafayette, Indiana.
Jesse Marvin, the maternal grandfather of the subject, was also active and influential in political affairs, and in 1881 he represented Fountain county in the state Legislature for one term, during which he won the hearty approval of his constituents and his name will go down in the history of the state as the man who caused the passing of the railroad fence bill. He was a stanch Democrat.
Jesse E. Funk grew to manhood and was educated in Fountain county and here he has spent his life. On April 16, 1890, he was united in marriage with Hattie Bradley, daughter of Robert and Mary Catherine ( Kiser ) Brad- ley, who came from Ohio to this county among the early settlers. Grandfather Louis Kiser was a soldier in the Civil war, in the Union army. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Funk, namely: Robert, Louise and Myron, all at home.
FOUNTAIN ARD WAGORA LOV, TIPS: INTO A
Mr Funk Is the owner of aoque farm consisting of trop fenalred al forty acres of well improve land weed sutracet lathe coch lecant or th of the town of Attica in Davi- 1604m ant kore be birses ao Loppet bien- ing and stock raising on : lange sedo ard ina pome une - int nous 10 has a pleasant home in the work of attracti e emmodo of the convenient ontbuidling. .
Fraternal',, Mr Funk belongs toolie Free unil Areemech Scone, Todas No. 120, at Odell, Indiana; the Knights of l'atlas Lange Vo. 05. 21 Mine and the Modern Woodinen of America at Attica Filosofo he i- s Nem- crat and, like his honored progenitor, is active in porfin shorts, He has been trustee of Davis township for one tern, being still incombent of thed .Ise. a:"1 is most worthily discharging its duties.
MARKO SMITH.
The life portrayed in this review i- hat if a typical, I mis Nomerfoli. who, with an inheritance of a sound body and clear mikel. darby began to wake his own way, little by little saved and accumulated property, and now has nehed a comfortable pro rity while yet a young man.
Mark O. Smith was in in Berrien county, Michigan, on September 25. 1865, the son of Samuel and Serena A. ( Marquess ) Smith. Samuel Smith was born in New Jersey and reared in Indiana. In 1861. he moved to Michi- gan and located in Berrien county, where he followed farming and lumber- ing. At times he operated as many as twenty-four teams, in lumbering. He died at Waynetown in 1888, aged fifty-eight. His wife had preceded him in 1884, at the age of fifty-one, passing away in Butler county, Missouri. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mark O. is the only one living.
In the schools of Troy, Berrien county, Michigan, Mark O. Smith re- ceived his education. He worked on his father's farm for a while, then at the age of nineteen he left home and came to Fountain county, Indiana. to visit his grandparents, James and Margaret Marquess, who were early settlers of Shawnee township, having moved from their native state of Virginia to Ohio, and thence to Indiana in the thirties. Shortly after his arrival in Fonn- tain county his grandparents died, and he remained on the farm working for his uncle, George M. Marquess, for seven years, then for fifteen months worked for L. E. Jones at Rob Roy. By this time he had saved a little money and he began renting at Rob Roy, operating a part of the Orr farm for four
662
Which for might nem Tanto nos
daughter of Jacob and Rienbeth Ant Jau. Wix esse carte Sters o Tome tain county. To this mariage were here tror chil well. for Marques d' Phzabeth Mary.
in TO08 Mir. Smith was elcuad Hinter of Shawnash .mal by tion he now holds. He wa- dected on the Republican the boy quel ho ppe popularity and the esteem in which his son i worth and sterline integrive go held are shown by the fact that he received the largest majority the first candidate in Shawnee township. His administration of township anniry hm been much to the satisfaction of all. Freternally. Mr. Smith 's a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Rob Roy and the Knights of Pythiasal Attica.
JAMES A. GLOVER.
Just as it is the busy bee and not the drone who makes up the hive. It is the tviler in any community. the man who works constantly and conscientioush to improve his own estate, and is enterprising and intelligent in his work, that makes the district in which he lives progress and grow. One of the most sub- stantial and highly respected citizens of Fountain county is James A. Glover. who has been untiring in his efforts, and has handled all circumstances and obstacles which he has had to overcome with courage and determination.
James A. Glover was born in Troy township, Fountain county, on June 13, 1880, the son of William M. and Mary Elizabeth ( Coffing) Glover. ( For the history of his family, see the sketches of William M. Glover and George S. G'over in this work. ) Ile spent his early life on a farm, learning the stern lessons which nature teaches to those who work constantly with her. He re- ceived his carly education in Troy township, and afterwards attended the Indiana Normal at Covington, Indiana.
Mr. Glover. taught school one term, and then, not being contented with teaching as an occupation, turned his attention to farming and has remained on the farm since that time. On October 9, 1901, he married Anna O. Wolfe. daughter of Nath n and Mary Louise ( Null) Wolfe, who was born January 31, 1881, in Champaign county, Ohio. When she was a small child her par- ents left Ohio and moved to Indiana, locating in Troy township, Fountain
FOUST IR WED WANGES SOUS TIAS ISPL ON
Light church. M. Gloveriso Republican
Mr. Glover has a form of one hundred and eight sen all of which. with the exception of then gende seres, is in a high school ofrange of. Glover is a typical Indians fromer, stior , thrifty afif lend comme lle v. good citizen and a good neighbor. Such ien, working on the waysili al ate- trict, form the backbone of this country, and it is op then that the large portion of the population depend for the very bad they call is the life of the nation woul suffer from the absence of such worker , so the history of the county in which they live would be ine anplete without Them, and the his- tory of Fountain county would e sadly lacking without the biography of James A. Glover.
JAMES F. MARKSBURY.
Now that the summertime of life is ended and the autumn winds of 30 age have come, the subject of this review can look back want Lover at carere plan has been well spent, resulting in good to those whom it true bed and has brothing comfort to himself, for Mr. Marksbury has been a man who has believed in keeping busy and at the same time in doing favors for his neighbors and. friends as he went through life, for he believes that "man lives not to himself alone." As a result of this commendable attitude he has always been held in high esteem by those who have come into contact with him.
James F. Marksbury, a successful farmer of the vicinity of Mellott. Richland township, Fountain county, Indiana, was born in Kentucky in 1849, the son of Daniel and Louisa (Wilson) Marksbury, both parents natives of Kentucky. They grew to maturity, were educated and married in the Blue Grass state and there they remained until in May, 1863, when they removed to Fountain county, Indiana, and settled in Van Buren township, establishing the permanent home of the family there, in which they spent the remaining years of their lives. They became the parents of six children, named in order of birth as follows: Joshua lives in California ; James F., the immediate sub- ject of this sketch: Elizabeth married George Neal, of Mellott: Ellen mar- ried Franklin Osborne and they live in California: John Samuel, Joseph D. and Nancy are all deceased.
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threshing nie .hine.
Mr. Marksbon ga- maried on January 5 1852, & Martha Eller Spol gate, daughter of Harvey and Si yle Apple gate, sport in to Fall tain county, Indiana, from Ohio, the mother having been in to Wochguy Mr. and Mrs. Applegate were the parents of seven children the me when are living at this writing.
One child, Alton D., who is at home, but who is teaching in ake hoeness college at Westfield, at the present time being his second year, war lain w James F. Marksbury and wife. Politically, the subject is a Repul hean. but :. has never been an office holder.
ALLEN . C. SCHERMERHORN.
In the history of Fountain county as applying to the agricultural inter- ests, the name of Allen C. Schermerhorn occupies a conspicuous place, for through several decades he has been a representative farmer and stock man of the vicinity of Newtown-persevering, progressive a. wenterprising. Such qualities always win succ. s, sooner or later, and to the subject they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well-directed effort, and he is today one of the substantial and representative men of his community. And while he has benefited himself and community in a material way, he has also been an influential advocate of good roads, public improvements in general, better schools and, in fact, whatever goes toward improving the political and moral tone of the co nty.
Mr. Schermerhorn was born in Fountain county, Indiana, November 9. 1852. IIe is the son of Jacob and Martha (Odell) Schermerhorn, the mother having been the daughter of Major John Odell, who served with distinction in the war of 1812, being one of the oldest settlers of the state, and for whom Odell's Corners was named. Iler grandfather, James B. Odell, traced his ancestors back to the year 1600, when they came to America from Great Brit- ian and locat 1 at New Amsterdam, now New York City.
The father of the subject cank to Fountain county in 1847 and taught school at Odell's Corners, having been only seventeen years old when he
MR. AND MRS. ALLEN C. SCHERMERHORN.
1849 to 1850 taught at CHRO bry & how MUCH WE 1 1 080 to 1851 be taught at vagar finns & hel jouer o Tom het ma, per which he married am ! schied worth of ertowe selich Formations her- hundred and thirty two vers. now anypedito ina vemniyet. . o. Wiemcas
Two children were born to Thely Schortenshan amil Ie unt wife namely: Allen C., of this review. Il joille obrony it maxey in the elder Schermerhan and he Found glic. W. In las, come ement at appre hend. named as follows : Slice C. det when Ganzen year old, Wiethe ted of the age of eleven years; Charles Mit- died when twenty-five wars day! William is ca hier of the Central National Bank at Allica.
Allen (. Schermerhorn grew to manhood on the house larin , la received a good education in the public schools. He was afraid of S. men- ber 15. 1875, to Rhoda E. Martin, daughter of John S. For Dien 1. Me harry ) Martin. Her father was born in Miaini county. Olin, jie 6. 1829. and her mother was born in Montgomery county, Judiana, in ofje. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Rhoda E., wife in the subject; the second child died in ir fancy; Thomas E. lives 'n Richland tol ysup. this county ; Ida M. married James Kirkpatrick, of New Richmond; Wellant died young ; Jesse M. is president of the National Bank at Attica; Fata married David Gardner, of Hillsboro, and she is now deceased.
To the subject and wife two children have been boru, Lora D., who married Steven Randolph, a groceryn . of Newtown. und Charles E. mar- ied Ethel VanGebhart, and is a farmer of Richland township, this county.
Allen C. Schermerhorn has managed well and worked hard for his success in the world's affairs. At one time he owned seven hundre 1 acres of valuable land, part of which was in South Dakota, but he has divided his land and now has five hundred and forty acres left, two hundred and twenty of which lies in Richland township, Fountain county. He has always kept his land under a high state of improvement and cultivation and has been exceptionall: snc- cessful as a general farmer and stock raiser. Having accumulated a hand- some competency, he retired from active life in 1909, moved to Newtown and purchased a beautiful residence, which he has remodeled and rendered it one of the finest homes in the eastern part of the county. Ile rebuilt all the build- ings on his farm and brought it up to date in every respect, including fencing, ditching and obtaining modern labor-saving machinery. He gra lually adde 1 to his original holdings.
Fraternally, Mr. Schermerhorn bel. gs to Masonic Lodge No. 205, at Newtown. In religious matters he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
6.51
JOHN & BROWS
Ohio, mais an tul senter
hi. death in 1805. Mr . Brown, aloce markering was Marile Wenn was also of Ohio birth. The bar. bec littanist _ewn phildide cel dopar il this life in the month of Jamming, 99 The number of fire eludrentre follows: Samuel and Clara, wpo diet doming. [Tele, a resident of Usm.IT Illinois : Harvey, decca of Breast of Brugge owany nial the engod of the- review, and Jasper, of Champaign, the. lol: D. B .opp sever INE Tia years as a justice of the peace and was a peucol good somd nature judgment and always commanded the respect of In W flow citizens. He was a online Mason and a Democrat in politics, and it very relation to life pro ye! hippoly an obliging neighbor, a public-spirited may of je urs, who made the world better by his presence and influence.
John R. Brown, to a brief outline of wine life the reader's age a.pl here respectfully invited, was born September 25. 1876, in Fountain count, and received his early education and discipline in the stern school of esporre ience on the farm. At the proper age he cimbel the district school neat hi home, where, by diligent application, he sweet mastered the branches constitul- ing the prescribed course of study, and during the spring and summer months bore his part in the cultivation of the crops and other labor which falls to the lot of country boys. He early decided to become a tiller of the soil, and to this honorable vocation he has since devoted his energies, adding to his original thirty-five acres of the family homestead until he now owns a small but highly improved farm of sixty acres, which, in point of productiveness, is not sur- passed by any lil . area of land in Richland township. He makes a careful study of the soils and their adaptability to the various crops grown in this pan of the state and In judicious rotation and the free use of fertilizers solde m. it ever, fails to realize abundant returns from the time and labor expended an his fields. He has also achieved enviable repute as a raiser of live stock, giving special attention to graded cattle and the finer breeds of swing. from the sab of which he adds greatly to his profits.
Mr. Brown was married in 1896 to Hattie Simpson daughter of Ell
mathat degree the coffee all the facile along with my b por-
The genderman ology and produces this shoewhy was for many guer one of Fountain, county's progres ive Tablets Ling hay . , mongol well affil laid by a competency, He has retired from the a tive duties of brie will is living quietly in his rented home in the plea an. Uran of Veo Lerecare having soll earned for his declining years a respite mmol bil. He was one of indian - patriotic sons who dommed the blue and fought the enemies of his country pol many of the bloody fields of the South and horing the commons part of wego secession threatened the disruption of the national Union Ully for a 9900- ber of reasons he is entitled to representation in this veinte
William Carter was born in Orange county, Indiana, Jantons 15, 1937. He is the son of Jonathan and Mary (Lindley) Carter, who spel mor alier years in Orange county, later moving to Parke county. thence po Tofumin county, in 1851, and settled on a farm, subsequently moving in 200 Pad. county, where the death of Jonathan Carter occurred. He ast expenter Ig trade, which he followed in connection with farming. He and Ins wife were natives of North Carolina, from which state they came to Indiana when young, and located in Orange county. They became the parents of twelve children, all now deceased but three, William, of this sketch; Mary, who lives at Bloomingdale, Indiana, and Cemyra, who lives at Russiaville, this state.
William Carter grew to manhood on the home farm and he helped with the general work about the place when a boy and received his education in the common schools. He was fifteen years old when the family moved to this county. When the Civil war came on he enlisted. in July, 1863, in Company C. One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and saw con- siderable hard service in the Army of the Tennessee, under General Bunn , later under General Wilcox. He participated in a number of engagements, in- cluding Walker's Ford. His record as a soldier was a very creditable me an 1
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
he was honorably discharge, and mustered out of service in February, 1.804. at Lafayette, Indiana.
After his absence in the army, Mr. Carter returned home and resuming farming, which he made his life work. He is the ou ar of eighty acres of valuable and well improved land in Mill Creek township, and there he wa -necessfully engaged in gener, I farming until he moved to Seedersbig I
Mr. Carter was married in February, 1863, to Martha Ellen Cartwright. daughter of Joshua B. and Irene ( Davis) Carty right, who were among the early settlers licie. This union resulted in the birth of seven children : Charles. deceased ; Joseph lives near Kingman. Indiana : Elizabeth married James Hud- son, of Danville, Illinois; Mary Etta, deceased, was the wife of Charles Day: Martha Ellen, who married William Wilkins, is deceased ; two died in infancy.
Mr. Carter was married a second time, having contracted a matrimonial alliance on November 28, 1879, with Sarah Ann Huff, daughter of John and Jane (Jackson) Huff. This family came to Crawford county, Indiana, in 1853. John Huff's family consisted of ten children, seven of whom are living. Three children were born to the subject and his second wife: Myrtle, who married Daniel Hutchins, lives . ITillsboro; William Alfred is at home: Lena Pearl is deccas.d.
Politically, Mr. Carter is a Republican. He is a member of the Baptist church, and was deacon in the same for a period of thirty years, having al- ways been a faithful church worker.
CHRISTOPHER HENRY CLEMENT.
The subject of this sketch has long been identified with the progress and advancement of this favored section of the great Hoosier state, where he has maintained his home for more than the Psalmist's allotted three score and ten years, having been born within the borders of Fountain county, and here he has spent his long, useful and active life, and has attained gratifying success in connection with the development of the natural resources of this locality. being one of the representative farmers and stock raisers of Richland town- ship and having one of the most productive landed estates in this part of the county.
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