USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 35
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Christopher Henry Clement was born in Richland township, Fountain county, Indiana, December 6, 1837, and is a son of John F. and Laura
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN V.
(Beman) Clement, both natives of the state of New York. The falar came to Fountain county, Indiana, October 20, 1828, and settled near Wingsy. later moved to Richland township, where he devoted the rest of his life to general farming, his death occurring in 1857; his widow survived forty-four Years longer, passing away in 1901 at the ripe old age of ninety seven year . The were the parents of four children, namely : Harriet, Oscar. Amanda. ol! nov deceased ; Christopher H., of this review, being the youngest.
John F. Clement was a Whig in early life, but joined the Kop Bien party in 1856. Ile entered land from the goverment, which he cleared, then moved to the farm now owned by his son, the subject, on September 20 1837. dying here twenty years later, after developing an excellent farm. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Christopher H. Clement, of this sketch, grew to iranhood on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy and he received such education a the old-time schools afforded. He was married in 1865 to Martha White- hall, daughter of Alexander Whitehall and wife, who came from North Caro- lina to Fountain county, Indiana, in 1832 and settled a mile and a half north- west of Newtown. They became the parents of eight children.
Two children were born to the subject and his second wife, namely : Grace, who is at home, and Mary, who married Claude C. Mccauley, and she is also at home at this writing.
Mr. Clement married Alice V. Clark, daughter of Andrew Jackson Clarl: and Sibbie Ann ( Robinson) Clark, he born near Lexington, Kentucky, July 8, 1815, and the mother was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1824. They grew up and married in their native state and came to Indiana in an early day, settling in Montgomery county, near Waveland, where they spent the rest of their lives, dying there, the death of Mr. Clark occurring on All- gust 229, 1888, and the date of Mrs. Clark's death was February 8, 1886. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Elizabeth died when twenty years old; Rev. Wesley F. lives at Lafayette, Indiana ; Nanny Ellen lives in Val- paraiso, Indiana; Alice V., wife of Mr. Clement, of this sketch : Samuel lives at Valparaiso; Shelby lives in South Bend, Indiana; Carrie lives in Attica, Fountain county ; Joseph lives in Indianapolis; Mary May died when twenty years old.
Mr .. Clement has remained on the home farm which he has kept well improved and has made a pronounced success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is highly respected by all who know him.
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FOUNTAIN AND HARPE & COUXTHE, INDIANA.
CHARLES D. KERR.
The prominence in Fountain county of Charles D. Kerr, of Newtoon who has long been regarded as one of our leading agriculture is, is the legity- mate result of genuine merit and ability, and in every relation of life his e - cellencies of character and the able manner in which he has discharged every duty reposed in him has won for him an enviable reputation as an enterprising and representative self-made man. He is the descendant of one of the oldes! and most highly esteemed families of this locality and he has striven to keep the good name of the same umtarnished with succe dling years. He is the son of Samuel and Virginia (Dagger) Kerr, full mention of whom is made in the sketch of John Dagger, appearing in this volume, hence need not be repro cluced here, except to say that the father of the subject was born in Butler county, Ohio, from which state he came to Fountain county. Indiana, when a boy with his grandfather, Josiah Kerr, who too !: up government land, and was one of the early settlers. Here Samuel Kerr grew to manhood and was mar- ried and here he devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, his death occurring in 1907, and his wife passed away in 1892. Their family consisted of four children, namely : Charles D., of this review ; William, who has remained in his native state; Carrie married Ed. Milligan, and they live at Waveland; Guy lives on the old home farm in Richland township.
Charles D. Kerr was reared to manhood on the old homestead and there he worked when a boy, attending the common district schools during the win- ter months, and early in life he turned his attention to general farming, which he has continued to the present time, with most gratifying restilts. He has man- aged well and applied himself closely to his individual affairs, with the result that he has prospered, laid by a competency to insure ease and comfort in his old age and now finds himself the possessor of a fine, productive farm of five hundred aeres of valuable land, eighty acres of which lies in Montgomery county, just across the line to the east. It is all tillable and has been placed under splendid improvements in every respect. The subject's son-in-law runs the farm, Mr. Kerr having moved to his pleasant residence in Newtown, in October, 1909, buying an attractive and neatly furnished home there. While on the farm he kept large numbers of various kinds of live stock and derived a large portion of his annual income from the same.
Mr. Kerr was married on September 30, 1879, to Edith Gray, daughter of an excellent old family of this county, extensive mention of whom is made on other pages of this volume. Two children have been born to the subject
FOUNTAIN AND WEPRIN COANCHE- INFLU,AZ
and Wife. Mahel ( arie, wie reed dd a good meal , mellom and who taught music for some time, married Carl (niggle, and They the on the sub- ject's farm; John is still at home and at this writing is a student at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, where he is making a fine beyond and will graduate with the class of 1913.
Politically, Mr. Kerr is a Republican in politics. Fraternally, he felong- to Masonic Lodge No. 205. at Newtown, And he is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he lias accomplished, having had no assistance.
JOHN B. BROWN.
B. a life of persistent and well applied industry, led along the most honor- able lines, the gentleman whose name ap ars al we has justly earned the right to be represented in a work of the character of the one at hand, along with the other men of Fountain county who have made their influence felt in their respective communities. He has descended from a sterling pioneer family, many of whose sterling traits he seems to have inherited, for he is not only a man of good character and public spirit but is also industrious and is never appalled by obstacles, such as are commonly met along the highway of life by everyone.
John B. Brown, farmer, of Richland township, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, April 24, 1855, and he is a son of Oliver and Cassandra (Reed) Brown. The father was born in Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to Ohio in early life, later coming on to Fountain county, Indiana, settling in Jackson township, coming here with his parents in an early day. William Brown, the paternal grandfather of the subject, entered land from the government in Jackson township, and this he developed by hard work and close application, literally hewing out a home from the dense forests with which this country was covered in those days, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying on the home place.
Oliver Brown, father of the subject, grew to manhood in this county. received what education he could in the old-time schools and here he devoted his life to farming, having a good farm in Jackson township, where his death occurred a number of years ago. He was a Democrat in politics, but he held no office, being a quiet home man.
Seven children were born to Oliver Brown and wife, all of whom are
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COURFIES, INDIANA
living at this writing, namely: George, who lives at Wallace, Fourally county ; lary married Benjamin Riley and they live m Richland township. Joseph Newton Ise in Ohio; John B. is : resident of Richland town-top Thomas Benjamin lives in Parke county ; Enuna married Joseph Hartley. si Crawfordsville ; Dora Olive lives at Danville, Illinois.
John B. Brown, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm .00 he worked there very diligently when a boy and young man. He res sed Ml primary education in the common rural schools of his community. He to up farming for a life work and this he has followed successfully to the present time, being now the owner of an excellent and well improved place of one hun dred and thirty-eight acres in Richland township, Fountain county, and he bis a neat home and a good set of outbuildings. In connection with general faint- ing he handles some good live stock.
Mr. Brown was married in 1879 to Emina Horn, daughter of John D). and Mary (Ham) Horn. These parents spcift their earlier years in Ohio, from which state they came to Montgomery county, Indiana, in a very early day and there established the family home. In that county the grandparents of Mrs. Brown were also pioneer settlers, the family becoming well nown in that section of the state. Five children have been born to the subject and wife. Deadie, who is living at home; Floyd married a Miss Foxworthy and they live in Richland township; Homer is at home, as are also Eva and Walter.
Politically, Mr. Brown is a Democrat, but has held no office. He be- longs to the New-Light Christian church. He is a self-made man and is deserving of his splendid success as an agriculturist.
DULY P. FRAZIER.
When he gazes over his broad acres of well cultivated land the subject of this biographical review is justified in feeling that he has achieved the acme of his ambition, when in his early life he became imbned with a deter- mination to some day take front rank among the agriculturists of Fountain county. That Duly P. Frazier, formerly a well known hardware merchant at Hillsboro, but now farming in Cain township, is a popular man and stands high in the estimation of the people is attested by the fact that he has been incumbent of the office of trustee of his township for over four years, having discharged the duties thereof to the eminent satisfaction of the people.
Mr. Frazier was born in Cain township. Fountain county, Indiana, April 5, 1871. He is the son of William and Mary Ann (VanGundy) Frazier,
DULY P. FRAZIER AND FAMILY.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
natives of Fountain county, each representing fine okl pioneer families of farming people, which has been the chief occupation of the Fraziers here for a half century or more. The paternal grandfather of the subject. the first of the Fraziers to come to this county. settled here when the country was new and little improvements had been made. William Frazier and wife became the parents of the following children : David lives in Boulder, Colorado; Jo- siah lives in Cain township; Roswell is farming in Tazewell county, Illinois; George is deceased; Austin lives in Los Angeles; Druzilla married John Doty, of Denver, Colorado; Albert is farming in Benton county, Indiana; Eli is deceased; Estella married Levi Livengood, a farmer of Cain township; Vir- g.' C., a fariner of Cain township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Duly P., of this sketch, was the eleventh and youngest of the chil- dren.
The father of the above named children was a Republican, and he be- longed to the Masonic order. His death occurred in 1893, at the age of seventy-three years, his widow surviving until 1895, dying at the age of seventy-two. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Duly P. Frazier grew to maturity on the home farm in Cain township and there he worked when a boy, attending the rural schools during the win- ter months. He took up farming for a livelihood when a young man and soon had a good start and he continued in that line of endeavor until 1907, when he engaged in the hardware business in Hillsboro, in partnership with J. J. Williams, under the firm. name of Williams & Frazier, for two years, and they built up a good trade with the town and surrounding country, but not finding mercantile pursuits as nearly satisfactory to his temperament as agricultural pursuits, Mr. Frazier sold out his interest and has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is the owner of two ' hundred acres in Cain township, all under a high state of cultivation, and which he has placed under modern and high grade improvements, and he has a good home and convenient outbuildings, and always handles some good live stock.
Mr. Frazier was married on October 21, 1895, to Gertrude C. Edwards, and two children have been born to them, Ruth Marie and Harold L. Politi- cally, Mr. Frazier is a Republican, and he has taken considerable interest in the affairs of his party for some time. He has been trustee of Cain township for the past four years and is still incumbent of that office. Fraternally, he is a Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he boongs to the Christian church, being a deacon in the same and active in the affairs of the church.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
EDWIN J. KIRKPATRICK.
Whether interested in farming or not one could not look over the finely improved and beautifully located farmstead of Edwin J. Kirkpatrick, of Richland township, Fountain county, without experiencing a glow of delight and expressing his pleasure and satisfaction, for everything denotes a scientific application of the world's oldest art, husbandry, everything showing that a gentleman of thrift, industry. good judgment and excellent taste has this desirable farm in hand, and a sight like this not only gives the spectator pleasure, but is very apt to inspire in him a desire to imitate Mr. Kirkpatrick in his work, if he be a farmer, and if not, to do well whatever he has in hand.
Edwin J. Kirkpatrick was born in Tippecanoe county. Indiana, August 12, 1853. He is the son of Franklin and Helen ( Smith) Kirkpatrick, the father from Ohio and the mother from New York. Franklin Kirkpatrick came to India ja as early as 1828 and settled in Montgomery county. The mother came to this section of the Hoosier state four years later, in 1832. These parents began housekeeping in Coal Creek township, Montgomery county, later removed to Tippecanoe county, but subsequently returned to Montgomery county where they spent their lives engaged in agricultural pur- suits and where they both died. The father of the subject was twice mar- ried, one child, Edwin J., subject of this sketch, being born of the first union. His second wife was Celia Hayward, by whom two children were born, namely : Frank H. Kirkpatrick, who lives in Denver, Colorado, and Alice E. Kirkpatrick, of Indianapolis.
Edwin J. Kirkpatrick grew to manhood on the home farm and when but a boy he assisted his father in the general work about the place, and he received his early education in the common schools, later taking a course in DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, where he spent two years. Re- turning home he took up farming for his life work and is still actively engaged. having been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is the owner of one of the best farms in Richland township, his place containing four hundred and twenty acres, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He has an excellent residence and good outbuildings, and a splendid grade of live stock is to be seen about his barns and fields at all seasons of the year.
Mr. Kirkpatrick was married in 1880 to Ida M. Martin, daughter of John and Ellen (Maharry) Martin, an excellent family of this county, a com- plete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Six children have been
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
born to the subject and wife, namely: Frank M. lives in Montgomery county: John M., a graduate of Purdue University, at Lafayette, Indiana, lives at home: James, an attorney at Detroit, Michigan: George M., Charles R. and Ruth E. are at home.
Politically, Mr. Kirkpatrick is a Republican, and while he has ever taken a very deep interest in local public affairs, he has never hell office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Absalom Kirkpatrick, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Scotland and the possessor of many of the sterling traits of the peo- ple of that country. He grew up in his native land, and it is related of him that once when he was out in the fields at work he went to his house for a drink of water, and while there a representative of the Church of England took one of his horses out of his team, for taxes. This caused him to emigrate to America and here he spent the rest of his lite. He married Elizabeth Van Pelt, who was born in Nova Scotia, from which country she emigrated to Ohio when young in years. In 1828 the paternal grandparents of the subject moved with their son, Franklin Kirkpatrick, father of the subject, to Indiana, and settled in Montgomery county, and there they spent the balance of their lives. They became the parents of the following children: John, Samuel. Hiram, Rachael, Quin and Franklin, all now deceased. The Kirkpatricks have always been noted for their thrift and rugged honesty.
FRED S. PURNELL.
Fred S. Purnell, attorney and counsellor at law, is a native of Fountain county, Indiana, and was born in Mill Creek township on October 25, 1882. His father, Samuel J. Purnell, also of Indiana birth, was an early settler of Fountain county and for some years sold goods at Steam Corners, from which place he subsequently removed to Veedersburg, where he is still engaged in the mercantile business. The maiden name of Mrs. Samuel J. Purnell was Odessa Furr. Like her husband, she too is one of the early settlers of this county and is still living, being the mother of three children, namely: Fred of this review; Myrtle and Helen, the daughters unmarried and members of the home circle.
The early educational privileges of Fred S. Purnell were such as the pub- fic school system afforded and in no sense meager. After a preliminary train- ing in the district school he attended the Veedersburg high school, completing
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN.A.
the prescribed course, following which he entered the State University, where he pursued his studies for a period of five years, being graduated from that institution in 1904. Ile taught school one year in the high school at Sterling, Indiana. Actuated by a laudable desire to enter the legal profession, Mr. Purnell, after procuring Ins degree, spent one year in the office of Crane & McCabe, well known attorneys of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and then engaged in the practice at Veedersburg where he remained until December, 1900. Desiring a larger and more renumerative field in which to exercise his legal knowledge he removed the latter year to Attica, where he has established a lucrative practice and forged rapidly to the front among the rising members of the Fountain county bar.
Mr. Purnell comnienced the practice of his profession in a field long noted for its high order of legal talent and for a while his progress, like that of tl majority of young attorneys, was somewhat retarded by the fact indicated and divers other obstacles which in due time he successfully surmounted. From the beginning of his professional career, his aim has been to acquire a sound and critical knowledge of the law coupled with the ability to present and maintain the correctness of his opinions; and as a consequence his prac- tice has been more than ordinarily successful, as is indicated by the large vol- ume of business which he now commands both as counsellor and before court. and juries. He has been identified with a number of important cases in his own and other counties, stands high in the confidence and esteem of his pro- fessional brethren and the general public and, being . ill in the prime of life with a landable ambition to excel in his chosen calling, it is safe to predict for him a career of great usefulness and honor.
Mr. Purnell is a Republican in politics and, like most professional men, he manifests an abiding interest in public and political matters, being well versed on the leading questions and issues of the times and a zealous advocate of the principles which he believes to be for the best interests of the people. He has held no office, but has used his influence in behalf of others seeking public preferment and to his efforts his party is largely indebted for its suc- cess in a number of campaigns. Fraternally, he holds membership with the Masonic brotherhood, belonging to the lodge in Attica, and he is also identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias and order of Elks, in both of which he has been honored with important official positions.
The domestic chapter in the history of Mr. Purnell dates from the year 1907, when he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Shoaf, daughter of Dr. F. A. and Jennie ( Inlow) Shoaf, the union being blessed with one child, a son, who bears the name of Samuel F. Purnell.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
HARRY C. MARTIN.
Everyone is interested in the man who does things. In every com- munity one may pick out certain men who have been active all of their lives along many lines, and one usually finds that such men, who have been ener- getic in their own behalf, have done a great deal for the public at large, either directly or indirectly. One of the men who stands out as prominent in the affairs of Attica, Indiana, is Harry C. Martin, who has been postmaster there for a number of years. His father, James Martin, was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and his mother of Parke county, Indiana. They moved to Fountain county in 1852, and located at Attica, where he engaged in the grain and lumber business. They lived there for forty-five years, while he built up his business to a fine state of prosperity. He was a Republican postmaster in Attica, and was looked upon as one of the most influential men in his com- munity. He was of the faith of the Presbyterian church. In 1897 he died, at the age of seventy-one, and his widow is still living in Attica. They had four children: L. G. Martin is in the insurance business in Attica; Fred V. Martin died in 1904; J. R. Martin is a traveling salesman, making his head- quarters in Greencastle, Indiana, and Harry C.
Harry C. Martin, in whom we are now interested, was born October 25, 1853, in Attica, Indiana. He went to the common schools and high school in Attica, and then, desiring further advance along educational lines that he might be more efficient in his work, he entered the preparatory department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. From there he went to Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, graduating from there in 1878. For about two years he was employed as clerk in a railroad office and mercantile pur- suits. He then turned his attention to the newspaper business, where there is such a field for a bright and energetic young man, and was associated with Mr. Albert S. Peacock in publishing the Attica Ledger for about five years. The next ten years Mr. Martin spent in the lumber business, in which he was actively interested until he accepted the position of county treasurer in 1895. After having filled this position with credit to himself and community, he entered into the contracting and lumber business again, and has not only been very prosperous, but has taken charge of extensive improvements in his home city that are a lasting good for Attica, giving especial attention to street im- provements. On June 6, 1888, he was married to Miss Josephine Gardner, daughter of A. J. and Mary Gardner, Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1906 his prominence and reliability in public work was again manifested in his appoint- ment to the office of postmaster, which he has retained since that time.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Mr. Martin is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a Mason. Ile is also a Scottish Rite Mason and through the maternal line a member of the Sons of the Revolution. He is a Republican, and has filled his position as postmaster with credit to himself and his party. Mr. Martin is a leader in his community, and is a public spirited man, as is shown by his activities manifested especially in matters pertaining to the public schools and public library work. He has been zealous in all his public duties, and is regarded as one of the men who have done the most to make Attica grow. He is the kind of man of whom the Hoosier state is proud-a man active in all that means growth and progress, and who gives of his life and energies freely in the promotion of public welfare.
ELMER E. COATS.
The life of the subject of this sketch has been such as to bear aloft the high standard which was maintained by his father and grandfather, the latter having been one of the earliest settlers in this part of the Hoosier state, and his life was signally noble, upright and useful, one over which fell no shadow of wrong in thought, word or deed. Such was the type of men who laid the foundation and aided in the development of this state, and to their memories ·will ever be paid a tribute of reverence and gratitude by those who have profi- ted by their well directed endeavors and appreciated the lessons of their lives.
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