USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 4
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 4
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Fraternally, Mr. Gray is a Mason, belonging to the Royal Arch chapter. and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nelles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of the American Revolution. He was captain of Company No. 81, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, of Veedersburg for a period of thirteen years. On May 12, 1911, he was elected brigadier-general of the Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, of Indiana, and still holds that commission. He also belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has long been prominent and influential in fraternal circles.
Mr. Gray was married on June 19, 1912, to Zoe Victoria Jones, dangh- ter of a well known and highly respected family of near Veedersburg, owners of the attractive Brookside farm. Mr. Gray is a man of pleasing personality.
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The office a Miogrado o moto glue ovic- 10 0 10 5 05-2010 verliet establishing his character wy th: consensus foritund or the part in his neighbors and fellow citizen. The life of the Bong alle squats part the review has been such as to elicht Fast praise From those cho Visou com test owing to the fact that h. h. : abweiss been loyal to trusts , most w Time out has been upright in his dealing with his fellow men. at the ne phi kein I support to the advancement of any cause looking for the welfare of ph mom nity at large.
S. P. Gray, the efficient and well known assi trailer of the cumen- Bank at Covington, Indi na, is the ring of one of our soonest and regulles the escutcheon of whose Bright name he br- ever careful's guandal die te born in Montgomery county. In San. December at 18:1. Em i & the số of John S. and Mary ( Kemp) Gray. The father ci freneroo jo Mer gomery county in 1837, and there he became one of the an clanbal and -elf known citizens of the county, following general aggi difined garsat There until his death in 1895. His family consisted of the children copy of Whoan are living.
S. P. Gray, of this sketch, spent In- boyhood on los fadby's oum am] There helped with the work when he was not in school, he having received a good common school education in Montgomery county. He started in life for himself by following clerical work two years, then engaged in the mer- cantile business at Waynetown, Indiana, for a period of four years with a gratifying degree of success. He was then in the employ of the Herzog Dry ods Company, giving eminent satisfaction to the firm, with which he re- mained until 1891, when he came to Covington and entered the Citizens Bank as assistant cashier, in which capacity he still remains, his long reten- tion being criterion enough of his able and fa aful service and his satisfaction to the stockholders and patrons of the ban !. He is not only a man of honor able principles, but is a courteous, obliging gentleman and popular with the public.
FOUNTAIN MED WARRES CADOTHE_ T DI .XV.
The Uouliens Bank wo Fondeel by Samson Reed ( 12RE, kanwir ile o as Hardy & Reed. Bankers, eoch frm nans Lasfor ringdipsso, & Bere Hogy dissolved partionship, Mr. R. i lagon; re the bu kken and dengue, the name to the Cnizen- Bank wowinei it is still Larsen Je amiales L ar thet there was twenty thousand dollar . At Alr. Reed's High do Mar los 1912, the capital stock bad micreased to thirty thousand woh surpent seventy the usand dollars.
S. D. Gray was married in 1871 to Amanda L. Hank. Jaghier ve Pink and Mary ( Baldwin ) Hank, who spend their lives in Allows Three sollten have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Je.se, who Dertig 1 tvoroy Tritt, is engaged in farming in Grant county, Washington; Maggie whe married John M. Biddle, who is engaged in the implement business in Wayne town, Indiana : Walter is living in Montana.
Politically, Mr. Gray is a Democrat, but he has never been an aspirant for political office. Fraterusly, he belongs to the Knights of Isthis and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and rehglously he is a member , i the Methodist Episcopal church He is a self-made man and is deserving of the respect that is accorded him by all with whom he come into contact.
FREEMAN DICE
The name of the Dice family has always been esteemed and re peter In Fountain county, because of the high character of it uneler man prominent and worthy citizens of the chanty having been mitered amon. its representatives Among the leading and progressive citizens of Van Buren township is the subject of this review, who has done much to improve and advance conditions in his community, and has aided materially in a'l enter- prises which serve the public interest.
Freeman Dice was born in Van Buren township. Fountain county, on February 22, 1857, th son of Henry and Charlotte ( Rice ) Dice. His father was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, on November 25, 1826, the son of John Dice (for John Dice, see sketch of Franklin Dice). Henry Dice and his family came here from Virginia on horseback, the long ride over the com- try, all of it new and much of it wilderness, being filled with event and adven- ture. He took up land in Van Buren township, eighty acres of Freeman Dice's present farm being land which was taken by his father. Henry Dice was a
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FOUNTAIN RED WAREES COF S LIUS, TEM NA.
man of much public spirit and a spot -ful farmer, In politics he was a summit Republican, having been a Whig, who joined the party ochen it so vre inn ? and Fremont nominated, and having ever since been care of its filhoful will ents, but never aspiring to office. He was active in the United Pavlo church and for years in his carlier life was class leader. He carried los ojos ion into his every-day life, and was a man of strong and turdy chadorte_ !- ways standing for what he believed to be the right, a man of influence in 1) community, whose opinion commanded high respect. He passed from the- life on July 6, 1912. and his hely lies in the Benebrake cemetery in Van Buren township.
Freeman Dice attended the common schools of Van Buren .ownship, and has spent his life in farming and stock raising. For the past twenty years h. has been living on the old homestead. He is the owner of five hundred acres of land, three hundred and eighty in Van Buren township, the remainder in Mill Creek township, four hundred of which is under the plow. He raises graded cattle and hogs, and aims to market the product of his acres in the form of live stock, rather than grain, believing such a course more profitable in direct monetary returns, ‹ well as in maintaining the fertility of the soil. The active work of the farm is non carried on by his sons.
On October 15, 1879, Mr. Nice was married to Vententia Gree dey, the tlaughter of William Riley and \deline (Hershberger ) Greenley, of Veeders- burg. (See sketch of W. R. Greenley.) To this marriage were Vort four children: Robert, who married Susan Henderson and has charge of part of his father's farm; Myron, at home; Hardy, shop engineer of the American Bridge Company at Gary, Indiana; and Lena, who married John Rod and is living on an adjoining farm.
Freeman Dice cleared part of his farm fron. the woods, at that time making many rails, some of which he still uses for fencing. He ditched the farm and has mad 11 the improvements himself. Now he has a good house, excelle it barns, an i farm thoroughly tilled and highly productive, cultivated in the most approved modern manner. Mr. Dice has lately been interested in the organization of the Farmers State Bank of Veedersburg, which began business on February 13, 1912. Mr. Dice is the president of this bank, which has opened with a very auspicious future ; William Madigan is vice-president. The business ability and practical acumen of Freeman Dice are well recognized by all who have dealings with him, and he is a thoroughly progressive Ameri- can business man and farmer. In politics he is a Republican. He is a mem ber of the United Brethren church.
Thomas.@@@@low
HOPPAS CLINTON.
Sheets on this eegon at the state in newF. Atorial ability and Unchand al ore- The mugur recognis je Cheon not only one of the intenest affects the public welfare has been pi euch a character as to win for him a high placein the confidence and esteem of the people.
Thomas A. Clifton is a native of the great state of Whois, having been born in Iroquois county on the 15th of December, 1839. The family re- turned to Fountain county when he was but one year old. Fle is of Scootel - English ancestry and, as has been sarl of him. he "mhe . those qualities of integrity and shrewdness of the canny Scot from his m . er, and the bulldog tenacity of pe pose from his English father." The subject was denied many advantages which a youth should have. misfortune having overtaken the fam- Fly when he was about even years of age, in cons quence of which he was placed among strangers. Those with whom he was thus placed were also in. but modest circumstances, though they treated wom with kmenes and rttien- ion, and during the summer months he devoted ban elf to labor on the arm, where, in close touch with nature. he imb ned those qualities of industry, patience and persistence which so largely contributed to his later success. During the winter months he was a pupil in the schools of the neighborhood and applied himself so closely to his studies that he was granted a license to teach school. By teaching, working on neighboring farmis and in barber shops, young Clifton succeeded in graduating from the public schools at Newtown. Indiana, and in taking a course in DePauw University, at Greencastle, In- diana.
Thus equipped, Mr. Clifton took up the career of a school teacher. being employed in Fountain and Warren counties, where he met with a his degree of success, and in 1884-5 he gave efficient service as superintendent of the Williamsport high school. He was ambitious to use his energies and
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN.1.
powers in higher fields of effort and he was selected by the general mission board of the Methodi Episcopal church for school work in East India and to that field of labor he ailed in December, 1885. Prior to this event. Home that same year, Mr. Clinton had been enite ! in marriage with Wis. Lopro Pomeroy, an estimable and well educated young lady of Williamit at, who accompanied hind to his new field of labor and who, through the sales flere stars, proved to him a helpimate in the largest at 1 truest sense of the 200 Through the munificence of Mis. Philander Smith, of Oal. Part , Illinois Clifton was enabled to establish at Missouree, India, a boy high : d nul over which he presided during the following two years, meeting with much amor in the work. However, climatie conditions were not favorable for Mrs. Clif- ton, whose health became impaired, and in 1888 they were compelled. My reluctantly, to relinquish their work there and return to the United Stop
L'pon returning to his old home, Mr. Clifton engaged again in school work, but there now opened up before him a new and wider hold for hi- on forts and one in which he was not slow in recognizing the poss bolitie. in 9 0 directions. Purchasing the old Feedersburg Reporter, he conducted it mail 1890, when the plant was moved to Williamsport and a nes paper. the Tips ren Review, was established, the initial number making . appearthe on January 1, 1891. A good newspaper man is born with a krack for the host- ness, which requires alert mentality, intellectual readiness, quick decision and strength of character. These qualities Mr. Clifton evidently possesses, for his success in the field of journalism has been remarkable in many respects. His venture at Williamsport was a success from the start and in eighteen months he had built up a subscription list of fifteen hundred and gained for the Review the reputation of being the leading paper of the county. About this time he was elected coroner of Warren county, which office he held two terms and the fees of which also contributed to Mr. Clifton's success from a financial standpoint, so that in 1895-6 he was enabled to erect in Williams- port a business block, costing four thousand dollars, and a splendid residence.
In June, 1897, Mr. Clifton purchased the Covington Republican, which he sold in the following October and purchased the Republican at Fowler. In- diana, which he conducted but one year, being successful there also. In 1899 he again became the owner of the Covington Republican, and, with the cx- ception of a few months, has published it continuously to the present time. The Republican is a creditable paper from a mechanical standpoint and its editorial columns are on a par with any, its utterances being strong and clear in behalf of every movement having for its object the betterment of the community in any way, materially, morally, educationally, or socially. Mr.
FOUNTAIN AND WARRES TWENTIES GUINEA.
Clifton has the newspaper man's "in-line" for ney stovky Jie preson Jn good forin, but without pandering to anast for sensational po Ins Tego og being graceful, clear and elegant in its chietion.
Few residents of the section of country in chivit before us manuel as large a place in the life of the community as Mr. trong and @ one he more worthily discharged his duties of shown Ingef men worthy of the high esteem in which he is held than he. He was logored De Guvern Flanly by being appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane, a position he filled whit Facile main metto tion and honor to hinself. His life has been filled with activity and avoid ness, while his untiring energy and innate ability have gained for him a con spievous place in the newspaper fraternity of his section of the state. 1) very sphere of endeavor in which he has taken a part, as educator, editor af otherwise, his unpretending bearing and strict integrity have elevated him in the confidence of his fellow citizens and his influence, powerful and salutary as it is, is destined to continue a potential factor for substantial good ing after he ceases fro , his labors and retires from the busy scenes in which he has so long been a prominent and effective actor.
JOHN C. STEPHENS.
There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the mas. es and command the unbounded esteem of their fellowmen. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues that never fail, such inen always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personalities serves as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic, enterprising, broad-minded and strong-souled class John C. Stephens belongs, and because of his genuine worth he enjoys the unqualified esteem of all who know him.
John Stephens was born on April 24, 1859, in Hamilton county, Indiana. near the city of Noblesville, and is the son of Henry and Mary R. ( Wells) Stephens. Henry Stephens was born December 20, 1823, in Greene county. Ohio, and Mary R. Wells was a North Carolinian by birth, moving to Hamil- ton county, Indiana, where she met her future husband. To their union were born four children, three of whom grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch being now the only survivor.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
When John Stephens, was a babe of one year old the family moved una farm bear West Lebanon, Warren county, and there he was reared. His parents were in limited circumstances and his educational advantages were very limited. At the age of thirteen year. he began life en his own account as a farm hand and was also employed in various other Thor. being satisfied to get work of any nature. He worked at carpentering. n engaged as 4 butcher, and then went into the grocery business. In 188 .; he was elected to the office of county recorder, in which he served for four years. At the expiration of his official term, in 1892, he formed a business partnership with llanly & Stansbery, Mr. Stephens taking charge of the abstracting work. This partnership continued until Mr. Hanly was elected to Congress in 1894, when the firm name became Stansbery & Stephens. Afterwards Stansbery disposed of his interests and the firm name became Stephens & Billings. In 1902 Mr. Stephens took over his partner's interest and has con- tinued to conduct the business alone. The business has increased steadily from the beginning and today Mr. Stephens commands his inll share of the abstracting business of the county. His, records are very full and complete and he is now endeavoring to have in his office an exact reproduction of the official records. Mr. Stephens is a stockholder and a director in the Will- iamsport State Bank and has some other financial holdings, all of which he has accumulated by his own efforts.
On October 10, 1870, Mr. Stephens married Sarah F. Clawson, who was born October 9, 1851, in Preble county, Ohio, and to them were born the following children : Elsa, the wife of William Ross, of the . Ittica Ledger: Bertha, the wife of J. B. Winger, a druggist in Williamsport; Chester L. is associated with his father and is unmarried.
Mrs. Sarah Stephens died on February 16, 1909, and on July 17, 1910, Mr. Stephens married Vera E. McCormick, the daughter of James O. Mc- Cormick. Her early life was spent near Waveland and Lebanon, Indiana, later coming with her parents to Warren county, which has since been her home. Prior to her marriage she was a teacher in the Williamsport high school, and was a popular member of the social circles in which she moved.
Mr. Stephens has always taken a deep interest in religious matters and has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church since he was twenty-eight years old. He is actively interested in Sunday school work and for several years has been president of the Warren County Sunday School Union. Mrs. Stephens is likewise interested in this work. Fraternally, Mr. Stephens is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in Williamsport Lodge No. 38, of which he has been secretary for eleven
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FOUNTAIN AND WARRES COUNTIES, INDIA ). 373
years, and to Chapter No. 105. Royal Arch Masons. Mr. and Ars Stephen are members of Rocky Dale Chapter No. 101. Order of the Eastern Star, if which Mrs. Stephens is pa ! inatron. Politically, Mr. Stephens has always been found aligned with the Republican party, his active interest showing itself when he was but six years of age, when he would mount the gate port at his home and hurrah for Fremont, to the disturbance of his staid of Quaker neighbors. In every avenue of life's activities he has at all times endeavored to perform his full duty and that his life record has been a con- mendable one is at: ed by the enviable position which he holds in the com- nunity. Genial in disposition, unassuming in his relations with others, and! honest to the core, he "stanIs four square to every wind that blows," and his life has honored the city of his residence.
OLIVER S. JONES.
Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the indi- vidual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial develop- ment, it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a successful life, whatever the field of endeavor. is none the less teres ing and profitable by rea- son of the existence of this same uncertainty. So much in excess of those of successes are the records of failures or semi-failures, that one is constrained to attempt an analysis in either case and to determine the measure of cansa- tion in an approximate way. But in studying the life history of Oliver S. Jones, a well-known attorney at Covington, there are found many qualities in his makeup that always gain definite success in any career if properly directed, as his has evidently been done, which has resulted in well-earned success.
Oliver S. Jones was born in Warren county. Indiana, on October 24. 1862, and is the son of Robinson C. and Emily (Shelby) Jones. Robinson Jours was a native of Amelia county, Virginia, and in 1830 came to Fountain county, Indiana, settling in Covington with his mother, who was then a widow. The paternal grandparents were Richard Cannon Jones and Sarah R. Jones. The former died in eastern Indiana in an early day, and his widow was mur- dered by an insane man in Covington in 1867. The subject's maternal grand- father, Joseph Shelby, came to Fountain county in 1828 from Circleville, Ohio, and settled in Troy township, where he entered land from the govern- ment. He was a surveyor for the government and also followed farming. During General Harrison's historic campaign against the Indians, Mr. Shelby
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
enlisted and served as quartermaster for three years. He was the father of six children, namely : Rachel, Mary, Oliver, Rezin, Indiana and Emily, the latter being the mother of the subject. On his way to Fountain county Grandfather Shelby stopped at verre Hante and helped to build many of the first houses there. Robinson (. Jones was a printer by trade and, with hi- two brothers, William and John, established the newspaper known as The People's Fond, now the Covington Friend. He followed his trade for fif- teen years, also serving over a year in the war with Mexico, and then en- gaged in farming, in which pursuit he was engaged until his death, which occurred in 1897, at the age of seventy-five years. His widow survived him several years, dying on July 21, 1912, at the age of eighty three years. They were the parents of three children, namely: Sarah Belle, who died in 1902, was the wife of Augustus Cronkhite: Oscar V., who died in 1890, and Oliver S., the subject of this sketch.
Oliver S. Jones received Ws elementary education in the public schools of Warren county, and then attended what was known as the Indiana Normal School at Covington. During the following five years he engaged in teaching school, during which period he gave earnest attention to the study of the law. At the end of the period mentioned, he entered upon the active practice of law at Covington. In August, 1898, he accepted a position is special agent for the 'Frisco railroad line, with headquarters at Terre Haute, Indiana In 1910 Mr. jones returned to Covington and resumed the active practice of his profession. in which he is still engaged. Ilis abilities have been recognized and today he is commanding his full share of the legal practice at the local courts. He is well grounded in legal principles, and is an indefatigable stu- dent, keeping in touch with the latest decisions in the courts. Of attractive personality and recognized worth, Mr. Jones easily wins friends and stands high throughout the community. In 1903 Mr. Jones was elected mayor of Covington, serving from 1904 to 1906, to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. In 1912 he was appointed by Judge Schoonover as a member of the board of children's guardians.
On June 19, 1883, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Carrie Mada- rea, the daughter of James and Harriett ( Hall) Madarea, natives of Warren county, this state, the father having successfully followed farming until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born four children, namely : Mande, the wife of Clayton Blythe, of Vermilion county ; Myrle is the wife of Asa Kauffman, of Terre Haute, Indiana; Carlos L., who married Belle Pruitt and lives at Terre Haute; Gilbert, at home.
Mr. Jones has been successful in business affairs, aside from his profes-
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN V.
sion and is the owner of the old homestead farm in Warten comyy onisisi- ing of one hundred and fourteen acres, which has been conimmo sh in the possession of the family since it was entered from the Goviral Itdes President Jackson's administration. Fraternally, Mr. Jones is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, holding membership in Folge Nos KS, Covington. His religions membership is in the Methodist Episcopal church Mr. Jones gives his endorsement to all moral, educational, social or material mitc ests which he believes will benefit the community, and a- a man of sterling worth he justly merits the high regard in which he is held.
ALBERT B. LOWE.
The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known as one of the leading citizens of Fountain county, Indiana. He has lived here all his life and for a number of years has been prominently identified with the commercial and financial interests of the community, being particularly iden- tified with the thriving little town of Wallace. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of business intere ts with which he has been connected and his sound judgment have brought to hiin prosperity and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the persever- ance to continue his labors in the face of any liscouragement, which may seem to arise. In all the relations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact and he is eminently entitled to representation among the leading men of his conununity.
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