USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 41
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 41
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As a farmer, fully abreast of the times and in close touch with agricul- tural science as now taught in the leading colleges and universities of the country, Mr. Brutus stands in the front rank and his career thus far presents a series of successes which give him prestige as a master of his calling and be- speak for him a bright and prosperous future. Being still young and in the prime of vigorous physical and mental manhood, he bids fair to rise to an enviable place among his contemporaries, not only as a leading agriculturist, but also as an intelligent, wide-awake citizen who takes broad views of men and affairs.
Mr. Brutus is a married man and the head of a happy household, the presiding spirit of which is the lady who now so worthily bears his name and
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who so efficiently co-operates with him in the promotion of their mutual in- terests and welfare. Mrs. Brutus was formerly Clara McFerren, daughter of William and Ella (Dropper) McFerren, of Warren county, the marriage being blessed with three children, Nellie, Tiny and Lela, all bright and in- teresting children and adding light and joy to the home circle. The subject and wife are respected members of the United Brethren church and stand high in the esteem of their many neighbors and friends.
H. C. RANDOLPH.
The best farmers of the present day do not confine their whole time and attention to the cultivation of the soil, but vary their operations by raising stock of the better grades for the market and for sale to other farmers. The rearing of fancy stock, or of stock for the market only, may be made very profitable by the farmer who will take the time to study the stock question as it deserves. It is easy to obtain from the government the reports of the experts whose business it is to investigate every phase of the stock question, with un- limited means at hand to experiment with. The results of these experiments should be known to every farmer .. It would be worth a great deal to him, for such experiments amount to what is the same as his own experiments through many years and with the expenditure of a large sum of money. But many farmers and stock raisers have grown up in the rcaring of stock and know as much or more than the experts. One of these farmers is H. C. Randolph, who for many decades has been regarded as one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of Fountain county, where his long, honorable life has been spent.
Mr. Randolph was born on Silver Island, Fulton township, Fountain county, Indiana, May 20, 1838, and here he has been pleased to spend his long and useful life, believing that for him "home is best," according to the old saying. He is the son of Aaron and Charlotte (Lunger) Randolph, the father a native of New Jersey. A fuller mention of this prominent old family is to be found on other pages in this work.
H. C. Randolph was reared on the home farm and he knew what hard work meant when he was a boy. He received what education he could in the old-fashioned schools of his district. He began following farming early in life and later took up stock buying and selling, which he has followed ever since in connection with farming and other lines of endeavor. . He has also bought and sold much grain from time to time. He built the scales at Sil-
MR. AND MRS. HARRISON RANDOLPH.
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verwood, and there he bought grain for a period of forty years, also con- tinned buying live stock, becoming one of the most widely known and suc- cessful grain and stock men in this section of the state. He at one time mnade a specialty of raising graded hogs and short horn cattle. He has prospered in all the lines to which he has directed his attention. He has become the owner of four hundred acres of rich, valuable land, on which he has made all the & improvements. Half of his land lies in Parke county and the other two hun- dred acres constitute his home place on Silver Island. Here may be found a large, pleasant home and convenient outbuildings. Everything about the place denotes thrift and prosperity and that a gentleman of excellent taste has its management in hand. His land is nearly all tillable. He is vice-president of the First National Bank at Cayuga, and is a director in the same.
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Mr. Randolph was married on October 18, 1860, to Clara O. Cook, daughter of Barney and Hannah (Osborn) Cook, both natives of New York, and in that state the father's death occurred, the mother dying in Indiana. Seven children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Harry lives in ' McPherson county, Kansas; Fred is farming in Fountain county, Indiana ; Charles lives in Cayuga; John is at home; Carl is farming in Parke county ; Maggie married Fred Burton, a merchant of Cayuga; Carrie married Ira Dalrymple, superintendent of coal works near Birmingham, Alabama ..
Politically, Mr. Randolph is a Republican, and is proud of the fact that « he cast his first vote for Lincoln. He is a fine type of the self made man. His career has been without a stain and he is popular.
WILLIAM C. SMITH.
1
It is with a great degree of satisfaction to the biographer when he averts to the record of one who has made the rough path of life smooth by his untiring perseverance, has attained success in any vocation requiring definite- ness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor, or of sudden meteoric accomplishment, must abound both in lesson and incentive and prove a guide to the young men whose fortunes are still matters for the future to determine. For many dec- ades the late William C. Smith directed his efforts toward the goal of suc- cess in . Warren county and by patient continuance won, not only material prosperity but the confidence and esteem of all classes and set a worthy example to the rising generation, and his name is eminently entitled to con- spicuous mention in the histories of the far-famed Wabash country. He was
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one of the most distinguished native sons of. this county and here he was con- tent to spend his long, useful and industrious life, taking a leading part in the general development and progress of the same from the pioneer epoch to the present time, and no man took greater pride in seing his native community grow than did he.
William C. Smith was born in Medina township, Warren county, In- diana, April 22, 1832, and died in Williamsport, this county, October 1, 1911. About 1863 he came to Williainsport and took up his home with Mrs. Mar- garet Sturgeon, who was conducting a hotel here. After she died he took up his home with Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson, a daughter of the former lady, at whose home he passed away, after a long residence in the two families of about forty-five years.
It is only just and due the deceased that the biographer take the reader back to the boyhood days of the subject of this memoir, that the strong charac- teristics of this fine character may be more fully understood. We find a boy in his teens, trudging along the dusty highway on a summer's evening, clad in a pair of overalls, wearing an old-fashioned straw hat with a hole in the top. This was William C. Smith, the boy, wending his way from his mother's house to that of his uncle, Edward S. Coats, in Independence, where his sis- ter, Hester, was already making her home, as they were orphans, the father having died some time previous to this incident in his life. This was William C. Smith starting on his long business career, which was to be crowned with success in after years. This was the boy, yet unmatured, but with a foresight of greater things. This was the boy that became the central figure in Warren county's financial affairs.
When he arrived at Independence on this eventful Sunday evening, his uncle, a kind-hearted man, took him in and gave him employment in his store, where he remained until the death of his uncle, which occurred in 1852. With the knowledge he had gained of the mercantile business while with his uncle, it was easy for him to secure like employment elsewhere, and he secured a position in the same town with J. A. Ryan, for whom he worked about two years. Prior to his engaging in the mercantile business, he went to Lafayette, where he attended a business college, and made his home with Martin L. Pierce, then president of the First National Bank, who was always afterwards a very warm friend of Mr. Smith's. Then he returned to Independence and formed a partnership with Mr. Ryan and for two years conducted the busi- ness under a firm name until reverses came, and the firm was forced to make an assignment, which left young Mr. Smith worse off than nothing-no means and badly in debt, but this failure nor this sad state of affairs did not
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for one moment daunt his courage, but made him more determined. He saw the light at the top of the ladder of success, and with a renewed effort he started to climb to the top. The next two years was spent by him in collecting the outstanding debts due the firm. This gave the young financier a new ex- perience, and by his diligent and persistent work he led others to look upon him as the coming man of the county, and he was employed as a collector of delinquent taxes. Later he worked on a farm as a laborer, to the entire satis- faction of Laban Waymire, by whom he was employed, and afterward owned the farm upon which he worked as a hired man.
Mr. Smith was above the average individual, who, having been born poor, never rises above a nominal standard. He made good use of his talents. Being born in the county when it was in its incipiency, he grew with and kept pace with its steady progress and development. He never allowed op- portunity to turn from his door; he grappled with the knotty problems of life, both political and financial, and solved them to his own satisfaction. He was strong mentally and possessed a keen foresight. Financially, he was suc- cessful, because he adhered to the adage that "care for the pennies and by and by they'll make dollars," which is attested by his vast accumulations and his large holdings of realty. Morally, he stood out as an example worthy of emulation. He despised sham, hated a liar and was radically against any- thing that was in league with vice or crime in any form whatsoever. He, like all human beings, had his peculiarities, but they were greatly counter- balanced by his many good and commendable traits. In a way he was liberal in mind, thoughit and purpose. Charity to him was not in wasting words, but in doing and giving substantial aid. Along this line he took under advise- ment the real necessity of such charity, and if in his judgment the party asking seemed worthy, he never turned him away empty handed. Many men in War- ren county today owe their position and their financial 'success to his chari- table hand and his timely advice and counsel.
In the year 1859 Mr. Smith served in the House of Representatives as a clerk, which position he secured through the influence of Hon. George D. Wagner, who afterward became a distinguished general in the Civil war. In the year 1860 the subject entered the field of politics and became a candidate before the Republican voting convention of Warren county for the office of county auditor. He was then a very young man, inexperienced in politics, without influential friends and comparatively unknown over the county gen- erally. He had recently met with financial reverses in business and was with- out means to conduct an expensive campaign. Warren county was then, as now, overwhelmingly Republican and the party nomination was equivalent to
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election. His competitor was a popular gentleman who had served as deputy auditor for four years; was well acquainted all over the county and had the support of many of its influential citizens. Yet Mr. Smith made such an energetic campaign and created so favorable an impression that he came within four votes of the nomination.
At the outbreak of the war between the states Mr. Smith raised a company of volunteers for the Union, but the supply of soldiers at that time far exceeded the demand and the company was refused, the state's quota of troops being then already filled.
In 1862 Mr. Smith became a candidate for clerk of the circuit court and the favorable impression he had made and the friends he had won in his previous campaign for auditor easily gave him the nomination. He was elected to this office in the fall of that year, and assumed its duties in June, 1863. He filled this responsible office for eight years, with great credit to himself and satisfaction to all who had business relations with the office. And though he had no experience or knowledge of the duties of this office when he entered upon the same, his natural quickness and ability soon enabled him to master all its details and the county never had a more efficient and capa- ble public officer. After leaving the clerk's office Mr. Smith was very proin- inent and active in the business life of Warren county. His ability as a financier was of the very highest order and not only enabled him to acquire a large fortune, but was helpful to a great many others, to whom he furnished capital to carry on their enterprises and whom he aided by his advice and counsel.
In 1889 Mr. Smith, together with the late James H. Keys, Judge Joseph M. Rabb and others, organized the Warren County Bank of Williamsport, and the success that has marked the career of this institution was a source of great pride and satisfaction to him and his sagacity and wisdom in the con- duct of its affairs contributed much to its success.
Mr. Smith never enjoyed robust health, but what he lacked in strength he made up in energy. His whole life was a battle with disease and infirmity, but his indomitable will and courage repeatedly held the grim monster at bay and made him retreat time and again, but finally he was forced to yield when lacking but a few months of attaining his four score years.
Mr. Smith was a strong and positive character ; he had a bright mind, a quick intelligence and was a keen judge of human nature. He despised hypoc- risy, sham and fraud. He was always true to his convictions and honest and fearless in expressing them in his friendships. He was truth and loyalty itself and will long be missed and mourned by a wide circle of devoted friends.
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ABRAHAM CLAWSON.
Abraham Clawson, retired farmer and veteran of the great Civil war, is one of the older native citizens of Fountain county, having been born in Davis township on the 4th day of February, 1836. His parents, Timothy and Mary (Ives) Clawson, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively, reared a family of ten children and were among the well known and highly esteemed residents of the community where they passed the greater part of their lives. Timothy Clawson came to Indiana when nineteen years old and by occupa- tion was a farmer. He was a man of excellent parts and high moral standing, a successful tiller of the soil and his influence was exerted for the good of his neighbors and fellow citizens.
Abraham Clawson was born February 4, 1836, and grew up 'amid the general atmosphere and wholesome influence of rural life. In youth he was given the best educational advantages obtainable and for a number of years attended the schools of Independence, besides doing considerable study and reading at home. During his school period he devoted the summer months to farm labor and while still young began the struggle of life upon his own re- sponsibility. It can be truthfully said that, in the best sense of the term he is a self-made man, as he had no assistance worthy of mention nor the aid of influential friends in his efforts to obtain a start in the world. By the exercise of those traits of industry and frugality by which he has ever been character- ized, he secured a tract of land which he at once proceeded to improve and to which he has since added until he now owns a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres in Warren township, the greater part in an excellent state of cultivation and otherwise well improved. This farm, which adjoins the May gravel road, in one of the best agricultural districts of the above town- ship, is admirably situated for crops and stock raising and has long been con- sidered among the best and most valuable tracts of land of like area in the county.
Mr. Clawson was first married in September, 1866, to Abigail Smith, who bore him four children : William, deceased; Emma, deceased, wife of William J. Bader; Ida and Abbie, deceased. Sometime after the death of the mother of these children Mr. Clawson contracted a matrimonial alliance with Emma Cottingham, of Fountain county, the marriage, which was solemnized in 1875, being without issue.
As stated in the initial paragraph, Mr. Clawson was a soldier during the late Rebellion and for a period of three years rendered valiant service for
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his country in a number of campaigns and battles. He enlisted in 1862 in the Fourth Indiana Cavvalry, which formed a part of the Army of the Cumber- land and while at the front bore his full share of the hardships and privations which fell to the lot of the men in the ranks, while in many bloody contests he nobly earned the reputation of a brave and gallant soldier. He is a Democrat in politics, but not a partisan in the sense of seeking official honors, and in his fraternal relations he belongs to the Masonic brotherhood. Some years ago he turned his farm over to other hands and retired from active life, since which time he has been living in quiet and content, enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil and the confidence and esteem of his fellow nied.
YOUNG HENRY.
This farmer and public-spirited citizen is a native of Fountain county, Indiana, born February 22, 1848, in Warren township, of which his father, Christian H. Henry, was an early settler. Christian Henry, a Virginian by birth, came to Indiana when a young man and entered land in the above town- ship, where in due time he developed a good farm and became one of the lead- ing agriculturists of the community. His wife, whom he married in Warren county, was Sarah Southard. She bore him seven children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest of the number.
The early experience of Young Henry was like that of most boys reared . in the country, presenting the usual routine of work on the farm during the summer season, varied by attendance each winter at the district school. He made the most of his opportunities in the way of intellectual advancement and, though not educated in the usual acceptance of the term, he is neverthe- less a well informed man, with a wide and varied knowledge of many sub- jects, acquired by much reading and intelligent observation. Reared in close touch with the soil, he early decided to make agriculture his life work; ac- cordingly, on leaving the parental roof he engaged in that vocation in his native township, where he has since resided and where he now owns a beauti- ful and highly cultivated farm of eighty acres on which he has erected a com- fortable and commodious residence, a substantial barn and other buildings, his improvements of all kinds comparing favorably with the best in his part of the country. As a tiller of the soil he is careful and observing. By the use of modern methods and keeping abreast of the times in matters pertaining to the science of agriculture, he has succeeded well in his undertakings and is now
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in comfortable circumstances with a sufficiency of this world's goods in his possession to insure a restful and independent old age.
Mr. Henry was married on the 18th day of March, 1874, to Nancy Ellen Bone, whose parents, Valentine and Mary (Monroe) Bone, moved from Ohio to Fountain county a number of years ago and settled in Warren town- ship. Five children constitute the family of Mr. and Mrs. Henry, namely : Harry, who married Jennie Powell, and is the father of one child by the name of Verne; Marvin; Ira married Myrtle Wilkinson, the union resulting in the birth of one child, LaVon; Nettie is the wife of John W. Allbright, and the mother of two offspring, viz: Tula Marie and Glen Wilson; and Ruth, the youngest of the family, is the wife of James Harwood.
Politically, Mr. Henry is a Democrat, but has never disturbed his quiet by becoming a politician or seeking the honor of public position. Like all good citizens, however, he manifests an abiding interest in the great questions which concern the welfare of the nation, and has well grounded convictions on all matters of public importance. As a neighbor, he is kind and obliging, and having always aimed to live in harmony with high ideas of duty, he is greatly esteemed and respected in the community, where his friends are as the number of his acquaintances.
EVAN JONES.
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled, who fly from this occupation to that, who do not know where they stand on political questions until they are told how to vote, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting their schools, church and public affairs and general civic problems. The back- bone of this country is made up of families who have made their homes; who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they live ; who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it; who attend to their own business and are too busy to meddle with that of others ; who work steadily on from day to day, taking the sunshine with the storm, and who gain an honest name and a comfortable home. Such people are always welcome in any country and in any community. They are wealth producers and Warren county is blessed with many such. Among them is Evan Jones, of Kent town- ship, whose life record is briefly set forth in the following lines.
Evan Jones was born on the 21st of February, 1860, at the paternal home- stead in Kent township, and in his youth he was given the benefit of attend-
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ance in the common schools. As soon as old enough he was required to lend a hand at the work of the farm and then and there he learned the lessons of industry, perseverance and patience which have been such important elements in his subsequent success. He is the owner of eighty-one acres of land in Kent township, eligibiy situated and well improved in every respect, so that he has reaped abundant harvests from year to year. Hle is a thoroughly practical man, giving intelligent direction to all his operations and neglecting no detail of his work. The residence and farm buildings are all kept in good repair and the whole place presents a pleasing and inviting appearance. Mr. Jones does not confine himself to any particular phase of agriculture, but is diversified in his operations.
On the 12th of July, 1879, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Caro- line High, who was born on January 11, 1859, the daughter. of Abraham and Mary (Saylor) High. This union has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Jones is a leading Republican of his township and in 1905 he was appointed township trustee, holding the office about two years and a half and giving an intelligent and honest administration of the duties of his office. His fraternal relations are with the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the blue lodge at State Line. He is a member of the Christian church and a liberal su porter of the same.
Evan Jones' parents were William and Mary (Logan) Jones, the father born on December 11, 1836, and the mother on January II, 1834. They were married on December 25, 1858, and are now living in State Line, where they are highly esteemed by all who know them. William Jones is the owner of seventy acres of land.
ELMER E. LEAS.
Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any other consideration, that gives character and stability to the body politic and makes the true glory of a country revered at home and respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good report ever invite, the name and character of Elmer E. Leas, one of Fountain county's leading young agriculturists and public-spirited citi- zens, stand revealed and secure. Though of modest demeanor, with no ambi- tion to distinguish himself in public position or as a leader of men, his career
MR. AND MRS. ELMER E. LEAS.
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has been signally honorable and it may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon his life work or by the discouraged plodding wearily along the steeps of life's winding highway, for it shows what one of ambition, deter- mination and exemplary character may accomplish even in the face of ob- stacles, such as are encountered somewhere on the road to life's goal by all terrestrial travelers, soon or late.
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