USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 55
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866
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDINGA.
Warren county, Indiana. Hi, father. Thomas Padgitt, was born in Kime tucky and at the age of nine years he rea wed with his parent to Tippecare county, Jundiana, later settling himself in Warren county. He died in k in 1897. The subject's mother, Ellen ( Moore) Padgitt, was born in C county, Indiana, and she died in 1877. Her father was a man of some p. 1- inence, having been one of the early tax collectors of Carroll county, and wh'le in the performance of ho duties he stopped for the night at an ime and was there murdered. His murderer was the first man executed for such a crime in Carroll county. About 1848 Mr. l'adgift's parents located in Warren county and from that time until their deaths they were identified almost con- tinuously with the county's history.
The subject of this sketch secure I a good education in the common schools during his boyhood. He remained with his father until he had at- tained his majority, when he sojourned for a while through the Western states, principally Kansas and Texas, being variously employed. Returning to Indiana in 1884. Mr. Padgitt engaged in labor on farins or other employ- ment, and, being industrious and economical, he soon found himself on the road to prosperity. He also received some assistance through inheritance and is now the owner of the splendid farm on which he resides, besides other valuable property. Mr. Padgitt knows no such thing as idleness and combines with his industry sound judgment, so that his success is but the result of the exercise of proper talents.
In 1884 Mr. Padgitt was united in marriage with Maggie Goodrich, the daughter of James and Rebecca Goodrich, of Warren county. To this union were born two daughters, Bernice A., now Mrs. Edgar Johnson, of Marion county, Ohio, and Maggie May, who makes her home with her sister. Mrs. Maggie Padgitt departed this life on March 18, 1889, and on April 8, 1909, Mr. Padgitt married Jemima Hickman, the daughter of John and Maria (Cothel) Hickman, her birth having occurred on May 14, 1859, in Liberty township, Warren county, Indiana. Mrs. Padgitt's parents were rightfully numbered among the pioneers of this section of the state, having come here when the land was a comparative wilderness. Mrs. Padgitt remained with her parents, prior to her marriage, caring for them until their deaths.
Politically, Mr. Padgitt has always given his support to the Republican party and, though in no sense a seeker after public office for himself, he has taken a keen interest in campaigns and been an important factor in the suc- cess of his party in Prairie township. Religiously, he and his wife are at- tendants and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church at College
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FOUNTAIN AND WALNES COLLECTING, ISTEYEN
Corner They are popular montage of the world circle ipholt they move and they may alway he found for the right salesof every newversion for the benefit of the community.
JOHN MANKEY
Although perhaps no rection in the Hoosier tal is riches in opportun ties or offers greater advantage- to it. citizen- that does the locality en .- braced by Warren and Fountain counties, success is not here to be obtained through desire alone, but it is to be persistently worked for. Coming here a number of decades ago. John Mankey, one of our leading farmers, owner of a model farm near the village of Carbondale, realized the fact that here existed great opportunities for the diligent worker, so he bent every energy to advance himself in farming with the result that he is rated today among the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of this ction and he has not only worked his way to success and prosperity, but has so ordered his course in all the relations of life as to command the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
Mr. Mankey was born on July 31, 1845, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Kinney) Mankey. The father of the subject was a miller by trade, and lie was born, reared and spent his life in Pennsylvania, never leaving his native state. He is now deceased, as is also his wife. They both represented very old families of the Keystone state.
Jolın Mankey, of this sketch, grew to manhood in Pennsylvania and there he received his education in the common schools. He was twenty-one years of age when he came West and located in Warren county, Indiana, arriving here without capital, and, in order to get a start, he worked out for old Mose Fowler. He worked hard and was economical, saving enough money to pur- chase one hundred and sixty acres of land, and here he started life for him- self, soon developing his land into a good farm, and, being persistent and inanaging well, he added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of a well improved and well cultivated farm, consisting of four hundred and fifty acres of as valuable land as the county can boast, lying near Carbondale. He carries on general farming and stock raising in a manner that stamps him as one of the most up-to-date and substantial agriculturists of this section, and he has a splendid home and large, convenient outbuildings. A good grade of live stock, of all varieties, is to be found in his fields.
Mr. Mankey was married in Warren county in 1869 to Margaret E.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Butler, a nauke of this county, where she grew to Wemanhood and Freeved her education in the public schools. To this union five children whode loan born, namely: William A., who married Lillian Filbert, lives in Chicago; Jamies is at home : Warren married Ollie Grubaugh, and they have one chold, Glaudine; Ama is the wife of Charles Keys, ha married Carl L. Smil. now deceased ; to them two children were born, Robert and Helen.
The Mankey family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically. Mr. Mankey is a Democrat and a leader in local affairs. He was at one time trustee of his township, filling the office to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a self-made man and is deserving of the large success which has been his, for he has led an industrious, public-spirited and honest life.
JOHN WESLEY GRAMES.
As proprietor and manager of Sunny Side Stock Farm and one among tl- leading live stock men of Warren county, John W. Grames has achieved success such as few attain and is worthy of especial notice in a work devoted to the representative citizens of the part of the country honored by his resi- dence. Mr. Grames is a native of Warren county, born on the old family homestead, two miles southeast of Rainsville, October 6, 1866, being the son of James and Mary (Brown) Grames (see sketch of James on another page of this work). In common with the majority of boys reared in the rural districts, young Grames spent his childhood and youth in close touch with nature and while growing up developed a strong and vigorous physique, which, with a determined purpose and inflexible will. made him to a consid- erable extent a leader among his companions and playmates and enabled him to lay plans for his future course of action long ere reaching the years of maturity. Reared under the influence of excellent parentage and imbibing when quite young the principles of honor and rectitude, he early gave prom- ise of becoming something more than a mere spectator in worldly affairs; ac- cordingly on arriving at manhood's estate he was well fitted for the duties before him and from that time on his course has been upright, his conduct above reproach and his influence such as to win the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought into contact, in business or other capacities.
Mr. Grames received his elementary education in the district schools of Pine township, which training, supplemented by a knowledge of the higher
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FOUNTAIN AND WAR VOUSPIE. INDIANA.
branche- in the Rainsville graded college at Danvilk. has made him a terial assistance in the active an I s. led. After the death of his father
nd a business course on the normal formed man, hundes bene cof 02
AV lus portion of the vetare, wholly. with the realty that canr to him by lowife, enabled hin porndenk in farn ing and stock raising upon quite an e domove scale, an enteque slech proved successful from the beginning. Since the time indicated, de har flere and his holdings at intervals until he now own, dearly one thousand acres on one body, of which he devotes a part to live stock purposes and which, under the name of Sunny Side Stock Farm, is one of the largest and best improved places in the county, besides being known far and wide throughout the state. In the management of this extensive farm Mr. Grantes displays mature judgment, rare foresight and exceptional ability and tact, while as a stock man, familiar with every phase of the business. he stands among the average in his own county similarly engaged. He studies his cock from a scientific basis and understands how to breed and raise all kinds of domestic animals to advantage. He and his two sons are taking quite an interest in breeding and raising the draft horse, such as the Shire and Belgium a id are contemplating in the near future to enter into the business more extensi elv.
Mr. Grames is public spirited and has not been unmindful of the duties of citizenship or of the claims which every community has upon its representa- tive men. He encourages every enterprise for the material advancement and moral uplift of his township and county, stands for the strict enforcement of the laws and lends his influence to whatever makes for. the general welfare of his fellow men. A believer in religion, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and has long been an active worker in the local congregation with which identified, being superintendent of the Sunday school and alive to all measures under the auspices of his denomination, both local and general. In polities he is a Democrat and a zealous advocate of the principles and policies of his party, though by no means a partisan nor seeker after the honors and emoluments of office. He stands high in the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter, Indianapolis Consistory of Scottish- rite Masons, and the Mystic Shrine, in all of which he is an influential factor. besides at various times having been honored with important official positions in the brotherhood.
Mr. Grames, in the year 1891. entered the marriage relation with Cora Rhode. daughter of John W. and Fanny (Jones) Rhode, a union to which two children have been born. Glenn and Russell, aged twenty and eighteen years
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN PORN TIES, INDIANA.
respectively. Both are exceedingly bright and intelligent youje men and un them their parents have centerel many and hopes for the future former is now pursuing his studies at Po due University with the offer in view of fitting himself for an honorable and useful career ; the younger is a senior in the Pine Village high school, where he has earned a creditable record as a diligent and capable student.
ROBERT LEAK.
The subject of this review is a representative farmer and stock grower of Prairie township. Warren county, Indiana, and he is known as one of the alert, progressive and successful agriculturists of this favored section of the Hoosier state. In his labors he has not permitted himself to follow in the rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus secured the maximum returns from his enterprising efforts, while he has so ordered his course at all times as to command the confidence and regard of the people of the community in which he lives, being a man of honorable business meth- ods and advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare in any way.
Robert Leak was born on February 16, 1862, in Jordan township, War- ren county, Indiana, and is the son of Robert and Zelair (Brant) Leak. The father was a native of England and died in 1863, while the mother, who was born in Kentucky, passed away in 1910. During his boyhood Mr. Leak was given the advantage of attendance in the common schools of his neighborhood and also had two years in the public schools at Hoopeston, Illinois. His sum- mers were devoted to work on the farm of his brother, Gideon Leak, with whom he made his home, having been but two years old when his father died. During this time he learned the lessons of industry, patience and perseverance which have contributed so largely to the success which has attended his later efforts. He had inherited from his father's estate fifteen hundred dollars, and with this as a nucleus he has been enabled to buy land and add to it from time to time until now he is the owner of as good a farm as can be found in the township. His first land was bought in 1882, for which he paid twenty- three and a third dollars an acre, and under his skillful management and cultivation this land has so increased in value as to be now worth several times that figure. When he bought the land there were no improvements in the way of drainage, very poor fences and inferior buildings, but today the im- provements are such as reflect credit on the taste and good judgment of the
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COU STIES, INDIAN 1.
@wner. Mt Leak and his family resided on this farm until March, 191; when they moved to Ambia, where they now reside, the farm being under :je management of their sons, Ray and Thomas.
On June 28. 1887, Mr. Leak married Clara M. Stump, who was born in this county on July 4, 1863, the daughter of Philander and Elizabeth ( Var Reed) Stump. Her father died in October, 190, and is survived by his widow. To Mr. and Mrs. Leak have been born the following children: R. Ray, born June 5, 1888; Milton Thomas, and Clara, who is a teacher in the public schools of Warren county. On March 20, 1912. Ray married Olive Torpey, the daughter of Hugh Torpey. She was born on September 20, 1890, in Prairie township, this county, and is a graduate of the Ambia high school. Milton T. was married October to, ron, to Laura Bowman of Vermilion county, Illinois.
Politically, Mr. Leak gives his support to the Republican party, while, fraternally, he is a member of Rosewood Camp, Woodmen of the World, at Ambia, Indi. na. The family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and are earnest and liberal in their support of the same. Genial in manner, yet unassuming, Mr. Leak wins friends casily and always retains their regard.
FARR BUTLER.
The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the more recent history of Liberty township, Warren county, Indiana. His life, though not a long one, has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a degree of success attained only by those who devote them- selves indefatigably to the work before them. He is of a high type of a busi- ness man and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition in this work.
Farr Butler, whose fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres is located on the Keys gravel road, about one mile north of Carbondale, Liberty township, was born on April 6, 1887, near Judyville, this county, on the old VanReed farm. He is the son of William P. and Ida (Beadle) Butler. William P. Butler was born in Pennsylvania and when but a baby he was brought to Indiana by an uncle, who resided here and who was a very prominent man here then. When old enough to work, he started out on his own account and, being industrious and economical, he was soon enabled to buy the farm on which the subject now lives, and to the operation of the place he applied him- self. Later he went to Williamsport, and there the subject of this sketch was
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FOUNTAIN AND WARRES CONNOTES, ENFILAS A.
reared and sveured his cinsel patto, hisfirst showing Iwing secured to the country schools near the home phúc When off . nogh The book the Form of his father's hands and since then 1. Has warenblogle applied tomuseli polis management. He is thoroughly practical mail it operations and les efforts have not gone unrewarded. In the proscention of his labore a a farmer Mir. Butler has been enterprising and progress & and he is succeeding low speed factory degree. Though not a politician, he has Lept in touch with the brows on all matters of public interest and concerning the great questions and any before the people he has well grounded opinions.
Mr. Butler was married to Edith McCarth, the daughter of Homer End Martha (Finley) McCarth and a lady of many excellent qualities of char- acter. This union is without issue. Airs. Butler is a member of the Presby- terian church, of which Mr. Butler is a supporter. Mr. and Mrs. Butler possess strong social natures and the spirit of hospitality pervades their home. They have a large circle of warm friends who esteem them for their genuine worth.
JASPER N. CUNNINGHAM.
One of the most influential and highly respected men of Jackson town- ship, Fountain county, Indiana, was the late Jasper N. Cunningham, who owned a large farm near Wallace, and had been one of the foremost men in the community for a number of years. He came from a sturdy stock of men who have made Indiana one of the foremost states in the Union-strong, enduring, fearless men who came to the middle West when there was little to tempt them but a promise of what work might make of the country.
When there was no net-work of railroads and interurbans, making travel to any part of the state a matter of a few minutes; when Indiana was still in its natural state, save for 'a few small communities that were spring- ing up here and there, the grandfather of Jasper N. Cunningham came to Fountain county, Indiana, and settled on land secured from the government. His was the 'ask of establishing the home in the wilderness. His son, Mit- chell, was been there on the farm, and lived there all his life, adding to and improving the land his father had settled on. He married Mary Louisa Myers, and they had one son, Jasper N. Cunningham, born in the same room in the old house on the farm in which his father was born.
Jasper spent his early life on the farm, learning through experience the best and quickest and casiest ways to do the work required to make the land
JASPER N. CUNNINGIIAM.
873
the most productive. In 1895 he married Bonaire Myover the dang bor of ofram and Frances (Klott) Agers. ihrem Mye 30 town of Theke county in 1846 and was a prosperous farther near Judit holath, mil Im death, April 12, 1903. They had four children; Ilsand Iwas in Paule county near Judson. Indiana: Leta J. married Pam F Fom an! live soir Whitesville. Montgomery county, Indiana: Susan manbet ony Myers, weil liver northwest of Wallace, in Fountain county. Indallas Flander nagyon Jasper N. Cunningham.
Florence and Jasper N. Cunningham had two childrens Fra Francs and Earl Mitche 11, both of whom are at home with their mother. Jasper Cunningham died July 21, 19IT, on the old farm in the same room in which he was born. He left his widow six hundred and forty-six acres of some inf the best farming land in Fountain county, one hundred and seventy-six acres of which has been in the Cunningham family since his grandfather fir - 1 settled on it. Mrs. Cunningham hires help to do the work, and farms two hundred and twenty acres of the land herself, renting the balance of the land.
There are a great many improvements on the place, most of which were made by Mr. Cunningham before his death. He was an energetic and capa ble man, his farm had modern equipment and was one of the most highly cultivated in that part of the country. Mr. Cunningham was a member of the Lutheran church and a man of good judgment, so fair minded and just that he vas looked upon as one of the foremost citizens of his community, which mourned his loss and sympathized with his bereaved family. Such men leave behind them the result of their influence on those around them and live forever in the growth of the community to which they gave their services.
W. W. THOMAS.
The occupation of farming, to which the major part of the business life of W. W. Thomas, one of the well known and popular citizens of Prairie township, Warren county, Indiana, has been devoted, is the oldest pursuit for a livelihood of mankind and the one in which. he will ever be the most inde- pendent. His name has long been inseparably connected with the general growth of Warren county, where he has spent most of his life. While pri- marily attending to his own interests, he has at the same time taken an in- telligent interest in public affairs and has always been found on the right side of every question.
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CUESTAIN AND WARREN CALSTITE, FUINEGEN.
var hangle be tesparents in Warren county in toget The father, Jeom Thomas, was Born of 1800 in Wales, and emigrated to the United States locating in Chinader. There he followed day iher ay farine unal me marriage, when he began farming for him. He He assisted iplowing away the native forests where the city of Columbus, Ohio, now stand, and also assi. ted in building the National road out of Columbus, afterwards serving as a gate keeper at one of the toll station. west of Cohenbus. Some member of this family served as a keeper at this station undl the toll gates we abolished. John Thomas was married to Clarissa Hunter, the daughter of James and Saralı Hunter, who were of Scotch-Iris And English parentage respectively. She was born in 1820 in Franklin county, Ohio, receiving her educational training in the schools of that locality. To John and Clarissa Thomas were born eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth. The parents continued to reside in Warren county, Indiana, until their deaths.
W. W. Thomas was reared under th parental roof and secured his edu- cation in the common schools. He was an apt pupil and because qualified as a school teacher, which profession he followed in Warren county for eleven years, the interims between school terms being spent in work on the home farm. In 1874 Mr. Thomas married Martha Doty, a native of Warren county, whose death occurred about a year later in childbirth. In 1877 Mr. Thomas married Sue Stump, the daughter of Lemuel and Agnes Stump. Mrs. Thomas was born in Liberty township. Warren county, her father being a native of Wayne county, Indiana, and her mother of Ohio. Mrs. Thomas was born on January 29, 1855, and received a common-school education. To this union were born five children, Clay, Clarissa, Martha, Chanes and James, all living but James, who died in infancy in 1885.
By the united industry and judicious management of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, they have succeeded in acquiring a valuable property in Prairie town- ship, where Mr. Thomas carries on general farming operations, in connection with which he raises some live stock. He is practical and systematic in his work and is numbered among the progressive and enterprising farmers of the township. He has always stood for the advancement of the community and was a strong advocate of the building of township and county gravel roads. county ditches and other public improvements and gave largely of his time and energy in circulating petitions for such. He stood for and fought through eight years of court proceedings the only dredged ditch in Prairie township.
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FOURTAIR VOD WRONGS COUSINS INILADY
first came here. When I first come mehr- poreme roadiral Hollow vize ponds, containing fine het one pital dow jones full access sonolife in front of his home. The prairies abundel mn wild sing, such as prime chickens, wolves and deer, and Mr. Thomas nad nie lds of lille Iumting. Ile is very optimistic in regard to the future of Warre cammy. Io keving that land improv ments will be greater and the iner ase in bound alpes Nguy sith the increase of crop yields, a- the direct results of the effects of lowery ante! farmers.
Mr. Thomas gives his political apport to the Republicnt party believing that its precepts stand for the greatest progress of all the people, Mrs. Thomas is a member of the Locust Grove Methodist Episcopal Sourcesand is rearing the children in that faith. Personally, Mr. Thomas is gpolly esteeined by his neighbors and his name stands for upright conduct and a Ingh standard of manhood and citizenship.
GEORGE W. KITCHEN.
One of the leading farmers and stock raisers in Kent tows hip, Warren county, Indiana, is George WV. Kitchen. His valuable property has been ac- quired through his own efforts-his persistency of purpose and his determina- tion-and the prosperity which is the legitimate reward of all earnest effort is today his, while at the same time he has been careful of his personal habits and has won and retained the undivided respect of all w h whom he has come into contact. 1
George W. Kitchen is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Watson) Kitchen, the former born in Ohio in 1800 and died in 1881; the subject's mother is also deceased. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living. Thomas Kitchen, who followed the occupation of farming through- out his life, was the owner of one hundred and twenty-one acres of good land, practically all of which was under cultivation. He was a man of splendid qual- ities of character and because of his genuine worth he enjoyed in a high de- gree the respect and esteem of all who knew him.
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