USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 57
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nothing undone that should be done, and he is, consequently, meeting with a success commensurate with the effort expended.
Mr. Anderson is a man of good personal qualities and is affiliated with the Presbyterian church in Williamsport, to which he gives an earnest sup- port. His political relations are with the Republican party, in the success of which he is deeply interested.
ED C. DAVIS.
Throughout an active and interesting career duty has ever been the motive of action of Ed C. Davis, one of the progressive agriculturists of Liberty township, Warren county, Indiana, and usefulness to his fellow men has not been by any means a secondary consideration. He has performed well ltis part in life and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to say that this locality is honored in his citizenship, for he has achieved definite success through his own efforts and is thoroughly deserving of the proud American title of self-made man, the term being one that, in its better sense, cannot but appeal to the loyal admiration of all who are appreciative of our national institutions and the privileges afforded for individual accomplishment, and it is a privilege, ever gratifying, in this day and age, to meet a man who has the courage to face the battles of life with a strong heart and steady hand and to win in the stern conflict by bringing to bear only those forces with which nature has equipped him, self-reliance, self-respect and integrity.
Ed C. Davis, who is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres located about one mile south of Judyville, was born on March 28, 1870, in Liberty township, this county, and he is the son of Charles and Margaret Davis. These parents both came from old and well known families of this county and they stood high in their community where they lived. Ed Smith was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. The knowledge thus received has been liberally supple- mented during the subsequent years by wide reading and close observation of men and events, so that today he is considered a well informed man. He was early inured to the labors of the farm and all his active years have been de- voted to husbandry, in which he has met with a degree of success commensur- ate with the labor bestowed. His excellent farm is well improved in every respect and its general condition indicates to the passerby that its owner is a man of good taste and sound judgment.
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Mr. Davis was united in marriage with B. Tyler, the daughter of Hiram Tyler, and they have become the parents of two children, AArnett and Irene.
Fraternally, Mr. Davis is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Genial in disposition, yet imas- suming. Mr. Davis has won a host of warm personal friends, who esteem him for his personal worth.
JESSE DARDING.
Individual enterprise, which is the just boast of the people of Indiana, is forcefully exhibited in the career of Jesse Darding, of Liberty township, Warren county. He is a worthy representative of an old and highly honored family and his own life in this community has been a record of which he has 110 cause to be ashamed. Persistent industry, definite purpose and rugged honesty have been the elements which have contributed to his success and he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one at hand.
Jesse Darding is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in Rankin county on the 12th of July, 1884, and is the son of George and Ida (Roe) Darding. George Darding was a native of Clark county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, coming to Illinois in young manhood. There he followed tl: vocation of a farmer and was numbered among the best men of his community.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the schools of Rankin, Illinois, and his boyhood days were spent on the farm with his parents, where he not only learned the ins and outs of agricultural methods, but also imbibed those lessons of industry and perseverance which have been the underlying elements of his success in life. About 1900 Mr. Darding came to Warren county, Indiana, and has been farming two hundred acres of splendid land in Liberty township, his efforts being rewarded with very favorable results. The farm is well improved and he has maintained it at a high standard of excellence in every respect. He keeps in touch with advanced ideas and meth- ods of farming and does not hesitate to abandon old methods when the effi- ciency and practicability of better ways has been demonstrated. He is alive to the best interests of his community and supports all worthy movements.
Mr. Darding was united in marriage with Gertrude Mittea, and their union has been blessed with four children, Floyd, Noel, Mildred and Wilmer.
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The family are connected with the Christian church and are numbered nimong the moral, upright people of Liberty township. Because of his industr; . . uc- cess and genuine worth, Mr. Darding is entitled to representation in this work.
HARTSON MOREHOUSE.
Coming down to us from the pioneer epoch, the career of Hartson More- house, well known citizen of Veedersburg, is one of interest. His family came to Fountain county as early as the year 1824, thus being among the first settlers in the wilds of the Wabash valley. When they first came they had little but the wild tract of land which they selected for their future abiding place, and they erected a rude cabin and began clearing the heavy timber from the rich soil beneath, and in due course of time they had become well established, but not until they had passed through the usual hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier of civilization.
The birth of Hartson Morehouse occurred in Fountain county, Indiana, on January 9, 1836, and here he has been pleased to spend his long and useful life. He is the son of David and Hannah (Osborne) Morehouse, both natives of Ohio, where they grew to maturity and were married, and, desir- ing to get a start in a new country, left their native state when young, com- ing overland to Fountain county in 1824, and here took up land from the gov- ernment in Van Buren township, for which they paid one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre.
Nathan B. Morehouse, the paternal grandfather of the subject, had five children, Dayton Hiram, David ( father of our subject), Hiram, Jane and Rachael Ann.
David Morehouse received his education in Ohio and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade and he followed this and farming all his life. He was three times married, and by his first wife, Hannah Osborne, the fol- lowing children were born: Hartson, subject of this sketch; Mary Jane, Pulaski and Oliver are deceased. To David Morehouse and his second wife, Margaret Funk, six children were born, but there were no children by his third wife, Nancy Bradshaw.
Hartson Morehouse grew to manhood on the home farm and there be- came acquainted with hard work as soon as he was old enough to use a hoe or hold the handles of a plow, for, being the oldest of the family and the son, of a pioneer who had a farm to develop from the wild, he had to work early
HARTSON MOREHOUSE.
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and late. But he managed to receive a fairly good ducation in the old-time district schools of his neighborhood. When he reached monhood he was united in marriage to America F. Smith, daughter of Siles and Clara Smith, natives of Kentucky and New York, respectively. and they came to Fountain county in an early day and took up land from the government, which they cleared and here established the permanent home of the family.
One child was born to the subject and wife, Sarah E. Morehouse, who passed away when nineteen years of age. The wife and mother was called to her rest on June 28, 1911, at the age of sixty-nine years.
Politically, Mr. Morehouse is a Republican, and religiously he belongs to the Disciples Christian church. He proved his loyalty to the Union during the great rebellion of the sixties, by enlisting in Company C, Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he saw much active service in the Army of the Cumberland, taking part in the many important engagements ot that great army. He was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, also went north with General Thomas through the campaign against Hood. Mr. Morehouse is living quietly in his cozy home in the town of Sterling, where he owns three acres of rich, valuable land.
JACOB FINK.
The occupation of farming, to which the major part of the life of Jacob Fink, one of the well known and popular citizens of Liberty township, War- ren county, has been devoted, is the oldest pursuit for a livelihood of mankind and the one in which he will ever be the most independent. His name has long been connected with the growth of Warren county, where he has spent most of his life. While primarily attending to his own affairs, he has not been blind to the general interests of the community, to the advancement of which he has lent his efforts, and today he is numbered among the public- spirited citizens of the township.
Jacob Fink was born in 1844 near the city of Cambridge, Guernsey county, Ohio, and is the son of George and Mary (Davis) Fink. The father, who followed farming as a vocation, spent his entire life in the Buckeye state. He was a man of splendid personal qualities and had an excellent standing among his fellow citizens.
Jacob Fink secured his education partly in the schools of his native state and partly in Indiana, having come to this county in young manhood. For a
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time he worked for others, carefully saving his earnings with the view of gaining an independent position for himself. His ambition was realized when he was enabled to buy a tract of his own in Liberty township, Warren county, to the cultivation of which he has since assiduously devoted himself. His farm is eligibly situated and well improved and Mr. Fink gives intelligent direction to his labors, neglecting no detail of the work, with the result that he is rewarded with bountiful harvests annually.
When the fires of the great Southern rebellion broke out in the early sixties, Mr. Fink's patriotism was aroused and he enlisted in defense of Old Glory, becoming a member of Company F, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served about a year, taking part in some of the largest battles of the struggle, besides several minor engage- ments and many skirmishes. At the conclusion of hostilities he received an honorable discharge and returned to the pursuits of peace.
In 1867 Mr. Fink was united in marriage to Sarah Brous, and they have become the parents of six children, namely : Charles, Margaret, Ann, Emma, Manson and Nettie. Mr. and Mrs. Fink have long been identified with the best social circles of the community and among their friends, who are numer- ous, they are held in the highest estcein.
JOHN HERRICKS.
Among the men of sturdy integrity and reliable traits of character who have contributed their quota to the advancement of the upbuilding of Warren county, Indiana, mention may most consistently be made of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. The prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him the esteem of those who know him.
John Herricks was born in the county in which he now lives, his birth having occurred at Williamsport on the 8th of January, 1862. He is the son of Henry and Frances (Farmer) Herricks. Henry Herricks was a native of Germany, where his father died and the widowed mother brought his fam- ily to the United States, where they were reared. The subject of this sketch was given the opportunity of attendance at the common schools and during his boyhood days he worked about the hotel which was owned and run by his parents. Later the family removed to a farm where the subject assisted his father for a time. Eventually he bought some land of his own and has since
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been actively engaged in its operation, with marked success. His farm, which comprises eighty-five acres, is located about one and a quarter miles north of Williamsport, at the corner of the Herrick and McNett gravel roads.
Mr. Herricks was united in marriage to Lucy Glenn, and this union has been blessed in the birth of two children, Glenn, who is now a student in the Valparaiso University, and Genevin, a student in Marion College. The sub- ject and his wife and children move in the best social circles of the community in which they live and are extremely popular with all who know them, their friends being in number as their acquaintances. Mr. Herricks possesses a forceful personality, standing "four square to every wind that blows," and he is found in support of every laudable movement for the improvement or upbuilding of the highest interests of the community.
HENRY B. FRETZ.
One of Fountain county's leading business men is Henry B. Fretz, well known as a successful mill owner at Mellott, whose great success has been due in no small measure to his own able management and indefatigable in- dustry. His methods have ever been progressive and he is quick to adopt new ideas which he believes will prove of practical value in his work. Indolence and idleness are entirely foreign to his nature, and owing to his close ap- plication to his business and his honorable methods he has won prosperity that is richly merited, while he enjoys the friendship and esteem of the people of his community. He is a public-spirited citizen and withholds his co-opera- tion from no movement which is intended to promote public improvement. What he has achieved in life proves the force of his character and illustrates his steadfastness of purpose. By his own efforts he has advanced to a posi- tion of credit and honor in the business circles of this locality.
Henry B. Fretz was born on November 3, 1848, in Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, and is the son of Enos and Sophia (Bruner) Fretz. His father, who was born and reared in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, was the scion of Scotch parents, who emigrated to this country and settled in the Keystone state. They were married in Buffalo, New York, returning to Pennsylvania, where they lived a number of years, then coming to Tippecanoe county, Indi- ana, locating at Middle Fork Mills, where they lived until their deaths. The subject's mother was a native of France, being brought by her parents to the United States when she was but fourteen years old, settling at Buffalo, New
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York. They now live in Cleveland, Ohio. To Enos and Sophia Fretz were born thirteen children, the names of those who reached maturity being as fol- lows: Elizabeth, Daniel, Enos, William, Henry B., Mary, Charles B., Sophia and Philip. The father of these children followed the vocation of shoemaking in his native state, but upon coming to Indiana he bought a grist and saw-mill, in the operation of which he was engaged for twenty-five years.
The subject of this sketch was reared in the parental home and secured his education in the schools of Tippecanoe county. Upon attaining maturity he engaged in the saw-mill business, in which he has been engaged ever since and in which he has met with a very gratifying degree of success. He owns a well-equipped and up-to-date mill at Mellott, where he is engaged in custom and mercantile work, his product being large and put out in good shape, as he thoroughly understands the technical part of his business and gives his per- sonal attention to all details of his work.
In 1807 Mr. Fretz was married to Lula Fry, the daughter of John N. and Mary (Conrod) Fry, natives of Indiana though descended from old Vir- ginia stock. They followed farming in Clinton county, Indiana, and both are now deceased. The subject and his wife have become the parents of seven children, namely: Mildred, Alnia, Mary, Walter, Charles, Howard and Claudine, all being at home excepting the last-named, who is deceased.
Politically, Mr. Fretz is a Democrat, but in no sense an office-seeker, though taking an intelligent interest in public affairs. Religiously, he is a member of the German Reformed church, to which he gives a liberal support. Fraternally, he is a member of Crawfordsville Lodge No. 181, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a gentleman of splendid personal qualities and because of his high character and fine success he is highly regarded throughout the community where he lives.
SYLVESTER SMITH.
Success has been achieved by Sylvester Smith, farmer and stock raiser of Warren township, Warren county, because he has been persistent along legitimate lines and has been an advocate of twentieth-century methods, which he employs on his fine farm, as any one may readily ascertain even by a curs- ory glance over his well kept and well improved fields. He has given evidence of the outcropping of many of the sterling attributes of his sturdy Kentucky ancestry and while laboring for his individual advancement he has not been
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neglectful of his duties to his neighbors and the general public, and he is therefore held in high favor by his acquaintances.
Sylvester Smith, who operates the Barnhart farm, a fine tract of two hundred and fourteen acres in Warren township, was born in Clinton county, Kentucky, and is the son of William and Hettie ( Young) Smith. The father, who is a farmer and who has always stood in high esteem among his acquaintances, now lives in Texas. To him and his wife were born ten chil- dren namely : Clarinda, Austin, Fielder, Qualy, Sylvester, Benjamin, Joseph, Fannie, Ella and Lucy.
The subject was educated in the Blue Grass state, not attending beyond the common grades. However, he has, by a wide course of reading and keen observation, increased his fund of knowledge, until today he bears the reputa- tion of being a well-informed man. He was prepared for the vocation of farming by his father and has had the good sense and far-sightedness to stick to that calling, which, more than any other, insures a man personal independ- ence. He is today a wide-awake, up-to-date, progressive farmer and the appearance of his place, as well as its products, bears evidence of his prac- ticability.
In 1891, on January 15th, Mr. Smith was married to Ellen Renick, and they are the parents of six children, namely : Winnie, Grace, Mattie, Myrtle, Ruby and Richard.
Fraternally, Mr. Smith is a member of that great fraternal insurance order, the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious membership is with the Baptist church. He is a straightforward, liberal-minded and honest- hearted man, who attends strictly to his own affairs, though always ready to give his support to all worthy public movements.
JAMES O. FOWLER.
The gentleman whose career is briefly outlined in the following para- graphs has been a life-long resident of Indiana and as a neighbor, citizen and business man enjoys to a marked degree the esteem and confidence of the peo- ple of the thriving little town where for a number of years he has made his home. He comes of an old and respected family that settled many years ago in Ohio, removing thence to Indiana, where his father, Cyrus M. Fowler, a native of the Buckeye state, grew to maturity and spent the remainder of his days as an industrious tiller of the soil.
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Cyrus M. Fowler was a small boy when his parents migrated to Tippe- canoe county, this state, where he bore his part in the development of the family homestead, grew up to the full stature of honorable citizenship, and in his young manhood was united in marriage with Charlotte Osborne, whose parents, Oliver and Huldah (Crane) Osborne, were early residents of Foun- tain county and representatives of well known and esteemed families of their respective localities. After his marriage Mr. Fowler moved to the county of Montgomery, where in due time he achieved marked success as a farmer and where, after a long and useful life, he entered into rest on April 21, 1901. He reared a family of seven children, all of whom survive him, namely : Nancy, who married a Mr. Kinkle, an'd lives in Wayne township, this county ; James O., the subject of this sketch; George M. married Lily Steele, and is a well-to-do citizen of Montgomery county; Harrison, whose wife died a few years ago, is also a resident of the county; John H., who married Nellie Briner, lives in Danville, Illinois; Winfield, whose wife was formerly Elva Rusk, is a farmer and veterinary surgeon; and Elmer E., who married Minnie Knox, and who for a number of years has been a well known and popular minister of the Gospel, his present charge being in the city of Galesburg, Illinois.
James O. Fowler was born November 26, 1855, in Montgomery county, Indiana, and, in common with the majority of country lads, spent his child- hood and youth amid the activities of out-door life, varied during the winter seasons by attending the district schools. He early became inured to hard work in the fields, where he laid broad and deep a foundation for future use- fulness, and he grew to mature years with well defined principles and a deter- mination to make his influence felt for good among his fellow men. Reared as a tiller of the soil, he very naturally chose agriculture for his vocation and followed the same with varied success for a number of years. Thinking to better his condition at a less arduous calling, he subsequently disposed of his farming interests and in the year 1900 accepted the position of general sales- man for the S. F. Baker Medical Company, with which firm he is still identi- fied, his present territory being Fountain county, throughout which he has built up an extensive and lucrative patronage. At one time he was associated with his brother in the ownership of a valuable tract of Fountain county real estate, but the better to devote his entire time to his business interests, he dis- posed of his share in the land, since which time his only holdings are in the thriving town of Sterling, where he owns a beautiful and commodious home, which, with its tasteful and attractive surroundings, is considered one of the most desirable places of residence in the village.
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Mr. Fowler is a careful and methodical business man, whose judgment is seldom at fault and who possesses in a marked degree the ability to foresec the future outcome of present action and turn it to his advantage. He mani- fests a lively interest in all that tends to benefit the public and make for the best interests of his fellow and while not an office seeker or aspirant for any kind of leadership, he is an earnest advocate of the Republican party and has done much to promote its success in his town and county.
Mr. Fowler's domestic life dates from March 22, 1888, at which time was solemnized his marriage with Lucy Stockdale, daughter of William H. and Margaret (Groves) Stockdale, natives of Kentucky, but for some years previous to the above date residents of Crawfordsville, Indiana, where the ceremony indicated took place. For a short time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fowler lived in Attica, removing thence to Sterling, where, as already stated, they have since made their home and met with success in all of their undertakings. They have an interesting family of eight living chil- dren, one being deceased, namely: Pearl, Frieda, Thelcy, Anna G., Keirnett, Wandaline, Robert V. and Verethk, the oldest of the number, Clarence E., dying in early life. Religiously, Mr. Fowler and family are respected mem- bers of the Christian church, in which he holds the office of trustee. . They are active and zealous in Sunday school and church work and in their daily lives are in harmony with the faith which they profess.
SIMEON SELLERS.
It is always pleasant. and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has made a success of life and won the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record of the well-known farmer whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of the township where he has his home.
Simeon Sellers is the son of Heman and Philena (Pickard) Sellers, the former born in Indiana in 1828 and died in 1872, while the latter, who was born in this state in 1831, passed away on September 8, 1875. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living. Heman Sellers followed the occupations of farmer and blacksmith, and, being an industrious and hon- est man, he was not lacking in the friendship of those who knew him.
Simeon Sellers was a native of Clark county, Illinois, where his birth occurred on March 7, 1863. He was reared on the paternal farmstead and
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