USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 62
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
Alonzo F. Stephen is a native of the neighborhood in which he now lives, having been born near his present home on the 9th of February, 1884. His father, John Stephen, received his education in the common schools. He has always followed the pursuit of agriculture and is now living in Prairie township, this county. The subject's mother, Amelia Swartz, was a native of Germany, but in her childhood she was brought by her parents to Warren county, Indiana, and she gained her education here. She died in 1908. These parents were married here and their entire married life was spent here.
936
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
By industry and economy they accumulated considerable material property, including four farms, and they reared a family of four children, of which number the subject of this sketch is the youngest. The others are Benja- man R., Raymond aud Anna, who is now Mrs. Frank New.
Alonzo F. Stephen was reared under the parental roof, receiving his education in the common schools of the locality and spending the vacation periods in work on the farm. During that time he also made several trips through Canada. He located on his present farm in 1907 and has given to its operation his undivided attention. He is a practical and methodical man in his work and understands the secrets of successful agriculture. He has a comfortable and attractive residence and a substantial and commodious barn, the general appearance of the place indicating him to be a man of excellent taste and sound judgment. He carries on general farming and also raises some live stock, which find a ready market owing to their excellent quality and condition.
Mr. Stephen was united in marriage with Lottie Fix, the daughter of John and Omedia (Wolf) Fix, of Fountain county, Indiana. Mrs. Stephen was reared on a farm and received the advantages of a good common school education. They are the parents of two children, Wade and Virgil.
Politically, Mr. Stephen is a Republican both by training and practice, believing firmly in the principles of that party and taking great pride in its past record. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian church at Ambia, with which the members of the family are also connected. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen are popular in the circles in which they move, being esteemed be- cause of their genuine worth.
HENRY HARTZ.
'Henry Hartz, a retired farmer living in Williamsport, is a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred on July 28, 1846. His father, Peter Hartz, and his mother, who prior to her marriage was Anna Harding, were both born in adjoining counties, and there lived until the former's death. Peter Hartz was a farmer and the son of a Revolutionary hero who served with a distinguished record until independence was achieved. An uncle of Mrs. Hartz also participated in that struggle and took a promi- nent part in the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga when the British General Burgoyne surrended his army.
MR. AND MRS. HENRY HARTZ.
937
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN.\
Henry Hartz was a lad four years old when his father died Owing to limited school facilities, his early education was somewhat limited but by subsequent study and reading he very largely made up for this deficiency and n due time became an intelligent and widely informed young man. In his youth he removed with his mother to Lancaster county, where he grew to maturity and continued to live in that part of the state until 1865, when he and a brother came to Warren county, Indiana, where both secured employ- mient, the subject as a farm hand and his brother at the plasterer's trade. After spending a couple of years at this kind of labor and saving his earnings with scrupulous care, he rented a farm and was quite successful in its cultiva- tion. Having by diligent labor and strict economy succeeded in accumulating sufficient money to secure land of his own, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Liberty township, which he afterwards sold at a handsome profit and invested the proceeds in a tract of one hundred and eighty acres in the same township, which he improved and which, with the help of his good wife, he cultivated to such advantage that in due time he was in inde- pendent circumstances with sufficient means at his command to enable him to retire from active life and spend the remainder of his days in quiet and con- tent.
Mr. Hartz has always been an industrious, hard-working man, frug 1 in his habits, a judicious manager and the results of his well directed efforts he now realizes in the comfortable fortune in his possession and the many mate- rial blessings with which he is surrounded. He is a good farmer, was always successful in tilling the soil and seldom failed to realize abundant returns from the time and labor he expended on his crops. Having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to pass the remainder of his life free from toil, he discontinued farming in 1907 and moved to Williams- port and bought a beautiful and comfortable home, where he and his faithful wife and helpmate are now living in honorable retirement. Mr. Hartz is a self-made man and as such ranks among the most enterprising and successful of his contemporaries. He was married May 6, 1876, to Carrie Klapp, whose parents, John and Elizabeth ( Kochel) Klapp, were natives of Penn- sylvania and members of old and prominent families of Lancaster county, where both died, the father having formerly been a large land owner and a successful farmer, but is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have no children of their own, but have always taken an interest in the children of their neigh- bors, both being fond of young people, who in return love and esteem them for their many kind words and considerate deeds.
938
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
The subject and wife are respected members of the Presbyterian church, active in all the good work of the same. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, his wife being a member of the Pythian Sisters and the Eastern Star.
JOHN G. McCORD.
The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the West are combined in the residents of the section of country of which this work treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigorous western states is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy that we have borrowed from our eastern neighbors, and the combination is one of peculiar force and power. It has been the means of placing this section of the country on a par with the older East, at the same time producing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lacking in the West. This happy combination of characteristics is possessed by the subject of this brief sketch, John G. McCord, who has spent practically his entire life in the county of his nativity.
John G. McCord was born in Liberty township, Warren county, In- diana, on July 25, 1859, and is the son of James and Esther (Little) McCord, both of whom also were natives of this county. The paternal grand father, James McCord, who was a native of Pennsylvania, came to Warren county, Indiana, from Ohio, in 1828, and settled in Liberty township. To the sub- ject's parents were born four children, namely : Mary L., who married a Mr. Allen and lives in Adams township; John G., the subject of this sketch; Charity Z., Mrs. Atchinson, of Adams township, and Elizabeth, deceased. James McCord followed farming all his active years and was fairly success- ful. He was a man of marked strength of character and at all times pos- sessed the respect and confidence of those who knew him.
John G. McCord received his elementary education in the public schools of Adams township, supplementing this by study at Purdue University. He then engaged in teaching school and in farming between times until 1883, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Pine Village. He continued in this line until 1889, when he resumed teaching for three years. He then engaged in the hardware business at Frankfort and Williamsport, Indiana, continuing thus until 1895. Mr. McCord was then elected to the office of county clerk and for eight and a half years lie discharged the duties of this
939
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN.A.
responsible position, his re-election to the office standing in evidence of the sat- isfactory character of his services. Upon his retirement from office, Mr. McCord accepted the position of cashier of the Bank of Pine Village, which was organized in 1905 as a private bank, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. The officers of this bank are James C. Jones, president; Clement H. Jones, vice-president, and John G. McCord, cashier. This bank has been very successful from the date of its organization and has been a direct stimulus to the business and commercial interests of the community.
On December 25, 1883, Mr. McCord was married to Martha F. Rhode, the daughter of Jacob I. and Mary J. Rhode, who were natives of Warren county. Mrs. McCord died in January, 1906, and subsequently Mr. McCord was married to Elizabeth Schoonover, to which union have been born two children, Esther Elizabeth and Mary Catherine.
Fraternally, Mr. McCord is a member of Lodge No. 34, Free and
1 Accepted Masons, at Williamsport, and to Lodge No. 200, Knights of Pythias, at Pine Village. He very ably and faithfully discharges his public duties and has long been regarded as one of the influential and public spirited men of his communi . Personally, he is known to be a man of scrupulously honest principles, generous and kind-in short, a gentleman whom to know is to respect and admire, for with all his commendable attributes he is en- tirely unassuming.
R. W. ALEXANDER.
In compiling this volume of representative citizens of Fountain and Warren counties, Indiana, occasion has been afforded to give the records of men in many walks of life; here will be found appropriate mention of worthy citizens of all vocations, and at this juncture we are permitted to offer a resume of the career of one of the enterprising agriculturists of Pine town- ship, where he has spent practically his entire life and where he has attained a high degree of success in his chosen field of labor and enterprise.
R. W. Alexander was born on March 9, 1860, in Prairie township, Warren county, Indiana, and is the son of Joseph and Frances (Hanks) Alexander, who, when the subject was five years old, moved to the farm in Pine township, where he now lives. The father and mother of the subject came with their respective parents from Chillicothe, Ohio, and their mar- riage occurred in Warren county, Indiana. In the early forties they
9.40
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES. INDIAN.A.
came to Warren county, selecting the Pine creek neighborhood because of its advantages for stock raising. Here they continued to reside until their deaths, which occurred in 1897.
The boyhood 'e of R. W. Alexander was passed much as was that of other boys of his period, going to school during the winter months and working on the farm during the summer. Buying, selling and exchanging cattle and horses was one of the activities of Mr. Alexander in his boyhood and he still follows that as well as farming on his fine farm which has never exchanged hands but once. He is thoroughly practical and up-to-date in his methods and is numbered among the enterprising farmers and successful business men of his locality. 1
On October 11, 1882, Mr. Alexander was married to Florence A. Logan, of this county. She was born in the state of Illinois, but removed to Kansas in her infancy. Her father died as a soldier during the Civil war, and the mother reared her family in Indiana, passing from this life in 1910 at Danville, Illinois. Mrs. Alexander attended the common schools and a normal school and became a successful teacher in Warren county. To Mr. and Mrs. Alexander were born four children, namely: Joe A., born April 15, 1884; Earl L., born January 18, 1891 ; Ray H., born August 4, 1892 ; and Frances America, born October 12, 1896. All are now with their father excepting Joe, who was married on January 19, 1910, to Myrtle D. Rader, of Lafayette, Indiana, and now lives on the Prairie township farm of his father. These children all received common and high school training, with the privilege of a college course if they so desired.
Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are members of the College Corner Methodist Episcopal church and have reared their children in the same faith. Fraternally, Mr. Alexander is a member of Boswell Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Boswell and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Politically, he has been a life-long Republican and from 1905 to 1911 he served as a member of the board of county commissioners. During his incumbency the old court house was burned, necessitating the erection of the new building, and also the building of many gravel roads under the provisions of the new three-mile gravel road law was commenced during his administration. He was always wide-awake as to the best interests of the whole county and his official incumbency was highly creditable to him- self. Still in the prime of life, he may reasonably look forward to many years of happiness, surrounded by his family and all the comforts and many of the luxuries that make living enjoyable.
-
9.41
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
HENRY ROSSITER.
It is no doubt true that Ireland, of all countries of the world, has sent more emigrants in proportion to population to the United States than any other country, and the reason is well known. For hundreds of years the Emerald isle has been denied many valuable rights and privileges by Great Britain and the pride and honor of the people were ground into the dust. They could avoid all this only by leaving the island, much as they loved it, and accordingly thousands of them, as the years have rolled around, have crossed the wide Atlantic to find a home of greater freedom in America. They have settled in almost every county in our half hundred states, devoting themselves to all lines of endeavor, and usually succeeding at whatever they have undertaken. They were among our first teachers and business men and today they occupy many of the proudest positions wi: n the gift of the people.
Among the native sons of the lar 1 of the shanwock who became citizens of the United States is Henry Rossiter, of Prairie township, Warren county, Indiana. He was born about the year 1822 in county Wexford, Ireland, and was reared to manhood in his native land. The family were in poor circum- stances, so that the subject, instead of being given the opportunity to gain an education, was compelled to spend his youthful days in toil, mostly at farm work. Ile then apprenticed himself to learn the trade of milling, which was a very comprehensive term, embracing the making and setting up of milling machinery, handling and grinding of grain, and the bolting and marketing of flour. Mr. Rossiter served an apprenticeship of seven years, and became an expert in his line. However, conditions in the home country became so in- tolerable that Mr. Rossiter felt compelled to make a change and, having heard much of the wonderful opportunities afforded in the western continent, he set sail, at the age of twenty-one years, landing in Canada after a voyage of fourteen weeks. He remained in the dominion about three years, then came to Lafayette, Indiana, remaining there until 1858, when he purchased his present homestead in Prairie township, Warren county. Though arriving in this country not able to read, Mr. Rossiter was ambitious and quick of per- ception and it was not long before he was able to read, and he has absorbed much by a long life of observation, so that he has become a well informed man. His first years in this country were years of privation and labor, especially the first years spent on his new farm. The breaking of the new prairie land, draining the ponds, building a home, fighting the prairie fires, and the other unwelcome features of the pioncer life in this section of the country made the
1
942
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTES. INDIANA.
newcomer's life anything but a bed of roses. But patient industry and per- severance won the battle and eventually Mr. Rossiter found himself the owner of a comfortable home and a splendid farm.
In October, 1857, Mr. Rossiter was united in marriage with Margaret Foster, the daughter of Lackey and Elizabeth ( Foster) Foster, pioneers of Medina township. The father was a native of Ireland, emigrating from there to Ohio, where he was married. Soon after that event they moved to Medina township, Warren county, Indiana. To their union were born six children, of which number Mrs. Rossiter was the fifth in order of birth. She was born on October 23, 1833, and hier death occurred on June 1, 1902. To Mr. and Mrs. Rossiter were born nine children, of whom the living are Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, Luella, Gertrude, now Mrs. A. C. Stump, of Prairie township, and Chester, of Williamsport. These children were carefully reared and given good educations, through the common schools and colleges, and all of them became teachers in the public schools.
In religion Mr. Rossiter was reared a Roman Catholic, but when he located in Indiana there was no Catholic church in his neighborhood, so he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, his wife joining also, and he ever afterwards remained a faithful and consistent member of that body, the children being reared in the same faith. Politically, Mr. Rossiter has always supported the Republican party, being a firm believer in the tenets of that party. He has always been interested in the progress of his adopted country and in the development of its resources and gives his assistance and influence to all laudable means and measures to further these ends. He often refers to the primitive conditions of the early days here and how he worked in starting a new home in a new land, but he has reaped a large reward for his labors and now is able to enjoy the rest which he has so richly earned.
S. C. BARTLETT.
There is no calling, however humble, in which enterprise and industry, coupled with a well-directed purpose, will not be productive of some measure of success and in the pursuit of agriculture the qualities mentioned are quite essential. Among the well known and highly respected farmers of Prairie township, Warren county, Indiana, who have attained to a definite degree of success in their line and who at the same time have greatly benefited the con-
943
FOUNTAIN MED WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
munity in which they live, is the gentleman to a review of whose career ne non direct the reader's attention.
S. C. Bartlett is a native of the county in which he now lives, having been born in Pine township on the rith of July, 1808. His father, Thomas Bartlett, was also a native of Warren county, and of pioneer parentage, while his mother, whose maiden name was Eliz beth Kennon, was born in Fountain county, her parents having come from Virginia. These parents, who are now both deceased, were married in Warren county and began their married life on their own farm in Pine township, and there their children were born, of which family the subject of this sketch is the eighth in order of birth.
In his boyhood the subject of this sketch attended the common schools until he had completed the fifth reader, when, having a difficulty with his teacher, he quit school and went to the home of an aunt in Prairie township, where he lived and employed himself at farm work by the month. Event- ually he began farming on his own account as a tenant on the farm where he now resides and his continuous residence there and the splendid results which he has attained have been substantial evidence of his ability as an agricul- turist and his sound judgment in business affairs. He has maintained the farm at a high standard of excellence, folk ing up-to-date ideas and neglect- ing no detail of the work, so that his labors have been abundantly r: arded. He is now in a position to buy a home of his own and contemplates giving his son a thorough college education.
In August, 1892, Mr. Bartlett married Miss Bid O'Brien, the daughter of John O'Brien, of Pike township, this county. Mrs. Bartlett was born in 1878 and died in 1895, having been preceded in death by an infant son. In 1898 Mr. Bartlett married Minerva Burkey, who was born on August 13, 1877, in Pine township, this county, the daughter of Lee and Lydia Burkey, pio- neers of this county. To Mr. Bartlett's second union has come a son, Robert, born on July 7, 1900, who is now a student in the common schools and as- sisting his father in the work of the farm.
Fraternally, Mr. Bartlett is a member of Warren Lodge No. 57, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, at Williamsport, and Mrs. Bartlett is a mem- ber of the Daughters of Rebekah. Politically, Mr. Bartlett is aligned with the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, but is not party-bound, for he firmly believes that principles and personal worth of candidates should receive the first consideration on the part of the voter who desires to vote for the best interests of the entire community.
9-44
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN.1.
ELLIOT M. PHILPOT.
One of the most influential men and foremost citizens of Jackson town- ship, Fountain county, India, is Elliot M. Philpot, who has taken an active part in clearing out and 1, ding up the country around Kingman, Indiana. He is one of the few mien to that part of Indiana who can trace their family directly back to the Revolutionary war period, and who exemplify in their own lives the courage and steadfastness to principle that their forefathers expressed in that battle for a representative government.
Mr. Philpot's maternal grandfather was one of the first settlers in lu- diana, coming to Montgomery county when it was first opened up and In- dians were still skulking about the country. He was in the Revolutionary war and knew Gen. George Washington in North Carolina. He lived to be one hundred and twelve years old, and his life and vitality were wonderful. Before his death he had a second set of teeth, and was one of the oldest . veterans of the Revolutionary war living. His daughter, Catherine Fruits, married William Philpot, whose father, Steven Philpot, also was . native of North Carolina. Steven Philpot settled in Fountain county about 1820, and lived there until his death, on his grandson's place near Kingman, In- diana. William and Catherine (Fru:'s) Philpot lived in Jackson township, on a farm which Steven Philpot had taken, and were very successful in farming. He was a Democrat and a member of the Christian church, and was one of the foremost citizens in that district. He died on Elliot M. Phil- pot's place in 1883. They had five children: Mary lives in Washington state; Rachael lives in Jackson township; Albert lives near Kingman, In- diana, across the road from Elliot M. Philpot. The other child died in in- fancy.
Elliot M. Philpot was born in Jackson township, Fountain county, July 24, 1859. His early life was spent on the farm, and his education was re- ceived there and in the common schools of that district. Later he attended Wabash College for one term, and on his return taught school for the same length of time. Since that time he has been a farmer in Jackson township. In 1882 he married Mary Alward, daughter of Ira and Mary ( Harrison) Alward. Ira Alward came from New Jersey and was one of the first settlers in this part of the country. Mary Harrison came from good old Kentucky stock, and died in 1911, at the age of ninety-two years. Mr. Alward was a brick mason in his early days and was an expert bricklayer. He was one of the fastest workers in his line in the county. He died in Jackson town-
1
MR. AND MRS. ELLIOT M. PHILPOT. 1
945
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES. INDIANA.
ship in 1885. Elliot M. and Mary Philpot have had two children, off whom they are justly proud. Omar A. married Anna Starnes and is a resident of San Francisco, California. He is a graduate of Purdue University, as his father wished his children to have the benefit of good educations. Ruby MI. Philpot is eighteen years of age, being born in 1894. She is a very good musician and is staying at home now with her parents.
Mr. Philpot has one hundred and eighty acres of land, all but sixty of which is tillable, the sixty acres being five pasture land. The land is highly productive, owing to careful and constant attention and the systematic rota- tion of crops. Besides general farming, he is interested in raising good grade 1 stock and has a number of fine Poland China hogs and Jersey cattle. Mr. Philpot has made all of the improvements on his place himself, and in 1898 he built a fine, modern house on his farm, in which they are now living. He is a man of active aud varied interests, and the confidence of his neighbors in him is evidenced by the fact that he is justice of peace. He has always been careful and kindly in all the cases that have come under his juris- diction. Mr. Philpot is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church. He is one of the men who have done the most to make Jackson township, Fountain county, Indiana, modern, alive and up-to-date, and his influence will be felt through the work that he has accomplished there long after that community is deprived of his personal presence.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.