USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 7
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Sylvester H. Elwell was born in Mill Creek township, Fountain county, Indiana, on October 12, 1849, and is a son of Amariah and Caroline (Sines) Elwell. The father was also a native of the Hoosier state, having been born on January 16, 1822, while the mother, who was a native of Ross county, Ohio, was born on January 6, 1828. Amariah Elwell came to Fountain county in 1831. The subject's grandfather, John Elwell, took up govern- ment land here and carried on farming operations until his death, which oc- curred in 1856. His son, Amariah, followed the same pursuit, in which he met with considerable success, and was numbered among the leading citizens of his section of the county. He died in 1894, his wife having passed away in 1874. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, the subject of this sketch and a sister being residents of Mill Creek township.
Sylvester Elwell received a good, practical education in the common schools of his township and has always devoted his attention to agriculture as his principal life work. Being practical in his methods and indefatigable in his efforts, he has been permitted to realize a satisfactory return for the energy expended and today his home place bears abundant evidence of his industry and excellent management. His home farm comprises one hundred and thirty-six acres of land, of which one hundred and ten are under cultivation. Here he carries on general farming operations, raising also some excellent grade live stock. Mr. Elwell has lived twelve years on his present place, having formerly resided on his father's place for fourteen years. However, Mill Creek township has always counted him among her citizens excepting the period when he was in public official life.
Politically, Mr. Elwell is a Republican and has for many years been a conspicuous figure at caucuses and conventions of his party. During four
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years, from 1880 to 1884, he served as trustee of Mill Creek township, and from 1886 to 1894, a period of eight years, he served as auditor of Fountain county, in which responsible position he gave the same efficient and high- grade service which characterized his performance of the duties of the minor office, retiring from office with the good will and commendation of his fellow citizens. Fraternally, Mr. Elweli belongs to the Masonic order, holding mem- bership in Yeddo Lodge No. 636. He was at one time affiliated with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, but is now dimitted from that order.
In June, 1868, Mr. Elwell was married to Martha Walton, the daughter of David R. and Ruth (Carter) Walton. These parents were early settlers of Parke county, Indiana, they having been natives of Ross county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Elwell have been born four children, namely: Elmer Grant, who is connected with the postoffice department at Washington, D. C .; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Eda is at home; Pearl is the wife of William A. Banta, a liveryman at Crawfordsville, this state.
Mr. Elwell is a plain and unassuming inan, . well endowed with good sense, and his genial manner as well as his sterling qualities of character have won for himself a warm place in the hearts of his fellow citizens.
ANSON G. MADDEN.
Among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Fountain county none stand higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch. He has long been actively engaged in agricultural and stock raising pursuits, and the years he has spent in this county have but served to strengthen the feeling of admiration on the part of his fellow men owing to the honorable life he has led and the worthy example he has set the younger generation. Mr. Madden's reputation as a judge of live stock has transcended the borders of his native state and he is known as one of the leaders in this respect of the middle West, having been honored by a leading position as superintendent of live stock at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, 1904. He also enjoys a wide reputation as an auc- tioneer, having few peers and no superiors in western Indiana. He has made a success of whatever he has turned his attention to, being a man of keen dis- cernment, a close student and straightforward in his relations with the world, and a man of indomitable energy. He believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at all and therein perhaps lies the secret of his success.
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Anson G. Madden, proprietor of Glenwood Stock Farm in Fulton town- ship, Fountain county, was born in Parke county. Indiana, September 23, 1859, and is the son of Samuel C. and Lydia A. (Marks) Madden. The father was born in Clinton county, Ohio. He came to Parke county, Indiana, as early as 1837 and there devoted his life to farming. He was one of the pio- neers there, having built a log cabin and cleared his land, literally hewing out a home from the vast woods that covered the country at that time. He en- dured the hardships and privations bravely and became well established and was 'influential in the early affairs of that county. In 1899 he retired from active life, moving to Kingman, Fountain county, and died a year later, in 1900, his widow surviving to an advanced age, passing away in 1909. They were the parents of two children, Miles M., who lives on the old home place in Parke county, and Anson G., subject of this sketch.
Anson G. Madden was reared to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work during crop seasons, attending the common schools in the winter time. He came to Fountain county in 1896, locating at the town of Kingman, where he engaged in buying and shipping grain and live stock, and from that time to this he has followed auctioneering all over the county, and he has cried sales in ten different states. He is one of the best known, most popular and successful auctioneers in this section of In- diana, in fact, ranks with the best in the entire country. He is also one of America's best judges of horses and he makes most of the states of the Union in starting races. He has also started many county races. He was honored during the St. Louis World's Fair by being appointed superintendent of the horse and cattle department, having been chosen by the committee over eleven hundred other applicants. This is certainly a criterion of his abil- ity and wide popularity as a stock man. He discharged the' duties of this re- sponsible position in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Madden is the owner of a finely improved and valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all tillable, and very admirably located one-half mile south of the village of Cates, Fulton township, this county. He rents part of his place, which is known as the "Glenwood Stock Farm," as stated above. It is well improved and he has an attractive home and large substantial outbuild- ings, everything about the place denoting thrift and good management. Here is carried on general farming and large herds of graded stock are handled. He moved to this farm on March 1, 1912, having spent the five years previous in Covington.
Mr. Madden is a Democrat and is active in party affairs, being a leader
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in a county which is nominally five hundred Republican. He was formerly the efficient county clerk, having been elected to this office in 1906 and serving four years, to the satisfaction of all concerned irrespective of party alignment. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason, holding membership in the Covington chapter; he also belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men and the Order of Owls. He belongs to Masonic Lodge No. 314, at Kingman, the Knights of Pythias, No. 24, at Kingman; also the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 483. at Crawfordsville. He is prominent in fraternal circles.
Mr. Madden was married to Marilda Pithoud, and to this union one son has been born, Cland P., who has built up an excellent business at Danville, Illinois, as auctioneer, and he makes his home there. Mr. Madden was later married to Lydia Lindley, and to this union three sons were born, Fred L., George S. and L. J. The subject's third marriage was to Nellie C. Bowsher, daughter of Sylvester and Marilda (Backus) Bowsher. This union has re- sulted in the birth of one son, Anson Glenwood. Sylvester Bowsher and wife were among the early settlers of this part of the county, and Mr. Bowsher became prominent in local affairs .. He was a stockholder in the bank at Kingman, and was one of the organizers of that institution. Both he and his wife passed away in 1900.
Mr. Madden is a self-made man and has won his way in life unaided. Personally, he is a man of pleasing address, obliging, genial, a good mixer, makes and retains friends without effort, and he is in every way worthy of the high esteem in which he is universally held.
JOHN S. BOORD.
Among the strong and influential citizens of Fountain county whose records have become an essential part of the history of this section the hon- ored gentleman whose name appears above occupies a prominent place and for years has exerted a beneficial influence in various ways. His chief char- acteristics are altruism, keenness of perception, a tireless energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense, which has enabled him not only to advance his own itnerests, but also to largely contribute to the moral and material advancement of the community.
John S. Boord, well known teacher, farmer and minister, and one of the most representative and popular citizens of Fountain county, of which he is a native and where most of his useful and busy life has been spent, was born on
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April 28, 1853, and is the son of Jonathan and Miriam (Dudley) Boord. The father was a native of Ohio, from which state. he came to Fountain county, Indiana, with his father, Elijah Boord, when the former, Jonathan Boord, was eight years of age, and here he grew to manhood under pioneer conditions. Elijalı Boord entered land from the government, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and he established the permanent home of the family in Van Buren township, crected a cabin and began clearing the new land, finally developing a good farm. He and his son, Jonathan, were both brick masons by trade, which they followed in connection with agricultural pursuits. They built nearly all the brick houses in this locality, which substan- tial structures will long remain as monuments to their skill. Here they both spent the rest of their lives, the death of Elijah Boord occurring in 1855 and that of Jonathan Boord in 1888. They were known as energetic, hospitable and public-spirited citizens, men of exemplary character.
Eight children were born to Jonathan Boord and wife, named as follows : Johanna married Russell Warrick; Elijah M. is living in Covington; Ira Allen lives at Stone Bluff, this county; John S., of this review; Nancy, now de- ceased, married Charles Sawyer, of Troy township; Elizabeth married Will- iam Crumley, of Van Buren township; George makes his home in Van Buren township; Joseph J., of this township.
The father of the above named children was a Republican in politics, and he was more or less active in public affairs; he was justice of the peace for many years during the early days and was also postmaster at Merom, Sulli- van county, for some time. He was also active in church work, being a deacon in the Osborn Prairie church for many years, being one of the main pillars of the local congregation. He was a man who delighted in doing good wherever it was needed.
John S. Boord was educated in the common schools of his native county, later completing the course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, at Union Christian College, at Merom, Indiana, having made an excellent record in that institution. He began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed with very gratifying success for a period of twenty years or from 1876 to 1896. His services were in great demand and he was popular with 'I both pupils and patrons, for he was both an educator and an entertainer and kept well abreast of the times. Believing that a larger field of usefulness existed for him in the ministry, he abandoned teaching in 1896 and began preaching, and he is still active. He organized the church at Fountain in 1902. He has always been an active church worker, and he has done much good in this locality along religious lines. As a speaker he is logical, earnest,
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an able expounder of the scriptures and not infrequently truly eloquent. He and wife have always lived on their farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, which is well improved, and on this he and his boys carry on general farming.
Mr. Boord was married in 1883 to Rose Anna Campbell, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Spinning) Campbell. The father was born in Ohio, from which state he came to Richmond, Indiana, in the early days, later coming to Fountain county, where he became well established and well known. Here Mrs. Boord was reared to womanhood and received her educational training.
Four children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Cecil E., born June 29, 1884, received an excellent education, and he is now professor of chemistry in the Ohio State University and makes his home in Columbus. He was educated in the common schools and the high school at Veedersburg, later taking a course at Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1907; lie subsequently did five years' work at Columbus, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy. He was also given the degree of Master of Arts at Columbus. He is a young man of brilliant intellect and for whom the future augurs much of success and honor. Samuel J., the second child born to the subject and wife, first saw the light of day on April 28, 1888; he married Julia Crane, and is farming in Van Buren township, this county ; Wendell P., born June 28, 1890, and Teddy, born January 3, 1897, both live at home.
Mr. Boord formerly voted the Republican ticket, but he is now an advo- cate of the principles of prohibition. He has never been very active in politics and has held no office.
CHARLES C. LUCAS.
Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of Charles C. Lucas, farmer of Mill Creek township, Fountain county, and although he hails from the Blue Grass state, which he still de- lights in, he has not only been interested in the work of advancement of in- dividual affairs, but his influence is felt in upbuilding the community of the Hoosier state, where he has elected to make his permanent home. Mr. Lucas has been a very industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced, more prosperous, more sedate and with a larger number of friends than the preceding; in short, the record of his
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business career might be summed up in the terse expression that he is "above want and below envy."
Mr. Lucas was born in Herrodsburg, Kentucky, March 27, 1861. He is a son of E. P. and Susan (Jones) Lucas, both natives of Kentucky, where they grew to maturity, received their educations and. were married. The father learned the carpenter's trade when a boy and made it his chief life work. He moved to Georgetown, Illinois, in 1876, where he followed farming the rest of his life. His family consisted of the following children: Melvina, wlio married G. W. Moore, of Sidell, Illinois; Charles C., of this review; George W. is a merchant at Waveland, Indiana; James is farming in Oklahoma; Clara married G. T. Baum, a farmer of Indianola, Illinois.
Charles C. Lucas grew to manhood under the parental roof, and he re- ceived his education in the common schools, moving to Illinois with his par- ents in 1876, and for a period of eleven years he engaged successfully in the grocery business at the town of Shelbyville, that state. Then he farmed two years, and in 1904 came to Mill Creek township, Fountain county, Indiana, and here he has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising. . He lias become the owner of a fine farm, well improved and very productive, con- sisting of one hundred and ninety-two acres, all under cultivation with the exception of twelve acres of timber. He has a good home and other desirable buildings about the place.
Mr. Lucas was married on December 23, 1886, to Belle B. Douglas, daughter of Dorman B. Douglas, of Catlin, Illinois, where the Douglas family has long been well known. To this union three children have been born, name- ly : T. G. Lucas is night agent for the Big Four railroad at Crawfordsville, Indiana; Claude C. Lucas and W. A. Lucas are at home with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Lucas is independent, preferring to vote for the man instead of the party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order.
. MARION ABOLT.
Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever since the primal existence of labor and has been the pivotal industry that has controlled, for the most part, all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy have been devoted. Among this sturdy element in Fountain county, Indiana, whose labors have profited alike themselves and the com- munity in which they have lived, is the gentleman whose name heads this
Marion abolt Martha J. afull
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sketch, who has for many years been one of the substantial and best known farmers of this section of the state. An enumeration of the representative men of this vicinity would be incomplete without specific mention of this popular, influential and respected citizen. A member of one of the old and highly esteemed families of the county, he has stamped the impress of his individuality upon the community, standing ever for progress and advance- ment along all lines that would benefit the people at large.
Marion Abolt is a native son of Fountain county, having been born in Richland township on the 24th of December, 1854. He is the son of John and Mary (Furr) Abolt. John Abolt was born in Ohio in 1816, and in 1825 he came with his parents to Richland township, Fountain county, being num- bered among the earliest settlers of this section of the state. The subject's paternal grandfather was Jacob Abolt, who lived to the age of ninety-nine years, having been during his active years a successful miller and influential citizen. Jolin Abolt was a farmer by vocation, which he followed during all his active years. He died in 1905, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1898. They were the parents of three children, namely : Samuel, who lives in Warren county, this state; Alice, who became the wife of Samuel Rice, and Marion, the immediate subject of this sketch. The mother of these children was a Baptist in religious belief and Mr. Abolt's political faith was in the Democratic party, in the success of which he was deeply interested, though he was not in any sense a seeker after public office. He was a man of splendid personal character, holding an enviable position in the community because of his sterling worth.
Marion Abolt received his education in the common schools of his home neighborhood, attending also one winter term in the schools at Newtown. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has always devoted himself to that vocation, in which he has met with a very gratifying degree of success. He is the owner of five hundred and twenty-three acres of splendid land, of which four hundred and fifteen acres lie in Richland township and one hundred and eight in Troy township, and of his land, four hundred and fifty acres is in cultivable condition, the entire estate being numbered among the best farms of the county. Mr. Abolt is progressive and up-to-date in his methods, being at all times ready to adopt new ways of doing things when the practicability and wisdom of the new way has been demonstrated. . He has carried on a general system of farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country and giving due attention to the rotation of crops so that the fertility of the soil will be perpetuated. He sows from one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty acres to clover every year and it is seldom that he has a poor
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crop year. Mr. Abolt also gives considerable attention to the raising of good graded stock, principally hogs and cattle, of which he has sold large numbers to shippers every year, but during the present year he will ship his own stock direct to market. He has been very successful in all his operations and be- cause of his business qualifications and his persistent efforts along legitimate lines he has accumulated a handsome competency.
On November 17, 1887, Mr. Abolt was united in marriage with Martha J. Miller, the daughter of James and Keziah (Solomon) Miller. Her father. who was a successful farmer in Troy township, was a native of Fountain county, born in 1834, and his death occurred on the home farm on September II, 1895. He was the father of ten children, of whom six survive. Mr. Mil- ler was a Spiritualist in religious belief, while in politics 1. supported the Republican and Greenback parties. Mrs. Miller died on October 1, 1887.
Mr. and Mrs. Abolt became the parents of four children, namely : Naomi A., who is the wife of Jasper Bales, who is engaged in farming on the sub- ject's place; Amy died at the age of three years; Borden and Oveta are stu- dents in the graded schools at Newtown.
Politically, Mr. Abolt is aligned with the Democratic party, in the sup- port of which he is zealous, but is not a seeker after public office. Religiously. he is a Baptist, belonging to the church of that faith at Newtown and contrib- uting liberally to its support. His influence is ever given to those phases of public activity which tend to promote the best interests of all the people and he is rightfully numbered among the representative men of his community, where his life has been characterized by an integrity of the highest type.
G. L. CORY.
The Cory family is one of the oldest and best known in Fountain county, Indiana, and G. L. Cory, of Kingman, Indiana, promises well to uphold the family reputation of public spirit and progress and to make a mark for him- self in this world. He has already made his presence distinctly felt in his community.
His father, J. M. Cory, was born in 1847 in Fountain county, Indiana, where he lived his early life, and married Serene E. Misner. In 1879 he pur- chased a drug store in Harveysburg, Indiana. He ran this store for nine years, then moved the store to Kingman, Indiana, where he continued until January 1, 1912, when he turned it over to his son, G. L. Cory, who had pre-
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pared himself for the charge by a term in Purdue University, studying phar- macy, as well as through his actual experience. J. M. Cory has five children, Katie, C. E., G. L., M. L. and Wayne Cory, the latter of whom is in the drug store with his brother.
G. L. Cory was born in Mill Creek township, Fountain county, Indiana, February 23. 1882, and there received his early education. In 1902 he married Crete Copeland, daughter of Oliver and Anna (DeBaun) Copeland. Oliver Copeland is an extensive buyer of horses, and one of the best judges of horses in the county.
G. L. Cory and his wife did not desert the land of their fathers, but have lived at Kingman with their two children, Gerald, who is eight years old, and Frances, who is two.
Although his hair is not white, his business associates and fellow citizens seem to have a very good opinion of G. L. Cory's head, and he has already served as city treasurer and clerk at Kingman, and is one of the foremost citi- zens. The office of city treasurer is now held by his brother. Mr. Cory's prom- inence in his own community has not narrowed his interests, and he is iden- tified with orders and lodges in several parts of Indiana. He is an Elk, with his membership at Crawfordsville, Indiana, and is a member of the Masonic lodges in Kingman. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. He is young, full of enthusiasm and energy, and his wider interests are enabling him to do a great deal of good in his community. His name is prominent in all activities that lead to the increased good of his native town and county. Mr. Cory is a young - man who has already "done things."
WILLIAM FURR.
No higher compliment can be paid to a man than to say that when he started in life he had nothing, and that he owes all his present prosperity en- tirely to his own efforts. This can be said of William Furr, one of the well known and prosperous residents of Mill Creek township, who by his own energy and perseverance accumulated a large amount of farming land, be- came one of the best farmers of his locality, and has always stood well in the opinions of his neighbors and acquaintances.
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