USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 67
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William Bartholomew joined the Methodist Episcopal church in the winter of 1851 and was ever afterward a faithful member of this society, serving as trustee and steward for many years. In politics he was an ardent Republican. He spent his whole life in the development of his farm, and at one time was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. His
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death occurred on July 28, 1897, and his wife passed away on February 20, 1896, both being buried in the cemetery at Stockwell.
John C. Bartholomew was reared in this township and, as before stated, has lived here all his life. He attended the common schools in his early boyhood, and in the sixties attended Stockwell Collegiate Institute, obtain- ing a fair education. The farm which he now owns consists of one hundred and seventy-five acres. The original eighty acres first bought by his father after his arrival here was divided between the subject and Aldred, his brother, the subject's home being located on his share of this tract, and the same has been maintained at the highest standard of excellence, being considered one of the best farms in this section of the township. Mr. Bartholomew is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of his township and has an enviable reputation as a man of sterling worth.
On the 22d of December, 1870, the subject married Lula E. Brown, who was born near Fry's Hill, Kentucky, the daughter of Milton and Eliza (Willhoit) Brown. Her parents spent their last years in Stockwell. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were held in high esteem by those who knew them. Both are now deceased. To the subject and his wife were born the following children: Ferris Milton. of this township, married Jessie Mabel Claypool and they have three children, Lula Olive, Jessie Margaret and Dorothy Helen; William Carrol married Grace Arnold and they reside in Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee and she a member of the board of stewards. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
PROF. E. A. TOWER.
Prof. E. A. Tower, present head of the Battle Ground schools, is es- sentially a school man. From the time he completed his common school education he has devoted his time to teaching. Later, realizing the need of a broader training, he entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute, where he made a good record. As the head of the Battle Ground schools he has proved that he is capable of effective work. He took charge of the schools when but a three-years course was offered; now the school has four years' work, and is on the list of accredited schools in the state. It will be ready for a commission in 1909.
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Mr. Tower is a native of Crawford county, Indiana, where he was born May 25, 1862. He is the son of Ambrose and Mary J. (Totten) Tower. The grandfather, Cotton Tower, was a native of the state of New York. In early life he went to Kentucky, and later came to Indiana, settling in Craw- ford county, where he farmed. Ambrose Tower, father of the subject, was born while Cotton Tower lived in Kentucky. He came to Indiana with his parents and worked on his father's farm. He had a liking for the teacher's profession and acquired an education sufficient to fit him to teach in the public schools of Crawford county.
Prof. E. A. Tower was reared on the home farm in Crawford county. He worked industriously on the farm in the summer time, and in the winter attended the public schools at Leavenworth, Indiana. He showed unusual ability in his studies in common schools, and as soon as he had graduated he began teaching. After teaching two or three terms he decided to further equip himself for his profession, and he entered the State Normal in 1884. He took work every other year until 1892, when he was graduated. He worked in the summer time and taught in the winter, and thus earned enough in the alternate years to pay his expenses while in college. Upon his gradu- ation from this institution he was elected principal of the Prairie Creek high school, a position which he held three years. He then acted as principal of the Montmorenci high school for three years more, filling the position with credit. It was in 1901 that he was elected superintendent of the Battle Ground schools. His best work has been done at Battle Ground. He is a lover of his profession, and teaches English and history.
Mrs. Tower is a cultured woman, who is in sympathy with the work her husband is so successfully carrying forward. She has been a teacher and has studied at the State Normal, and also at Purdue University. Her maiden name was Carrie Van Natta, and she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Van Natta, having been born in Tippecanoe county, December 15, 1862.
Besides being interested in the profession of a teacher, Mr. Tower is a devotee of farm life. He owns two hundred acres in sections 7 and 8, ranges 24 north and 3 west, and to these broad acres he gives his personal attention. He loves livestock, and takes a great interest in studying the latest methods of tilling the soil.
Mr. and Mrs. Tower are prominent members of the Battle Ground Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Tower is a trustee of the congregation. For the past nine years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school.
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ORA E. THROCKMORTON, M. D.
Success was not thrust upon Doctor Throckmorton-a fact that may be true with some men-but he was compelled to work hard for it, having started in life under no favorable environment. He was, however, endowed by nature with indomitable courage and indefatigable zeal, consequently he has forged to the front in one of the most exacting of professions, occupy- ing today a dignified position among his fellowmen.
Dr. O. E. Throckmorton was born in Johnson county, Indiana, June 28, 1867, the son of J. H. and Sarah (Taylor) Throckmorton. The Throck- morton family was conspicuous in this section of the Hoosier state in its earliest epoch. Samuel Throckmorton, grandfather of the Doctor, was born in New Jersey, and he was but six years old when brought by his parents to Franklin county, Indiana. His son, J. H., father of the Doctor, was born in Jolinson county, where he was later married. He still resides there, being regarded as a man of integrity and industry. His wife was Sarah Taylor, to whom he was married April 6, 1862. She passed to her rest on April 6, 1909. To them the following children were born: Carrie, who died in infancy; Sarah, wife of C. A. Vandivire, of Johnson county; and Doctor O. E., of this review.
Doctor Throckmorton was reared on the home farm, which he worked during the summer months, building up a splendid physique which has stood him well in hand for his subsequent career. Being ambitious to learn, he attended the neighboring schools during the winter months and gained a good education, having passed through the common schools at a very early age. He then took up farming, but, believing that his true calling was in another direction, he saved what money he could from his farm work in order to de- fray the expense of a higher education, so he entered Miami School of Medi- cine, where he remained one year, when his means were exhausted; then he returned to the farm to begin saving money for another year's work in school. At that time he was joined in marriage with Effie Palmer, in the year 1893. Mrs. Throckmorton was educated in the common schools of Johnson county, the home of her childhood, and where her family were long well established among the leading citizens. She was always a woman of great determination and courage and no little of the success achieved by the Doctor has been due to her encouragement and judicious counsel, for she gave him every assistance in securing his medical training. After getting together sufficient means, Doctor Throckmorton entered the Central College
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of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he made a very commendable record and from which institution he was graduated in 1897. He located at Ken- nard. Henry county, and had a good patronage during his stay there of two years. He then went to Battle Ground, where he is now located and where he finds himself a very busy man attending to his numerous patients through- out this portion of the county. He has a good home and thirty-six acres of land in Tippecanoe township. His residence in Battle Ground is one of the most attractive and beautifully located in this part of the county, and it is known as a place of hospitality and refinement.
To the Doctor and wife one winsome daughter has been born, Esther F., whose date of birth occurred in November, 1894. She graduated from the Battle Ground schools in 1909, having made a good record for studious- ness and deportment.
Doctor Throckmorton has long taken an interest in fraternal work, be- ing a member of Battle Ground Lodge, No. 313, Free and Accepted Masons ; also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 659, at Battle Ground ; and Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 273, Knights of Pythias. In the Odd Fellow's lodge he is past noble grand, and served two terms as deputy grand master. He is also a member of Tecumseh Encampment, No. 292. He is a Re- publican in politics and is a member of the pension board in Tippecanoe county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Throckmorton enjoy the friendship of a wide acquaintance in this county.
MILTON BUCK.
Of those who have seen the wonderful development of Tippecanoe coun- ty from the swamps and primeval forests and who have played well their part in the great undertaking, none deserve special mention in a historical work better than Milton Buck, whose conversation is at once instructive and interesting as he recalls the pioneer days, the times when there were only log school houses, with puncheon floors and greased paper for window panes, the long miles of endless woods, large numbers of deer and other wild animals which haunted the forests at that remote period, and of the days when civilization first attempted to reclaim these lands, turning them into fine farms, where plenty and happiness now abound. He was born near the picturesque spot where Indian creek empties its waters into the turbid Wa- bash river, in Shelby township, Tippecanoe county, November 28, 1837. He was the son of M. and Mary (Beauchamp) Buck, typical old-type pioneers,
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fearless and noble. David Buck, grandfather of Milton, was a native of Virginia, who emigrated to the Buckeye state early in life and there married, and there it was that the father of Milton Buck was born and when he reached man's estate married Mary Beauchamp. They emigrated from their native state to Indiana, settling in Tippecanoe county as early as the twenties. They were frugal and soon had a home in the midst of the forest, becoming pros- perous in time, owning several fine farms, amounting in all to nearly eight hundred acres. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom grew to maturity, as follows: John. Aaron, Washington. Milton. Amazire, David A., Alexander and Newton. Four are living at this writing, David A .. Alexander, George Washington and Milton.
Having been reared on the farm. Milton Buck took quite naturally to this line of work. Early in boyhood he learned to swing the ax, helping to clear, improve and cultivate his father's farm in Shelby township. He had little opportunity to attend school, but got what education he could from the old log school house. When eighteen years of age he went to live with an older brother. John, on whose farm he worked until his brother's death, two years later. He had accumulated some money and decided to invest in a farm. Since then his progress has been steady and he is now the owner of nearly four hundred acres of land besides his property in Battle Ground. His farm is highly improved and very productive, showing that a man of excellent judgment has had its management in hand. He keeps some good stock and has a comfortable and commodious home, surrounded by excellent outbuildings. He is a cattle raiser besides a general farmer, having made the major portion of his competency in that way. He frequently buys and ships stock to market.
In February. 1862, Mr. Buck married Hester A. Foster, daughter of Jeremiah B. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Foster, prosperous farmers of War- ren county, this state. Mrs. Buck was born in that county in December, 1841, and reared on a farm, receiving her education in the district schools. She has been faithful in all life's walks and is a woman of gracious person- ality. To this marriage twelve children were born. eight of whom grew to mtaurity and six of whom are living at this writing, namely: Anna, wife of William Bratz, living in Texas; J. B., who married Alice Hawkins, is a prominent farmer of Tippecanoe county ; Dr. George H .. a practicing physi- cian in Burrough. Carroll county, who married Helen Justice : E. O. married Ella Franklin and is now living in Warren county, this state; Charles L., who married Edna Lemon, is now farming: Daisy is still a member of the family circle.
f .T. Sterrett
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Mr. and Mrs. Buck have long been prominent in the affairs of the Meth- odist church, holding membership in their old home church in Warren coun- ty. Politically, Mrs. Buck has been a supporter of the principles laid down by the Democratic party since his mature years. He and his good wife are widely known for their hospitality, no worthy person ever having left their door unfed, and their high standing among the people of Tippecanoe county shows well how their lives have been spent, for they are appreciated for their wholesome lives in every respect, to society, to the church and to the state. Milton Buck is a man who never used an oath in all his life.
JOSEPH C. STERRETT.
Samuel Sterrett, grandfather of the gentleman whose life record we here take under review, was born in Ireland, and while still an energetic lad, after studying conditions at home and listening to the fascinating stories of free America, conceived the idea of coming here, with the result that while yet a single man he got together enough money to pay his passage across the Atlantic, and thus established the Sterrett family in the New World, descendants of which have played well their parts in various walks of life. He married here, his first wife being a Miss Porter, and after their marriage, which occurred in the East, they migrated west, settling in Wayne county, Indiana, where the wife died, and where Samuel Sterrett married his second wife, known in her maidenhood as Mary Russell. By the first wife five children, four daughters and one son, were born, but there were no children by the second wife. One son, Alexander, father of the gentleman whose name heads this review, and his brother Joseph came to Laporte coun- ty, Indiana, in 1830, where Alexander died. He had married Tersey Mc- Clain, and to them was born Joseph C. Sterrett, of this review, March 20, 1841, who, when his father died, went to live with his grandparents, who had then moved to Tippecanoe county from Wayne county, Joseph C. re- maining with them until he was ten years of age when Samuel Sterrett, his grandfather, died; then a bachelor uncle took him, on whose farm he worked and attended the neighboring schools, receiving a somewhat limited, but serviceable education.
When the great war between the states began, Joseph C. Sterrett sym- pathized with the Union cause, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company F, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the
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close of the war in a manner that stamped him as a true American soldier. He was in the Army of the West under General Sherman, and took part in the Atlanta campaign, having been at the fall of that stronghold; he was with this army when it went to Rome, Georgia, and was also on the famous march to the sea, seeing the fall of Savannah. He was never wounded, but had some narrow escapes. He is now remembered by his government with a substantial pension.
Owing to the fact that the military chapter in the life of Mr. Sterrett is one of the most important as well as interesting, it is deemed advisable here to subjoin a complete history of the company in which he served. Com- pany F. Ninety-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was mustered for three years' service, from August 17 to 22, 1862, in Tippecanoe county, those composing the company being from the following towns or vicinity : Brookston, Battle Ground, Lafayette, Monticello, Crown Point, Winamac, Pittsburg, Transitville, Westville and one from Indianapolis, by far the largest number being from Brookston. The official report of Adjutant- General Terrill shows that Joseph C. Sterrett enlisted at Battle Ground on August 22, 1862, and for gallant service was promoted to cor- poral and was mustered out with the company on June 5, 1865. He saw some hard service in many trying campaigns and battles, serving with his company in western Tennessee in 1862 and 1863, against Vicksburg in 1863. in the relief of Chattanooga in 1863. in the pursuit of Bragg in 1863. in East Tennessee in 1863 and 1864. Of this company the following died while in the service: John P. Russell, Thomas H. Calvin, Alexander Herron, Adam Kions, Ephriam Lontan, Archibald McLean, William Shaw and Hallett Barber. Nathaniel Matthews and Lemuel E. Newell were drowned near Helena, Arkansas, and notwithstanding the many engagements in which the company participated only two were killed; they were John W. Hughes, at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864, and Andrew J. Herring- ton at Chattanooga, Tennessee, January 5, 1865.
Following is the complete roster of this company: William Kent, first sergeant, was promoted to second lieutenant ; sergeants-John F. Ramey, promoted to first lieutenant ; John C. Klepinger, John S. Davenport, Thomas J. Thompson ; corporals-Patrick Sullivan, Maly T. Ramey, William Best, John W. McClure, William Beeker, John D. Myers; musicians-John P. Russell and William Lockwood; wagoner-Lemuel Burson ; privates- Joseph K. Austin, Jesse Ault, John Bunnell, John J. Barnes, Arthur J. Brack- ney. David Buckman, Levi C. Bryant, John S. Critchfield, Levi P. Cunning- ham, Waywood Cottenham, Robert G. Collins, Thomas H. Calvin, Hiram
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B. Clegg, George W. Dyer, William G. Downs, Jacob H. Downs, Clark S. Davenport, Job Eldridge, Francis M. Fierce, Stephen B. Gould, Mark Geater, Adolphus German, John W. Hughes, Louis House, Alexander Herron, Sam- uel Irwin, Frederick Jennings, John W. Jeanes, John Kenney, Adam Kions, David C. Little, Ephriam Loman, John S. Little, Archibald McLean, Nathaniel Matthews, George P. Metz, Michael Miller, Thomas McCartha, William Myers, William Maxson, Lemuel E. Newell, William M. Nelson, William Overhaults, James M. Pengry, David Platt, William Rarden, John W. Rush, Ebenezer Riley, William Rush, George W. Smith, Isaac Smith, William F. Smith, Edward W. Spears, Christian Summerstate, John Sayers, George A. Stewart, Joseph C. Sterrett, William Shaw, Moses F. Shaw, Wil- liam T. Simms, Greenberry Smith, John Sherman, Richard Striker, George A. Stevenson, Francis Trainer, Nicholas Vincent, Henry V. Walker, Wesley Walden; recruits-Samuel Arnold, Hallett Barber, Henry Goldsberry, An- drew J. Herrington, James K. Lee and Nelson G. Smith.
At the close of the war Mr. Sterrett returned to Tippecanoe county and began farming, which he has since continued in a most successful man- ner, having developed an excellent farm which has yielded an excellent in- come from year to year, his farm of four hundred and twenty-eight acres . in Tippecanoe township being one of the model farms of this highly favored section of the Hoosier state. He lias a modern, commodious and nicely fur- nished dwelling, large substantial barns and outbuildings, and general farm- ing and stock raising is carried on extensively, showing that Mr. Sterrett is a man of sound judgment, and up-to-date business principles are employed in all his affairs. He is deserving of much credit for what he has accom- plished when we consider that he first started farming on a small interest in sixty acres, then bought forty-six acres adjoining, then forty acres, then thirty-nine acres, then eighty-eight acres, then two hundred acres. The rest of this fine farm he has made unaided. His land is conservatively worth one hundred dollars per acre. No small part of his competence has been secured by raising hogs and cattle.
Mr. Sterrett's happy domestic life began April 15, 1866, when he chose as a life partner Orlena Beeker, a descendant of John Beeker, who came to Tippecanoe township, this county, as early as 1827, and, like many pioneers of that time, succeeded in getting a good start in the then new common- wealth of Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Sterrett eight children have been born, namely : Clinton, Dosia, Cora, Sumner, Osa and Oda (twins), Carl and Macy. These children have been given good educations and are fairly well started in the battle of life.
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In his fraternal relations, Mr. Sterrett is a member of Battle Ground Lodge, No. 313, Free and Accepted Masons, being past master of the same. He is religiously inclined and is a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Battle Ground, Indiana. Although a Democrat all his life, he has not sought public office, merely preferring to attend to his private affairs and to cast his vote for the men he believes to be best fitted to serve the people, consequently he is independent in local politics. Any movement having for its object the betterment of his township and county in any form has in Mr. Sterrett a loyal supporter and advocate.
THE FOWLER FAMILY.
Moses Fowler, the head of the family of which this memoir treats, was unlike the man who slips noiselessly through life, touching here and there only the lesser interests of the community, and after a quiet, unobserved career, steps from the scenes of his activity, to be missed by only his imme- diate family. In the case of Mr. Fowler, his intense nature caused his influ- ence to be felt along almost every avenue of enterprise and legitimate indus- try within the extensive scope in which he was a masterly operator for a long period of time, thus connecting himself with men of achievement who "do things" for their day and generation, and whose memory is long cherished for the lasting results which their minds and hands have worthily wrought.
Mr. Fowler was the son of Samuel and Mary ( Rogers) Fowler, who were descendants of the old Revolutionary stock, and were both reared in Virginia, inheriting the patriotic pride of the Old Dominion common- wealth. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary struggle, and both parents removed to Ohio before the birth of their son. Moses, the chief sub- ject of this biographical memoir, was born near Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, April 30, 1815, and remained on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, assisting his father summers and attending school during the winter months. He next went to Circleville to learn the trade of a tanner, under the direction of James Bell, who owned an extensive tannery at that point. After serving two years, Mr. Bell was so impressed with the young man's ability and business foresight that he wanted him as a partner in the busi- ness, but this offer young Fowler respectfully declined, preferring a clerkship which was tendered him in a dry goods store belonging to an excellent busi- ness man at Adelphi, Ross county. There he remained about three years, mastering the business and saving his earnings. The spring of 1839 marked
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a new era in the life of Mr. Fowler, who was then twenty-four years of age, in the prime of his young manhood and entering the doorway of an eventful life. At that date he, in company with John Purdue (founder of Purdue University in later years), removed to Lafayette, Indiana. where they established a store of their own. The only capital Mr. Fowler then pos- sessed (and a part of that was borrowed) was seven hundred dollars. Dur. ing the five years following the foundations of the future fortunes of both these young men were laid. At the termination of this partnership, Mr. Fowler embarked in a similar business on his own account, in his own room, on what is now the corner of Main and Second streets, Lafayette. So great was his success that at the end of a half dozen years he was able to close out his store and become an equal partner with William F. Reynolds and Robert Stockwell, under the firm name of Reynolds, Fowler & Stockwell, in the wholesale grocery business, which at that date required no little capital. Mr. Fowler managed the business largely, and purchased the great bulk of the goods. For seven years this firm conducted the leading whole- sale grocery house in Indiana. Although Lafayette was then but a small village, it was the terminus of the Wabash & Erie Canal, as well as at the head of navigation on the Wabash river. They had a trade extending over a radius of more than one hundred miles. So prodigious was their trade that they frequently chartered a whole fleet of steamboats to transport their southern supplies, including sugars, syrups, molasses, coffee, rice, etc., from New Orleans. The Wabash river then allowed steamboats of the largest magnitude to ply its waters as high up as Lafayette. Many times from six to eight of these boats might have been seen unloading at the Lafayette wharf. With large sales and good profits, Mr. Fowler, at the end of a few years, had accumulated a handsome competency and retired from this line of business. However, he had not ended his career as a business factor in Indiana, for he had really but laid his foundation deep and strong for his future operations.
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