USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Parke County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 13
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Stow S. Detchon, was a blacksmith by trade, and an honest, industrious, hard-working man, of courage and ability. He put many a sturdy stroke of work into the vessels commanded by Commodore Perry when he defeated the English upon Lake Erie. The Hoadleys were a long-lived people, and Grandfather Hoadley was one hundred and seven years of age when he passed away. His good old wife lived to be ninety-one. For fully seventy years this venerable couple had shared the joys and sorrows of each other's lives, and in death they were not long divided. A great-unele of our subject was a noted character in the early days of New England. He invented the Hoadley Clocks, which were famous in their time and may still be found as precions heirlooms in various parts of the country.
Dr. Detehon received a good common-school education in Ohio, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. Our subjeet was ambi- tious to achieve a position in life, and knowing he must carve out his own fame and fortune, deter- mined, as a stepping-stone upward, to qualify himself for a profession. He first completed a course in dentistry, and afterward went to Roek- ville, Parke County, Ind. There, having decided to become a physician, he taught school and studied medicine, and thus, self-reliant and self- supporting, he prepared lumself to enter the college in which he received his education.
Thirty-six years of wearing professional work were now the Doctor's portion. Through storm and sunshine, by day or night, exposed to most inelement weather and various contagious diseases, our subject unfalteringly went his round among the siek and dying, and when he finally resigned his practice, it was a matter of regret to the en- tire community to which he had devoted the ef- forts of his life.
Dr. Detehon was married in 1857 to Miss Mary McComas, who survived but five years, dying in 1862. The young physician again entered into mat- rimonial bonds, this time withi Miss Jemima Thomas. This second marriage was blessed by the birth of a son, John F., who is now a student at the college in Crawfordsville. Our subject has greatly aided in the development of the town, to which he eame
when it was but a small village. He witnessed the burning of the town, its ashes and desolation, and was one of the most important factors in its re- building. Dr. Detehon has laid out seven additions to the town, and every lot in the sub-divisions but one has now been sold, so great has been the de- mand for the property.
Our subjeet is not a member of any church, but he is liberal in their support, and has a deep respect for all honest workers in the religions field. Politically, he is a Democrat, and believes the platform of the party safe and sound. It is nearly five years since Dr. Detehon gave his professional duties their final round, but he still fraternally associates with the active members of the medical world and attends their various socie- ties. As a general agricultorist and stock-raiser, Dr. Detchon's success has been long assured, his farm being under fine cultivation, and his live-stock some of the best in the State.
C
LFRED JOHNSON, a representative pio- neer and much respected citizen of Montgomery County, well known in early days as a successful tiller of the soil, is one more added to the list of the honored dead who were closely identified with the farming in- terests of the State, and who were each and all important factors in the march of improvement and general progress in Indiana. Our subject was largely a self-made man. Very early in life he assumed the eares of a home and family, and ever was faithful to the solemn obligations he then entered into. Upright and conscientious in life, he died, as he had lived, a true and earnest Chris- tian gentleman, and was sincerely mourned by the old friends and neighbors of early years, and all who knew him lamented his death.
In the middle of the eighteenth century, the great-grandfather of our subjeet was recorded as a Hollander, because he spoke the language of the Dutchland well. llis son, the grandfather of
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Alfred Johnson, was named William, and was a trustworthy man, of more than ordinary ability. During the Revolutionary War, William Johnson served in the commissary department, and was well known as an ardent patriot. His son Henry was born in 1778, and spent the early portion of his life within his native State, Virginia. Arrived at mature years, he engaged in business as a live- stock dealer, and drove hogs across the mountains from Kentucky to Virginia.
The lady who became his wife was Miss Clara Day, who was also a native of Virginia, and was born in the year 1781. Henry and Clara (Day) Johnson were the parents of a large family; the. brothers and sisters were Osa D., the wife of Joseph P. Hultz; Lucretia, who married Thomas Arm- strong, and came to Montgomery County in 1830; Alfred, our subject, who was the eldest son; Char ity, who became the wife of Bryant Day; Will- iam; Presley D., who still survives; and John, lo- cated in Iowa. Alfred Johnson, our subject, was born in Mason County, Ky., about 1810. He re- mained in his native place until he had attained early manhood, and was there married to Miss Margaret Dollis, a native of New Jersey.
In 1831. with his father, brothers, sisters and wife, Alfred Johnson came to Montgomery County, Ind., which they made their permanent home. The father lived to a good old age, and passed peacefully away, respected and beloved. Our subject and his wife were happy in their new home, where soon a family clustered around their hearth. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reared a family of six children. Henry was the eldest-born; Mary, now deceased, was the wife of George Grott; George is now a resident of Pawnee; Emily is the wife of D. B. Harrison; Pamelia married W. R. Dawson, of Putnam County. Margaret, the wife of Alfred Johnson, departed this life December 22, 1892.
William was born in 1845, grew up in the county, and attended the seminary at Ladoga. He well improved his educational advantages, and thus fitted himself for the discharge of the various business duties which have occupied his time. He began buying and shipping stock in 1870, and prospered in this venture, averaging shipments of !
two cars per week. Mr. Johnson now buys and ships both grain and stock, and ships, manufac- tured lumber. Hle has attained a prominent posi- tion as a leading business man, and is a progress- ive citizen, active in public affairs, and has been one of the workers in advancing the various in- terests of Pawnee. He owns a general merchan- dise store in the place, conducts the postoffice, and is also the proprietor of a profitable sawmill.
In 1873, William Johnson and Miss Mary A. Webb became man and wife. Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Robert Webb, of Hamilton County, and was a great favorite in her early home, and has a wide circle of friends in the town and county where she now resides. This estim- able lady is the mother of two children, Grace and George H., twins. The parents were bereaved by the death of their son Robert A., a boy of more than ordinary ability, and one whose sterling traits of character gave promise of a brilliant and successful career in life. George H. has been an operator in the service of the Western Telegraph Company, and is a bright young man.
Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and is always in- terested in the management of local and national affairs, but, generally speaking, is not a politician. Our subject was a member of the Disciples Church, and others of his family worshipped in the same house of prayer, but a portion of the family are Baptists.
ILSON HUNT, a successful farmer of Madi- son Township, and for about half a cen- tury a resident of Montgomery County, Ind., is personally interested in various inven- tions, and has devoted much time to securing valuable patents. He is a native of Butler County. Ohio, from which State and county many of the early settlers of Indiana emigrated. Our subject was one in a large family of ten children, seven daughters and three sons, all of whom grew to ma- ture years, and, marrying, gave many descendants
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1
to the family name. The brothers and sisters in the order of their birth are: Aaron, who was born in 1810, and is now a resident of Watertown, Dak .; William, deceased, whose natal year was 1821, and who died in Montgomery County, leav- ing a family of five children; Abigail, born in 1823, who is the wife of Andrew Messmore, of Fountain; Martha, born in 1825. who was married to Benjamin Tappin, now dead; Wilson, our subject, who was born in 1827; Catherine, born in 1830, and now the wife of John Brown, of Potomac, Ill .; Mary J., born in 1832, and married to Levi B. Rose, of Wabash, Ind .; Margaret, born in 1835, the wife of Daniel McIntyre, of Crawfordsville; Maria, born in 1839, and married to Thomas Steele, of Mont- gomery County; and Clarissa, born in 1843, who became the wife of Thomas Rose, and died, leav- ing one child.
Ilunt is a famous name in Enghsh history; dis- tinguished orators, authors, soldiers and noted politicians bore the name in " Merrie England," and there added lustre to its record. The branch of the family to which our subject belongs is of undoubted English ancestry, but the father and mother of Wilson HIunt are natives of America. The father was born in New Jersey in 1786, and came with his parents, Aaron and Mary (Seaman) Ilunt, to the West in 1802. Mr. Ilunt's mother was born in 1797; she was the daughter of William and Catherine (Schnuff) Coffing, both by birth Pennsylvania-Dutch.
In the carly part of the present century Charles HIunt and Mary Cotling were united in marriage. They made their home for many years in Butler County, Ohio; but in 1838, when their son Wil- son was but eleven years of age, they removed their household effects and children to the neigh- boring State of Indiana. Their location in Union County was a pleasant one, and there they re- mained until 1853. During these fifteen years the children had been attending the distriet school, assisting in the varied in-and-out-door work, and rapidly maturing in age and experience, and when in 1853 the parents settled in Montgomery County, their sons and daughters were nearly all of adult age and well fitted to fight life's battles for them- selves. Father and Mother Hunt lived to enjoy
their new home and make many warm friends there, who with the old neighbors and acquaint- ance of former years sincerely mourned their loss, when Death called them away from home and family.
In 1854 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Husted, daughter of John and Abbie (Dubois) Husted. John Husted, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wilson Ilunt, was born in Sweden; his wife, Nancy Husted, was a native of Ireland; the parents of Mrs. Hunt, however, were of American birth, both being natives of New Jer- sey, where they were reared, educated and married. Her father was born in 1795, and when only seven- teen years of age served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Hle married early in life, and settled in the southern part of Union County, Ind., where he resided until 1890, when at the extreme old age of ninety-five years he passed away, rich in the experience of a wonderful and progressive cen- tury.
This old veteran and his wife, Abbie, were the parents of twelve children, who, with one excep- tion, lived to mature years. Eleazer, the eldest- born, is dead; Naney is dead; Phoebe died and left five children; David, who left a family of seven children, is dead; John is dead, and left five chil- dren; Josiah is now a resident of Indiana, and has five children; Sarah A. is deceased; Henry, of Lib- erty, Ind., is a prominent and leading citizen, and the father of four children; Daniel, of Union County, also has four children; Mary E. is the wife of our subject; Katie died and left three chil- dren; and Caroline, the youngest, is now the wife of W. Paddock.
Our subject owns three hundred and sixty-eight acres of excellent land, all of which is in the county, one hundred and sixty being in the home farm, which Mr. Hunt has brought into a high state of cultivation. Our subject has been a life- long agriculturist, and thoroughly understands the tilling of the soil. Ile is always a kind friend and pleasant neighbor, ever ready to extend a helping hand to those who need it. Affable and courteous to all, he has many true friends. Politically, Mr. IIunt is a Republican, but he is liberal in senti- ment and candid in judgment. Our subject and
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his estimable wife have been the parents of six children, five of whom are living. The children are S. J. Cebery, William, Charles, Nora and Bruce. Henry is deceased.
E DWARD S. BRUBECK, one of the active and wide-a-wake young business men of Parke County, is a resident of Rockville, and is proprietor of "The Elephant," which is the largest clothing and furnishing-goods store in the place. This concern does a business of about 830,000 to $40,000 annually, and during the busy season our subject employs regularly four or more clerks. Ile also has a cashier, and nses the Stand- ard Cash Carrier system in his store.
Mr. Brubeck was born in the southern part of Indiana, in Harrison County, May 2, 1860. His father, Philip Brubeck, was a prominent farmer and early settler of the county, to which he came from Angusta County, Va., about the year 1843. Ile then purchased the land on which he still re- sides. He had a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the fifth in order of birth. His edu- cational privileges were principally those of the public schools, though he attended the school at Hartsville, Ind., and afterward went to the Val- paraiso Commercial College, from which he was graduated in March, 1881. After completing his studies, he began clerking in a clothing store at New Albany, Ind., and then went into business for himself at Browns, Edwards County, Ill., being engaged in general merchandising for about two and one-half years. It was in July, 1887, that he came to Rockville and bought out the firm of A. Mossler & Son, who ran a large store in this place, and here he has made quite a success of his busi- ness transactions. His store is located at Nos. 13 and 14 Ohio Street, where he has a space one hun- dred and thirty-seven feet in depth. He carries a large assortment of goods in liis line, and has the trade of much of the surrounding country, as well as the immediate village.
At the home of the bride's parents in Byrneville, Ind., in May, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brubeck and Miss Fanny C. Levi. They have two children, Etta Erman and Julia Catherine. Mrs. Brubeck is a well-educated and cultured lady, who presides over her pleasant home with grace and dignity, and with rare tact and womanly courtesy makes welcome the many friends of her- self and husband. Our subject is also very popu- lar in social circles, and, like his estimable wife, delights to extend a hospitable greeting to his as- sociates and friends. In his political principles he is a stanch Republican, and is always actively concerned in the welfare of his party. He is also interested in civic organizations, being a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. For some time he has been President of the Business Men's Associa- tion in Rockville, which is an organization having for its object the advancement of the business, social and moral interests of the community and county. Though he is comparatively young in the mercantile field, our subject has developed a marked talent as a business man, and has already attained a position which men of much greater experience have failed to reach. Personally, he is very highly thought of, and is known to be thoroughly upright and honorable in his business methods.
OHN R. MITCHELL, of the firm of Jacks & Mitchell, the well-known general merchants of Bridgeton, was born in Parke County, Ind., October 7, 1858, and is the eldest of nine children born of the marriage of Abel and America (Bell) Mitchell. Of the seven sons and two daughters, six are now living. In the sketch of Abel Mitchell, the father of our subject, will be found many interesting facts concerning the history of the family which we do not give here.
On the old Parke County homestead where his grandfather had settled, where his father was
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born, and where the latter has passed his entire life, the subject of this sketch grew to sturdy manhood. Ilis early education was received in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen years he entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute, where he continued for one year. lle then com- menced to teach school in Clay County, Ind., and after three terms spent in the same school, he decided that he did not wish to make that pro- fession his life work, and therefore gave it up.
December 27, 1881, Mr. Mitchell married Miss Julia E., daughter of James Rea, one of the promi- nent farmers of Raccoon Township. After his marriage he was engaged for one year as a tiller of the soil on his father's farm. In 1883, he formed a partnership with A. M. Jacks, at Bridge- ton, and embarked in the general mercantile busi- ness. Since that time there have been changes in the firm, he having some years ago bought out the interest of Mr. Jaeks and continued to run the business in his own name. Later he sold an in- terest to his former partner, and at this writing (1893), the firm is the same as when it first started. Mr. Mitchell is a thorough-going business man, and his mercantile establishment has grown to large proportions.
Aside from merchandising, Mr. Mitchell has been engaged in other enterprises. He and his brother McClellan established the Bridgeton Stock Stables, and dealt largely in fine blooded horses. This venture proved a success, and after a time our subjeet purchased his brother's interest and for six years managed the business himself. Owing, how- ever, to the demands made on his time from his other interests, he sold hus stock business. In ad- dition to the large store at Bridgeton, he also has a branch establishment at Mansfield. Ile was one of the founders of the Bridgeton Creamery, and was its Secretary, Treasurer and Manager, and has also been engaged in various other enterprises.
At one time Mr. Mitchell was a candidate on the Democratie ticket for Township Trustee and also for County Auditor, but the Republican majority was too much for even so popular a young man as he. However, he ran ahead of his ticket and carried his township by eighty majority, when it was fully seventy-five Republican ordinarily, and he reduced
the majority in his county from six hundred to less than two hundred. He is a Mason, and has filled all the offices in the lodge except that of Master. During the Cleveland administration, 1885-1889, he was Postmaster at Bridgeton. Ile and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and he is one of the Church Stewards, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Ilis marriage has been blessed by the birth of eight children, five of whom are living. Abel Clyde, the eldest child, died when nine years of age, and Earl died in infancy. The others are: Clar- enee, Ethel, Harold, Homer, and an unnamed in- fant.
ILLIAM TEN BROOK has for a number of years devoted his attention largely to market-gardening, raising fruitsand vege- tables on his fertile farm, comprising twenty-seven acres on section 12, Adams Township, Parke County. Ever since leaving school, he has been more or less engaged in the nursery business, for a time being in Peru Township, from which place he went to Vincennes. On leaving that place hie came to his present farm, where he makes a speci- alty of raising fine varieties of Irish potatoes.
Our subject was born in Lycoming County, Pa., January 3, 1826, and is a son of William Ten Brook, who was born in the same county in 1786. Our subjeet's grandfather, John, was in the War of the Revolution and a resident of New Jersey. Our subjeet's father married Miss Jane, daughter of William Brown, a wheelwright by trade, who emi- grated from Belfast, Ireland, to Lycoming County, Pa. In 1837, William Ten Brook, Sr., came to Indiana, locating one mile west of Annapolis, on the site of the present town named in his honor. He was one of the early settlers of Penn Township, Parke County, where he became the owner of eighty acres. As the years passed he made addi- tional purchases of land and at the time of his death, in 1853, he owned two hundred and forty acres. He was a Democrat until the time of the
Paul & Spencer
Catharine Spencer
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Mexican trouble, when he became affiliated with the Whigs. He was a good farmer and gave his special attention to the care and development of his farm.
William Ten Brook, whose name heads this record, is one of five children, three of whom are still living, the others being Garrett D., and Anna, wife of J. I. Ephlin, of Penn Township. Those deceased are Jolin and Charles. Our subject was only a lad of eleven years when he came to this county, where he grew to manhood. He attended the common schools of the district and also went later to the Bloomingdale Academy. After leaving school he engaged in the nursery business, as previously stated, and has ever since worked along tliat line. For about five years he was a member of the firm of William Ten Brook & Co., in the lumber business at Rockville. IIe owns a good farm, which has upon it a comfortable residence and other buildings.
It was in the year 1854 that our subject wedded Miss Martha, daughter of John Tate, who was born and reared at Springfield, Ohio. She is an esti- mable lady, well educated, and, like her husband, has many friends in this locality. In political faith Mr. Ten Brook is an ally of the Prohibition party and strongly favors the temperance cause. He belongs to Howard Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Rock- ville, of which he has been a member since 1853.
AUL G. SPENCER is one of the oldest settlers now living in this section of Parke County, and was born in Washington County, Ind., June 13, 1824, to James K. and Martha (Guthrie) Spencer. His father was a South Carolinian and was born in Chester District March 24, 1794. IIe was the son of John Spencer, who was of Scotch-Irish birth and came to America about the year 1790, locating in South Carolina, where he married Miss Nancy Kalmore.
He was a weaver by trade, but farmed after he came to America. On the voyage to this country Mr. Spencer's mother died and was given a sea burial. Nancy Spencer, wife of John, was an ac- quaintance in her maiden days of Mr. Spencer. when they lived in the northern part of Ireland. She came to America before the Revolutionary War, in which her father and brother John took an active part. Jolin K. was taken prisoner and kept for seven years, at the end of which time he came home, poor in flesh but rich in hope.
John Spencer, the grandfather of our subject, and his family came to Indiana and located in Washington County, where his son, the father of our subject, had come about a year previously, or in 1816. John was a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church, in which he served as Elder. He was an early pioneer of Washington County, and entered three hundred and twenty acres of Government land, which he improved. He was the father of seven children, to each of whom, the youngest excepted, he gave forty acres of land, and to him he gave eighty acres. The children were Jennie (who married Thomas Tippen ), James K., Robert, Thomas, John, Alexander and Moses. The father of this family died about the year 1824, and the mother passed away at the home of her youngest son in Union Township, this county, about 1836.
James K. Spencer was reared in South Caro- lina on the old homestead, and in 1815 he emi- grated to Kentucky, where he worked on a farm for one year, at the end of which time he came to Indiana and located in Washington County, where his father had given him forty acres of good land. In February, 1820, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha, daughter of Paul Guthrie, who was a miller and wheelwright by trade. Mr. Guthrie came from Ireland when a young man, and was married in South Carolina to Miss Elizabeth Bell, who was also of Irish birth. Martha (Guthrie) Spencer was born September 17, 1795, in Center District, S. C., where she was reared and educated. After her marriage with Mr. Spencer, the young couple went to Washington County and settled on land which they proceeded to clear and im- prove.
7
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James Spencer continued to live in Washington County until 1833, when he came to Parke County, where he rented land for a year or two. He then sold his estate in Washington County and in- vested the money in a farm in Union Township, besides entering ninety acres of Government land in Putnam County in '1834. Hle was the father of thirteen children, of whom twelve reached their majority. One child died at the age of two years, and but two of the remainder are still living, our subject and James K. The children who are de- ceased are Elizabeth J., who married Jackson Har- beson, and died October 25, 1881; John J., who was a farmer and died February 21, 1893; Agnes, deceased, wife of Jolm Cunningham; Margaret, who was the wife of Robert Harbison, who died in Kansas in 1877; Martha, who married Jo- seph K. Spencer, and died in Kansas March 17, 1893; Robert, who died in Portland Mills in 1865; Mary, who died in Kansas March 26, 1889; Sarah, who married William Sturgeon, and died in Union Township, this county, in the year 1864; Thomas and Alexander, who were twins, the latter dying June 15, 1838, and the former March 30, 1862, in the late war. Alexander, Jr., also died in the Civil War, in an engagement at Cumberland Gap. The father of our subject was a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church and was an Elder in that denomination for many years. Politically, he was a stanch Democrat and a strong Abolition- ist in the struggle between the North and South. He came here in an early day and battled with difficulties, suffering many of the hardships inci- dent to the times. He and his wife reared a large family.
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