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 17
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 17
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 17
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In 1840 a very important event took place in the life of our subject, when he was united in mar- riage with Eliza Jane Welch, but this lady lived but a short time, and five years later he again married, choosing for his companion Miss Abbie Woods, a native of Brown County, Ohio. Her fa- ther, Tobias Woods, was born in Ohio and married Miss Katie Fisher. They came West to Illinois, where they made their home and reared eleven chil- dren, five boys and six girls. The father and mother of this family passed away, and the family scat- tered to various parts of the United States,
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been the parents of five children, three boys and two girls. The sons were Alfred, Wright and John. The latter, who was an unfortunate, having been born deaf and dumb, while being educated at Indianapolis was one day crossing the railroad, when an approachi- ing train struck him. The other son, Wright, was also deaf and dumb, and was educated at the same place as his brother. For a time he pub- lished a paper there, but is now with his father on the farm. Mr. Fisher has been peculiarly un- fortunate with his boys, for his third son John was born with an unsound mind. One of the daughters is Hattie, the widow of James Tug- man. She has two children, Etta Mande and Or- rin, who live with Mr. Fisher. Lizzie is the wife of Dr. John Jordan, a prominent physician in Indi- anapolis, and has two children. The eldest son, DeWitt, is also a physician in the same city, grad- uating at Louisville, Ky .; and Iva is now being educated in Indianapolis.
Mr. Fisher was a Democrat up to Buchanan's election, but when the Republican party was or- ganized he cast his ballot with that body. He has always been a temperance man and was never intoxicated in his life. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church, in which ca- pacity they have labored for many years, living consistent Christian lives. Mr. Fisher is one of the Trustees of the congregation.
L EVI SIDWELL is a retired business man of Rockville, Parke County. He was long en- gaged in the dry-goods business, but has been retired nearly all the time since 1867. Our subject was born in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, March 25, 1813. His father, Levi Sidwell, was born January 2, 1774, in Pennsylvania, and there married Miss Margaret Perry, soon after which event he removed to Mason County, Ky., where he entered land of the Government. His wife was born September 5, 1774, in Maryland.
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Our subject's father settled on land which he entered in Kentucky and resided there about two years, after which he removed to Ross County, Ohio, engaging in making brick in Chillicothe, which business he followed during the remainder of his life. He had nine children, of whom our subject is the eighth in order of birth and is now the only one living. The following of his brothers and sisters grew to maturity: Rebecca, wife of An- drew S. Alden, a carpenter and farmer of Parke County; Lemuel, who died before completing his medical studies; Nancy, who departed this life at the age of twenty years; and Sally Ann, wife of James Perry, a farmer and merchant of Mason County, Ky. Our subject's father died March 5, 1815, but his wife, Margaret, survived until Jan- uary 11, 1853, her demise taking place at the home of our subject.
Levi Sidwell, of this sketch, after passing his youth at the place of his birth went to Delphi, Ind., where he engaged in the mercantile business for about one year. He next went to May's Lick, Ky., where he also engaged in merchandising, but returned to Indiana a year later. locating at Rock- ville, where he pursned his former avocation and went into partnership with William Rosebrough. At the end of two years the latter's interest was purchased by James DePew, and together our sub- ject and that gentleman were successful in con- ducting the business for six years, when the firm was dissolved and each of the parties embarked in a similar undertaking alone. When three years had passed by, Mr. Sidwell took into partnership James McEwen and David Kirkpatrick, which con- nection existed for four years. From that time until 1867 Mr. Sidwell ran the business alone and then retired, having secured a competence. At one time, however, in the early '70s, he operated a tile factory for about four years.
The marriage of Mr. Sidwell with Miss Sarah K., daughter of Samuel MeNutt, a Presbyterian minister, was celebrated June 29, 1842. By that union were born two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Samuel, was called from this life February 23, 1863, in Rockville, at the age of twenty-three years. The mother of these children died April 18, 1846. Her son Samuel
enlisted in Capt. Vance's company, which went out from Rockville during the late war. On the 8th of May, 1855, Miss Margaret A., daughter of Isaac Rice, became the wife of our subject. Mrs. Sidwell was born near Waveland, Montgomery County, Ind., March 17, 1832, and acquired her education in Waveland Academy, where she after- ward taught for about six months. The follow- ing children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sidwell: William P., a banker in Frankfort, Ind .; Chauncey, born October 29, 1858, who died when six years of age; Nannie, born May 24, 1861, who was married to Charles N. Stevenson June 16, 1881; and Montague Rice, born June 1, 1873, now identified with the bank of this city.
From 1855 until 1857 Mr. Sidwell represented Parke County in the General Assembly of Indiana as a Whig, and he is now a Republican. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, which he joined in 1843, and of which his wife is also a member. Prior to the war he was in command of a company of Home Guards at Rockville.
ANIEL D. FISHER has been a resident of Indiana since his twelfth year, or sinee 1829, and is therefore one of the oldest inhabitants and pioneers of Parke County. He makes his home on section 26, Adams Town- ship, a portion of the farm his father entered from the Government. Ile at one time owned two hun- dred and twenty acres, and now, after deeding some of this to his children, he still owns one hun- dred and thirty acres, and has about forty-five acres of timberland. The rest of the land is un- der good cultivation and yields an abundant in- come to the owner.
Our subject was born September 13, 1817. lle was a son of George Fisher, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1780. He in turn was a son of George Fisher. Our subject's maternal grandfa- ther participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and did valiant service. When our subject's father
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was fourteen years of age he ran away from home, and was married in 1804 to Miss Hannah Wright, after which he located in Brown County, Ohio, where he was an early settler. He purchased land and lived there until 1829, when he removed to Parke County with his wife and ten children, lo- cating on section 26, Adams Township, where he entered two quarter-sections of land and proceeded to clear and improve them until his death in 1848, two years prior to which his wife departed this life. Their children all lived to adult years, but only two are now living, our subject and his brother Lewis.
When George Fisher came to Indiana the land was in a perfectly wild state, and game abounded. He was a great hunter, and kept the family well supplied with deer and wild turkeys. Ilis six sons were of great assistance to him in clearing the land and raising crops. The deceased children were: George; Samuel; Jolin; Robert; Rachel, wife of Lewis Silcott; Mary, wife of Iliram Ball; Al- mira, Mis. Samuel Griffin; and Alazana, who mar- ried James Skank. The father was in the War of 1812. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in good standing and fellowship, and was highly esteemed by all as a worthy man and a gen- ial, kind neighbor.
It was a great event in the life of our subject when he with his parents, brothers and sisters started from Ohio in wagons for their seventeen- days journey to Indiana. Here he grew to man- hood and helped to develop the farm in the wil- derness which is still his home. As the schools of that early day were few and poorly conducted, his privileges in an educational direction were of the most limited description, so to his own efforts is due the standing he has held for years in the com- munity as a man of intelligence and wide informa- tion.
On the 23d of October, 1814, Mr. Fisher mar- ried Mary Ann, daughter of John Marshall, a na- tive of North Carohna, who on coming to this State settled in the southern part. This was in 1821, and after remaining there for about five years he became a resident of this county. Mrs. Fisher was called to her final rest August 2, 1879. Directly after his marriage Mr. Fisher located on
the place where he has lived for sixty-three years. Of his ten children one died in childhood and seven are now living: Theodore, who lives in Terre Haute; John, a prosperous farmer of Wabash Township; Charles, who is married and is now mak- ing his home with our subject; George, of this town- ship; and Lincoln, who lives in Omaha, is a trav- eling auditor of the Western Freight Association. The deceased members of the family are: Oliver P .; Victoria, who was the wife of John Bryant; and Joseph A. In a measure Mr. Fisher is now retired from the active duties of life on account of his advancing years, and has relegated the cares of his farm to his son, who lives with him. lle is an in- teresting conversationalist, and his stories of tlie hardships which he encountered in the pioneer days are full of interest. Most of their goods were transported on the river, and Mr. Fisher him- self made nine trips to New Orleans, and assisted in building a good many flatboats. Too much cannot be said in favor of the sturdy founders and early settlers of the new States, who courage- ously overcame all difficulties, and have handed down to their posterity the fruits of their labors, and chief among those to whom the prosperity of Parke County is due is our subject.
ENRY B. JONES. Among the original settlers of Fountain County was Hiram Jones, who was one of its most energetic and enterprising pioneers and successful farmers, and reclaimed from the wilderness a large and valuable farm, lying on section 31, Shawnee Township. This old homestead is now in posses- sion of his son IIenry, our subject, one of the foremost farmers and stock-raisers of this section. Ile has enlarged his domains and now has one of the most extensive and best-appointed farms in Indiana, as well as one of its fairest and most beautiful homes.
The father of our subject was born in North Carolina in 1795, and left there when he was
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seven years old, his parents moving to Tennes- sec, and thence to Kentucky. In the latter State he was wedded to Miss Sarah, daughter of Wright Taylor, aud after marriage he resided for a time near Frankfort, Ky. From there he came to In- diana with his wife and the two children that had previously been born to them, and they lived near Terre Haute a year. In 1823 the family came to Fountain County, and Mr. Jones selected a location near where Veedersburgh now stands, entering land of the Government. He was one of the first to settle in that region, but four or five other families having preceded him. After a short residence at that point he bought the present site of the village of Rob Roy, and dur- ing the ten years that he lived thereon he cleared the land and made various substantial improve- ments. Selling that place, he bought the farm now owned by our subject in the spring of 1840, and it was his home for the remainder of his life, which was brought to a close at an advanced age in 1878, his venerable wife following him to the grave six months later. Ile started out in life without a dollar to his name, but he had a resolute, active nature, was shrewd and far-seeing in business matters, and became a man of wealth. HIe became the owner of four hundred acres of choice land, which he developed in a practical manner into a very desirable farm. He was a man of sincere religious convictions, and his name will ever be associated with the founding of the Methodist Episcopal faith in this county. He was one of the originators of the church at Rob Roy, and he and Mr. Burch organized the first church of that denomination at Veeders- burgh. He was a Trustee of the church, and gave liberally of his means to its support.
The parents of our subject had eight children, of whom four grew to maturity, and three are still living. John died at the age of fifty-three; Louisa married Ebenezer Brandburgh, and is now deceased; James G. is a farmer in Missouri; W. W., who resides in Florida, is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Benjamin died at the age of twelve, Elizabeth in infancy, and Leonard at the age of a year and a-half.
The subject of this biographical notice was born
on the old homestead October 23, 1840, and it has always been his home. He secured his educa- tion in the public schools of the township, and was well trained in his youth in all that pertains to agriculture. In his career as a farmer he has been eminently successful and has shown himself a master of his calling, progressive in his methods, ready to adopt new ideas, systematic and thor- ough in carrying on his operations, and keeping well abreast of the times in all things. He follows mixed farming and raises much stock of standard breeds, including a herd of Shorthorn cattle, Poland-China hogs and five hundred sheep. His farm comprises seven hundred acres of well-culti- vated land, and the improvements upon it are of a high order. Ile has one of the finest houses in the county, which he built in 1881 at a cost of $10,000, it being of a handsome, modern style of architecture, tasteful in its appointments, con- venient in its arrangements, and pleasant in its surroundings.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Joanna D. Meeker was celebrated February 17, 1861. Mrs. Jones was born March 18, 1842, in Richland Township, this county, and was fourteen years old when the family removed to Shawnee Town- ship. She is the daughter of Usual H. Meeker, who was one of the earliest settlers of this county, whither he came from Butler County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two children: Lorenzo E., who married Miss Mattie E. Hatton and resides in Shawnee Township; and Oliver M., a gradu- ate of the Ann Arbor Law School and a promi- nent young lawyer at Danville, Ill. He married Miss Emma Fouts.
Our subject's executive ability and other fine business qualifications, combined with his high character, render him a valuable citizen, and have brought him to the front in the public, political, social and religious life of his native township. He is a strong Republican, and is influential in local politics. Our subject has been identified for some time with the Anti-Horse Thief Associ- ation, and has been very instrumental in bring- ing to justice many criminals, having helped to break up a large organization of horse thieves in Southern Indiana. For eleven years from 1871
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he was Trustee of Shawnee Township. He be- longs to Richland Lodge No. 205, A. F. & A. M., and is greatly interested in the fraternity. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Rob Roy, and is a Trustee of the church, which is much indebted to him for its standing and nse- fulness in the community.
W ILLIAM HOLMAN DURHAM, President of the First National Bank of Crawfords- ville, Ind., was born April 12, 1827, in Lincoln County, Ky. With his parents, Jacob and Hannah Durham, our subject came to Indiana in 1828. The maiden name of his mother was Ilannah Spears, and being a woman of much en- ergy and force of character, she impressed her nature upon her son, our subject. He was the eld- est child, and he learned his alphabet at his mo- ther's knee and also learned to spell out short words at so early an age that his memory cannot recall a time when he could not read. At the age of eight years he rode on horseback, in company with his grandfather, to Kentucky and spent two years in school near Perrysville, under William Duke and Thomas Rice, noted teachers of that day.
The location of his home was in Russellville, Putnam County, Ind., and to this place he returned from school and assisted his father on the farm or the store, attending school in the mean time. In the spring of 1843, he entered Asbury Univer- sity under President, afterward Bishop, Mathew Simpson, and he graduated from there in July, 1847. In the following fall our subject went to Rockville to write in the Clerk's office under John G. Davis. Here he read law with the firm of Wright & MeGaughey until the spring of 1849.
On the breaking out of the "gold fever," with a company from Rockville, he went overland with ox-teams across the plains to California and was six months on the road. lle remained there for
two years and became a voter for its first Gov- ernor, David Burnett, when the State was first or- ganized and a constitution was adopted. Ilis re- turn was made by water, crossing the Isthmus. He stopped a while at quaint old Havanna on the way. After his return he entered into partnership with his father in a dry-goods store at Russellville and was made Postmaster of the place. In the spring of 1849, he bought out his father's interest in the store and continued the business until 1864. The office of Captain of Indiana militia was also given him and he was the Secretary of the lodge of Anci- ent Free & Accepted Masons for several years.
On the 10th of February, 1857, he married Miss Sarah M. Evans, and there were two children born to them. At that time he sold out and removed to Crawfordsville, in March, 1865, with his family. The organization of the First National Bank OC- curred in September, 1864, and he has been con- tinuously identified with it ever since. He was President of the I. D. & S. R. R. in building from Montezuma to Indianapolis.
Mr. Durham is largely interested in agricultural pursuits and is by far the largest stockholder in the Union Agricultural Association of Montgomery County, having acted as its President for one year. He is a great sufferer from sciatica and rheumatism and requires the use of two canes, but this in no way incapacitates him from moving, as he is al- ways busy, attending to the various interests of his business. His regard for young men induced him to furnish the money that built the Young Men's Christian Association Building, unassisted by any one, he furnishing and equipping the same. This is a worthy monument and should be a pride and glory to every citizen of Crawfordsville for its beauty and imposing appearance, and it is in- tended as a resort for young men and for strangers.
The life of Mr. Durham has been eventful in many particulars. Ilis motto has been, "The great- est good to the greatest number," and he has be- stowed charity in many cases to the undeserving, and his experiences would furnish valuable lessons. Hle can have the satisfaction of knowing that he has many warm friends, who have appreciated his assistance and counsel. He has beheld the growth and improvement of the county from the time
you om & Quok
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of the first stroke made by the axe of the hardy pioneer in the dense forest to the present develop- ment of ease and Inxury. At that time there were no roads, no bridges, and only an occasional cabin in the midst of a small clearing, without fence or protection, and he contrasts it with the present time. In the early days of pioneer life buckskin, tow-linen and linsey-woolsey were the clothing, and the greatest equality prevailed among the settlers. There was no money, and in this State coon-skins and ginseng were legal tender. A call for help was cheerfully answered within a radius of six miles, and at the log-rollings, corn-huskings, quiltings and house-raisings none considered him- self superior except as he had escaped the "shakes," as the miasmatic fever was locally called.
Those were happy days, as the people knew no better, and ignorance is often bliss and content- ment a jewel. Mr. Durham remembers well those days and also the happiness that filled them. The children of Mr. Durham are George T., who is Vice-President of the First National Bank; and Lillie. Mr. Durham and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Up to the war he was a Democrat, after which he voted the Republican ticket for several years and has since been independent in politics, voting for candidates in both parties whom he thinks best suited to further the interest of our common country.
D ROF. JOHN STOUT ZUCK, County Su- perintendent of Schools of Montgomery County, Ind., is not only well and favor- ably known throughout the State as an educator, but also as a fine organizer and as a lec- turer. He has performed the duties of his present office with zeal, has kept the schools of this county in the front rank, and has much increased their proficiency.
Mr. Zuck was born one mile north of Wesley Chapel, Wayne Township, Montgomery County, April 10, 1850. He is the son of John and Eme-
line (Stout) Zuck, the father being a Pennsyl- vanian, and the mother an Ohioan. The grand- father of our subject was David Zuck, who was an early pioneer of Montgomery County, where his life ended, as also did that of his son, the father of the gentleman of whom we are writing. John Zuck, Sr., died in 1861 at the old homestead, but his wife still lives at the age of sixty-five at Waynetown. John Stout, the grandfather on the maternal side, was also a pioneer of the county, and became a publie man and well-known per- sonage.
The subject of this notice grew up with his fa- ther on the farm until the age of fifteen years, and then with his mother moved to Mt. Vernon, Iowa, in 1868, and there entered Cornell College. Here he enjoyed superior educational advantages for two and a-half years. At the end of this time he began to teach school, and continued this con- genial employment for three years. Although teaching was the employment he most enjoyed, his first experience was one which must have se- verely tried liis mettle. " The Hoosier School- master " has given the world an idea of how much annoyance a right-minded young man may have to undergo in some localities when he assumes the duties of pedagogue, and when Mr. Zuck, at the age of seventeen years, took charge of his first school, he was following in the footsteps of a teacher who had literally been driven out of liis position by five of the pupils. We are in ignor- ance of the exact methods employed by our sub- ject to quell the rebellious spirits, but he did so, and his term ended without his having had to ad- minister corporal punishment during the whole term.
After this time Mr. Zuck taught school in other parts of Jones and Cedar Counties, Iowa, where there had been trouble with unruly pupils, but there was some magnetic influence about him that caused the dissentions to cease, and in every place he left peace and friendship behind him. After this time the family moved into Indiana again, and Mr. Zuck entered into the hardware business with his brother at Waynetown. In the mean time he read law, and in 1884 he was admitted to the Bar. He practiced law for about five years,
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and then returned to his old beloved profession of teaching and was made Principal of the Wayne- town school for seven years. The Wesley Acad- emy of that place had been changed into a publie school and our subject took charge of it until 1886. After this he went to College Grove and for two years conducted a school there very acceptably, and in June, 1889, he was elected to the honor- able office of Superintendent of Schools. So well did he perform the arduous duties of the office that in 1891 he received a re-election, and by common consent was re-elected again in 1893.
Since taking charge of the schools of Mont- gomery County, our subjeet has adopted many ex- cellent methods which reflect credit upon himself and upon the connty. One of these is the rule that all teachers shall send a monthly report to the Superintendent, and as there are two hundred and two teachers, one hundred and fifty-six schools, and twelve graded schools, the work entailed by this method is not to be lightly considered. When our subject took charge of the office three hun- dred and fifty persons held certificates, and now there is no unemployed teacher in the county. Some of these have had Normal training and have received State licenses from the examinations upon questions given out by the State Board.
Mr. Zuck has two annual institutes, with monthly township institutes, besides having a Teachers' Association. The opening and closing of the schools all over the county is the same, and the busy Superintendent is seen in every school once a year, and in the mean time is spending his ener- gies in the advancement of every educational measure which comes under his notice. Although Mr. Zuek has devoted so much time to his life work, he believes in the duties of citizenship, and has been one of the leading Democratie politicians in the State. In 1888 he stumped the county as a member of the Central Committee, and has been a delegate to the various conventions.
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