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 23
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 23
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 23
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ILLIAM H. JOHNSON is associated with the leading manufacturers of Fountain County, as the proprietor of the large shovel handle factory at Veedersburgh. He is a veteran of the late war, although he was but a boy when he volunteered in the service of his country and won an honorable military record while bravely helping to fight its battles.
Our subject is of New England birth, born in the town of St. Albans, Me., September 22, 1846. Ilis father, Holman Johnson, was born in the State of New York, but when he was a small boy his parents removed to Maine. When he was twenty- one years of age his father returned to New York, and later took up his residence in the West, where he died. Holman Johnson remained in Maine, and was there married to a Miss Priest, who died when quite young. IIe married for his second wife Sarah, daughter of Hiram Goodwin, of St. Albans, Me. When he was a young man Mr. Johnson learned the trade of a shovel handle maker, and he engaged at that all his life, becoming a very suc- cessful manufacturer, and at one time he owned all the patents on the machinery for the manufacture of shovel handles. For fifteen or twenty years before his death he made nearly all the shovel han- dles that were made in the United States, the han-
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dle of the Ames Shovel being of his manufacture. Ile was a very able business man, whose name stood liigh in financial circles for honorable deal- ings, and he bore an unblemished character through life. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, was liberal in his contributions to help carry it on, and all good objects found in him cor- dial and material encouragement.
When our subject was ten years old, his father removed to Vermont with his family, but after a two-years stay in that State, he returned to Maine, where William was given the advantages of a liberal education in the well-known Kent's Hill Academy. ITis father was located at Wayne, in Kennebee County, after his return from the Green Mountain State, and there our subject learned every detail in the manufacture of shovel handles in his father's large establishment at that place, and after his marriage he took charge of his father's works at Industry, to which he fell heir on the death of his father, besides inheriting other valuable property. He continued to operate the mill at that point for several years, but in the spring of 1891 he left his old home in Maine, to locate a plant for the manufacture of shovel handles at Veedersburgh, this being a desirable situation not only as a commercial center, but on account of the abundance of white ash timber, which is the best material for shovel handles. Mr. Johnson em- ploys twenty-two workmen and has a well-fitted- up establishment, provided with the best machin- ery and all the appliances for making shovei handles, of which he produces a superior article, as he has a thorough knowledge of the business. Our subject has invented several very useful pa- tents, one in particular for the bending and shap- ing of shovel handles, which is used exclusively by the Ames Shovel Manufactory.
When the war broke out, our subject watched its progress with keen anxiety, and determined that he would enter the army as soon as he could obtain permission, and on the 10th of September, 1862, when he was not yet sixteen years of age, he had the proud pleasure of seeing his name en- rolled as a member of Company G, Twenty-fourth Maine Infantry. He went to the front and did his share of fighting, and showed himself to be a
valiant and efficient soldier, who had his coun- try's interests at heart. He bore a part in the siege of Port Hudson and in several noted battles. August 25, 1863, the youthful soldier was honor- ably discharged at the close of his term of enlist- ment. His career since the war has been marked by good citizenship and an active public spirit, which will be very beneficial in promoting the welfare of his adopted town, as he is an encourager of all plans for publie improvement, and is generous in the use of his wealth to help along all good causes.
Mr. Johnson was married at Wayne, in his na- tive State, to Miss Kate, daughter of William Folsom, a carriage manufacturer of that town. They have established themselves in one of the attractive homes of Veedersburgh, and three chil- dren complete their pleasant household circle: Winifred, Alfred and Mildred.
P ATHER JOSEPH T. BAUER, Rector of St. Joseph's Church, Rockville, Ind., also has a wide field for work in Parke, Vigo and Ver- million Counties, supervising mission churches at Clinton, Rosedale, Fontanet, Coxville and Monte- zuma. The Catholic population in his charge is mainly composed of laboring classes, one-fifth of whom own real estate. This remarkable fact is largely due to the earnest endeavors of our sub- ject in persuading those of his flock to invest their money in homes and real estate. His object in so doing is that they may be more settled and have something to show for their labor. At all the churches he has organized Sunday-schools, and many of the congregations have well-disciplined choirs and good singing.
Father Baner was born in Evansville, Ind., Angust 10, 1865, and is the son of Peter and Catherine Baner, of that city. His early educa- tion was acquired in the Trinity School of Evans- ville, where he was a pupil from the time he was six until he was fourteen years of age. Subse-
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quently he attended the college and seminary at St. Meinrad, Spencer County, Ind., from which in- stitution he was graduated in 1889, being ordained a priest on May 29 of that year. He at once located at St. Mary's, in Vigo County, where he had charge of several churches now in his district. In September, 1891, he came to Rockville, and built the neat and substantial parsonage adjoin- ing the church, which is now his place of resi- dence.
Two years ago there were but two church build- ings under Father Bauer's supervision-one at Rockville, and the other at Montezuma. Since then he has erected church edifices at Fontanet, Rosedale, Coxville and Clinton. This spring (1893) it is his intention to sell the church prop- erty at the last-named city, and erect a fine brick building, 30x50 fect. When he started in the work there were only five families in the Clinton church, but now the congregation numbers seventy- five families, and in the several congregations over which he has charge there are now about one hundred and eighty families. The six churches embrace about nine hundred members, which in- clude the Catholic inhabitants of no less than twenty small towns.
Father Bauer is a most zealous worker in the church and a very devont young man. No one could have the interests of his people more at heart. At the time he assumed charge there was a great deal of prejudice against the church, but this he has endeavored to mitigate as far as pos- sible, and has succeeded beyond his expectations. The cause of temperance has found in him a warm advocate, and, recognizing the fact that intemper- ance is one of the greatest evils of the age, he has been very strenuous in his efforts for its overthrow among his people.
By his genial manners and sincere enthusiasm Father Bauer has won friends for himself and the church, even among those outside of his denomi- nation. Regardless of creeds and differences of opinion, he is recognized as a man of worth and a worker for the cause of Christ. With regard to politics, he votes according to his convictions, but takes no active part, believing that a minister should not sacrifice his influence in the church by
striving to direct the votes of his members for any given party or candidate.
History of the Catholic Church in Parke County, Ind.
One hundred years before the standard of Ge- neva was planted in Parke County, the Catholic missionaries had taught the doctrine of the Cross to the Indians and Frenchi-Canadians on the Wabash River. For when Rev. Isaac McCoy, the first man to preach Protestant Christianity in Parke County, began his work, he found the Catholic missionaries had preceded him, made many converts among the Indians, and had attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholic French-Canadian traders and settlers. Among the latter, Christmas Dasney, the son of Ambroise Dasney, needs special mention, owing to the fact of his donating a piece of ground near Armies- burgh as a Catholic cemetery. The earliest inter- ment in this cemetery at present recorded is that of Bridget Mary Dean, who died November 5, 1847.
From the time when Marquette discovered the Mississippi, in 1673, until the suspension of the Jesuits, in 1773, a century after, these followers of the Cross were in season and out of season in their efforts to convert the Indian tribes dwelling be- tween the Lakes and the Ohio, the Miami and the Mississippi. Positive historical data are at hand to prove that as early as 1712 Father Gabriel Marest, of the Society of Jesus, passed down the Wabash, preaching to the natives. He was fol- lowed in 1749 by Father Meurin, from Quebec, who found French-Canadians at every landing. Rt. Rev. Bishop Brute, the first Bishop of Vincennes, on his return trip of six hundred miles to Chicago went by way of Logansport, Fayetteville, Attica, and Covington to Terre Haute, and most probably passed down the Wabash.
In the person of Rev. L. Lalumiere, who was at one time the only priest Bishop Brute had in his vast diocese of Indiana and a portion of Illinois, we have the first priest also who from 1842 attended to the scattered Catholics in Parke County. There is positive evidence of his attending those work- ing on the canal, as also of the ministerial visits of
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Rev. Mr. Ryan, of North Ann, Ill. Rev. L. Lalu- miere celebrated mass in 1854 in the old log house of Martin Ryan, still situated in the meadow south of the present home.
In the same year services were held by him in what was Rockville's first schoolhouse, a little log hut on John Sillman's place, still existing. At that time John Broderick, a railroad contractor, was working at the place on the old Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, and the number of per- sons attending, both Catholics and Protestants, was so great that the good Father had to erect the altar outside of the house, near the door, and preach to the audience grouped together in the yard. In 1855 services were held at Leatherwood, in the house of Mr. Weldon, on what was termed Butler's Place.
Up to 1861 Rev. Mr. Highland, in charge of Greencastle, came to Rockville and celebrated mass in the house of John Barry, situated on the lot be- tween the house of David Strouse and the present Christian Church. In 1856 divine services were held by him in the bakery of a Mr. Hannigan, a little brick house situated on the site of the present Tribune office. Alternately, after that date, he said mass in the houses of Messrs. James Kinney, Raggett and Pat Reardon, remaining about Rock- ville a week or so at a time, attending to Monte- zuma in the old log house, still existing, of Mr. James Reardon. In 1861 he was taken sick, and retired to Terre llaute. From 1861 to 1869 Rock- ville and Montezuma were attended from Terre Haute by the Reverend Benedictine Fathers, Rt. Rev. Fintan Mundwiler, O. S. B., now Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery at St. Meinrad, Speneer County, Ind., and by Rev. Chrysostom Foffa, O. S. B., and Rev. Bede O'Connor, O. S. B.
In 1867 Rev. Meinrad McCarthy, O. S. B., known as the " Church Builder," attended regularly every month or six weeks from St. Mary's, Vigo County, and brought about a fixed church organization. He bought a lot, No. 4 in the West Addition of Rockville, from Mr. Blackledge for $1,000. This purchase included the building, used as a carpen- ter shop, and the frame work of a house, used in the construction of the church at Montezuma. The church at Rockville was dedicated in honor of
the Immaculate Conception, and that at Monte- zuma in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Vir- gin Mary. From 1869 to 1878 the priests of Terre Haute attended, among them notably the Rev. H. Alerding, then assistant at St. Joseph's, Terre Haute, now pastor of St. Joseph's Church at Indianapolis. In 1872 the Franciscan Fathers (O. M. C.) took charge of St. Joseph's Church at Terre Haute, and visits are noted of these Fathers to Roekville and Montezuma.
About 1876 or 1877 Rev. Mr. Quinlan took the initial steps toward having a resident priest on these missions by building a parsonage of four rooms to the church at Montezuma. On the Ist of February, 1878, Rev. T. O'Donaghue was ap- pointed the first resident pastor at Montezuma, and attended until October 16, 1879. Revs. Riehle and McBarron, of St. Mary's, Vigo County, Ind., attended then until the appointment, De- cember, 1879, of Rev. B. Kintrup, who built the bell-tower, and secured a bell for Montezuma.
On the night of the 30th of March, 1882, the Reverend Father attempted to cross the Wabash River on the Indianapolis, Decatur & Western Railroad bridge at Montezuma, was overtaken by a train, and in his effort to clear the track, which had no special walk for foot passengers, fell from the bridge and was drowned. His body was found next morning, attached to a snag, about two miles above Clinton, and on being identified was taken for interment to the old cemetery at Armies- burgh.
Rev. Mr. Pierrard, of Brazil, Clay County, attended the missions several times after that, and was followed in rapid succession by the Revs. Jo- seph and Boever, from August to October, 1882, and Rev. D. Swagers from October to December, 1882. Rev. Mr. MeEvoy attended then off and on until January, 1884. In March, 1884, Rev. T. W. Cosgrove was appointed, attending until April, 1884, when, on a visit at the house of Martin Ryan, he was taken with congestion, and died, having been a priest only ninety days. His body was taken for interment to Boston, Mass., where his parents lived. Revs. Mr. McEvoy and Joseph, O. M. C., attended then up to April, 1885.
In September, 1885, Rev. John Coffey was ap-
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pointed, and remained until December, to be suc- ceeded by Rev. P. Nix, who resided at St. Joseph's parsonage, Terre Haute. In the fall of 1886 Rev. Mr. Nix built the present neat church at Rock- ville, at an expense of well nigh $2,000. In July, 1887, the Rt. Rev. Monseignor Bessonies dedicated the church in honor of St. Joseph. Rev. Mr. Nix remained in charge until July, 1887, when he was transferred to Bodie, Cal., where he is still work- ing successfully.
In 1887 Rev. Mr. Richle organized the miners, etc., living at Coxville and Rosedale into a con- gregation. In 1890 the Block Coal Company, of Brazil, donated a piece of property, where Rev. Joseph Bauer built a small frame church, utilizing the remaining ground as a cemetery. In 1891 Mr. Jerry Sullivan, of Rosedale, donated a half- lot in the Doty Addition, and on it a church was built in 1892. Both places are attended alternately twice a month, and have an organized Sunday- school and choir. After Rev. Mr. Nix' departure the Revs. McEvoy and Joseph, O. M. C., attended Rockville and Montezuma until July, 1889, when Rev. Joseph T. Bauer, living at St. Mary's, took charge of the counties of Parke, Vermillion and the extreme northeast corner of Vigo.
Building a parsonage of five rooms at Rockville in the year 1891, he began to reside there, organ- izing a permanent Sunday-school, choir and church societies. At present writing, June 2, 1893, there abideth still at Rockville the " unprofitable ser- vant," the writer.
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ON. FRANCIS M. DICE is one of the leading members of the Bar at Crawfords- ville, Ind., also a veteran of the late war, and has had an important career as a law- yer and citizen. Ile was born in Fountain County, Ind., and is the son of Hon. . Jacob Dice, one of the leading members of the State Legislature dur- ing the important sessions of 1851-52. Our sub- ject received his education in the common schools
of his district, and was then sent to Wesley Acad- emy, where he spent several terms. lle then en- listed in the army of the Union, joining Com- pany C, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana In- fantry, W. C. Kise commanding, and passed eight months in East Tennessee. He was with his regi- ment as Corporal at the battle of Blue Springs, October 10, 1863, and also at Walker's Ford, De- cember 2, 1863, where his regiment was twice forced to cross the river under fire from the ene- my's guns.
After returning from the army, our subject taught school near his old home during 1864, and in this way secured means to attend Asbury Uni- versity, and from that place he graduated in 1868 with the degree of A. B., and three years later the degree of A. M. wasconferred upon him. He had accomplished a Herculean task, having com- pleted a six-years course in four years, besides having taught two terms of school and read- ing law. Later he studied law with Col. W. C. Wilson, of La Fayette, and then opened a law office at Covington, where he was admitted to the Bar in 1869. In the years of 1874 and 1875, he became the editor, owner and proprietor of the Republic, printed at Covington, through the columns of which he made it uncomfortably warm for his Democratic opponents. Also at one time our sub- ject filled the offices of Township Trustee, and County School Examiner of Fountain County. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Senate from Warren and Fountain Counties in 1876, being opposed by the combined forces of the Democratic and Greenback parties.
While serving as State Senator Mr. Dice was a member of the Judiciary Committee, to which was referred the hill in reference to erecting the new State House. He was a supporter of the plan of erecting the new building and used his influence on the committee to that end, and the matter was so closely contested that all such influence was needed, as the bill passed through the com- mittee with but one majority. It is largely to him that the State is indebted for its magnifi- cent State House, a building that does credit to its advocates.
During the second term of service in the Senate,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Dice was placed upon several important com- mittees. In 1880, having received the nomination by the Republican party as candidate for Reporter of the Supreme Court, he made a thorough can- vass of the northern part of the State, and was elected with the party's nominees in the fall of that year. This position lie occupied for a term of four years and filled it with credit to the State and honor to himself. It is a place of importance and responsibility, and one that requires both lit- erary and legal ability, and Mr. Dice did not dis- appoint the expectation of his friends. While occupying this, in the conscientious discharge of his official duties he gained the approbation of the legal fraternity generally throughout the State. Such men as President Harrison, Gov. Porter and the Hon. Michael C. Kerr, and a host of others, have graced the same position, which indeed re- quires and demands the closest concentration of thought, command of legal phraseology, and facil- ity of expression. Senator Dice entered into this position determined to keep the standard of Indi- ana's reports up to the place which his predecessors had gained for them. The syllabi of the cases were written by him, he giving personal attention to the same, and also his personal attention to the verifi- cation of the citation of the Judge's work. This required a vast amount of labor, which was freely given, and the results have proven of great value. The decisions edited by Mr. Dice are prin- ted in octavo volumes and are considered by men of legal ability as being among the most carefully edited and compiled of all law reports of any of the States. He also changed the manner of num- bering the volumes from Roman to Arabie numer- als, which met with much commendation. The copyright of these volumes is held by Senator Diee. Ile published twenty-nine volumes during his term of office, that number being more than las been published by any one holding the office be- fore or since.
In 1884, Senator Dice moved to Crawfordsville, where as a boy he had frequently visited an uncle, who lived one-half mile south of the city. The surroundings of the place had made such an im- pression upon him that he then declared that when he grew to manhood he would buy the place and
make it his home. ITis youthful ideas have been realized, as he purchased his uncle's place and there is spending a pleasant life upon the spot, and surrounded by the scenes, which made such an impression upon his boyish imagination. He 'has there one hundred and sixty acres of fine roll- ing land, where he has erected a beautiful resi- dence and devotes much time to the raising of fine horses.
Senator Dice has a very interesting family. IIe was married December 22, 1871, to Miss Mary Frances Thompson, daughter of William Thomp- son, of Covington. Mrs. Dice is a cousin of Uni- ted States Treasurer Nebeker, and the mother of five children. Edna M. was a student of La Salle Seminary at Auburndale, Mass., and graduated from that place in the Class of '92. Gertrude, a sweet girl, died at the age of four years; Francis M. died at the age of two years; and Florence and Marguerite are at home. Mrs. Dice is a cul- tured lady, having been educated at Evanston, Ill., and was a schoolmate of Indiana's well-be- loved agitator for woman's rights, Mrs. Sewall, of Indianapolis. Senator Dice is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi College Club, and is a man who en- joys both political and social popularity, and is recognized as one of the leading Republicans of Indiana.
OHN L. DAVIS, an extensive and wealthy farmer and stock-raiser of Union Township, his beautiful home on section 25, is pre-em- inent in financial circles as one of the most alert, astute and far-seeing of the energetic, broad- minded, liberal-spirited business men whose names have been prominently associated with the prog- ress of Montgomery County during the last quarter of a century or more. This is his native county, his parents being among its earliest settlers, and he was born April 4, 1831, in Brown Township, on land that his father, Randolph Davis, had entered from the Government some years previously.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Randolph Davis was born in New Jersey in 1794, and was of Welsh parentage. Ilis father moved to Ohio when he was quite young, and was one of the early pioneers of Butler County. Ran- dolph Davis was there married to Miss Abigail Hoel, a daughter of a farmer of that State and a native of New Jersey. She survives him, and is living in Indiana at the advanced age of ninety- eight. In the fall of 1826 Mr. Davis came to this State, and bought four hundred acres of Govern- ment land in Brown Township, upon which he settled. He also bought one hundred and sixty aeres more land of the Government, for which he paid $1.25 an acre, besides purchasing other land from time to time until he had seven hundred aeres. Ile was one of the first to come here, and he found the surrounding country in its primitive condition and very sparsely settled, and even at Crawfordsville there were not more than two fam- ilies on the present site of the city. Mr. Davis had to cut down forest trees to make room for the log cabin that he built for his family, which was a rude affair, with puncheon floor and clapboard roof, and a sheet hung over the entrance for a door for a time. Ile became one of the leading pio- neers of the county, and was prospered in his every undertaking. Ile was an extensive stock- dealer, and there was probably no man in the county who did more business than he in his day. He lived on the old homestead for over forty years, and then bought a better place. ITis last days were passed in southeastern Missonri, where he died in 1866, and there he lies buried. Ile was a man of marked force of character and was a fine type of our self-made inen. In early life he was a Whig in politics, and he was a prominent member of the old-time militia, acting as major of a regiment, while his son Jacob was a colonel. The family was represented in the late rebellion by his son Isaac. The father was also one of the leading Masons of his day.
The parents of our subject had eight children, of whom seven grew to maturity, and five are still living, namely: Isaac, formerly a farmer and one of the heaviest stock-dealers in the county, now living in retirement at Crawfordsville; Eliza; Mary, the wife of Jolin Burgess, a farmer of this county;
our subject; and Jemima, the wife of Wesley Mc- Kinley, of Crawfordsville. Joslma died at the age of three years. Jacob, who died at Crawfords- ville, was a heavy grain-dealer, pork-packer and farmer of this county; and Thompson, now de- ceased, was a farmer in this county.
John L. Davis was given excellent educational advantages, as after he left the public schools of his native township he was sent to Waveland Sem- inary, where he was fitted for college, and he then entered Wabash College, where he pursued a prac- tical course of study. He continued to live with his parents until he was thirty-one, assisting the family in the management of the extensive agri- cultural interests. He faimed on the old home- stead for a year after his marriage, which occurred in 1861, and then bought two hundred and eighty acres of the farm upon which he lives in Union Township. He has purchased other land since, and now has four hundred and seventy-two acres, which are all well tilled, and have been developed into one of the choicest farms of the county by the many valuable improvements that our subject has made from time to time. Hle and . his family dwelt for some fourteen years in the little brick house that still stands on the place, known as the Elliot Farm, and at the end of that time built their present elegant residence, which is the finest in the township, of a pleasing and appropriate style of architecture, convenient in its arrangements, and having an all-pervading air of culture, refinement and unobtrusive hospitality that mark the true home. There are a fine barn and other substantial buildings, all kept in good order, and on every hand it is shown that agriculture is carried on systematically, with intelligent regard to the best modern methods. Mr. Davis devotes his farm to general farming and has it well stocked, raising none but the finest grade of cattle, horses and hogs. He has by no means confined his attention to farming, but he has branched out in other direc- tions. From 1884 until 1889 he was in the grain business at Crawfordsville, and for about four years he was engaged in the pork-packing trade at Terre Haute with Charles Allen, Jacob D. Early and Jacob Davis, under the firm name of Early, Davis & Co. He has also done a good deal of
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