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 27
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 27
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 27
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Mr. Causey was born April 18, 1832, his parents being Thomas and Hannah (Loacy) Causey, who were both of English origin. The father came
from Ohio to Parke County about 1830, settling in the southeastern part of West Reserve Town- ship, where he died five years later. He was in limited circumstances, working out by the day for his neighbors as a means of supporting his wife and one child. After his death Mrs. Causey married Jo- seph Coonce, who came from Ohio to this county in 1828. To this union were born fourteen children, among whom are the following: Elizabeth, John. Amelia, Maliala, Charles, Joseph and Rebecca. The mother was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and in that belief died in September. 1891, in Vermillion County, this State. Her hus- band died the previous year.
Our subject, being bereft of a father at an carly age, was thrown upon his own resources, receiving but the rudiments of an education, and when only a mere lad of ten years began to earn his own living by working for six cents per day. He con- tinued to be employed by the month until he at- tained the age of twenty-four years, when he was enabled to rent a small tract of land, which he cultivated advantageously. In a few years he purchased two hundred acres on section 6, of this township, on which he now lives. Under his skillful eare and close application to work he has succeeded in gathering together an area of six hundred and fifty broad acres of very fertile land, and on this is profitably engaged in mixed farm- ing and stock-raising. Politically, he is a Demo- crat.
Mr. Causey was first married to Polly, daughter of Charles W. and Margaret (Reddin) Huxford. The former came from Ohio in 1828, being one of the oldest pioncers, and was engaged in black- smithing. Ilis father, William, went from Con- neeticut to Ohio, and thence in 1828 to Indiana, his occupation being also that of a farmer. Mrs. Causey became the mother of six children, three of whom are living: Charles, Hannah and Katie. The wife and mother died November 20, 1879, and in the year 1884 our subject married Melinda, widow of Michael Hess and a daughter of Jona- than Milliken, of North Carolina. She was born in 1847, in Parke County, Ind. To himself and wife were born four children, only one of whom is now living, Thomas. The Causey family is one
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widely and favorably known throughout this com- munity, and the various members are held in the highest regard by many friends. Their lives have been well and worthily spent, and naught can be said against them.
ANIEL REMLEY, a practical and pro- gressive farmer and stockman, residing on section 3, Walnut Township, is a native son of Montgomery County, representing an old and honored pioneer family of this part of the State. Ilis father, John Remley, who was so long and so prominently identified with the agri- enltural interests of this seetion, was born in Ohio May 21, 1800. At the age of twelve years his father died, and when he was fifteen years old the lad was apprentieed to Richard Skinner, of Dela- ware, Ohio, to learn the trade of a tanner. He re- mained with Mr. Skinner for five years, and at the end of that time he worked out by the month un- til the spring of 1824, when he set out on foot for Indiana, where he had determined to make his future home. On his arrival he purchased eighty aeres of land west of Crawfordsville, of Mr. Stitt, selecting this land on account of the springs on it, and with a view to establishing a tannery upon it at some time in the future. After planting three acres of corn he returned to Ohio, performing the journey on foot as before. The family have a cane that he used in walking to this county, with the date of his walk carved upon it.
Mr. Remley resumed working by the month af- ter his return to Ohio, and Mareh 3, 1825, took an important step, whereby he secured a life compan- ion who was a true helpmate, and who was of val- uable assistance to him in all that he accomplished. On that date he was married to Sarah McCain, near Lebanon, Ohio. Her father, James McCain, was a native of New Jersey, who had removed to Ohio, and died there in 1824. Her mother was Ann (Dill) McCain, a native of Kentucky, who died in Į845. The McCains were the parents of eleven chil-
dren. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Remley came to Indiana to settle on land that he had bought. each coming by a different way. She was ae- companied by her uncle, William McCain, and two cousins, and performed the journey in eight days, she and her uncle being mounted on the two horses that the little company had with them. Mr. Remley shipped their goods on a flatboat on the Miami River at Hamilton, Ohio, to Terre Haute, in this State, walked to that city himself, and there engaged an ox-team to convey his pos- sessions to his homestead, where he arranged them in a little log cabin, 10x12 feet in dimensions, which had previously been erected by Mr. Stitt near the south line of the farm. Mr. Remley soon built a larger cabin, and established a tanyard, in which he did a fine business until 1850. Three or four years after settling on his place he erected a hewed-log house, which caught fire and was burned just as it was completed. Ile then built a substan- tial brick house, which the family occupied as soon as finished, and in that comfortable home his life was brought to a elose January 2, 1879, when many mourned the departure of one who had led a manly, noble life, and was very dearly loved by his family and numerous friends and neighbors. He was an active and consistent Christian, and in 1841 he joined the Presbyterian Churel, with which he held elose relations until his death, and for more than twenty years he held the office of Elder. Politically, he was a Whig until the or- ganization of the Republican party, when he trans- ferred his allegiance to that. He was eminently successful financially, as by untiring industry and wise economy, where economy was needed, he ac- cumulated a handsome fortune, and at the time of his death owned over two thousand acres of land.
The venerable mother of our subject departed this life January 10, 1890, and now lies sleeping her last sleep in Oak Hill Cemetery. Of her nine children, eight grew to maturity, and these seven are still living: Elizabeth, who resides on the old home place; James C., a farmer near Darlington; John, a farmer who lives near the Vandalia Sta- tion in Crawfordsville; Ambrose, who lives in Wayne Township, west of Crawfordsville; Daniel;
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William, who lives near his brother Ambrose in Wayne Township; and David, who lives on the old home place, west of Crawfordsville. Ruhama W. died at the age of twenty-five years.
The subject of this biography was born July 8, 1841, on the old homestead in Union Township. His education was conducted in the district school. Ile remained an inmate of the parental household until he was thirty-two; he was then married, and a year later came to live on this farm in Wal- nut Township, which was given him by his father. It is a very fine place, comprising two hundred acres of well-tiled land, highly cultivated and provided with a modern and well-appointed set of buildings. Standard stock is raised on the farm, and grain and other products common to the soil are grown in their season.
January 25, 1872, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Angie Stout, and they have three children: Ollie, James Albert and Ethel. Ollie is an artist of rare genius, who paints in oils or uses crayons with equal skill. Mrs. Remley was born March 29, 1854, in Union Township, and was reared and educated in this county. Her fa- ther, Joel Stout, was a farmer, who owned a farm west of Crawfordsville. He was born in Fayette County, and was a son of Wilson Stout, who came to this State from Butler County, Ohio, whither he had removed from Virginia. He married Esther Turner, who had a family of nine children, all of whom are still living, as is also their mother, who makes her home at William Remley's. Wilson Stout was one of the early settlers of the county, and lo- cated on and improved a good farm west of Craw- fordsville. Joel Stout came to this county from his native county, and was married here to Lucinda Switzer, a daughter of Peter Switzer, and a rela- tive of Gen. Grant. The father of Peter Switzer was a native of Virginia, whose father had come to this country from Switzerland. Peter Switzer's mother was a daughter of Peter Grant. Peter's parents were reared and married in Kentucky, and in 1829 removed to Indiana, settling on a farm west of Crawfordsville. All of their children ex- cept two are living, as is also the father, Peter, who has attained to the age of ninety-three years. All were Methodists in religion and Republicans
in politics. Peter Grant Switzer had a family of ten children, all but two of whom are still living. Lucinda died January 25, 1888, and was buried in the Wesley Cemetery.
Our subject is numbered among the best citizens of his native county, and his name is associated with much that has forwarded its interests, both materially and in a higher sense. He is active in religious matters, being an Elder of the Union Presbyterian Church of Walnut Township, of which his father was one of the founders, and his wife and children also belong to that church, and all are identified with the Sunday-school work. Politically, he is a Republican. IIe is a member of the National Horse Thief Detective Association.
ILLIAM R. STOUTF, M. D., a popular and able physician of Fountain County, resid- ing at Hillsboro, has already won a high reputation in his profession, although compara- tively young. He is a native of Carter County, Tenn., born amid the wild and beautiful mountain seenery of the eastern part of that State, March 20, 1852. He is a son of Henry D. Stout, who was born in Powell's Valley, Va., and whose fa- ther was Andrew Stout.
Henry Stout was reared and educated in his na- tive valley, and when he was a young man he sought a new home amid the romantic scenes of the Eastern Tennessee Mountains. He was there married to Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Valen- tine D. Bowers, who was a well-to-do planter of that State, and also a Baptist minister. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stout settled in Carter County, and there both are living to-day, respected and esteemed by the entire community. They had nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, and seven of whom are still living. Eliza died at the age of eighteen, and Sarah at the age of forty years. Those surviving are, John, who is a farmer in Eastern Tennessee; Molly, who is the wife of R. D. Patterson, who lives a mile and a-half north-
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cast of Hillsboro; Daniel, who resides in Eastern Tennessee, at Johnson City; Samuel, a resident of Elizabethtown, and Deputy Sheriff of Carter County; Anderson, who is engaged in the mer- cantile business at Elizabethtown; Josephine, who married George Taylor, and lives on the old home- stead in Eastern Tennessee; our subject; and Henry D., who is prominent in politics as a Republican, and was Depnty Sheriff of Carter County two terms. He is a Mason and a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church.
William R. Stout passed his boyhood days at the old home in Tennessee, but at the age of sev- enteen he left it to come to Hillsboro, and at Wabash College he spent one year. After leaving college he taught school eight terms, and then be- gan his medical studies with Dr. Wesley Arm- strong, of Hillsboro, and for five years he studied assiduously, teaching school also to obtain money to defray his expenses. During that time he at- tended the spring sessions of the Kentucky Medical School at Louisville, from which he was graduated with honor in 1881. Thus well equipped for his chosen calling, he entered upon his professional career at Hillsboro, where he has built up a large practice and is held in the highest regard, not only for his signal ability as a physician, but for his rare personal qualities.
Doctor Stout was married January 23, 1883, to Miss Estella M. Tinsley, a daughter of James Tins- ley. Iler father is a harness-dealer at Hillsboro, and is a son of one of the early settlers of the county. The Doctor and his wife have a charm- ing home, and their pleasant household is com- pleted by their little daughter, Ruby May, who is seven years of age.
Doctor and Mrs. Stout are social leaders in the village, and are prominent in religious circles as members of the Christian Church. Our subject keeps himself well informed concerning the medi- cal world, is not slow to avail himself of new dis- coveries and inventions whenever practicable, and is connected with various medical societies. lle belongs to the Fountain County Medical So- ciety, to the Indiana State Medieal Society, and to the American Medical Association. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, one of the leaders of the
fraternity in this section, has held the office of Junior Warden of his lodge, and is at present Sell- for Warden thereof. In politics, he is in full syn- pathy with the Republicans.
R EUBEN SAUNDERS, a prosperons agricul- turist, and a brave and loyal citizen, who served his country faithfully during the late Civil War, and who is now a highly respected resident of Jackson Township, Fountain County, Ind., is a native of the State, but was born in Ripley Township, Montgomery County, in 1842. Our subject was the third in a family of seven children born to James and Mary A. (Harris) Saunders. His father was born in Massachusetts, and his mother was a native of New Jersey.
The paternal grandfather of Reuben Saunders was William Saunders; the grandfather was of Scotch descent, but the grandmother's forefathers made their early home in England. The maternal grandparents of our subject were William and Martha (Dickenson) Harris, whose ancestral fan- ilies were originally natives of Germany and Eng- land. The father of our subject was the youngest in a family of six children, all of whom grew to mature years. Reuben Saunders was the third child in a family of seven, and located with his parents in Fountain County, Ind., in 1843. Here he grew to mature years, actively engaged in farm- ing duties, and, when he could be spared, attend- ing the common schools of the neighborhood.
When the Nation issued the appeal for volun- teers in the Government's aid at the outbreak of the Civil War, our subject was among the noble army of true patriots who quickly responded to his country's summons. Hle at once enlisted in Com- pany M, First Indiana Cavalry, and served with this well-known regiment for nine months, being in several skirmishes and one engagement. After a brief absence from the field of war, he again en- listed, this time entering the Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, and he continued to serve faithfully until
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the close of the Rebellion. During this extended period of brave martial duty, Mr. Saunders parti- cipated in the battles of Franklin (Tenn.), Nash- ville, and Atlanta (Ga.), and was present at Ft. Anderson, N. C., and was in many minor engage- ments, sharing in the privations and dangers of the famous Atlanta campaign. In 1866, having been honorably released from the duties of a soldier's life, he returned to his home, and again resumed the peaceful avocation of a farmer.
In 1875 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Eva Brown, a well-known lady and a favorite with a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders are the parents of three children. The eldest is their son, Albert N., while the twin daughters, Edna C. and Stella E., comprise the other members of the pleasant home-circle. The entire family are progressive and public spirited, and cordially engage in all enterprises tending to uplift and benefit the worthy and deserving. Mrs. Saunders is a valued member of the Disciples' Church. and is an active Christian worker. The homestead of one hundred and twenty acres upon which the family resides is under a high state of cultivation, and contains substantial outbuildings and an attractive residence. Mr. Saunders believes in the principles of the Republican party, and sustains his opinion by the casting of his vote. For a full half century a witness of the im- provements and marked advance in all the great interests of his native State, he has been an im- portant factor in the progress of his immediate neighborhood, and is counted among the tried and true, the upright and sincere, whose word is as good as their bond.
AVID SHIIRK, JR., an energetic agricul- turist of Liberty Township, and widely known as one of the prominent young farmers of Parke County, has spent his - entire life upon the old homestead, ninety-five acres of which now belong to him. The farm is
pleasantly located on section 6, and is as well cul- tivated and finely improved as any of the estates in that section of country. All the buildings nec- essary for the storage of grain and shelter of stock may be found upon this place, and the family residence is a conveniently-arranged and comfort- able rural abode.
Upon the place where he now resides, the sub- ject of this sketch was born October 9, 1861. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of Parke County, and is the son of Lazarus and Mary (Cook) Shirk. His paternal grandfather, David Shirk, removed at an early day from Franklin County, Ind., to Parke County, Ind., and in 1827 made settlement in Liberty Township on section 6, where he improved a farm consisting of six hundred acres. He was one of the organizers of the Old-School Baptist Church in Liberty Town- ship and officiated as its minister for many years. His death at the old homestead was a great loss to that denomination, for the success of which he had labored unwcariedly, and he was also mourned by the people, irrespective of religious beliefs. In politics be affiliated with the Democrats. He and his wife reared a family of eleven children, whose names were, Lazarus, Joseph, Jolin, Hiram, Isaac, Martha, Malinda, Mary, Ellen, Sarah and Rosa.
Lazarus Shirk was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 15, 1822, and accompanied his par- ents to Indiana when he was a mere lad. Hc aided in the work of evolving a farm from the wilderness, and improved about three hundred and seventy acres, which were divided into two farms. An honest and upright citizen, and a ca- pable farmer, his death, January 4, 1892, was mourned not only by his immediate relatives, but also by the poor, whom he had always befriended, the afflicted, to whom he had ever been a sympa- thizing friend, and the citizens in general, who appreciated his manly integrity and nobility of character. While not active in political affairs, he never failed to cast his ballot in favor of Dem- ocratic principles, and steadfastly adhered to the platform of that party. At one time he was iden- tified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Montezuma, Ind.
The first marriage of Lazarus Shirk united him
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with Mary Cook, a native of Parke County, Ind., and a sister of Andrew and Charles Cook, sketches of whom appear elsewhere in this volume. Eight children came to bless the home, five of whom were reared to maturity, namely: Margaret, who died when thirty-two years old; Roseilla, wife of Oliver Burford; Andrew, who passed away at twenty-eight years of age; Dora A. and David. Thomas and John died when mere lads. The wife and mother died in 1865. Afterward Mr. Shirk married Miss Anna, daughter of Jacob and Aman- da (Woods) Rhodes, natives of Ohio, who became pioneers of Parke County. Mrs. Anna Shirk de- parted this life in April, 1891, leaving one child, Hardie L. Two children had been called hence prior to the demise of the mother. Our subject is honored and respected, and is a potent factor in the progress of the community. In politics he has been a Demoerat and is now an adherent of the platform of the People's party.
W ILLIAM WALKER. The world is crowded with men and women each trying to gain success through the different avenues of money-making, and day after day the ceaseless round of duty goes on; some giving attention to professional callings, some buying and selling in commercial headquarters, and still others cultiva- ting the soil. It is pretty generally conceded that the agriculturist leads the freest and easiest life, sinee his time is his own through much of the year, and certainly to no class of bread-winners are we indebted for more beneficial results than to the farmer.
Our subjeet at the present time is identified with the latter-named class, and is at this writ- ing working on his farm on section 21, Reserve Township, Parke County, where he has a good es- tate. Ile is a native of North Carolina. having been born in Wilkes County, March 2, 1847, to Howard and Alcey ( Parker) Walker. The grand- father of our subject was Jesse Walker, who came
to Indiana and there remained until his death. Mr. Walker of this sketch is one of a family of twelve children, of whom we mention those sur- viving: Martha, Sarah, Charity, Lucy, David, Letty, Ellon, Polly, William and James. The de- eeased are Matilda and Wesley. Our subject was reared on a farm and gained a sound practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits along with a limited education.
In the spring of 1864, when the call for troops was issued, the patriotism of our subjeet prompted him to enlist in the Fifty-fourth North Carolina Regiment. In the fall of that year, while engaged in battle, he was captured at Ft. Fields and carried to prison at Fortress Monroe. After having taken the oath of allegiance to the Government, he went to Indianapolis, Ind., and was there taken sick and placed in the hospital, where he remained for six weeks. In the latter part of December he located near Roseville, Florida Township, where he went to school the remainder of the winter, at the end of which time he hired out on a farm. working by the year for $220 per annum. For eleven long years he steadfastly persevered and prospered in this work, until in the spring of 1877 he was enabled to rent a farm, which he worked three years. In the year 1880 he purchased eighty acres, where he resided until March, 1884. At this time he sold and bought another farm of eighty acres on section 21 of Reserve Township, where he has since resided. In politics his father was an old-line Whig, but our subjeet has always been a warm supporter of the Republican party.
The gentleman of whom we write was united in marriage to Miss Anna Woodard, of Parke County, September 20, 1876. She was the daughter of Zachariah and Ilarmony (Cox) Woodard, natives of Wayne County, N. C., and Indiana, respectively. The father was an early pioneer of Reserve Town- ship, and was twice married. To himself and first wife were born three boys and six girls, all of whom are living except four. llis second wife was the mother of five children: Francis, a Con- gregational minister, and a graduate of Blooming- ton and Ilartford; Julian, Ruth and Anna. Nerus is deceased. This lady's people were members of the Friends' Church. To Mr. Walker and wife
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have been granted three children: Allen C., Ger- trude L. and Maude R. Our subject and wife have been working for the cause of the Methodist Church for a number of years, the former having united with the church a quarter of a century ago and the latter thirteen years ago.
ANCELOT C. EWBANK, a native son of Indiana, has made his home for nearly thirty years on his well-equipped farm, which is on section 16, Sugar Creek Township, Parke County. From the original farm of eighty acres, which he bought prior to 1865, his posses- sions have steadily increased until there are two hundred and eighty-four acres of fertile land with- in the boundaries of his home farm. He has good and substantial buildings, among these being a commodious frame barn and a pleasant, home-like residence. Many of the local official positions have been held by our subjeet, he having served as Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and he is now a Notary Public. In the time of the Nation's need he responded to her summons with true pat- riotism, enlisting in September, 1861, in Company I, Thirty-first Indiana Regiment, and took part in the siege of Corinth and the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, in which latter he received a wound in the right shoulder and breast from a shell. This necessitated his going to the hospital, and after a while he was placed in control of the same. Returning to his regiment, he there re- mained until, on account of an abscess on his thigh, he had to return to the hospital, where he remained until discharged at Indianapolis in 1864.
The birth of our subject occurred on July 20, 1837, in Dearborn County, Ind. His parents were Lancelot and Polly (Blasdel) Ewbank. Grand- father John Ewbank was born in England, and when about sixty years of age emigrated with his family to the United States, locating in Indiana, in which State he followed the same occupation
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