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 41
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 41
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 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
The firm of Morgan & Lee is a very important one in this city and they conduct a business on fair principles. They have a complete set of ab- stracts, which is one of the only two sets in ex- istence in the county. Not a small part of the life of this busy man is devoted to the insurance business, and his firm represents the following fire insurance companies: Phoenix, of Hartford; Phoenix, of Brooklyn; Guardian, London; Com- mercial Union, of London. The firm also repre- sents these life insurance companies: The North- western Mutual Life, of Milwaukee; the Fidelity and Casuality, of New York; the Globe, of Indianapolis; Accident, etc. The firm has over $150,000 life insurance in force.
The marriage of Mr. Morgan took place Novem- ber 22, 1871, to Miss Phoebe J. Dunbar, the daughter of Andrew Dunbar, of Decatur County, Ind. The mother of Mrs. Morgan is now in her eighty-third year and finds a pleasant home with her daughter, where she is tenderly cared for in her declining years. The family residence is at No. 708 East Market street, in the city of Craw- fordsville. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have two chil- dren: William Harrison, who has reached the age of nineteen and is clerking in a store, begin- ning a business career for himself, and Mary Grey, who graduated from the high school in 1892. Herbert Fisher was adopted by them at the age of four months and is now nine years old.
In Mrs. Morgan the Christian Church tinds a
devout member and cordial supporter. Mr. Mor- gan has identified himself with the important so- cial orders and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has been Master of Finance in the Knights of Pythias for the past twelve years. He also belongs to Scioto Tribe, No. 100, Independent Order of Red Men. He and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. Mr. Morgan is one of the progressive men of Craw- fordsville and the city is indebted to him in that so many of the practical suggestions of business men have become settled facts. His popularity is great among his fellow-citizens.
F J. MOORE, a farmer, residing on Section 8, Wayne Township, claims the distinction of being the first white child born in this part of Montgomery County. His father, Philip Moore, was a worthy descendant of the Moore family of Kentucky. He was born in Pennsylvania, where he spent the early part of his life, enlisting from that state as a soldier in the War of 1812. He afterward removed to Ohio, whence he came in 1824 with his family to Indiana, and was among the first to select Montgomery County as a suitable place for the site of a new home, pre-empting a tract of wild land from the Government to develop into a farm. The coun- try roundabout was still in its primitive condition, and the forest was filled with deer, wild turkeys and other game that could be easily shot from the door of the log cabin in which the family first dwelt. Indians were still numerous, made fre- quent calls and were always on friendly terms with the Moores.
After a few years of hard labor Mr. Moore be- gan to reap the fruits of his work, having by thrift and industry changed his land into a fine farm, and he likewise materially assisted in the growth of the township. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty years, respected throughout the county as a man of sterling qualities, and his name is held in remembrance as one of the upbuilders of the county. He and his good wife reared the follow- ing children: Julia Ann, who was born in Ohio,
369
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
married George Smith, and died in Missouri; Is- rael, who was also born in Ohio, married Sarah Hayes, and died in this county; Louisa, who was born in this county, married George Hayes, and died here; Mary, who married John Moore, and died in this county; Elsie, a native of this county; Eliza, who is the wife of Cornelius Phillips, and our subject.
He of whom we write was reared on his father's farm, and under his instruction, while helping him to clear and cultivate his land, gained a practical knowledge of farming in all its branches, that con- tributed to his success in managing a farm of his own after he entered upon his independent career as an agriculturist. He was poor at the start, but by good judgment and tact in business he has worked his way to comparative affinence, over- coming all obstacles that beset him, and prosper- ing in all his undertakings. He is now one of the most competent farmers in his native county and has a large farm that is under the best of tillage and is provided with improvements of a high order.
He is a man of strict integrity, honest in thought and deed, and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church, identifying them- selves with all that is good and will elevate the community socially and religiously, and contribut- ing freely to all worthy objects that come under their notice.
Mr. Moore and Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Joseph Pierce, of Wayne Township, were united in marriage in 1850, and they have a home replete with comfort and abounding in hospitality. The following is recorded of the twelve children with whom they have been blessed: Elizabeth, who was born in 1851, died in 1852; Sarah Jane, wife of Scott Fisher, was born in 1853; William was born in 1855, and died at home in 1872; Sarah Ellen was born in 1858, and married W. S. Seitzer, of Wayne Township; Ida Jane, who was born in 1861, died in 1862; George Albert, who resides with his parents, was born in 1863; John, a resi- dent of Wayne Township, was born in 1866, and married a Miss Betts; Emma, wife of Elwood Swank, was born in 1868; Eva, who was born in 1868, died in 1869; Albert, who was born in 1870,
died in 1875; Lotta, who was born in 1874, also died in 1875; Jessie, the youngest, was born in 1876.
George Albert, our subject's eldest living son, is engaged with him in the management of his ex- tensive farming and stock interests. He is an active and useful citizen, well informed on all general subjects, and is ably serving as Justice of the Peace. He holds a prominent place in social circles as a member of the Masonic Lodge of Waynetown and of the Knights of Pythias organi- zation.
*
G EORGE ROWLAND, M. D. To become eminent as a physician requires not only great skill and a thorough knowledge of the profession, but it also requires much natural tact and the ability to administer to a " mind dis- eased " as well as to look after the physical condi- tion of a patient. Dr. Rowland is one of those who speedily gains the confidence of his patient, and upon quitting them leaves them in a happy and hopeful frame of mind, which contributes in no small degree to their speedy recovery, providing the nature and character of the ailments or the in- tensity of suffering is not such as to make a placid condition of mind impossible. He was born at Hillsboro, Fountain County, Ind., April 19, 1840, a son of Dr. Thomas Rowland and America (Mc- Intyre) Rowland, the former of whom was born in Loudoun County, Va., and the latter in Washing- ton County, Ind., in 1836. She is a daughter of Maj. Robert McIntyre, who settled in Rob Roy about the time of her birth.
Dr. Thomas Rowland began the study of medi- cine with Dr. Crawford of Rob Roy and after- ward entered upon his practice at Hillsboro, where he married. In 1840 he went to Chambers- burg and there was engaged in the practice of medicine until his death, which occurred in 1864, his patronage being a very extended and lucrative one. He was also an extensive dealer in real estate, was engaged in farming and stock-raising, and successfully conducted a general mercantile establishment at Chambersburg. He was born
370
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
July 25, 1810, his death occurring on the 21st of August, 1864.
Mrs. Rowland died when their son George was four years of age and he afterward married Miss Malinda Walker, who survives him and resides on a farm near Veedersburg. George is the elder of two children born to his parents, the other mem- ber being Mary Frances, of Sterling, Neb., the widow of Charles Grady. The father's second marriage resulted in the birth of four children: Francena, wife of John McBroom, of La Fayette; Maranda M,. wife of Wallace Luke, of Covington; Walsey Walker, a resident of Wylie, Tex., and Caroline Florence, wife of Jacob Carpenter, of Veedersburg.
Dr. George Rowland attained man's estate in Chambersburg and in that place pursued the study of medicine for some time, after which he entered the Medical College of Ohio, which he was attend- ing at the time of his father's death. He after- wards completed his medical studies in the Uni- versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating in the class of 1865 with the degree of M. D. He next took a course of lectures in the Medical College of Ohio and graduated in the class of 1866. He next became the administrator of his father's estate, giving bonds of $33,000, and three years were consumed before the final settlement was made. He then began practicing his profes- sion at Chambersburg, and there resided until May 30, 1869, when he was married to Miss Mary A. Spencer, of Belleville, W. Va., near where his grandmother lived and where he was visiting. With his young bride he began housekeeping on the lot on which he was born, where he remained until March, 1870. From that time until July, 1873, he practiced in Huntington, W. Va., at the end of which time he returned to Fountain County, Ind., and until 1877 was practicing at Veedersburg.
He organized the first paper of that place Octo- ber, 1874, the Veedersburg Review, and remained its most efficient editor for two years. The paper was started as an independent, but during the campaign of 1876 it became a red-hot Greenback paper. Upon the Doctor's removal to Attica, in 1877, he established the Attica Journal, to which
he gave his attention for two years, making it in- dependent in its politics. He disposed of his plant at the end of two years and it was removed to Covington in October, 1879, and became the Covington Journal. In this the Doctor retains a part interest, and for some time was associate editor, but now devotes his entire time to the prac- tice of his profession, and has a very large patron- age. He belongs to the Fountain County Medical Society, assisted in organizing it in 1867, and is a member of the State Medical Society. He keeps well posted in his profession, and contributes to several medical journals, his articles being ably written. He is one of the authors of the present law regulating the practice of medicine in Indiana.
He is a Democrat but is not active in politics, although he was a member of the United States Ex. Board during Cleveland's administration and is at present a member of the Board under Cleve- land. He is County Health Officer. He has one daughter, Maud Eva Keever, who is a graduate of the high school and Normal, and has taken a musical conrse at the De Pauw University at Greencastle, Ind. Edna, another daughter, died in infancy. Mrs. Rowland is a member of the Christian Church, but the Doctor is a Catholic. Up to about the age of forty-five years he was a member of the Christian Church also, but about four years ago he united with the Catholic Church after mature reflection and deliberation. At that time Father Plaister was the priest in charge, and largely through his influence the Doctor was led to change his religious views. He keeps his own dis- pensary and is acknowledged to be one of the most popular and successful physicians of his section of the country, his name being almost a household word.
H ENRY CONNERLY. Among the influen- tial farmers of Washington Township, Parke County, is he of whom we write, who owns a desirable and fertile farm on Section 13. He is an early settler of this county, which has been his home since he was four years of age. He was born in Lawrence County, Feb- ruary 25, 1828, and is the son of John and Eliza-
yours Truly J. M. Harshlarger
373
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
beth (Tyrell) Connerly. The former was a son of William Connerly, who was born in the north of Ireland, and emigrated to North Carolina and was there married. He engaged in agricultural pur- suits until the year 1821, when he removed to Lawrence County, Ind., settling within twelve miles of Bedford, where he entered land of the Government and resided until his death. His education was exceptional for a man of that early day. He was a member of the Baptist Church and reared a family of seven sons and three daughters, Thomas being the only one now living.
Onr subject's father was born in 1807 and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to Lawrence County, where he lived with them until his marriage, which occurred when he had reached his majority. His first wife, Elizabeth Tyrell, became the mother of our subject. She was one of six children, all of whom are since deceased. Mrs. Connerly died in 1844, and some time later the father married Miss Frances Johnson by whom he had eight children. After her death he married Miss Rhoda Palmer, and when she was called to her final rest he took for his wife Mrs. Nellie Barnes, whose death occurred only a few weeks afterward. Then Miss Catherine Nance became his wife and she survives her husband, who died in 1890. He was a Whig and later a Republican, serving several years as Township Trustee and Constable under the old law of Washington Township. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and a much respected citizen. About the year 1828 he began by renting land and farming, his place being only an eighty-acre tract. Four years later he emigrated with his family to Parke County, settling on Mill creek, where he reared his family of eighteen children, there be- ing two sets of twins in the number,
Upon reaching his majority, Henry Connerly of this sketch began learning the blacksmith trade andin 1850, with his twin brother, went to Barnes' Mill, which they carried on for eight years. Our subject then purchased one hundred acres, the farm which has since been his place of residence. In connection with his farming duties, he ran a threshing machine for six years. He has now two hundred and seventeen acres, which is all im- 18
proved, and has placed good buildings upon it, but when he first became the owner of the farm, only fifty acres had been fenced. He is considered one of the best farmers of the township, his place being a model of thrift.
In 1851 Mr. Connerly wedded Martha J. Arm- . strong, who was born in Parke County in 1830. Of their ten children two died in infancy. The other members of the family are: John W., Har- vey H .; Mary, wife of Ed. Watson; Eli D., who died at the age of eighteen; James J., Andrew W., Edward W., and Stephen A. The mother of these children died in 1873 and three years later Mr. Connerly married Mrs. Mary (Strickler) White, who had three children by her first mar- riage; John W., Esta, wife of Ira L. Davis, and Abner, deceased. Our subject and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in good standing, and, politically, the former casts his bal- lot in favor of the Republican nominees.
J ACOB M. HARSHBARGER, residing on Section 6, Clark Township, is one of the foremost of the citizens who have aided in the advancement and development of Mont- gomery County. He is a leading farmer and stock-raiser, one of the ablest of its business men and financiers, and one who has been long and honorably identified with its public life. He is also prominently connected with some of its lead- ing institutions, and has been very influential in advancing social, educational and religious inter- ests in his community.
Mr. Harshbarger was born March 10, 1828, in Botetourt County, Va., on the old family home- stead at the Harshbarger Grist Mill on Tinker creek, two miles from Roanoke city. In the fall of 1831 his parents left the old Virginia home with their children to seek a new one in the wilds of this county. His father purchased fourteen hun- dred acres of land of the Government, and lived in a rented cabin on Section 17, Clark Township, temporarily. In the spring of 1833 he removed *with his family into the more commodious house that he had built on his own land on Section 7 of the same township.
374
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Jacob M. Harshbarger was reared in that home, in which he lived some seventeen years. His edu- cation was conducted in the subscription schools of Ladoga, and among his teachers was William R. Nefsinger, who afterwards became a member of the Legislature in this state. David Shannon was also one of his teachers. He subsequently became County Surveyor, and he rose to the rank of the first educator in the county. At the age of sixteen Mr. Harshbarger left school and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-two. In the meantime he was married at the age of twenty years, one month and three days, and two years later removed from his father's place, March 10, 1850, to that of his father-in-law, upon which he still resides. He and his wife lived with and took care of her parents nntil their death, when Mrs. Harshbarger inherited their property.
Mr. Harshbarger has made many valuable im- provements on the old Myers homestead since it came under his control, including a handsome and commodious residence and a large and well ar- ranged barn. Our subject has his farm in a fine condition, its appointments of the best, and every- thing is kept in good order. He and his wife owned at one time fourteen hundred acres of land, and until very recently had nine hundred and eighty-seven acres of realty. He is much inter- ested in raising fine stock, and has some of the best in the county, making a specialty of breeding first class Shorthorn cattle, of which he has a noble herd, including a thoroughbred bull of that broed. He raises blooded horses, has a great many high graded Poland China hogs, and keeps the cele- brated Shropshire sheep, there being in his flock two ewes recently imported at a cost of $65 each.
Mr. Harshbarger's character, keen insight into business matters, wide experience, large public spirit, and eminent fitness in every way for respon- sible positions early brought him to the front, and he has done valuable service in various official capacities, while his name is associated with many enterprises of incalculable benefit to the township and county. He was County Commissioner three years from December, 1879, until December, 1882, and for twenty seven years he was School Director
in his district, always a friend to education, and doing all in his power to raise the standard of edu- cation in this section. He was Director of the County Fair at New Ross for three years, and was Director of the Montgomery County Fair at Craw- fordsville eleven years. He has been repeatedly solicited by his friends to accept the nomination for Representative from his county, but has de- clined the honor.
Mr. Harshbarger is a Republican, a strong pro- tectionist, and is unswerving in his allegiance to his party. He belongs to the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, and is President of the County Council of the association. He is Treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Insurance Company, of Montgomery and Fountain counties, and ever since the Bank of Ladoga was organized he has been President of the bank. He has always nsed his influence to introduce public improvements and was one of the principal men who were instrumen- tal in securing the Whitesville and Ladoga Free Turnpike, as well as in having the roads graveled and bridges built to facilitate travel.
Mr. Harshbarger is a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association, and was one of its captains for a number of years. He has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and has held the office of Senior Warden of the Ladoga Lodge, No. 187. In his church relations he is as- sociated with the Christian denomination and is a deacon in the Christian Church at Ladoga. He was one of the building committee at the time their house of worship was erected, being one of the prime movers in having it built, and he was very active in collecting money to pay for it, be- sides contributing liberally himself.
April 13, 1848, our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary M. Myers, a daughter of Henry and Hannah (Arnold) Myers. Her birth- place was near that of her husband on Tinker's Creek, in Botetonrt County, Va., and she was born October 28, 1826. Her father was born Jannary 1, 1798, about a quarter of a mile from the early home of our subject, and her mother was born October 3, 1806, near Brough's Mill, Botetonrt County. The father of Henry Myers was John
375
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Myers, Sr., who was the son of a German and a native of Pennsylvania, whence he had migrated to Botetourt County, Va. Hannah Arnold was the daughter of Daniel Arnold, who removed from Pennsylvania to Virginia in 1795. His father came from Germany to this country.
In 1833 the Myers family left Virginia to settle in this state. For three years they lived in Scott Township, near Parkersburg, and then Mr. Myers bought the farm upon which our subject now re- sides, and this was his home until his death, De- cember 27, 1875. His wife passed away January 8, 1876. They had but two children, Mrs. Harsh- barger and her brother Daniel, who was born De- cember 13, 1830, and died February 11, 1841. Mr. Myers was a reserved man, who attended strictly to business and accumulated a handsome property, including five hundred and twenty-four acres of land.
Mr. and Mrs. Harshbarger have had five children, of whom these three are living: Sa- loma E., who was born January 11, 1854, and is now the wife of Henry Davidson of Union Town- ship; Amanda A., who was born June 17, 1856, , and is now the wife of the Hon. E. B. Brookshire, who is serving his second term in Congress as Representative of this district, and George W., who was born October 20, 1858, married Eva J. Canine, and resides with his father. He has two children: Earl M., who was born April 14, 1885, and Mary Ethel, born October 29, 1886. Death has taken from our subject and his wife two of their beloved children: Marion M., who was born February 3, 1851, and died August 15, 1852, and Henry M., who was born April 5, 1852, and died September 20, 1876. He had married Lavina Peffley, who was born in February, 1855, and they had one child, Lula May, who was born August 31,1876.
Mr. Harshbarger is a true lover of home, and is intensely patriotic, at least as regards this part of the great Republic. He has traveled in Kansas, and as far north in the United States as Wiscon- sin, and not long ago he spent five weeks in Balti- more and Washington, but his convictions remain unshaken that there is no place like central In- diana, and no county equal to his own.
A RTHUR A. HARGRAVE, editor and pro- prietor of the Rockville Republican, is one of the most prominent young business men in Parke County. He was born in Port- land Mills, Putnam County, Ind., August 15, 1856, and is the son of William H. and Susan (Bishop) Hargrave, of whom further mention is made in the biographical sketch of the father, pre- sented elsewhere in this volume. He was two years old when his father located on a farm in Putnam County, and there he spent the days of his boyhood, his time being devoted mostly to dn- ties incident to rural life, and his opportunities for education limited.
When thirteen years old our subject accompan- ied his parents to Rockville, where he carried on his studies in the public schools. At the age of seventeen he commenced to learn the trade of a printer in the office of the Rockville Republican. In 1876 he entered Wabash College at Crawfords- ville, from which institution he was graduated in 1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. While in college he was one of the Baldwin prize essay- ists, and won considerable local fame through his high order of abilities.
Upon leaving college Mr. Hargrave accepted the position of reporter on the Kansas City Journal and remained in that position for one year, when he returned to Rockville. In the spring of 1883 he became reporter for the Terre Haute Express, but events soon afterward took place which in- duced him to resign that position for work in for- eign lands. During the year above mentioned he was offered a position by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions and at once sailed for Persia, where he took charge of the printing establish- ment of the Board at Oroomiah. The printing was done in the Syriac language, which he soon mastered. During a portion of the time spent abroad he was an editor of the monthly, entitled Rays of Light which was printed in the Syriac language.
While in Persia, Mr. Hargrave met Miss Marion S., daughter of the Rev. E. G. Moore, now of Worthington, Minn., and the acquaintance ripened into love. They were married in Oroomiah, July 9, 1885. Two years later, on account of the ill
376
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
health of Mrs. Hargrave they returned to the United States and for a time made their home at Terre Haute, Ind., where our subject filled the position of assistant editor of the Express. In the spring of 1888 he came to Rockville and pur- chased the Rockville Republican, which he has published ever since. At the time of the pur- chase the paper had greatly depreciated in valne, but Mr. Hargrave has succeeded in bringing it up to a high literary standard. New machinery has been added to the printing department, the typo- graphical appearance of the paper has been im- proved and the circulation increased. The Repub- lican is a weekly paper, Republican in politics, and contains local news as well as items of general in- terest. The proprietor, as the paper, is a strong Republican in his political belief and is one of the active workers in the ranks of the party. He takes considerable interest in educational matters and is one of the Trustees of the Rockville schools. His religious connections, as will be inferred from what has already been mentioned of his life, are with the Presbyterian Church. Socially be is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.