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 43
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 43
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 43
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Lewis Otterman was eighteen years old when he left his early home and migrated with his par- ents to the wilds of Indiana. He remained with his father until he was twenty and then his father gave him his time and he started out in life on his own account with a good fund of courage, ability to work and resolution to make his way in spite of serious obstacles. His only worldly possessions consisted of a poor suit of clothes and an axe. He first found employment with his Uncle Myers and afterward with his Uncle John at a salary of $8 a month. Notwithstanding his seant wages he managed to save $64 of his first year's earnings. Putting this money in a pouch which his mother made for him and hanging it about his neck, he walked to the land office at Crawfordsville and preferred his claim to eighty acres of land. During the four years that followed the energetie young man made enough working by the month to get one hundred and sixty-five acres of land.
In the fall of 1836, after his marriage to Miss Hettie, daughter of Samuel Pefley, who came to this county in 1835, Mr. Otterman took possession of his land and still makes it his home. He worked early and late, managed his affairs with shrewdness and far seeing judgment and won a place among the monied men of the county, ac- quiring a valuable property. Fifteen years ago he divided the greater part of his landed estate among his children, having then between eleven hundred and twelve hundred acres of choice land. He still holds a quit claim deed to the three hun- dred and fifty acres comprised in the farm on which he lives.
Mr. Otterman has ever proved himself a faithful citizen, who has the interest of his township and county at heart and is ever ready to promote the general good of the community in any way within his power. He has always been a friend to edu- cation and was an early advocate of free schools. He has been a life-long Democrat and during the war was a strong Unionist and Abolitionist. He has lived a temperate life, prolonged to a serene old age, and the cause of temperance has in him a firm supporter. He has not cared for public office and, though at one time appointed County Commis- sioner, was excused from serving in that capacity at his own request.
Mr. Otterman is not a believer in creeds, but takes the great truths laid down in the Bible as the truest exponents of religion. He has been a potent factor in the upbuilding of the Christian Church, of which he has been a devoted member forty-eight years. He was originally connected with the Hawk Creek Church, but in 1847 he and several others were instrumental in starting the church now known as Christian Chapel in his own neighborhood and he was also one of the founders of the Sunday-school. He has served as Deacon und likewise as Elder of the church and has con- tributed liberally of his means toward its support.
Five of the seven children that have blessed the marriage of our subject and his worthy wife are still living, as follows: Ann Eliza, wife of Isaac Smith, of Boone County; Sarah Jane, wife of Josiah Bradley, of this township; Samuel, of whom further mention is made; James M. and George
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W., who are residents of Clark Township. John F. and Lewis C. are the names of those that died.
Samnel Henry Otterman was born May 10, 1842, and reared on the old home place in Clark Town- ship. He attended the district schools in his boy- hood, where he obtained a practical education. He was well trained in agricultural pursuits on the old homestead and there he now carries on farm- ing and stock-raising on his own account. He has a farm of three hundred and fifty-five acres of good land, all finely improved and in a high state of cultivation.
In 1870 Mr. Otterman was wedded to Miss Somerville Roberts, a daughter of Larkin Roberts, a painter and cabinet-maker. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Otterman: Lewis Al- bert, born July 7, 1871; Hettie, January 15, 1874; Dora Belle, August 26, 1882; George M., Janu ary 7, 1885, and Lorene Alice, June 14, 1888. Mr. Otterman is a member of the Christian Church, is active in its every good work and in its Sunday- school, and his everyday life gives evidence of the sincerity of his religious professions. He belongs to the Montgomery County Horse Thief Detective Association and the community where he has al- ways lived and where he is well known finds in him one of its best citizens.
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AMES T. BALL, M.D., makes his home in Judson, Parke County, which has been his dwelling place since he began his professional career. When he began the practice of medicine he was $300 in debt for his school tuition, but this amount he soon paid and has steadily laid by money for investment. He has now a well-improved farm near the village, quite a tract of land in Kansas and three desirable pieces of town property.
The Doctor was born in this county, near what is known as New Discovery, October 9, 1859, and is a son of James and Nancy A. (Johnson) Ball. The father was born in Kentucky and reared in Ohio. Throughout life he followed the avocation of an agriculturist. He was three times married, our subject's mother being his third wife. Of his
first union were born four children: David, Mary, Abel, deceased, and Sarah. Three children graced the second marriage; two died in child- hood, and one, Dennis, resides near Indianapolis. Our subject is one of two children, his sister, Alice, now deceased, having been the wife of John M. Lucas. They had one daughter, Maud, now ten years of age, who is living with her uncle, the Doctor. James Ball died when our subject was only a child of two years, and some time after his mother removed to Knox County, Ind., where she became the wife of Horace A. Edwards, who later moved to Sullivan County. The mother's death occurred in 1881.
Dr. Ball was reared to manhood in Sullivan County, where he received a common-school edu- cation, with which his ambition did not allow him to be satisfied, for, while still in his youth he laid the foundation of study and research which he has continued in the years that followed.
He begun the study of medicine in the office of Dr. William A. Fleming at Pleasantville, Ind., in the winter of 1880, and the following autumn entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. Three years later he was graduated from that institution, where he took a special course in chemistry for which he received a special diploma. The Doctor is a member of the Parke County Medical Society, of the Mitchell District Medical Society, and of the State and the American Medical Associations. To the conventions of the latter in many different states the Doctor has been made a delegate for several consecutive years. After the completion of his collegiate course he located at once at Judson, which has since been the field of his operations. After having practised ten years, in the spring of 1893 he supplemented his medical studies by taking a post-graduate course at Chicago, in the Chicago Polyclinic Hospital.
At the home of the bride's parents, Robert and Amanda Clark, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, in April, 1884, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Ball and Miss Emma M. Clark. For eighteen years our subject has been a member of the Baptist Church, and fraternally, belongs to Howard Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F. of Rockville.
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He is a Republican, and in 1888 was chosen Trus- tee of his township by that party and re-elected to the position two years later.
R OBERT L. BARNES. In the twilight of an honored life, this venerable resident of Washington Township, Parke County, whose pleasant home was situated on Sec- tion 14, closed his eyes upon the scenes of earthly toil and usefulness and passed to the Great Beyond April 4, 1892. Esteemed in life, in death he was sincerely mourned, and among his many acquaint- ances there is not one who did not realize that in the death of this citizen the township had lost one of its most active members, and his family and friends one who was ever devoted to their happiness.
Mr. Barnes was born in 1848 to Edward and Sarepta Barnes, and received his education in the district schools of Parke County. He remained with his parents until he reached manhood, and was in partnership with his father in the milling business, which they followed successfully. He afterward located on a farm consisting of two hundred and forty acres of well cultivated land, taking with him his wife, who bore the maiden name of Susie Norcross, to whom he was married October 2, 1879. Mrs. Barnes is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Norcross, who were natives of Virginia.
To Robert Barnes and his wife were born two children, whom they named Mary and Roscoe. They are now both attending school and receiving good educations. In political life Mr. Barnes was a Democrat and molded his beliefs in accordance with the pronounced principles of that party. He died at the age of forty-four years, when in the prime of life, and left behind a good record as a citizen and in all the relations that he had sus- tained toward others.
Mrs. Susie Barnes was born in Rockbridge County, Va., September 5, 1860, to Thomas J. and Mary Norcross. The former parent was a son of William Norcross, a native of New Jersey, who there grew to mature years and after his marriage
emigrated and settled in Rockbridge County, Va., where he was the operator and owner of an iron forge. Subsequently he was engaged in farming to some extent. The birthplace of our Mrs. Barnes' father was also in Virginia, where he re- ceived a common-school education. When a young man he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Robert and Matilda Lewis.
In 1870 Mr. Norcross emigrated with his wife and family to Parke County, Ind., where be fol- lowed his trade of a plasterer for some time. He was the father of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Lucy, wife of J. P. Rusell; Susie, Mrs. Barnes; Etta, who married Charles Durham; Minnie and William. In re- ligious belief Mr. Norcross was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has taken great interest. Politically he was connected with the Democratic party, to the principles of which he stoutly adhered. His wife died in 1885, after which he removed his place of abode to the home of Mrs. Barnes, who is known for her pleas- ant disposition, hospitality and attractiveness, and is very highly esteemed in the community.
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OHN A. GOLDSBERRY, M. D., is one of the oldest practicing physicians of Penn Town- ship, Parke County, and the subject of a history more than ordinarily interesting. He is a man of fine physique, and of a noble character which has won him a host of friends in the county who have watched his career with an admiration well worthy of his achievements.
Dr. Goldsberry was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1835, and is the son of Mathias and Mary (McCaully) Goldsberry. The father was of an old Virginian family and born in the eastern part of that state in 1804. In his youth he emigrated to Ross County with his parents, where he received a good education in the select school of the Buckeye State, in the meantime helping his father on the farm. When a young man he married Miss Mary McCaully, whe became the mother of five children, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. The family comprised two sons and three
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danghters. After his marriage, in 1836, he came to Indiana, where he resided in Indianapolis for two years, at the end of which time he moved to Augusta. Here he followed his former occupation and remained until 1855, then locating in Putnam County, where he followed the grocery business. A few years later he was enabled to come to Rock- ville, where he led a retired life and died.
Dr. John A. Goldsberry began on his own ac- count by teaching a district school in Marion County, Ind., which vocation he followed eighteen months, meanwhile devoting all his spare time to the reading of medicine. At Bainbridge he studied medicine under Dr. James Gregory for two years, and then entered Rush Medical College of Chicago in 1864. He had previously taken a course in this college in 1856-57 and practiced on a small scale. After a second course in Chicago he began the practice at Parkeville, this county, and in 1865 lo- cated where he now resides, faithfully discharging his duties as a physician. He has lived here since 1865, with the exception of one year, which was spent in Greencastle, where his children were re- ceiving their education. A year previous to his locating in this county, Dr. Goldsberry entered the service as Assistant Surgeon in the First Heavy Artillery of Indiana, where he remained until the close of the war.
In 1858 the Doctor married Miss Mary Connelly, a daughter of David and Susan Connelly. Mrs. Goldsberry bore her husband six children, named as follows: Carrie, deceased; Laura; Charles, de- ceased; Omer, of Greencastle; Warren and Maude, deceased. The Goldsberry family is widely and favorably known throughout Parke County as be- longing to the best element of that section. They are people generally well-to-do, highly intelligent and prominent in the vicinity. Dr. Goldsberry has been prominent in local affairs and a supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Lodge No. 127, of Annapolis; also as a member of the Parke County Medical Society takes great interest in it, and in the State Medical Association. He is an industrious worker and appreciates the happiness and comforts of home life. All the avenues lead- ing to a snug competency are open and leading him
to the goal which he is zealously endeavoring to reach. He is a good paying and earnest member of the Methodist Church, having been connected with it for a number of years.
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AMES M. ELDER, who has for many years been engaged in farming in Washington Township, occupies a high place among the farmers of Parke County, to whose intelli- gence and industry is greatly owing its substan- tial progress. A native of Kentucky, his birth occurred in Madison County May 24, 1822, he being the son of Alexander and Ann (McCord) Elder. The father of our subject was also born in Madison County, Angust 5, 1786, and was the youngest of eight children born to his parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish de- scent.
Alexander Elder remained with his parents nn- til he reached manhood, in the meantime securing what education he could. He married Ann Mc- Cord in Madison County, Ky., who was born No- vember 19, 1792. After his father's death he came into possession of his father's estate, and in 1825 emigrated to Parke County, investing the few hundred dollars he had saved in four hundred and eighty acres of Government land. He came to his new home with a four-horse wagon and a cart and yoke of oxen, bringing with him all his family and household goods. Here he at once erected a rude cabin and lived till he attained the age of eighty-one years, at which time he saw the greater part of his farm improved. Notwithstanding all the hard work attached to this pioneer life, he and his wife with their seven children lived in enjoy- ment, contented with their lot. The children were named Andrew W., David, Margaret, Celia, Sal- lie, James and Elizabeth, all of whom are dead ex- cepting James. At one period of his life Mr. Elder worked at brick masonry, which proved a profitable business. He was a Democrat who stood by his party whether defeat or victory perched on its banners. For a number of years he was an active member of the Baptist Church. He passed away November 4, 1866, his wife hav- ing gone to her final rest about ten years before.
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James M. Elder remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he began in life for himself and took charge of the farm. Eight years later he chose a com- panion in the person of Sarah A. Burford, who is a daughter of William D. and Mary A. Burford. This union was blessed with eight children: Mary E., wife of John D. Overman; Amanda D., wife of Dudley McWilliams; William, deceased; Anna E., who married Joseph D. Adams; Emma J., wife of Wilson Cummings; Ella, who married Wilber Blue; Lucinda, wife of Charles Bridges, and James E. of Rockville.
Mr. Elder has always tried to give his children a good education, doing everything in his power for their advancement and aid. He is a diligent laborer in the work of the Baptist Church, as is also his wife, and the former is now acting as Deacon. He has proved himself in every way rez liable and useful to the community, and his many friends bear testimony to his worth and ability. Politically Mr. Elder is a Democrat, having cast his first vote for James K. Polk.
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W ILLIAM C. DOOLEY. This promising young man and intelligent farmer of Washington Township, Parke County, was born in 1872, to the late Reuben T. and Salomi (Newlin) Dooley, and was reared on the farm where he now lives. His father was a son of Silas and Sarah (Landen) Dooley, who were both natives of Ohio, and came to the state of Indiana, where they located in this county in an early day. In their journey hither the grand- mother rode on horseback, carrying her eldest. child in her arms to the new home in the forest. Here they resided on a large tract of land which belonged to an uncle, who had entered it from the Government years before. The grandfather was a very patriotic man, and when civil war was de- clared he gave three sons to the service of his country. Politically he supported the Whig can- didates, later casting his vote with the Republic- ans. He was a member in good standing of the New Light Church. His wife yet lives on the old
homestead and is a very intelligent and interesting old lady. Her husband continued to farm until his death, which occurred about 1875.
Reuben T. Dooley was born on the old home stead in the year 1848, and there received a mea- ger education in the same district in which his son was afterward educated, although the house was one of a more rude construction. He remained at. home with his parents until his father's death, after which the cares and duties of the farm fell upon his young shoulders. When twenty-one years of age he was united in marriage to a daughter of Enos and Elizabeth (Rheubottom) Newlin. This lady was born in Parke County and was the mother of five children: Fred L., Will- iam C., Charlie, Carrie and Henry. She, with her husband, worked efficiently in the Presbyterian denomination. Her husband was a Republican politically, and kept himself well informed on the issues of the day. He died September 3, 1892, at the age of forty-four years.
A very important event occurred in the life of William C. when he was united in matrimony October 12, 1892, to Tola B., daughter of W. R. and Jennie Cooper. Mr. Dooley has charge of the home farm, which consists of one hundred and thirty acres of cultivated land, and is not only a prosperous farmer but a very successful stock- raiser as well. He keeps on his farm a number of draft horses and roadsters, also some cattle of the best breeds. In business he is methodical and systematic, reliable in all things, enterprising and progressive. The record of his life is one of in- terest, owing to the fact that he has made his own way in the world, and it is well worthy of emnla- tion by young men who have to fight life's battles unaided. He is a great comfort to his aged grandmother, who makes her home with him.
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OHN D. HUEY. The man who chooses the vocation of a farmer will in all probability be spared the excitement which belongs to some pursuits and the stirring events which characterize life in the centers of commerce. Ex- amples of unremitting zeal, sincere kindliness and
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strict integrity may be met with in every agricult- ural district of our country, and it affords us pleasure to embody in this volume the brief out- line of the life of an unassuming citizen of Wash- ington Township, Parke County, who is justly honored for his noble character and useful life.
A native of Virginia, Mr. Huey was born in Wythe County, in the year 1811, to Thomas E. and Rhoda (Draper) Huey. The grandfather, Robert Huey, was a native of the Keystone State, where he was reared and married, after which he migrated to Ohio with his family in an early day, and located near the present site of Dayton. Here he followed the occupation of a farmer until the breaking out of the Revolution. To himself and wife were born nine children, six sons and three daughters. His wife died a few years pre- vious to the death of her husband, who passed away at the ripe old age of eighty-five years.
The father of our subject was a native of Penn- sylvania, being born February 22, 1780. Having been deprived of parental care in his early youth he was taken into the home of an uncle in Wythe County, Va., where he remained until his mar- riage. After this event he followed his occupa- tion of a farmer in the Old Dominion until the fall of 1832, when he migrated with his family, to Parke County, Ind., bringing with him six horses, a buggy and a little produce. Here he bought and located on the farm where our subject now makes his home, and also entered one hun- dred and twenty eight acres from the government on Sand creek. On the former place, which was densely wooded, he at once commenced the erec- tion of a rude log house, 18 by 20 feet in dimen- sions, to which he afterward added another room, 16 by 18 feet.
To Mr. Huey and wife were born six children, two of whom died in infancy. The others were named Eleanor, Jane, John D. and Joseph, and all are now deceased with one exception. Thomas E. Hney, when a young man, enlisted in the War of 1812, but was never in battle. Politically he was a member of the old Whig party, and with his wife worked in the cause of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Huey was an intelligent gentle- man and noted for his many worthy traits of
character, which recommended him as an agreea- ble person to all with whom he came in contact. At the time of his death he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of well improved land. He passed away in 1856, a few years after the decease of his wife.
John D. Huey began in life for himself by tak- ing charge of his father's farm of two hundred acres, on which he did the most of the clearing. At the time of his father's demise he was perfectly capable of managing the farm, which for years afterward yielded him an abundant harvest. In 1836 he was married to Miss Sallie, the eldest daughter of Alexander and Anna Elder. They became the parents of six children: Emma, Eme- line, Sarah, Thomas, John R. and Florence. Po- litically, Mr. Huey is an advocate of the Repub- lican party. He has by his own self-reliance, energy and labor accumulated three hundred and forty acres of rich farming land, and with his son, J. R., is now carrying on the home farm. Be- sides being engaged in general farming he deals extensively in Short-horn and Jersey cattle, Po land-China hogs, and Cotswold sheep. Mr. Hney deserves great credit for his excellent management in farming and stock-raising. He is a good citi- zen, and by his friendly manner has won a host of friends in the community. In 1870 Mr. Hney was bereft of his life companion, who was a kind and indulgent mother, a devoted wife, and a true helpmate.
P ERMINTER P. NOEL. In this volume may be found biographies of many influen- tial citizens who have plodded up the steeps of honor and prosperity with remarkable energy and success. The life of Mr. Noel fur- nishes a good example of this kind. He is now the owner of a good farm in Washington Town- ship, Parke County, and thereon is devoting his time and strength to agricultural pursults. Pro- gressive in every way, he is known in this section as one of the well-to-do and prominent farmers. A native of this county, our subject was born Feb- ruary 25, 1845, to Samnel and Rachael (Parks)
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Noel. The father was the son of William Noel, who was a native of Kentucky and died when the father of our subject was very young. Being left to depend upon himself, the father of our subject began serving a three years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. At the end of this time he commenced in business for himself, which he car- ried on in Kentucky for an indefinite period. His marriage to Anna Carver resulted in the birth of the following children: James, William, Samuel, Artimesa, Mary, Hannah and Martha, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Hannah and Samuel.
In the year 1831 the father of our subject, with his wife and six children, came to Parke County, where he entered land on which he now makes his home. At that time he was able to enter one hun- dred and sixty acres of timber land, but by work- ing industriously at his trade, in the meantime carrying on his farm as best he could, at the end of nineteen years he owned three hundred acres of good farming land, the greater part of which he lived to see improved. After the decease of his first wife, Mr. Noel married a second time, choos- ing Mrs. Rachael Noel, daughter of James and Nancy Parks and a widow of Barnett Noel. By her first marriage Mrs. Noel became the mother of three children: Nancy, deceased; Sarah, deceased, and Mary, deceased. From her union with Mr. Samuel Noel have been born two children, P. P. and Nancy J. The mother of our subject, was a native of North Carolina, being born August 4, 1809. Her parents were also natives of North Carolina, and after moving to Virginia, where they lived but a short time, they located in Monroe County, Ind., and there settled among the Indians. The par- ents of our subject were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically the father was a Whig, casting his first vote for Henry Clay for the Legislature. In late years he voted the Republic- an ticket. During his life he took an active part in the affairs of his township and was the recipient of many local offices. He passed away January 22, 1872.
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