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 45
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 45
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 45
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In 1886 his brother Emerson became his part- ner and soon after they began to compile law works, the importance of which we will notice later. The marriage of Mr. Tilghman E. Ballard took place June 22, 1876, in Logansport, Ind., to Miss Eva Clodfelter, and two bright children (Ray C. in his eleventh year and Mary Ann in her third year) make their home happy.
Emerson E. Ballard was born February 27, 1865,
in Putnam County, near Wheaton, was reared there until near the age of fourteen years and then moved to Greencastle and graduated from the high school there in 1881 and from the university at De Pauw in 1885 with the degree of A. B. He then began to read law and was admitted to practice in 1886 and at once became connected with his brother. In June, ISSS De Pauw University conferred on him the degree of A. M. In 1888, December 29, he married Miss Ella Clodfelter, a sister of the wife of his brother, and has one daughter, Mau- rine.
Both members of the firm work in close connec- tion, but the older is very strong in court trials and is well known all over the state. Aside from faithfully discharging their duties to their clients, these brothers have found time to establish their names in legal literature. They are authors of " Ballard's Real Estate Statutes of Indiaua," also of a similar work of Kentucky, and joint authors with Mr. Thornton of the " Annotated Indiana Practice Code." The Ballard Brothers also pub- lish "Ohio Law of Real Property," and the "An- nual on the Law of Real Property." They are ed- itors and publishers of the last-named book, hav- ing recently organized the Ballard Publishing Company. These works have received the highest endorsement of the bench and bar.
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H UGH McCALIP, a retired minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, is now identi- fied with the farmers and stock-raisers of Montgomery County and has a finely-ap- pointed farm in Scott Township. He is a native of this state and was born August 17, 1835, in Bartholomew County. His father, H. K. McCalip, was born in Kentucky and was twelve years old when the family settled among the early pioneers of Bartholomew County, this state, where he grew to a stalwart manhood and in due time was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Ray. He was a farmer and was actively engaged in his occupation in the same place in Bartholomew County until his de- mise in 1883. His wife survived him until March, 1890, and was then laid to rest by his side. They
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were people of high moral character and were de- vout members of the Missionary Baptist Church, to which he had belonged forty years and he was a deacon of the church. The following of their children survive: Our subject; Goodson, a farmer, living in Nebraska; William, a resident of Col- umbus; John, a resident of Crawfordsville, and Margaret, wife of David Vanshike, a harness- maker at Scotia, Neb.
The subject of this biographical review passed his boyhood on his father's farm in his native county and besides receiving a thorough drilling in all that pertains to farming obtained such an education as was afforded by the district schools. In early manhood he married Miss Samantha J., daughter of Daniel Terry, a farmer of Shelby County. After his marriage he located on a farm and continued to farm in Bartholomew County un- til the war broke out. When President Lincoln issued his call for three hundred thousand volun- teers he laid aside his work to help fight his coun- try's battles, enlisting in August, 1861, in Com- pany I, Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He saw much hard service in the ensuing years, but per- formed his part well in camp and on the field. He was with his regiment at the battle of Arkansas Post and during an engagement with the enemy at Munfordsville, Ky., he was taken prisoner, but was paroled, and his military experience was brought to an end subsequently by his honorable discharge April 11, 1863.
After he left the army Mr. McCalip engaged in the boot and shoe business at Hope, Ind., for two years and was then elected Township Trustee. He served in that capacity two terms and then devoted himself exclusively to the ministry, whose sacred duties be had taken upon himself in 1864. He first filled the pulpit of the Sharon Church, in his native county, occupying it for four years. His next charge was the Dry Fork Baptist Church, in Shelby County, and he afterward presided over the Acton and Brookfield Churches for two years. The succeeding two years the churches at Geneva and Hawk Creek had the benefit of his pastoral care. Having very acceptably filled these various appointments, his health gave way from his too zealous labors and he abandoned the ministry.
Removing to Greenburg, he resumed his former business for a time. The third year, with re- newed health he took up his sacred calling again, receiving the appointment as missionary from the Flat Rock Domestic Missionary Association. He did good work during the year that he held the office and at the end of that time he resumed preaching and looked after the spiritual interests of the Brookfield and Acton Churches. Two years later he exchanged the pulpit for secular work once more and for a year kept a hotel at Hartville. Returning to Hope he was elected Justice of the Peace by his old fellow-citizens.
Mr. McCalip's next move was to Osborne, Kans., where he turned his attention to the barber business. He remained there two years and theu came back to his native state and for a year was occupied at the same trade in Rockville, Parke County. He spent the ensuing two years at Craw- fordsville, living retired the first year and the sec- ond accepting a clerkship in a grocery store. While there his first wife died May 2, 1881, and June 22, 1882, he was married to Amanda E. Ga- ley, the daughter of John Munns, of Ripley Township. After his second marriage our subject located in Scott Township, where he now lives. He has a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres, whose well-tilled fields yield large harvests, and its improvements are of the best, the resi- dence, a handsome structure of a modern and ap- propriate style of architecture, and the out-build- ings well planned and substantially built. Mr. McCalip does a general farming business and raises stock of good breeds. His sheep are the celebrated Oxford variety and he has a valuable flock of one hundred and forty.
Mr. McCalip is the father of four children by his first marriage: Luella, who lives at Craw- fordsville; William R .; Amos, who is a printer in the Star office, and Mary, who lives in the family of the Rev. Mr. Hayes, a Presbyterian minister at Muncie. Mrs. McCalip has one child by a former marriage who is. now the wife of Dr. Waldon, at New Market.
This brief outline of the life of our subject shows him to be a Christian gentleman of irre- proachable character, who has exerted a good in-
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fluence in whatever community he has lived, and the Missionary Baptist Church has in him one of its most earnest and faithful workers, who has been a very useful instrument in spreading its doctrines and promoting the healthy growth of the church. His wife is also a member of that church. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and takes an active in- terest in the temperance cause.
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W ILLIAM W. McCUTCHAN. The farm- ing interests of Washington Township are carried on by an active and intel- ligent class of men who are thus perform- ing their share in maintaining and extending the agricultural interests of this county. Among them is the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, and who is a member of one of the old pio- neer families of this section.
A native of this county, Mr. MeCutchan was born on what is now his present farm, January 30, 1841. He is a son of William and Margaret (Cooper) McCutchan. The former's father was also a son of William and Jene (Finley) Mc- Cutchan. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject was born in Virginia of Scotch Irish parent- age, they having come to America in colonial times. He followed the occupation of a farmer and chose for his companion in life a daughter of Robert Finley of Virginia. They became the parents of ten children, all of whom reached manhood and womanhood, and afterward became the heads of families. The grandfather was a brave soldier under Washington's command in the Revolution, and drove his general's headquarters wagon for three years, during which time he was never home. Socially he was both a member and Elder of the Associate Presbyterian Church, as was also his father.
The father of our subject, William, was born in Angusta County, Va., September 2, 1802, where he grew to manhood, obtaining an education in the common schools. He married the daughter of William and Amy (Harris) Cooper on the 5th of April, 1827. To them were born ten children, three of whom died in youth. Those who are liv- ing are: Susan J., Mary C., James A., Orlander L.,
Merideth M., Margaret M., William W. Onr sub- ject's father came to Indiana in 1828, locating on the farm deeded to him by his father, where his son William, our subject, now lives. This farm con- sisted of one hundred and sixty acres of well im- proved, productive land. The father was politic- ally a Democrat until the advent of the Republic- an party, when he was one of the first to cast his ballot for its candidates. The mother of our sub- ject was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., and was born January 13, 1799. Her parents were also natives of Virginia and came of Irish ancestry. She passed away April 19, 1874.
James A., a brother of the original of this notice, entered the late war but was soon taken prisoner in Kentucky and was paroled and finally honorably discharged. Another brother, Merideth, entered the service in 1861, where he remained for three years, and at the expiration of his term was honorably discharged and re-enlisted as a veteran, serving until the close of the conflict. He was fortunately never wounded, although he partici- pated in some of the hardest fought battles of the war.
William W. McCutchan was also active in pre- serving the honor of his country, and in May, 1865, enrolled his name with the comrades of Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-Seventh Indiana Infantry. But the struggle between the north and south coming to a close, and peace being declared, Mr. McCutchan's services were no longer needed, and lie was discharged six months from the time of his enlistment. Mr. McCutchan is a public-spirited, wide-awake and progressive citizen and is favorably known in his native county. He was elected in 1887 to the responsible position of Justice of the Peace, and is now serving his second term. He has held the office for the past six years, and he discharges its duties with credit to himself and his constituents.
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H ARRISON COLLINGS, deceased, was one of the foremost farmers in Washington Township, Parke County, and was born in Shelby County, Ky., in the year 1816. He was the son of John and Sarah (Nutgrass)
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Collings, and when about sixteen years of age came to Parke County, where he began farming. Some years later he wedded Miss Rebecca Collings, after which he located on a farm given him by his father-in-law, to which he added until he became the happy possessor of two hundred acres of some of the finest and most productive land in the coun- ty. Mr. Collings was a supporter of the Whig party, but on the organization of the Republican party he cast his ballot and influence with that party. He lived a quiet, unassuming life, faith- fully discharging the duties of citizenship, and was recognized as one of the leading farmers of his township. He died February 21, 1887, leav- ing a host of friends and acquaintances whom he had won by his genial disposition and courteous manners and square dealings with his fellow-men.
Mrs. Rebecca Collings is a native of Shelby County, Ky., and was born July 10, 1822, to Will- iam and Elizabeth (Johnson) Collings. The for- mer was born in the same county as his daughter, in 1797, and was a son of William and Mary (Welch) Collings, both natives of Maryland. Will- iam was the son of Zeblin Collings, who came to Kentucky in a very early day and settled on the present site of Louisville. He was a shoemaker by trade, yet a farmer by occupation. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Col- ling's father being the ninth in order of birth. The elder William was a member of the Baptist Church and proved an effectual worker in that cause. He died at the age of eighty years, his wife having preceded him several years.
The father of Mrs. Collings received his educa- tion in the district schools of his native county, and after gaining what was called at that time a very fair knowledge of books he turned his atten- tion to farming. He was united in marriage to a daughter of Lanty and Rebecca (Fry) Johnson, and by her became the father of ten children, Rebecca being the second born. He was honored with the deaconship in the Baptist Church, of which he was a highly esteemed member. In pol- itics he was in early years a Whig, but later cast his ballot for the Republican party. In 1836 he migrated with his family to Parke County, bring- ing all his earthly possessions over in wagons.
Here he purchased a quarter section of land, to which he added from time to time, and made his home here until his death in 1868. His compan- ion lived until 1877, when she, too, went to her eternal rest.
The amiable widow of our subject was the oldest child at home at the time of her parents' death, consequently the heaviest of the work fell on her young shoulders. Her husband was an active worker in the Baptist denomination, to which she has faithfully discharged her obligations for a number of years. The family now consists of her- self and two children, Lucinda and John W., who are both at home, the latter taking charge of the home farm.
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ILMAN JOSEPH LEHR, a retired brick- maker, who has made a success of his busi- ness and is now enjoying the fruits of his past labor, was born in Lehigh County, P'a., May 9, 1831. His parents were John J. and Su- sannah (Carker) Lehr, both natives of Pennsylva- nia. When T. J. was three years old, they moved to Wooster, Ohio. His father was a weaver of fancy materials. He died in 1865, and his wife in 1891.
In 1851 Tilman J. Lehr came to Fort Wayne, and soon after took up his trade of making brick, beginning business for himself in 1865, and coming to Crawfordsville in 1868. While in Fort Wayne he had taken a contract to make brick for the Michigan City State Prison, and burned the brick at that place, getting out some twelve or thirteen millions. But becoming acquainted with Richard Epperson, Superintendent of the prison at Michi- gan City, Ind., he was induced to come here, and after one season as Superintendent for V. O. Irwin, entered into business for himself, soon becoming Mr. Irwin's partner, and continuing with him for about six years. Since then he has conducted his business alone.
Mr. Lehr's yards are located one mile east of Crawfordsville. He has been in the place last mentioned three years, making from one million to one million five hundred thousand per year. He has had a very satisfactory business and has
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gained a competence which does away with the necessity for work. For three years he has been retired from business and enjoying the quiet and comfort of home life. He has a fine residence at the eastern limits of the city, on East Main street, near Vandalia depot. It is pleasantly located and the house is large and well furnished, making a very pleasant home.
April 10, 1866, at Fort Wayne, occurred the marriage of Mr. Lehr and Miss Anna Belle Britcher, of Fort Wayne. The lady was born at Canton, Ohio. Her father was a pattern maker, whose name was Edward B. Britcher. Their family con- sists of one adopted daughter, Hattie, now Mrs. Perry Hill, her husband being in the sawmill bus- iness near Lisbon, Ind. Her family name is Beatty. She has always been the same as an own daughter.
Mr. Lehr is a Democrat but not a politician. Since his retirement he has preferred to lead an unobtrusive life. Doing for many years an exten- sive contracting business, which taxed his powers as such a business must always do, he has earned the right to take life easy and make the most of the fruits of his own industry and good manage- ment. Mrs. Lehr is a member of the Christian Church and a worthy helpmate for her husband. Mr. Lebr is a Master Mason, having been made such in this city. He is also a Chapter member. These facts in themselves speak well for him, as the vows of the great fraternity of Masons call for an upright, honorable life, and one who is true to them cannot be otherwise than a worthy man. Mr. Lehr has always striven to do his dnty in every depart- ment of life, thus being able to take his place lion- estly in the society to which he belongs, and on an upper plane in the community in which he resides. Mr. Lehr is not typically a "Hoosier," but he is a man whom it is pleasant to meet, and who proves himself an agreeable companion.
J OHN OVERMAN. None are more worthy of mention in a biographical record than the men who have begun the battle of life at an early period, and won their way successfully, though unarmed for the contest, but by persist-
ency, determined spirit and bodily vigor. One of this class is John Overman, who owns one of the best regulated farms in Washington Township, Parke County. It now consists of two hundred and sixty acres, which are made remunerative by careful and intelligent cultivation and have been supplied with all needful structures and many im- provements both useful and beautiful. Mr. Over- man is the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children born to John and Anna (Cox) Over- man. He was born in Wayne County, N. C., near the town of Goldsboro, July 2, 1810.
The father of our subject was probably a native of North Carolina, coming to Parke County in 1832, bringing with him his wife, to whom he had been but a short time married and who was a daughter of Josiah and Judith (Peal) Cox, both natives of the Carolinas. Here he located on a farm, on which he remained all his life. In poli- tics he was a Whig, and was a member of the Church of Friends. He died in 1842, his wife surviving him ten years.
John Overman was educated in an old log school-house with its rude benches, puncheon floor, and desks made of logs placed on pins in- serted in the walls. The room was heated by the primitive fireplace in one corner, and light was admitted by a log being left out and the opening covered with greased paper for glass. When his parents decided to come to Parke County, in 1832, he was but twenty two years of age. Soon after this he was united in marriage in this place to Amanda, a daughter of Daniel and Amy Burford.
To Mr. and Mrs. Buford were born seven chil- dren: Sarah A., who died at the age of thirteen years; William B., Charles W., John D., Zacha- riah, Thomas P. and Flora E. After the decease of his wife our subject married Mrs. Susan Run- nels, a daughter of John and Sallie (Gordan) Elliott. She became the mother of three children by her first union: Edward B., Robert T. and Hardin. By her marriage with our subject two children were born, whom they named Voorhees Lee and Virginia M. The mother was born and reared in Rockbridge County, Va.
When he came to Parke County, Mr. Overman tanght school for a number of terms, after which
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he bought one hundred and sixty acres of un- developed land. He immediately set about clearing and improving it, beginning a few miles west of where he now lives. Here he farmed for one year, then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the land now comprised in the home estate, on which he has lived for over sixty years. In addition to this his father-in- law gave him one hundred and sixty acres and some time later he purchased another farm of a quarter section. He has given very liberally to his children, reserving for himself a portion of his estate.
Mr. Overman is one of the most useful mem- bers of the Baptist Church, to which be bas been a liberal contributor. and the reality of his religious profession is shown in his daily con- duct toward all about him. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party, and has served both as Township Trustee and Commis- sioner. In his boyhood days he was engaged in trading in live stock, and although he entered upon his career as a farmer with but a limited amount of this world's goods, he has by economy and judicious investment of his means, accumu- lated property and now occupies a position among the most substantial men of the county.
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H ON. ROBERT KELLY. This worthy and capable gentleman is a descendant of Irish and English ancestry and was born in Mi- ami County, Ohio, April 18, 1819. He is a son of Moses and Mary (Teague) Kelly. The former was a son of John and Mary (Evans) Kelly and born December 10, 1773, and died at the age of eighty-six years. John Kelly was born in Ire- land and came to America after his marriage to Mary Evans, and settled in South Carolina, the present site of Cumberland County. To himself and wife were born these children: Samuel, Tim- othy, Jolın B .; Robert, who lived to reach a very old age and was once a member of the Indi- ana Legislature; Moses, who died in infancy, and Moses, the father of our subject. John was a farmer by occupation, and in the struggle for inde-
pendence he was killed by the Tories, who secured quite an amount of money from his person.
The father of our subject, being the youngest son of the family, made his home with a brother, Samuel, with whom he lived until he reached man- hood. His education was very limited, but he was a man of indomitable will and energy, and by stu- diously applying himself to books he subsequently became a teacher and transacted a great deal of business for his neighbors by making out official papers, etc. He married a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Furnace) Teague of South Carolina September 17, 1800. This lady was a native of South Carolina but her parents were born in Wales and England respectively and came to America before the Revolutionary War. He served in this war and about sixteen years afterward went to Ohio, where he afterward met and wooed his wife. Mr. Teague, being a Quaker, was greatly opposed to war and so remained in our country's service but a short time.
Mr. and Mrs. Kelly reared the following chil- dren: Samuel, Anna, Rebecca, Jobn, Esther, Jo- seph, Mary, Moses, Robert and Rhoda. The for- mer was engaged in farming and dealt extensively in land and stock. He emigrated to Indiana with his family and settled in what is now Penn Town- ship. Here he lived until his death. When he came to this county be brought with him a team and wagon and a few good cows, but he immedi- ately began cultivating the land that he entered from the Government, and by close application to business finally became a wealthy man, owning several tracts of land. He was a member of the Society of Friends, in which he was always very prominent and held the highest official position. He was one of the members of the Friends' Academy and at the time of his death made an endowment known as the Kelly Fund. Politically he favored the Whig party. He was twice mar- ried and died in the year 1860.
Mr. Kelly was educatedin the schools of the So ciety of Friends in Penn Township and prepared himself for the life of a teacher. When but eight- een years he received his first certificate of Gen. Howard, which he yet has in his possession .- For some time he also studied the art of surveying, un-
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der the County Surveyor, Jeremiah Siler. A very happy event occurred in the life of Mr. Kelly May 22, 1842, when he was united in marriage with Violet, daughter of Jeremiah and Leah Siler. She was a native of Orange County, being born in 1822 and after her marriage became the mother of seven children, namely: Serena L., Mary V., Martha E., Lucretia M., Julia E., Eva J. and Laura M.
February 23, 1862, Mr. Kelly was bereft of his companion and he married Anna Pierson, daughter of Moses and Sarah Pierson, who were natives of South Carolina and Ohio re- spectively. Mrs. Kelly was a native of Mi- ami County, Ohio, and received a splendid education in the Antioch and Oberlin Colleges, Ohio. To her were born two children, Robert L. and Benjamin W., of whom the oldest received his education at Bloomingdale Academy and at Erlin College, Richmond, Ind. After leaving school he taught in the high schools at Adrian, Mich., and Monrovia, Ind. He is now teaching in Plainfield, this state, finding in his wife an able assistant who instructs in Latin, Greek and other languages. The youngest son is now receiving his education at Bloomingdale Academy, where he expects to graduate in June, 1893.
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