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 50
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 50
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 50
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Mr. Nicholson is a true Democrat of the old Jackson school, and he has voted at every presi- dential election from the days of the old General to the present time. He has always been a strong advocate of education, and has been School Trustee for ten years. His fellow-citizens, knowing him to be a man of keen intelligence, perfectly trust- worthy, and well fitted for responsible public positions, have elected him to other responsible offices. He was Township Trustee for twenty years, in 1839 was made Justice of the Peace, and for five years he administered the law in the loca] court wisely and well. In the season of 1848-49 he served a term in the State Legislature with crodit to himself and his constituents.
EORGE W. OTTERMAN, a native-born son of Montgomery County, is classed among the young farmers and stock-raisers who are such important factors in her pros- perity. His farm is pleasantly situated on Sec- tion 23, Clark Township. Mr. Otterman was born August 16, 1856, in this township on the old family homestead. He is a son of Lewis Otter- man, one of the early settlers of this section, of whom a sketch is given on another page.
George W. Otterman was educated at the Fountain School and at No. 9 in this township. He remained with his father until he was twenty- three, and early became a competent farmer. He lived on his father's place for nearly a year after his marriage, in the spring of 1879, and then re- moved to the farm given him by his father, which he still occupies, having had a dwelling erected before taking possession. Mr. Otterman has two hundred and twelve acres of excellent land, all well improved and under excellent cultivation but fifty-two acres. He is a general farmer, and keeps a good class of stock, although he has none regis- tered.
March 19, 1879, Mr. Otterman and Miss Lonisa A. James were united in marriage. Their wedded life has been hallowed to them by the birth of three children, two of whom death has claimed- one that died in infancy, and Letha May, who was born April 9, 1882, and died in January, 1887. Their little son, William Guy, who was born May 6, 1886, is spared to them. Mrs. Offerman was born September 27, 1861, and is a daughter of George W. James, who was a merchant at Par- kersburg. Both her father and mother died when she was a small child, and she was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Herod, of Crawfordsville, with whom she remained until her marriage. She was edu- cated principally in the seminary at Ladoga.
Mr. Otterman is a member of the National Horse Thief Detective Association, and is one of the Captains of the Montgomery County Associa- tion, which was organized for the same purpose. He is a young man of high principles, and the Christian Church, of which he is one of the Dea- cons, has in him one of its most consistent mem-
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bers, who works with zeal and fidelity to promote the welfare of both church and Sunday-school. His wife also belongs to that church.
H ENRY C. ROGERS, M. D., is well known as one of the leading physicians and sur- geons in the city of Rockville, He was born in Brown Township, Montgomery County, Ind., August 16, 1844. His father, Dr. Henry Rogers, was of English descent and was reared in Culpeper County, Va. He studied med- icine with a Dr. Karter, of Kentucky, and practiced in that state until he came to Franklin Township, two miles west of Parksburg. in Putnam County, Ind., when he removed to Clinton County, Mo., and practiced several years. Here he was mar- ried, but his wife lived only a short time and he married again, Miss Jane Kirkpatrick becoming his wife. After his marriage Mr. Rogers settled on a farm midway between the towns of Parkers- burg and Russellville, where he lived until 1843, when he entered more land, on which he lived about twenty-four years. In 1867 he sold out and bought in Clark Township, Montgomery County, where he remained until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1874.
Mrs. Jane Rogers, the mother of our subject, was a native of Kentucky and was supposed to be of Irish ancestry. By her marriage she became the mother of two children, Henry C. and James. She passed away about the year 1878. Mr. Rogers was in Dudley's defeat, on the River Thames, in the war of 1812. fighting with the Kentucky troops. He practiced medicine all his life and was considered one of the best physicians of his day. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his wife belonging to the order of Rebeccas. Po- litically he was a Republican, having been a Whig in the early days of independence. He was a noble Christian man and served the Christian Church of his township, acting in the capacity of Elder, which office he filled until his death. His companion was a member of the Presbyterian Church and dis- charged her duties faithfully.
Dr. Henry C. Rogers was reared on the old home
place, where he lived until coming to Clark Town- ship with his parents. On the 20th of March, 1866, he was united in marriage with the lady of his choice, Mrs. Cintilda Wilson, a daughter of James B. and Susannah Wilson, of Putnam County, Ind. James Wilson was a prosperous farmer and stock- raiser of that county, and very creditably filled his position as Justice of the Peace of that place for many years. His wife was born and reared in Putnam County, receiving a common-school educa- tion. Mr. Wilson was born the 25th of December, 1847, and died September 30, 1884.
After his marriage Dr. Rogers followed farming for several years, but his mind naturally tended toward his father's profession, and as he had early begun reading his father's medical books and had studied under him, he decided to follow the prac- tice of medicine. By identifying himself with vari- ous medical societies and by careful reading he keeps well abreast of the times. He is devoted to his profession and his patients feel that safety and confidence under his care that a true physician ever inspires. He attended the Russellville (Ind.) College, and after completing his literary studies he entered the Indiana Medical College at Indian. apolis, where he moved with his family. He grad- uated there February 25, 1876, after which he practiced at Barnard, in Jackson Township, Put- nam County, in close proximity to his old home. While here he practiced in the counties of Putnam and Montgomery until the fall of 1880, when he was indneed to move to Rockville.
Since coming here Dr. Rogers has built up a lucrative practice, owns a piece of good town prop- erty, and one hundred and sixty acres of fine farm- ing land in Adams Township, within two miles of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have four children. They are James H., who is intending to be a jew- eler; Annie, who is at home and a milliner; Eddie W., who is looking after the farm interests, and Frank E., who is now attending school in Rock- ville. Politically our subject casts his ballot for the Republican candidates. He was Postmaster at Barnard, Ind., for several years.
During the struggle between the North and the South Dr. Rogers offered his services to his coun- try, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-
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fifth Regiment, Company D, Division Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under the command of W. C. Wilson. He is a member of the Indiana Medical Society. While in college he made the diseases of women and children and obstetrics a specialty, and in his entire twenty years' practice he has been very successful and proficient.
Dr. Rogers' office is situated on the southeast corner of the square; his residence is on North Jefferson street. After he graduated at the Indi- ana Medical College he united with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and founded the Medi- cal College of Indiana, at which he was in attend- ance, taking the Eundum Degree and thereafter the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Rogers is a busy man, efficient in his calling, a good mana- ger, and bears a good reputation.
EORGE SEYBOLD. Indiana has con- tributed to the glory of this country by giv- ing to its service more than one of her illustrious sons to fill high places in politi- cal life and it is an authentic fact that the busi- noss man of the Hoosier State is a most excellent example of the enterprising American citizen who pushes to the front in any enterprise he may choose to adopt.
The gentleman whose name heads this article was born in Parke County, four miles from Wave- land, Ind., and bears the name of an old Ken- tucky family, who for years have identified them- selves with the best element their surroundings could boast. James and Annie (Harlan) Seybold settled in Parke County early in the present cen- tury. They were married in the year 1833 and the result of their union was nine children: Mary, wife of Francis Shockey; Aaron, who died in childhood; John, who is now a resident of Shaw- nee County, Kans .; Lawson, a resident of Illinois; Jackson, who lives in Parke County, this state; James, of Parke County, Ind. ; Julia, wife of Jo- siah Williams of Brown's Valley; our subject, and Jasper, who resides in Adams County, Iowa.
The father of our subject departed this life in the year 1880 after completing his sixty-ninth
year. His wife only survived him four months, she being in her sixty-seventh year. They were known as people of more than ordinary intelli- gence and discrimination, and the fact that they have left a large family of men and women who are classed among the best citizens of the various communities in which they reside is sufficient evi- dence of the fact that their home training and par- ents were beyond the average. The grandfather of our subject was John Seybold, a typical southern gentleman in all that pertained to courtesy and chivalry. He settled in Parke County, Ind., in the year 1822 and his family consisted of four sons and three daughters. Aaron and Julia (Jackson) Harlan were the parents of our subject's mother, both of whom represented old southern families of note.
The Harlan family trace their ancestry back to the year 1687, at which time two brothers, George and Michael Harlan, came from England and set- tled in what is now known as Chester County, Pa. Here fortune smiled on them and they became known, not only as pioneers of that portion of the country, which was at that early date a wilderness, but were regarded as the monied men of that sec- tion. From the younger of these brothers our subject's mother is descended.
George Seybold made his advent on this mun- dane sphere in the year 1851, his birth occurring on his father's farm, four miles from his present residence. He received his education at the schools of his native place and when twenty-three years old engaged in the hardware business in the room where he now is and in which he has since built up his trade. In 1878 Mr. Seybold was united in marriage to Miss Wilmenia Peterson, a daughter of Mr. Silas Peterson of Sugar Creek Township. Mrs. Seybold is a lady of most estimable traits of character and acknowledged by all who know her to be possessed of many womanly traits which en- dear her to her friends.
Mr. Seybold, being a man of more than ordinary energy and executive ability, found time for other enterprises beside the hardware business and soon after his marriage became concerned in the Gar- land Dell Mineral Springs Company, of which cor- poration he is Treasurer and Director. He is also
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identified with the Waveland Building and Loan Association, which company he helped to organ- ize in 1884 and which he spared neither time nor pains to develop. He is a man of keen insight, courteous manners and unusual business ability. Firm, conscientious and scrupulous in his business dealings, he has the confidence of the community and the endorsement of all who transact business with him.
Mr. Seybold and wife are active and earnest workers in the Presbyterian Church, by which body they are not only looked on as helpers in time of need, but as supporters and true Christian believ- ers in the cause they espouse.
**
S AMUEL D. STONER is one of the lights of the pulpit of the German Baptist Brethren Church in Montgomery County and he is also one of its prosperous farmers, his farm and residence being situated on Section 21, Clark Township. He was born at the place where he now lives July 24, 1856, and is a son of the well- known David Stoner, who settled here in pioneer times and became one of the wealthiest farmers in this vicinity.
David Stoner was born May 25, 1806, in Mary- land, and was a son of Jacob Stoner, who was also a native of that state, and he in turn was a son of David Stoner, who went from Pennsylvania to Maryland. The Stoners were of German origin. Jacob Stoner was reared in the state of his nativity, and there married Catherine Albangh, who was likewise born in Maryland. Jacob Stoner settled in Botetourt County, Va., and passed the remain- der of his life there, dying in February, 1834. His first wife died and he was a second time mar- ried November 2, 1820, Barbara Garst becoming his wife. Mr. Stoner was the father of seventeen children (eight by his first marriage), namely: Da- vid; Snsanna, born March 21, 1808; Abraham, December 31, 1810; Jacob, October 23. 1812; William, September 28, 1814; John, October 29, 1816; Catherine, December 13, 1818; Daniel, Octo- ber 18, 1820; Elizabeth, who was born December 19, 1821, and died October 9, 1843; Joel, born May 26, 1823; Barbara, October 7, 1824; Magda-
line, February 26, 1826; Sarah, December 18, 1827; Hannah, December 3, 1829; Rebecca, Octo- ber 28, 1831; Lydia, born December 26, 1833, and Samuel, September 1, 1834.
David Stoner's boyhood was passed in Botetourt County, Va., where he had the educational advan- tages afforded by an English school. In 1831 he came to this county and entered land on Sections 12 and 13, eighty acres on each section, and in 1837 he settled here permanently, locating on the Ruth place south of Ladoga, where he superin- tended the farm for his stepmother, living there until his marriage in 1841 to Ann, daughter of Jacob Deardorff. He then removed to his present place of residence, which he bought of Jesse Ruth. The land had already been cleared, and by years of unremitting industry he has brought it into a fine condition and has it amply provided with build- ings, including a large brick house in which he has a home replete with comfort. At one time he owned eleven hundred and forty acres of land, but he has divided the greater part of it among his children.
Mrs. Stoner, who so faithfully shared with him the toils incidental to pioneer life and was of so much help to him in the upbuilding of their home, died October 14, 1878, and her mortal remains were placed in the Stoner Cemetery. They had six children, five of whom are living: Catherine, who was born February 23, 1852, and married W. H. Higgins: Caroline and Benjamin, who were born April 22, 1854, the former marrying R. B. Zimmerman and dying July 8, 1890, and the lat- ter a resident of Boone; Christiana, who was born February 2, 1859, and married William Hicks, of Boone County; Solome who was born November 8, 1863, and is now a student at Mt. Morris Col- lege; and our subject.
Samuel D. Stoner was reared on the old home- stead, where he still lives, and was given excel- lent advantages, pursuing a course of study in the Normal at Ladoga, and afterward attending Ash- land College in Ohio. After leaving college he was married September 30, 1884. to Miss Lina Norris, a daughter of Edward O. Norris. Her father was born in Harford County, Md., in 1813, and died in his native state in 1872. Mrs. Stoner
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was born in that state December 15, 1860, and her marriage was celebrated there. After the wedding Mr. Stoner brought his bride to the old home- stead, where they have ever since lived. They are blessed with four children, namely: Mary Chris- tina, who was born August 11, 1885; David L., November 30, 1886; Emma Rowena, June 27, 1889, and Edward Norris, December 1, 1891.
Mr. Stoner has a farm of two hundred and twen- ty-seven acres of finely improved land, with a neat set of buildings and everything necessary to carry on agriculture. He is a stock farmer, and raises a good many sheep of the famous Southdown and Shropshire breeds.
Mr. Stoner is one of the foremost members of the German Baptist Church, belonging to the Raccoon Creek Congregation, of which he was elected minister October 2, 1890. He is gifted as a preacher and devotes himself heart and soul to the work, for which he seems so well fitted, of promulgating the doctrines of his beloved church. He is deeply interested in the Sunday-school and is Superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Sunday- school. His wife also belongs to the same church and is an active worker in the ranks of the most zealous Christians within the fold. Politically, Mr. Stoner is a Prohibitionist and a strong advo- cate of temperance.
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W ILLIAM P. STRAIN resides on Section 20, Adams Township, Parke County. He owns two hundred acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres of which is rich bottom land under good cultivation. Mr. Strain was born at Mansfield, in 1839, the event occurring on February 5. His father was Joseph Strain, a native of Bedford County, Pa. The latter was reared in his native county, where he resided until the year 1818, when he settled in Orange County, Ind. He returned home, was married, and then located permanently in this state in 1821, entering land in Adams Township, Parke County. With his brother James he was the owner of two hundred and forty acres.
Some time prior to 1828 Mr. Strain removed to Rockville, where he pursued his trade of a car.
penter and in the last mentioned year went to Mansfield, where he engaged in the milling busi- ness, at which pursuit he continued for twelve years. Returning, he again took up agricultural pursuits on the farm where our subject now lives, which land was the tract entered by himself and brother. For thirty-eight years he lived on this homestead, being called from the scene of his earthly labors in 1877.
The mother of our subject was Sarah, daughter of Mr. Potts, and by her marriage she became the mother of two children, our subject being the only survivor. His sister Rebecca married Dr. Daley and died in 1883. Joseph Strain was an ally of the Democratic party.
In this county William P. Strain was reared to manhood, being educated in the schools of Rock- ville. He remained at home until he was married, in the year 1863, to Miss Sarah Lollis. The father of Mrs. Strain, George W. Lollis, was an early settler of this region, to which he came in 1830 from the Old Dominion. Two children blessed the union of Mr. Strain and his estimable wife, Bertha, who is the wife of Emmett Batman, and Fred, who yet resides with his father. The wife and mother was cut down by the hand of . death in 1872. After his marriage Mr. Strain lived on the place, which is and has been his home ever since, with the exception of four years when he resided in Rockville.
In the year 1877 Mr. Strain wedded Miss Susan Lollis, a sister of his first wife, and to them have been born three children: Frank, Eda and Mabel. With regard to politics, Mr. Strain is a sturdy Re- publican. Both he and his amiable wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and fraternally the former belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He has always been devoted to the best interests of the community in which he dwells, and is a loyal, patriotic citizen.
AMES P. WALTER has been engaged in business in Crawfordsville, Ind., for the past eighteen years and has thoroughly estab- lished himself in the public mind as a good citizen and business man. He is an extensive deal-
Lere Redenbaugh
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er in horses and mules and has few equals as a judge of horseflesh. His fine barn, built by him- self, has a frontage of fifty-two and a half feet on Pike street, is one hundred and sixty-five feet deep and two stories high. The structure is of brick and is thoroughly substantial. For many years past Mr. Walter has been engaged in buying and selling business, coach and draft animals. His purchases are largely made at points in Illi- nois and Iowa and at once shipped to this city, where they are sorted and re-shipped to all points east and south. About one-half the sales are made at home, and Mr. Walter has made money in the business, as he ought to do, for he conducts it in an honorable manner, paying the highest mar- ket price for the stock that he buys. His business amounts to about $35,000 per year, all told.
For the past ten years Mr. Walter has been interested in the lumber trade, his yards being located on College street at Monon Bridge. He deals largely in hardwood and supplies local deal- ers extensively. Altogether, his business euter- prise and ability place him in the front rank as one of the city's reliable business men. Heis upright and honest in all his dealings-precisely the sort of a man needed in a growing city. Crawfords- ville recognized this fact, and in 1890 elected him as Councilman for the First Ward on the Demo- cratic ticket. At present he is Chairman of the Committee of Ordinances. He fills his position well and realizes the expectation of his constituents white commanding the respect of all. He is a popular and conservative member of the Council, but has taken a decided stand on the side of the Mayor in placing the late improvements in the city.
With all his municipal and business interests at home, Mr. Walter still finds time for considerable attention to the addition to Marion, Ind., which is being pushed by a Crawfordsville syndicate. In short, he is ready to give a helping hand to every plan for the advancement of his chosen city and to every enterprise which he undertakes, provided his judgment sanctions the same.
Mr. Walter was born five miles west of Craw- fordsville, in Wayne Township, on the Covington road, and is a son of Henry and Susan (Dixon)
Walter, who are still living on the old homestead. The pleasant home of Mr. Walter, which is situ- ated at No. 200 Pike street, is presided over by his amiable wife, to whom he was married Novem- ber 27, 1882. She was formerly Miss Annie Har- ter, daughter of Daniel Harter, and by her mar- riage has become the mother of two children- Harter and Mary.
***
EREMIAH REDENBAUGH is a retired farmer, living just outside the city limits of Crawfordsville, but he still retains possession of his farm, which is located in Walnut Township, Montgomery County. Mr. Redenbaugh is a son of Henry R. Redenbaugh, one of the early settlers of this portion of Indiana, who was born born January 2, 1800, near Redden, Ohio.
Frederick Redenbaugh, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany, came to this country some time during the last century, and first located in Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Ohio, and from there to Indiana in the early days of the settlement of the state. After coming here he first settled among the pioneers of Jefferson County, and then came to Montgomery County, where his life was closed at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He was a soldier under Gen. Harrison at the famous battle of Tippecanoe, and he served with the General during the war of 1812. He married Margaret Haney in Pennsyl- vania, and they had twelve children, of whom their son William, who lives in Fountain County at the advanced age of eighty one years, is the only survivor. The grandfather of our subject was an ardent Democrat in his day, and was a leader in local politics.
Henry Redenbaugh was the fifth child born to his parents, and was a young man when he accom- panied them to Jefferson County, this state. He there met and married Mary Douglas, daughter of Jeremiah and Jane (Huthert) Douglas. They had come from England to this country and first settled near Cincinnati, whence they afterwards removed to Jefferson County, this state. After his mar- riage Henry Redenbaugh remained awhile in
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Jefferson County, and then came to Montgomery County in 1828. He took up eighty acres of government land, which he cleared and improved, and developed it into a fine farm, upon which he remained until his death, September, 1891, at the venerable age of ninety-one years. In dying he left behind him an honorable record as an active and useful pioneer, as a good citizen, and as a desirable neighbor. He was the father of twelve children, of whom the following grew to maturity and are still living: John, a painter, residing at New- ton, Kans .; Jeremiah; Mary (Mrs. Brush). who lives in Iowa; Sarah Ann, who lives in Boone County; William R., a resident of Crawfordsville; Joe, a resident of Mace, and Eliza (Mrs. McMullen) a resident of Boone County.
Jeremiah Redenbaugh was born in Jefferson County, in the southern part of this state, May 25, 1824, and he was a child of three years when bis parents brought him to their new home amid the pioneer scenes of Montgomery County. He was reared in Scott Township, and has a distinct recollection of the appearance of the country in all its wildness when he was a boy, and he can remember when Crawfordsville had but three or four houses in it. He made his home with his father until he was twenty-one, and then married established a home of his own with the help of his wife. She was Elizabeth Corn in her maiden days and a daughter of William Corn, of Clark Township, one of the early settlers of the county.
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