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 53
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 53
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 53
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At seventeen Benjamin L. Ornbaun began to learn his trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years with Robert Gray, the pioneer harness maker . of Crawfordsville. In 1852, after working as a journeyman for some time. he went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Before reach- ing his destination, he was obliged to spend sixty- six days on a ship which had been condemned as nufit for service. Their provisions failed and they were compelled to eat spoiled meat and to drink worse water. They suffered greatly, as may be imagined, the experience being a thrilling chapter in the lives of all. Sixteen of the men were un- able to endure the hardships, and died en route.
Mr. Ornbaun remained iu California four years, mining near Placerville part of the time, working at his trade in Sacramento, and farming on the Sacramento river. In the fall of 1856, the day before the election of Buchanan, he reached home, well satisfied with his trip. He then bought out Mr. Gray and has conducted the harness business
ever since. He has a fine brick block, 46 feet front on Washington street, 160 feet deep, and three stories high. He has a full stock of goods and the trade is a large one. His son, Harley W., is the present manager, having taken his father's place. Mr. Ornbaun has about $25,000 invested in his business block. His stock usually amounts to $4,000. With the exception of Mr. Jonas Mil- ler, he is the oldest business man of Crawfords- ville, having for thirty-four years given the closest personal attention to his trade as a harness dealer. He owns a two hundred and-eighty-acre farm in Madison Township, and for the past two years has been much interested in looking after it, mak- ing improvements, etc.
In December, 1858, Mr. Ornbaun married Mary L. Barr, of Crawfordsville, danghter of Thomas Barr, one of our pioneer settlers. May 1, 1877, his wife died. Five children were born to him by his first wife: Harley W., his manager, as before stated; Clara, who for two years has been visiting her sister in California; Minnie, Mrs. W. E. Arthur, Pasadena, Cal. ; Lulu, who died at the age of eight years, the day after her father's second marriage; Otis, aged fifteen.
Mr. Ornbaun's second marriage, referred to above, occurred September 3, 1878. This time he chose as his wife Mrs. Emma King, widow of W. H. H. King of Thorntown, who had been in the mercantile business. Both were born in this county, but were married at Madison, Ind., Mrs. King's maiden name being Chaffee. She is a daughter of Benjamin Chaffee of Brookville, Franklin County. Her father is a farmer. Her mother's name was Maria Lewis. Previous to her marriage with Mr. Ornbaun, her home was at Thorntown. She has lost one child, Grace Clover King, who died at the brief age of fourteen months. She has a little girl living and, from this second marriage, a son, Bennie Charles, aged ten.
Mr. and Mrs, Ornbann are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the former one of its trustees, the latter a prominent worker and teacher in the Sabbath-school. Both are looked up to as leaders. They have a pleasant home at No. 511 East College street; the grounds are ample with fine lawn and garden. The house is
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nicely furnished and altogether it is a beautiful place.
Mr. Ornbaun is a successful business man and one of our strongest citizens. He is a Chapter Mason and a Republican, although he does not consider himself a politician. His opinion is valued in the community, his integrity of character respected, and he himself is considered a worthy example for the guidance of our youth.
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J OHN JOHNSON, one of the best known and most popular sons of old Ireland, as well as a highly respected man, was born near Din- gle, County Kerry, Ireland, September 25, 1832. His parents were Michael and Ellen John- son. The story of his life has much of interest and appeals to the heart in its earlier history, as that of a brave soldier must ever do.
Mr. Johnson's boyhood was spent on a farm until, at the age of fifteen, he went to New Or- leans, where a sister was then living. The follow- ing year he came as far north as Cincinnati, and soon found work on a railroad in Kentucky, con- tinuing at this for two years, at the end of which time he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade at Cincinnati. After mastering this trade, he worked as a journeyman in Cincinnati till the out- break of the war, when he enlisted in Company E, Tenth Ohio Infantry. He was in the campaign in West Virginia, and much of the time was on special scouting duty.
In the opening of the campaign of 1862 Mr. Johnson's command was placed in the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. Dumont. He was de- tailed on special duty connected with the United States Signal Service, and at Bacon Creek, Ky., was thoroughly drilled in the work. Col. Thomas J. Kelly, who was formerly an editor of a Union paper in Nashville, Tenn., and who barely es- caped with his life, had been one of the historical rescuers of the Irish patriots at Manchester, Eng- land, and had become an expert in signal service. He was detailed to examine and drill this body of men at Winchester, Tenn., those only being ac- cepted who passed a satisfactory competitive ex-
amination. Young Johnson, being an apt student with quick perception and natural Irish wit, soon became proficient and was made Sergeant, with- promises of promotion, which promises, however, never were fulfilled, favoritism being shown other men by his superior officers.
Mr. Johnson's corps was attached to Gen. Thomas' headquarters, and was in close communi- cation with all the movements of that General's army, rendering valuable service on many occa- sions. At one time a private from Illinois had, by diligent attention and study, picked up the rebel signal code, and after this, when a position could be obtained where the rebel service could be seen, their communications could be read and the Federal authorities acquainted with the dis- patches so sent as easily as the rebels them- selves.
Mr. Johnson continued with his corps till he was captured near Tuscumbia, Ala., while on an expedition to learn more fully of a body of rebels who were harassing Gen. Thomas. He was taken to Capt. Roddy's camp, and soon after to Gen. Bragg's headquarters, where he had a personal in- terview with that General. On the day of his re- moval, he was convinced that some special move was contemplated. He overheard a conversation between two Irish soldiers who were speaking their native tongue, supposing their secret safe by so doing. They referred to the contemplated movements of the rebel army towards Mobile and on to Chattanooga. Being the only prisoner at the date spoken of above, the others having been sent away the day before, he was treated leniently, and was soon after paroled and allowed to return to the Union lines, and to parole camp at Camp Chase, Columbus, and visit his family in Cincin- nati. This parole lasted six months, when he re- joined the army and continued in the service till his discharge June 16, 1864. His character and value as a soldier are shown by the fact that he was highly complimented by Gen. Thomas him- self.
Mr. Johnson returned to Cincinnati and worked at his trade one year, then went to Putnam County, Ind., where he stayed a year, then went to Mace and lived on a farm till he came to Craw-
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fordsville in 1881. He was elected County Re- corder on the Republican ticket in 1880, and re- elected in 1884. During this time he began work as a contractor and has continued in that business to the present time, making it a decided success. He has built in all about sixty miles of gravel road, besides railway and levee work for the Gov- ernment, and the other branches called for in his business-bridge-building, sewer and pipe-laying, etc. His work is all well done because he gives it his personal supervision. He has met with de- cided financial success. In addition to his general contracting business, he has invested in the elec- tric light plant of Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he has abont $16,000 invested.
In October, 1868, Mr. Johnson married Eliza Kennedy, of Cineinnati, the marriage taking place in that city. Their family consists of ten children, three sons and seven daughters. Of the daugh- ters, one, Hannah, is a teacher, and one a milliner in Chicago. The family residence is at No. 612 West Main street. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and an active politician, and while in office served the people well and faithfully even as, when a soldier, he went forward steadily and bravely in the way of truth and duty.
**
J OHN GILLUM, who was a patriotic soldier during the late war, and fought nobly in defense of the Union until disabled while in the heat of the battle, is to-day a highly respected farmer of Mill Creek Township, Foun- tain County. He is a son of Osborn Gillum, a worthy farmer of this section, who came here in pioneer times, and the farm that he reclaimed from the wilderness, on which he is spending his declining years, is the scene of the birth of our subject, which occurred May 29, 1842.
Osborn Gillum was born in Chatham County, N. C., July 21, 1817. When he was a boy he came from his native state to Indiana and lived in Orange County for a few years. At the age of twenty-three he made his way to this county, and for more than half a century has been numbered among the useful and estimable citizens who have
been instrumental in the development of its agri- cultural resources. He settled in what is now Mill Creek Township, and by downright hard labor has cleared and improved a goodly farm of onehundred and twenty acres, where he has made a pleasant, comfortable home. For many years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and has held various official positions in his lodge.
Mr. Gillum was married after coming to this county to Miss Emmeline, daughter of George Sowers, who was born in North Carolina, and came from there when eleven years old. Mr. and Mrs. Gillum have been blessed with the following chil- dren: John; Ira, a physician practicing his pro - fession at Milford, Ill .; Solomon, who died when a young man; Butler, who is in the hardware busi- ness in Parke County; George C., who died at the age of two years; Elizabeth Susan Jane, wife of Robert Dix, a farmer of Park County; Delilah Ellen, wife of Ira Hadley, of Kansas, and Charles, a carpenter at Kingman.
Our subject was reared in the home of his birth, and was educated in the schools of Mill Creek Township. He was engaged in farming with his father when the war broke out, and on the 17th of the following September he laid aside his work to go to the front with the brave boys in blue to help preserve the honor of the old flag so dear to every true citizen of this great Republic. Our subject became a member of Company I, Thirty-first In- diana Infantry, and in the trying months that fol- lowed displayed sound qualities as a soldier. His military career was brought to an untimely end by his being severely wounded at the battle of Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. He was taken to the hospital, where he suffered intensely for a month and eight days, and then he was discharged from the army on account of disability.
Returning home after his trying experience as a soldier, our subject had to devote some of his best years of his life to recovering from his wounds. He was finally able to resume farming, and he then settled on his present farm, having lived with his father until he was thirty-nine years old. His farm is a fine piece of property, comprising eighty acres of well-tilled land, upon which are improve- ments of a substantial order. Mr. Gillum devotes
yours truly Geo. W. Jacks
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it principally to raising corn and hogs, from which he derives a comfortable income each year.
December 29, 1880, is the date of the marriage of our subject to Miss Hulda J., daughter of Henry Parkhurst, who was a prominent farmer of Wal- nut Township. Mrs. Gillum was born in 1856. Her pleasant wedded life with our subject has brought to them two children, whom they have named Melinda E. and Leslie D.
Mr. Gillum is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Harveysburg Lodge, No. 314, in which he has held all the of- fices, except that of Worshipful Master. Politic- ally he is a straight Republican, who always works with his party. He is Justice of the Peace in Mill Creek Township, and fills that position with ad- mirable discretion and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Religiously he is a stanch mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a conscientious, upright Christian gentleman.
G EORGE W. JACKS, a prosperous and well- to-do farmer of Adams Township, Parke County, owns a well improved farm com- prising four hundred and three acres on Sections 28, 29 and 33. He has long been prom- inent in all the affairs of this locality and is held in the highest respect. Altogether he owns five hundred and eighty-five and one-half acres of land which, with the exception of one hundred and eighty-two and one-half, lies in this township, the remainder being in Raccoon Township, two miles distant. He has made good improvements upon his farm, including a barn that cost $1,000 and a pleasant dwelling-house erected at a cost of $1.500.
Mr. Jacks was born on Section 33, Adams Town- ship, August 7, 1835, being a son of Reuben Jacks, who was born in Surrey County, S. C., Oc- tober 2, 1809. The latter was a son of Richard Reuben, who in 1818 removed with his parents to Jefferson County, Tenn., where he lived until 1830, at which time he married Hannah Ervin and soon after started for Indiana. He landed in this
county, March 8, 1830, with only fifty cents in his pocket, and settled at once upon the farm where he afterward lived until summoned by the death angel many years later. He worked at whatever he could find to do until he obtained enough money to make the first payment on a farm. At that time corn was worth but six cents a bushel on six months' credit. He worked night and day to meet the payments on his farm and succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations.
From that time until 1850 Richard Jacks cleared three different farms and owned at the time of his death three hundred and seventy acres of land under good cultivation. The date of his demise was May 14, 1874, and his wife, after surviving him several years, died February 26, 1885. Mr. Jacks was first a Whig and later his affiliations were with the Republican party. For about twenty years he was a Justice of the Peace and during the war he was an ardent supporter of the Union. In his own neighborhood he was very popular and merited the esteem in which he was held.
George W. Jacks is one of thirteen children, of whom twelve lived to mature years and eleven still survive. Besides our subject those still living are as follows: Samuel E., who is a farmer in Hickory County, Mo. ; Daniel W., who resides near Catlin, Parke County : Julia A., wife of John Painter, of Rockville; Rachel S., who is the wife of Mr. Van Buren, who runs a brush factory in Chicago; Sarah, wife of Jolin Long, a stone cutter in Terre Hante; Martha E., wife of George A. Asbury, who lives a unile east of Catlin; John Q., of Chicago, where he is in the coal business; Reuben K., a farmer near Rockville; Mary E., wife of Mr. Averill, of Kansas City, and Maggie B., wife of Charles Wood, who is a carpenter in Rockville. William M. served for three years in the late war and was wounded and died before the close of the conflict. The flag that had been carried by several standard-bearers fell to him on the battle-field the day he was wounded and he bore it manfully as long as his failing strength permitted.
On the farm which was his birthplace George Jacks was reared to manhood, and during his early years he has plowed on Sections 28, 29 and
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33. His father purchased a farm about the year 1844 and there he resided until his marriage, in 1859, with Miss Hila Ann Sapp, daughter of George Sapp. She was born in Claremont Coun- ty, Ohio, and died October 27, 1864. They had three children: Anderson M., William B. and Martha A., wife of Ezekial A. Williams, of Rac- coon Township. After his marriage Mr. Jacks set- tled one-half mile east of his present home, where he lived for twenty - four years.
On the seventh day of June, 1866, Mr. Jacks inarried Susan B., daughter of Caleb Asbury, who was born in Virginia and emigrated to Kentucky in his eighteenth year. In 1828 he settled in Washington Township, where he resided until his death in 1859. Mrs. Jacks was born on June 15, 1831, on the old place, on Government land, which her father entered. She is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Wesley Chapel. To each of his children Mr. Jacks gave a good educa- tion and a start in life. Politically he casts his ballot in favor of the nominees of the Republican party and fraternally is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 71, of Rockville. He has always been a strong advocate of temperance, and though he has been an administrator of many estates since 1874, and has done considerable general business, he has never had recourse to law but once in his life.
A BRAM HARRISON STOVER, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., now residing in Chicago, Ill., comes of a large German family which has resided in this country since about 1680. As near as can be ascertained, it was about that date that one of his forefathers came from Saxony and settled in Pennsylvania. His son, Dr. George Stover, the grandfather of Abram H., is the earliest member of the family of whom there is an authentic record.
Dr. George Stover was born in 1732 in Franklin County, Pa., whither his father had come (as above stated) from Saxony, about the time William l'enn made the settlement at Philadelphia. Dr. Stover was very proficient in the science of medicine. He
was strictly honest and was loved and respected by all. The Doctor was one of ten children, six sons and four daughters, the descendants of whom are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In 1757 Dr. Stover married Hannah Price, whose father had come to this country from Berlin, Prussia, to save his life, which had been threatened by his half-brother, then King of Prussia. His wife died, having borne him ten children, of whom George Stover, Jr., was next to the youngest. The Doctor married again and by this marriage became the father of ten more children. His demise occurred in Bedford County, Va. (whither he had removed in 1794), in the year 1816, aged eighty-four years.
George Stover, Jr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1785, and when nine years of age removed with his parents to Botatourt County, Va. Here, in 1810, he married Anna Rader, who was born in that state in 1790, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Houtzenpillar) Rader. Mrs. Rader lived to attain the remarkable age of one hundred years. In 1832 Mr. and Mrs. George Stover removed from Vir- ginia to Montgomery County, Ind., bringing with them their family of ten children, and located on a farm about three miles southwest of Ladoga. Here two more children were born, the youngest of whom is the subject of this sketch.
The names of the twelve children are as follows: Joseph, born in 1811, died in Kansas in 1892, aged eighty-one years; Hannah, born in 1813, died in 1889; Mary, born in 1814; Sarah, born in 1816; George R., born in 1818, died in 1867; Samuel, born in 1820, died in 1888; Daniel C., born in 1822, the father of Berty G., known as the "Boy Preacher of the Christian Church," and whose maternal grandfather, Gilbert Harney, was one of the pioneer preachers of that faith in Indiana; Benjamin F., born in 1824; Catherine, born in 1826, died in 1856; John P., born in 1830; Mar- garet A., born in 1833, and Abram H.
On the home farm near Ladoga, Montgomery County, Ind., Abram H. Stover was born March 15, 1836. He was named after an uncle, Abram Stover, of Washington County, Ind., who was the origi- nator of the name Hoosier, as applied to Indiana or the inhabitants of that state. He resided with his parents until he was twenty-one years old,
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when he took up the trade of a carpenter, and fol- lowed it very successfully, while he has engaged in the real-estate business since he has been in Chicago.
At Ladoga, May 16, 1861, Mr. Stover married Miss Maggie Alcock, who was born in Verners Bridge, County Armaugh, Ireland, July 10, 1841, and is of Protestant descent. They became the parents of three children all of whom were born in Ladoga, Ind. William N. born August 15, 1862, a fine young man, cut down in the spring- time of his manhood, received his final summons, May 27, 1885; George Alcock, born May 30, 1866, married Miss Grace Warner of Chicago. April 20, 1891; and Anna Elizabeth, born December 29, 1867, married Samuel J. Chapman of Chicago, April 12, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of two children-Florence Stover, born July 16, 1889, and George Arthur, born January 13, 1891.
In 1869 Mr. Stover removed from Ladoga to Waubeck, Linn County, Iowa, but three years later settled permanently in Chicago. He is a member of the Christian Church, which he joined at Ladoga in 1863, and since residing in Chicago has served for nearly sixteen years as Deacon. His wife is also a member of that church, which she joined in New York city in 1859, and they have continued devoted to its interests ever since.
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J OHN R. BONNELL, the present Postmaster of the city of Crawfordsville, is one of the most obliging officials that this city has ever bad. Mr. Bonnell was born six miles east of this city October 2, 1858, in the village of Fredericksburg, now the town of Mace. He was the son of John K. and Emily (Benedict) Bon- nell, who were married in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Bonnell, Sr., was a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and came to Montgomery County, Ind., in 1857. With Reuben Smith as a partner he opened a wagon-making shop, and continued in the business a long time. He was City Treasurer three terms. He was eminently successful on ac- count of the same genial, social qualities for which his son is so noted.
John Bonnell received a common-school educa - tion, and at the age of thirteen years began to clerk in a store. From 1872 to 1878 he remained with the firm of Challis Brothers, and with J. R. Challis at La Fayette, Logansport and Crawfords- ville in the boot and shoe business. In 1878 Mr. Bonnell concluded he would learn what he could accomplish in the way of business for himself. therefore he opened a small store for the sale of cigars. His capital amounted to $165, and he continued in this business until 1890, when the trade had become very large. For five years lie had engaged in jobbing, and made money, the sales reaching $40,000 per annum.
Since 1890 Mr. Bonnell has been engaged in the jobbing grocery business also. In this new venture Mr. Bonnell showed the same good judg- ment which has always characterized his business life, having selected as partners men concerning whose business qualifications he was very sure. The grocery stock is large and complete with the exception of coffee and sugar; the sales amount to $140,000 annually, and the house requires sev- eral traveling men, one new salesman having just been added.
The appointment of Postmaster was made August 23, 1889, and in September Mr. Bonnell took charge and made J. H. Cook, a veteran sol- dier, his first assistant, and J. D. Tracy, another veteran, his second assistant. Beside these, he has a delivery and stamping clerk, four carriers and one substitute. The office receipts amount to over $14,000 per year. Mr. Bonnell has given great satisfaction and has thoroughly conquered all the details of the business. He is an ad- herent of Harrison's administration, and is a mem- ber of the Republican County and Executive Com- mittees.
The marriage of Mr. Bonnell took place April 17, 1879, to Miss Fanny Evans of La Fayette, who was the daughter of I. A. Evans of that place. One little daughter, Helen, a maid of five years, brightens their home. Mr. Bonnell has been very active in the Masonic fraternity, and has filled the post of Eminent Commander of Crawfordsville Commandery, No. 25.
Mr. Bonnell has exemplified in his career the
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results of close application and energy to any given object. His beginning was very small, but now it reaches mammoth proportions, all because he has managed his business instead of permitting it to manage him.
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C HARLES JOHNSTON, one of the prominent and popular public men of Crawfordsville, is the senior member of the flourishing law firm of Johnston & Johnston.
Mr. Johnston was born April 10, 1853, near Greencastle, Putnam County, Ind., and was the son of Archibald and Sarah (Keller) Johnston. Charles was reared on the farm until 1881, after his majority conducting the operations there. His early education was obtained in the common schools and later at an academy and in 1878 he began the reading of law in preparation for his future life-work. Shortly after this he became a student in the law department of the Michigan University and graduated from there in the class of 1880. However, he still called the farm his home for two years longer and then formed the present partnership.
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