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 62
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 62
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 62
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After peace was declared Mr. Ficken returned home and soon afterward joined the Methodist Church, and entered the Ohio Conference, where he expected to study for the ministry. For convenience' sake he located one mile west of Pittsburg, where he afterward was pastor of the church to which he devoted all his time and energies for a season. Since then he has filled the pulpit at Cleveland, where he has
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been called three different times; the Fourth Street Church, Pittsburg; the Erie Street Church at Cleveland, Ohio, and the Cherry Street congre- gation at Toledo. At the last-named place he la- bored four years, when he went to Greenville, where he died in 1890.
The Rev. Harry Ficken was only nineteen years old when he was appointed local minister of a con- gregation at Marietta, Ohio, and at the early age of twenty two years he was ordained to preach the Gospel. He was a graduate of a theological school and held some of the most prominent appointments in the Conference, having for his associates Peter Cartwright in the pioneer days of Ohio. He was a powerful minister in his day, and lived in ac- cordance with his profession. He was born in Germany, and was four years old when he came to Ohio with his father and settled at Marietta. Here he grew to manhood and finally became a minister in the town where he was reared.
After leaving college Mr. Ficken went back to Cleveland, where he engaged in photography and remained three years, when he went to Newark, Ohio, and stayed one year. He then went to Cin cinnati, where he remained working at his ocenpa- tion about three years, when he again moved to Sandusky City, Ohio. After following his busi- uess in this place for two years he went to Toledo, Ohio, where he remained for about six months, thence to Greenville, where he made his home until he went to Kenton, Ohio. After trying his fort- une at Pittsfield, Ill., in a short time he conclud- ed to come to Rockville, and on October 26, 1886, he arrived here and commenced his business in partnership with C. M. Hengen, under the style of Hengen & Ficken. At the end of three years' du- ration they dissolved partnership and Mr. Ficken continued in business by himself.
October 17, 1889, onr subject was nnited in mar- riage to Mrs. Effie Allen, who was a daughter of Horace Smith. He was the owner of a line of packet boats on the Erie canal. One child has blessed the home and hearthstone of Mr. and Mrs. Ficken, namely, Flora. Mr. Ficken is a Repub- lican in politics. In social life he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and is a loyal member of the
Rockville Light Artillery, in which he has held the office of Second Lieutenant. He is now Com- missary Sergeant of the First Regiment Artillery of Indiana, and has held the position two years. In religious affairs his wife is a Presbyterian, in which denomination she works harmonionsly.
Mr. Ficken is an excellent manager, very ably conducting his business, and is considered one of the best photographers of the town. He has a membership in the American Photograph Associa- tion, with which he meets regularly. He possesses a clear, vigorous intellect, is progressive in his ideas, and has a full share of that business acumen so necessary to success in any walk of life. He and his wife are popular in social circles, and have many warm friends.
M RS. NANCY (HATFIELD) NORMAN, one of the oldest living settlers within the limits of Union Township, Parke Coun- ty, who is now contentedly spending the declining years of a well-spent life in the old home, has for more than half a century been a resident of this place. She is a native of Butler County, Ohio, having been born September 20, 1813. Her father, George Hatfield, was a native of Virginia. He was reared on a farm and fol- lowed the occupation of farming all his life. The mother, Rachael Bell in her maiden days, was born in the state of New Jersey and was reared there until twelve years old.
The father and mother of our subject were blessed with nine children, four of whom were danghters and five sons, all reaching years of maturity but now deceased with the exception of three. Mrs. Norman is the seventh child and third daughter in order of birth, and was reared in her native place, remaining there until reaching her eighteenth year, when she came to Parke County with her mother, with whom she remained until her marriage. This happy event occurred in 1832, when she was united in wedlock to Will- iam Norman, of Kentucky.
Mr. Norman came with his parents to Parke
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County when he was seven years of age and was here educated. His father, Lemuel Norman, was born in the Old Dominion and was an early settler in this county. His mother, Catherine (Bassitt) Nor- man was of Kentucky and to her were born ten children. William Norman was a general farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and was a well- known and highly-esteemed man in the county in which he lived. He was in early life an old line Whig, but later cast his vote and influence with the Democracy. His death, which occurred in 1866, was an irreparable loss to the community, as he always took an active interest in those things pertaining to the welfare of the community and was recognized as one of the best citizens of the township. In all the relations of life he was honorable and upright, and the success which crowned his efforts was richly merited. In 1832 Mr. and Mrs. Norman located on the farm where the latter now makes her home. Here they built a small log house, 16 by 18 feet in dimensions. Mr. Norman entered a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government and hewed the logs himself with which he built his house. There was not a frame house in the town- ship when Mr. Norman located here.
Mrs. Norman is the mother of eight children, three daughters and five sons, one dying in infancy -Howard. The others are named Mary Jane, now deceased; Oliver P., a resident of Kansas; George W., a farmer of Missouri; Sarah E., the wife of Walter Wilson, of Union Township; Ra- chael A., who is the wife of George Switzar; William H., who died at the age of forty-two years in Missouri; James I., a physician of Parke- ville in this county. All the children were born in the first house their father erected on the farm.
George Switzar, the son-in-law of Mrs. Norman and husband of Rachael A., was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 10, 1842. He has charge of Mrs. Norman's estate of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land. He is here carrying on gen- eral farming and stock-raising extensively, keep- ing some of the best cattle and horses and is meeting with marked success. He is the father of one son, Oliver D., who is a young lad attending school.
B YRON RANDOLPH RUSSELL, Attorney- at-Law and Secretary of the Crawfordsville and the Home Building Associations of Crawfordsville, Ind., also ex-Mayor of the city and an honored veteran of the late war, occu- pies an enviable position in the public and social circles of this city. He is a level-headed, square- dealing man and is popular with all classes.
The birth of Mr. Russell took place at Monti- cello, White County, Ind., July 11, 1848. His father was Arthur Russell, who was a woolen man- ufacturer of Monticello, having large mills at that place. The mother of our subject was Lydia Way- mire, who died when her son Byron was four years old. His father then married Mrs. Rhoda Gilkey, who was the daughter of Dan Yount, of Younts- ville, four miles southwest of Crawfordsville. Mr. Yount built woolen mills there and carried them on at an early day, and Mr. Arthur Russell bought an interest in them; but before he took charge his death occurred at Monticello, January 1, 1858, when Byron was only nine years old. Mrs. Rus- sell returned to her father in Yountsville, where she lived for a time, and now lives in Crawfords- ville. Her father died August 30, 1891. In the death of Mr. Yount the county lost one of its best citizens. His son Andrew still superintends the Yountsville Woolen Mills.
Byron R. Russell was one of seven children born to his parents, and now is the only surviving child. His sister Lydia was the wife of Andrew Yount at the time of her death. After the death of his father Mr. Russell found a pleasant home with his step-grandfather, Dan Yount, until his fifteenth year. On July 11, 1863, his fifteenth birthday, he enlisted in Company G, Sixty third Regiment In- diana Volunteers. The regiment for a time became a part of the Army of the Potomac under Fitz-Jolin Porter and later joined the Twenty-third Army Corps under Gen. Schofield, in Sherman's Army. He was engaged in the East Tennessee campaign around Knoxville, and in the Atlanta campaign. He was also in the Franklin and Nashville cam- paigns, and later in North Carolina at Fort Fisher, and went thence to Greensboro, where Johnson surrendered.
After the surrender of Johnson Mr. Russell was
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transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Regiment and acted as provost guard for some months and was then discharged by special order of the War Department, at Raleigh, N. C., April 10, 1865. During this time he had been obliged to spend a long time in the hospital with a siege of typhoid fever at Greensboro, and was finally detached and made orderly to the Division Surgeon and served in that capacity until the time of his discharge.
After his severe experiences, partly, no doubt, attributable to his youth, Mr. Russell returned to Yountsville and entered Wabash College, where he pursued a partial course and then entered the law office of Gen. Lew Wallace and subsequently took a law course at Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduated in the class of 1872. He then became a partner of Judge E. C. Snyder, who was then just opening practice, and this partnership continued for one year and a half. Since then he has continued in practice alone and for eight years was made Justice of the Peace, which office he filled to the satisfac- tion of all. In 1886 his fellow citizens honored him with an election as Mayor of the city of Craw. fordsville, and again in 1888 he was re-elected. During his term the City Water Works were com- pleted and accepted, and this was very gratifying for him, as he had been active in his advocacy of the plant. After this, during his administration, the Fire Department of the city was perfected. It was his recommendation that the city secure its own plant for public and private lighting, which the Council has decided upon doing. Mr. Russell is at present one of the City Commissioners. He is a Republican in his political opinions, and has been very active on committees and at conventions.
Mr. Russell is Secretary of two building and loan associations of the city. The first one was or- ganized in 1883, and the first and second series expired in 1892, and it has been very successful, $250,000 having been loaned, and this places it upon a very firm hasis. The Home Association was founded in July, 1888, and also is in a fine financial condition, and neither has suffered the loss of a single dollar. This is undoubtedly largely owing to the good management which has con- stantly attended the business. The city has gained
from the influence of these associations. The Music Hall, a handsome opera house, has been built through the Crawfordsville Association. Mr. Rus- sell is also the Secretary of the Crawfordsville Land and Improvement Company, a corporation calculated to encourage manufactures. This was organized January 1, 1891, and has secured the location of the Wheel Works.
The marriago of Mr. Russell took place October 1, 1874, to Miss Sylvia E. O'Neall, the daughter of Abijah and Helen O'Neall, residents of Younts- ville, and early settlers. They were pioneers in the county, and Mrs. O'Neall is still living at Younts- ville, surrounded with care and affection. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are the parents of one bright little daughter of seven years, Elsie Louise. Mrs. Rus- sell is one of the active working members of the Central Presbyterian Church and is much es- teemed in the connection. Mr. Russell has passed all of the chairs in the order of Knights of Pythias, and is one of the prominent members of the Mc- Pherson Post, No. 7, Grand Army of the Repub lic, and was the second Post Commander.
Mr. Russell is one of the representative business men of Crawfordsville, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all.
C HARLES M. TEN BROOK. This efficient gentleman holds the very responsible posi- tion of Superintendent of the Asylum for the Poor of Parke County. He was born July 9, 1851, on the old homestead west of Rock- ville. He is the son of John W. Ten Brook, who was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Union County, Pa., July 27, 1824. When he was about eighteen years old he moved to this county with his father, William Ten Brook, and settled one mile west of Annapolis. Here they purchased land and lived until the death of William. The son was married to Miss Mary, a daughter of Ben- jamin Lee, a prominent farmer of this county, who came from North Carolina in an early day and fol- lowed the carpenter's trade together with tilling the soil.
After his marriage the father of our subject
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located one mile west of Rockville, where he bought fifty acres of land and lived thereon until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1865. He was the father of four children, of whom two are yet living, our subject and Belle, now the wife of J. W. Beadle, who is a resident of Rockville. She is the mother of two daughters, Pearley and Martha T. The latter is the wife of J. B. Cheadle, a Congressman from the Ninth District of the state. Pearley married Hattie Mankins, and is now deceased. In politics our subject's father was a stanch Republican, and was strongly op- posed to the extension of slavery, and hence fought against it in the late war. He was a man respected and well liked by all who knew him, being a sagacious and thoroughly trustworthy business man during his entire life-time. He passed to his final rest on the 21st of November, 1865. His wife still survives him and makes her home in Rockville.
Charles M. Ten Brook received his education in his native place and added to his fund of knowl- edge, attending the Rockville and North Bloom- ingdale Academy, where he made the best of his opportunities. He improved his time, and by keen observation and association with educated men won for himself the reputation of a thoroughly cult- ured gentleman. After he left school he engaged in farming and afterward bought the old home place in 1874. The same year he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Gill, who was the daugh- ter of Joseph (Porter) Gill. Mr. Gill was an early settler of Crawford County, Ill., and his daughter, Emma, being bereft of a mother's tender care at an early age, was sent to her guardian, where she made her home with a sister, Mrs. W: P. McClure, of Vincennes, Ind. Here she met Mr. Ten Brook, our subject, and became his wife March 26, 1874. The result of the union was three children: Zoe, Glenn and Pearly. After his marriage Mr. Ten Brook sold the old home place and in 1877 pur- chased another place, which he improved and then sold again. In the fall of 1892 he was appointed to the important position of Overseer and Manager of the Poor Farm, which is favorably located in Adams Township, on Section 26. The estate be- longing to this institution comprises one hundred and sixty acres, which are kept in an extraordi-
narily fine condition, being ably superintended by our subject. The building was erected in 1860, and is a commodious and convenient brick struct- ure in which are twenty-one inmates at the pres- ent time. Mr. Ten Brook is thoroughly respected by all those under his charge, and he performs his duties in that capacity to the satisfaction of all. In politics he is a strong Republican, and, although he is not a member of any denomination, he con- tributes liberally toward the support of the church of his town. His wife and daughter are faithful members and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place.
C HARLES W. SAPPENFIELD. This gen- tleman is one who has met with discour- agements and calamities during his busi- ness life, but by his persistent efforts he has established himself, and is profitably engaged at the present time. He is the son of Mathias Sappenfield, who was born March 12, 1790, in Fayette County, N. C., to Mathias Sappenfield. The last-named gentleman was born in the Car- olinas, and was a gallant soldier in the Revo- lutionary War. He married a Miss Sechrist, and remained in his native place where he engaged in agriculture. The Sappenfields were of German ancestry, and Mathias, Sr., was one of a family of twelve sons. Several of these sons came to America and served in the Revolutionary War, One of them, Jacob S., died while in the service on Long Island.
Mathias Sappenfield, the father of our subject. was reared in the Carolinas where he married Miss Christina Grimes, August 25, 1811. She is a daughter of John and Barbara Grimes. In 1823 Mr. and Mrs. Sappenfield went to Shelby County, Ind., where they settled on Flat Rock, and there lived about two years and farmed. Two years after they came to Parke County and settled on the Little Raccoon in what is now Green Township. Here he entered land from the Government and erected a flour and sawmill, following this occu- pation and at the same time carrying on farming. Being one of the very first settlers of this county
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he was among the first who worked up a lucrative business, and in a short time he was enabled to erect another mill on the Big Raccoon. This last possession was located on land in Union Town- ship, which he had entered from the Government and finally gave to his two sons.
The father of our subject lived on the Little Raccoon until his death, which occurred Angust 14, 1873. When but a lad he became interested in religious affairs, and in his eighteenth year joined the German Reformed Church. He was a brave soldier in the War of 1812, and after coming to this county united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he was an intelligent worker and liberal supporter the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat. The mother of our subject bore her husband eleven children, of whom five are still living. Three make their homes in this county, and are: Eliza, now Mrs. Martin; Huber, who still lives on the old homestead, and Mrs. Henry McDaniel, who lives in this township. One brother of our subject, Andrew, lives in Fairfield, Iowa. John M. is a resident of Kansas. At the time of his death the father of our subject had in his possession about nine hundred acres of land, which he had accumu- lated by his own industry and perseverance. He cleared the homestead that he entered from the Government on the Little Raccoon himself, and peacefully passed away August 14, 1873. His wife had been a member of the German Reformed Church since her fourteenth year, and she, too, was called to the better land August, 1859, at the age of sixty three years.
Charles W. Sappenfield is a native of Green Township, Parke County, and was born July 9, 1836. He was reared on the homestead, receiving his early education in the public schools, and after- ward supplementing it by an attendance at the In- diana University, from which he graduated with the class of 1863. After he had completed his edu- cation so far he began the study of law under Judge Mack, of Terre Haute, and October 19, 1864, entered the senior class of the Law Depart- ment of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, Mich. He here finished his course and graduated the fol- lowing spring, after which he began the practice
of law at Crawfordsville, Ind, in partnership with his younger brother, E. M.
Mr. Sappenfield practiced his profession at that place for three years, but owing to ill health con- cluded that an occupation requiring less mental strain would be more beneficial, so he embarked in the manufacture of pumps at that place. He fol- lowed this for fourteen years and accumulated quite a fortune which enabled him to purchase a farm in Parke County. He located at Belmore and at once followed his pursuit for twenty-six years, during which time he was very successful and prosperons. After leaving the farm he moved to Rockville and engaged in shingle manufacturing, which he has followed since 1889. He finds this a very profitable business, making about five million shingles a year, which is the result of his good management and hard work.
December 31, 1863, Mr. Sappenfield was wedded to Miss Sarah E., daughter of John R. and Catharine Seybold, who were early settlers of this county. Miss Seybold was born in Parke County, Ind., and here received a common-school education, after which she took a course at the academy at Stockville, this state. Her father was one of the most successful farmers and energetic business men of his time. Mr. and Mrs. Sappen- field have had three children: Charles Frederick. Mary Catherine and Daisy, the last-named dying at the age of eight months. In politics Mr. Sap- penfield is a strong Democrat. Socially is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a prominent and consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which he attends regularly, and liberally supports, giving ten per cent. of all his receipts for the upbuilding of the cause. He has given his means toward the erec- tion of two churches in this town, besides contrib- uting toward the rebuilding and repairing of eight or ten other edifices. He belongs to Philadelphia Chapel in Green Township, Parke County, and held the office of Treasurer of the Indiana Synod for about three years. In his early manhood Mr. Sappenfield made several inventions, on which he secured patents, one of which took a premium at the Fair at Terre Haute.
In 1867 Mr. Suppenfield invented a dray saw on
Archibald Flamingam
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which he made a great deal of money, and subse- quently invented a washing machine, which he gave to the public, never taking out a patent. When he came here he started in the shingle business in the large brick building near the depot, which burned down December 14, 1890. He lost everything he had invested in that business to the amount of $1,400. But Mr. Sappenfield was determined to succeed, and not discouraged by this disaster he again established himself in the same business with redoubled energy, and now is considered one of the most intelligent and success- ful business men of the community.
A RCHIBALD FLANINGAM, an early set- tler and successful agriculturist of Mont- gomery County, Ind., who died in 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, was an earnest man, strong in character, and possessed of uncommon ability. He was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, a true Christian citi- zen, upright and conscientious in business dealings and social intercourse, and was highly respected by many friends and neighbors, who, with his sor- rowing relatives, mourned his loss, when, after years of prosperity, due to his own efforts, he passed quietly away.
Mr. Flaningam was undoubtedly of Scotch an- cestry, his forefathers seeking in the land of lib- erty the political and religious freedom denied them in their native land. Isaac Flaningam, the grandfather of Archibald, was probably a native of New Jersey, and it is supposed was born in Woodbury. Our subject's parents, George and Polly (Larrick) Flaningam, were both natives of the Old Dominion and were born in Virginia, in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Reared amid scenes of historical interest the two grew up to mature years and some time after their marriage moved to Ohio, where they both died. Archibald, after several years of pioneer life, in the Buckeye State, came to Indiana and located permanently in Montgomery County, about 1836.
Mr. and Mrs. George Flaningam were the par- ents of nine children, all of whom survived the 26
years of childhood. Three of their sons settled with them in Ohio, Archibald, John and Samuel, each of whom married and raised families, some of whom are still living in this county, most of them engaged in agricultural pursuits. Archibald Flaningam was born in Fredericks County, Va., in 1809, and was therefore about twenty-seven years old when, with a few hundred dollars capital, he ar- rived, full of hope and ambition, in the state which then became his permanent home. In 1839, some three years after his removal to Indiana, he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Kashner, a daughter of Abraham Kashner, one of the early pioneer settlers of the county.
Mr. Flaningau and his excellent wife were par- ents of twelve children, nine of whom they reared to mature age. Andrew, their eldest boru, mar- ried and died, leaving a family of four children; Mary married John A. Johnson, of Lebanon, Ind .; John is a prosperous farmer of Franklin; Abra- ham is a well-known lawyer of Chicago; Rhoda married J. W. Gregory, of Garden City, Kans .; Hulda is the wife of Ambrose F. Ward, of Boone County; Albert is a resident of Boone County; Samuel, the youngest son, and Ida, the wife of Elwood Woody, complete the list of sons and daughters who have taken an active interest in life's duties, and nearly all of whom have families of their own.
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