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 76
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 76
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 76
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Our subject claims this county as his birthplace, and the date of that event October 25, 1861. Hle was twenty-one years of age wlien he began farm- ing for himself on his father's home estate, which
John Mitchell
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comprised two hundred splendid acres, and by ap- plying himself strictly to his affairs he was enabled in 1891 to purchase fifty-eight acres. He raises a good class of stock, and is prospering in all his undertakings, as he deserves to do. Careful in the management of his affairs, he keeps good credit by making prompt payments, and therefore stands well in the community as a fair-minded and open- hearted young man, who is accommodating and friendly in his relations with his neighbors, and is a good husband and indulgent father in private life. He obtained a fair education in the district schools of his township, and to the instruction there received he added a fund of information ac- quired by reading and contact with mankind.
The father of our subject, Thomas Causey, was a hard-working man, and was profitably engaged in farming and stock-raising, realizing as a rich reward for his labors a large increase in his agri- cultural possessions, owning at the present time a fertile tract of six hundred and fifty acres of land. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Polly Huxford. After carefully bringing up her family of children, on November 20, 1879, she passed from this life. On March 4, 1885, onr subject was united in marriage with Ida B., a daughter of Andrew and Mary ( Warner) Linebar- ger. To this couple were born two children, whom they named Ernest and Ivan B. Mrs. Cansey has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since her fourteenth year. To this worthy couple are due the respect and esteem of all with whom they associate.
OHN MITCHELL, a prosperous farmer of Montgomery County and the owner of a well-improved farm on section 12, Sugar Creek Township, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, January 22, 1819. Ilis father, William Mitchell, was born in Winchester, Va., June 18, 1779, and at the age of sixteen years he left the parental home and went into the North-
western Territory. In 1800 he secured a position on a flatboat, in which he proceeded down the Ohio River to New Orleans, then up the Red River and into Texas. For fonr years he lived among the Indians, hunting and trapping; then in 1804 he returned to the States. and, locating in Adams County, Ohio, there formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah Myers, with whom he was united in marriage on the 22d of March, 1810.
In 1815 the father of our subject removed from Adams to Champaign Connty, Ohio, where he re- mained until 1833. Then, accompanied by his family, he came to Montgomery County, Ind., and purchased a section of land from the Government. Here he spent his remaining years until his death, which occurred April 4, 1839, at the age of fifty- nine years, nine months and sixteen days. Dur- ing the War of 1812 he enlisted in the service of the United States, and served faithfully until the close of the conflict. His wife, the mother of our subject, was born in New Jersey November 13, 1785, and was the daughter of Joseph and Rachel Myers. In 1804 she accompanied her father's family to Adams County, Ohio, where she met and married Mr. Mitchell. After having become the mother of seven children, to whom she gave the most tender nurture and training, she passed away October 11, 1853.
The only surviving member of the family is the subject of this sketch. Of the others we note the following: Aaron, wlio was born March 29, 1813. died January 19, 1849; Elijah, whose birth oc- curred April 17, 1815, engaged in farming por- snits, and died in Montgomery County, Ind., in 1872. Ten children had been born of his union with Anna, daughter of Jacob Rogers, of Cham- paign County, Ohio. Joseph, who was born March 4, 1817, accompanied his father to this connty in 1833, and for a time worked as foreman and con- tractor on the Vandalia Railway. He acquired the ownership of two hundred acres in Montgom- ery and Clinton Counties. His wife was Louisa, daughter of Rolly Kendall. During the adminis- tration of President Lincoln, Joseph Mitchell was appointed postal clerk and was the incumbent of that position at the time of his death. William, who was born September 22, 1820, engaged in
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farming and stock-raising in Montgomery County, Ind., and died in Texas October 18, 1849. About five years prior to his demise he married Sarah Parrish. Sarah, who was born July 10, 1822, mar- ried Jesse Kendall, who owned and cultivated an eighty-acre farm in this locality. She departed this life in 1845, and two years afterward Mr. Kendall passed away. Elizabeth was born March 31, 1824, and died January 5, 1847.
In Sugar Creek Township, Montgomery County, our subject married Miss Mary, daughter of T. Rouch and Ellen Rice, and after their umion the young couple settled in a log cabin on the site of their present residence. After having resided there for four years, Mr. Mitchell became con- tractor for the Vandalia route, and was connected with that railway for two years. In 1849 he be- came associated with the "Big Four" in the same capacity. Subsequently he embarked in farming pursuits and took up his abode in the house where his mother had resided prior to her death. In 1872 he discontinued farming in order to give his attention to the grain business, and had an eleva- tor at Colfax, conducting an extensive and suc- cessful business as a wholesale dealer in grain for fourteen years. In 1887 he returned to the old homestead, where he has since resided.
In 1868 Mr. Mitchell erected a substantial resi- dence, containing eight conveniently-arranged rooms and a good cellar, the building being put up at a cost of about $5,000 besides his own labor. All the timber used in its construction was cut on his farm. On a bitterly cold day, January 22, 1869, he and his family took possession of their home. Mr. Mitchell owns two hundred and fifteen acres of finely-improved land; his property is well drained, lie having put in over two thousand rods of tile at a cost of more than $1,200, Seventy-five acres are planted to timothy and clover, and sixty acres each to wheat and corn. A beautiful orchard yields a bountiful supply of choice fruit eaeli year, and everything about the place indicates the ability and thrift of the owner. In addition to general farming Mr. Mitchell also devotes consid- erable attention to stock-raising.
During the War of the Rebellion Mr. Mitchell served as a member of the Home Guard, and took
part in the movement to drive Morgan, the bold rebel raider, over the border, chasing him into Ohio. The Guards, under command of Milton B. Waugh, left here on the 10th of July, 1863. Our subject is actively interested in politics, and uses his influence in favor of the Republican party. He has never held any office except that of Justice of the Peace, of which he was an incumbent for twenty years. Socially, he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with Plumb Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Colfax, hav- ing been a member since 1856. For more than fifty years he has been identified with the re- ligious movement of this section as a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he joined in 1841. His estimable wife is also an earnest worker in that denomination and a teacher in the Sunday-school. Ile has served as Steward of the church for forty years, is a member of the choir, Treasurer of the Sunday-school and a gen- crous contributor to every department of religious enterprise.
LEURA F. JAMES, attorney-at-law and a prominent citizen of Rosedale, was born in Montezuma, Parke County, Ind., January 23, 1866. His father, Harry II. James, M. D., a native of Indiana, was a graduate of the medical department of the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was a man of great prominence in his profession. As a physician, his skill was universally recognized, and as a citizen he was public-spirited. He was always an ardent support- er of the principles of the Republican party, and was an influential fraternal worker, being a mem- ber of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. llis death occurred at St. Bernice, Ind., November 1, 1887.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wade, and passed away January 23, 1872. She died as she had lived, an earnest
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Christian and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her two children were named F. F. and Edward B., and her death when they were small deprived them of the kind and loving care of a mother. The father married for his sec- ond wife Miss Anna Morrison, of Kenton, Ind., an amiable woman, who still survives. This union was blessed by the birth of one child, a son. Schell I., who was born March 26, 1879, and who makes his home with his mother. Dr. James was a vet- eran of the Union army, having served for four years as First Lieutenant of the Sixth Cavalry, Seventy-first Indiana Regiment. He was a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and a strong supporter of that organization, as he was also of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Close application and diligent study enabled our subject in his youth to become the possessor of broad knowledge and extended information on all subjects. For a time he engaged in the pen- sion business, and was also employed as a collec- tor. At the age of twenty-two years be com- menced the study of law. On the 10th of October, 1889, he was admitted to the Bar of the Circuit Court, and later was admitted to practice in the Superior Court of the State. Soon after begin- ning practice he was appointed Deputy Prose- cutor of Vermillion County, where he practiced his profession until October, 1891.
Since coming to Rosedale, in the above-men- tioned year, Mr. James has established a lucrative practice. He is Attorney of the village, and is un wearied in his efforts in behalf of his fellow- citizens. In his political connections he is an adherent of the Republican party, and was a dili- gent worker in the last campaign (that of 1892), having organized several clubs throughout the State and canvassed actively for the candidates of his chosen party. Socially, he is identified with Lodge No. 666, I. O. O. F., of St. Bernice, of which he is a charter member. At present, how- ever, he holds membership with Rosedale Lodge No. 698, of which he was one of the organizers and is now the acting Vice Grand.
November 7, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr. James with Miss Georgie E. Brown. Mrs. James is the eldest of seven children in the family of
John C. and Charity (Titus) Brown, natives of Indiana, the father being a farmer in Vermillion County. Two children have blessed the union of our subject and his wife: Pearl, who was born February 6, 1889; and Annie, January 27, 1892. The family residence in Rosedale is pleasantly lo- cated, and is the abode of a cordial hospitality ex- tended to many guests and friends. Mrs. James possesses a consistent Christian character and is a member of the United Brethren Church.
BSOLOM J. DENMAN, a highly respected citizen, a successful farmer and well- known Justice of the Peace of Jackson Township, Fountain County, Ind., has held various official positions of trust with honor and ability. Closely connected almost his entire life- time with the pioneer interests of the Western country, and especially identified with the growth and progress of his immediate neighborhood, our subject has gained many warm friends, and by a course of unvarying integrity has won and holds the confidence of the entire community among which he so impartially dispenses law.
The parents of Judge Denman were natives of the South. His father William Denman, was born in Georgia; his mother, Polly (Ilicks) Denman, was a Tennessean by birth. Their son Absolom was born in the Buckeye Statc, Butler County, in April 1811, and soon after his birth removed with his father and mother from Ohio to the then wilder- ness of Fayette County, Ind., and settled among the Indians. After a time the family returned to their old home in Ohio. Of all this journeying into strange and uncivilized frontier scenes, our subject has no recollection, but when his energetic and ambitious parents determined to try their for- tunes again in Indiana, he entered eagerly into all the novel and often exciting experiences of those early days.
Montgomery County was the location chosen by
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the parents this time, and they settled in the heavy timber near where the village of Alamo now stands. Absolom Denman was anxious to gain all he could of book knowledge, and attended the dis- trict school by day and studied diligently at home through the long winter evenings. Earnest and intelligent, he progressed and was able at an early age to begin the struggle of life as a teacher. For seven years he unweariedly pursued his chosen profession. Many of those he taught have passed away, but the majority of his pupils are yet alive and hold in pleasant remembrance the kindly teacher, sometimes stern, who guided their stum- bling feet into the rocky paths of knowledge.
In 1837, our subject married Miss Nancy Smith and the two continued their residence in Mont- gomery County many years, and there had, and still have, many true friends. At the time of his marriage Judge Denman invested all his cash in the purchase of eighty acres of land, but althoughi left almost penniless by the transaction, he had a surplus stock of hope, energy and ambition, which well assisted him to provide for all emergencies, and soon assured him of a future competence and abundant success in life. In 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Denman came to Fountain County, and here made their permanent home. Our subject now owns two hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land under a high state of improvement. He and his wife have reared a family, and occupy a prom- inent position in the society of the township.
Upon the political questions of the day our sub- ject is thoroughly at home. He has ever taken a deep interest in the administration of public affairs both local and national. True to his sincere con vic- tions, he affiliates with the Democratic party, which still retains its loyalty to the memory of that great statesman and noble patriot, Andrew Jack- son, whose integrity, courage, and scorn of the arts of political hfe have been long interwoven with the history of our nation. JJudge Denman is known and valued for his integrity of character, displayed in all the daily events of his rounds of official work. This is the third term in which he has so satisfactorily given his judicial decisions, .
and he has also served as Trustee of the town and been the incumbent of various local positions of
trust. Our subject is a man generous to the de- serving and ever willing to aid in any worthy cause, and is especially willing to give his best efforts in behalf of educational progress and the uplifting of the ignorant and uncultured masses.
ONAS C. AYLSWORTH, who for many years occupied a prominent place among the business men of Fountain County, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., June 21, 1831. An account of his parents and ancestry will be found in the sketch of his son Harry, who is represented in this volume.
Our subject was a child of seven or eight years when his parents removed to Granville, Ohio, where his youth was passed on his father's farm. He received the benefits of a good education at Granville College, and was well equipped for his future career as a man of business. In 1858 he weut to Nebraska, thinking to find there a wider field of usefulness than in his native State. He lived there the ensuing five years, and a part of that time was Clerk in the United States Land Office. But the war broke out, and in time his well-known sentiments as a Unionist caused the guerrillas to drive him away, and he went back to Ohio. His stay there was short, and in the spring of 1863 he came to this county and became one of its valued citizens. He made his home at Attica, where he took an interest in a gristmill with Messrs. Falls & Plowman. The firm subsequently sold out to Messrs. Brown & Telford, and Mr. Ayls- worth was retained to superintend the business, remaining with them until July, 1874.
In that month our subject was appointed special agent of the Pension Bureau at Washington, and he held the position until October, 1877, when he resigned and returned to Attica. He immediately resumed business, assisting in the incorporation of the Attica Mills Company, of which he became President, and he was also made manager of the
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mills, holding both positions until the mills were shut down. In the spring of 1884 the City Mill- ing Company was incorporated, and a new mill was built and finely equipped with all the latest improved modern machinery. Mr. Ayisworth be- came Secretary and Manager of the concern, and filled those offices until his untimely death in the midst of a busy and honorable career. To his un- tiring devotion to his duties, to his executive abil- ity and excellent business methods, the company owed much of its success from the start.
Mr. Aylsworth was first married to Miss Mary W. Atkinson, of Pataskala, Ohio, who died in 1877, leaving four children. Our subject was mar- ried again, in April, 1880, Miss Louisa F. Ayls- worth, of East Clarence, N. Y., becoming his wife. Mr. Aylsworth was a gentleman of honor, and of high personal standing throughout the county. Possessing sound sense, a clear brain and rare judgment, he was well fitted for public office, and his fellow-citizens invited him to aid in the man- agement of local affairs. He served three terms as a member of the Board of Councilmen of Attica, and was for several years actively identified with the Board of Education. Ile was one of the lead- ing members of the Masonie lodge in this village, and was Secretary thereof for nineteen years pre- vious to his death.
ICHAEL PRICE, a very successful grain- dealer of Montgomery County, is a resi- dent of Crawfordsville. So well known is this gentleman for his uprightness and straightforwardness in business, that if the old philosopher should appear with his candle, his journey would be a short one, for the soul of hon- esty dwells within the subject of this sketch.
Michael Price was born in County Carlow, Ire- land, in 1820, and was a son of William Price, a native of the same country. In 1859 our subject came to the United States, and after working at various occupations in the East, he came to this
city, where he immediately engaged in the busi- ness of shipping grain, making efforts to always buy for cash. So successful was he in this business that in 1864 he opened a grain office in this city, to which he has since devoted his attention, and in 1869 purchased his present location. At times his shipments exceed one million bushels of grain annually. He has been in the business in this vicinity longer than any one else, and has always carried on a large and lucrative trade.
Four times has our subject been honored by election to the City Council. In 1875, he was elected for two terms, and again in 1880 from the Second Ward. During his first occupancy of the position, the gas plant was established, in which he was actively interested. During his second term he took a stand in opposition to the plan adopted to secure the water works. He favored having the latter, but opposed the scheme used, deeming it not best for the interests of the people. The elec- tric-light plant was established by a private com- pany during his term of office, and in this matter also he looked for the best interests of the people, regardless of adverse comments.
Mr. Price was elected County Commissioner in 1880 by the Republican party. During the time of his service the toll-roads of the county were purchased by the various townships, under the su- pervision of the three Commissioners. About this time Mr. Price found that the County Farm was not conducted in a manner to advance the inter- ests of the people. lle used his best efforts to re- move the incumbent from the position of Superin- tendent, hoping to replace him with another Re- publican, but being in the minority he failed at the time. After the election of a new Com- missioner, who happened to be a Democrat, he renewed his efforts, but not receiving support from his Republican colleagne, he joined hands with the other official, and was successful in ac- complishing his purpose, although it resulted in placing a Democrat in the position. Our subject then, as ever, regarded the public service as para- mount to temporary party advantage.
The marriage of Mr. Price took place in 1864, when Miss Jane A. Regan became his wife. She was engaged in teaching in that place for several
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years. Of their family, five children are now liv- ing, these being as follows: Mary, wife of Charles Van Cleve, of Crawfordsville; Margaret; Annun- ciata, now Mrs. Mark Deering, her husband being employed in Booth's Oyster House, in Chicago; Jane and Bernard Joseph. Three children also died in infancy.
Our snbjeet is well known for the interest he has ever taken in the affairs of the poor and un- fortunate, and although he is a member of the Ro- man Catholic Church, so wide is his sympathy and so broad is his vision of human needs, that he stands high in the estimation of all. No man has a wider circle of warm-hearted friends than has he of whom we write. Ilis unswerving honesty of purpose makes him a man of whom his fellow-citi- zens may well be proud, for all know that he will advance the interest of the masses as far as in his power.
H. B. McCAIN, editor of the Daily and Weekly Journal, is located at Crawfords- ville, this State. The Journal is an ineor- porated company, its stock owned by Mr. Mc- Cain and son, Arthur A., and J. A. Greene. You can get all the news part of the time, and part of the news all the time, but you can't get all the news all the time, unless you are a sub- seriber to the Crawfordsville Journal. This paper gives all the local news in a clear, clean, readable manner. Church news, society news, business news and police news are all handled for what they are worth and no more. The telegraphic service is complete, concise and of the latest. The editorial department is thoroughly Republican and treats of local as well as general polities. Other matter of readable as well as useful nature is given space in the Daily Journal, which has a circulation and goes into better homes than any other daily in Montgomery County. It is clean, progressive, ag- gressive and popular.
The Weekly Journal is the official organ of the
Republican party of Montgomery County. It has the largest circulation of any weekly paper in this section of Indiana. It gives all the news and is considered a household companion and necessity in every home in the county. Hundreds of its subscribers have taken the paper for over a third of a century, without a year's discontinuance, and its stability, authority, exactness and impartiality are only equaled by its popularity.
The Journal does job printing. We would im- press this fact on all our readers and friends. More than that, it has the best equipment for this work in the county of Montgomery. This department is in charge of A. M. Smith and has been for the last eleven years. Mr. Smith is the most thoroughly practical printer in the city and with the finest qualities of ink and paper always used, he is able to turn out work superior to most, and equal to that of, any office in the State. If you have never patronized the Journal job office, try it once and you will be surprised to see what will be the result of fine ink and high-grade paper, put together with taste and skill.
T. H. B. MeCain was born in Clinton County, Ind., January 24, 1839. His parents were Hugh B. and Minerva (Douglass) MeCain. Hugh B. Mc- Cain was a farmer and was descended from a long line of Seotch-Irish ancestry. He was originally a Democrat, but became a Republican in 1854. Ile was a staneh Union man, and died February 17, 1893. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject served as a soldier in the Eighty-sixth Indiana Infan- try, having enlisted as a private. A year later he was promoted to be Sergeant-Major of the regiment, where he served one year. The last year of his service was as First Lieutenant of Company I. Ile took part in all the battles in which his regiment participated, the more im- portant of which were Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and all the battles of the Atlanta Campaign, including Franklin and Nash- ville. On his return from the war, he began the publication of the Delphi Journal. Subsequently he moved to Lebanon, Ind., and there published the Patriot a year and a-half; thence he moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and published a Repub-
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