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 84
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 84
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 84
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Miami County, Ind., and the latter in Ohio. They were united in marriage in 1845, in Fountain County, to which section the father came with his parents, John and Anna Elwell, in 1831. They entered the land on which Amariah Elwell is now residing, and where Sylvester HI. Elwell was born.
The latter was reared on the farm on which he was born, and his youth and early manhood were devoted to tilling the soil under the experienced and able direction of his father. He conducted this farm in a very successful manner from the time of his marriage, at the age of nineteen years, until 1883. At this time he took up his residence on his own farm near the town of Yeddo, where he continued to reside until he was elected to the office of County Recorder on the Republican ticket in 1886, succeeding William Lamb, wbo was the first Auditor of the county, and had held the position for many years. He received a majority of one hundred and cight votes. In 1890, he had a major- ity of seventeen votes over ex-County Treasurer Miles, after a very active and hotly contested campaign. In 1880 he was elected Trustee of the township, and beld other minor offices to the sat- isfaction of those concerned. He has been active in the political affairs of his section, and is Chair- man of the County Central Committee. On various occasions he has been a delegate to State and Con- gressional conventions, and in various other ways has been the recipient of considerable favor from his party.
As a public official, Mr. Elwell is well and justly noted for his sterling honesty and superior capa- bility, and the functions of his present oflice he certainly fills to perfection. In every detail is manifested the most perfect arrangement, showing the workings of an intelligent and well-directed mind. He is uniformly courteous to all with whom he comes in contact, and in the discharge of his duties is efficient, punctual and industrious. On the 3d of January, 1869, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Martha Walton, of Mill Creek Township. Her birth occurred in Parke County, this State, on the 22d of May, 1857. To their union the following children have been given: Elmer Grant, who is his father's able assistant; Mary, Ada and Pearl. Mr. Elwell is a member of that
honorable organization, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has attained to the En- campment, and he is also a member of the Grand Lodge, having passed all the chairs of the order.
Personally, and in every private relation and duty of life, Mr. Elwell has endeavored to do his duty. Liberal, generous and high minded, he is an ideal public servant, and in the everyday affairs of life is true to his convictions, and has the moral courage to express his views when occasion so demands. He is true to his family, his friends and his country, and is in every respect a model American citizen.
E LI L. MYERS. One of the most striking features in the history of the development of Western communities is the attention they have given to educational matters, and wherever a considerable settlement has been formed. the village school has been one of the first objects taken under consideration by the community. Even before the days of the great free-school sys- tem, when the settlements were small and the chil- dren scattered, there was an endeavor on the part of the pioneer Western communities to secure for their children such advantages of education as were available. Ilow much better the advantages of the present day, and how much interest is taken in educational matters! Among the prominent educators of Fountain County, Ind., stands the name of Eli L. Myers, who for many years has been an advocate of the best systems of instruction and employs them,
Mr. Myers was born in Wallace, in the southeast- ern part of Fountain County, Ind., August 31, 1850, and is a son of Job and Catherine (Fine) Myers, both natives of the old North State. The par- ents came to Indiana in 1829, but subsequently moved to Illinois, and there the father resides at the present time. Hle is a successful farmer. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Myers, died on this farm when eighty-two years of age, and his wife
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died at the age of eighty-seven. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Fine, was a native of Kentucky, born there when the family had started back to North Carolina on account of Indians, a colony of forty-two having settled on an adjoining farm near Jacksonville.
The original of this notice was reared on the old farm adjoining that of his grandfather's and there continued to make his home until thirty years of age, receiving a good practical education at Wave- land Academy, under Prof. Kritz. At the age of eighteen lie began to teach school, and continued to instill knowledge into the youthful heads of the future men and women of Indiana for twenty- three years, seven years in Montgomery County and sixteen years in Fountain County. Three years of this time he was in the graded school at Waynetown and three years in the Veedersburgh school. He missed but one of the twenty-three years of school work, and during that time exhib- ited the characteristics which have rendered him distinguished throughout his career, and which have made his life a succession of suecesses.
Mr. Myers was elected County Superintendent of schools in .June, 1891, by the Board of Trustees, and has now one hundred and forty-two licensed teachers employed, one hundred and sixty-three teachers in all. Ile has visited nearly all the schools in the county and is holding the teachers to a strict conformanee to a course of study adopted by the State Superintendent and is grading the schools. About forty per cent. of the teachers have had Normal training. In the enthusias- tie pursuit of his chosen profession, he has awak- ened publie sentiment to a higher appreciation of the benefits to be derived from a good education, and his unflagging zeal and ceaseless devotion to the promotion of educational improvements have borne good results.
On the 7th of August, 1873, he married Miss Polly Wert, of Montgomery County, born near Alamo, November 26, 1848, and the daughter of Richard D. Wert, formerly of Alamo, but now de- ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born the following children, Lena L., Vinnie R., Edith Gay and James H., all bright and attractive chil- dren. Our subjeet and wife hold membership with
the Lutheran Church at Wallace and contribute liberally of their means to its support. In politics he is an ardent Democrat and has been a member of the Central Committee and was a member of the State Convention in 1880. Mr. Myers fills his responsible position with distinguished ability and a zeal born of love for his work.
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E DWARD BARNES from the very early days was identified with the history of Parke County, to which he came with his parents in his tenth year, or in 1832, his birth hav- ing oceurred June 7, 1822, in Mercer County, Ky. He was a grist miller by trade, shipping flour to New Orleans on flatboats. On leaving that busi- ness he beeame a packer and shipper of pork at Indianapolis, but never removed his family to that city. He remained there about six years, or until his death, which oceurred June 24, 1891. Ile was a commercial man of well-recognized merit, and held several local offices in the township. Po- litically, he was a strong supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and was justly esteemed as a man of influence and high standing in all circles.
On December 11, 1845, was celebrated the mar- riage of Edward Barnes and Serepta Bruin, who was born December 12, 1822, near the place where she now lives. Her parents were Daniel and Mary A. (Kirkpatrick) Bruin. The former was a son of Daniel and Molly Bruin, and the great-grandparents of Mrs. Barnes were Joseph and Jane Bruin, who were natives of the Emerald Isle, and came to America in the early Colonial days, settling in Virginia. The grandfather took part in the War of the Revolution. It is a singu- lar fact that various members of this family died while asleep, and the grandfather slept for eigh- teen days previons to his demise. The latter was born in Fauquier County, Va., was there married, and spent his life in caring for his farm. His family of five children, Daniel, William, Joseph, Serepta and Keziah, are all deceased. The mother
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of these children lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and six years. In religious faith they were Presbyterians. Mrs. Barnes' father was born in Virginia, and after his marriage removed to Kentucky, where he learned the tanner's trade, and soon after came to Indiana, locating in Parke County within two miles of where Mrs. Barnes now lives. He followed his trade until his death, and also carried on his farm of about five hun- dred acres, situated in one body, which he pur- chased of the Government. He was one of the earliest pioneers of this region, as he came here in 1819, when the nearest white settlement was at Ft. Wayne. He reared his family of nine chil- dren in the wilderness among the Indians, and of this large circle only Mrs. Barnes is now living. The father died in 1852, having passed his six- tieth year, and his wife survived him about a decade. Mr. Bruin was a Baptist in belief, but was not connected with any church organization in this State, as there was none within n great many miles of his home. Ile was an old-line Whig.
Mrs. Barnes' school days began at the age of twelve years in the rudest and most primitive kind of schoolhouse, which was three miles from her home, and where the pupils had to pile brush for fuel during the winter season. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were born three children: Robert, who died in April, 1892, leaving a wife and two children; William, and Laura, deceased, wife of W. Il. Alex- ander, who left two children, Bessie and Eddie, who are now living with their grandmother.
ILLIAM BROWN, deceased, was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1826, to William R. Brown, who in his younger days was a miller, and in the latter part of his life was en- gaged in farming. llis wife was known as Eliza- beth Cornthwait in her maiden days, and after her marriage with Mr. Brown became the mother of ten children, six sons and four daughters, who
all lived to reach mature years. One son, Robin- son, resides in Marion County, Iowa; Elizabeth, the eldest danghter, lives with her husband in this county; Mary, the wife of J. Fisher, also lives in this county; and Isabel, the wife of James Gilons, resides in Clarke County, Iowa.
Our subject was at one time a representative farmer, and was a very successful stock-raiser. He received a common-school education in the home place, and after farming for some time he became the possessor of two hundred and fifty acres of farm and bottom land, bordering on the Little Raccoon River, in Florida Township. Up to the time of the late Civil War, he was a Democrat, but at that time he found he could support his party's principles no longer, and then cast his vote with the Republican party, to which he firmly ad- hered until the time of his death. He was an ac- tive member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place. April 6, 1854, ne was married to Miss Melona Adams, by whom he had four chil- dren, one son and three daughters, namely: Sarah J., George W .. Martha and Harriet. Mrs. Brown survived but a few years, and, after a lingering illness of one year, died September 2, 1867. Af- ter the decease of his wife, Mr. Brown married Miss Sarah A. Hopper, daughter of Azariah, a farmer of this county. Mrs. Brown was born Sep- tember 13, 1840, in this county, where she received a good education, and was a successful teacher in the public schools. By this nnion have been born two daughters: Julia E., born November 7, 1870, and the wife of Welsey Reeder, a merchant of Terre Haute; and Ella May, who was born May 8, 1874, and is the wife of Lawrence O. Gray, whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Reeder have one son, Harold B., born April 4, 1892.
The mother of Mrs. Brown was a Miss Nancy Dudney, a native of Nashville, Tenn., and with her parents came to Indiana in an early day. She was one of a family of seven children, and was well educated. She was a good wife and mother, de- voted to her home and family, and a consistent member of the Methodist Church. She died July 6, 1889. Mr. Brown was of English lineage, his parents both being of English birth, and when they came to Indiana their son William was fif-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
teen years of age. Upon arriving in Indiana, they settled on a part of the present homestead, then a vast wilderness, and by hard labor and many pri- vations they succeeded in converting this into an improved farm.
During the late war, Mr. Brown was drafted into the service, but the strife was ended before he was called upon to act. He was an indulgent father. a loving husband, and had a host of warm friends. His death, which occurred in the year 1892, was deeply mourned by all who knew him, and the be- reaved family were the recipients of sympathy and condolence from the entire community. The fol- , lowing is a poem dedicated to the memory of this deceased gentleman :
"Our home is darkened by a cloud of gloom, The shadow resting o'er an open tomb; Our father has gained the Eternal heiglit,
And, stepping heavenward, disappeared from sight, Leaving to us from that bright land afar But gieams of glory through the Gates Ajar; A community's love, its tender care,
Cannot assuage the grief these stricken ones must bear.
'Tis He alone, the Christian's hope and stay, Can heal the wounds and wipe the tears away."
ILLIAM A. WRIGHT, a progressive citi- zen and prosperous agriculturist of Foun- tain County, Ind., is now residing upon the farm where in 1852, just two-score years ago, he was born. His life has been a busy one, its va- rious interests being closely identified with the growth and enterprise of his immediate neighbor- hood. To his carnest efforts, hearty aid and active co-operation with other energetic workers for the public welfare, many of the most substantial im- provements of his locality are due. Appreciating the efficient service of our subject, his old-time friends and neighbors in 1890 elected him Trus- tee of Richland Township, a position whose du- ties lie is well qualified to discharge with honor and ability.
The father of William A. Wright was born upon
mid-ocean, and may therefore be said to have been a man without a native country. His father and mother, the paternal grandparents of our sub- ject, emigrated from Ireland in the very early part of this century. William Wright was an ambitious man, and resolved to try his fortune in the world beyond the seas. Ireland was his na- tive home and the birthplace of his wife and little danghter Jane. Early associations and pleas- ant recollections bound them to the place of their nativity, but the hope of bettering their condi- tion cheered them as they beheld the shores of Erin's Isle recede from their watchful view. While journeying across the broad Atlantic in 1803, the little family was increased in numbers by the birth of a fine, lusty boy, whom his happy parents named Thomas. The extra passenger arrived safely with his parents and sister in New York, but the fam- ily remained in the Empire State only a brief time. They first settled in Virginia, later removed to Maryland, and finally located in Warren County, Ohio. To this family were afterward added two sons, Samuel and William.
Thomas Wright, the father of our subject, learned the trade of a weaver from his father, who had served his apprenticeship in old Ireland, and well understood the business. Weavers were in demand, and employment at excellent remu- neration was easily obtainable. In 1828 Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Snider were united in mar- riage. Two children were born unto them, and Ezra still survives and resides in Warren County, Ind. Mrs. Wright did not live many years, and Mr. Wright again married, this lady, the mother of our subject, being Miss Martha Rohrer, a daugh- ter of Jacob Rohrer. In 1840 Thomas Wright came with his family to Indiana and located in Fountain County, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, but he continued to follow his trade until within a few years of his death. Four children of the second marriage brightened the home with their presence, viz .: Henry, now deceased; Mary J., who has been twice married, and resides in Ne- braska; William A., our subject; and Melissa, wife of Joseph II. Miller, of Sterling.
William A. Wright enjoyed the full advantages of the public schools and completed his educa-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion in the State Normal Institution, and there prepared himself for the profession of teaching. As an instructor, our subject gave satisfaction and taught for some time, but finally devoted himself to the varied cares and duties of farming life. Ile owns about two hundred and sixteen acres, all well improved, and much of it under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Wright is a well- informed citizen, and takes an active interest in both national and local politics. His affiliations are with the Democratic party, of which he is a firm supporter. Fraternally, our subject is con- nected with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is also a Knight Templar. In both of these associations he has many friends, and, widely known throughout the county, commands the re- spect and confidence of the entire business com- munity. Mr. Wright has traveled extensively in the United States, and visited Europe in 1889, traveling in England, Ireland, Scotland and France. He has attended four expositions, viz .: the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, the Cotton Exposition at New Orleans in 1885, the Paris Exposition in 1889, and the Co- lumbian Exposition in 1893.
R P. MARCH, editor of the Peabody Graphic, was born April 10, 1873, near Lawrence, Kan., where he lived until six years of age, at which time his parents removed to Sum- ner County and settled on a farm in Dixon Township. The parents of our subject, M. L. and M. E. March, were identified with the early set- tlement and educational interests of their commu- nity and the founding of the present city of Argonia. At the age of twelve years our subject entered the office of the Argonia Clipper, where he served as an apprentice, after which he worked in different offices at Wellington, in the mean- time learning telegraphy.
In 1890 Mr. March joined the Wichita Typo- graphical Union No. 148, but soon left that place
to take a position as telegraph operator with the Santa Fe Railroad at Argonia. He has worked all over this system for a period covering three years, and was also employed with the Atlantic & Pa- cific Railroad in New Mexico and Arizona. In the fall of 1891 he returned to Wichita and worked on the Wichita Daily Eagle until May 1, 1892, at which time he came to Peabody, and is now tak- ing charge of the Graphic.
(C RANCIS HI. MILLER occupies an impor- tant place in the annals of Fountain County as one whose name is inseparably connected with the rise and steady growth of the enterprising and thriving village of Veedersburgh. of which he was the pioneer merchant, and where he is still engaged in the grocery and provision business, enjoying a large and lucrative trade. He is a native of Indiana, born in Rockville April 22, 1843. His father, also named Francis, was born, reared and educated in the State of New York. The family is of German origin. The pa- ternal grandfather of our subject was the Rev. William Miller, who was a minister of the Baptist Church at Montezuma, in Parke County, during the latter part of his life, which was brought to a close when our subject was a small child.
Francis Miller, Sr., went to Ohio after he had completed his education in his native State, and he was there married to Rebecca, daughter of William Powers. IIe and his wife set out on horseback to seek a new home in the untrodden wilds of Indiana in the year 1828. Much of their way led through forests in which there were no roads, and they were guided by the blazes on trees cut by some Indian or frontiersman. They at last arrived at Crawfordsville, which then had hut two or three houses, and they were among the first to settle in Montgomery County. Mr. Miller became one of the pioneers in business at Crawfordsville, keeping a general merchandise store and an hotel for the accommodation of
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wayfarers, people searching for suitable locations, ete. From that town he went to Roekville, where he also carried on a general mercantile busi- ness. Removing thence to Montezuma, he died in that place in 1847, when scarcely past the prime of life. He was an honored member of the Christian Church, an Elder therein, and his death was a loss to the community. Ile was the father of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity except one, Arthur, who died in infancy, and four are still living: William P., a resident of Ridge- ville, Ind .; Francis Il., of Veedersburgh; John O., a resident of Mt. Sterling, Ky .; and D. J., who conduets a wholesale notion business on the road in a large notion wagon, and resides at Vee- dersburgh.
Our subjeet was only four years old when his father died, and his mother then removed with her family to Louisa County, Iowa, where her husband had entered land from the Government. There the child passed his boyhood and received his education in the local public schools. At the age of sixteen the manly, self-reliant youth went to Charleston, Ill., to engage in farming, and re- mained there two and a-half years. He then en- tered the High School at Perrysville, Vermillion County, Ind., where he pursued a thorough course of study. Returning to his native State, he en- listed at Perrysville March 10, 1863, being then not twenty years of age, and in the trying times that followed on Southern battlefields gave abun- dant proof of patriotic and efficient soldiership. He was a member of Company K, Seventy-first Indiana Infantry, and was first engaged in guard- ing prisoners at Camp Morton, at Indianapolis, Ind., for four months. He and his comrades were then sent in pursuit of the bold rebel leader, John Morgan, who was making one of his famous raids. The regiment returned from that lively chase to Indianapolis to recuperate, and from there was sent to the front as cavalry. It bore a conspicu- ons part in the siege of Knoxville, fought with the rebels up and down the valley, followed them to the Cumberland Mountains, and finally drove them out of the State. The next spring Mr. Miller and his fellow-soldiers were sent on the Atlanta campaign with Gen. Sherman, and par-
ticipated actively in all the engagements with the enemy on the way. They then accompanied Gen. Stoneman on his raid into Macon, Ga., to relieve or capture our officers who were confined in prison at that city. Our subject was captured there by the rebels, who gave him a taste of life in Ander- sonville Prison. He remained within its loath- some walls two and a-half months, and was then sent to Florence, S. C., where he was imprisoned a month and a-half, and after that he was ex- changed, in December, 1864. He was sent home on parole, and staid there until Lincoln called in all the soldiers who were out on furloughs. He reported for duty at Edgefield, Ky., and during the remainder of the war he acted as body-guard to Gen. R. W. Johnson. He was discharged from the service September 15, 1865, having won a noble military record as one of the brave and faithful defenders of the Old Flag. Ile had many narrow escapes from death while in the thick of battle, but, although his clothes were shot through several times, he was never wounded.
After he left the army Mr. Miller lived for a while at Perrysville, and then went to Monte- zuma to clerk in a general store. In the spring of 1866 he established himself in the general mer- cantile business at Waterman, in Parke County. He was married while there to Miss Lucinda E., a daugliter of Dr. Hale, of Parke County, who came originally from New York. Mr. Miller con- tinued at Waterman until the spring of 1872, and then went to Veedersburgh, which was in its in- fancy, with not a house yet completed. Here he entered the drug business, and it is due as much to the energy and progressive business spirit that our subject has displayed as to that of any other man that the village has assumed its present size and importance as a prosperous and growing vil- lage. Ile has been in active business here ever since he settled here twenty years ago, with the exception of a short time that he had to retire on account of ill-health. He then entered the gro- cery business, and has built up the best grocery trade in town.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have a pleasant home, which has been graced by two children: Edith C., who is thirteen years of age; and Francis Hugh,
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