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 85
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 85
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 85
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who is five years old. Two of their children, Mabel and Robert H., died of diphtheria six years ago.
Our subject is a member in high standing of the Christian Church, in which he has officiated as Deacon for five years, and he was at one time Elder of the church three years. He is prominent socially as one of the leading members of the Grand Army post, with which he is identified as Quarter- master at present, and of which he was Com- mander three terms; and of the Masonic frater- nity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile was a charter member of Masonic Lodge No. 491, of Veedersburgh, and was the first Junior Warden of the lodge. Politically, he is a Repub- lican.
OHN N. SHARON. No worthy reference to the agricultural or stock-raising affairs of Fountain County would be complete without mention of Mr. Sharon, who, among others, is engaged in tilling the soil. Besides this, he enjoys to an unlimited extent the confidence and esteem of all who know him, and is one of the influential men of the county. His birth oc- curred in Scott County, in the grand old State of Kentucky, October 9, 1828, and his parents, J. F. and Elizabeth (Sutton) Sharon, were also natives of Scott County, Ky. The paternal grandfather, Hugh Sharon, was a native Kentuckian, and for six months served in the War of 1812.
Of the children born to our subject's parents: James S., born in Kentucky, was married to Miss Patty Bailey, whose father was a very prominent farmer of Scott County, Ky. They have seven children. Hugh S. was born in Scott County, Ky., married, and died in the year 1880. W. was born in Scott County, Ky., and married Miss Lu- cinda Preble, who bore him five children. He is now a farmer of Harlan County, Ky. Elizabeth, born in Scott County, Ky., married J. B. Preble, a
farmer, and has two children. Nancy, also a na- tive of Scott County, married Thomas C. Penich, of Virginia, a farmer, and they have seven children. Rebecca, born in Scott County, married, and has three children. Martha, a native of Kentucky, married Griffin Cox, a farmer of Henry County, and they have three children. Nathaniel, born in Scott County, married Harriet Reeds, and now re- sides on a farm in that county. He has five children.
The father of our subject was married the sec- ond time, this wife being Miss Mary Bailey, and of their children, Robert, born in Scott County, was married to a Miss Bonds, and they have three children. He is a farmer. M. was born in Scott County, Ky., married John Young, a farmer, and has three children. Almira, born in Scott County, married Jolm Barnhill, a farmer, and has one child. Benjamin, also of Scott County, Ky., married and has three children. Robert and Na- than, both natives of Scott County, enlisted in the army, one in the Confederate and the other in the Federal army. The former served under Gen. Johnston and was in the battle of Ft. Donelson. Both were taken prisoners.
Onr subject started out in life a poor boy, and what he has accumulated in the way of this world's goods is the result of his perseverance and energy. Ile is wide-awake and thorough-going, and is prominently identified with all movements for the advancement and progress of the county. He began life for himself by working by the year on a farm, but subsequently became overseer for James Kelley, of llenry County, Ky., and later still clerked in a store. This was during the war, and he had many experiences with the Confeder- ates, who stole $1,000 worth of his goods. After the war our subject removed to Fountain County, Ind., purchased forty acres of land at $50 per acre, and began clearing it of the wood with which it was covered. He now has one hundred and twenty acres of well-improved land, and on this he erected a good residence of seven rooms in 1877, at a cost of $1,400, and has since made . many improvements.
Mr. Sharon was married in 1861 to Miss Am- elia Cox, a native of Henry County, Ky., and the
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daughter of Robert Cox. She is now deceased. One child, George Sharon, was born to this union, but he died in California. Our subject's second union was with Miss Hannah Carnagy, who was born in 1831, and was the daughter of Will- iam Carnagy, now a resident of Fountain County, this State. One child was born of this union, Ella D., whose birth occurred on the 22d of No- vember, 1871. She is being well educated. Mrs. Sharon is a worthy member of the Baptist Church, and an active worker in the same. Mr. Sharon affiliates with the Democratic party, and is one of the county's representative men.
AMUEL CLARK, Treasurer of Fountain County, Ind., is one who has been long and worthily identified with Fountain County, and indeed no history of this immediate vicinity would be complete which failed to make proper mention of Mr. Clark, who was originally from Warren County, Ind., his birth having oc- curred near the old town of Independence, Decem- ber 6, 1831. His parents were Hon. Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Beard) Clark, both of whom were born in the Buckeye State, the former removing from Miami County, of that State, to Warren Coun- ty, Ind., in 1825, his death occurring in 1860, at the age of sixty-two years. The paternal grandfather was one of the organizers of Warren County and was its first Judge. He was a member of the Leg- islature when the State adopted public improve- ment systems, such as canals, etc.
Samuel Clark resided at home and assisted his father in the duties of the farm until he attained to manhood, when he followed the same occupa- tion on his own account until 1862, after which he was elected by his numerous Democratic friends to the position of Sheriff of Warren County, and he soon after took up his residence in Williamsport, where he made his home for two years. In that county the Republican majority was usually nine
hundred, and Mr. Clark's popularity was shown by his election to the office. In 1865 he moved to Attica, Fountain County, Ind., and engaged in the grocery business, which he continued with success for a period of twenty years, winning a wide circle of friends by his upright and honora- ble business methods and by his geniality, kind- ness of heart, courtesy and desire to accommodate and please his patrons.
In 1885 our subject turned his attention to the manufacture of hard-wood lumber, and very suc- cessfully conducted a saw, planing and finishing mill, at the same time devoting considerable at- tention to the grain business, which he found a profitable source of revenue. His industry, perse- verance and intelligence have been intelligently applied, and have achieved a result which could only have been gained by having one object in view and improving every opportunity to ulti- mately attain that object. The mill and lumber business he still conducts, and he is also an exten- sive dealer in railroad and bridge timbers. Ile is a wide-awake man of affairs, and has always mani- fested a considerable interest in politics, but never to the detriment of his business. He has been a Councilman of Attica for six years, and in 1890 was elected on the Democratic ticket to the posi- tion of County Treasurer over Tom Harvey, a leading wagon manufacturer of Attica, with a ma- jority of one hundred and sixty-two, after a thor- ough can vass. He has also served as a member of the County Central Committee for about fifteen ycars, has been a delegate to district and State conventions, and, always active in party organiza- tions and in its interests, has wielded much influ- ence. Upon entering upon the duties of his pres- ent office he gave bond for $200,000.
On the 18th of February, 1855, Mr. Clark was married in Warren County, Ind., to Miss Rosetta Hall, also a native of that county, born January 8, 1832, and who died on the 21st of November, 1890. Her father, Robert Hall, had been a resi- dent of Pennsylvania, where he resided until about 1845, when he became a resident of Warren County, Ind.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clark two children were born. Orrie, Deputy County Treasurer, was born Novem-
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ber 26, 1856, was educated in the State Univer- sity, although not a graduate, and for some time was engaged in the grocery and grain business. From 1878 to 1884 he was on the Texas and Colo- rado plains in the cattle business, his ranch being in the northwestern part of the Lone Star State. He conducted this business on an extensive scale, and his operations met with good results. Lillie is at home and is her father's housekeeper. Mr. Clark erected a substantial residence in Covington, and he is in the enjoyment of a competency which is the result of his own earnest endeavors and right living. He has been a member of Williams- port Lodge, A. F. & A. M., since 1861, and his son Orrie is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The latter was married April 21, 1881, to Miss Laura McMasters, a native of Lockport, N. Y.
0 LIVER H. JONES, M. D., is one of the lead- ing physicians of Montgomery County, and ranks at the head of the profession. In other ways Dr. Jones has become prominent in the county. Ile is a member of the Council, and was one of the prime movers in the scheme which had for its object the management of the electric-light plant by the city.
The subject of this sketch was born two miles from Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Ind., August 20, 1843. He was the son of Daniel and Margaret (Skillman) Jones, both from Butler County, Ohio. Mr. Jones, Sr., was a wagon- builder by trade, and in 1832 he removed into Indiana, but here he became an extensive farmer. A public-spirited man, he was always active in measures for the public good, and for many years was President of the old Montgomery County Agricultural Society. His death occurred in 1880, when he was seventy-two years of age, and his wife had preceded him four years. The family of children were seven boys and two girls, and the subject of this sketch was the seventh child.
At the age of twenty years, Mr. Jones left tlie " farm. Ilis had been the experience of many an- other ambitious lad, studying, and working, some- times at farming, and then at carpenter work, un- til he could teach school, and then waiting for the right opening into the desired path. This open- ing came for Mr. Jones when he was twenty-two years old. He had attended the preparatory depart- ment of Wabash College, and then he entered the office of Dr. McClelland (now deceased), and en- joyed his instruction until he was prepared for college. He took his first course of lectures in the winter of 1873-74, at the Medical College at In- dianapolis, and then took the course at the Miami Medical College, and was graduated from there - March 1, 1875. The following month he opened an office at Mace, in Montgomery County, and continued there for ten years, having an exten- sive practice. In 1885 he changed his location to Crawfordsville and has practiced through the county. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, of the American Medical Association, and has represented the different so- cieties at St. Paul in 1882, and at Washington in 1883.
In political affairs Dr. Jones has been very ac- tive, and supports the Democratic ticket. Ile was elected to the City Council in 1890, over an old member, Dr. Duncan, and at once took a firm stand in favor of the city owning and operating her own electric-light plant, which has proven to be such a boon to the city. His interest has been shown in many other ways, and he has been one of those favoring the electric fire alarm. All of his acts have fully exemplified bis interest in the prosperity of the city.
The marriage of Dr. Jones took place April 26, 1866, to Miss Abbie Morris, but this union was severed by her death in 1885. In 1887, Dr. Jones married Miss Mary Johnson, the accomplished lady who is now his wife. Her home was Frank- lin, Ind., and now the residence of our subject and his wife is at No. 410 South Washington Street, Crawfordsville. They are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which the Doctor holds the position of Steward. Mrs. Jones is a lady of great refinement and culture, who has a talent for
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. artistic work, and she is also known in literary cir- cles. Hler oil paintings have excited much admira- tion, and show much talent. For fifteen years Dr. Jones has held membership with the Knights of Pythias, Uniformed Rank, in which he has passed the chairs, and he has been a Representative to the Grand Lodge. Dr. Jones also affiliates fra- ternally with the Order of Red Men, and both he and his wife enjoy social prominence in the city.
E LIJAH L. VAN CLEAVE, M. D., was born near Waveland, Ind., September 12, 1855. His father, Aaron M. Van Cleave, was a farmer of the representative class, owning a large tract of two hundred and fifty fertile acres. Af- ter a successful career in the agricultural line, he died, November 17, 1882. The Doctor's mother was Elizabeth Hallett in her maiden days, and was born in Kentucky in the year 1825. She was the mother of seven children, of whom but four are living: Thomas F., who resides at Crawfordsville, Ind .; the Doctor; Hlenry D., a prominent attor- ney of Crawfordsville; and William, who has chosen for his vocation in life that of the farmer.
Our subject in choosing his professional career had many obstacles to overcome, but, nothing daunted, he started out to accomplish his one grand desire in life. With only a common-school education, and $50 of borrowed money in his pocket, he made his start by entering the Normal Institute at Ladoga, Ind. Remaining there ten weeks, he returned to his father's home with a license in his pocket, entitling him to teach school for six months, and of this diploma he was justly proud, as he was then only twenty years of age.
By teaching in the winter months and attend- ing school during the summer for about five years he managed to acquire a good literary education, and at his own expense, without aid whatever from anyone. During the last ten years of the Doctor's teaching, he spent every leisure moment in studying medicine with Dr. A. T. Steel, of
Waveland. Ile entered the Ohio Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati, and after two years' close study he was graduated with honors, March 1, 1883.
Thus we have in Dr. Van Cleave a living ex- ample of what a young man of pluck, persever- ance and energy can do if he conscientiously and earnestly tries. How well this self-made citizen has succeeded in life can best be shown by his present high standing in the medical profession as a physician and surgeon. Our subject has many friends in the town of Catlin, where he first set- tled to practice his profession through the earnest solicitation of the citizens of this place.
The gentleman of whom we write is of a domes- tic nature, and is proud of his ability to overcome all obstacles that are hindrances to him in his pathway to success and happiness. As a compan- ion in life he chose Miss Laura Riggs, to whom he was married on the 28th of August, 1884, and it is to her that the Doctor owes much of his- success. Her father, one of the prominent farmers of Parke County, is yet living, while her mother passed to the unknown world in June, 1881, leaving seven children: Henry, John, Frank, Chauncey and Bert. all of whom reside in Redmond, Ill .; Mrs. Van Cleave; and Minnic, who makes her home in the Doctor's family.
Our subject and his estimable wife are the fond parents of one daughter, Ethel, who was born May 8, 1886. The Doctor is a strong adherent to the principles advocated by the Democratic party, and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, being Master of Catlin Lodge No. 402. IIe is President of the Parke County Medical Associa- tion. Since the above was written, the Doctor has purchased a fine residence and removed to Rock- ville.
ILLIAM MYERS, one of the prominent and early agriculturists of Montgomery County, Ind., and now a well-known resi- dent of Ladoga, is a native of Roanoke County, Va. In the early part of the present century this
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county was called Botetourt, and it was thus desig- nated when, in 1816, our subject was born. The paternal grandfather of William Myers was a na- tive of Germany, and made the loug, wearisome, and often dangerous passage across the Atlantic in the slow sailing-vessels, almost the only mediums of transportation to America in those days.
Landing safely upon the shores of the New World, it was not long before the sturdy German emigrant received employment and made for him- self a comfortable and happy home among the colonists, who gladly welcomed all frugal, indus- trious, honest new-comers to their midst. Among the family which gathered in the home of this an- cestor of our subject was his son John, who served as a teamster in the War of the Revolution. John was born in Pennsylvania, and his native State was the stage upon which occurred many of the most important events of our National history.
Amid the stirring scenes of war and perilous adventure John Myers arrived at mature age and entered into matrimony with Miss Katherine Hants, also a native of the Quaker State, who be- came the mother of William Myers, our subject. After a time they journeyed with their family to the new State of Indiana, and located upon sec- tion 24, just west of Ladoga. The farm of one hundred and sixty acres was mainly unimproved, but yielded to its careful cultivation an excellent return.
Our subject on reaching manhood was married in 1836 or 1837 to Miss Lydia Harshbarger, who came with her father, Jacob Harshbarger, to Mont- gomery County in 1831. This lady was one of a well-known family of eight children, and has her- self become the mother of seven children, five of whom, three daughters and two sons, are yet liv- ing. Salome C. was married to John Graybill, and resides in the State of Kansas; Lizzie became the wife of Frank Franz, and died leaving two children, Winnie and Lou; Daniel is a resident of Clark Township; Amanda married M. C. Williams, and died leaving two children, Gertrude and Edwin; Mary is now the wife of James Gill, a resident of Butler County, Kan .; J. Franz lives in Montgomery County, Ind .; and Alice is the wife of William Baldwin, now living in Clark Township.
J. Franz, the youngest son of our subject, re- ceived excellent educational advantages in the Asbury, now Depauw, University, located in Green- castle, Ind. He entered this institution of learn- ing in 1870, and attended regularly three years, finishing the preparatory course and remaining through the freshman year. Returning home, he desired to establish himself in some profitable avo- cation in life, and as he had already acquired ex- perience in agriculture engaged in 1875 in farm- ing. He was prospered, and has already accumu- lated a valuable property, consisting of three hun- dred and twenty acres of fine land, highly im- proved and yearly increasing in estimated worth.
In 1877, J. Franz Myers and Miss Sarah O'Neall were married and carried with them into their home the hearty and best wishes of a large circle of friends and relatives. Mrs. Myers is the dangh- ter of Abijalı O'Neall, an old resident of Mounts- ville County, where his children were reared. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are the parents of one child, their son Franz. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church, and are active in its benevolent, social and religions duties. They are all interested in the conduct of public affairs, and Mr. Myers, al- though not an active politician in the full signifi- cance of the term, is well posted in national and local affairs, and casts his vote with the Republi- can party.
W ILLIAM S. BRINEY, who has long been one of the prosperous farmers of Shawnee Township, his homestead being on section 29, is one of the old inhabitants of Fountain County. He came here when a boy, and has aided in its agricultural development as well as wit- nessed the most of its growth from the wilderness in which his parents settled. His father was Mark Briney, an early settler of the county, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pa. He was of German parentage, and when the family removed to Butler County, Ohio, when he was ten years
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old, he could not speak a word of English. When a young man he fought in the War of 1812. and was present at the siege of Ft. Meigs, which had been built and was commanded by Gen. Harrison, whom the English general, Proctor, tried in vain to make surrender.
Mark Briney was married during his residence in Butler County (where he had grown to man- hood), Miss Phebe Stephenson becoming his wife. She was a daughter of Cornelius Stephenson, of Butler County, who had gone there in the early years of its settlement from Trenton, N. J. After marriage the Brineys lived in Darke County, Ohio, some five years, the husband being engaged in clearing land. Returning to Butler County, they remained there until 1831, and on the 6th of October, of that year, started Westward to cast in their fortunes with the pioneers of Indiana, traveling hitler with horses and wagons. They located near Covington, buying land of the Gov- ernment, and in the busy years that followed Mr. Briney cleared and improved a good farm, and, with the cheerful assistance of his wife, built up one of the most comfortable homes of the town- slip. For many years he belonged to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, held varions offices therein, and was one of its most exemplary members, and one who was greatly missed at the time of his death, which occurred October 7, 1862. His wife survived him until 1867, and then she, too, passed away. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom all but one grew to maturity, and those still living are William S .; Annie Catherine, wife of William A. Barey; Lydia, who was first mar- ried to William Blue, and after his demise became the wife of John Blue, who lives near Covington; and Margaret, who is the wife of Charles Heid- son, who is engaged in the butcher business at Covington.
The subject of this sketch was born January 21, 1815, in Butler County, Ohio, and was sixteen years old when he accompanied his parents to their new home in this county. His early life here was passed amid rude pioneer surroundings, and he is mainly a self-educated man, as he had but few opportunities to attend school. He re- members, however, the primitive building in which
he obtained the rudiments of learning, which was a log cabin with a dirt floor, rude home-made fur- niture, and none of the attractions of the pleasant modern schoolrooms. In 1833 Mr. Briney took a wise step, whereby he secured a good wife in the person of Miss Ellen McMillan, a daughter of Daniel McMillan, one of the carly settlers of the county, who came here in 1824 or 1826, and was the proprietor of the mill at Rob Roy.
For a short time after his marriage our subject lived near his father-in-law's mill, and then came to his present place of residence in Shawnee Township. lle has met with more than ordinary success in his calling, although he had to begin at the very beginning as a pioneer. As his means increased he purchased more land, paying from $15 to $100 an acre on each purchase until he had seven hundred acres. He has disposed of much of this at a high price, but retains two hundred and seventy-one acres in two tracts- one of one hundred and forty acres. and the other of one hundred and thirty-one acres, which is a part of the old family homestead. All of the im- provements, which are of a substantial order, were made hy our subject, and include a well-built resi- dence, erected in 1875 and supplied with modern conveniences.
Our subject remembers distinctly the wild ap- pearance of this part of the country when he first set foot on its soil, of which but very little had been cleared and put under cultivation. Lofty primeval forests of untold age prevailed, and in their depths wild beasts lurked and the scarcely less savage Indians. He can relate many inter- esting incidents connected with the early years of the settlement of the county, and among them several disturbances with the red men. Rob Roy was a lively little place in his boyhood, and there John I. Foster built a railway, running in a cir- cle, and operated upon it the first steam engine used in the county. :
Our subject is a man of high moral character, whose exemplary life has been guided by true Christian principles, and he occupies an honored place in the community as a member of the Pres- byterian Church and of the association known as the Sons of Temperance. Ilc is a very strong ad-
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vocate of temperance, but he does not carry his views so far as to desert the grand old Democratic party, to which he has faithfully clung through the chances and changes of the years that have elapsed since he cast his first vote. Ilis father was a Democrat until the formation of the Re- publican party, when he joined the Republican standard.
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