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 87
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 87
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 87
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
Mr. and Mrs. Small have had four children, namely: Vernonia J., who was born in 1860, and died in 1862; Cynthia, who was born in 1863; Effie, who was born in 1865; and Eda, a student at Waynetown, who was born in 1877. The other two daughters were also educated at Waynetown, and they have been brought up under wholesome influenees, and are still members of the happy home circle. They all belong to the Christian
Church, and are active in Sunday-school work. Mrs. Small is a member in high standing in the Baptist Church. Mr. Small is a man of good lab- its and sound prineiples, and his genial, kindly nature and willingness to oblige and accommodate his neighbors have won him the regard of all with whom he associates. He has an intelligent under- standing of the intricacies of politics, and is an earnest worker in the ranks of the Republican party.
G EORGE MUNNS is a native of Montgomery County, who represents one of its most prominent pioneer families, and is also a leading member of its farming community. He is a thoroughly competent farmer, who is progressive in his methods and has a model farm, pleasantly located on seetion 8, Ripley Township, where he has a home beautiful in its appointments and sur- roundings and replete with all the modern eom- forts and conveniences that so enhance the pleas- ure of living.
Mr. Munns was born November 9, 1847, on the old family homestead in Ripley Township. He is a son of John Munns, who was born in one of the pioneer homes of Kentucky in 1817. His father died in that State when he was a small boy, and John early began the struggle of life on his own account. 1le became a pioneer of this county, and by his energy, shrewd management of his affairs, and excellent business qualifications, he rose to prominenee as one of the most prosperous farmers in this section. His first purchase of land was an eighty-acre tract lying along Israel Creek, which he cleared and put under tillage. Ile next bought land of Melville Munns in this township, and eon- tinued to invest in real estate whenever a good opportunity offered until he had six hundred and sixty-four aeres of choice farming land, all in a fine state of cultivation. He was an extensive stock-raiser, and the money thus obtained he was
707
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
able to loan to his neighbors at a fair rate of in- terest, thus accommodating them greatly when they were in straitened circumstances. At his death he left to his heirs a valuable estate.
John Munns took as his wife Miss Malinda Fouts, of Wayne Township, and they had the following children: Amanda, the eldest, who was born in Wayne Township; Eli, who was also born in Wayne Township, and who died in infancy; our sub- ject, a native of Ripley Township; William, who was born in Wayne Township, where he has a beautiful and well-improved farm of three hundred and eighty acres; and Jolin, who was born in Rip- ley Township and is the owner of a good farm in Wayne Township.
LEXANDER THOMSON, an honored pio- neer of Crawfordsville and for many years one of the most influential and successful attorneys of Montgomery County, is a na- tive of Ohio and was born in Springfield January 15, 1812. In his boyhood lie was the recipient of excellent educational advantages, of which he availed himself to the utmost. For a time he con- ducted his studies in Miami University, leaving at the close of the junior year. In 1835, in the prime of his vigorous and stalwart manhood, he came to Crawfordsville, and since that time his life has been inseparably interwoven with the history of the place, to the development of which he has largely contributed.
After clerking for a short time in a store, Mr. Thomson became deputy to the County Clerk, J. W. Lynn, and while filling this position employed his leisure hours in the study of law. In 1840 he was admitted to practice at the Bar of the State of Indiana and formed a legal partnership with the pioneer lawyer, Ben Ristine, continning that connection for nearly forty years. Politics has not presented an inviting field to him, and his at- tention has been given mainly to an extensive commercial and probate business. In 1864 he was
elected Treasurer of Wabash College, and from 1870 until his resignation in 1891 he gave his at- tention wholly to the demands of this position, which he resigned after an active service of twen- ty-seven years.
On the last day of the year 1840 Mr.Thomson was united in marriage with the daughter of Alexan- der Crawford, and the sister of Henry Crawford, one of the pioneer merchants of this section. Mrs. Thomson was born in Ohio and died May 7, 1878. The union had been blessed by the birth of three sons: Everett B., Henry R. and Edwin P. The first-named son was graduated from Wabash Col- lege in 1864, and completed the course in Lane Seminary three years later. He became a minister of the Gospel and was thus engaged at Crawfords- ville for three years; at present he is Librarian of Wabashı College. Henry R., now deceased, was a young man of talent, and enjoyed every oppor- tunity for acquiring literary culture, having studied in the Universities of Philadelphia, Yale, Harvard, Ann Arbor and Berlin. Rev. Edwin P. Thomson, a popular and eloquent minister, has held pastor- ates at Plymouth, Ind., Idaho Springs and the Westminster Church in Denver; he recently ac- cepted a call to Springfield, Ohio, where he now resides.
FG RED C. BOORD was born in Covington February 12, 1867, and has spent his en- tire life in the city of his birth. While one of the youngest representatives in the RECORD, he is deserving of recognition among the list of Fountain County's prominent and rising men. Ilis father, Oliver Boord, likewise a native of Fountain County, was born on the 20th of Au- gust, 1836, and was the son of Elijah and Mary Boord, members of prominent West Virginia fam- ilies. After receiving a fair education in the common schools, Oliver Boord entered upon the active life of a farmer, and followed that voca- tion until 1861. Then, at the call of his coun-
708
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
try, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Indiana Infantry and participated in some of the decisive engage- ments of the late war, gaining a reputation among his comrades as a brave and daring soldier. On several occasions he was wounded, and upon his recovery again entered his regiment and fought in defense of the Flag.
At the close of the war, when the troops were mustered out of service, Oliver Boord returned to Indiana, where he resumed business as a farmer and speculator. At present he is conducting the principal hotel in the thriving city of Covington. An active, capable and efficient business man, he is also thoughtful, considerate and generous in private life, and is popular in social circles. He and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Cath- erine Ludlow, were the parents of eleven chil- dren. John C., the eldest, was born in Covington November 14, 1857, and married Miss Flora, the daughter of James and Mary (Campbell) Bodine, of Troy Township; he is at present engaged in the furniture business at Covington. Lizzie M. was born in Fountain County January 19, 1860, and was married to Thomas I. Briggs on the 31st of May, 1880; Georgia A. was born December 29, 1861, and became the wife of John H. Henshman, the son of John and Frances (Miller) Henshman. Edwin N. was born December 16, 1863, and died January 29, 1866; Oliver K. was born March 19, 1869; a daughter, born in 1871, died in infancy; Ruth, whose birth occurred July 10, 1872, was graduated from the Covington High School in 1890 with high honors; Le Roy was born Febru- ary 14, 1874, and resides at home; Samuel was born October 12, 1883; and Eleanor is deceased.
The fifth in order of birth is the subject of this sketch. He is a graduate of Covington's institu- tions of learning, and after completing his educa- tion he commenced the study of law with one of the prominent legal luminaries of Fountain Coun- ty. After some terms of close application to his studies ( which, however, were from time to time interrupted by other duties), he completed his legal education and was admitted to practice at the Bar. On account of his natural gift of ora- tory, he was many times brought before the pub- lie to address his fellow-citizens on the social and
current topics of the day. So strongly did he im- press the people with his adaptation for the pro- fession of an orator and statesman, that, while a mere youth, he gamed political prominence, and on the 28th of April, 1892, his name was brought before the Fountain and Warren Counties Repub- lican Convention, held at Attica, Ind., and, despite the protests of the old "fossils," who regard with distrust the advancement of young men in any community, he received with an overwhelming majority the nomination of Senator for that dis- trict.
During his boyhood days Mr. Boord was known as "the newsboy of Covington," and, in fact, he continued the sale of papers until within the past four or five years. He has always been very attentive to his church and Sunday-school, and is at present an active member of the Methodist Church at Covington, and is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Socially, he is very popular with old and young in his community, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Covington, also of the Sons of Veterans. It is doubtless unnec- essary to state that he is a Republican, and has since boyhood taken an active interest in the af- fairs of his party.
C
ICHAEL MAYER, hardware merchant of Covington, Ind. In few branches of trade has the march of progress wrought such a veritable revolution as in the stove and kindred lines of business. What with invention, improvement and the development of skill, some- thing akin to perfection has been reached in this department of industrial activity. A prosperous and popular establishment in this line is that of which Mr. Mayer is the proprietor. This well- known merchant and man of affairs was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in the village of Reilings- hausen, near Marburg, September 21, 1824, being a son of Jacob Mayer. In the land of his birth he learned the trade of a baker and confectioner, at
709
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which he worked with fair financial results until 1847, in July of which year he came to the United States and located at Pittsburgh, Pa., and worked as a. journeyman in that city, Cincinnati and Maysville, Ky., until 1857, when he located at Delphi, Ind. There he opened a bakery, which soon won an excellent reputation for the fine bread and cake he manufactured. After remain- ing there a few months he went to La Fayette, where he successfully conducted his business for three years, at the end of which time he again re- turned to Delphi, and there remained for two years.
Since that time our subject has resided in Cov- ington, and his career here as a man of business was first as a baker and confectioner, which occu- pation received his attention until 1880. Ilis es- tablishment soon found its way into popular favor, for he was a fancy as well as a practical baker, and his personal supervision and attention were given to all the baking done at his house. He aimed to make his goods not only palatable, but wholesome also, and his house was noted for its absolute cleanliness, which facts led to the extensive and profitable patronage he received. In 1881 he re- turned on a visit to the Fatherland, where he re- mained for about four months, during which time he was in the cities of Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Blen- heim and others, at the end of which time he was satisfied to return to his adopted country.
In 1882 he bought an interest in a hardware establishment, being the successor of Weldon Broth- ers, who had failed in business, having established themselves about 1880, and Mr. Mayer took for his partner George Meitzler. They deal in stoves, ranges, house-furnishing hardware, ete., and no business man of the city has been more fortunate in establishing and maintaining a high reputation, both as to the superiority of the goods handled and the prompt manner in which all orders are filled. He is a gentleman of push and enterprise, thoroughly conversant with the wants of the trade, and popular alike with his patrons and trade com- petitors.
Mr. Mayer was married in October, 1856, in Westonia, Ohio, to Miss Margaret Schriter, and in time a family of five children gathered about
their hearthstone: Margaret Lena, wife of Ilomer Sewell; Lydia, who is unmarried; Michael, who is clerking in a store; George, who is attending Nor- mal College; and Edward, a school boy. The building in which Mr. Mayer is doing business has a frontage of one hundred and six feet, contains five stores and was erected at a cost of $26,000. It is a handsome structure, a credit to the town, and speaks in an eloquent manner as to Mr. May- er's business acumen.
OHN W. SAGE. Among the influential and prominent business men of Rockville is he of whom we write, who is now engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in the city of Roekville. Ilis life is one well worthy of emulation, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record.
Our subject's parents are Alexander and Maria H. (Walker) Sage, the former of whom was an early settler of Parke County, to which he came from Kentucky about the year 1828. His birth occurred near Frankfort, Ky., and his boyhood was passed on the farm. After his marriage he followed the trade of a blacksmith and carried on a farm until coming to Indiana. On his arri- val in this county, he located in Howard Town- ship, where he purchased land, devoting himself to its improvement until about the year 1846, when he sold the place, going to Vigo County. There he became the owner of a farm in Lost Creek Township, where he passed his remaining days, his death occurring in 1853. After surviving him for several years, the wife and mother was called from the shores of time in 1862. Mr. Sage was a Democrat in political principles. Early in life he was a member of the Methodist Church, but later joined the Congregational denomination, being ordained a minister in the same and devoting con- siderable of his time to preaching.
Jolin W. Sage was born in Howard Township, Parke County, February 9,1837. His boyhood days,
710
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which were spent on the farm, passed without any unusual event, and perhaps the first important change was when he entered the Waveland Col- lege, at Waveland, Ind. Upon leaving that insti- tntion of learning he engaged in teaching in the schools of Parke County for nearly three years. He then entered the mercantile business at Russell- ville, Putnam County, where he was located for a couple of years, after which, going to Portland Mills, Ind., he was there occupied in the same pursuit for about a year and a-half. Next, going to Cincinnati, he entered the employ of Williams & Co., dealers in hats, caps, furs and straw goods. After nine months of faithful service with that firm, desiring to try his luck in the West, Mr. Sage went to Nebraska, first locating in Nebraska City, where he engaged for a short time in selling goods, and then went into the hotel business. This was before there was a railroad in that now aggressive and prosperous Western city. In 1862 he went to Indianapolis and was clerk in a railroad office for two years.
Embarking in a distinctly different avocation, Mr. Sage entered the employ of Col. Irish as a traveling correspondent. Some time after this, in 1858, in the interest of Mr. Irish, Mr. Sage established a paper which he named the Com- monwealth, which is still in existence at Lincoln, Neb., now being published under the name of the Nebraska State Journal. After some time our subject took charge of the State Register, which he edited for a year and a-half. His next move was to Omaha, where he took a position on the Omaha Bee, and he was there for about one year as traveling correspondent. During the time of the trouble in Nebraska over the location of the capital, our subject reported the proceedings for the press, which letters were copied in papers all over the United States. When he started in the newspaper business he received a salary of only $40 per month, but when he left was commanding $1800 per year.
Returning from the West, Mr. Sage engaged in various businesses for about six monthis, and later clerked in a hardware store some two years and was one year in the insurance business. IIe was sta- tioned in Crawfordsville during this time, and then
became a resident of Rockville. While in Ne- braska he was State Agent of the Mutual Life Insurance Co., and is now a representative for the following companies: the Ohio Farmers'; the Amer- ican, of Philadelphia; and the Fireman's Fund, of San Francisco.
While in Nebraska City, Miss Sarah E. Owen was united in wedlock with our subject, the ceremony taking place February 19, 1869. Mrs. Sage was the daughter of William Owen, who had formerly been a resident of Nashville, Tenn. The union of our worthy subject and wife was blessed with four children : Minnie, who is clerking in the Stev- enson Dry Goods Co .; Mabel, a graduate of the High School of Rockville; Maggie and Frank. The loving wife and mother was taken seriously ill on June 15, 1892, and died on the 13th of July following. She was a lady of refinement and cult- ure, one who by her many lovable qualities had won innumerable friends. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Two of her chil- dren belong to the Presbyterian Church, while one is a member of the Methodist denomination. Mr. Sage has always taken an active part in local affairs and is a constant worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. He is justly considered one of the enterprising business men of the place and has made many warm friends in political, social and commercial circles.
AMES N. MILLER, one of the extensive and well-to-do farmers of Raccoon Town- ship, Parke County, was born on the farm east of the one on which he now resides. His birth occurred October 11, 1827, and he was the second son of Tobias and Margarette (Robin- son) Miller. Tobias Miller was a native of Frank- lin County, Va., and was born November 30, 1796, to Jolin and Phoebe (McClure) Miller, who were of German ancestry. John Miller was one of a family of nine sons, seven of whom were Dunkard preachers. Their names, as far as we can give,
711
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
were Daniel, Tobias, Aaron, Abram, Isaac and Jacob. Of these, Aaron was one of the foremost preachers of his day and generation, spending his whole life in the ministry in his native State, Vir- ginia, and lie died there at an advanced age. The other six devoted their entire lives to the ministry. Tobias went to St. Joseph County, Ind., where he died at a good old age; Daniel lived in this State until he was quite an old man, and then went to Monroe County, Iowa, where he died.
John, who was the grandfather of the man whose name heads this sketch, married Miss Phobe McClure, a native of Virginia and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Miller with their family, consisting of four children, left Virginia in 1802 and removed to Butler County, Ohio, where they remained three years, and thence to Union County, Ind. John was a potter in his early days, and he and his wife were both members of the Dunkard Church, as were all the early members of the Miller family. Tobias Miller, the brother of our subject's grandfather, was the only one that was ever known to discard the faith of his forefathers. He became a Universalist and lived and died in that faith. He was by occupation a brick-mason in his early life, and was one of a family of eight children born to John and Phoebe (McClure) Miller. Their names were Jacob, Polly, Tobias, Barbara, John, James, Daniel and Abraham,
Tobias first came to Parke County about the year 1820. Just prior to this time he was married to Jane Walverton, but she remained at home while her husband located and raised a crop, after which he returned to Union County, and in 1821 came back with his family, consisting of his wife and one child, Mary Jane by name. The mother and child were not accustomed to the hardships of pio- neer life, and it was not long before they were ta- ken sick and died.
January 8, 1824, Mr. Miller married Margaret Robinson, who was next to the youngest of six children, whose names were Andrew, James, Rob- ert, Betsey, Margaret and Patsey. The father of this family, Robert Robinson, was a native of Ohio and served in the War of 1812. Mrs. Miller was born near Lebanon, Ohio, January 15, 1804, and when she was about thirteen years of age her father
removed to Vincennes, Ind. Of the brothers and sisters of our subject's father, Jacob died in Parke County in an early day; Polly married Reuben Webster; Barbara married Samuel Davis, and died fifty years ago; John died in this county about 1878; James died in Missouri in 1861; Daniel died in Iowa in 1883; and Abraham in Union County about thirty years ago. Of the brothers and sis- ters of our subject, John R. is the eldest, and is married and a resident of Union Township. Phoebe Ann, wife of Silas Conley, lived in Parke County until 1880, when she went to Hastings, Neb., thence to Cass County, Mo., and finally settled in Terra Haute, Ind., where she died in February of 1890. Daniel married Sarah Strange, a daugh- ler of a prominent judge of Kansas City, for- merly a minister of the Methodist Church. His brother was a noted preacher of Indiana.
The father of our subject died on the farm where he first settled, in August of 1870, his wife following six years later. lle was a man of ordi- nary education and a member of the first Board of County Commissioners of Parke County, serving for eight years. Ile also served as Township Trus- tee, and was for fifteen years prior to his death a Justice of the Peace. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Church, and the former was a life-long Democrat.
Mr. Miller of this sketch received a limited education, such as was to be acquired in the prim- itive schools of the time. However, he was well enough advanced to be permitted to teach school, which he did for several terms. He was for a time engaged in the sawmill business with his brother Daniel, but his life occupation has been that of a farmer.
March 8, 1849, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Sarah A., daughter of Cushing and Hannah (Handy) Snow, who was born March 18, 1826. Mrs. Miller's father was of Scotch descent, but was born in New York State in 1791, and died at the age of fifty-eight years. Mrs. Miller's mother was of English extraction and was born near Allegany, N. Y., in 1795. Col. Handy, her father, received his title in the War of 1812. Ile was the father of twelve children, of whom Sarah A. was the seventh in order of birth. The brothers and sisters were
712
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
named Abigail, Mary, John, George, William B., Isaac J., Minerva, Hannah, Benjamin L., Madison M. and Betsey J. The parents of these children first went to Illinois from New York in flatboats in 1818, settling in Clark County, and in 1882 located permanently in Parke County, this State.
Our subject and wife have been the parents of fourteen children: Alice, Joseph A., Martha J., Rosa E., Maggie A., John R., Minerva A., Sarah D., Daniel V., Luella, Elizabeth, George C., Richard and Hannah S. One died in infancy. Mr. Miller is one of the leading farmers of this locality and has a fine farm on the Big Raccoon, on which are located a number of fine buildings. He has been very successful in stock-raising.
Since nineteen years of age our subject has been a member of the Methodist Church and contributes liberally of his means to the support of the denom- ination at Pleasant Valley. llis wife has been a member of the same church since she was thirteen years old. In politics he is a supporter of the Prohibition and People's parties. He was at one time a Greenbacker, and has during his entire life- time been a strong temperance man.
3 ENJAMIN W. NEWTON. Among the lead- ing farmers, stock-raisers and fruit-growers of Florida Township, Parke County, the subject of this sketch holds a prominent position, he having aided largely in the develop- ment of its agricultural interests. Whatever he has undertaken has been done thoroughly and well, and his present possessions are both extensive and valuable. His farm comprises seventeen hundred acres of splendid farming land, which he rents out in tracts, and he is himself located on one hundred acres of his possessions on section 17.
Benjamin Newton was born near South Hamp- ton, Va., October 30, 1826, to William and Eliza (Barnes) Newton. The father was born in the same county as was his wife, and they were the parents of three sons and six daughters, of whom two of
the latter are yet living: Linne, wife of John Conner; and Harriet, wife of John Falls. The sons are still surviving, and are Richard N .; Howard T., who is a resident of Fair City, Mo .; and our subject.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.