USA > Indiana > Grant County > Fairmount > The making of a township, being an account of the early settlement and subsequent development of Fairmount Township, Grant County, Indiana, 1829 to 1917, based upon data secured by personal interviews, from numerous communications > Part 26
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
CHAPTER XXVII.
FAIRMOUNT PHYSICIANS-FIRST POSTMASTER-NEWSPAPERS -- ORGANI- ZATION OF CORNET BANDS.
D R. ALPHEUS HENLEY, last survivor of that period when phy- sicians of Fairmount Township rode horseback to see their patients and carried their medical supplies in saddle-bags, was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, July 21, 1836. His parents, Phineas and Mary ( Bogue ) Henley, came to Fairmount Township the following year. They were natives of North Carolina, where they were born in 1802. Dr. Henley's paternal grandparents were John and Keziah (Nixon) Henley, natives of Randolph County, North Carolina : the maternal grandparents were John and Lydia Bogue, natives of Perquimans County, North Carolina.
The Henley family is of English origin, and as far back as their his- tory can be traced they were prominent members of the Society of Friends. The progenitor of the family in America was Patrick Henley, who came to this country in the Seventeenth century and located first in Philadelphia, subsequently removing to North Carolina, where sev- eral generations of the family were born.
Phineas Henley entered land, in 1837, one mile and a half northi- west of Fairmount, this land now comprising a part of the Alice Thomas farm. Here a cabin was built and a clearing made in the wil- derness. Here his family of five children was reared, and here Dr. Henley grew to manhood, attending school in winter in the primitive log school house of that day, with its slab benches and broad fireplace.
In 1857 Dr. Henley, in company with Nixon Rush, went to Coffey County, Kansas, where they entered a claim and lived two years, secur- ing title to same. Dr. Henley did his part during those border ruffian days in the West to pave the way for the admission of Kansas as a free State. He was the first man to join Capt. David L. Payne's enterprise to settle Oklahoma.
In 1859 Dr. Henley returned to Fairmount, entering Bloomingdale Academy, Indiana, with the intention of preparing himself for a profes- sional career. In 1862 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. David S. Elliott. In 1863 he was a student at Michigan University, Ann Arbor. In 1865 he graduated at Sterling University, Columbus, Ohio. In the fall of 1864 he entered the Union army as an assistant surgeon and was stationed at Indianapolis.
313
314
The Making of a Township.
DR. ALPHEUS HENLEY
315
Physicians-First Postmaster-Newspapers.
At the close of the War Dr. Henley returned home and commenced the practice of medicine in Fairmount. For forty years, with the excep- tion of one year spent in Oklahoma ( 1870) as Government surgeon for the Cheyenne and Apache Indians, being stationed at the time at Dar- lington Post, he followed his profession in Fairmount Township. As a physician he rose rapidly in popularity and grew in the confidence and respect of the people, reaching a position in the esteem of his neigh- bors and acquaintances which he uniformly maintained throughout the entire period of his extended active professional life.
During the many years of his busy life Dr. Henley was always prompt to respond with his energy and his means to all well directed efforts intended to advance the industrial, business, educational and religious movements worthy of support. All his life he has been a mem- ber of the Society of Friends.
Dr. Henley has served as President of the Town Board, President of the School Board and President of the Board of Trustees of Fair- mount Academy, an institution he helped materially to establish. He is a member of the Grant County Medical Society, of which organization he has served as President, a member of the Indiana Medical Society and of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Henley has led a long and honorable career. His kindness of heart, his thoughtful regard for the welfare of others, his helpfulness by counsel and in substantial assistance given, his interest in many strug- gling young people and his exemplary personal and domestic life have been an inspiration to hundreds of people in this community. Can more be said of any man who has attained to his years? The writer does not deem it always wise to reserve kind words for the obituary, and so in this instance we pay our tribute to the living. While in order to escape the rigors of our Northern climate, he has for the past few years maintained a home in the Southland, Dr. Henley is nevertheless affec- tionately regarded by our people here at his old home as Fairmount's grand old man.
Among the physicians from the earliest days of the town to the present may be mentioned Philip Patterson, 1850-1860; John White, 1852-1855 ; David S. Elliott, 1858-1866; Dr. Beckford, 1854; John T. Horne, 1860-1865 ; Dr. Boyden, Dr. McDonald, Thomas Davis, 1865- 1866; Silas W. Camp, 1867-1870 ; Alpheus Henley, 1865-1904 : Cyrus V. Gorrell, 1875-1880 ; P. H. Wright, 1868-1888; Dr. Wetherell, 1875- 1878; Thomas S. Beck, Henry Charles, 1868-1875; W. H. Hubbard, 1884-1886; Charles V. Moore, 1874-1884; M. F. Baldwin, J. W. Pat-
-
316
The Making of a Township.
DR. DAVID S. ELLIOTT
terson. W. A. Frazier, S. M. Nol- der. Olive Wilson, Allen Moon, Stephen A. Marlow. Glenn Hen- ley. J. P. Seale, Nathan Davis, Charles B. Vigus, William B. Thomas, C. N. Brown. W. M. Warner, D. A. Holliday, L. D. Holliday. J. H. Stephens, Harry Aldrich.
Not only has Fairmount Town- ship been the home and the field of work for many physicians who have passed on to their final re- ward as well as members of the profession now located here. but the community has supplied to other cities and towns members of this noble calling who received their elementary education in this Township. Among those to be mentioned are a few who have been notably successful. Dr. Etta Charles, of Alexandria. Indiana. lived in Fairmount many years here. She is a daughter of Dr. Henry Charles, Friends minister as well as a physician. Her pa- ternal grandparents were Sam- uel and Sarah Charles, and her maternal grandparents were Eli- jah and Ann (Puckett) Jackson. Her parents were Henry and Olive Ann (Jackson) Charles, the fath-
Native of Deep River, Guilford County, North Carolina, an early and attended the common schools Fairmount physician who practiced medicine here during the years 1858 to 1867. He was a brother to J. Nixon Elliott. It was in the office of Dr. Elliott that Dr. Alpheus Henley com- menced the study of medicine. In the spring of 1864 Dr. Elliott went with other Fairmount men to Wabash to enter the Union Army as a surgeon. While quartered at Wabash he met with an accident which resulted in permanent injuries. from the effects of which he died. He continued to re- side in Fairmount. doing an office er born in Wayne County, Indi- ana. August 10, 1822. died July Randolph County, Indiana. in 1828, and died on April 12, 1869. Dr. Etta Charles matriculated at the Woman's Medical College. St. Louis, and in 1895 she received
business, as his health permitted, until the spring of 1868, when he removed to Richmond, Indiana, with his wife 17, 1884: the mother was born in and only daughter, Miss Hettie El- liott, and lived in Wayne County un- til 1869, when he passed away, at the home of his parents, Elias and Mar - tha (Sanders) Elliott, at the early age of thirty-six. At the time of his death Dr. Elliott was President of the Grant County Medical Society.
317
Physicians-First Postmaster-Newspapers.
her diploma. On June 10, of that year, she located at Summitville, and remained at this point until November 13, 1913, at which date she located in Alexandria, where she has prospered in her chosen profession. Dr. Charles is a member of the Madison County Medical Society, Indiana State Medical Association, Eighth District Medical Society and the American Medical Association. She has served the Madison County Society as President and also in the capacity of Secretary for four years. She has read many papers before her State, District and County socie- ties, besides contributing valuable articles to important medical publica- tions. Dr. Charles is examining physician for the Woman's Auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen of America, known as the Royal Neighbors of America. She is one of a very few physicians who has discovered a case of typhus fever in an inland town. In the midst of her busy life she finds time for club work and is an active member of the Ladies' Art Circle and of the Riley Club, of Alexandria, and an honorary mem- ber of the Priscilla Club at Summitville.
Dr. Calvin C. Rush, son of Nixon and Louisa ( Winslow ) Rush, resides in Philadelphia. Born on February 16, 1876, he attended the public schools of Fairmount, and graduated from Fairmount Academy in 1894 ; received from Earlham College the degree of Bachelor of Sci- ence in 1900 ; graduated from Haverford College in 1901 and from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1907. At present Dr. Rush is taking a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic Hos- pital and Wills' Eve Hospital, Philadelphia. Dr. Rush was located at Portage, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1916, where he met with considera- ble success, retiring from the general practice and taking up his resi- dence in Philadelphia, in November, 1916. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Portage. He was a resident physician in the University of Pennsylvania Hospital from 1907 to 1909. Dr. Rush is a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Society of Friends. Dr. Rush was married to Miss Annette Johnson, at her home in Fair- mount, on June 20, 1910. She is the daughter of Barclay and Syl- via Anna (Lindley) Johnson. Dr. and Mrs. Rush are parents of three children, namely, Sylvia Louise, born April 5. 1911 ; Norman J., born August 26, 1913, and Eleanor, born March 16, 1916.
Robert Benjamin Jones, physician and surgeon, is located at Laporte. Indiana. Dr. Jones was born in Fairmount Township July 21, 1884. His paternal grandparents were Robert Jones and wife, and his mater- nal grandparents were Amos and Nancy Thomas. David and Sallie (Thomas) Jones, parents of Dr. Jones, were both born in Fairmount
318
The Making of a Township.
Township. Dr. Jones was educated in the schools of his native town- ship, and graduated from Fairmount Academy, later receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine from Indiana University School of Medicine. On July 23, 1909. he located at Laporte, Indiana, where he has met with excellent success in his profession. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank at Laporte. Moore & Richter Lumber Company, Laporte, and the American Standard Motion Picture Company, Chicago. In poli- tics Dr. Jones is a Democrat, and he holds a birthright membership in the Quaker Church. He is a member of Phi Delta Theta and Phi Rho Signa college fraternities, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Laporte, Indiana. He is a member of the Laporte County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. On March 26, 1910, Dr. Jones was married to Miss Mabel Child, daugh- ter of Charles and Mary Child, at their home in Fairmount. Dr. and Mrs. Jones are parents of two children, Helen Marie Jones, born May 26. 1912, and Robert Benjamin Jones, Jr., born September 12. 1916.
Thomas J. Carter, M. D., son of Robert L. and Mary (Rush) Car- ter, is a successful practicing physician at Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Carter was born in Fairmount Township in 1876. He attended the Fairmount public schools, graduated from Fairmount Academy in 1897, received his degree from the Medical Department of Indiana University in 1902, and located in League City, Texas, in 1904. In June, 1917, he removed from League City to Wichita. He served as President of League City School District and as a member of the Board of Education of Galveston County, Texas. Dr. Carter is a birthright member of the Friends Church. In 1900, at Fairmount, he was married to Miss Sula Edgerton, daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Shugart) Edgerton, prominent residents of Grant County. Dr. and Mrs. Carter are parents of three children, namely. Stuart R. Carter, born June 4, 1904: Esther H. Carter, born June 9, 1907 : Willard E. Carter, born November 15, 1911.
Others who have entered the profession and are attaining a large measure of success are Dr. Wilbur Lucas, of Pueblo, Colorado, and Dr. Eli Jones, located at Hammond, Indiana. Dr. Lucas is a son of former County Commissioner Thomas J. and Mrs. Amanda (Dunn) Lucas. Dr. Jones is a son of David and Sallie (Thomas) Jones, both well known families of Fairmount Township.
The first postoffice was located in a frame house built by William Hall, situated at the southwest corner of Adams and Main Streets. This
319
Physicians-First Postmaster-Newspapers.
was the third frame house built in Fairmount. The second frame dwell- ing was built by David Stanfield, on the northwest corner of Adams and Main Streets.
HON. C. C. LYONS Former State Senator and Post- master
MRS. GLADYS LYONS KNIGHT Former Postmistress
William Hall was the first postmaster. In 1844 he had been elected class leader and then ordained a minister in the United Brethren Church. His duties as a circuit rider took him away from his home a large part of the time, and as he thought the work of the office was too arduous for his family during his enforced and many times prolonged absence, he gave up the office and turned it over to Joseph W. Baldwin, who kept it in his storeroom.
Others who served as postmaster since the days of William Hall and Joseph W. Baldwin may be mentioned Alex Henley, Al H. Johnson. Ephraim Smith, T. P. Latham, W. H. Campbell, J. D. Latham, C. D. Overman, C. C. Lyons, Miss Gladys Lyons, W. P. Van Arsdall.
The Galatia Messenger was issued in 1852 by William Chamness and associates for the primary purpose of advocating the movement to
320
The Making of a Township.
establish a city near Lake Galatia. The Messenger was established as part of a plan to propagate in a large way the doctrine of Spiritualism. It was the first publication issued in Fairmount Township.
In December. 1877, Joel Reece, who had been publishing The Jones- boro News, finding that field unprofitable for a newspaper. moved his outfit in a wagon to Fairmount and issued the first edition of The Fair- mount Notes. The question of starting a newspaper occupied the atten- tion of business men for several weeks, and was discussed by citizens. who held frequent meetings for the purpose of considering the matter. Among the active promoters of the enterprise were Robert Bogue, N. W. Edwards, E. N. Oakley. J. P. Winslow, and others. The paper was issued from a room in the rear of the second story of the Pioneer Drug Store. An old-fashioned Washington hand press, the nucleus of an equipment for the average country weekly in that day, was used to print the first edition. Reece conducted the paper for about one year, when he sold his plant to Charles Stout and moved to Stafford County. Kan- sas, where he has since died.
For a short time William S. Seaford, who was a teacher in the Fair- mount public schools, was associated with Stout in the publication of the paper.
In May. 1885, The News was taken over by Edgar M. Baldwin, who continued as the publisher until April, 1888, when the property was purchased by Jack Stivers .* Stivers was in charge of the paper until July, 1903, when it was again taken over by Edgar M. Baldwin, who, assisted by his wife, Myra Rush Baldwin, has since been actively en- gaged in its management.
The Fairmount Times was started in 1888 by Edward A. Morgan. The paper was later discontinued. About 1900. Morgan entered the
*J. Stivers, editor of The Fairmount News from April, 1888, to July 28, 1003. was born at Pt. Isabel, Ohio, June 14. 1854. His father's name was J. M. Stivers, both parents being natives of Ohio, where the elder Stivers was a school teacher and surveyor. In 1866, as a boy twelve years of age. 1. Stivers came to Indiana and lived with his brother, Charles W. Stivers, at Liberty. Later, with his brothers, C. W. and Scott Stivers, he was for several years engaged in the newspaper business at Liberty and Brook- ville. In 1886 he went to Grass Lake, Mich., and after two years of suc- cessful publication of a weekly newspaper at that point he came to Fair- mount and purchased The Newes. Mt. Stivers' father was one of the carly Prohibitionists of Ohio, when adherents of this cause were few and far between. During his editorial control of The News Mr. Stivers stood out boldly against the liquor traffic in the face of the fact that there were at the time ten saloons in Fairmount, and he takes pardonable pride in his aggressive and effective work against the liquor business. In politics Mr. Stivers is a Republican. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed all the chairs of a subordinate lodge. He now resides in San Francisco, California, with his wife. His daughter, Georgia Dell, is married to J. L. Schleimer, a native of San Diego, California.
321
Physicians-First Postmaster-Newspapers.
Fairmount field with The Daily Journal, which flourished for several years, suspending publication in 1906. Several other newspapers have been started in Fairmount in the intervening years, with indifferent success.
The Child's Golden Voice, a juvenile religious periodical issued monthly by Rev. G. P. Riley, was published here in 1885.
James Chapman published The Inder at Fowlerton from 1902 to 1906. Mr. Chapman discontinued The Inder in order to assume charge of The Gas City Journal. The Inder was succeeded by The Independ- ent, and then by The Review, both publications at different times edited by Cal Sinninger. Sinninger was an aggressive writer; sometimes vit- riolic in his utterances, and was noted for his independent views on religion, politics and business.
The first Cornet Band in Fairmount was organized in Octo- ber, 1870, by Blanche Hockett. The first instructor was D. K. Elliott, who then lived at Anderson. The members of this band were Blanche Hockett, Walker Crowell, Dennis Montgomery, Cyrus W. Neal, Joel Puckett, Zep Gossett, Isaac N. Gossett, Gilmore Hollingsworth, Lawrence McDonald, Will Carson, Henry Jeffrey, J. B. Hollingsworth and Wesley Hollingsworth. In that day the first-class bands that had wide reputations for the kind of music played were located at Indian- apolis (The When), Peru, Noblesville and New Castle.
The next band was organized September 14, 1884, by William St. Clair. The members of this organization were J. W. Patterson, leader ; John S. Baker, John Montgomery, Dennis Montgomery, Orlando F. Baldwin, Gilbert LaRue, George Gibson, William Hollingsworth, Charles Hollingsworth, Pet Gift, William Galloway and Lewis Mit- tank. When Gen. John A. Logan spoke at Indianapolis, during the campaign of 1884, this band was assigned to the position of honor in the line of march, and escorted the speaker to the platform.
In December, 1904, Quinton LaRue organized the present Fairmount Band. Birney Allred, Walter Briles and LaRue met in the old light plant, on East Washington Street, for their first practice. Since this first meeting of the original members rehearsals have been held once, and many times twice, each week. The result of their persistent work is the splendid band which now is a credit to Fairmount. Prof. C. R. Tuttle was for several years the efficient instructor. The organization progressed rapidly under his direction. Prof. George L. Payson, of Alexandria, succeeded Professor Tuttle. Other members of the band at different times were Charles L. Kiefer, Leslie Davis, Burr Holmes,
322
The Making of a Township.
Ed Guinnup, Albert Riggs, Homer Williams, John W. Montgomery, Oscar Dickey, Orville Wells, Earl Morris, Ellis Wright, Louis Bender, Otto Morris, Omar Brewer, Luther Davis, Russell Stephens, Ancil Wright, Ward LaRue, Russell Dale, Roy Wells and Kenneth Morris.
In the profession of dentistry several former Fairmount Township young men have gone out into other cities and towns and proved their worth. Perhaps the most notable success is that of Dr. Carl D. Lu- cas, of Indianapolis. Dr. Lucas is a native of Jefferson Town- ship, where he was born October 24, 1879. His paternal grand- parents were Thomas M. and Mary Lucas, and his maternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary Dunn. His parents are Thomas J. and Amanda (Dunn) Lucas, the father having served six years as a member of the Board of Grant County Commissioners. Dr. Lucas attended the Fairmount public schools, and, in 1899, grad- uated from Fairmount Academy. In 1902 he received from the Indi- ana Dental College the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. For fourteen years he did general practice in the capital city, but DR. CARL D. LUCAS since 1914 his practice is limited to oral surgery. Dr. Lucas is a member of the Indiana State Den- tal Association, Indianapolis Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society. Kentucky State Dental Association, Louisiana State Dental Associa- tion ; Corydon Palmer Dental Society, Youngstown, Ohio; Associate Fellow of American Medical Association ; member American Institute of Dental Teachers; member of National Dental Association, having held two offices in this organization; Chairman and Supervisor of Operative Surgical Clinics in 1917 at National meeting in New York City ; member Scientific Foundation and Research Commission of the National Dental Association. In politics Dr. Lucas is neutral, exercis- ing his own personal judgment as to candidates and measures appeal-
323
Physicians-First Postmaster-Newspapers.
ing to him for his support. He is a member of Fairmount lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, also of the Delta Sigma Delta fraternity. His skill and knowledge of his profession are recognized throughout the United States, and especially in Indiana, where he is best known. Dr. Lucas is lecturer at the Indiana Dental College on oral surgery, anat- omy, histology and embryology and clinician at the Indiana Dental College in oral surgery. Dr. Lucas was married on June 29, 1910, at Arcadia, Indiana, to Miss Effa Jane Carter. They are parents of one son, Carl D. Lucas, Jr., born September 5, 19II.
Other former Fairmount men who are practicing dentistry in dif- ferent localities are Dr. Milo E. Ratliff, Cassopolis, Michigan; Dr. Charles E. White and Dr. Trosseau Heck, at Indianapolis ; Dr. Mark Struble and Dr. Laurence Shaughnessy, at Chicago, and Dr. Will E. Ferree, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Joseph W. Patterson, deceased, son of Dr. Philip and Mary (Baldwin) Patterson, was born in Fairmount, October 28, 1859. His paternal grandfather, William Pat- terson, was a native of Ohio and a veteran of the War of 1812 who, in 1830, came to Madison County, Indiana, and settled near Ander- son, where he died. The father was born in Ohio, in 1825, was reared at Anderson, received his education in the old Franklin Col- lege, south of Indianapolis, and graduated from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, in 1846. He later took a course in the Jeffer- son Medical College of Philadel- phia. About 1847 he located in Fairmount, then a sparsely settled community, where he practiced his profession for about eleven years. Soon after the death of his wife, in 1860, he moved to Frankton, in Madison County, where he con- tinued to live until his death, in November, 1870. Mary Patter- DR. J. W. PATTERSON son was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 21, 1825. She was a daughter of Daniel Baldwin,
-
324
The Making of a Township.
one of the early pioneers of the Township. Dr. J. W. Patterson's mother having died when he was but five months old, he was taken into the home of David and Elizabeth (Coleman) Baldwin, by whom he was reared as one of their own. He attended the Fairmount public schools, during the summer months worked for his uncle, David, and early began to earn and save money as a plasterer and bricklayer with which to attend medical college. His ambition to be a doctor was grat- ified, and in 1889 he graduated from the Indiana Medical College with honors, being awarded the Taylor anatomical prize. He located in Fairmount the year of his graduation and commenced the practice of his profession, meeting with success. He served as health officer of Fairmount. He was a member of the Grant County Medical Society, Delaware District Medical Society, State Medical Society, and for two years President of the Harvey Medical Association of Indiana Medical College. In politics Dr. Patterson was a Republican. At twenty-one years of age he was elected justice of the peace ; he served several terms as member of the corporation Board of Trustees, suggesting the names adopted for the streets ; as President of the Board he advocated the in- stallation of the water works ; was a member of the School Board for twelve years, giving loyal and efficient service to the educational inter- ests of the community ; on July 7. 1906, he was appointed a member of the Grant County Board of Examining Surgeons, a position he held at the time of his death. As a manifestation of the esteem in which he was held by survivors of the Civil War he was unanimously elected an honorary member of Beeson Post, Grand Army of the Republic. In 1883 he was married to Miss Moslen Pickard. daughter of Alexander and Mary Pickard. They were parents of two children, namely, Fred P., of Columbus, Ohio, and Mrs. Charles E. Hutchins, of Marion, In- diana. The wife and mother passed away on April 28, 1896. On June 26, 1898, he was joined in marriage to Miss Ella Pearson, daughter of Henry and Minerva Pearson, this union proving to be a most congenial and happy one. Dr. Patterson died on December 26, 1913, aged fifty- four years. His funeral, conducted at the Methodist Episcopal Church by Rev. H. S. Nickerson, was one of the largest ever held in Fairmount.
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.