Hamilton County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 3 of 14)

On The Power Of The Infinite Early Memories

Mr. Maker was a member of the Western Association of Writers during the existence of that literary association, and attended the meetings with such men as Bliss Carman, Opie Reed, Madison Cawein, John J. Piatt, and many others noted in the annals of American literature. In his youth, Mr. Maker studied law at home, but gave it up in order to follow his love for literature. It frequently has been said of him by his friends that his ability is much greater than his fame.

Mr. Maker farmed at home with his- father until the latter's death, and remained on the farm only two years after that time. Mr. Maker was a member of the Farmers Alliance and sat in every lodge extant in that order, in subordinate lodge, county, state and national organizations. In the spring of 1907 he made a trip to California, and after his return moved to Noblesville, where he has since lived. On February 10, 1914, he was appointed justice of the peace in Noblesvifle, and took the office, not for the emoluments thereof, but for the experience which he might gain in handling cases coming before his court. He has never married and makes his home now with his mother in Noblesville.

Mr. Maker is a Democrat, but has never been concerned with political affairs. He is a regular attendant of the Methodist church and the Men's Bible Class, but is not a member of this denomination. He is a genial man in disposition, optimistic in his views of life, and is highly honored and re¬ spected by all who know him. He has a wonderful memory and is one of the best informed men in the county on local history, and is at present secretary of the Hamilton County Historical Association.

Thomas Jefferson Patterson

The farmer of Indiana who was born three score and ten years ago can look back over a span of time which has brought about greater improvement in farming than any other period in the whole history of the world. In fact, there have been more improvements within the last fifty years than there were in all the previous years since the discovery of America. It is indeed difficult for the younger generation to realize what the conditions were which existed in Indiana seventy years ago. So different were they from what they are at present that the review of the lives of men who liyed during all this period is interesting as well as instructive to the younger gen¬ eration. These forefathers of ours who were farming before the war can well remember the log cabin home, the mud roads, the rail fences, the grain cut with a sickle and threshed with a flail. Farming implements were very crude compared to the improved machinery of the present and much hard labor was demanded of the farmers as they undertook the task of transform¬ ing their lands into a rich and productive field. Gradually time and the white race have brought great changes to the country where the red men formerly roamed.

The late Thomas Jefferson Patterson, an honored veteran of the Civil War, who died at his home in Noblesville, Indiana, July 23, 1914, and whose body now lies buried in Noblesville cemetery, was born April 26, 1844, on a farm in Fall Creek township, Hamilton county, Indiana. He was the son of Samuel and Margaret (McBurnev) Patterson, his father being a native of Preble county, Ohio, and his mother a native of Ireland. Miss McBurney came to America when a young girl with her parents, and settled in Ohio, where she and Samuel Patterson were married. After their marriage they came to Hamilton county, where he engaged in farming until his death, in 1832. His wife passed away in the same year.

Thomas Jefferson Patterson was only six years of age when his parents died, and he never knew the loving ministrations of a father and mother. However, he was brought up in a good Christian home and was given as good an education as the country schools at that time afforded. The great rebellion broke out in the sixties and he was seized with the same patriotic zeal which fired the hearts of hundreds of thousands of youths of the North. In 1862 he enlisted as a member of Company B, Fifty-fourth Regiment, In¬ diana Volunteer Infantry, for three months' service. Upon the expiration of this term of enlistment he re-enlisted in Company A, Second Indiana Cavalry, and served until the close of the wrar. Most of his service was in the west in the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in all of the battles in which his regiment engaged, and though always at the front never was wounded and never taken prisoner. He was discharged in the summer of 1865, having served his country faithfully and well.

Immediately after the wrar he returned to peaceful pursuits in his home county and settled on a farm in Pall Creek township. He was married in 1866 and began to build up for himself a large landed estate, each succeeding year seeing him more prosperous than the year before. He was a man of unusual business ability and a farmer who always took the lead in adopting the latest improved machinery or the most advanced methods of agriculture. At the time of his death he owned three hundred and ninety-five acres of land in Fall Creek township, in addition to the valuable residence in Noblesville, into which he moved in 1904, upon retiring from active business. Later in life he became connected wdth the Manufacturers Natural Gas Company of Indian¬ apolis, as its superintendent, and moved to Frankton, in Madison county, the center of the gas belt. He was with this company, its efficient superintendent, until its dissolution. At the same time he was superintendent of the gas company he was also contractor for the laying of the mains, at the same time planting his farm and constantly keeping a close supervision over it.

Mr. Patterson was married in March, 1866, to Clara J. Brown, daughter of Franklin and Lucinda Brown, of New Paris, Ohio. To this marriage have been born seven children, four of whom are still living: Dora, the wife of Calvin Harrison, of Hamilton county; Rose, deceased: Frank and Maude, twins, both of whom are deceased: Fred, who is married and lives in Hamil¬ ton county, and two. Myrtle and Finley, wrho are still living at home.

Mr. Patterson wras a life-long Republican in politics and always was active in the deliberations of his party in Hamilton county. In 1884 he was elected county commissioner for a term of three years and was re-elected in 1890, serving for a period of nine years. The county never had a more efficient county commissioner than Mr. Patterson, and no suspicion of graft was ever connected with his name. He was also assessor of Fall Creek town¬ ship for nine years and discharged the duties of that important office in a , manner which brought the commendation of his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Order of Masons and a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Noblesville. Though himself not a member of any particular church, his family are all members of the United Brethren church. He was one of the trustees of the church and a liberal supporter of its various activities. Mr. Patterson was one of the leading men of his county for more than fifty wears and played well his part in every way possible. He was one of those men with brain and substance who are essential to the material government of a community's prosperity, and his influence ever was worthily extended in behalf of any worthy enter¬ prise that had for its object the advancement of the civic, moral and intel¬ lectual welfare of his county. He was personally a kind, large-hearted and charitable man, a friend to every one whom he met. He always maintained his high ideals, nothing ever swerving him from the path of rectitude and honor, and his memory is cherished by many in Noblesville and Hamilton county.

Dr. Joel Dixon Sturdevant

Among those men of sterling attributes of character who have impressed their personality upon the community of their residence and have borne their full share in the upbuilding and development of Hamilton county, Indiana, mention must be made of Dr. Joel Dixon Sturdevant, of Noblesville, where he maintains his home, and where he has exerted a strong influence for good on the entire community, being a man of upright principles and desirous to see the advancement of the community along moral, educational and material lines. Professionally, he is a man of recognized ability, who has in his chosen sphere of effort met with a large degree of success, winning the commendation and the confidence of all who have knowledge of the great value of the com petent physician to any community.

Dr. Joel Dixon Sturdevant, the son of Calvin and Emma (Beals) Sturde¬ vant, was born November 7, 1877, on a farm in Washington township, this county. Both his parents were also natives of Hamilton county and are still living in Noblesville. In 1896 Calvin Sturdevant was elected auditor of Hamilton county and after retiring from the office in 1901, he returned to his farm, where he remained until 1907, when he moved to Noblesville, where he died February 3, 1914. Calvin Sturdevant was a lifelong Republican and active in political matters in his county. He served on the Republican county central committee and was a frequent delegate to district and state conventions.

Doctor Joel Dixon Sturdevant was reared upon the home farm and at¬ tended the schools of his neighborhood. Later he attended the high school at Westfield, this county, and was graduated from this splendid high school. Being a young man of keen intellectual ability, it was natural that he should take an interest in educational work. After graduating from the high school he taught school in the district schools of Washington township for three years. In the spring of 1898, having reached his twenty-first birthday, he became deputy county auditor under his father and served in this capacity until 1900, at which time he entered the Medical College of Indiana at Indi¬ anapolis and was graduated from that institution April 21, 1904. A number of the best students graduating in each class are appointed as interns to the leading hospitals of Indianapolis, only students graduating with high grades being accorded this honor, and Doctor Sturdevant was one of the few who was fortunate enough to receive an internship. He served in the Indianapolis City Dispensary from May 1, T904, to January, 1905, and during this time received much valuable experience. On February 1, 1905, he opened his office in Noblesville for practice, and during the past nine years has built up a large and lucrative practice in Noblesville and vicinity. He keeps fully abreast of the times in his chosen profession and takes an active interest in the de¬ liberations of the Hamilton County, the Indiana State and the American Med¬ ical Associations.

Doctor Sturdevant was married February 28, 1906, to Lulu Ingerman, the daughter of George W. and Amanda (Dale) Ingerman, of Noblesville, and to this union have been born two children, Josephine, born August 5, 1908, and Amanda, born March 12, 1911. The Doctor is a member of the Friends church, while his wife holds her membership in the Methodist Episco¬ pal denomination.

Doctor Sturdevant has been an active Republican since reaching his majority, and has taken a deep interest in political matters since becoming a resident of Noblesville. He has been a member of the county health board, of which he is secretary since January, 1910, and is also a member of the Noblesville city council from the first ward. He is rapidly forging to the front as a successful practitioner and in January, 1913, was elected president of the Hamilton County Medical Society. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having attained to the thirty-second degree in that ancient order, as well as having been made a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Doctor Sturdevant is a close student of the best professional literature and among his fellow practitioners is held in the highest regard because of his ability and attainments.

Edward Forsythe

The history of the commercial life of Noblesville, Indiana, would be in¬ complete without mention of the life and works of Edward Forsythe, who, for a number of years, has been one of the most prominent representatives of the city's commercial life. For many years a teacher in the public schools, he gained a knowledge of human nature which has proved of great benefit to him in his business career. As an instructor of the youth he was one of the most successful teachers of the county, and the same success which was his as a result of his work in the school room has attended him in his business career. A man who is enterprising, progressive and persevering, as is Mr. Forsythe, will reap a satisfactory reward for his well directed efforts. Not only has Mr. Forsythe been an influential factor in the material progress of his city, but he also has been fully alive to the moral, social and educational life of his community as well. A man of high character and noble aims he is a fine type of the American citizen and a power for good in the commun¬ ity which is honored by his residence.

Edward Forsythe, the son of Robert T. and Alice (Shake) Forsythe, was born February 20, 1874, on a farm in Johnson county, Indiana. His father was a native of the same county, and his mother was born in Ken¬ tucky. Robert Forsythe was a farmer and in 1881, feeling that he could better his condition, he moved to Elk county, Kansas, where he remained for four years. Whatever may be the virtues of Kansas land, it is certain that living there at that time had many drawbacks, and in 1885 Mr. Forsythe left Kansas and started back home, stopping for one year in Missouri. He reached Indiana in 1886 and before coming to Hamilton county lived one year in Johnson county and three years in Morgan county. In 1891 he arrived in Hamilton county with his family, and here he followed the vocation of a farmer until his death, in 1905. His widow is still living in Noblesville. Robert Forsythe and wife were the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy: Ora, of Noblesville; Edward, whose history is here delin¬ eated; Norma D., the wife of Samuel B. Berg, of Noblesville township; Jessie K., the wife of Eugene McPherson, of Noblesville, and Harley W., also of Noblesville.

Edward Forsythe received his education in the schools of Indiana, Kan¬ sas and Missouri, and because of the numerous places in which his parents lived, his education was more or less haphazard. He started to school in Johnson county, Indiana, and since he was only seven years of age when he left that county for Kansas, had only started in his educational career. The next four years were spent in the schools of Kansas., followed by one year in the schools of Missouri. His parents then returned to this state, where he attended school in Johnson and Morgan counties before finally finishing his education in Hamilton county. However, he was a youth of marked ability and before he was graduated from the high school he had taught three years. He graduated from the Noblesville high school in 1900, and then taught two years after his graduation, one year being in the schools of Noblesville.

Mr. Forsythe was teaching when he was married and taught for one year after his marriage, after which he became engaged in the sale of fencing, drain tile, gates and general farm supplies in Noblesville, where he has built up a large business. In 1914 he started a mail order department, under the name of the Standard Fence and Supply House. While this line of his busi¬ ness is just in its infancy, it promises to develop into an enormous business in the future. The company handles farm, poultry and lawn fences of all kinds, as well as a general line of farm supplies. This new department of Mr. Forsythe's enables the farmers of Hamilton county to buy in a mail order way if they desire from one they know. Mr. Forsythe is vice-president ot the Indiana Loan Association, and is a man of excellent business ability and good judgment in handling the goods which he sells.

Mr. Forsythe was married March 22, 1901, to Eleanor Hare, the daugh¬ ter of John H. and Elizabeth (Allen) Hare, of Noblesville. John H. Hare was for some years the manager of the Noblesville Machine Works, but retired from active work in 1913. Both of Mrs. Forsythe's parents are still living in Noblesville, and they were the parents of four children, one son, who died in infancy; Grace G., the wife of John Riley Pentacost, of Noblesvile; Bernice G., the wife of Fred V. Edwards, of Noblesville, and Eleanor, the wife of Mr. Forsythe. Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe have one daughter, Eliza¬ beth Alice, who was born January 6, 1912.

matters, particularly those which relate to his home county. He is an ardent advocate of good government, and for this reason takes an intelligent part in all local, state and national elections. However, he has never been an aspir¬ ant for any public office, his business affairs demanding all of his time and attention. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his wife are both loyal members of the Christian church, in the con¬ gregation of which he is an elder and for several years past also had served as a deacon. He has always been greatly interested in Sunday school work and for several years was Sunday school superintendent and is at present the teacher of the adult class of ladies in the Sunday school. Mr. Forsythe is a man of irreproachable character, who has made the Golden Rule the motto of his life. All he has today has been earned by his own efforts and he justly merits the title of self-made man. He and his wife move in the best social circles of Noblesville and are highly esteemed by everyone with whom they come in contact.

John T. Kester

Great achievements always excite admiration. Men of deeds are the me;i whom the world delights to honor. Ours is an age representing the most electrical progress in all lines of material activity, and the man of initia¬ tive is one who forges to the front in the industrial world. Among the dis¬ tinctive captains of industry in central Indiana a place of priority must be accorded to John Kester, of Noblesville, Hamilton county, Indiana, for to him is due the upbuilding of the public service utilities of his city, while the com¬ paratively short time within which these great results have been obtained further testify to his exceptional administrative power and executive ability. He is, in the fullest sense of the term, a progressive, virile, self-made Amer¬ ican, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives, conducting all his own business affairs, as well as those of the city that come under his direction, carefully and systematically, in all his acts display¬ ing an aptitude, for successful management. He has not permitted the ac¬ quisition of fortune to affect in any way his actions towards those less fortu¬ nate than himself, being a most sympathetic and broad-minded man, who possesses a host of warm and admiring friends.

Taylorville, the son of I. K. and Sarah Ann (Smith) Kester, who were both natives of Washington county, Indiana, in which county they were reared and married. I. K. Kester served in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regi¬ ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in as firjst sergeant, and acted as captain of his company for a time. His first enlistment was for three months, and upon the expiration of this term of service he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. Soon after the war was over he married in Washington county, this state, and subsequently moved with his family to Christian county, Illinois. His wife died April 19, 1914, but he is still liv¬ ing in Taylorville, Christian county, Illinois, surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences *of life.

John T. Kester received his education in the schools of his native county in Illinois, where his father was a farmer and a merchant, and was one of the most prosperous men of his county. Mr. Kester remained on the farm and attended the country schools until he was eighteen years of age, completing the course in the high school at Taylorville in 1890. He was ambitious for higher education, and with the intention of taking a course in electrical engineering, he matriculated at the University of Illinois at Champaign, Illi¬ nois, in the fall of 1890. The next two years were spent in teaching and out¬ side working in electricity. In this way he gained a practical knowledge of the subject which has been of incalculable value to him in his later career. His first position was as chief engineer of the electrical power station at Hills¬ boro, Illinois. Later he was made superintendent of construction and still later general superintendent of the entire system at Hillsboro. The city of Noblesville, Indiana, was looking for a man to take charge of its heat, light and power plant, and in December, 1908, engaged Mr. Kester to take full charge of the plant. The Noblesville plant includes electric liehtin^ power, steam heating from a central plant, as well as the manufacture of arti¬ ficial ice. Since taking hold of the business Mr. Kester has increased it re¬ markably, having increased the gross returns three fold within the past six years. This has been accomplished not by retrenching, but extending the service to various points in the county, thereby increasing the usefulness of the plant as well as extending its benefits to other parts of the county. Mr. Kester is a man of practical ability, and a worker who never feels satisfied until he thoroughly understands every detail of his business. The result has been that the Noblesville Public Utilities plant is ranked among the most suc¬ cessful in the state.

Mr. Kester was married March 16, 1892, to Jennie M. App, the daughter of Oliver F. and Katherine (Seiberling) App, of Decatur, Illinois, and to this union have been born two daughters and one son : Lenore, married June io, 1914, to Albert Craycraft at Nbblesville, Indiana; Blanche and Paul. The latter are still residing with their parents and are being given the best of edu¬ cational advantages.

Politically. Mr. Kester has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the Democratic party, although he is not in any sense a rabid partisan. He has been one of the leaders of his party since coming to this city and is a member of the Democratic executive committee. The nature of his business is such that he has never aspired to office, being content to serve as a private in the ranks. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the Chapter and Council. He is a member also of the Knights of Pythias. He and the members of his family are earnest at¬ tendants of the Christian church and are active workers in church and Sunday school work. Mr. Kester is a man of keen business ability, and while gaining material success has not neglected those higher duties which he owes to his community. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Noblesville. Mrs. Kester is a woman of many gracious qualities of head and heart and a prominent member of the society of her city. Mr. Kester has always been true to the trusts reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, and his reputation in a business way is unassailable. His actions haYe always been based on careful and conscientious thought, and when once convinced that he is right, no suggestion of policy or personal profit can swerve him from the course of duty. His career has been signally free from criticism for the reason that he has set his ideals high and has never allowed anything to turn him from the path of duty as he saw it.

Alonzo J. Brown

The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the West are combined in the residents of Indiana. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigorous Western states is here tempered bv the stable and more careful policy which we have borrowed from our Eastern neighbors, and the combination has proved to be one of unusual force and power. . It has been the means of placing this section of the country on a par with the older East, at the same time producing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lacking in the West. This happy com- bination of characteristics is possessed to a notable degree by the subject of this biographical history, Alonzo J. Brown, of Noblesville. He is too well known to the readers of this work to need any formal introduction here, for his name is deeply engraved in the financial, commercial, professional and industrial history of this section of the state, and he himself is filling a large place in the public affairs of this community. Recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community along material and civic lines, he Is regarded as one of the progressive and enterprising men of his city and county.

Alonzo J. Brown, the president of the Wainwright Trust Company, was born January 2, 1858, in Vermilion county, Indiana, and is the son of Mercer and Elizabeth (Mills) Brown, his father being a native of Illinois, and his mother of this .county.

Alonzo J. Brown was educated in the country schools of Hamilton county and worked upon the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he came to Noblesville, where he worked for the next three years and upon attaining his majority, was appointed deputy county treasurer, serving in that capacity from 1879 to 1887. It was in the office of county treasurer that he learned the many different phases of financial procedure and acquired a knowledge of all of those details which lead to a successful business career. Upon leav¬ ing the office of county treasurer in 1887 he at once became a partner of the late Major W. A. Wainwright, the firm being known as Wainwright & Com¬ pany and engaged in the mortgage loan, insurance and abstract business, this company being the forerunner of the present Wainwright Trust Company, one of the most substantial financial institutions of Noblesville. In 1901, in connection with J. C. Jones, who purchased the interest of Major Wainwright, Mr. Brown organized the Wainwright Trust Company, becoming its first president. This company has been remarkably successful from the beginning and under the charge of Mr. Brown, who has been its president since its organization, it has taken its place among the leading institutions of this county. His capable management of the interests of the company and his sound judgment have won him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been associated in any way.

Mr. Brown was married August 17, 1881, to Jennie Stafford, the daugh¬ ter of Joel and Hannah (Davis) Stafford, of Noblesville, and to this union have been born two sons, James A., now living in San Francisco, California, and Dr. Harry S., of Wisconsin. Mr. Brown and his wife are members of the Friends church and have always been interested in the various activities

In politics, Mr. Brown has been a stanch Republican, but the nature of his business has prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs, although he takes an abiding and intelligent interest in the current affairs of the day. He is a man of strong and vigorous personality, with a keen grasp of business affairs, and is eminently well fitted to manage important financial enterprises. He is progressive in his ideas and well deserves the success which he has attained by reason of his well directed efforts since be¬ coming actively identified with the business life of Noblesville.

Erwin Cox

A farmer and manufacturer of Hamilton county, Indiana, is Erwin Cox, who is now living on the farm where he was born. The Cox family have been residents of this county for many years, and have always been publicspirited citizens, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the county. Mr. Cox is a man of industry and business ability, and since beginning the manufacture of concrete silos in 1912, has built up a large busi¬ ness along this line.

Erwin Cox, the son of Stephen and Julia (Rich) Cox, was born three and one-half miles northwest of Westfield, February 19, 1868. The history of his father, Stephen Cox, is given elsewhere in this volume.

Erwin Cox received a good, common-school education in the district schools of his township and then attended the Union high school at Westfield. He remained at home until his marriage in 1889, and then began keeping house where he is now residing. The farm on which he now lives belonged to his father, but he has bought it and placed many extensive improvements upon it since it has come into his sole possession. As a farmer he ranks among the most progressive of his township, but for the last two years he has given the major portion of his attention to the manufacture of various kinds of concrete products. He has built a plant for this purpose and has installed modern machinery with a view of increasing his output. He manufactures drain tile and fence posts, but gives most of his attention to the manufacture of concrete silos. The silos which he constructs are made of slabs one foot wide and three feet long with grooved edges, so that they fit closely together. He has patented this kind of a silo, and the success with which it has been received by the farmers indicates that he has a silo which will meet with an ever increasing demand. His business has already extended beyond Hamil¬ ton county into the adjoining counties and is only in its infancy. He has a plentiful supply of sand and gravel on his farm and with shipping facilities only one mile away is in a position to build up a big business.

Mr. Cox was married August 15, 1889, to Theodate Johnson, who was born near New London, Howard county, Indiana, December 1, 1870, daugh¬ ter of Demsey and Mary (Johnson) Johnson, natives of Ohio. Demsey Johnson was a son of Robert and Milly Johnson, and when a child, moved with his parents from Ohio to Howard county, Indiana. They made the over¬ land trip in wagons and Demsey walked most of the way. He grew to man¬ hood in Howard county and married Lucy Newland, and after her death he returned to Ohio and married Mary B. Johnson, the mother of Mrs. Cox.

Demsey Johnson moved to Westfield, Indiana, about 1881, and bought a farm one-half mile south of Westfield and lived there until his death. Mr. Johnson helped to organize the State Bank of Westfield and was a director in the bank until about four years before his death. He was a public-spirited citizen and always took a great deal of interest in the Union high school at Westfield. He and his wife were loyal members of the Friends church. He left two children, Mrs. Cox and Lucy, the wife of John Whicker.

William O. Horton

Whenever a man shows a special aptitude for any particular work the community of which he is a member usually recognizes the fact. However past experience has shown that the community has not always been infallible in its choice of public officials. The tendency now is to select such men for public offices as have the necessary qualifications to fill them, in such a way as best to conserve the best interests of the public. It is univesally admitted today that many of our public officials are inefficient and that the duties of many officers are not satisfactorily performed. As far as the law is con¬ cerned there is only one public official, other than the public school teacher, who is required to have any special qualification for the position which he seeks. This is the county superintendent and in Indiana he is not elected by direct vote of the people but by the trustees of the various counties. The time will undoubtedly come when all of the public officials of the county will be compelled to take an examination in order to demonstrate their fitness for the position which they seek to hold. Nevertheless there are hundreds of our officials today who are fully competent to fill the duties of their respective offices. Among these, William O. Horton, the present auditor of Hamilton county, is a conspicuous example.

William O. Horton, the son of George W. and Mary R. (Paine) Horton, was born June 4, i860, on a farm in Adams township in this county. His father was born in Boone county, Kentucky, and his mother in Virginia, both coming to Hamilton county when young people. George W. Horton was a prosperous farmer of this county for many years, a Democrat in politics, and a man who was highly respected by every one who knew him. He died March 18, 1891, at the age of seventy-five, his wife dying November 15, 1890. They were the parents of six children, two of whom are living: Hubert W., de¬ ceased; Laura A., deceased; James T., deceased; John B., deceased; William O., whose history is here recorded, and Clova, the wife of Henry D. Cutts, of Adams township, in this county.

William O. Horton was reared upon his father's farm and educated in the schools of his home neighborhood. He remained at home until he was married at the age of twenty-one and then began to farm in Adams township. A few years later he moved to Washington township where he lived until March, 1912. when he moved back to Adams township where he is now living. In addition to his general system of farming he has been extensively engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock, shipping most of his stock to Indi¬ anapolis markets. He is one of the best judges of live stock in the county and has been very successful in this line of business. His farm is well im¬ proved in every way and he keeps it at the highest state of productivity by a system of 'scientific crop rotation. He is progressive in all of his methods and never hesitates to adopt the latest machinery nor the latest improved methods of agriculture.

Mr. Horton was married September 14. 1881, to Elizabeth Sumner, daughter of Greenbury C. and Amanda (Moore) Sumner, of Adams town¬ ship. Mr. Sumner is deceaesd and his widow is still living on the old home¬ stead in Adams township.

Mr. Horton always has been a Democrat in politics and always has taken an active interest in the deliberations of his party. He has been a member of many different political party committees in his county and a frequent dele¬ gate to his party's conventions. A proof of his popularity and recognized ability is shown bv the fact that he was nominated to the office of county auditor by his party in 1912 and in the fall of that year was elected to that important office. He assumed that office January 1, 1914, for the regular term of four years and is now administering its duties in a satisfactory man¬ ner. Unlike most officials he remained upon his farm seven and one-half miles west of Noblesville, and drives back and forth from his farm each day. He is a man of recognized business ability and integrity and fine personal qualities. He enjoys a splendid reputation throughout the county and is honored by the citizenship because of his genuine worth and high character.

John Owen

The biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are in¬ structive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life. Apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate success, if not renown. The instances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justify the conclusion that self-reliance, with a half chance, can accomplish any object. The life of John Owen, the recent postmaster of Noblesville, Indiana, is an example in point, for, by his individual efforts, and close adherence to his every duty, he has overcome the obstacles en¬ countered on the highway of life and is now very comfortably fixed regard¬ ing this world's comforts and has at the same time won a reputation for right living among his fellow men.

John Owen, the son of James A. and Jane (Haworth) Owen, was born in a log cabin on a farm about four miles northwest of Noblesville on June 25, 187 5- His father was a native of North Carolina and came to Hamil¬ ton county, Indiana, when a boy with his parents, James R. and Susannah (Fouts) Owen. The family settled here in 1857. James A. Owen grew to maturity in this county and married Jane Haworth, who was born in the county. James A. Owen was seventy-seven years of age on March 6, 1914, and his wife was seventy-one years old on June 6, 1914, and both are enjoying good health and are now living a retired life in Noblesville, where they are surrounded by every comfort and convenience of modern life. James A. Owen has been a lifelong Republican in politics and in 1896 was elected (38) sheriff of Hamilton county, serving his term to the entire satisfaction of the people of the county. James A. Owen and wife were the parents of four children. Havilah, the oldest son, died at the age of twenty-seven while a law student at the University of Michigan. He died suddenly of heart trouble in the prime of life. He was a young man of great promise and an orator of great ability for one so young. Charity Ann, the only daugh¬ ter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Owen, taught in the schools of Hamilton county for many years and is now living retired with her parents in Noblesville. Joel E., the second son, is now with the Wainwright Trust Company, of Noblesville, and John, the youngest, is the man whose history is he^e delineated.

John Owen was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools during the winter season and assisting his father on the farm during the summer months. After finishing the course in the common schools, he at¬ tended the high school at Westfield, and when nineteen years of age was appointed a teacher in the Indiana Reform Schools for Boys at Plainfield, In¬ diana, and taught there for a few months. At the age of twenty, when his father became a candidate for county sheriff, he took upon himself the man¬ agement of his father's campaign. During this campaign he showed con¬ siderable ability along political lines and has been interested in politics more or less ever since. During his father's term of office as sheriff he served as deputy sheriff and upon leaving the office became connected with the con¬ struction company which was then building the Indiana Union traction lines in this state. He was connected with the claim and ordinance department and was in the employ of the company for several years. During all of this time he was active in Republican politics and was a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He was especially active in con¬ gressional and state politics, and was for a time the secretary of the county central Republican committee, and, in fact, practically acted as county chairman.

Recognizing in him a man of ability and a man who had served his party faithfully and well, he was recommended to President Roosevelt for the position of postmaster at Noblesville, and on February 4, 1906, he was ap¬ pointed by President Roosevelt to this position. At the expiration of his first term he was reappointed for a second term by President Taft on March 30, 1910, and served out his second term in the office. He was an efficient and popular official and gave a faithful account of himself while administering the arduous duties of this important position.

being connected with the gas and oil industry. Although he has never been married Mr. Owen is active in social affairs. He has been a member of the Knights of Pythias since he was twenty-one years of age, and upon the or¬ ganization of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Noblesville he became a charter member of the lodge. He is a member of the Friends church and has always been generous in his support of this denomination. He was brought up in the church, his parents both being loyal members of the Friends denomination. Mr. Owen is a man of kindly disposition, honest and thoroughly trustworthy and commanding the respect of all with whom he has made dealings. He is a man among men in all that he does and naturally exerts a potential influence in the affairs of his city and county.

Thomas Morrow

Although Thomas Morrow has lived most of his life in Indianapolis, yet he is well known as one of the recent substantial citizens of Carmel, Ham¬ ilton county, where he lived for three years or more. He is a progressive business man and during his residence at Carmel contributed in a material way to the prosperity of the town and thus incidentally to the welfare of Hamil¬ ton county. He has proven an honorable member of the body politic and in every relation of life has never fallen below the true dignities of the good American citizen, or in any way resorted to methods which have led to criticism or censure. He is essentially a self-made man and whatever he has today is due solely to his own unaided efforts in the world.

Thomas Morrow, the proprietor of a bakery and restaurant formerly at Carmel, now engaged in business at Indianapolis, was bom September 22, 1886, in Hamilton county. He is a son of James W. and Emmily (Lane) Morrow, his father being a native of this county and his mother a native of Porter county, Indiana. James W. Morrow was the son of James and Re¬ becca Morrow, natives of Ohio, who were among the early settlers of Ham¬ ilton county, having settled here about 1828. They entered government land and started out under the trying conditions which existed everywhere in this section of the state at that time. They put up a rude log cabin, cleared the land and gradually brought their farm under cultivation. When they came here they had no difficulty in securing plenty of meat to eat, inasmuch as there were plenty of deer, bear, and small game to be found everywhere. James Morrow, senior, and his wife were the parents of eight children: Daniel,

James W. Mororw attended the common schools of his home neighbor¬ hood in the winter season and assisted with his help on the farm during the summer vacation. He lived at home until he was married on December 27, i860, and then rented a farm in this county. He lived upon the farm until 1880, when he moved to Carmel and purchased a tile factory, which he oper¬ ated for the next ten or twelve years. He disposed of the tile factory and was then elected trustee of Clay township, this county, holding the office from 1896 until 1902. A few years after retiring from the office of township trustee he was elected assessor of Clay township and was holding this office at the time of his death, March 6, 1911. He was a strong Republican in politics, and always took an active part in the public welfare of his com¬ munity. Janies W. Morrow and wife were the parents of five, children, all of whom were born on their father's farm near Noblesville. They were Schuyler, James, Clara, Thomas and Edmond.

Thomas Morrow attended the schools in his home neighborhood and after his parents moved to Carmel he attended the high school of that town, almost completing the course. When he was thirteen years of age Mr. Mor¬ row went to work for his uncle on the farm, and continued to work for him and to attend school during the winter months. He worked for his uncle for about ten months and then married and moved to Indianapolis, where he lived for about ten years. While working in Indianapolis he was clerically employed, and upon the death of his father in 1911 moved back to Carmel to live with his mother and there opened a bakery and restaurant which he operated until in August, 1914. He then took a long trip through the south and in January, 1915, engaged in the confectionery business in Indianapolis, opening an attractive store in Sixteenth street at Talbott avenue, where he handles confectionery and allied lines and which bids fair to receive the large patronage to which its surroundings and able management entitle it.

Mr. Morrow was married October 30, 1888, to Amanda E. Moulton and to this union have been born two children : Mabel and Ralph Emerson. Mabel is the wife of Samuel Brav, a draughtsman for the National Motor Car Company at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Bray have two children, Kathyleen and Winifred Scott. Ralph Emerson is still in high school. Fraternally, Mr. Morrow is a Free and Accepted Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of pleasing personality and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Elias Mansfield Shelburne

The man who wisely and vigorously applies his talent to that profession which he chooses as his life work is nearly sure to be successful. It is not the man of brilliant attainments who makes the most brilliant success in life, but rather the steady plodder, who keeps his work eyer in hand and pushes forward to a definite goal. The greatest results are often attained by the simplest means, by the exercise of the ordinary qualities of commonsense and perseverance. The every day life with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind. Every vocation demands a repetition of the same details day after day, and the man who can best meet .these as they arise is the one who achieves the highest success in life.

Elias Mansfield Shelburne, a prosperous farmer and stock breeder of Clay* township, this county, was born February 13, 1851, three miles north of Zionsville, Boone county, Indiana. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Bishop) Shelburne were natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively. John Shelburne, the son of Augustine and Jane (Bush) Shelburne, was born in Kentucky and came to Indiana in 1836, being one of the first settlers in Boone county. Augustine Shelburne was born in 1756 and was a soldier and an officer in the Revolutionary War. He was a prominent man in his day and in addition to being a prosperous farmer, was a Baptist minister of great power and influence. The family history of the Shelburnes is some¬ what obscure, but it is thought that the father of Augustine Shelburne was William Shelburne, and that the grandfather of Augustine was the first one of the family to come from England to this country. It is probable that the first Shelburne came to this country about 1650, leaving England on account of religious persecution. The best record which the family has at the pres¬ ent time concerning the first of the family to come to this country shows that there were two brothers of the name who came here and settled in Virginia.

John Shelburne was twice married, his first wife being Susan Ashbv, a native of Kentucky, but she only lived six years after coming to Indiana in 1836. To this first union of John Shelburne were born four children, Emma Jane, James, William and Thomas. Two years after the death of his first wife John Shelburne married Elizabeth Bishop, their marriage occurring June 26, 1844, and to this union were born seven children, John D., Susan F., Elias M., with whom this history deals; Samuel P., Isaac, Edward and

Elmira E. Elias M. and Elmira E. are the only two children now living. Elizabeth, the second wife of John Shelburne, was born in Virginia, the daughter of William and Susanna (Hutton) Bishop. Her parents moved from Virginia and settled in Boone county, this state, where they purchased two hundred acres of land for six dollars an acre. The first home of the Bishops upon coming to this state was a low, two-roomed log cabin, and here William Bishop arid wife lived for many years with their six children.

Elias M. Shelburne received a very meager common-school education. In his boyhood there was only two or three months of school each year and the instruction was very limited. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age and then married and remained on his father's farm, where he continued to reside until 1892, when he purchased his present farm in the western part of Clay township. In 1909 he built his present attractive home, one of the most substantial homes of the township. He has lived on this farm for the past twenty-two years with the exception of three years when he lived in Zionsville.

Mr. Shelburne was married March 7, 1872. to Rosalia West, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Evans) West, born in Lebanon, Indiana, July 2, 1853. Her father was born in Kentucky and came to Indiana when a boy with his parents, Willis and Elnora (Dickson) West. Her mother, Susanna Evans, was born August 5, 1827, in Pickaway county, Ohio, a daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (Bell) Evans. The family came from Ohio to Indi¬ ana and settled in Wayne county, and later, probably in 1838, the Evans family moved to Boone county, where they entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. Samuel and Susanna (Evans) West were married September 28, 1845, and to this union were born twelve chil¬ dren, Willis G., Jonathan E., Martha J., Rosalia, James E., Margaret; Mary E., Samuel A., Charles J., Susanna, Albert F. and Harvey W. At the time of Mrs. Shelburne's mother's death. May 24, 1913, she had forty-one grand¬ children, fifty-two great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild living.

Mr. and Mrs. Shelburne are the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living, Elmer. Alva, Lora, Sadie. Bessie and West. The other child died in infancy. Elmer married Sylvia Freeman and lives in Texas on a farm near Rosenberg, and has two daughters, Gladys Marie and Ruth. Alva married Lvdia Wheeler and lives seven miles southwest of Zionsville, in Hendricks county. Alva and his wife have had three children, Lester, Lillian and John M., who was killed when three years of age. Lora married David Orr, and lives in Warren county, Indiana, and has three children, Clifford M.,

Sadie M. and William Dale. Sadie, the twin sister of Lora, is still living at home with her parents. Bessie is the wife of Clayborn Orr and lives in Warren county, this state. She has two children, Charles and Mary. West married Pearl Barker and lives on a part of his father's farm. They are the parents of one son, Voyl.

In politics, Mr. Shelburne has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party but has never been actively engaged in political affairs. He has been road supervisor in his township, and while in that office, per¬ formed conscientious service for his fellow citizens. He and his family are all church going people and Elmer has been superintendent of the Sunday school several years. Mr. Shelburne takes an abiding interest in govern¬ mental issues and is a liberal supporter of all measures pertaining to the welfare of his community.

Thomas Hussey

Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of Thomas Hussey, a well known and influential farmer and promi¬ nent stockman of Clay township, Hamilton county, Indiana, and he has not only been interested in the work of advancing his individual affairs, but his influence is felt in upbuilding the community. He has been an industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced, more prosperous, and with an increased number of friends.

Thomas Hussey, one of the most prosperous farmers of Clay township, was born January 13, 1853, in Fayette county, Indiana, and moved to this county with his parents, Joseph and Sarah (Frazier) Hussey, when he was six months old.

Joseph Hussey was born in 1815 in Guilford county, North Carolina, and was the son of John and Mary (Thornburg) Hussey. John Hussey died when his son, Joseph, was only an infant, leaving his widow with two sons, Joseph and Jonathan. They lived with their mother until Joseph was seventeen years of age, and then he and his brother came to Indiana, settling in Fayette county, in 1832. John Hussey as the son of John and Mary (Jes¬ sup) Hussey, both of whom were bom in England.

and Rachel (Beard) Frazier, and a sister of John Beard, who was largely in¬ strumental in getting free public schools in Indiana. The Thornburgs were natives of Ireland, as were the Beards, while the Fraziers were natives of Scotland. After his marriage Joseph Hussey moved to a farm of one hun¬ dred and three acres in Fayette county, this state, where he lived until 1853, when he moved to Hamilton county and bought two hundred acres of land in Clay township. Shortly after his marriage in 1837 he entered land in Tipton county, but never lived on this land. Joseph Hussey remained on his farm in Clay township until his death, which occurred July 13, 1898. He and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church and he was a strong Republican in politics. His widow died December 6, 1899. To this marriage were born ten children, John, who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863; William, who was county commissioner for two terms; Martha, Mary, Elizabeth, Harriett, Thomas, whose history is subsequently related in this connection; Rachel, Franklin and Milton.

Thomas, the seventh child bom to his parents, was given a good com¬ mon-school education and remained at home until he was married in 1878. His father then gave him forty acres of land, which is a part of his present farm, and with this as a nucleus he has surrounded himself with a substan¬ tial farm of three hundred and sixty acres in this county. Before his mar¬ riage Mr. Hussey had built a small three-room house and in this he and his family lived for fifteen years after his marriage. His wife was a true help¬ mate in every way and they worked together to bring about their present prosperity. In 1893 they built their present spacious home of twelve rooms, which is now fitted up with all the modern conveniences. He has always been a large breeder of stock, having found by experience that he made better profits by feeding his grain to his stock. In the past few years he has branched out in the raising of stock in the breeding of pure bred Holstein cattle for general and exhibition purposes as well as for the markets until he now has one of the finest Holstein herds to be found in this section of the state.

Mr. Hussey was married December 8, 1878, to Serepta Daubenspeck, the daughter of Greenberry and Sarah Elizabeth (Hessong) Daubenspeck, and was born in Marion county, Indiana, July 31, 1857. The Daubenspecks Were of Irish descent originally and went from Rush county, Indiana, to Marion county, where Mrs. Hussey was born. Her father, Greenberry, was the son of Peter and Ruth (Rush) Daubenspeck. Her mother, Sarah Eliza¬ beth Hessong, was the daughter of Peter and Catherine Hessong, of German extraction and natives of Maryland. Greenberry Daubenspeck taught school in Marion county for several years and managed his farm during the summer vacations. He is now living in Zionsville, Indiana, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Greenberry Daubenspeck and wife were the parents of four children, Serepta, the wife of Mr. Hussey; Laura A., deceased; Ruth Anna, deceased, and Peter.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hussey have reared an interesting family of ten children, in order of birth as follows: Lewis F., born September 8, 1879; Anna L., born March 6, 1882; Maude E., born November 15, 1884; Owen D., born February 10, 1887; Roscoe Beard, born June 1, 1888; S. Lena, born January 31, 1891; Helen Jane, born September 6, 1893; Martha E., born April 23, 1896; Olive Mary, born August 22, 1898, and Garnet K., bom December 6, 1901. Lewis F. married Sarah Johnson and lives south of his father's farm and has one daughter, Loretta J. ; Anna L. married Cloyde Goodnight, a minister of the Christian church, now stationed in Uniontown; Pennsylvania, and they have one son, John Thomas; Maude E., who was graduated from the Noblesville high school, is still living with her parents; S. Lena married Walter D. Stout and lives at Shirley, where Mr. Stout is superintendent of the creosote factory; Roscoe Beard died when he was eleven years of age; Owen died in infancy; the other four children, Helen Jane, Martha E., Olive Mary and Garnet Katherine, are still at home and in the public schools of Zionsville ; Lena, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Hussey, attended the Central Normal College at Danville for two years and then entered Indiana University, where she was graduated in the literary course in 1913.

Mr. Hussey has been a life-long Republican and always takes an active interest in the public affairs of his home county, and has served as county commissioner for two terms, while in this office giving his hearty support to all measures which he felt would be of benefit to his county in any way. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. Religiously, he and his wife are earnest members of the Chris¬ tian church and contribute generously to its support at all times. In addi¬ tion to his agricultural interests Mr. Hussey is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Noblesville, and has been connected with that financial institution for several years.* Mr. Hussey is proud of the fact that with the exception of the forty acres which his father gave him upon his marriage he has earned everything which he now has. He has been unfalter¬ ing in his support of everything which he believed would benefit his county.

and has always stood in defense of his positions and convictions in a manner which has won for him the admiration of his friends and acquaintances. His life has been crowned with prosperity which has come from his well-directed efforts, industry, economy and perseverance.

George Powell

The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record a verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of George Powell the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life - a life character¬ ized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well-defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people who have known him long and well.

George Powell, the trustee of Clay township, in this county, was born May 1 6, 1867, on the farm where he is now living four and one-half miles southwest of Carmel. His parents, Isaac and Mary Jane (Seright) Powell, were natives of Indiana. His father was born in Fayette county and his mother in Decatur county. Isaac Powell was the son of Thomas and Anna (Chadwick) Powell, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. Thomas Powell and wife were married in Indiana and came to Putnam county in 1841, settling near Clay Center in Clay township, where he pur¬ chased one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mary Jane Seright was the daughter of George and Susan (Ritter) Seright. The Powells are of Welsh descent and the Serights are of Irish descent, but it is not known when the first members of either family came to the United States.

George Seright, the maternal grandfather of George Powell, was a man of great influence in his day. He was born in Kentucky and served in the War of 1812 and later in the Indian wars in the west. He also participated in the Mexican War in the forties. At the battle of the Thames in the War on 1812 he took an active part and was present when the famous Indian chief, Tecumseh, was killed. He often said that Tecumseh was then skinned by the Kentuckians, and that from his skin they made razor straps. After returning to his native state after the War of 1812 George Seright became a flat-boatman on the Mississippi river and made five trips to New Orleans with cargoes. He would then not only sell the cargo but the boat as well and return home on foot. He made the trip back on foot from New Or¬ leans by himself at one time, and becoming sick on the way home, was three months on the way.

George Powell was one of four children born to his parents and lived at home until he was married. He attended the common school during the winter and assisted with the work on the farm during the summer vaca¬ tions. After he was married in 1889 he moved on one of his father's farms and lived there until 1901 when he moved to Noblesville to assume the duties of deputy county auditor, his father being auditor at that time. His father, Isaac Powell, was an influential man in this county. In addition to serving as county auditor he served as township assessor for two terms, as well as townhip trustee for two terms and a part of a third. George Powell lived in Noblesville only eighteen months and then moved back to his farm on account of his health. In addition to his regular farming he raises Rose Comb white Leghorn chickens for show purposes and has won several prizes. He has taken all first prizes at the annual exhibition of Poultry Fanciers of Indiana held at Indianapolis. In 1907 he won the gold loving cup at Zionsville for the highest scoring pen of any breed of poultry.

Mr. Powell was married on Christmas day in 1889 to Nettie M. Brown. She is the daughter of Leander S. and Rosan (Butterfield) Brown and was born in Clay township, in this county, December 20, 1874. Leander Brown was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, near Plainfield while his wife' was born in Hamilton county, near New Britton. The Butterfield family are of Irish descent .while the Browns are of German extraction. Mrs. Powell is one of twelve children and lived at home until her marriage at the age of fifteen. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are the parents of four children, all of whom are living at home: Harry, Charles, Mary Rose and Edna Magdaline. Charles, Mary and Edna are in high school at Carmel and Charles and Mary were graduated with the class of 1914.

Mr. Powell is a stanch Republican in politics and previous to his election as township trustee served as road supervisor in his home township. He was elected for four years but afterwards the legislature extended the terms of all trustees in the state to six years. In this office he is paying particular attention to the schools and the highways of his township. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias while he and his wife are both mem¬ bers of the Pythian Sisters. All of the family are members of the Christian church, Mrs. Powell having been a member since she was thirteen years of age. Mr. Powell is an able citizen of estimable qualities and the kind of a man who is an influential factor in the welfare of any community. Al¬ though he is primarily interested in his own affairs, he has likewise main¬ tained a deep regard for the advancement and the welfare of his community, and for all enterprises in which his fellow men might be benefited.

Louis N. Joseph

The life history of Louis N. Joseph, of Noblesville, Indiana, is full of interest in many ways. It is interesting in view of the fact that he is con¬ nected with so many different business enterprises and yet has a firm grasp upon all of them. He is not only a clothing merchant with a store in one city practically under his control, but also has clothing establishments in two other cities which he manages indirectly. He is one of the largest farmers of his county and his farms, aggregating eight hundred and seventy acres, arc in as high a state of cultivation as can be found in the state of Indiana today. However, his interests are not confined to the clothing business and agricul¬ ture. He is also one of the largest gravel-road contractors in the county, and has built as many or more miles of gravel roads in Hamilton county as any other man. It would seem that in these three different kinds of activity there would be sufficient to keep any one man busy, but notwithstanding this, he is directly interested in other enterprises, being a heavy stockholder not only in all of the banks of his own city, but in various banks and insurance companies in Indianapolis as well. He has heavy mining interests in the west, owns the complete water system of the town of Beaver, Utah, is vicepresident of the Sheridan Packing Company, and president of the Water Works Company of Noblesville. It is not surprising, in view of his many and varied interests, to find that he is the largest individual tax payer in Hamilton county.

Louis N. Joseph, the son of Solomon and Augusta (Bamberger) Joseph, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 27, 1869. His parents were both natives of Germany and came to this country before either one of them had reached their maturity. Solomon Joseph was sixteen years of age and Augusta Bamberger was thirteen years old when they came to this country, although they did not come here at the same time. They both came directly to Cincinnati, Ohio, and were married at the ages of nineteen and sixteen, respectively. Solomon Joseph was a young man of wonderful business ability and was soon one of the leading clothing merchants of Cincinnati, where he lived for many years. His wife died on July 25, 1878, leaving her husband with seven children. After the death of his wife, Solomon Joseph went with his family to Shelbyville, Indiana, where he engaged in the clothing business with his brother, Julius Joseph, in which place he continued in business for five years. In 1883 Solomon Joseph came to Noblesville and engaged in business under the firm name of J. Joseph & Company, this firm continuing until the death of Solomon Joseph which occurred December 4, 1892. The sons of Solomon Joseph, Julius Joseph, Jr., and Louis N., whose history is here related, then continued the business under the same name. In 1899 Julius Joseph, Jr. retired from the firm and went to New York city, where he is engaged in the wholesale clothing business at 588 Broadway, with the firm of Schatz, Joseph & Marks. At this time, 1899, Louis N. Joseph at¬ tained complete charge of the clothing business in Noblesville, although he still retains the firm name of J. Joseph & Company. The location of the store at No. 13 South Side square has not been changed in the thirty-one years of the existence of the store in this city, although a new building was erected in 1899. Mr. Joseph carries a large stock of everything in the way of men's and boys' clothing and furnishings, and has enjoyed a large patron¬ age because of his square dealing and courteous treatment of customers.

However, the clothing business has been only one of the many business ventures of Louis N. Joseph. He has for several years been interested in farming and now is the owner of seven hundred and thirty acres of fine farming land in Hamilton county, and one hundred and forty acres in Marion county, Indiana, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Joseph personally supervises his farm and is one of the largest corn and wheat growers of the county. He feeds most of his grain to stock. He is the owner of ten business blocks in Noblesville on one side of the public square and the postoffice building on Logan street. He is president of the Needham Clothing Company with stores at Shelbyville and Wabash, Indiana. He is a large stockholder in the First National Bank, in the Citizens State Bank and in the Wainwright Trust Company, three of the strongest financial institutions of Noblesville. He is vice-president of the Sheridan Packing Company, at Sheridan, Indiana, which, does a large amount of business an¬ nually, is a director in the Kline-Macv Foundry Company, of Noblesville and is president of the Noblesville Water Works Company, with a controlling interest in this company. He owns the entire water works system of Beaver City, Utah, and has heavy mining interests in Park City, Utah. In addition to these many interests, he has other large property and business interests. He is the largest life insurance policy holder in Hamilton county, Indiana, as well as the county's heaviest individual tax payer. He also is a heavy tax payer in Marion county, Indiana, where he has a large share of stock in the Aetna Trust Company, of Indianapolis, and the Sterling Fire Insurance Company, of the same city. He is a member of the advisory board of the Sterling Fire Insurance Company.

Mr. Joseph was married July 18, 1894, to Celia Oppenheimer, daughter of Elias and Minnie (Seigel) Oppenheimer, of Salt Lake City, Utah, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph are the parents of two children, Augusta, who is now a student at Belmont College, in Nashville, Tennessee, and Edgar, who is still a student in the Noblesville schools.

Mr. Joseph has always been a Republican in politics, but has never been an office seeker, his large business interests requiring all of his attention and energy, so that he has not had time to take a very active part in public affairs. Nevertheless he is deeply interested in the welfare of his city and county and has been liberal in his donations to all worthy movements. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

One other interest of Mr. Joseph which should be mentioned is his activity in the cause of good roads for his county. Ever since Hamilton county began building free gravel roads he has been an extensive road con¬ tractor, having associated with him in this business T. E. Ramsey, and this firm has built more miles of improved roads in the county than any other con¬ tractors. It is interesting to note that Mr. Joseph takes so much interest in agricultural affairs. He keeps in close touch with the work done on his farms and sees that they are always kept up to the highest state of efficiency. No farms in the county have better buildings of every kind than his. There remains one other industry with which Mr. Joseph is connected. He is the largest stockholder in the Orona Telephone Company now operating in this county, being one of the original promoters of the company and always hav¬ ing been much interested in its development.

Enough has been said to show that Mr. Joseph is truly a man of affairs. No man in his county has taken more interest in improving it in every way, and it is no wonder that he is looked upon as one of the representative men of his county. In addition to his beautiful home in Noblesville he has a fine summer home at Allenhurst, on the Atlantic coast in New Jersey, where he and his family spend some of the time every summer. Yet it is to be noted that Mr. Joseph has not permitted material things to supplant his better nature. His life has been filled with good deeds and kindly thoughts, and all who know him entertain for him the highest regard because of his upright and honorable career. In all of the relations of life he has been true and faithful to the duties and trusts reposed in him.

Charles L. Bray

There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differing but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. Today among the prominent citizens and successful business men of Noblesville, stands Charles L. Bray. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judg¬ ment and executive ability enter very largely into his make-up and have been contributing elements to the material success which has come to him.

Charles L. Bray, the president of the Noblesville Fuel & Supply Com¬ pany, was born October 25, 1875, m Mattoon, Illinois, and is the son of Rev. Calvin and Emily (Ward) Bray,, his father being a minister of the Friends church. Reverend Calvin and family moved to Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1881 and in Hendricks and Marion counties Charles L. Bray grew to man¬ hood.

Mr. Bray attended the public schools of Hendricks county and graduated from the academy at Plainfield in 1896. He then took a commercial course at the Central Normal College of Danville, Indiana, graduating in 1898, after which he took one year in the literary department of Earlham College at Rich¬ mond. He then engaged in farming and dairying in Marion county for several years and was a successful and prosperous farmer, but in 1908 decided to leave the farm and moved to Noblesville, having been elected president of the Fuel and Supply Company at that place. He has been president and active in the management of this company for the past six years and has had the satisfaction of seeing it do a constantly increasing business. The com¬ pany ships sand and gravel, handles, coal, wood, cement, tile, cement block, porch columns, roofing, paint, posts, fencing and farm machinery, and does an extensive wholesale and retail trade throughout Central Indiana. Mr. Bray is a man of keen business ability and knows how to serve the wants of his customers in a very satisfactory manner. In addition to his interests in this company he also has valuable business property in Noblesville.

Mr. Bray was married August 24, 1899 to Sarah Newman, the daughter of John Newman and Hannah (Osborn) Newman. Both of the parents of his wife died when she was a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Bray have three children : Ima, Russell and Willard.

In politics Mr. Bray is affiliated with the Republican party and is very much interested in good government. He is an ardent advocate of all pro¬ gressive and moral reforms and has been especially active in temperance work in Noblesville. He is one of the prominent leaders in the fight to abolish saloons from his home city. He has never sought or held public office, preferring to serve as a private in the ranks of his party. He is a clean, high-minded citizen and takes an interest in all measures which he feels will benefit his community in any way. He is a stanch supporter of the best educational methods and an enthusiastic advocate of good healthy ath¬ letics for the boys and girls. He believes in developing the body along with the brain, in order that the best results may be obtained. He feels, as does everyone who has made any study of the subject, that a healthy body aifd a healthy mind go hand in hand, and that at least the healthy mind must reside in a healthy body. He is particularly domestic in his tastes and is never so happy as when sitting by his own fireside. He and his wife are great lovers of flowers and surround their house every summer with beautiful plants. They have highly cultivated musical tastes and in their home are numerous musical instruments upon which the members of their family are accomplished performers. The family home at number eighty-one East Maple street is among the most attractive in the city. He and the members of his family are attendants of the Friends church and active in all the work of the church and Sunday school. Fraternally, Mr. Bray is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. All in all Mr. Bray is a fine type of the highest class of American citizenship and is held high in the estimation of people in all classes of society.

Stephen Cox

The good citizen in any community is the man who takes a pride in advancing its welfare along educational, moral and industrial lines, while at the same time he makes ample provision for the maintenance of his immediate family. Such a citizen is Stephen Cox, a prosperous farmer of Washington township, Hamilton county, Indiana. He is thoroughly progressive in his farming operations and has the unique honor of having bought the first mower, the first reaper and the first automobile in his neighborhood. He keeps only the best live stock on his farm and for many years has had exhibits of his Shorthorn cattle at the State Fair. He takes an active interest in good roads and is thoroughly in accord with the impetus which is being given to the "Good Roads" movement in Indiana at the present time. He gives his hearty support to all educational movements, and has not only given all of his own children the opportunity for college education but has helped other children to get schooling at his expense. In religious matters he gives his hearty support to all worthy religious, charitable and benevolent move¬ ments, and in this way takes a stand for a clean and wholesome life.

Stephen Cox, one of the numerous representatives in this county of those families which had their origin in North Carolina, was born in Ran¬ dolph county, that state, June 18, 1840. He is the son of Hugh and Rebecca (Cox) Cox, both natives of North Carolina. His father died when he was about ten years of age, leaving his widow with seven children. Hugh Cox was a farmer in his native state and also operated a flour and saw mill. The widow and her two sons and four daughters lived in North Carolina until the Civil War. Two of the sons of Hugh Cox were drafted as soldiers in the Southern army.

In the summer of 1861 Stephen Cox came to Hamilton county, Indiana, with two other families in three wagons, and for the first two years worked out as a hired hand. After his marriage, in the fall of 1862, Mr. Cox bought thirty-five acres of land and his father-in-law gave his wife forty acres, and on this farm of seventy-five acres, he and his wife and family lived until 1867. In that year Mr. Cox bought his father-in-law's farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres, paying fifty dollars an acre for it. During the war he could have bought plenty of land in Hamilton county for fifteen dollars an acre, but within one year after the close of the war, land doubled in price in this county. Before his marriage, Mr. Cox worked in Adams township for two summers on a farm and also worked at the carpenter trade at odd times.

Mr. Cox was married August 8, 1862, to Julia Rich, the daughter of Peter and Amy (Jessup) Rich. She was born in the northern part of Wash¬ ington township, Hamilton county, and her father was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, in 1811. Peter Rich came to Indiana, located in Marion county in the thirties, and there met and married Amy Jessup, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, in 1818, the daughter of Timothy H. Jessup and wife, Susannah. Timothy H. Jessup was born February 23, 1782. and his wife, Susannah, was born in 1789. Peter Rich and Amy Jes¬ sup were married September 24, 1835. Mr. Rich began life as a farm hand in Marion county, Indiana, and after his marriage he located a half mile southeast of the present village of Horton, in Hamilton county. This was heavily forested at the time, and he had to clear the timber away in order to find a place large enough to build his rude log cabin. The land on which

Stephen Cox is now living was given to Amy Rich by her father, and it is said that at that time it was not worth fifty cents an acre. Forty acres of it was swamp and considered absolutely worthless. As an instance of the development of modern agriculture, it is interesting to note that this forty acres now produces as fine corn as any land in the county. Peter Rich located near Horton in pioneer times, and later in life moved to Westfield, where he operated a mill for several years. In i860 he moved to a farm one mile east of Horton, where Erwin Cox is now living. Here he became a prosper¬ ous farmer and at the time of his death owned about three hundred acres of land.

In the fall of 1884 Stephen Cox moved to Westfield with his family in order to give his children the advantages of the high school at that place. All of the six children graduated from the Union high school at Westfield, with the exception of the youngest, who died before finishing the course. In July, 1900, the wife of Mr. Cox died. To this first marriage of Mr. Cox were born seven children : Arthur T., born September 12, 1863; Myrtilla, born October 10, 1865; Erwin, born February 19, 1868; Elmer, born April 4, 1870, died at the age of six months; Gynietha, born November 21, 1871; Alden, born June 17, 1863, died at the age of fourteen years; Elsie, born January 30, 1878.

Arthur, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cox, married Luella Fuller. He worked in several different lumber yards and became the general manager and secretary-treasurer of a lumber and coal company at East Chicago. He died August 22, 1908. He was a graduate of Earlham College. Myrtilla graduated from the Union high school at Westfield, and later went to a business college at Indianapolis, and while there was stricken with typhoid fever and died November n, 1887. A few days after her death, Alden, the youngest son, was stricken with the same dread disease and died five weeks later, at the age of fourteen years and six months. Erwin graduated from the Union high school and married Theodate Johnson, and lives on a farm one mile east of Horton. They have four children living, Alden, Myron, Mildred and Carl, and two who died in childhood. Elmer, born April 4, 1870, died on September 22 of the same year. Gynietha graduated from the Union high school and is the wife of Edward L. Foulke, and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She has one son, Robert Jerome, living, and one who died in in¬ fancy. Elsie graduated from the Union high school and married Charles H. Baldwin, and lives in Tipton, Indiana. They formerly lived on a farm near Carmel. Mr. Baldwin is an automobile dealer in Tipton, to which place the family moved in the fall of 1913.

Mr. Cox began running a threshing machine before his first marriage and for thirty-eight years operated a machine every summer. He is essen¬ tially progressive in all of his methods, and lends his hearty influence to the support of everything which pertains to the welfare of his county. He is an ardent advocate of the Prohibition party and votes and works for the interests of his party.

Mr. Cox was married a second time, April 13, 1901, to Rev. Mary A. Nichols, who was born in Randolph county, Indiana, the daughter of Mark and Sarah, (Pegg) Nichols. Her father was born about twelve miles north of Richmond, in Randolph county, Indiana, March 15, 1824, a son of Enoch and Rhoda (Jay) Nichols. Rhoda Jay was born in North Carolina. Mark Nichols, who died a short time before his eighty-sixth birthday, was a life¬ long farmer in Randolph county, Indiana. He was a stanch Republican, a loyal member of the Friends church, and an influential citizen of his commun¬ ity. Sarah Pegg, the mother of Mrs. Cox, was born in Wayne county, In¬ diana, November 23, 1829, and died January 1, 1909. She was a daughter of Valentine and Mary Ann (Hollingsworth) Pegg, who, it is believed, were natives of North Carolina, and of German descent.

Rev. Mary A. Cox grew to womanhood in Randolph county, Indiana, and lived there until her marriage, except for a time when she was attending Earlham College in Richmond. After leaving Earlham College she taught school for several years and at the same time filled the pulpit of the Friends church. In fact, for the past thirty years she has been actively engaged in the ministry and has done a large amount of evangelistic work. She is a tem¬ perance worker and has talked for the cause in the states of Washington, Oklahoma, the central states, the Carolinas, all of the New England states, and also made a tour through Canada, speaking in behalf of the church. Her father's people, and many of her mother's people as well, were teachers, phy¬ sicians, lawyers and men of prominence and influence in their respective com¬ munities. Her brother, J. W. Nichols, is a prominent lawyer now living at Danville, Indiana. Her family are direct descendants of William Penn and have been members of the Friends church for more than two hundred years.

Mr. Cox is a man of great influence in his community, and he and his wife are recognized as leaders in all worthy movements. Both Mr. Cox and his wife are well educated and well read and keep in close touch with the cur¬ rent problems of the day. It is safe to say that no worthier people are con¬ tributing to the welfare of Hamilton county, and a history of this county would not be complete without the inclusion of the biographies of this estim¬ able couple.

Albert E. Mendenhall

Among the farmers of Hamilton county, Indiana, who believe in fol¬ lowing twentieth century methods is Albert E. Mendenhall, of Clay town¬ ship. He comes of a splendid family, one that has always been strong for right living and industrious habits, for education and morality, and for all that contributes to the welfare of the commonwealth. Such people are wel¬ comed in any community, for they are empire builders, and as such have pushed the frontier of civilization ever westward and onward, leaving the green, wide-reaching wilderness and the far-stretching plains populous with contented people and beautiful with green fields; they have constituted that sterling horde which caused the great Bishop Whipple to write the memorable line, "Westward the course of empire takes its way."

Albert E. Mendenhall, the son of Richard C. and Marris (Wilkinson) Mendenhall, was born August 27, 1863, east of Carmel, in this county. Rich¬ ard C. Mendenhall was born in Delaware township, of this county, on the banks of Cool creek, October 7, 1831. He was the son of Benjamin and Mary (Campbell) Mendenhall. Marris Wilkinson, the wife of Richard C. Mendenhall, was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (West) Wilkin¬ son, natives of North Carolina and early settlers of Hamilton county, where Marris was born. The history of Mary Sanders, found elsewhere in this volume, gives more details of the Wilkinson family history.

The Mendenhall family originally came from Wales. The great-great¬ grandfather of Albert E. Mendenhall was John Mendenhall, and lived all of his life in Wales. He had three sons who emigrated to North Carolina before the Revolution, namely : John, William and Richard. Richard Men¬ denhall married Sarah E. Harris, the daughter of Obediah Harris. Soon after his marriage he went to Green county, Ohio, where he entered govern¬ ment land and improved one hundred and sixty acres. Later Richard Men¬ denhall came to Hamilton county where he improved a fine farm of two hun¬ dred and forty acres. He made his home in this county until his death, at the age of eighty-four. He was a member of the Friends church and a Whig in politics. His wife survived him only a few months, passing away at the age of eightv-three. They were the parents of five children: Ben¬ jamin, the grandfather of Albert E., who history is related in this con¬ nection; Obediah, Ira, David and James.

Mary Campbell, a native of South Carolina and the daughter of Ralph C and Sarah (Haskett) Campbell, natives of Scotland. After living for twenty years in Greene county, Ohio, Mr. Mendenhall and his family came to Hamil¬ ton county in 1826 and made the first settlement on Cool creek, where he entered two hundred and thirty acres of land. He built the first saw mill in Delaware township, and for some time lumber was hauled from his saw mill as far as Noblesville and Indianapolis. He was the organizer of the Richland Friends' church, and was a strong Whig in politics. He had just made arrangements to build a linseed-oil mill when he died, in September, 1833, before it was completed. His wife passed away in 1868 at the age of seventy-two. They were the parents of eight children : Zebulon, Ira, Lydia, who married Thomas Hazel; Rebecca, the wife of Hinchman Haynes; Sarah, the wife of William Haynes; Carrie, Elizabeth, the wife of I. W. Stanton, and Richard C., the father of Albert . E., whose history is subsequently re¬ lated.

Richard C. Mendenhall was educated in the log school house, and when but a mere child began life for himself. He never had a store suit until he was eighteen years of age, all of his clothes being home spun and home made. For a number of years he worked in a distillery, and drove cattle to Indianapolis at a time when there were only two butcher shops in the city. He was a very trusty and energetic young man and gradually accumulated considerable money. When he was twenty-five he married Marris Wilkin¬ son, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (West) Wilkinson, and to this marriage were born three children: Sarah, the wife of Milton Cooper, of California; Charles W., who married Mary Edson, and after her death May Holmes, and Albert E., the immediate subject of this review. The mother of these children died in 1853, and Mr. Mendenhall afterwards married Mrs. Eliza J. Clayton Wies. Mr. Mendenhall was a charter member of Pontius Lodge, No. 63, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and at the time of his death in the summer of 1910 was the oldest member of Carmel Lodge. No. 401, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he had filled all the offices.

Albert E. Mendenhall was only a few weeks old when his mother died, and he was reared by his grandmother Wilkinson, with whom he lived until he was eleven years of age. He was then bound out to his great uncle, David Wilkinson, receiving the munificent sum of four dollars per month for his services. From the age of eleven he "paddled his own canoe," performing the hardest kind of manual labor. Necessarily his school career was very short, but he has since acquired a good education by wide reading and close observation of men and events. He lived with his uncle until he was seven¬ teen and then went to work on the Monon railroad and worked there for a year. He then returned to the home of his uncle, where he lived until he was nineteen years of age, at which time he married and bought twentyeight acres of land one and one-fourth miles east of Carmel, farming it to¬ gether with land which he rented adjoining his home farm. He lived on this farm for sixteen years and then purchased his present farm of ninety acres three miles southwest of Carmel, and his since resided upon this farm, farm¬ ing not only it but much more of rented land. He is recognized as an up-todate farmer, and does not hesitate to &dopt the latest agricultural methods. While raising all the grains and fruit to which the soil of this locality is adapted, he has made a specialty of raising live stock for the market. He keeps only thoroughbred stock on his farm, having found bv experience that it pays to keep only the best grade.