Hamilton County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 5 of 14)

Mr. Wild was an extensive builder. He put up more large, substantial buildings than any man in the county. In building the opera house and some other public buildings he displayed a degree of public spirit and home pride that were most commendable. His record was a quite wonderful one. From a poor German boy, without means and with a limited education, he rose to be the merchant prince and the largest builder of his home city. He spent over one hundred thousand dollars in erecting buildings in Noblesville, among the more prominent of which are the Judge Moss home, now occupied by C. M. Albert; the R. L. Wilson homestead, the David Anderson home, on West Pleasant street, which he occupied many years, the building occupied by the gas company and John Sperry, the Cray era ft & Osbon Block, the old Opera House, the East Side business block, the new Opera House, the Methodist parsonage, the Second Ward School building, the C. C. Curtis and Henry Gaeth homes and his own handsome late residence on Conner street. He was also instrumental in locating the Strawboard Works in this city. In politics, Mr. Wild was originally a Jackson Democrat, but in 1864 voted for Lincoln and ever after that was allied with the Republican party. About twelve years -ago he was a candidate for the nomination of state treasurer before the Republican State Convention and made a very creditable showing He always took a deep interest in local matters and had his heart set on serving his city in the common council. This desire would have been grati¬ fied had he lived, as on his seventy-fifth birthday he was elected to the council from the second ward.

Mr. Wild was first married to Margaret Barth March 3, 1858, and to them were born Emma S., John F., Dorothea K., Leonard G. and Margaret, all of whom survive their father. Mrs. Wild died March 23, 1878. Mr. Wild married his second wife, Mrs. Martha H. Fontious, August 20, 1885, and she survives him.

Mr. Wild was a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Elks Lodges and his presence is greatly missed bv these orders. For more than a half century Leonard Wild was a familiar figure in the city of Noblesville. He was truly a self-made man. By industry, perseverance and economy he grew from a poor boy to a man of means and power. No man has done so much to build up and beautify the city of his adoption. The buildings he erected will be monuments to his memory for years to come.

Mr. Wild was one of the youngest old men we ever knew. He carried the weight of years with a light heart. He enjoyed the society and pleasures of the young, and entered heartily into their games and amusements. A virtue that shone resplendent in all his life was his affection and devotion for his home and his family. His children had the most loving care and his grandchildren were the delight of his eye.. After so earnest and strenuous a life it seems distressing that he could not have lived on to enjoy the peace and comfort of a ripe old age in the beautiful home that he so recently completed. However, it was not to be, and he died quietly on Sunday morn¬ ing, December 12, 1909. In his death there passed away a man who was possessed of great simplicity, purity and geniality of character. He was an ideal husband, father and citizen and in all that counts towards the ideal man, he was prompted by the loftiest ideals.

Cassius C. Curtis

The present age is essentially utilitarian and the life of every successful man carries a lesson which, told in contemporary narrative, is productive of much good- in shaping* the destinies of others. There is, therefore, a due measure of satisfaction in presenting, even in a brief resume, the life and achievements of such men, and in preparing the following history of the successful and popular dentist whose name appears above it is with the hope that it may prove not only interesting and instructive, but also serve as an incentive to those who contemplate making the dental profession their life work.

Dr. Cassius C. Curtis, of Noblesville, Indiana, was born in Athens county, Ohio, on August 19, i860. His parents, Leander E. and Caroline C. (Pennypacker) Curtis, were both natives of the same county, and the father led the life of a farmer in that county until his death, several years ago, the mother still living with one of her daughters in West Virginia.

Cassius C. Curtis was reared on his father's farm and lived the life of a simple country lad until he entered Ohio University at Athens. * After taking a course in the university he taught school for one year and then decided to take up the study of dentistry. Accordingly, he entered the Cincinnati Den¬ tal College, but finished his dental education in the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis. Immediately after his graduation from the latter institu¬ tion, in the spring of 1884, he came to Noblesville, where he opened his office for practice on April 1 of that year, and has been in continuous prac¬ tice in this city for the past thirty-one years, always enjoying a large and profitable patronage in Noblesville and the surrounding territory. He is a man who has kept pace with the wonderful advance noted in his chosen field of endeavor and keeps his office well equipped with the latest tools and machinery in order to use the most improved methods in dentistry. He is a member of the Indiana State Dental Society and takes an active interest in the annual meetings of this organization.

Doctor Curtis was married November 17, 1886, to Dorothea Wild, daughter of Leonard and Margaret (Barth) Wild. Leonard Wild was for many years one of the most influential men of Hamilton county, and the reader is referred to his history elsewhere in this volume for a detailed ac¬ count of his interesting career. Doctor Curtis and wife are the parents of two children, both of whom are still living with their parents, Margaret and Cassius W. Politically, Doctor Curtis has been a stanch Republican all of his life, and has always been interested and kept well informed qpon all public matters of interest. The nature of his profession has made it im¬ possible for him to take a very active part in political affairs and has en¬ tirely precluded him from being an aspirant for any public office. His lucra¬ tive practice for so many years has given him a goodly share of this world's goods, and he has made various investments in the enterprises of his home city. He is a stockholder and director in the Citizens State Bank and in the Wainwright Trust Company. He also has extensive real estate interests in Noblesville and is a director in the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Traction Com¬ pany. Fraternally, Doctor Curtis has taken all the degrees, including the thirty-second, in Masonry, while religiously, he and the members of his family are earnest members of the Presbyterian church. He enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout this county, and is everywhere held in high esteem by those who know him. His career presents a notable ex¬ ample of those qualities of mind and character which win success, and his example is eminently worthy of imitation.

Earl Brooks

Professional success results from merit. Frequently in commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift, but in what are known as the learned professions advancement is gained only through painstaking and long continued effort. Prestige in the dental profession is the outcome of strong mentality, close application, thorough mastery of its great underlying principles and the ability to apply theory to practice in the treatment of the teeth. Good intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to success have made the subject of this review emi¬ nent in his chosen calling and he is recognized as one of the leading dentists in central Indiana.

Earl Brooks, a prosperous dentist of Noblesville, Indiana, was born in Fall Creek township, Hamilton county, Indiana, March 2 3, 1883. He is the son of Joseph Augustus and Clara (Fisher) Brooks, both of whom are na¬ tives of this county. Doctor Brooks is the grandson of Madison Brooks, who died in April, 1910, and whose interesting life history is recorded else¬ where in this volume. Madison Brooks, who was one of the most prominent citizens of the county in his day, lacked but four years of completing a full century as a citizen of this state.

Doctor Brooks was reared on his father's farm in this county and after graduating from the common schools entered the Noblesville high school and was graduated from it in 1902. In the fall of 1902 he matricu¬ lated at the Indiana State University at Bloomington, where he remained in attendance for the next two years, when he decided that he wished to enter the dental profession, and with this in mind he entered Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1907. Immediately after his graduation he commenced the practice of his profession in Noblesville and has built up a large and lucrative practice. He combines with practical skill that rare sympathy and patience which the successful dentist must have, and the result is that he is numbered among the most successful dentists of central Indiana. He is a wide reader of all lit¬ erature bearing upon his chosen life work and keeps in close touch with the latest advances in his line. He is a member of the State and National Den¬ tal Associations, the Northern Indiana Dental Association and the Indian¬ apolis Dental Society. While in college he joined the dental fraternity known as the Delta Sigma Delta and still retains an active interest in the affairs of this organization.

Doctor Brooks was married September 25, 1906, to Stella Miesse, the daughter of Jonathan and Etta (Stanbraugh) Miesse, of Noblesville, In¬ diana, and to this happy union have been born two daughters, Ruth and Mary Esther. Fraternally, Doctor Brooks is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. In politics he has always been interested in the success of the Republican party and is known as a public-spirited citizen who is devoted to all move¬ ments having to do with the welfare of his city. He was elected a member of the Noblesville City Council in November, 1913, for a term of four years. He and his wife are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a member of the official board and was superintendent of the Sun¬ day school for two years. He has always been active in church and Sunday school work and has at all times lived in full accord with the teachings of his church. Because of his many splendid personal qualities and upright life, he has a host of warm personal friends throughout the county where he has lived his whole life.

Madison Brooks

In the early days the Middle West was often a tempting field to ener¬ getic, ambitious, strong-minded men, and Indiana was filled with them dur¬ ing the time she was struggling up to a respectable position in the sisterhood of states. There was a fascination in the broad field and great promise which this new region presented to activity that attracted many men and induced them to brave the discomforts of the early life here for the pleasure and gratification of constructing their fortunes in their own way and after their own methods. It is this class of men more than any other who give shape, direction and character to the business of a community. The late Madison Brooks, for a long span of years one of the most substantial and prominent farmers of Hamilton county, became identified with this favored section of the country at an early date, and from the first wielded a potent influence. He gave to the world the best of an essentially virile, loyal and noble nature and his standard of honor was absolutely inflexible. He was a citizen of high civic ideals, and ever manifested his liberality in connection with measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the community honored by his residence. He was the architect of his own fortune and upon the record of his career there rests no blemish, for he was true to the highest ideals and principles in business, civic and social life. He lived and labored to worthy ends and as one of the sterling citizens and rep¬ resentative men of his locality in a past generation his memory merits a tribute of honor on the pages of history.

The late Madison Brooks, of Hamilton county, Indiana, was born in North Carolina September 15, 1814, and died in his country home in Fall Creek township. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Heath) Brooks and the grandson of William Brooks, a native of England, who came to America early in life and settled in Maryland. William Brooks was a sol¬ dier of the Revolutionary War and a man of much prominence in his com¬ munity. He moved from Virginia to North Carolina, where John Brooks, the father of Madison, was born.

with his family, moved from North Carolina to Indiana, settling in Jefferson county. In this county Madison Brooks was reared to manhood, receiving the limited schooling which was afforded by the subscription schools of that period. Madison Brooks came to Hamilton county in 1853 and purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in Fall Creek township. Fifty acres of this was cleared, but the only building on the farm was a dilapidated log cabin. He and his wife began housekeeping in this county under truly dis¬ couraging circumstances, but they set to work with a will and with the as¬ sistance of their children the land was cleared, buildings erected, fields were fenced and the farm was soon yielding a good return upon the original in¬ vestment. The good wife died the fall of the following year, passing away in August, 1854, leaving her husband with nine children.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Madison Brooks are as follows: Eliza¬ beth, deceased, who was the wife of Andrew J. Myers, a farmer of this county; Samuel M., deceased, who was a farmer of this county; Eli, a far¬ mer of Noblesville township; Clarinda, deceased; Robert, a soldier in the Civil War, a prisoner at Andersonville, who died before he reached home from the service; Christie Ann, deceased, who was the wife of William Virgin, a farmer of Delaware township; Melvin, a soldier of the Civil War, who was accidentally killed in a gravel pit shortly after returning from the army; Emily, deceased, the wife of Samuel Myers; Jasper N., deceased, and one child who died in infancy.

Madison Brooks was married a second time, December 20, 1855, to Mrs. Mary J. Hare, of Noblesville, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hurlick, who died in 1873. To them four children were born: Melanthon, Joseph Augustus, Albert and one who died in infancy. The third marriage of Mr. Brooks occurred March 20, 1877, to Elizabeth Jane Barnard, a native oi North Carolina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Barnard. Jesse Bar¬ nard and family came from North Carolina and settled in Hancock county) Indiana. There were no children by this last marriage.

Madison Brooks prospered in this county from the time of his arrival in 1862 up to the day of his death. With the assistance of his sons he cleared his first farm and soon had it in a high state of cultivation. His holdings increased from year to year, until at one time he owned more than two thousand five hundred acres. As his children married, he gave them farms, in all giving to his children and grandchildren about fourteen hundred acres, retaining until his death twenty-one hundred and fifty acres of fine, well-improved land in Hamilton, Hancock, Marion and Madison counties.

Mr. Brooks joined the Whig party upon its organization in 1836 and was an enthusiastic supporter of William Henry Harrison, when he ran for President in that year and in 1840. Upon the organization of the Republi¬ can party, in 1856, he transferred his allegiance to this party and supported it until his death. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church all his life and was always liberal in his support of the denomination. He also was a member of the Masonic order and was not only interested in the religious and moral life of his community, but every enterprise which was calculated to advance the interests of the community found in him a hearty and enthusiastic supporter. He was one of the county's most prom¬ inent citizens during his life time and was highly honored by everyone who knew him. He came to this county with no asset except that of strong hands and willing hearts on the part of the members of his family, yet he attained to a position of wealth, usefulness and honor. He lived to see his children take their places in society as useful members of the commonwealth, and greater honor than this can come to no man.

William Everett Craig

A distinguished veteran of the Civil War and one of the most substan¬ tial farmers of Hamilton county. Indiana, is William Everett Craig, who is now living a life of ease in the city of Xoblesville. He was a soldier in the Civil War, serving for a period of four years and seven months in the Union cause, during which time he had many narrow escapes from death and passed through as varied a range of experiences as fell to the lot of many of the men who enrolled in the Northern army. The fifty years which have elapsed since the close of the war he has spent in agricultural pursuits, and with a degree of success which speaks well for his good management and industry.

William Everett Craig, the son of John and Susannah (Tucker) Craig, was born June 16, 1840, in Franklin county, Indiana. His father was born in the state of New Jersey in 1809, and was the son of Aaron Craig and wife. John Craig came from New Jersey with his parents to Clermont county, Ohio, when he was a young man. Aaron Craig was one of the first settlers of Fall Creek township, Hamilton county, Indiana, although he spent his last days in Marion county, Indiana, near Germantown. Aaron Craig and his wife are buried in th$ Beaver cemetery in Fall Creek township in this county.

John Craig grew to manhood in Franklin county, Indiana, and mar¬ ried Susannah Tucker, who was born near Mount Carmel in that county, and lived there until her marriage to Mr. Craig. In 1847 John Craig moved from Franklin county to Indianapolis, and for seven years was a contractor on railroad work in that vicinity. After the death of his wife on September 7, 1854, he moved back to Franklin county, and remained there until 1857, when he moved to Fall Creek township, in Hamilton county. His later days were spent in Wayne township, where his death occurred in August, 1883. By his first marriage to Susannah Tucker, there were born ten children: Isaac Newton, deceased; Amelia, deceased; John Wesley, of Indianapolis; Francis Marion, who died in 1911, at the age of seventy-three; William E., whose history is here recorded; Mary, deceased; Cassius W., who died in Indianapolis about 1908; Milton Augustus, who lives in the West; Cecelia Clementine, deceased, and Florence Walter, of Clarksville, Indiana. Some time after the death of his first wife, John Craig married Mrs. Eliza (Lewis) Fleming, at Brookville, Indiana, and to this second union eight children were born: Lewis, of Anderson, Indiana; Stephen Douglas, of Sheridan, Indi¬ ana; Mrs. Caroline Chalfant. of Middletown, Indiana; Laura, who died at the age of sixteen; Mrs. Nettie Barrett, who died at the age of twenty-one; Alta, who also died at the age of' twenty-one; Porter, of St. Joseph, Missouri ; Clover, a girl who died at the age of twenty-four. The second wife of Mr. Craig and the mother of these eight children died in August, 1899. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the daughter of Aaron Lewis. At the age of four she was taken by her father's parents and reared at Thorntown, Indiana. She married William Fleming, and by this first marriage was the mother of two children, Charles and Marv. Charles died at the age of nineteen, and Mary died at the age of nine months. Mr. Fleming died the day before Mary died, and the father and daughter were buried in the same grave.

William Everett Craig was seven years of age when his parents moved from Franklin county to Indianapolis in 1847, and consequently he received the most of his education in the public schools of that city. While living there he worked for two years as a newsboy on one of the trains running out of the city, and also worked two years in the Mansur Packing Company. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and then enlisted for service in the Civil War. He was mustered in on July 30, 1861, as a member of Company 1, Twenty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantrv, and served for three years. He at once re-enlisted at Brownsville, Texas, on February 1, 1864. and served until his final discharge on January 15,

Mr. Craig was first sent to St. Louis and assigned to the Army of the Frontier under General Fremont. This army was engaged south of the Missouri river and as far south as the state of Arkansas. He fought a number of small engagements and skirmishes and one hotly contested battle at Pea Ridge in Arkansas, and another one in the same state at Prairie Grove. At the latter battle on December 7, 1862, Mr. Craig received four gunshot wounds and one one-ounce shot which he still carries in his body. In this same battle he had one finger shot off and seventy-five per cent, of his company was killed and wounded in the fight. He was sent to the hospital at Fayetteville, and remained there until March, 1863. He was then trans¬ ferred from this hospital to the general hospital at Springfield, Missouri. His regiment was then ordered to Vicksburg and Mr. Craig, desiring to re¬ join it, escaped from the hospital and managed to catch up with his regiment, although he was hauled part of the way in an army wagon. He went with his regiment and from then on until July 4, when Vicksburg surrendered, he was in the midst of the fighting surrounding that city. In the summer of 1863 he took the typhoid-malarial fever, and for three months was incapaci¬ tated for service. His regiment was sent to Carrollton, a suburb on the northern edge of New Orleans, and from there was sent up the river to Morganza Bend. After a skirmish there his regiment was returned to New Orleans, where they remained until October, 1863. They then went across the Gulf of Mexico to Point Isabel, Texas, landed there and marched to Brownsville. He remained there until February, and on the first of that month, he was veteranized and got a thirty-day furlough, during which time he made a return trip to Indiana. At the end of the thirty days he rejoined his regiment at Ft. Butler and then was sent to New Orleans and was kept on provost guard duty for a time in Louisiana. Later he was detailed to heavy artillery duty at Fort Butler, ninety miles up the Mississippi river from New Orleans. While there he was detailed with nine other duty sergeants to go with Colonel John G. Clark, of Clarks Hill, Indiana, to Indiana and get re¬ cruits. They spent sixty days recruiting in Indiana, and then returned to Fort Butler, and did considerable scouting until the latter part of March, 1865. They then marched from New Orleans to Lake Ponchartrain, and took a vessel for Mobile. He was at the siege of Mobile until its capture on April 9, 1865, and was then sent to a number of places in Alabama and Mississippi, guarding government property. During their maneuvers in the southern states he was with the regiment which captured Montgomery, Ala¬ bama, which was the first Confederate capital. They took three million dol¬ lars' worth of worthless Confederate money at Montgomery.

Mr. Craig was mustered into the service as a private, and was later made a first duty sergeant, and at Macon, Mississippi, was made an orderly sergeant. At Columbus, Mississippi, he was promoted and made second lieutenant of Company I, Twenty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, by Governor Baker, of Indiana. He was finally mustered out of the service at Vicksburg, on January 15, 1866. Immediately after his discharge from the army he returned to Hamilton county, and farmed in Wayne township, where he accumulated a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he sold about three years ago. He also owned one hundred and two acres in Noblesville township, which he still retains. In 1892 Mr. Craig moved into Noblesville, where he is now living. He bought his first farm in 1877 in Wayne town¬ ship, a timbered tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cleared and put in a condition for tillage. As soon as he had this paid for he bought another eighty acres, and cleared about one-half of it, and then added one hundred and two acres in Noblesville township, which was the old home place of his wife's father. When he came out of the army, Mr. Craig farmed for two years and then went into a saw mill and lumber business at Clarksville, where he remained for five years. During this time he bought a house and lot and was married.

Mr. Craig was married New Years Day, 1871, to Elizabeth M. Forrer, a sister of Van B. Forrer, whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. To this union have been born four sons: Roland Vernon, Harry Victor, Frederick and Cortland Everett. Roland Vernon was born Novem¬ ber 2, 1880, and died January 1, 1901. Harry Victor was born June 9, 1871, married Dora Butler, and lives at Roswell, New Mexico. He is an automobile salesman, and has one daughter, Lovice. Frederick Virgil, born March 2, 1877, ^ves a* Bishop, California, where he is engaged in the real estate business. Cortland Everett, born May 27, 1890, is with his brother, Fred, at Bishop, California.

Mr. Craig and his family are all members of the Christian church. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, but has never been actively interested in political affairs. He is a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Repub¬ lic Post at Noblesville, having been one of the charter members who helped to organize the post, which he has served as commander. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Haymakers.

William C. Bray

One of the excellent citizens of a past generation in Hamilton county who have passed to their reward is William C. Bray, who was a resident of this county for nearly seventy years. He was a man who always had at heart the good name of his community and a man of character and stability, whose life was of service to the body politic. In the broad light in which things of good report ever shine the name and character of Mr. Bray stands revealed and secure. Always calm and straightforward, never demonstra¬ tive, his entire Christian life was a steady effort toward the full exemplifica¬ tion of the worth of Christian doctrine, the purity and grandeur of its prin¬ ciples and the beauty and elevation of its character. He had the deepest sympathy for his fellow men and was always willing to aid and encourage those who were struggling to aid themselves.

The Bray family came from Scotland to this country in the early part of the eighteenth century. The records of the first members of the family coming to this country have been lost and consequently it is not possible to give their names. It is known that two brothers settled in North or South Carolina at a very early date and that from their descendants the family has scattered throughout the United States. Several generations of the Brays have come and gone, and in the various states where they have lived the fam¬ ily has produced men of prominence. Without a known exception they have led exemplary lives, kind to the poor and oppressed and generous to a fault.

John H. Brav, the grandfather of William C. Bray, was bom in South Carolina about the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and later removed to Kentucky. About the year 1811 he came to Indiana, and during the War of 1812 he aided in raising a company of soldiers in this state and was appointed one of the company's officers, but before he saw any active service the war was brought to a close and he retired to private life, settling for a time in Vermilion county. He then moved to Orange county, this state, and still later settled in Morgan county, where he lived the life of a well-todo farmer and highly respected citizen until his death.

Henry Bray, the father of the late William C. Bray, was born in Ken¬ tucky in 1810, and was about one year old when his parents removed to In¬ diana. Henry was the oldest of four brothers, the others being John S., who was a policeman in Indianapolis, where he died in 1873; Asa, who died at the age of fifty after amassing a considerable fortune, and Edward S., who was prominent in politics in Morgan county, where his death occurred about 1856. Henry Bray had but little opportunity for an education, but being a great reader and possessing a retentive memory, he became one of the best informed men of his neighborhood. He settled in Washington township, Hamilton county, in 1842, where he resided for more than half a century. He was a man of importance in his community, serving as jus¬ tice of the peace, assessor, township trustee and county commissioner. Henry Bray was married to Betsy Jane Mills, who was born near Murfrees¬ boro, Tennessee, in 1815, and who died in this county in 1877. Her father was a leading Quaker and one of the pioneers of Morgan county, where he died. Henry Bray and wife were the parents of eight children, William C., with whom this narrative deals; John Milton, who was a prominent farmer of this county; Hannah, who married John H. Cox in 1870 and lives in this county; Anna Jane, the wife of Jonathan Stalker, a farmer of this county; Aaron M., a Quaker minister, who moved to Kansas in 1880, and from there, in 1887, to Oregon; Albert H., a farmer of this county; Perry A. and Susan, who died in 1870, at the age of fifteen.

The late William C. Bray was born September 20, 1842, in Washington township, this county, and died in this county November 26, 1911. He was a lifelong farmer of this county, and at the time of his death was the owner of one hundred and thirty-three acres in Washington township and one hun¬ dred and twenty acres in Jackson township. Of marked business ability and energetic and enterprising in all of his farming operations, he achieved a splendid success. While primarily engaged in his own material welfare, he was never forgetful of the duties which he owed to his fellow citizens. He had the greatest sympathy for his fellow men and was ever willing to aid and assist those who were endeavoring to aid themselves against adverse fate, yet in this, as in everything else, he was entirely unostentatious.

Mr. Bray was married November 28, 1888, to Elizabeth Porter, the daughter of Tilman and Rose (Kinder) Porter. Tilman Porter was born in Ross county, Ohio, and his wife in this county. Mr. Porter came to this county when a small boy and located with his parents in White River town¬ ship. To Tilman Porter and wife were born eight children, Olive, the wife of Rev. W. J. Waltz, who lives in South Dakota; Dora D., the wife of Henry M. Stehman, of this county; Elizabeth, the wife of the late William C. Bray; Eliza, the wife of George Deppen, a farmer of this county; Robert, the manager of the elevator at Cicero, who married Flora Ehman, and three who died in infancy. Tilman Porter was one of the largest land owners of the county at the time of his death, in 1904. Although he had a large

Mr. and Mrs. William C. Bray were the parents of two children, Beu¬ lah, born September 19, 1889, and Porter, bom December 15, 1890. Both of these children are now living with their mother in Noblesville. Mrs. Bray still owns the two hundred and fifty-three acres which was left her by her husband and has personal supervision over the management of her farm.

Mr. Bray was a lifelong Republican but was never inclined to take an active part in political affairs. He always took a great deal of interest in the Hamilton County Insurance Company and for years was its actuary. He, as well as all the members of the family were faithful adherents of the Friends church and took a great deal of interest in church work. The life of such a man as Mr. Bray is an inspiration to others who are less courage¬ ous and more prone to give up the fight when obstacles thwart their way, or their ideals have been reached. In his life history are found evidences of characteristics that always make for achievement and as a result of such a life he leaves a record which is honored by his friends and cherished by his family.

Charles W. Sowerwine

A review of the life of Charles W. Sowerwine must of necessity be brief and general in its character, since to enter fully into the interesting details of his career, touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. For a young man, he has filled an exceptionally large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and has become an important factor in the growth and development of his city's industrial and commercial interests. He is a representative of that sterling type of the world's workers who have furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of our country and its institutions. And yet, in spite of the multitudinous activities of his life he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but has preserved his faculties and the warmth of his heart for their widest expression in a broadening and helpful influence on human life, being a kindly, genial friend and gentle¬ man whom it is a pleasure to meet.

Charles W. Sowerwine, one of the most successful business men in Noblesville, Indiana, was born July n, 1879, in Cicero, in this county. He is a son of Noah W. and Sarah (Teasling) Sowerwine, both of whom were born in Hamilton county and are still living near Gray, in this county.

Charles W. Sowerwine came to Noblesville, with his parents when he was about six years of age and was reared and educated in the schools of Noblesville. When he finished the seventh grade he became imbued with the idea of becoming a business man and when a mere lad he entered the store of Carlin & Peck, as a clerk, where he remained for two years. He was a remarkably bright youth and from his earliest boyhood showed marked business ability. After working for two years in the grocery store he bebame identified with C. F. Johnson in the dry goods business as a salesman, his store being located on the corner where he is now in business. He prob¬ ably little thought at that time that he would one day become the proprietor of the establishment at the same place. It is undoubtedly true that this young man has had a wonderful career in the business world. Three years later we find him with the R. C. Caylor dry goods company as its buyer, and dur¬ ing his three years connection with this firm he became acquainted with every angle of the buying business, in fact he felt able to venture into business himself. Accordingly, he rented a room on the south side of the public square, now occupied by Fred L. Baker, and opened up a dry goods store for himself. He was now twenty-two years of age, and in a space of seven years had acquired a fair knowledge of the grocery and dry goods business so that he was fully qualified to manage an establishment of his own. He conducted his business alone for two years and a half and then formed a partnership with William H. Craig in the room now occupied by Sowerwine & Osbon, the new firm being known as Sowerwine & Company. The company prospered from the first, and on the last day of 1906 Mr. Sower¬ wine bought out Mr. Craig's interest in the store and continued to manage it alone until 1912. He entered then into partnership with Eugene Osbon and the firm of Sowerwine & Osbon has been in active business since April 8 of that year down to the present time. However, Mr. Sowerwine's interests are not all in his Noblesville store. In 1910 he opened a new dry goods store at Sheridan, Indiana, and in the same year bought the Racket dry goods store at Marion, Indiana. He maintained the store at Marion until the stock was closed out, while his Sheridan store was discontinued after a year and one-half of existence in order that he might devote all of his energy to his store in Noblesville. He traded his Sheridan store for an eighty-acre farm near Boxley. Hamilton county, which he still owns. In 1911 he purchased

The firm of Sowerwine & Osbon deals in dry goods and ladies' furnishings of all kinds and grades except shoes. The firm occupies three floors covering about eighty-five hundred feet of floor space in a building on the northwestern corner of Ninth and Logan streets. It is a modernly equipped mercantile establishment with passenger elevators, and every upto-date convenience for the proper handling of the trade. It is the oldest establishment of its character in the city, having passed through several part¬ nerships before coming under its present management. In addition to the dry goods and ladies' furnishing departments, the store handles carpets, rugs, linoleums, oil cloth and draperies, and in fact everything that can be found in a modern establishment of this general character.

Mr. Sowerwine is a stock holder in the Citizens State Bank, of Noblesville and owns a fine residence property on South Ninth street in Noblesville. He was married May io, 1899, to Sarah Gwinn, the daughter of Sylvester Gwinn, of Arcadia, in this county. Mrs. Sowerwine's mother is deceased and her father is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Sowerwine are the parents of two children, one deceased and Joseph G., born February 14, 1912.

Mr. Sowerwine is identified with the Republican party, and is active in the public affairs in his community, but owing to the heavy press of his busi¬ ness affairs has never been a candidate for nor aspired to any public office. He is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 576, of Noblesville, and the Knights of Pythias. In 1913 he made a trip to Europe and during his three months* tour visited all the European countries, combining business with pleasure. Among the many places of interest he visited in Europe was the World's Exposition at Ghent. He has also traveled extensively over the United States and visited many points of interest from coast to coast. He has visited every exposition of our own country within his generation, except the one at Chicago in 1893. He and his family are already planning to visit the San Francisco Exposition in 1915. His pleasure trips over the country are his means of recreation, while he always is on the lookout for new ideas which he can use in his business. He is a young man yet, and the future will undoubtedly find him an influential man in the busi¬ ness world of his county. He is a man of wonderful business ability and is very successful in all of his undertakings. He is a veritable storehouse of energy and enterprise and justly deserves a place among the representative men of his county.

Wilbert C. Boothe

The chiropractor who would succeed in his profession must possess many qualities of head and heart not included in the curriculum of the schools and colleges he may have attended. In analyzing the career of the success¬ ful practitioner of the healing art it will invariably be found to be true that a broad-minded sympathy with the sick and suffering and an honest, earnest desire to aid his afflicted fellow men have gone hand in hand with skill and able judgment. The gentleman to whom this brief tribute is given fortunately embodies these necessary qualifications in a marked degree and by energy and application to his professional duties is building up an enviable reputation and drawing to himself a large and remunerative patronage.

Wilbert C. Boothe, a skilled chiropractor of Noblesville, Indiana, was bom July 25, 1867, in Ontario, Canada. His parents, James and Lydia Ann (Wood) Boothe, born in Ireland and Canada, respectively, and both died in Canada. James Boothe was a carriage manufacturer and a substantial busi¬ ness man of his community.

Wilbert C. Boothe was reared in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, and at¬ tended fhe public schools of that city. He graduated from the high school in 1884, after which he took up the jewelry business, and apprenticed him¬ self to a jeweler and watch repairer and learned the watch and clock repair work thoroughly. He established himself in business in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, where he remained for three years, when he went to Sault St. Marie, where he opened a store and continued in business at the latter place for more than eight years. While thus engaged he lost his health which was restored by the chiropractic method. He then became interested in the practice of chiropractic and eventually was graduated from the Robbins Chiropractic Institute of that city. Chiropractic is the science of locating and adjusting the cause of human ailments without the use of medicine, osteopathy or surg¬ ery. It consists of the adjustment of the bones of the spinal column so as to relieve unnatural pressure upon the nerves as they pass out between the vertebrae of the spinal column. After graduating from the Chiropractic Institute Mr. Boothe began the practice of his profession at Blind River, Ontario, and a few months later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he remained until February, 1912. He then established his office in Noblesville, where he has since remained. He has built up a good practice in Nobles¬ ville, and has effected some remarkable cures which have won him the con¬ fidence of the people with whom he has been associated. Through his mem- bership in the Indiana State and the Universal Chiropractors' Association he keeps in close touch with the latest advances in his profession.

Mr. Boothe was married October i, 1907, to Ethel Maud Hennessey, the daughter of Horace and Sarah (Elvin) Hennessey, of Trenton, Ontario, Canada, and to this union has been born one son, James Horace. Fraternally, Mr. Boothe is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Templars of Temperance and the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute of their means to its support. Mr. Boothe is a man of pleasing personality, and although he has been in this community only a comparatively short time, he has won many friends by reason of his genial disposition and friendly manner. He is a warm supporter of all movements tending toward the ad¬ vancement and welfare of his fellow citizens along educational, moral or social lines and thus ha$ won the commendation of all who have become ac¬ quainted with him.

Leonidas Stubbs

One of the men of a past generation in Hamilton county, Indiana, who left his impress upon the community where he spent so many years, was Leonidas Stubbs. He came to this county in 1883 and lived here until the time of his death which occurred in 1908, and during these years took an active part in the affairs of his community.

Leonidas Stubbs, the son of Zephaniah and Elsie (King) Stubbs, was born on April 22, 1847, in Shelby county, Indiana. He grew to manhood on a farm in Shelby county, received a good, common school education in the district schools of his home neighborhood and remained at home until the time of his marriage in 1868, and continued to reside in Shelbv county until 1883. In that year he moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, and he and his brother bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in partnership. Later he bought his brother's interest in the farm and operated the one hun¬ dred and sixty acres from 1899 until his death nine years later.

Leonidas Stubbs was married October 6, 1868, to Charlotte W. Cushing, who was born at Scotch Plains, New Jersey, August 4, 1850. She was the daughter of John and Hannah (Watson) Cushing, and came to Shelby county, Indiana, from New Jersey with her parents when she was a small child. Three children were born to Mr. Stubbs and wife: Oliver Morton, who owns part of the old home place, and who married Louisianna Johnson;

Minnie A. and John Z. Minnie A. became the wife of Francis M. Musselman, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume. John Z., who is a farmer, now making his home in Noblesville, married Gertrude Ware, De¬ cember 28, 1907, and has two children, Leonidas J. and George Gerald.

Mrs. Stubbs' parents, John and Hannah (Watson) Cushing, were both natives of England and married in their native land. Some years after their marriage they came to America and located in New Jersey, where Mrs. Stubbs was born. Her parents were married August 21, 1843, and started for America on May 13, 1849. John Cushing afterward left New Jersey and located in Shelby county, Indiana, where .he lived the remainder of his life.

The parents of John Z. Stubbs's wife were Jesse and Mary (Fisher) Ware, natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers in Wayne township, Hamil¬ ton county, Indiana. Her father came to this county when about nine years of age with his parents and farmed in this county until 1911, when he moved to Kokomo, Indiana, where he and his wife are now living.

Leonidas Stubbs was a stanch Republican and he and his wife were members of the Christian church. Mr. Stubbs was a quiet and unostentatious man and had a host of friends who admired him for his many good qualities of head and heart. His widow remained on the home farm until November, 1913, when she moved to Noblesville, where she makes her home.

Eugene Osbon

Indiana has been especially honored in the character and career of her men of industry. In every section of the state have been found men born to leadership in the various vocations; men who have dominated the cause they represent by reason of their superior intelligence, natural endowments and force of character. It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements as a study fitting to inspire greater activities and a desire for higher excellence on the part of others. These reflections are suggested by the career of Eugene Osbon, who has pushed his way to the front ranks and who by a strong and inherent force and much business ability, directed and controlled by intelligent judgment of high order has stood for many years as one of the leading business men of Noblesville. His success has not come suddenly, but has been the result of methodical and consecutive labor and the determined application of mental and physical resources along a rightly defined line. He has been an influ¬ ential factor in the business life of his city for many years. He has gained his success, solely through legitimate and worthy means, and stands today as an admirable type of the self-made man.

Eugene Osbon, of the firm of Sowerwine and Osbon, was born Novem¬ ber 17, 1869, in Federal Hill, a suburb of Noblesville, Indiana. He is a son of John Robert and Mary (Gosney) Osbon, both of his parents being born in Hancock county, Indiana. Robert Osbon and his wife were raised to maturity in Hancock county and married there, coming to this county about 1865. John R. Osbon engaged in farming in this county until his death in 1882. His widow is still living, in Noblesville.

Eugene Osbon was reared in Noblesville, and received his education in the public schools of his home city. His first regular employment was with J. G. Heylmann, a wagon and carriage manufacturer of Noblesville. There he learned the painting business and followed this occupation with this firm for five years. He then became a clerk in a novelty store of D. F. Moss in Noblesville and after two years service in this store became a clerk in the dry goods store of the Underwood Brothers. Two years later he became a clerk in the Daniel Craycraft store and remained there until the death of Mr. Craycraft. At the death of the senior Craycraft Mr. Osbon bought an interest in the store and continued his connection with George Craycraft until the firm of Sowerwine & Osbon was established in 1910. The firm of Sowerwine & Osbon is one of the most prosperous mercantile establish¬ ments in the city of Noblesville today, and does a large and increasing busi¬ ness in the city and in the county. A description of this store is given else¬ where in this volume in the sketch of Mr. Sowerwine, the other member of the firm. It is sufficient to say here that Mr. Osbon brought to the firm a record of years of useful and efficient service in the mercantile business, and is equally deserving of the remarkable success which has attended the firm.

Mr. Osbon was married in Louisville, Kentucky, September 14, 1893, to Gertrude Taylor, the daughter of D. K. Taylor and Anna (Boton) Taylor, at that time residents of Louisville. D. K. Taylor was an experienced news¬ paper man and had been connected for many years with the Louisville Courier Journal. Both of Mrs. Osbon's parents are now living in Noblesville. Mr. and Mrs. Osbon are the parents of two daughters, Dorothy M., who was graduated from the Noblesville high school and who is now a student in the College oi Music at Indianapolis; and Carolyn A., who is now a student in the Noblesville high school.

he has always taken an interest in political affairs but he has never been an applicant for any public office. He has been so busy with his mercantile business that he has not had any time to devote to the political game. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the chap¬ ter and council degrees, in that fraternity. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and give it their earnest support at all times. The life of Mr. Osbon has been such as to elicit just praise- from those who know him best, since he has always been loyal to trusts imposed upon him. He is a man whose interests have always been connected with the business world and he has been uniformly fair in all his dealings with his fellow men, while at the same time he has always given his support to the advancement of any cause pertaining to the welfare of the community at large.

Carl T. Brock

Among the families of Hamilton county, Indiana, whose members have worthily discharged their duties to their fellows and their community, no family takes higher rank than the Brocks who are today prominently identi¬ fied with the business, agricultural and social life of the county. For many years members of this family have stood for all that is best in business, edu¬ cational. moral or social life and have wielded an influence that has been potential in the development and welfare of their community, being numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of the county. Because of the prominence which the family has enjoyed and the close relations they have sustained to the welfare and prosperity of the locality which has been honored by their citizenships, they are eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one at hand.

Carl T. Brock, a member of the mercantile firm of Clarke, Brock and Company, was born on a farm near Noblesville, Hamilton county, Indiana, November 26, 1874. His parents are David M. and Mary F. (Quick) Brock. David M. Brock was born in Central City, Kentucky and in 1854 came with his parents, Elijah and Francis (Greening) Brock, to Hamilton county and settled on a farm, where Carl T. was born, and where his parents are still residing. Elijah Brock was one of the prosperous and substantial farmers of his day and owned six hundred acres of land in Noblesville town¬ ship. David M. Brock has followed the occupation of farming for most of his life. In 1883 David M. Brock and family moved to Noblesville where he was engaged in the grocery business for five years and was then identified with other business interests in the city until 1910, when he returned to his farm in Noblesville township where he resumed farming. He has been especially interested in the raising of fine thoroughbred Jersey cattle and has made a pronounced success of his venture. In politics he is a stanch Repub¬ lican and has always been interested in the civic welfare of his city and county. While living in Noblesville, he served four years as a member of the city council and was always actively interested in the advancement and improvement of his city. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he and his family are members of the Christian church. David M. Brock and wife are the parents of three sons: Carl T., whose history is herewith re¬ corded; Albert J., a business man of Brazil, Indiana, and Harry R., a travel¬ ing salesman.

Carl T. Brock was nine years of age when the parents moved to Nobles¬ ville and all the rest of his life has been spent in that city. He attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school in Noblesville in 1894. He then became a clerk in the drygoods store of C. F. Johnson, where he remained for ten years, at the end of which time he became a clerk in the store of Little, Kahn & Company for five years. The firm then being re¬ organized and succeeded by Little, Clark & Company, Mr. Brock remained with the new firm as a clerk until February, 1910, when he purchased Mr. Little's interest in the store, the new firm being known as Clark, Brock & Company. This store has its share of the patronage of Noblesville and the surrounding community and by its courteous treatment of its customers and the high class of the goods which it carries has built up a large and prosper¬ ous trade in the county. In addition to his interests in this mercantile estab¬ lishment, Mr. Brock is a stockholder in the American National Bank and has valuable real estate holdings in Noblesville.

Mr. Brock was married September 21, 1901, to Maude Messick, daugh¬ ter of Joseph and Emily (Ross) Messick, of Noblesville. The father of Mrs. Brock died some years ago and her mother is now residing with Mr. and Mrs. Brock. Recently Mr. Brock has erected a fine modern home upon the same lot where his wife was born. Mr. and Mrs. Brock have no children.

The Republican party has always claimed the support of Mr. Brock. Although he has never been an aspirant for any public office he has always been intelligently interested in public matters. He keeps well informed on the current issues of the day and is always able to give an intelligent opinion upon public questions. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Ac- cepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias, while he and his wife are both earnest members of the Christian church and have been active in church and Sunday school work. Throughout his career of forty years in Hamilton county, Mr. Brock has so conducted himself and his affairs that he has been regarded as one of its sterling citizens who has the welfare of his community at heart. Every enterprise which has had for its purpose the furthering of the moral, intellectual and social life of his community has found in him a ready and sympathetic supporter at all times and accordingly he has won the commendation and esteem of everyone with whom he is associated.

William H. White

The rude log cabin within the woods of Rush county, Indiana, stands in striking contrast to the palatial home of William H. White, one of Hamil¬ ton's county's most progressive and substantial farmers of today. Mr. White is a fine type of the present generation of the pioneer families of the state, who, when a lad conned evening lessons by the light of the fireplace in the cabin of his father. The youth of today knows very little of the disad¬ vantages which surrounded the pioneer farmers of this state. No longer is the farmer compelled to rise early in the morning and continue his labors far into the night, his condition having changed in a most remarkable man¬ ner. In no respect has there been a greater change in the life of the people than in the occupation of farming. The rural mail service leaves the daily paper on the farmer's doorstep each morning, while the telephone keeps him in constant communication with his neighbors. Interurban cars and the automobile enable him to participate in all the features of city life without having to suffer the disadvantages of the city. Mr. White has lived through the whole period during which these changes have taken place, and is there¬ fore able to appreciate conditions as they are today.

William H. White, one of the largest land owners of Hamilton county, Indiana, and the son of Joseph and Mary (Jackson) White, was born De¬ cember 5, 1848. in a rude log cabin in the woods of Rush county, Indiana. His father was a native of Ohio and his mother was born in Rush county, Indiana, the two families being among the earliest pioneers of Rush county. In 1850 the White family moved to Wayne township, this county, and settled in the woods. They began clearing the land and selling the timber in the markets. In fact, it was the rare foresight of Joseph White which led him into the lumber business, where he made a very comfortable fortune. He was a man of excellent business ability and within a short time after moving to this county had a farm of four hundred acres. In 1861 the family moved to Indianapolis, where Joseph White engaged in the lumber business for about five years. Then in order to get a larger market and increase his business, he moved to Chicago, where he engaged in the same business until his death in April, 1888, his wife passing away in October, 1887. Joseph White and wife were the parents of three children, William H., whose history is here delineated; Harvinia and Nellie, the wife of Harry Ingerman, of Chicago.

William H. White was two years of age when his parents moved from Rush county, this state, to Hamilton county, thirteen years of age when they moved to Indianapolis and still of school age when they moved to Chicago, consequently his education was received in the schools of Hamilton county, Indianapolis and Chicago, and in this way he was given more than an ordin¬ arily good commonschool education. His father being a man of superior business attainments, it was natural that his son should follow in his foot¬ steps. He remained in Chicago associated with his father until his marriage in 1870, when he returned to Wayne township, this county, .where he fol¬ lowed agriculture for about four years. However, his father's increasing business in Chicago made it necessary for him to have assistance, so William H. returned to that city and assisted in the lumber business conducted by his father. In addition to their lumber yards in Chicago, they had large land and timber interests in western Tennessee, and still later they bought large tracts of timber lands in Arkansas and handled lumber in that state from 1890 to 1895. In the latter year Mr. White disposed of his numerous lum¬ ber yards and other interests connected with the lumber business and returned to Hamilton county, where he has since resided and has made his home at No. 27 South Tenth street, in Noblesville for the past nineteen years. Mr. White has always retained his farming interests in Hamilton county, and now has seven hundred and four acres, all of which is in Wayne township except eighty acres in Madison county, Indiana. In addition to his farming interests he has valuable business and residence properties in Noblesville. He is also a stockholder in the American National Bank, the Citizens State Bank and the Wain wright Trust Company, three of the strongest financial institu¬ tions of Noblesville. He is a director in the Citizens State Bank, as well as one of its largest stockholders.

and to this union has been born one son, Marcus L., who married Minnie Kreag, the daughter of John Kreag, of Cicero, this county, and they have one son, Joe K. Marcus White is engaged in the seed business in Noblesville, and also has a large cotton plantation in Sunflower county, Mississippi, which occupies a considerable amount of his attention. He is also a director in the American National Bank, of Noblesville.

Mr. White has been a life-long Republican, but has never been an aspir¬ ant for any public office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, while he and his family are earnest and loyal members of the Chris¬ tian church, in which denomination he is an elder. Mr. White is a successful business man of the strictest integrity and honesty and has always given his support to every movement which he felt would benefit the community in any way and consequently ever has enjoyed the highest reputation in the com¬ munity honored by his citizenship.

Elwood Henley

The Hertley family trace their ancestry back to the time when the first member of the family of that name came from Ireland to this country and settled in Virginia. He was a well-to-do man and his will is yet in existence among the historic collections in Philadelphia. In it he gives two slaves their freedom and to a man who owes him, he forgives the full amount of his in¬ debtedness. He was a substantial farmer of Virginia and a member of the Friends church. The Henley family scattered from Virginia to the various colonies on the Atlantic seaboard and one member of the family, John, was born in Nantucket Island, a small island south of Rhode Island. This John Henley became the progenitor of the Henlevs who came to Hamilton county, Indiana. John Henley and his wife went from Nantucket to North Carolina, where Joseph Henley, the grandfather of Elwood, whose history is here presented, was born about 1760. Joseph Henley was a farmer in Randolph county, that state, and married Penina Morgan, to which union were born the following children, all of whom are deceased : Susannah, who married Jonathan Phelps; Sarah, wife of Thomas Thornburg; Thomas, the father of Elwood; Henry; Mary, the wife of William Benford; Lucretia, wife of H. B. Hill: Micajah; Charles; Nancy, the wife of Wyatt Stanley; Jesse and Robert. Joseph Henley spent the latter years of his life in Rush county, Indiana, where his death occurred.

Thomas Henley was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, in 1803. When he was eighteen years of age he came to Indiana, purchased one hun¬ dred and sixty acres of land in Rush county and being an industrious young man managed to get a good education. He saved his money while working in this state and worked his way through a two years' course in the schools of Richmond, Indiana. He was a shoemaker by trade and since there was plenty of work to do in his chosen occupation, he had no difficulty in saving enough not only to pay his tuition in school, but to purchase the one hundred and sixty acres of land where he subsequently moved. In 1827 Thomas Henley went back to North Carolina and married Abigail Starbuck, the daughter of Thomas Starbuck and wife. She was born in Guilford county, North Caro¬ lina, in 1804. Her mother died when she was quite small and her father remarried. The Starbucks trace their family history back to Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Starbuck and his first wife were the parents of three children: Thomas: Abigail, the wife of Thomas Henley, and Eunice. By his second marriage were born three children, Elwood, Milton and Bezaleel, of whom Milton died in Carolina and the other two came to Rush county, Indiana.

Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Henley brought his young bride to his new home in Rush county, Indiana, making the trip overland in a twohorse wagon and clearing the roads as they went. They were able to clear but five acres of land the first* year, and this he naturally planted in corn. In later years he often said that this was the best crop of corn he ever raised in the county. A peculiar thing about Thomas Henley is the fact that he never fired a gun. This is considered unusual, since the pioneers of that, day practically depended upon the wild animals for their fresh meat. He was an earnest member of the Friends church, a generous, noble-hearted man and gave freely to all worthy enterprises. He added to his farm from time to time until he was the owner of four hundred and eighty-eight acres of fine farming land in Indiana and also six hundred and forty acres in Iowa. Some years after Thomas Henley and wife came from North Carolina, his parents, Joseph and Penina (Morgan) Henley, moved to this state and bought land near that of their son, Thomas, in Rush county. Thomas Henlev and wife were the parents of eight children, Henry W., Elwood, Milton H., Ann, Jane, Eliza, Jason and Owen. Only two of these children are now living, Elwood and Owen.

Elwood Henley lived at home until he was married. He received such education as was afforded by the schools of his day, and upon his marriage his father gave him eighty acres of land near Carthage, in the northwestern part of Rush county. Here Elwood Henley lived until 1866, then, owing to the destruction of his home by fire, he sold his farm and came to Hamilton county. Upon coming to this county he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land about four miles northwest of Carmel, where he lived until 1908, when he purchased property in Carmel, where he has since continued to live. Mr. Henley has been a life-long farmer and has lived a life which has brought to him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. In addition to his one hundred and sixty acres in Hamilton county, he owns eighty acres of fine farming land in Marion county, this state, as well as his property in Carmel. He was drafted twice for service in the Civil War, but owing to his inherent aversion to war of any kind, he paid a substitute to go in his place.

In 1856 Mr. Henley was married to Phoebe Newby, the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Thornburg) Newby, whose birth occurred September 20, 1831, in Rush county, Indiana. Her parents were natives of North Carolina and came to this state early in its history. They did not enter land, as did most of the early settlers, but bought a farm which was already partly im¬ proved. Phoebe Newby was one of ten children born to her parents and lived with them until her marriage, with the exception of one year, which she spent in Richmond learning the bonnet-maker's trade. She died January 1, 1868, leaving her husband with five children, Penelope, John, Abigail, Barclay and Caroline. Penelope died at the age of twenty-one years; John married Martha Dickey, and lives in Indianapolis, and has two children, Margaret and Louise, twins; Abigail married Alfred V. Payle, and lived only eleven days after her marriage; Barclay, who died December 18, 1911, mar¬ ried Elda Conrad; Caroline, who died July 26, 1902, married Samuel C. White, and they had one son, Dale.

The second marriage of Mr. Henley occurred April 20, 1871, when he was married to Lydia Manlove, daughter of John and Margaret (Symonds) Manlove, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, April 21, 1844. Her parents were natives of Ohio and North Carolina, respectively. John Man¬ love was the son of George Manlove, a native of North Carolina. In 1808 John Manlove went to Ohio and in 1811 to Fayette county, Indiana. George Manlove died of the cholera, which he had contracted in Cincinnati. He had gone to market a load of produce, at that time practically all of the produce of Indiana being hauled overland to towns on the Ohio river. The reader is referred to the sketch of George Manlove elsewhere in this volume for additional data on the Manlove family. The second wife of Mr. Henley died on April 25, 1911. To this second marriage were born five children, Rollin, Phoebe, Margaret, Homer and Olive. Rollin married Ella Jeffries and lives in Indianapolis, and they have two children, Russell and Mabel ; Phoebe mar¬ ried Irvin Newlin and lives in Carmel, but at present Mr. Newlin is working in Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Newlin have seven children, Roy, Theda, Percy, Doris, Herman, Jason and Malcolm: Margaret married William A. Bonifield and lives on her father's farm, and has one son, Wilbur; Homer married Mrs. Dora (Venable) Owen, widow of Samuel Owen, and lives in In¬ dianapolis, where he is connected with the L. S. Ayres Company; Olive, who is a graduate of the Carmel high school, lives at home and keeps house for her father.

Mr. Henley has been a life-long Republican, but has never been an as¬ pirant for any public office. The only office which he has ever held was that of road supervisor many years ago. He has been a member of a number of fraternal organizations, but at the present time is not active in any of them. He has been a member of the Friends church all his life, and during his younger days was active in church work. Mr. Henley is the oldest member of the family now living, yet in his eighty-fourth year he is hale and hearty and takes an active interest in the affairs of his community. He has always been earnest in the performance of every duty of life, as a parent, husband, friend and neighbor, and today there is no more highly esteemed man in Hamilton county than he. In the declining years of his life he can look back over a long career which has been well spent in the service of his fellow men.

William E. Lowther

One of the influential citizens of Noblesville is the gentleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed, a man who is properly ranked with the city's leading merchants and representative citizens. A man of excellent endowments and upright character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence ond esteem, being loyal to all movements having to do with the upbuilding of his com¬ munity and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city along material, moral and civic lines.

William E. Lowther, the son of William and Anna E. (O'Brien) Lowther, was born January 26, 1853, in Wilmington, Delaware. His father was a native of the same city, while his mother was bom in New York city. The senior Lowther was a shoemaker by trade and came with his family to Noblesville, Indiana, in 1859, where he followed his trade until his death in May, 1896, his widow dying in August of the same year. William Low¬ ther, senior, was an influential man in the city of Noblesville. For more than twelve years he served as a justice of the peace, and always took a prom¬ inent part in the Republican politics of his city and county. He was a mem¬ ber of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Improved Order of Red Men. He and his wife were the parents of four sons: William E., whose history is here recorded; James W., of Los Angeles, California, for many years a clerk in the railway mail service; George H., of Noblesville; and Frank A., of Los Angeles, California.

William E. Lowther was six years of age when his parents moved from Wilmington, Delaware, to Noblesville, Indiana, consequently his education was received in the schools of this city. On leaving school, he became a clerk in the corner drug store conducted by William & Graham. He re¬ mained with this firm for three years and then became a dry goods sales¬ man in the store of Leonard Wild, serving in that capacity for fourteen years. Wild at that time retiring from the business, Mr. Lowther purchased the clothing department and formed a partnership with Samuel A. Tescher. This partnership continued for eight years, when, Mr. Tescher retiring from the firm, Mr. Lowther became associated with the Heinzmann Brothers in the same business. The firm did a flourishing trade during its career from 1893 to 1901. Mr. Lowther then retired from the firm and in February, 1902, bought the shoe business of John C. Craig on the east side of the public square, where he has since maintained the same business. He carries a full line of men's, women's and children's shoes. By his fair dealing and the high quality of his stock he has built up a large trade in Noblesville and the community. He is a man of good business ability and has so conducted his affairs as to win a reputation for square dealing.

Mr. Lowther was married April 23, 1886, to Alice Heady, the daughter of Thomas and America M. (Tillyer) Heady, of Fisher, Hamilton county. To this union were born two daughters, Maude and Bernice. The Lowther family are active in the church and Sunday school work of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and contribute generously of their means to its support.

In politics, Mr. Lowther has identified himself with the Republican party, and in 1913 he was elected a member of the city council, assuming his office January 5, 1914, for the four-vear term. Fraternally, he is a charter member of Bernice Lodge No. 120, Knights of Pythias, and has always taken a deep interest in the work of this fraternal organization. Mr. Lowther is especially a self-made man, and his success has been commensur¬ ate with the energy, resourcefulness and tact which he has always displayed in his business dealings. He is a man of strong will and force of character and these elements have made it possible for him to attain the success which he so justly enjoys today. His children have been educated with the object of preparing them for useful and honorable lives, which results will be very gratifying to their parents.

Edmund P. Whisman, Jr

The farmer of today is receiving more attention at the hands of the United States government than ever before, but it is a lamentable fact that very few farmers realize what the government is trying to do for them. The Department of Agriculture retains a large number of experts who have written pamphlets covering every phase of farming and these pamphlets now numbering more than five hundred will be sent to any farmer in the United States upon request. There are more than twenty pamphlets alone covering the raising of corn and every phase of corn culture. In the same way all other crops are treated and the information which is contained in these pamphlets is the latest and best obtainable and thoroughly trustworthy. Should the farmer of today wish to build a silo, a pig-pen, a com crib or anything for use upon his farm, the United States government will furnish him information on the subject, information which is put in such a way that it is easily understood. Not only is the United States government taking an interest in the farmer throughout the country, but in our own state we have at Purdue University an agricultural course which is the equivalent of any in the world. During the past two years thousands of farmers and their sons have taken the short courses which this excellent institution gives. The agricultural extension department at Purdue has pamphlets covering the various phases of farming in Indiana which can be secured free of cost. These pamphlets, like those distributed by the United States government, are invaluable aids to the farmer and Hamilton county is one of the leading agricultural counties of the state. The Bovs' Corn Clubs of the county have awakened an interest in the cultivation of that product which has meant an increase in the cultivation of that cereal worth thousands of dollars to the county. Farmers everywhere are beginning to realize that there is some- thing more than the mere scratching of the land in order to get the best re¬ sults. This county has many excellent farmers, and among these Edmund P. Whisman, Jr., occupies a prominent place. He is taking advantage of all of the latest movements in scientific farming, and firmly believes that the county agent, which was provided by an Act of the state Legislature of 1913, will be the means of putting farming in this state on a new and higher basis.

Edmund P. Whisman, Jr., the son of Edmund P. and Cynthia A. (Thatcher) Whisman, was born in Tipton county, Indiana, in 1875, and comes from a lihe of distinguished ancestry on both sides of his family.

Peter Whisman was the name of Mr. Whisman's grandfather, who was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, on December 24, 1812. He was married in his native state on December 17, 1842, to Mary J. Miller, who was born in that state February 13, 1823. After his marriage he came to Wayne county, Indiana, and subsequently removed to Tipton county, where his death occurred June 30, 1861. His first wife died November 30, 1853, in Tipton county, and he was married a second time to Margaret Hoover on October 17, 1854. To the first marriage of Peter Whisman, the grandfather of the present head of the family in this county, there were born five children, -and to the second marriage were born two children.

Edmund P. Whisman, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, -was born in Wavne county, Indiana, February 1, 1845, an(3 moved to Tipton county with his parents when a small child. In that county he was married in 1868 to Cynthia A. Thatcher. To this union were born five children, Edmund P., Jr., Jesse, Martha V. Whitsell, Eva J. Davis and Cora, who died in infancy. Cynthia A. Thatcher was the daughter of Jesse Thatcher, born May 26, 1829, in Kentucky, and Celia (Coy) Thatcher. Jesse Thatcher and wife were married in 1840. His death occurred June 13, 1906, and he was buried in Tipton county. Jesse Thatcher and wife were the parents of six children, John, William, George, Joseph, Mary and Cynthia, the wife of Mr. Whisman. In 1858 Jesse Thatcher, grandfather of Edmund P. Whis¬ man, Jr., was married the second time to Eliza Mott, who died in January, 1894, leaving one daughter, Jessie, another daughter, Pallice, having died when an infant.

Edmund P. Whisman, Jr., was reared in Tipton county, and attended the common schools of his home neighborhood. Later he took the commercial course in the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, after which he returned to the farm and helped his father until his marriage, in 1898, when he immediately moved to his present farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, where he has since been actively engaged in general farming and stock raising. No more industrious or hard-working farmer is to be found in the county than Mr. Whisman, and he is well deserving of the success which has come to him.

Mr. Whisman was married December 25, 1898, to Hattie A. Billhymer, who was born November 16, 1877, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Billhymer, of this county. Joseph Billhymer was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 5, 1835, and came to Wayne county, Indiana, with his parents when a small lad. Later he came with them to Tipton county, and after reaching manhood, moved to Hamilton county, where he lived the life of a farmer until his death, which occurred on June 3, 1911. The wife of Joseph Billhy¬ mer was born in this county December 8, 1840. To Mr. and Mrs. Billhymer were born six children, John J. ; Mrs. Margaret R. Bangle; William F. ; Mrs. Amanda E. Rhorer; Charles O., deceased, and Hattie A., the wife of Mr. Whisman. Mr. and Mrs. Whisman have one daughter, Ethel Lucile, who was born April 23, 1900.

-The Democratic party has claimed the support of Mr. Whisman since reaching his majority, and he is interested in such measures as he feels will improve the well being of his fellow citizens, but he has never had the in¬ clination to be a candidate for any public office or to take a very active part in public and political affairs. He and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church and contribute freely of their means to its support. Mr. Whisman is classed among the progressive farmers of his community, a man who is thoroughly abreast of the times and a firm believer in the future of farming.

William E. Axline

There are certain professions in which a technical training is necessary and among these there is no one which is more exacting than that of the druggist. Frequently in commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift, but in what are known as the technical professions advancement is gained only through painstaking and long continued effort. The druggist in former days learned his trade by actual experience through years of apprenticeship at a drug store. At the present time there are many excellent schools of pharmacy in Indiana and the majority of our pharmacists of the present time are graduates of these schools. Twenty-five years ago practically all of the druggists of the state learned all of their trade in the drug store itself and were therefore educated in the school of actual experience. The earlier druggists became successful through their strong mentality, close application and daily work with drugs under experienced pharmacists. Among the druggists of Noblesville who have built up an excellent reputation because of their devotion to their chosen vocation there is no one who is more worthy of mention than William E. Axline, who has followed this profession for the past twenty-two years in Noblesville.

William E. Axline, the son of Dr. John A. and Clara A. (McMillan) Axline, was born October 6, 1872, in Rush county, Indiana. Doctor Axline was born in Knox county, Ohio, his ancestors coming to this country from Germany in the eighteenth century. One of his progenitors, Christopher Axline, served in the German army under Frederick the Great, and came to America before the Revolutionary War. He settled in Virginia and became a manufacturer of saltpetre in that state. During the Revolutionary War, when Virginia was overrun by the British, his property was confiscated with the result that he was practically financially ruined. After the close of the War of the Revolution one branch of the family came to Ohio, and in Knox county, Ohio, Dr. John A. Axline was born on March 5, 1847. His parents were Charles W. and Elizabeth (Sumner) Axline. Doctor Axline's early education was obtained at the academy at Martinsburg, in Knox county, a Quaker institution of excellent reputation at that time. At the age of nine¬ teen Doctor Axline began teaching in the Clinton county, Ohio, schools and later taught at New Burlington, Greene county, in the same state, and still later he came to Indiana and taught in the Rush county schools, at the same time studying medicine; but having firmly made up his mind to enter the medical profession, he retired from teaching and attended a course of lectures at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. Later he entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, taking his degree from the latter institution in 1873, at once beginning the practice of his profession at Raleigh, Indiana, where he continued for the next eighteen years as a successful practitioner. In 1891 he came to Noblesville, where he established a large and lucrative prac¬ tice, which continued until 1912. He gradually withdrew from his practice during the last few years of his life, owing to the health of his wife, who was an invalid, her death occurring in March, 1911. His wife, Clara A. McMillan, was born October 5, 1853, and was the daughter of John C. and Elizabeth McMillan. Doctor Axline and wife were the parents of two sons, William E., whose history is here presented, and John A. Doctor Axline was a stanch Republican in politics, casting his first vote for Ulysses S. Grant in 1868 and ever thereafter voting the Republican ticket. His father was a Whig, but voted for Fremont in 1856, and then allied himself with the new Republican party. Doctor Axline was a member of the Hamil¬ ton County, Indiana State and National Medical Societies and contributed many valuable papers to the County Medical Society, which were read at the annual meetings of that body. He was a member of the Free and Ac¬ cepted Masons and attained to the Royal Arch degree. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Encampment degree of that lodge. He also held membership in the Royal Arcanum. He had an excellent professional and miscellaneous library and was a great reader. He was a splendid Christian gentleman and one of the most earnest support¬ ers of the Christian church in Noblesville for many years. He died in December, 1912, greatly beloved and respected by every one who knew him.

William E. Axline was reared at Raleigh, Rush county, Indiana, and was given the best education which the village schools afforded. He then attended Butler College for a time and after his parents moved to Nobles¬ ville he attended the Noblesville high school for one year. In 1892, when he was twenty years of age, he became a drug clerk in the store of Dr. T. A. Abbott, where he remained for four years. During this time he learned the drug trade and was able to qualify as a pharmacist. He then worked for Frank E. Ross, who maintained a drug store in the same place, for the next four years. R. S. Truitt became the next proprietor of this drug store and Mr. Axline worked for him a short time. In 1899 Doctor Axline and his son, William E., purchased this drug store and continued together in partnership until Doctor Axline s death, in December, 1912. Since that date Mr. Axline has been in full charge of the drug store. In addition to carry¬ ing a Complete line of drugs and proprietary medicines, such as are to be found in drug stores, Mr. Axline handles jewelry, books, wall paper, paints, stationery, school supplies and such miscellaneous articles as are usually found in drug stores. The jewelry department is conducted by Mr. Axline in partnership with Mr. Zink. His goods are attractively displayed and by his earnest efforts to please all who enter his store and his sound business judgment he has met with well deserved success in his business. In addition to his drug store, Mr. Axline is interested in the American National Bank and is a director in that financial institution. H is also a director in the In¬ diana Loan Association.

Mr. Axline was married June 26, 1898, to Nellie Aldred, a daughter of Marion and Margaret (Gentry) Aldred, a prominent farmer of this county. Mr. Aldred died in December, 1910, and his widow is still living in

In politics, Mr. Axline has always adhered to the Republican party, but while interested in all public affairs, has never been active in partisan politics or sought political preferment in any way. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Encampment and also the Can¬ ton. He is a man of high ideals, a successful business man and stands high in the estimation of every one in his community. He is public spirited and progressive and at all times willing to lend his aid and influence in behalf of all enterprises for the material, moral or intellectual advancement of his city and county.

Grant Caca

Grant Caca is one of those strong, self-reliant and determined charac¬ ters who are occasionally met with and who are of such a distinct type as to seem to be born leaders of their fellow men. Not that Mr. Caca courts that distinction, for he is entirely unassuming, but his great force of character and his zeal and energy in whatever he undertakes naturally place him at the head of the crowd and he has been a potent factor in the development of Hamilton county, where he has always maintained his home and where he is well known to all classes for his honorable and industrious life, in both private and public.

Grant Caca, a prominent miller of Noblesville, was born on a farm in White River township, Hamilton county, Indiana, March 15, 1866. He is the son of Charles and Malinda (Mock) Caca, his father being of German descent and his mother of Irish descent, both being born in America. The father died when he was seven years of age and his mother later married Franklin Newby, of Omega, a village in White River township. Mr. Newby is dead and his widow, the mother of Grant Caca, is still living in Omega.

Grant Caca was reared to manhood in Omega and received a limited common school education in the schools of that village. When a very small lad he went to work in order to help support the family, -working at any¬ thing which he could find to do. He was only thirteen years of age when he went to work in the Smock saw mill in Omega, receiving fifty cents a day. He started in as assistant engineer and was subsequently promoted to the mill department with an advance in salary. He proved to be an indus¬ trious youth and quickly learned the intricacies of the saw mill business. In

1884, when he was only eighteen years of age, his employer, Mr. Smock, was elected county commissioner and Mr. Caca was made superintendent of the saw mill at Omega. Mr. Caca was a bright, industrious young man and not only found favor in the eyes of his employer, but also the eyes of his employer's daughter, Gertrude. When he was twenty-one years of age he was married to Gertrude Smock and remained as superintendent of his father-in-law's mill at Omega, shortly afterwards becoming the owner of the mill. He continued to operate the saw mill at Omega until 1901, when he moved to Noblesville and became connected with his father-in-law, Finley Smock, in the flour and feed milling business. At the death of Mr. Smock, January 26, 1912, Mr. Caca became the owner of the flour mill in Nobles¬ ville and has since been operating it, as well as managing his saw mill in Omega. The flour mill in Noblesville is what is known as a custom mill and does a large business in Hamilton county. It is the oldest mill site in the county, three mills on the same site having previously been destroyed by fire. It is located on the bank of White river at the foot of Connor street in Noblesville. In addition to his mills at Noblesville and Omega, Mr. Caca has various other business interests in the county. He is a man of excellent executive ability and has always so conducted his business as to win the commendation of all who have been associated with him in any way.

Mr. Caca was married September 22, 1887, to Gertrude Smock, the daughter of Finley and Lydia (Meyers) Smock. To this union have been born five children: Raymond, a telegraph operator who is now associated with his father in business; Finley, who is also associated with his father; Ruth, a stenographer who is still making her home with her parents; Clifton, a student in the high school at Noblesville, and Mildred, who is also in the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Caca have given their children an excellent edu¬ cation and are justly proud of the record they have made so far in life. They are conscientious young people who are well fitted to become useful members of society, which reflects great credit upon the training given them by their parents.