Montgomery County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1911 (part 11 of 14)

In 1896, Mr. Gerard was elected supreme chief of the order and he lield that important and responsible position until his death, in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He had endeared himself to the thousands of Ben-Hur members throughout the country and one has but to attend even for a few minutes a supreme meeting of the order to learn in what great esteem and respect he is held.

Mr. Gerard showed his unlimited faith in fraternal insurance by carrying practically all of his fifteen thousand dollars of life insurance in fraternal orders. In founding the Tribe of Ben-Hur one of his ideas was to give insurance at more reasonable rates than is charged b}- old-line insurance companies. He studied rate table after rate table and every plain imaginable was tried out in his mind. The plans and tables of all the fraternal orders in existence were studied by him, and by taking the best that was in all of them he molded together the plans that were to be followed by the Tribe of Ben-Hur. There were many months of anxious watching and sleepless nights, but they have all been rewarded.

Besides being a shrewd and capable business man and organizer, Mr. Gerard was a convincing and forceful speaker and a clear and logical writer. In the eighties, while engaged in the real estate and insurance business, he became interested in The Indiana Fa.rnier, of Indianapolis, a publication still in existence which circulates among the farmers in Indiana and other states. He was editor of the magazine for awhile and helped to make it a better, bigger and more popular paper. As soon as the supreme tribe of Ben-Hur was organized, Mr. Gerard decided to publish a monthly paper, telling the members what was being done in the society and keeping them informed with regard to matters of interest. Many of the best articles that have appeared in Tlie Chariot have been from his able pen.

Moxtgomkuv Colntv. Indiana. Ii5I

In addition to iiis connection with tlic Supreme 'i'ribe of Bcu-llur. Mr. Gerard was also associated with a nunilxT of other husiness enterprises of Crawfordsville. He was a stockholder and director of the Elston National Bank, and he was one of the original stockholders of tlie Crawfordsville State Bank. He was one of the men most interested in tlie establishment of the Crawfordsville Wire Bound Box Company.

During all these years Mr. Gerard was a very public-spirited citizen. He was interested - and deeply interested, too - in e\erything that lias been for the welfare and best interests of the city of Crawfordsville. He was proud of his city, proud of her citizens, proud of her position as one of the best little cities of Indiana.

For years Mr. Gerard was a devout member of the First Metliodist Episcopal church of Crawfordsville. He lield membership in a number of fraternal orders besides Ben-Hur, including the Foresters, Protected Home Circle, Knights and Ladies of Security, Woodmen of the W'orld and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He als(j belonged to the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a charter member of the Crawfordsville lodge of Elks.

Mr. Gerard was a man with a kind heart and a broad sympathy and charity. For years after his marriage his widowed mother made her home with him and he was always strongly devoted to her. Her every wish and desire was gratified and his love for his mother was unbounded. - He was also a kind and loving father, strongly attached to his family and devoted to them much more than is the average father. His family consists of two daugiiters and one son, all of whom are married and living in Crawfordsville : Mrs. Dr. J. F. Davidson, Airs. Charles \\\ Iliff and Dr. Royal H. Gerard. Mr. Gerard also leaves two brothers, Charles, of Crawfordsville, and Abner, of Long Beach, California. Wesley Gerard, of Wisconsin, is a half-brother.

Mr. Gerard was generous to a fault. He regarded truth and honor above all else. Charity and benevolence formed one of the ruling motives of his life. He was a sincere friend, a kind neighlior and an admirable citizen. The influences of his life will live in Crawfordsville and. in fact, in Indiana and the world through succeeding generations, and the Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur will forever remain a lasting monument. In thinking of Mr. Gerard's life, one recalls the language the immortal Shakespeare spoke through his character Antonius :

At his late beautiful residence on East Main street, Crawfordsville, Indiana, on Monday, January 3, 1910, David W. Gerard passed to his eternal rest, after a brief illness, his sudden taking away coming as a profound shock to thousands of friends and admirers. He was si.\ty-six years old.

In \iew of the universal prominence of David W. Gerard and in order to show the widespread esteem in which he was held, we quote at some length from the eulogies pronounced upon him, reprinting briefly from a few of the many thousands.

John C. Snyder, supreme scribe of the Tribe of Ben-Hur, said: "For fifteen years 1 ha\'e been connected in business with Mr. Gerard, and during that time have had occasion to know him very well indeed. Those who were closest to him can best testify to his great and generous impulses and his broad principles. I think one of his greatest virtues was his keen sympathy for his fellow men. Were they properous, he rejoined with them; if unfortunate, he was always ready to offer substantial aid. Xo movement for good was ever too great to challenge his admiration and approval ; none ever too small to escape his notice. He had had a wide experience in business affairs, and I regarded him as a man of most extraordinaiy attainments. Aside from his immediate family and close relatives, to whom he was always a bulwark of safety, he will be greatly missed by his neighbors, his friends and his business associates. It is a pleasure to testify to the virtues of one so generally admired."

S. E. Voris, mentioned in preceding paragraphs, said : "I have been associated closely with Mr. Gerard in business for the past sixteen years, and I have always found him to lie a man of advanced ideas. He was full of good suggestions and upon every occasion had just the right thing to suggest. He possessed wonderful energ}- and industry. He was a natural fraternalist and was a great believer in the brotherhood of man. He gave the closing vears of his life for this great cause and he succeeded in his purpose. He was the most kind-hearted man I ever knew, and I never knew a more companionable man. It was a delight to be in his company. He was liberal and charitable and the deeds of charity which he did are many, very many. He thought ill of no one. In his death Crawfordsville loses one of her very best citizens."

Gilbert Howell said : "Not only his family, the Tribe of Ben-Hur, his fellow officers and his home community sustained a loss when Mr. Gerard passed over the great divide, but the fraternal world has been robbed of one of its most shining lights, Ijrightest and most IjriUiant cxiiiincnls. lie was lionored and loved as has been the lot of but few men, and his genial and kindly personality, his undaunted faithful friendship, his zealous exposition of fraternal brotherhood, have wrought mightily for good in the world and we can truthfully say, 'He has been a friend to man.' As one of the founders of the Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur he has builded a living monument in the hearts of grateful widows and orphans which will endure for ages, and by his broad vision and grasp of financial afYairs, his leadership of men. the fraternal world will continue to pay him grateful homage. He was one of the pioneers whose labors have made it possible for the great fraternal army to bring sunshine and cheer into the homes darkened by the Grim Reaper, and although he has passed away, the work he has inaugurated, and the movement for the betterment of mankind will continue to liless and help humanity. I cannot pay him a higher triliute tiian to say. 'He loved all men. and was by all men beloved.' "

John R. Bonnell. a member of the executive committee ot the Su])reine Tribe of Ben-Hur, said: "Mr. (ierard was to me a man in win mi 1 felt that 'I could pin my faith." I regarded him in many respects as superior to ail in the fraternal world. He, in my humble judgment, did more to make famous our beloved city than all others, save General Wallace."

Col. Isaac C. Elston said; "Mr. Gerard was a most kind neighbor and affectionate father, devoted to his family, with a cheerful, cordial greeting for all his friends, and was ever ready to give credit for good deeds and excuse mistakes in others. During the past five years I ha\e constantlv met him in directors' meetings of the bank with which we have been identified, and learned to admire his business ability and respect his sound judgment in finance: it was as a builder that his talents were most consi)icuous, as the phenomenal growth and success of the Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur. promoted. organized and guided by him to its present enviable position in ihe insurance world, bears testimony."

G. H. D. Sutherland, publisher of the Cnvz^'fords-i'illc Rciicw. had the following to say, editorially, in his paper, on January 4. iqiq: "David W. Gerard is dead. This was the message quicklv si)read about the citv Mondav night when the angel of the Almighty came with a message and summoned him home. With patience and fortitude he had endured the agonies that were his portion ere the spirit was loosed from his mortal body and dissolution was at hand. His last recognition of human countenance was a smile for his son. (73)

"When the end comes for a man hke 'Dave' Gerard it isn't hard, for friends at least, to say: 'Oh, death, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory? He is not dead. He lives on and will continue to live in the lives of succeeding generations as long as there shall be a Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur. He leaves a monument, noble and ever-increasing, which promises to flourish as long as 'the milk of human kindness' flows from human breast. He was a kindly soul. In it was a prodigal wealth of charity that knew no bounds. He lived to spread the gospel of brotherly love. He believed the highest good can be accomplished by benefiting his brother man.

"In his early business days he dealt in various kinds of insurance and he long cherished a dream of establishing a fraternal insurance society. He studied Gen. Lew Wallace's book Ben-Hur and pictured a beautiful ritual taken from its pages. His sympathies extended to men and women and so the organization which he founded was unrestricted as to sex. Men and women alike are taught the beautiful lesson from Ben-Hur. Launched in a year of panic, with moderate financial 'backing, the Supreme Tribe of Ben- Hur had many an obstacle to overcome and little to encourage its founder and those intimately associated with him. But optimism is a splendid asset and Mr. Gerard had large deposits in that bank. He surrounded himself with shrewd business men and worked indefatigably himself to get the order started. It is necessary here to refer to statistics to establish his ultimate success. He lived long enough to 'see his dreams come true.'

"Great as is the blow which the Supreme Tribe of Ben Hur has sustained in Mr. Gerard's death, the order will survive it and go majestically forward in its mission of relieving humanity of some of its ills. This is one of the best testimonials to his greatness. The society is so thoroughly organized, so surely established, so well directed by the executive board, that its future will see nothing but development and growth.

"Mr. Gerard was an uncommon man. He started life with handicaps that have kept many men down to the level of the common place, but his ambition enabled him to surmount every obstacle, and first attain an education, hard enough at the best half a century ago. That prepared him for advancement later on. No one loved Crawfordsville more than David W. Gerard. He invested his means here and he predicted growth, development and prosperity as her portion in the years to come. He was ever ready with a word of encouragement for any young man who would inake his home here and attempt to assist in building up the city. Mr. Gerard was thoroughly honest. The Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur has a clean record, free from any suspicion of graft, during its entire life of sixteen years, lie did nut attempt to take advantage of his position and influence to advance h\> nun interests. He stood ever for the good of the order, desiring that every member should share in its prosperity and growth.

"Crawfordsville will miss this kindly man. lie was sncialik- and ikhilwas so humble but shared in his pleasant greeting. His smile and his handshake carried with them sincerity and warmth of hearty good feeling. His family and his relatives are assured that they have the symi)athy of the citizens of Crawfordsville in this, the hour i>i their aftlicticm,"

The second day of the seventii regular meeting of the Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur, Wednesday, May 22. njio, a repcrl was made by the memorial committee, which was unanimousI\- adopted, antl li\e thousand copies of a "Memorial N'olume" was ordered printed, containing report of said committee, and including the remarks offered by some of the members present upon that occasion. We reprint the closing lines of the committee's report : "Tiiis great society of the Sons and Daughters of Hur will forever be a living monument to his matchless genius and wisdom. He Ixiilded wiser than he knew or even dreamed, because he builded upon the eternal principles of truth, benevolence and honor. He discovered the gate to the paradise of (iod o])en wide, and the words 'whosoe\-er will, let him enter, and i)artake of the fruit of the life-gi\-ing tree in the midst tiiereof ; he seizeil the opportunity, sat beneath that tree and pluckefl therefrom the fruit tliat inspired him to see visions and dream dreams. For he was a man of visions and pro])hecy, an optimist of the highest type and character. In his visions he saw and prophesied the coming of the great and glorious Tribe of Ben-Hur, and lived to see his visions and prophecies realized and fulfilled. In the advancing ages the glory of his achievement and worth will come to be the more and more realized and appreciated by the coming generations. So long as civilization shall endure: so long as men and women continue to band themselves together to provide protection for their loved ones against the evil day: so long as the historian faithfully records the origin and work of great movements, having for their object the betterment of mankind, morally and mentally, so long will his name and fame remain.

This is his own monument, builded by himself out of the thoughts of his great soul, and the principles he advocated and the works he wrought: a memorial more worthy and of more enduring substance than tliat of marl)le or of metal.

Iis6 Montgomery County, Indiana

"And while he ne^ds no other, it appears to the committee that this great tribe of the Sons and Daughters of Hur, who were contemporary with him, and who knew him best and are enjoying the fruits of his services and sacrifices ; that it would be eminently fitting and proper that we should leave to future generations some kind of token, memeifto or memorial, expressive of the appreciation, high regard and esteem in which he was held by us ; a monument worthy of him, worthy of our great order and its matchless principles. Whatever we may think, say or do in this regard, in the death of Brother Gerard it can be truly said, in the language of one of old, 'A prince and a great man has fallen in Israel." "

At the memorial meeting above referred to many were the appropriate eulogies pronounced on Mr. Gerard, but space forbids more than a cursory glance at them in the following paragraphs :

G. I. Kisner, of Terre Haute, Indiana: "We offer up our prayers and our tears for those who have preceded us in their departure from this world. Their accomplishments and their valor is given unto us upon monuments of marble, or granite, or perchance, cast in bronze, but the achievements of those to whom we have been united are handed down to us in our hearts which shall be enduring as long as time shall last and they shall weather all the storms of life. Their achievements will inspire us on to higher realms in this old world. Those of us who are particularly united by the ties of fraternity feel deeply this loss. To alleviate suffering and want, to bring cheer, and joy and sunshine, into the hearts and the homes of the people of this world, have they not thus builded well? Otherwise we would not have the Tribe of Ben-Hur and these other fraternal organizations thriving throughout our land. So let us cherish their memory, imitate their virtues and endeavor to profit by the afflicting dispensation of Jehovah."

Hon. Charles L. Wedding, Evansville, Indiana: "The fraternal world may well stand with uncovered head about the newly-made grave of our great leader, David W. Gerard. And now that this great spirit, our great leader, has gone from among us let us highly resolve that the great work he has done shall live after him, for indeed his labor, his achievements and his life of toil for brotherly love, for fraternity and for our humanity, should be and are a more enduring monument to his memory than sculptured marble or the eternal granite. And let us pray that this great order, founded by our great leader, and for which he did such herculean work, shall, like the orbs that constitute the Milky Way, grow brighter and brighter, as the ages pass away ; that it shall become a vast ami spleiulid monument of "peace nn earth and i^ood will to men,' of fraternity, of brotherly lo\'e, upon which the men and women of all after-times may gaze with admiration forexer."

Hon. Michael P. Kehoe, Baltimore, Maryland: "Our dei>aited chief, at first, although he saw nothing but opposition confront liim, ne\er for a moment faltered in what he considered to be his duty, but pushed onward this magnificent order, which was indeed his life work. We can only hope and accept the great truths that have been sent to us 1iy the Master, looking for life beyond, and I am sure, in the light of the work and character of our late departed chief, living as he did and considering the works he [lerformed, if there is such a thing as the glorious life beyond, there must l)e an everlasting place prepared for him who is gone."

Dr. H. V. Beardsley, Ft. Worth. Texas: "Sixteen years ago, through Providence, or some other source, I met and formed a very lasting friendship with our late departed D. W. Gerard. He has not only been to me as a friend, but he has been to me as a father, and I do not believe there is a single member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur w ho has felt the loss of his departure more than I have. He was not only a friend of humanity, but he was a close personal friend of those that met him on those grounds."

Rev. Ernest Dailey Smith, Crawfordsville, Indiana: "David W. Gerard was a good man. I know that in forming an estimate of men, a preacher is put to a certain disadvantage. My impressions of Brother Gerard from my preosnal acquaintance with him, and from what those have said to me who have known him intimately, is that he was just the same behind a Sunday face and under Sunday clothes as he was in every-day attire. There was that evenness and balance and genuineness in him that made him always the same."

W. H. Owen, Crawfordsville, Indiana: "Mr. Gerard was more than a member of the Tribe of Ben-Hur with me. Outside of all of the associations in the fraternal work, he was my friend, and my neighbor, and perhaps I might say an inspiration to do more than was intended when I was launched into the afifairs of this work. I feel that I have needed him almost e\er\' day since he passed away, and sometimes I get w^eary, for I could always rely on encouragement and the optimism of this man."

W. B. Ramey, Crawfordsville, Indiana : "For the past ten years it has been a pleasure to me to have been connected with the ofifice, and intimately associated with Brother Gerard, and I know tliat I voice the sentiments of every employe of the office when I say that we never had the privilege of working for a gentleman who has heen so dear and kind to us as he."

Mrs. Lucy H. Wilde, Buffalo, New York : "The world was made better by the life of our late beloved chief, David W. Gerard. It was no small sphere in which his influence for good was exercised while he lived, and there are so many good deeds to his credit that the influence still lives and will continue to live, though he be dead. His whole existence was an inspiration to mankind. Never a word came from his lips designed to wound the feelings of his fellow men. Such a thing as bitterness was absolutely unknown to him."

J. M. Billips, Jeannetfe, Pennsylvania : "The influence of Brother Gerard was felt to such an extent that I voice the general sentiment of the Pennsylvania members when I say we haAc lost the most noted and loyal fraternalist of the day. The impression made on me was that I had met and talked with one of God's elect; a noble man in his own country."

H. J- McGinnis, Crawfordsville, Indiana : "I- was but a boy when I took up the work of the Tribe of Ben-Hur fifteen years ago, and I feel that if I have attained any degree of success, it has been through the encouragement and the help of our late supreme chief. He always had a kindly word of encouragement for the field men."

Thus it will be observed by the readers of this memorial work that a great and useful man passed away when David W. Gerard was summoned to close his eyes on earthly scenes. Lives of men such as he ha\'e been instrumental in removing the tear from sad faces, that have put the staff of life on the board of the widow, and kindled the fires upon the heartstone of the orphan, these will be crowned with everlasting honor and glory.

Upon the death of Supreme Chief David W. Gerard, the executive committee of the Supreme Tribes of Ben-Hur met and unanimously appointed Dr. Royal H. Gerard to fill out his father's unexpired term, from January to May, 1 910. At the meeting of the Supreme Tribe in May he was elected supreme chief and has, by successive re-elections, been retained in that ofhce and is ably and efficiently carrying forward the work so splendidly inaugurated by his father.

Franklin A. Custer

Another of the young farmers of Sugar Creek township wlio must in all fairness be included in the category of those whose names have heen entered on the lists of the energetic is Franklin A. Custer, a man who would have, we have no doubt, succeeded in whatever locality he might have selected for his arena of action, however his success would have, doubtless, been more marked as a general agriculturist than in any other vocation, for he seems to have been born to it, or at any rate has had excellent training from his early boyhood up, so that his pronounced success early in his career is not to be wondered at.

Mr. Custer was born on July 3, 1876 in the township and county where he still resides. He is a son of William H. and Rachael (Cox) Custer. Both these parents were natives of this county, also, each representing old families. The date of the father's birth is 1842 and that of the mother's 1849. Here they grew to maturity, received fair educations in the old-time schools and here they were married. The father is still living, making his home in the village of Darlington, the mother having passed away in 1901 at the age of fifty-two years.

William H. Custer has devoted his life, for the most part, to general farming, however he was for some time engaged in the grocery and hardware business in Darlington, enjoying a large trade with the people of the surrounding territory, but most of his life was spent on the farm where our subject is now living, the father having retired from the active work of the farm in September, 1904 and moved to his pleasant home in Darlington. He is one of our honored veterans of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in the Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being among the earliest to give his services to the Union, of the many thousands in the Hoosier state, and he saw much hard and trying service for a period of three years, taking part in many engagements, and proving to be a most faithful soldier.

Three children were born to William H. Custer and wife, two sons and a daughter, named as follows: Charles B., born April 3, 1869, married Belle McGuire, and they live just north of the old Imme place; Laura; and Franklin A., of this review.

Franklin A. Custer received a common and high school education. On September 9, 1904 he married Eleanor Turnipseed, who was born February 8, 1882, in Montgomery county and here grew to womanhood and received her education in the public schools, and was graduated from the high school in her native locality. For a sketch of her family the reader is directed to that of Thomas B. Tumipseed, her brother, appearing elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Custer has always been a farmer and a general stock raiser, raising a good breed of li\-e stock, making a specialty of Red hogs. Black cattle and Langshang chickens. He is operating in a most successful and commendable manner the farm of one hundred and fifty acres which belongs to his father. It is all tillable but about twenty acres, and even this could be placed in cultivation. The farm is well improved in every respect and the substantial buildings were built by our subject's father.

Harry C. Remley

Another deserving representati\-e of the well known and popular Remley family is the energetic young farmer and stock raiser of Wayne township, Harry C. Remley. His people have been well established in Montgomery county since the early days, and they have borne excellent reputations as private citizens, business men and advocates of good county government, and they have done much in the general upbuilding of the locality. Our subject is living on the old homestead, which he has kept in fine condition, fully appreciating the privilege and he is justly deserving of the continued success that the years have brought.

Mr. Remley was born on June 14, 1873, i" Wayne township, Montgomery county. He is a son of Ambrose Remley and wife, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, hence will not be necessary to repeat here.

Harry C. Remley grew to manhood on the home farm and spent his boyhood days in much the same manner as other sons of farmers, assisting with the crops in summer and attending the district schools during the winter months, at Wesley, in his native township.

On February 22, 1898, he celebrated the anniversary of the birth of the father of his country, by getting married, selecting as a life partner Alice L. Brown, who was born in Montgomery county, and here she grew^ to womanhood and received her education in the public schools. She was tlie dauf,diter of Soloni and Mary J. (Hamilton) Brown, farmers of Union township, this county, near Ro]:)erts chapel. The father, who was a \i.tor;in of the Civil war and a Republican, died se\'eral years ago.

Mr. Remley has always followed farming and stock raising, and, taking naturally to these lines of endeavor and having had a good ])receptor in the same in the person of his father it is not to be wondered at that he has succeeded. He is living on his father's farm, which he has kept well cultivated and well improved. He has built all the fences now seen on the place, remodeled the barns, built several sheds and made many other changes which have enhanced the general appearance of the place. He keeps an excellent grade of live stock and poultry on the farm, and everything round about denotes good management.

Politically, he is a Republican, but he has never been very active in public matters. His wife as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Orpheus Milton Gregg

It is a pleasure to investigate the career of a successful self-made man of affairs. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, Ijeginning the great struggle of life with honorable aims, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment, removes one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and by the master strokes of his own force and vitality succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record, briefly stated, of Orpheus Milton Gregg, for several decades one of the most substantial, progressive and representative business men of Crawfordsville. and one of Montgomery county's most widely known citizens, and to a brief synopsis of life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed. His protracted residence in the famous and beautiful Wabash section of the Hoosier state has made his name widely and familiarly known, principally as the head of the great Indiana Match Company and other large industries. His life and the history of this locality for a period of nearly a half century has been pretty much one and the same thing. He has taken a prominent part in the later-day growth of his city and county, proving to be one of their wisest counselors and hardest workers. He is known to be a progressive man in the broadest sense of the term ; reaHzing the wants of the people, and he has tried to supply the demands of the vicinity honored by his citizenship generously and unspairingly. His has been a long business career of honor and trust, and no higher eulogy can be passed upon him than to state the simple truth that his name was never coupled with anything disreputable and that there has never been the shadow of a strain upon his reputation for integrity and unswerving honesty. Mr. Gregg is a consistent man in everything he undertakes, and his career in all the relations of life has ever been utterly without pretense, and for his genial nature, obliging disposition and imfailing courtesy he enjoys the confidence and god will of all classes, and the city of Crawfordsville and county of Montgomery can boast of no better man or more enterprising citizen.

]\Ir. Gregg was born in Scott township, Montgomery county, Indiana, October 7, 1848, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He is a son of Samuel H. and Sarah Louisa (Christman) Gregg. The father was also born in this county, the date of his birth being June 11, 1827, and was a son of Alpheus and Cynthia (Kelsey) Gregg. Alpheus Gregg was born in Warren county, Ohio, on January 29, 1801, and he came to Scott township, Montgomery county, Indiana, in early pioneer days, when this region was a wilderness and here he established the future home of the family, through hard work, enduring meanwhile many hardships, as ever befalls those who invade the frontier. Here he spent the rest of his life engaged in general farming. He is remembered as a kindly and hospitable man, and was well versed in the Bible, often quoting whole chapters. He was not only up on religious matters, but was a well read man on general afifairs of his time. His death occurred on September 9, 1864, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1842. Three children were born to them, namely: Amos, Phoebe Ann, and Samuel H., father qi our subject.

Samuel H. Gregg grew to manhood on the old home place, where he worked during his boyhood, assisting in developing the same. He received, at that period, such education as the early schools of his district afforded. When a young man he took up farming for a life work and lived in Scott township, later on near the village of Mace, which his father-in-law had entered from the government. However, he decided to abandon agriculture, when twenty-four years old, and turn his attention to the business world, and with that end in view he came to Crawfordsville, where, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Harvey N. Christman, and Jesse W. Cumberland, opened a hardware store on the site where the first court house of

Montgomery county stood. The firm was one that commanded respect and trade. Part of the time Mr. Gregg was sole owner. He continued to be actively engaged with this firm, with the exception of six months, when he went to Oregon, by way of New York City, the .Vtlantic ocean, crossing tiie Isthmus of Panama, and thence by the Pacific ocean. He went with the intention of locating in the far West, and he had ([uite a party of people with him, including his son, O. M. Gregg, then only sixteen years old. On account of being so well known in Montgomery county, and not finding conditions entirely to his liking in Oregon, Mr. Gregg decided to return to his native heath; whereupon he purchased the store, and in 1870. ui)on the graduation of his son, our subject, took him in as a partner, wliich firm, enjoying the distsinction of being, with one exception, the largest of its kind in the state, continued successfully until 1881, when Samuel H. Gregg was forced to retire on account of failing health. About that time he was patentee on barbed wire fencing, and the Indiana Wire Fence Company was organized, of which the elder Gregg was a large stockholder and director and continued as a director in the same until his death. He was one of the leading business men and citizens of his day and generation, was widely known and highly esteemed by all. Politically, he was a Republican, but made no effort to be a public man. .Fraternally, he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in his earlier life, and religiously he was a Methodist.

In 1847 Samuel H. Gregg and Sarah L. Christman were married. She was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Phillips) Christman. She was born in North Carolina. Her parents were early settlers here, Jacob Christman having opened fanns in Walnut and Union townships, living there many years. He was very active in politics, and was county commissioner from 1 84 1 to 1847, ^""^ ^^'^s at one time a delegate to a national Republican convention. He was a very strong abolitionist and had much to do with "underground railroad" work during the period of the War of the Rebellion. He was a successful farmer and was well known throughout the county, where he was a leader in public affairs.

Three children were born to Jacob and Mary Christman, namely: Caroline, who died when seven years old; Han'ey N., who was in partnership on a farm with Samuel H. Gregg, also in the hardware business with him; and Sarah Louisa, mother of the subject of this sketch; her death occurred in 1861.

an excellent record and from which he was graduated with the class of 1870 and at once began his long business career, which has been spent in Crawfonlsville. At that time his father was proprietor of a large hardware store in the Ixiilding now occupied by the furniture store of the grocery firm of Barnhill, Hornaday & Pickett, and the son was taken in as a partner. Our subject practically had charge of the business the last fi\'e years preceding 1 88 1, when the store was sold. They were also at that time part owners of Seawright & Company for about three years. It was at this time that O. M. Gregg's career as a manufacturer began, and it has continued ever since, and if the total pay-roll of the concerns he has fostered and promoted were to be given it would be an enormous sum and would to some extent show what he has done for the laboring class of Crawfordsville. On the organization of the Indiana Wire Fence Company, he was made treasurer and manager of the company, which responsible position he continued to hold in a manner that reflected credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the stockholders until 1900, when it was sold to the American Steel & Wire Company. Mr. Gregg was president of the Columbia Wire Fence Company, of Chicago, a corporation owning all the patents on barb wire and on machinery for making barb wire. The firm was ably managed and was in fine condition. The firm started several young men in life. During this period our subject was also one of the leading spirits of the Dovetail Buggy Company, and one of the most heavily interested financial backers of the same. This firm made buggies, the bodies of which were put together by a patented process of dovetailing instead of screwing and nailing. He w^as one of the promoters of the organization of the Crawfordsville Wirebound Box Company, besides many other smaller financial enterprises. He was a director of the Elston National Bank from the time it was organized a few years ago until recently, when he resigned. He was largely instrumental in the organization of the Gregg, Coutant & Gregg mitten and glove factory, which began operation in the Y. M. C. A. building a few years ago and grew to large proportions later, when it was removed to the present factory building on East Main street. Mr. Coutant retired a few years ago and the company has since been known as the Gregg Glove Company. It recently was disposed of along with two other factories belonging to the same company, each employing about one hundred people, to the Boss Manufacturing Company, of Kewanee, Illinois. Charles M. Gregg, son of our subject, who was the manager and secretary of these three plants, was retained by the Boss company to manage the three plants.

concern in wliicli our subject proved his superior ijusiness acumen. He made it a great success, manufacturing wire under tlie patents perfected by his father. This company started operations in a small way in a part of the building now occupied by the Smith & Duckworth planing mill and later grew so rapidly that the buildings which now serve as the factory of the Indiana Match Corporation were constructed and occupied. Here the business was materially enlarged by the addition of more har])ed wire machines. Wire nails, staples, and woven wire fence were addetl to the mitpul of tiic factory. This company enjoyed a large and lucrative business all over llie country for a period of ten years, when it was sold, as stated above, to the trust, in 1889. The new owners removed the machinery from the buildings and ceased operations. This threw a large number of men out of eni])loyment.

This condition made the organization of a new company very desirable. and O. AI. Gregg decided to form a match company, which he did. The new company took over the property of the Indiana Wire Fence Company and began the manufacture of square matches and continued with very gratifying success until the trade on the square match fell off until it was not protitable to manufacture them any longer. The new Indiana Match Corporation was then organized to take over the property of the old Indiana Match Company, and at the commencement of the year 19 12 the suliject of this sketch retired from the active management of the concern when the prospects for the new company were very bright as a result of his al)le management and wise foresight, he having been the president and general manager of the old match company from first to last. The firm has made an excellent showing since the organization of the present company and began making round matches. The pay-roll of the Indiana Match Company for the past ten years has been eighty thousand dollars per year. That does not include the pay-roll of the Gregg Glove Compan}- which has for the last sexeral years kept about one hundred employes at eacli of their three plants. I'rom this concern our subject retired in 1911, in which year he also retired as director of the Elston National Bank; but for a period of forty years there was no let up in his strenuous endeavors. There have been few working days that he has not been at the helm and there were few evenings that he did not visit his office. For several months prior to January, 191 2, Mr. Gregg has been systematically retiring from the active business of a man who for more than forty years has been one of the strong moving forces of the commercial life of Crawfordsville. His work has been of a kind that has made Crawfordsville a better town, both morally and physically. His voice has always been raised in the interest of the church, the Young Mens Christian Association, the Civic League and similar organizations. He was president of the local Young Mens Christian Association for a period of fifteen years, and in that time saw its organization, witnessed its growth and passed through a strenuous debt paying campaign. He has ser\ed two terms as president of the state Young Mens Christian Association and is still director of that organization, being one of the two directors who has served the longest. He has done a most noble work for the youth of the state in this connection and has received the praise of every one having knowledge of the same. He has long been an active member of Center church and was one of the prime movers and most active workers of the Civic League as well as in the fight for the cause of temperance in Crawfordsville. He is and has been for years a trustee of Wabash College. He was for years a member of the school board of Crawfordsville. and did much to help develop the present unexcelled school system. He was elected prior to the completion of what is now known as the old Central building, and during his tenure of office the Mills building" and the Lincoln school were erected, the old Willson school property was purchased, and extensive repairs were made. When the Orphans Home was established, Mr. Gregg was active in the industrial work and was elected its first secretary and was closely allied with the work for the fatherless for many years. He has been active in the work of the Mission Sunday school.

Politically, Mr. Gregg is a Republican, but has ne^'er sought political honors, preferring to devote his time exclusively to business and other affairs. He belongs to the Ouiatenon Club, also belongs to the Country Club, of which he was one of the organizers. He is at present a member of the Commercial Clubs of both Crawfordsville and Indianapolis. He was formerly a member of the L^niversity Clitb of Indianapolis.

Mr. Gregg was married on March 7, 1872, to Julia B. Mills, a lady of culture, education and refinement, who has proven to be a most faith fful helpmeet, whose sympathy and encouragement have gone far toward the large success of her husband. She is a daughter of the distinguished Indiana educator. Prof. Caleb Mills, a complete sketch of whose life and family appears on other pages of this column.

To Orpheus M. Gregg and wife have been born three children, namely: Frederick Marshall, born January 23, 1873, ^^i^ died January 12, 1910 at the age of thirty-seven years, when in the very prime of life and when giving great promise of a brilliant business career ; at the time of his death he was secretary of the Indiana Match Company, treasurer of the Central States

Life Insurance Cniiipany, and was iiopular al)out the city nf liis nati\it\. lie graduated from Wabash College in 1S93. He belonged tc; the .Masunic Order, and the Center Presbyterian church. He was a director and president of the Young Mens Christian Association. He was married to Minnie Smalley, who, with an infant daughter, Caroline, sunives. Charles Moores Gregg, our subject's second child, was born on October 4, 1875, ^"f' has become one of the leading Inisiness men of Crawfordsville of the younger generation. He is at this writing manager of the Boss Glove Company, of which mention has pre\iously Ijeen made in this sketch. He is prominent in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree; he is a Knights Templar, and belongs to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of Center Presbyterian church. He graduated from Wabash College in 1895. He married Alta J. Rusk on Xovember 1. IQOO. Caleb Mills Gregg, the youngest of our subject's children, was born June 6, 1881, and died on May 6, 1908,, when twenty-seven }ears of age. He too, was a young man of fine mind, good address and of much promise. He graduated at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, frt)m the mechanical and electrical engineering departments, with the class of 1Q03. He was in the employ of the Public Service Corporation in Xew Jersey for three }ears, giving eminent satisfaction, until his health failed, being seized by walking typhoid fever and pneumonia from which he did not recover.

Personally. Orpheus M. Gregg is a man whom it is a pleasure to meet, being a companionable, genial and fair-minded gentleman, always ])olite, obliging and charitably inclined, and he numbers his friends only by the limits of his acquaintance, and that indeed, is quite extensive.

No man in Alontgomery county is more deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by the general public than William Melvin Hatton, one of the able and popular, faithful and conscientious county commissioners, and for many years one of our leading agriculturists. He is a man of broad mind and correct habits, believing in progress in all lines of endeavor, and is an advocate of good government and clean living.

Mr. Hatton comes of a fine old family of the Wabash countr-y, and while much of his life has been spent in and about the town of Wingate. this county, he is a native of Fountain county, his birtli ha\ing occurred in Logan township, on October 6, 1849. He is a son of Thomas Schooler Hatton and Julia Ann (Swank) Hatton, and the grandson of William Hatton and wife, natives of Ohio.

William M. Hatton was reared on the home farm where he worked hard when a boy, remaining in this line of endeavor until 1878. He received his education in the common schools. When about thirty years old he purchased a farm in Fountain county, which he managed with much success until 1887 when he sold out and purchased his present fine farm in Coal Creek township, Montgomery county, which he has since operated on an extensive scale, keeping it well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and handling an excellent grade of live stock. He moved to his pleasant home in Wingate in 1905.

Mr. Hatton has long taken an abiding interest in the afifairs of his county, and in 19 10 he was elected county commissioner which position he has since held in a most acceptable and praiseworthy manner, doing much in the meantime for the permanent good of the county. He however, will not be a candidate for the office again, much to the regret of his constituents and friends. He is loyal to the Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Masonic Order, also belongs to the Methodist church.

Mr. Hatton was married on March 27, 1873 to Nancy Catherine Houts, a native of Fountain county, Indiana, of Pennsylvanian ancestry. Her birth occurred on December 17, 1850, and she grew to womanhood and was educated in Fountain county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hatton have been born two children, Charles E., who is farming in Coal Creek township; and Clarence Lee, who is a hardware merchant at Wingate.

Charles M. Goff

.\ worthy representative of the Goff family that has played such an important part in the upbuilding of Montgomery county during the past half century or more is Charles M. Gofif, a prosperous farmer and business man of Wingate, Coal Creek township, near where he has a well stocked and equipped farm, which is in a good state of cultivation, and its improvements are of a high order, and the place is adorned with a neat and well-built residence, and there are commodious barns and other convenient outbuildings. Grain and all products common in this part of the country thrive on the rich soil of the farm, and our subject raises standard stock of various kinds. He has accumulated his valuable property himself by judicious management of his affairs. Personally, he is very genial, with a cheery word for all, and his neighbors and associates generally hnd in him a warm and steadfast friend, whose many fine traits of head and heart make him thoroughly respected and esteemed throughout the community where his entire life has been spent.

Mr. Goff was born on December 23, 1869 in Montgomery county, Indiana. He is a son of Edward and Mary J. (Shelley) Goff. The father was born in the state of New York on June 18, 1834, and there he grew to manhood and received his education in the early schools. He remained in the Empire state a number of years coming to Indiana in 1856 while still single, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1909. In early life he taught school awhile, but later turned his attention to farming which he made his chief vocation through life. He was a man of good intellect, a hard worker and honorable. His wife, mother of our subject was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1844 and her death occurred in 1888. Five children were bom to these parents, four of whom are still living.

Charles M. Goff received a good common school education, and he grew to manhood on the parental farm where he worked when he became of proper age, during the crop seasons. On Decemljer 2^, 1891, he married Matie Alexander. She was born August 24, 1872. She received a good common school education.

Five children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Pearl, who married Ward Graves, was born on July 18, 1893, and they have one child, Lois Yvonne, born February 11, 1913; Marie was born March 23, 1895; Louis was born on May 8, 1896; Gladys was born on March 18, 1899; Olive was born on August 6, 1907. These children are all attending school but the oldest and youngest, and are making excellent grades; Gladys had the honor of receiving the highest grade of any pupil in Montgomery county in the graded schools, and was also next to the youngest to graduate from the Wingate school. She is now in her second year in high school.

Mr. Goff began farming for himself when young and this has remained his principal vocation, however, he owned a large lumber yard at Wingate for some time, and is now dealing considerably in real estate there. He has been very successful in whatever line he has directed his efforts and is one of the substantial men of this part of the county. He is the owner of three hundred and seventy acres of rich land, one hundred and sixty acres of which lie in Coal Creek township, and two hundred and ten acres in Wayne township. (74)

Ii7D Montgomery County, Indiana

Politically, he is a Democrat and takes an interest in local affairs, however he is not a seeker after public office. He belongs to the Baptist church at Elmdale.

Aetna B. Curtis

Aetna B. Curtis, one of the leading and most progressive agriculturists of Coal Creek township, Montgomery county, has proved what one can accomplish who has industry, application and foresight while yet young in years. His family name is an honored one all over the land. Prominent citizens of varied professions and business, distinguished authors, orators, judges, statesmen, soldiers and farmers have borne the name of Curtis, and all alike, both rich and ix)or, have been the descendants of .sterling English ancestry. More than two centuries ago tlie name of Curtis was a familiar one among the struggling colonists who laid the firm foundation of our national independence. But in whatex'er field members of this old family have labored that have, been known as earnest, honest, intelligent workers, leaders in their several communities.

Aetna B. Curtis was born in the township and county where he now resides on May i6, 1884. He is a son of Daniel W. and Julia A. (Stout) Curtis, a well known family of farmers of this county.

Daniel Curtis was undoubtedly named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Daniel Curtis, who was a native of Maryland and a man of more than ordinary courage and ability. He served as a soldier in the early history of the United States, and afterward, marrying a Miss Pocock, also a native of Maryland and a lady of excellent family connections, transmitted to his descendants the love of his country and the ardent patriotism of the true American. This couple became the parents of eight children, most of whom lived to marry and rear children of their own. They were Levi, Jane, Joseph, Mary, James, Temperance, Wesley.

Levi, the eldest son, was the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 181 7. He married Elizabeth Dick who was bom in Hartford county, Maryland, in 1821, the daughter of Adam and Temperance (Wadlow) Dick. Adam Dick was a native of Pennsylvania, a worthy man and a good citizen. He was also a soldier in our earlier wars. The parents of Daniel Curtis settled in Montgomery

Daniel Curtis enjoyed the advantages afforded by the ilistrict schools. and grew up to manhood amid the scenes and early associations of his life. He was married when twenty-five years of age to Julia Stout, which union resulted in the birth of two children, one of whom died in infanc\-; the other being Aetna B., of this sketch.

Daniel Curtis became a well known manufacturer of tile at the town of Wingate, and he also devoted much of his life to farming. As a tiller of the soil he had a wide experience and profitable results. His father left him an inheritance of three hundred and thirty acres of valuable land, and, as a wise investment, Daniel Curtis added to his farming property a fine tract of four hundred acres of land. In 1881 Mr. Curtis bought an interest with Maurice J. Lee in the tile mill business, of which he had the management during the rest of his life. At the expiration of five years he purchased Mr. Lee's interest, and from 1886 until his death he was sole proprietor of the business which he built up to large proportions through his able management. honest dealings and wise foresight.

Daniel Curtis was not a politician in the ordinary acceptation of the term, but he was well informed as to the matters of his da_\-. especially the conduct of local affairs, and was a Democrat, adhering strictly to his party's principles. I^'j'aternally, Mr. Curtis was identified with the Knights of Pythias, and socially had a host of friends in the community where he spent his life. He was born in 1853, and he was called to his eternal rest on November 17, 1902, at the age of forty-nine years, when in the prime of life, having been born in the year 1853 and spent his life here. His widow is still living, making her home with her son, Aetna B., of this sketch, and she is now fifty-five years old.

Aetna B. Curtis grew to manhood on the home farm and he recei\ed his education in the common schools of Wingate and Depauw University at Greencastle. Early in life he turned his attention to farming and is still active, being now the owner of one of the finest and most desirable farms in the northwestern part of the county, consisting of four hundred and ninetytwo acres, which is under a high state of improvement and cultivation, and where general fanning and stock raising are carried on extensively. He has an attractive home and numerous substantial outbuildings. Everything about the place denotes good management and thrift.

ter of Jolin H. and Jennie E. (McCarty) Burd, both natives of Iowa, where they continued to reside until Mr. Burd's death two years ago, after which the mother moved to California where she now resides.

Religiously, Mr. Curtis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Knights of Pythias at Wingate; Free and Accepted Masons, No. 633, Mercer Lodge; the Commandery at Crawfordsville, the Scottish Rite at Indianapolis, and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Murat Temple, also at Indianapolis.

Henry E. Tennant

One who was amply rewarded for his toil as a husbandman and who at the same time so ordered his life as to gain and retain the good will and respect of his neighbors and acquaintances was Henry E. Tennant, well known agriculturist and stock raiser of Scott township, Montgomery county, a descendant of the well known and influential Tennant family of Putnam county, the good reputation of which he ever kept unsullied.

Mr. Tennant was born in Putnam county, Indiana, November 3, 1856. He was a son of Elijah and Mary E. (Chenoweth) Tennant* The father was born near Lexington, Kentucky, and he came to Putnam county, Indiana, in a very early day, probably soon after the county was settled. Mary E. Chenoweth was a daughter of John W. Chenoweth and wife, her family having come from near Hai-per's Ferry, Virginia, and drove a stage from Baltimore north over the mountains. When Mary E. was a girl about fifteen years old her people came to Putnam county, Indiana, prior to the days of railroads in this state. Her father was a slave owner and one of the old negroes on their plantation followed him to Greencastle, and Mr. Chenoweth took care of her the rest of her life. The elder Chenoweth thought it wrong to sell slaves and divide their families, so he was good to those about him. When they were freed some of them refused to leave and remained with him.

The parents of our subject were married in Putnam county, and there they began farming about a mile and a half south of Greencastle. In 1862 when our subject was six years old, his father died, leaving a widow and two children, Henry E., of this sketch; and Lawrence, both of whom are deceased. Lawrence lived at Brazil, Indiana, his' death occurring there March,

1901. Henry E. Tennaiit died in the city of Indianapolis mh June i_', 1913. The mother of these two children married again, her second husband being John R. Miller, and they soon afterward moved to Parke county, where our subject grew to manhood, and there he attended the common schools, later was a student at Merome College, south of Terre Haute in Sullivan count)-. He then returned to his Parke county home. In 1877 he bought a farm on Big Raccoon creek in Parke county, about one hundred and fifty-five acres, and there he lived some time before his marriage, which occurred in December. 1879, when he le dto the altar Sarah J. Miller, daughter of Jacob B. and Elizabeth (Kerr) Miller. She was born and reared in Parke county, as was also her father, and these parents spent the rest of their lives in this locality. Jacob B. Miller was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bell) Miller. The elder Miller was a pioneer of Parke county, coming there before there were an\- roads or any improved farms, indeed, when Indians were still numerous.

After the marriage of our subject and wife they remained on his farm in Parke county three years, then sold out and bought a place in Champaign county, Illinois, and was there three years, then moved back to Parke count)-, remaining there another three years, then mo\-ed to \^ermiIlion county, where they purchased one huntlred and twenty acres of good land near Dana. Remaining there about nine years, then came to Montgomery count)- and settled about a mile south of Browns Valley, buying there the Robert Goff farm, which they operated about three years, then returned to Parke county, living south of Bellmore two years. They then came to the southwestern part of Scott township, Montgomery county, where they remained about nine years, Mr. Tennant securing two farms there, one of one hundred and fortytwo acres in section 30, and another of fifty acres in section 29. He resided on the latter. His one hundred and ninety-two acres are well improved and kept well cultivated.

Mrs. Tennant's mother died on January 6, 1864 and her father survived many years, passing away on November 19. 1896 at the old home where he spent his life.

Mr. Tennant's mother had four children by her second marriage, namely : Mrs. Lizzie Jeffries, Daniel Miller, Robert Miller, and Mrs. Effie Bullion.

Mrs. Tennant's brothers and sisters are Mrs. Mary E. Smock, Marion Miller, Mrs. Sarah J. Tennant, Mrs. Rosella Sellers, Thomas O. Miller, Cora E. Miller and Robert O. Miller.

Mr. and Mrs. Tennant had one daughter, Mary T., wife of Charles N. Nicholas. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas live on Mr. Tennant"s farnr in section 30, Scott township. They have one daughter, Lelah.

Mr. Tennant's step-father died in January, 1897. Our subject's mother lived for a short time with her children. She spent the last four years of her life with the subject of this sketch, and died at his home on August 31, 191 1.

The name of James Milton Nicholas, Jr., is too well known to the people of Scott township and the southern part of the county of which this book treats to need any special comment here. He comes of an excellent old pioneer family who braved the wilds of this section of the Hoosier state when it was still regarded as the frontier, and in Montgomery and Putnam counties the Nicholas family has been well and favorably known for many decades, for they have not onlv been industrious in their affairs, but have been public spirited and led exemplary lives, thus inspiring admiration in others.

Mr. Nicholas was born on July 20, 1853 in the northern edge of Putnam county. He is a son of James Milton, Sr., and Manda Catherine (Hester) Nicholas. The father was bom on August 7, 1822 at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and was a son of Charles and Ruth Nicholas, of Mt. Sterling, at which place Charles Nicholas followed blacksmithing.

It was about 1828 that the Nicholas family left the Blue Grass state and came to Putnam county, Indiana, entering land from the government in the northern part of the county, settling in the heavy timber, which they cleared from the \'irgin soil and established the family home, and there the parents spent their lives, along the line of Putnam county, near Parkersburg, and it was in that locality that James M. Nicholas, Sr., grew to manhood and engaged in farming all his life with much success, finally becoming the owner of six hundred and forty acres at one time. He was active in the Republican party, and frequently refused to accept office. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist church.

Catherine Hester, mentioned above, was a daughter of Adam and Ann M. (Van Zandt) Hester, and was a sister of. James M. Hester, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and which gives more of the Hester ancestrv.

James Al. Xicholas, Sr., died on Alay 20, lyoo. He had been married on Octol>er 15, 1846 to Amanda Hester, which union proved to be a singularly happy one and their home was a Christian home. Tiiey were loyal to their God and their church - the Methodist Episcopal. Eleven children were bcirn to them, eight of whom survived. The father was familiarl\- known id nearly everybody in that locality as "I'ncle Jim." His last words to his children were, "Don't forget to be gx)(>d to the poor." \]y juilicious management be had accumulated a large, valuable farm and was one of the substantial men of his township. He was always ready to respond lil>erally to the call of those in need. He was a positive character, decided in his opinions, and when sure he was right could not be swerved from his dut}- as he saw it. His schooling was obtained in the old log school house, described in another part of this work. Yet he became a well educated man, kept books and accounts of all his business and amassed six hundred and forty acres. He and his wife started with nothing but tbe\- worked bard and managed well, b'or a period of fifty years he was an official in the Methodist church in which he and his wife were faithful workers. Her death occurred on January n. 1899. She was a cheerful, strong-mindetl and kindly woman who clid much to encourage and help her husband in his struggle for success.

James M. Nicholas, Jr., lived on his father's farm near Raccoon until his marriage. He received a good common school education. On September 12, 1875 he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Mary Alice Dawson, daughter of William Riley Dawson and Elizabeth Rebecca (Tyler) Dawson. She was born near Fincastle, Indiana, and when a child her parents moved to Carpentersville. Her father was a life-long schot)l teacher and his services were in great demand in the early days here. He was a native of Tennessee, and bis wife was born in Kentucky, and she was a sister of James M. Ta\lor, of Ladoga, a sketch of whom appears herein. William R. Dawson was a graduate at Greencastle, and he taught in a number of the schools in Putnam county and a host of Putnam county people still remember with keenest feelings their old school teacher. He is a grand old man, .scholarly, kind nid genial, beloved by everybody. He has attained the advanced age of ninetv' years and is living at Bainbridge, Indiana. The death of the mother of Mrs. Nicholas occurred in March, 1872, at the age of thirty-six years. When Mrs. Nicholas was a girl the family li\ed a few years in Missouri and Iowa. but spent their lives for the mtjst jjart in Putnam county.

After his marriage Mr. Nicholas began farming for himself in the southwestern part of Scott township, Montgomery county. Part of his land ex- tends just across the line into Putnam county. He has worked hard, managed well and has more than doubled his original holdings, being now one of the substantial and influential farmers of the southern part of the couaty. He has given his sons a good start in life and now has one hundred and ninety acres of finely improved land, mostly in Scott township, and he has a good set of buildings there, and an excellent grade of live stock is to be seen about his place.

To Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas have been born two sons, Arthur Carleton, whose birth occurred on October 21, 1876; and Charles William, born Octoand they have three children, Ina Myrtle, Agnes Marie and Gail Belle ; Ina is ber fi. 1878. The elder son married Gertie Allnutt on Februaiy 4, 1897 attending high school in Russellville. Arthur owns a farm of fifty-eight acres north of Parkersburg and he and his father are farming their two farms in partnership. Charles W. Nicholas married Mary Tennant November I, igo6, and they have one daughter, Lela Elizabeth. Charles \\'. is operating the farm owned by his father-in-law, Henry E. Tennant, near Parkersburg.

James M. Nicholas is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and Knights of Pythias. He and his wife, also their children and families are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Asbury Linn

Success has come to Asbury Linn, one of the best known and substantial, citizens of Linnsburg, Montgomery county, in a number of different ways and he has proved that he is a man of many parts, capable of directing to a successful termination many things. He has in his long, varied and interesting career been fanner, merchant, lumberman, doing a large and successful business in all these lines. He has always sought to do well whatever was worth dping at all, and this and other equally praiseworthy ideas have no doubt been responsible in a large measure for his large material reward. He has dealt honestly with his fellow men and has as a result gained and retained the good will and esteem of all with whom he has come into contact, whether in a business or social way.

1849. He is a son of John and Susanna (Fender J Linn. Tlie father was born in Ohio on August 4, 1800, and his father was l>orn on Xoveniher _>S, 1771, in Pennsylvania, from which state he renioxed to Ohicj wiien young and there spent the rest of his hfe, dying in 1846, at the age of seventy-five vears. After his death the father of our subject came to Indiana and settled in Montgomery county where Linnsburg now stands. He was a brick mason by trade and he spent the rest of his life in this county. He married Anna Slaback in 1822. She died in 1843 at the age of thirty-eight years. To this union three children were born. John Linn then married, in 1843, Susanna Fender, to W'hich two children were born, namely : Mrs. Emmaline Peterson ; and Asbury, of this sketch. The motiier of tliese two children was called to her eternal rest at an advanced age on July 11, igoo, having survived her husband, our subject's father, over a half century, he liaving died in Sejitember, 1858, when young in years.

Thus deprived of his fathers guidance w hen a mere child, Asburv Linn found responsibilities resting on him when (|uite young, but this proved to Ije of value in forming his character for the after battles of life and he accepted the discouraging situation without a murmur. He had little chance to obtain an educa.tion, but later in life made up for this lack by actual contact witli the business world and wide reading.

On January 23, 1868, Mr. Linn began a new chapter in liis life bv marrying Martha J. Rasher, daughter of a pioneer family of Montgomery county, in which Mrs. Linn grew to womanhood and was educated. To the union of our subject and wnfe the following children have been born : Ciiarles F., born April 9. 1869; Edwin T., born November 28, 1870; Everett X., born October 5, 1872; Grace D., born January 5, 1874, married John O. Peck, and had one child, Clayton; Grace died July, 1904; Neola Fern, born December 21, 1886, and married Wilbert Chambers, and they have two children, Doris and Max. Martha J. Linn, the wife of our subject, died in July, 1904, the same month as her daughter, Grace.

Mr. Linn w-as married a second time, on May 6, 1906, to Tolitha E. Patterson, nee Brown, the daughter of William H. and Nancy J. ( Routh) Brown.

James W. Patterson, the first husband of Mr. Linn's second wife, was born January 11, 1859, in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and at the age of eight years came to Montgomery county with his parents, Jamestown and Polly Patterson, who located in Walnut township and followed farming all of their lives. Mr. Patterson suffered an unfortunate accident, and his spinal cord was broken. Contrary to medical knowledge and experience, he lived, and, although paralxzed, he kept the breath of life many years. The accident happened while driving into a double crib or granary, the wagon being loaded with sacks of wheat protruding over the front end of the wagon box. He was sitting on the front sacks with his feet and legs hanging over the front, supposing that by bending over there was plenty of space above the door for him to pass under. But there was not. His body was bent over and wetlgetl in so tightly between the wagon and the top of the door that it stop]K'd the team. He heard his liack crack and felt it break and from that time there was ne\er an}- feeling or mo\-ement from the middle of the back downward. He had presence of mintl all the time and directed the men about him tt) deliver him from his terrible position.

Many eminent surgeons saw I\Ir. Peterson and one of the best of Chicago performed (in the presence of many surgeons) an operation, cutting into the spinal column and dissecting quite a number of pieces of bone. After this it was hoped he would have the use of his limbs, but this was denied to him. He laid upon his bed all those years, with the exception of one trip to Crawfordsville, one to Ladoga, and one to Jamestown. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, Pearl}-, Ernest and Charles. Mr. Patterson had four sisters and two brothers, namely : John B., Thomas, and one sister in A'irginia and one in Missouri, Mrs. James Walker and Mrs. Finch. Mr. Patterson \vas a member of the Presliyterian church.

To return to the subject of our sketch, Mr. Linn began farming when a young man and got a good start in life. Later he turned his attention to merchandising at Linsburg, which place was named for the Linn family. The town was formerly known as Mace. Linnsburg is laid out on the old John Linn homestead. In this place Asbury Linn built up an extensive trade with the surrounding country, and was finally appointed postmaster, which position he held with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned for a period of seventeen years, during which time he was actively engaged in the stock business with good success, in partnership with M. E. Edwards. Later he entered the lumber business, and in due time was carrying on an extensive trade with the surrounding country, continuing the same for a period of three years, then retired from active life and is now serenely spending his declining years at Linnsburg.

Politically. Mr. Linn is a Republican, but he has never been ambitious to be a public man. For a period of seven years he was a member of the advisory board ot his township, filling the office in a highly commendable manner. l*"raternally, he is a cliarter member uf tlie Kni.i;lns df I'ytliias lodge at Mace, Indiana, which he joined on October 19. 1^74. Iveliuimisly, he was reared in the faith of the Methodists, from whicli lie has not departed.

Robert Hugh Hodgkin

One of ^[ontgomery county's successful farmers is R()l)ert liugii Hodgkin of Brown township, a worthy descendant of one of the early families of this section of the Hoosier state, and here he has been content to spend his life and has ne\er cared for other lines of endea\-or than hus])andry, and, having thus given it his undivided attentiiin for many decades it is no wonder that he has succeeded and now owns a \alual)le farm and has a comfortable home.

Mr. Hodgkin was born in Parke county, Indiana, March 31, 1S53. and he is a son of Edward C. and Dianna ( Scott ) Hodgkin, the former a natixe of England and the latter a native of Scotland. The father emigrated to the United States when a young man, landing in New York City and remained in the East for many years, and there got his education, studying for a minister in the Episcopal church. He finally came to Fort Wayne. Indiana, where he preached and taught school, subsetpiently joining the Christian denomination, and he became widel}- known in that part of the state and was popular with the people where\'er he went, for he was not onl\- a scholarly man and an earnest, forceful speaker but was a man of genial address, always obliging and delighted in helping others, and the good he did in that early day cannot be estimated. He preached and taught school all his life. He finall}' came on to Parke county and established the permanent home of the family and there his son, our subject was born. The elder Hodgkin spent the rest of his days, teaching and preaching in Putnam and Parke counties, his death occurring in the town of Russellville in 1S66 where he was connected with the Russellville Academy, at the early age of fort\-se\cn years.

Rev. Edward C. Hodgkin was twice married, and two children were born by his first wife, namely, Frank and I'red. Six children were the result of his second union, named as follows: Henry. Charley. John, Robert Hugh (our subject), William and Edward.

Robert H. Hodgkin received his education in the common schools of Putnam county and the Russellville Academy, then took up farming for his life work and this he has continued to follow to the present time with ever increasing success. As a general farmer and stock raiser he has shown himself to l^e eminently capable. He is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres 'of valuable and well tilled land in Brown township, which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation and improvement. Everything looks prosperous and well up-to-date about his place, showing good management and good taste.

Mr. Hodgkin was married on Sei)tember 12, 1878 to Clara Cowan, daughter of Aaron and Sarah (Crist) Cowan, wlio were early settlers in Montgomery county and here became well known and well established through their industry, in fact, they were among the first settlers, and entered land from the government which they transformed into a good farm. This place is now owned by Mr. Hodgkin, of this review.

Seven children have been born to Robert H. Hodgkin and wife, namely: Ethel, who married .\ndrew^ Stilwell ; Jessie, who married Raymond Deese : Nellie married Ir\-in Deese : Mary, Earl, Nelia and Rutli are all li\'ing at home.

Politically, Mr. Hodgkin is a loyal Republican and has long been active in the ranks. As a member of the advisory board of Brown township for a period of twelve years he did excellent work, and is still serving in that capacity, doing much for the general good of the community and winning the hearty approval of all concerned. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a trustee in the local congregation for a period of six years, in fact, has long been a pillar in the same. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the lodge Rathbone Xo. 2^2. at \\'a\eland.

Franz O'Neall Myers, one of the most progressive of Montgomery county's younger farmers and a worthy representative of two of the honored pioneer families of this section of the Hoosier state is a man who takes an abiding delight in nature and existence, because he has been in touch with the springs of life.

Mr. Myers was born in Scott township, Montgomery county, on the farm where he now lives, one mile west of Ladoga, September 4, 1885. He is a son of J. Frantz and Sarah E. (O'Neall) Myers. The father of our subject was born also in the house where the immediate subject of this sketch lives. He was a son of William Mvers, who was a son of John Myers, Sr., who was the principal actor in the early development of Ladoga and \icinity. He was the first of the family we can trace definitely. The family is of German origin, and emmigration was made to the United States in the Colonial days. John Myers, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, about 1770, was married in 1791 to Katherine Hantz, who was born in 1775. Soon after their marriage they moved to Botetourt county, Virginia, where they became owners of two hundred acres of land. Eight children were born to them, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely: John, Jr., David, Henry, William, Catherine, Sallie, Elizabeth and Nancy.

About the year 1828 John Myers, Jr., came to the site of Ladoga. Montgomery county, Indiana, and prior to the spring of 1830 he had purchased three hundred and twenty acres which joined the mill site south of Ladoga, and in 1830 he brought his family here. In 183 1 John Myers, Sr., and son Henry, and nephew, Mathias Frantz came on horseback to Ladoga to visit John Myers, Jr. The senior Myers was then sixty years old. He was so favorably impressed with the possibilities of the new country that he returned to Virginia, sold his land and other property for six thousand dollars, which sum he put in chest, which he loaded into a big wagon, piling furniture on top. Hitching four large horses to the outfit he started with his wife, youngest son William, son Henry and his family, and with a goodly party of others came overland to this county, arriving at Ladoga in the fall of 1833, their big prairie schooner, although nothing new to the pioneers, yet attracting much attention. When John Myers, Jr. was building the first flour mill there, William, the youngest brother of John, Jr., then a boy of nineteen, was sent to the Ohio river and brought back the machinery. John Myers, Sr., bought a great deal of land in and about Ladoga and between there and Parkersburg, aggregating thirteen hundred and four acres. He was a man of great vigor of mind and body as is shown by the fact that at sixty years of age when financially able to take his ease he moved from the home of his early life to what was then the western frontier and founded a new home where his children could have more abundant opportunities. It was his money and public spirit that made possible the fostering of private enterprises and building up the town of Ladoga. His death occurred in 1841, and he is buried in the cemetery at the south edge of Ladoga. He and his wife were members of the German Baptist church, and lived strictly in accord with their religious opinions. They were given to many acts of hospitality and charity, often providing a home for persons until they could provide a home for themselves. In her earlier married life Mrs. Myers weaned one of her own children so she could rear her sister's child. Mathias Frantz, who was left an orphan when a few days old. A leading trait of their character was industry. They loved work and were never idle. Mrs. Myers worked in the fields, and no one was a better reaper or swifter binder than she. After the flax was sown she did all the rest of the work, sheared the sheep and made the cloth, cut and made homespun clothes for all her children. She also had some ability as a milliner. Her death occurred in 1850 and she was buried beside her husband.

Her son William Myers, was born in 1816 in Botetourt county, Virginia, and was married here in 1836 to Lydia Harshbarger, daughter of Jacob and Salone (Ammen) Harshbarger. She was born in 1816 in Virginia, near Roanoke City, and came here with her parents in November, 1831. Her father was a man of affairs, well-to-do, and owned nearly three thousand acres near Ladoga. He was a religious man and of high moral character. William Myers' death occurred on March i, 1907.

After his marriage, William Myers went to housekeeping in a log cabin, on Raccoon creek, a half mile south of where Franz O. Myers now lives. It was new land and he cleared it, as he told his grandchildren in after years, "In those days we married to make a home. Now the young folks must have a home before marriage. I cleared this ground, your father ditched it. Now it is ready for you." He made a good farm of it and here he reared his family, seven children ha\ing been born to William Myers and wife, only four of whom are now living, namely: Mrs. Alice Baldwin, who lives east of Ladoga ; and Daniel A. Myers, who lives four miles northeast of Ladoga. Two other daughters, Mrs. Salome Graybill and Mrs. Mary Gill live in Kansas and Missouri.

One of the sons was Jacob Frantz Myers, father of Franz O'Neall Myers. He was born May 18, 1850 on the place where Franz O. Myers now resides. He and Sarah Ellen O'Neall were married in this locality in 1877. She was a daughter of Abijah and Ellen (Hall) O'Neall. She was born in Ripley township, this county April 25, 1854. Her mother was of Scotch- Irish blood and she came here from Ohio. Abijah O'Neall is mentioned in the sketch of William Q. O'Neall, appearing elsewhere in this work.

J. Franz Myers was a farmer all his life. He and his wife were Presbyterians. They lived all their married life on the farm where he was born and prospering with advancing years, he became owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he kept well improved and well cultivated and ranked among the successful and leading farmers of the southern part of the county. He was a man of exemplary character and was well and favorably known. He was active in the Republican party, but never sought office, being content to remain on his farm, always a man of modesty and plain manners.

He was, howexcr, a delegate to the state coinention that nomiiiateil (i<)\ernnr Mount with whom he was well acquainted, and was one of those whose earnest effoi-ts brought about the nomination of this distinguished son of Montgomery county. He was educated at Asbury (now DePauw) Uni\ersity and Smithson College, and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He was a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly at Washington, D. C. His death' occurred in November 24, 1903. His wife was educated at Smithson College. She was a strict Presbyterian and an earnest worker in the church. She was a good wife and mother and an excellent housekeeper. Her death occurred August 25, 1S93.

Franz O'Neall Myers, the immediate subject of this sketch, attended Wabash College and also took a year in the agricultural department at Purdue L'niversity, Lafayette, Indiana. He left school upon the death of his father and took charge of the farm where be now resides, and he has made a great success of operating the same, carrying on general farming and stock raising on a large scale, and keeping the place well improved and well cultivated.

On October 31, 1905, Mr. Myers married Chasie Bridges, daughter of John L. and Vina (Harris) Bridges. She was born, reared and partlv educated in Putnam county, where her father is a prosperous farmer and was county commissioner of Putnam county.

His farm known as "Fair Acres" is well named as all who ha\e seen it will readily acquiesce. It consists of three huntlred and twenty acres, and his wife owns eighty acres.

Everett L. Britton

The old Buckeye state has sent, during the pa.st century, a large number of her best and most desirable citizens into Montgomery county, Indiana, where they have been of inestimable aid in developing the newer country along the beautiful Wabash, and here they have established good homes and aided in all measures looking to good government and the highest degree of happiness of a free and intelligent people. Of this number the name of

Mr. Britton was born in Butler county, Ohio, on December 17, 1845, He is a son of Chancey and Elizabeth (Lewis) Britton. The father was born in the state of New York, and when a child he moved with his parents from the old Empire state to Ohio, where he became well established on a farm in Butler county, and there spent the rest of his life, dying on November 25, 1878. Politically, he was a Whig and was active in political affairs in his locality.

The mother of the subject of this sketch was also a native of New York, and her death occurred on January 25, 1870. These parents received the usual common school educations of their day. To them five children were born, the subject of this sketch being the only one now living. They were named as follows; Annis, John, Sidney, Emma, and Everett L., the latter being the youngest.

The Britton family moved to Montgomery county from Ohio and here Everett L. Britton grew to manhood on the home farm and did his share of the chores common to the farm, and he attended the common schools during the "winter months. On March 23, 1870, he married Mattie Mclntire, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on November 30, 1845. She is a daughter of Jacob and Mary Jane (Gray) Mclntire.

Mrs. Britton received a common school education. She has borne our subject one child, Lillian, born January 2, 1872, is single and living at home.

Mr. Britton has always followed farming, and he has lived on his present farm in Union township for the past twenty-five years. He has seventynine acres, all tillable but five acres. It is naturally drained. He carries on general farming and raises a good breed of live stock, having at present some good Hereford cattle.

Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order at Crawfordsville. He is a member of the L'nited Brethren church, and politically, is a Progressive.

Isaac S. Todd

One of the worthy native sons of Brown township, Montgomery county, who has been content to spend his life in his native community is Isaac S. Todd, one of the successful farmers and progressive citizens of the community and a man who has so ordered his daily life that he has kept untarnished the honored family name, for the Todds have been a highly re-

Mr. Todd was Ixjrn on Augnst 12, 1845, '" t'^'-'' township and county. He is a son of Johnson and Ruth Ann (VanCleave) Todd. The father was born in 1809 in Shelby county, Kentucky, and there he spent his earlier years, was educated in the common schools and removed to Indiana when young, and his death occurred here on March 13, 1870. His wife, Ruth A. Van- Clea\e. was born in Kentucky on July 17, 1823, and she came to Montgomery county, Indiana, with her parents when a baby, and here her death occurred on October 10, 1901. Here she grew to womanhood and recei\ed, like her husband, a somewhat limited education in the rural schools. Johnson Todd devoted his life to general farming and stock raising and he was very successful, for many years ranking among the leading tillers of the soil in the southwestern part of the county. He was twice married and his family consisted of fourteen children, two b}' his first wife and twelve by the second, our subject being one of the twelve. All this large family was well provided for and given educational advantages.

Isaac S. Todd grew to manhood on the home farm and lie received an excellent education in the common schools of his community. On January 30, 1868 he married Delilah Maddox, who was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, December 27, 1846, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated and she continued to live there until just before her marriage when she came to Montgomery county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Elijah and Emily (Todd) Maddox. Her father was born on January 11, 181 2 in Kentucky, and his death occurred on February 3, 1865. The mother of our subject's wife was born on February 14, 1814. in Kentuck}-. and her death occurred on July 17, 1853.

The wife of our subject was one of seven children born to Elijah Maddox. fi\e having been born by his first wife and two by his second wife.

The union of Isaac S. Todd and wife has been without issue, but they raised a boy, W. L. Todd, who married Grace Kelsey, and thev live in Crawfordsville.

Isaac S. Todd has always followed general farming and stock raising, and has become one of the leaders in these lines in the southern part of the county. His well improved, well tiled and producti\e farm consists of two hundred and three acres, all well located in Brown township. This land is all under cultivation but about seventy acres. He has ;i pleasant residence and large and conx'cnient outbuildings. (75)

Mr. Todd is a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Missionai-y Baptist church, and is a trustee in the same.

Mr. Todd was elected president of the Brown's Valley Grain Company, a large and prosperous concern, which is steadily growing, under the able management of our subject. A large business is carried on all over this section of the state. All kinds of grain, feed, coal, salt, cement, fence posts, etc., are handled. This company is incorporated with a capital stock of seven thousand and five hundred dollars. The other officers, besides Mr. Todd as president are Frank Wilkinson, \-ice-president ; Walter Sullivan, secretary ; and L. McLoed, treasurer.

The Ashbv Family'S Ancestry

There are numerous families of Ashbys in and about Ladoga, Montgomery county, and they are nearly or quite all of them prominent and intermarried w ith other prominent families of this locality. They all came from a common ancestry - Thompson and Lettice Ashby. Of the descendants of this couple none have l^een other than honorable and upright, respected citizens, and have played well their parts in the forward march of civilization as here inaugurated b\ the ])ra\e men and women a century ago, and are therefore eminently deserving of i)roniinent mention in the present work.