Montgomery County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1911 (part 7 of 14)

Orthel L. Osburn

The father of our subject became a well educated man, principallv through his own efforts. He laugiit school for some time in his earlier years, becoming a newspaper editor later in life, and was very successful in both lines of endeavor; he published a paper in the town of Rogersville and it became a very influential factor in that country. R. S. Osborn has also farmed some. His family consisted of but two children, namely: Othel L., of this sketch; and Bertha, who was born August 15. 1878, is living in .Montgomery county, Indiana.

Othel L. Osburn received a good common school education, and attended high school in Waynetown. He began life by working on the farm which he followed until about six years ago when he turned his attention to bridge and road contracting in this county which he has continued to follow with pronounced success to the present time. He constructs his bridges for the most part of concrete, and his work is most satisfactory in every respect for it is both well and honestly done and he is kept busy all the time, being one of the best known contractors in his line in this part of the country. He has been very successful in a financial w ay and was the owner of a good farm which he operated on a large scale until the spring of 19 u when he sold it, and has since devoted his attention exclusively to contracting.

Mr. Osburn has never married. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, both at \\'aynetown. He is a member of the Baptist church, and politically votes the Democratic ticket. He has always taken much interest in the affairs of his party and is regarded as one of the local leaders in the same. He has filled most acceptably the offices of supen'isor, assessor and trustee, honestly and faithfully discharging the duties entrusted to him, for the past fourteen years.. At the present time Mr. Osburn is in charge of the construction of a consolidated school at Waynetow-n, which will be the largest building in the county outside of Crawfordsville.

Llfaxeli.Yx Glex Coppage

The name of Llewellyn Glen Coppage has been carried throughout the United States through his famous hats, the "Ben-Hur Brand," which he has long manufactured at Crawfordsville and for which there is a great demand, for in this, his specific line of endeavor, as in everything else, he has sought to do honest and conscientious work, having been trained in his youth to do well whatever is worth doing at all, and this is one of the secrets of his large and ever growing success, which he deserves in every way. He is a booster for the city of Crawfordsville and has done much for its permanent development.

Mr. Coppage of this review, received a good common school education in and near Crawfordsville. When eleven years of age he joined a theatrical troupe with which he remained some time, during which period he picked up a musical education, and later had charge of the Coppage Orchestra, a well known organization in its day, which for several years played for all local social and public functions, also furnished the music in the old Nutt House dining room. He later had charge of an orchestra at what is now Mudlavia, then went to Michigan City, Indiana, and taught music for two years with much success. While there he purchased a dry cleaning and hat manufacturing business. He later went to Danbury, Connecticut, where he learned thoroughly the hat manufacturing business. That city is the center of the hat manufacturing industry in America, at least one of the principal, and Mr. Coppage still goes there once a year for the purpose of keeping fully abreast of the times in his chosen field of endeavor, and he thus keeps up with modern styles and methods of manufacture. He understands every phase of the manufacturing of hats and is recognized as one of the best in his line, and, because of the superior quality of his products there has long been a great demand for them. He established his present business in Crawfordsville in 1906, his plant, which is well and modernly equipped, having a capacity of from twelve to fifteen dozen hats, the "Ben-Hur Brand," which has been very popular for the past six years all over the country. He has also been very successful in the cleaning business, and he purchased the Demas-Gilbert Block, in 1910, a splendid, substantial three-story building, with large floor space and with a commodious addition in the rear.

Mr. Coppage is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He is now colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the Indiana Patriarchs Militant, is past chief patriarch of Bethesda Encampment, No. 15, is also past grand of Crawfordsville Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Rebekahs, the Tribe of Ben-Hur, and he has the "Decoration of Chivalry," a high Odd Fellow distinction. He has long been very active and prominent in fraternal circles and is widely known throughout the state. He is a mem-

Montcomerv Cointv, Indiana. I Oo3

-Mr. Coppage was inarried on Sei)tenilier ^^^o. k^oj to r.e»ie Mina Ryan, a lady of culture and the representative of a line family of Aiichit^an City. Indiana.

The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the luist and the West are combined in the residents of Montgomery county. Indiana. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigorous states of the .Middle West is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy that we have borrowed from our eastern neighbors, and the combination is one of jieculiar force and power. It has been the means n\ jilacing this section nf the country on a par with the older b'ast, at the same time producing a relial)ility and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lacking in the West. This happy combination of characteristics was possessed to a notable degree by the late David Hicks Hostetter, for many years one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of the vicinity of Ladoga. Equally noted as a citizen whose career conferred credit on the locality and whose marked abilities and sterling qualities won for him more than local repute, he held for a number of decades distinctive precedence as one of the most enterprising and progressive men of his section of the county. Strong mental powers, invincible courage and a determined purpose that hesitated at no opposition had so entered into his composition as to rentier him a dominant factor in local affairs. He was a man of sound judgment, keen discernment, far-seeing in what he undertook. His success in life was the legitimate fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good judgment and correct principles.

David H. Hostetter was a son of David and Mary (Hicks) Hostetter. He was born near Circleville, in Pickaway county, Ohio, September jj. iSj_>, and his death occurred on July i, 1910, when almost eighty-eight vears of age. He was the youngest of a family of seven children, namely: .Sherman. Beniah, Mrs. Mary Davidson, Mrs. Jane Hickathorn. .Mrs. Zerelda .Martin, and Mahala Hostetter who died in infancy. The mother of these children died when David H. was about two years old. and he liveil several years with his sister. Mrs. Hickathorn. His father married again and together the family came to Indiana, when our subject was nine years old. Two children were born to the second nnion, Lewis who died when nineteen years old ; and Lucky W., who died about 1897 ^^ Wellsville, Kansas. There were three step-sisters, Mrs. Margaret Ashby, Mrs. Catherine Hedges, Mrs. EHzabeth Carlyle, and one step-brother, John Boyer. Our subject was reared with these children and the strongest ties of afifection always existed between them. The family made the journey to Indiana in wagons. Some idea of the bad conditions of the roads may be gained from the fact that it required a week to travel from Indianajwlis to Montgomery county, a distance of forty miles. The country was then practically a wilderness and sparsely settled. The obstacles encountered during that journey can hardly be imagined by those who now make the trip in two hours. The town of Ladoga was laid out five years after the family located here. The site at that time was a partly cleared farm. From the date of his arrival here David H. Hostetter spent the rest of his life within a mile and a half of the farm where his father first settled, until he moved into Ladoga about 1907. The family first located in the south half of Section 22, Scott township, which land the father had entered from the government, and there was only a small piece of ground cleared about the little cabin he had built. Here our subject grew to manhood and assisted with the hard work of clearing and developing the farm, and he received such education as the early day schools afforded.

On November 15, 1874, David H. Hostetter was married to Amanda J. Graybill, daughter of Samuel and I^ydia (Arnold) Graybill. She was born and reared in Scott township in which her parents settled in 1836. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of Solomon and Maiy (Cline) Graybill. He went to Roanoke, Virginia, where he and Lydia Arnold were married. She was a daughter of Daniel Arnold and wife. The Graybill family settled in the wilderness and cleared their land and lived among the other pioneers. The children born to David H. Hostetter and wife were

Mr. Hostetter fjecame the owner of over three hundred acres of valuable and productive land and was a prosperous farmer. He did not purchase his success at the cost of the higher things of life, for he was a man of exemplary habits and fine character, and he was admired and esteemed by all who knew him. He believed thoroughly in the justice and wisdom of God and that true happiness came through obedience to divine principles. He obeyed the command "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This, and his great honesty, clean habits and solicitude for his loved ones and faith in his Saviour was his religion. His honestv, industry and temperate habits were rewarded by a long life and all the comforts of old aj^e. His life has left many precinus memories to his family and his many friends and those who in distress siiii,t,du the aid and advice, which to the worthy, was never denied.

Mr. Hostetter was a member of the Independent Order of Odd I'cllows. He had two brothers in the Indiana legislature, Sherman and I'.eniah. also one. Lucky, who became a member of the Kansas legislature.

Of the children of our subject, Emma Jane is the wife of Dr. 11. K. W'alterhouse, and they live at Oakville, Delaware count)-, this state, and are the parents of one son, David Kemper W'alterhwusc ; Samuel Sherman Hostetter lives in Ladoga, married Lola Ronk, and he is farming the old home place in Scott township ; Lydia makes her home in Ladoga with her mother.

David H. Hostetter took an active part in the development of this section of the state and he was an interested spectator of the transformation from the wild woods to the highly impro\ed farms of a later day. He often related how he;and other pioneers dro\e their livestock to Lafayette, in Tippecanoe count}-, where they sold them and with the money purchased groceries and other household supplies which they brought back on the return trip.

An honored and representative citizen of Montgoniery county is Jacob Frank W'arfel, for many years one of our best known and most successful educators, at present editor and publisher of the Ladoga Leader. He has been distinctively the architect of his own fortunes, has been true and loyal in all the relations of life and stands as a type of that sterling manhood which ever commands respect. He is a man who would have, no doubt, won his way in any locality where fate might have placed him, for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and honest tact, together with education and upright principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenexer they are rightly applied and persistently followed. By reason of these principles he has won and retained a host of friends in whatever c< immunity he is known.

Air. Warfel was bom in Marion county. Indiana, on May 3, 1857. He is a son of Martin B. and Indiana (McClelland) W'arfel, and is of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry on the paternal side. Martin B. \\'arfel died w hen our subject was ten years old. and the lad was compelled to hustle for himself. He soon began to work out at fanning, at first fur his bnard and clnthes and later for wages. Continuing thus until he was nineteen years of age he then came to Ladoga in 1876, and there attended the Normal school for two years, then became a teacher in the same, in a few branches, although he continued as a teacher, and was later given larger duties, remaining there as a teacher continuously many years, giving eminent satisfaction in every respect and finally became president of the school. Leaving the Normal he went to Indianapolis where he taught a year in the Hadley & Roterts Academy, then went to Frankfort, Indiana, and became principal of the high school while Prof. R. G. Boone, a noted educator, was superintendent of the schools there. A year later he returned to Ladoga and became superintendent of schools, which position he continued to hold in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the board and pupils, for a period of twenty-three years, his long retention being sufficient evidence of his popularity. During that period he taught, during the latter years, the children of some of his former pupils, finally resigning as superintendent in 1908. His great force of character and ripe scholarship, together with hjs ability as an organizer enabled him to bring to his work in Ladoga the results of his professional experience with marked effect, and it was not long until the schools under his supervision advanced to the high standing of efficiency for which they are now noted. Many things tending to lessen the teachers' labors and at the same time make them effective were introduced ; the course of study throughout modified and improved, the latest and most approved appliances purchased and everything in keeping with modern educational progress, tested and where practical retained. Continuous application through a period of more than a quarter of a century gave him a clear and comprehensive insight into the philosophy of education and the largest wisdom as to methods of attainment of ends, while his steady growth in public favor wherever he has labored and his popularity with teachers and pupils have won for him educational standing that is state wide and eminently deserving.

On December i, 1890, Mr. Warfel bought the Ladoga Leader, which he had managed for a period of eighteen years during the period that he was connected with the schools here, and since resigning from the schools has devoted his entire attention to this popular and rapidly growing paper, which equals any of its type in this part of the country. It is all that could be desired from a mechanical standpoint, has become a valuable advertising medium and prints the latest and best news of the day and its editorials carry weight in promoting the general affairs of the community which it serves. For a period of eleven years while engaged in school work, Mr. Warfel was instructor in teachers' institutes in Indiana, in which he was rei^arded as a most potent factor, heing thus engaged during the summers, instructing the teachers in forty-two counties. He received a life teacher's certificate in 1884. which reheved him from all necessity of subsequent examination. No one in the state is more deserving of such honor.

Fraternally, Mr. Warfel belongs to the Masonic order, and has been master of the Ladoga lodge. He is a member of the Knights Templars at Crawfordsville of which he was Eminent Commander. He is also active in the Knights of Pythias in which be has instituted two lodges and, as presiding officer, has taken one hundred and sixty-two men through the three ranks to full membership. He is widely known and influential in fraternal circles.

Mr. Warfel was married in 1882 to Lizzie Huntington, of Ladoga, a lady of talent, education and refinement, a daughter of Hiram S. Huntington and wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these pages.

Five children have graced the union of our subject and wife, namely: George, an electric engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad at Kearney, Nebraska, is married and has two children, Louise and Minnie; Herbert is in the engineer's office of the Central Union Telephone Company at Columbus, Ohio : Nellie is at home with her parents in Ladoga : Louise and Charley died in childhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Warfel are both members of the Presbyterian church. He has retained his vitality and intellectual vigor to a remarkable degree. He is a most genial and pleasing gentleman personally.

Robert F. Hicks

Farming seems to be what some would call "second nature" with Robert F. Hicks, of Clark township. Montgomery county, and while he doubtless could have succeeded in other lines of human endeavor, he is doubtless making a greater success as a tiller of the soil than he would in any other line, for he not only likes it but de\otes his e\ery care and attention to it.

Mr. Hicks was born on January 8, 1871, in Clark township, this county. He is a son of Preston and Martha Ann (Utterback) Hicks. He grew to manhood on the home farm, assisting with the general work there, and in the winter months he attended the neighboring schools.

On August 2T,. 1894, Mr. Hicks married Ella Hulett, daughter of Nathan Hulett and wife, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere. After his marriage Mr. Hicks went to farming for himself on the place he now owns in Section 35, Clark township, and here he has continued to reside, his finely improved and productive farm hei'e consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, also owns forty acres not far south of his home place, two hundred acres in all. His land is under a fine state of improvement and cultivation, and he follows general farming, raising considerable live stock, buys and feeds cattle and is quite successful as an agriculturist and stock man. He has made many of the important improvements on his land himself. He remodeled both the house and barn, also built a large barn and in addition a cow barn, and he now has one of the choice farms of the township.

Mr. Hicks is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife belong to the Christian church. They ha\-e one daughter, Lena Hicks, whose twin sister died in infancy. Lena is now in her third year in high school at North Salem.

Ira Cox

It is indeed a rare pleasure and privilege to be able to spend our old age in the house where we spent our childhood. There is, as all will agree, a certain "atmosphere" pen-ading the old home which is very noticeably absent from any place else, no matter how much finer and costlier may be our residence in later life, and no matter how very humble may have been the home in which we first opened our eyes to the light of day. Ira Cox, one of the well known farmers, now retired, of Franklin township, Montgomery county, is one of the fortunate ones in this respect. .He has lived to see wonderful changes in this locality since he first sent his infant crj^ out on the air in this old homestead nearly seventy-three years ago, and he has not by any means, been an idle spectator to these changes with advancing civilization, but has been a very potent factor in them, having always stood ready to put his shoulder to the wheel of local progress. He has led a life for which no one can upbraid him now that it is drawing toward the silent twilight.

Mr. Cox was born on October i, 1840 in this township and count}', as above stated. He is a son of William and Hannah (Pickett) Cox. The father was born on July 23, 1814 in Richmond, Indiana, and he moved to Montgomerv' county when a boy, when this section was a wilderness and inhabitants were few, and here he devoted his life successfully to general farming. and readied an adxanced age, passing away on June _H), I(jO_^. Tlie mother of Ira Cox was horn on September 18. 1813 in Xortli Carolina and when a young girl she moved with her parents to Montgomery counl\ . Indiana, and here spent the rest of her Hfe dying on September 10, 1893.

To these parents six children were born, three of whom are still living, namely: Catherine, Jeremiah are both deceased; Ira, of this sketch; Emily, Elwood is deceased: and Albert, the youngest.

Ira Cox grew up on the home farm and there did his full share of the work when a boy, and he received his education in the local district schools. He has remained unmarried, and has always farmed on the home place, keeping it well improved and so skilfully cultivated that it has retained its original fertility.

Mr. Cox is owner of three liundretl ruid twenty acres, two hundred and sixty of which is tillable, fairly well ditched and otherwise in good condition. He raises a good grade of live stock.

Politically, Mr. Cox is a Republican, but he has never sought office, desiring to lead a quiet home life, like his honest, hard-working father before him. He is a member of the Friends church and a trustee in the same.

Benjamin F. Carman

The most elaborate history is perforce a merciless aliridgmenl. ibe historian being obliged to select his facts and materials from manifolil details and to marshall them in concise and logical order. This applies to specific as well as generic history, and in the former category is included the interesting and important department of biograph\ . In e\ery life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of interesting situations and incidents, and yet in summing up such a career as that of .Mr. L'arman the writer nnisl needs touch only on the more salient facts, giving the keynote of the character ;ind eliminating all that is superfluous to the continuit)- of the narrative. The gentleman whose name appears above has led an active and useful life, not entirely void of the exciting, but the more prominent facts have l)een so identified with the useful and practical thai it i^ to them almost entirely that the writer refers in the following paragraphs.

Benjamin F. Camian. who for many years has been recognized as one of the most substantial citizens of Montgomery countv, was born in Clark (64) township, tliis county, on the 8th of August, i860. He conies of a long Hue of sterling ancestry, his family, on the paternal side, having been established in this country for over two hundred and fifty years, while in England the family line is traced back through several centuries. The first representative of the family in America were John and Florence Carman, who left Nazing, England, with a party of pilgrims, including John Eliot and the wife of Governor Winthrop, landing at Roxbury, Massachusetts, on November 2, 163 1. The descendants of John and Florence Carman are scattered all over the United States, members of the family being also found in Canada, Mexico and South America.

The first official record of the Carman family shows that at the time of the Norman conquest, in 1066, they owned eighty-two acres of land in Wiltshire, England, also a mill, a tenant and three slaves. Another reference to the family is, about 1400, of a priest wlio ministered at the W'infarthing church for thirty-eight years. From 1408 to 1470 William and Catherine Carman owned the manor of Patesley, in Norfolk. During the reign of "Bloody Mary" at least five members of the Carman family met death, being burned at the stake, martyrs because of their religious belief, and the record says they met their fate bravely, even joyfully.

From such stock came John Carman, the pregenitor of the family in America. He has prospered here in liis worldly affairs, becoming quite wellto-do, and was prominent in public affairs in Connectitcut and Long Island, being a deputy to the general court of the colony in 1634. Two hundred and fifty years after he landed at Roxbury, five hundred of his descendants met at Hampstead. Long Island, to celebrate the arrival of the family in America.

Among the children of John Carman was Caleb, who was the fatiier of James, who was the first pastor of the Baptist church at HighstOwn, New Jersey, in 1745. Rev. James had a son Caleb, who was the father of Joseph. The latter was born in 1745 at Bordentown, New Jersey, moved to the interior of Virginia, and in 1768 he married Mary LaRue, a French girl. Joseph Carman was a soldier in the American Revolution, having enlisted in 1776 as a private in Captain William Croghan's company, Eighth A^irginia Regiment, commanded by Col. Abraham Bowman, to ser\'e until April, 1778. In 1779 he and his family, in company with followers of George Rogers Clark, came down the Ohio river on flat boats, and located at a fort in Shelby county, Kentucky. Joseph Carman was killed by Indians along Carman's creek, in Henry county, Kentucky, in 1786. He was the father of seven children, of whom tlie second in order of birth was Isaac. Isaac Carman married Mary Hughes, who died of cholera in 1833. lie was a Baptist preacher in Shelby county for many years, and was well known and highly respected. His death occurred in Indiana in 1854. To him and his wife were born ten children, the youngest of whom was William N. Carman, father of the immediate subject of this sketch.

William N. Carman was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, but in 1S34, when he was but seven years old, his father brought his family to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he entered three eighty-acre tracts of land, one for each of his three daughters, and also bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from Joseph Staten, who had entered it from the government in 183 1. This land has remained continuously in the family, being now the property of the subject. Here William X. Carman was reared tn maturity and eventually married Ann 1-". Harrison. She was born in Clark township. this county, on October i. 1832, and was the daughter of John and Mary (Ashby) Harrison. Her parents \vere nati\es of Kentucky, who located in Harrison county, Indiana, where John Harrison served as judge of the county court. His wife was the daugliter of Lettice Ashby, whose family came to Montgomery county in an early day, or at about the same time as the Harrisons. Here John Harrison carried on farming pursuits the rest of his life. He also had two brothers, Eli and Joshua, who came to this county.

William N. Carman lived on the old homestead in Clark township until the mother's death in 1899, after which he made his home with his son, Benjamin F., until his death, which occurred in August, 1010. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two s(jns died in infancy, two daughters, ?vlary E. and Martha, died in childhood, while those living are: Priscilla A., the wife of John V. Zimmerman, of Ladoga; Sallie F., the wife of Joseph Albert Smith, of Jamestown, and Benjamin F. ,of Ladoga. William N. Carman always followed the vocation of farming, in which he was successful, being energetic and practical in his efforts. Religiously, he was one of the charter members of Bethel Christian church, of which he w as elected elder and to which he donated an acre of ground on which to build the church. He owned altogether about four hundred acres of land, which, before his death, he divided among his childrtn.

Benjamin F. Carman was reared on the home farm, where he remained until he was twenty-five years old, securing a good practical education the meanwhile in the public schools. After his marriage, in 1884, he farmed with his father for about a vear, at the end of which time he moved to a place about a half mile north of the home place, where during the following seventeen years he devoted himself steadily to agriculture, and with gratifying results. He was elected to the office of auditor of Montgomery county, to take office in 1904, but, the office becoming vacant before his elective term begun, he was appointed to the office in the fall of 1903, thus holding the office for four years and two months. About a year before the expirationof his official term, Mr. Carman, on December 3, 1906, bought the Knox hardware store at Ladoga, and thereupon moved his family from Crawfordsville to that place. He was now an extremely busy man, having the official duties as auditor, the management of a hardware store and the supervision of a large farm on his hands, but he successfully took care of all his interests, discharging his public duties to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. About three years after acquiring the store he took his son, Walter, in as a partner, and on June i, 1910, he sold his remaining interest in the business to Ralph F. Blatchley. Then giving his entire attention to agriculture, he bought the interests of the other heirs in his father's farm, thus becoming the owner of t\\ o hundred and eighty-five acres of splendid land in Clark township. About 1909 Mr. Carman bought the George Grimes residence in Ladoga, a comfortable and attractive home, where he now resides.

On September 11, 1884, Benjamin F. Carman was united in marriage with Lelia B. White, who was born and reared in Clark township, being the daughter of James L. and Harriett (Cox) White, the father having come to this state from Ohio in an early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Carman have been born four children, the two first of whom, born on August 28, 1885, were twins, George Waller and John Walter. The first named died on April 26, 1888. The other two children are Anna L. and Bertha Irene. The latter is at home with her parents, while Anna L. is the wife of Guy Britton, of Roachdale.

Walter Carman li\ed with his parents on the home farm until he was eighteen years old, and secured a good public school education, attending the high schools at Ladoga and Crawfordsville. He then attended business college, graduating in both bookkeeping and stenography, after which, for a }ear, he was employed as a clerk in the Crawfordsville State Bank. He has been in the hardware business since January i, 1907. One June 21, 191 1, he was married to Hazel B. Shackelford, the daughter of Mark Shackelford, of Ladoga.

Politically, Benjamin F. Carman has always given his support to the Republican party and has ever taken a lively interest in the trend of public affairs. His reli.s-ious iiicniliersliip is with the Chrisiian churcli, of uhich he is an elder and to which he gives a hheral suppurl. 1-ralernally. he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Tribe of Bcn-Hur, in all of which he takes an active interest. In every avenue of life's activities in which he has engaged, ^Ir. Carman has l)een true to every trust, and throughout the county he is held in the highest esteem. Persistent industry and ihc exercise of the ordinary (|ualUy of common sense - these have been the keynotes to the success which li.as crowned his efforts. Though devoting himself closely to his own business affairs, he has not been unmindful of his higher duties as a citizen and be has given his umiualihed su))port to every movement which has promised to benefit the community, morally, educationally, socially or materially. I'ersonally, he is a man of pleasing address and his friends in Montgomery countv are in number at his acquaintances.

Dr. John G. Heighway

Not so very long ago there was but two or three veterinary surgeons in Montgomery county. It was the rule, when anything got wrong with a horse or cow to administer a little home treatment, of simple remedies, an<l left to their fate; and if they died it was all right. Usually, the veterinary was so far away that the farmer believed his stock would be dead before the desired assistance could reach it. Then too, there were no telephones and the long ride on uncertainty was not looked on with favor, neither was the expense of the veterinary's services. But conditions have changed, and today we find a large number of skilled veterinaries over the count)-, and there seems to be plenty for all to do. Their services are required just the same as those of the family doctor. One of this iiuml)er who is deserving of special attention here is Dr. John G. Heighway. located at Ladoga, who has the distinction of being president of the Indiana \'eterinary Medical Association, which fact alone is criterion enough of his ability in his chosen field and the trust that is reposed in him by his colleagues.

Dr. Heighway was born in London. Province of Ontario. Canada, September 2. 1864. He is a son of Thomas and Julia (Hamilton) Heighway. both of whom were natives of London, England, where they spent their earlier years and from which city they emigrated in an early day to Canada, locating the family home at London, Ontario, and there our subject grew to manhood and received his educational training- in the high school. Subsequently, he took the regular course in the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, where he made an excellent record and from which he was graduated in 1888. Soon afterward he came to Ladoga, Indiana, and here began the practice of his profession, having been drawn here by the fact of there being so many fine horses here and no veterinary for many miles around. Here he has remained and has all the practice he can well take care of. His fame has spread over the state and he has many calls from Lafayette, Terre Haute, Indianapolis and even as far away as New Albany. No one in his line in the state has had better success than he. Remaining a close student he has kept well abreast of the times in his particular field of endeavor, and his office in Ladoga is equipped with every appliance known to modern and approved science in taking proper care of the ailments of the horse and other animals.

Dr. Heighway was vice-president of the Indiana \^eterinary Medical Association, and in January, 1913, was elected president of the same, which position he is giving his loyal attention to, discharging its imix)rtant duties in a manner that is reflecting much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is doing much to increase interest in the same and to make it helpful to all concerned. He is also an influential member of the American Veterinary Association.

Dr. Heighway was married to Lottie Fullen in 1895. She was born in Ladoga, Indiana, and is a daughter of Oliver and Susannah (Harney) Fullen, the father having been born near Jamestown, in Boone county, Indiana, and was a son of Charles and Sarah Fullen. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and for nearly a quarter of a century was in business in Ladoga, conducting with much success a general store here. He was a prominent member of the Masonic Order. He went to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the purpose of taking the Knights Templar degree. His death occurred in March, 1871, when forty-six years old. Susan L. Harney, his wife, was born near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, in 1855 and she came to Montgomery county with her parents when young. She was a daughter of Gilbert T. Harney, a man of more than ordinary intellectual power, with a fine physical constitution, and a pioneer preacher of great influence in Clark township.

The doctor is a man of line physique and a good nii.xcr in his personal relations with his fellow men, being jovial and honest. Our subject is one of a family of ten children, all of whom are alive, healthy and prospering. They are named as follows : Thomas William, Richard Brooks, Alfred Wilson, John G., Edmund Waldron, Sarah Jane, Julia, Marion, Gavin Hamilton and Arthur H.

John B. Hopping is one of the later generation of farmers and stock raisers of Montgomery county, native and to the manor born, who form an important element in the maintenance of the prosperity of the county and are helping greatly to extend its wealth. He is a son of an early pioneer of this part of Indiana who played an important part in developing the agricultural resources of this famous Wabash region. He is a man who keeps himself thoroughly posted upon leading events, political, religious, business and scientific, and is a man of decided views, adhering to his convictions with the natural strength of his character.

Mr. Hopping was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on Octol^er 26, 1874, and he is a son of Joseph and Mary J. (Berkshire) Hopping. The father was a native of New York state and the mother was born in Kentucky. Joseph Hopping was a farmer and he came to Montgomery county in 1837 when the country was practically a wilderness and only a small portion of the land had been put under cultivation. He worked at common lalx)r here until 1849 when he joined the large train of gold-seekers across the western plains to California, and he remained on the Pacific coast until 1852 when he returned to Indiana and purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Ripley township, JMontgomery county, which place is now owned and operated by the subject of this sketch. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising the rest of his life, becoming one of the w ell known farmers of the western part of the county, and he was highly respected by his neighbors and acquaintances. Here he spent the rest of his life, reaching the advanced age of eighty-one years, dying in 1901. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1899 at the age of sixty-two years. They were the parents of three children, namely: Benjamin, John B. (our subject), and Bettie F.

Our subject received his education in tlie common scliools of his native locality and he grew to manhood on the home farm. He began life for iiiniself by teaching school which he followed for a period of eleven years, meeting with pronounced success, his serxices being in great demand, for he pleased both patron and pupil, being not only an instructor but an entertainer in the school room. Finally, tiring of this vocation, he took up farming on the old homestead which he has operated to the present time, keeping the place well improved and well cultivated so that it has retained its original fertility, and he has met with much success as a general farmer and stock raiser.

Mr. Hopping has remained unmarried. He is active and influential in fraternal afifairs, being a member of the Free anil Accepted Masons at .Mamo, the Knights of Pythias at Waynetow n ; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Alamo. He is trustee of Ripley townshij). haxing assumed the duties of this office on January i. 1909. His term will expire in 1915.

The men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and in giving character to the times in which they live are two classes - the men of study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted for the improvement of the age to the one class or the other is a question of honest difference of opinion; neither can be spared and both should be encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence zealously and without mutual distrust. In the following paragraphs are briefly outlined the leading facts and characteristics in the career of a gentleman who combines in his makeup the elements of the scholar and the energy of the public-spirited man of affairs. Devoted to the noble and humane work of eradicating mortal ills. Dr. Leveritt W. Olin, the well known and popular physician of Elendale, ]\Iontgomery county has made his influence felt in a most potent manner in the locality of which this history treats. He is evidently endowed by nature with those qualities of heart and mind so necessary to the success of one who chooses for his life work a profession in which human sympathy must be dispensed with a liberal spirit as well as the ability to relieve human suffering.

Dr. Olin was born in Portage county, Ohio, February 12. 1851. He is a son of Ransom and Clara (Clark) Olin. They were both natives of the same countv and state in which our subject was born; there thev grew to ma- turity, were educated and nian-ied, and there they s\K'ui their hves. the father dying in 1868 and the mother in 1883. They devoted their Hves to farniinj;, and were known as honest, hospitable and hard working peojile. 'i'lie\- hecame the parents of eleven children, six of whom are still living.

Dr. Leveritt W. Olin was reared in his native county in the Ikickeye state and there he received a good common school education, and early in life determined upon a medical career, and with that end in view he entered Buchtel College, at Akron, Ohio. He began reading medicine under Dr. E. W. Price, of Kent, Ohio, under whom he studied four years, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, which was the medical department of Columbia University. There he spent two terms of six months each, making a splendid record for scholarship. After his graduation on March 12, 1880 he came to Ellendale, IMontgomery coimty, Indiana, and here he has been actively engaged in the practice since April 13th of that year, having built up an extensive and lucrative practice which extends over a wide territory and he has met with exceptional success and has taken a \ery high rank among his professional brethren in this section of the state. He has ever remained a student of all phases of his profession, keeping fully abreast of the times.

The Doctor was married on September 2, 1883 to Efifie Swank, daughter of Benjamin and Ellen ( Coman) Swank, who were Ixirn in this county during the pioneer period. Here they grew to maturity, were married and established their home in the woods, and here they liecame well known and highly respected. Here Mrs. Olin grew to womanhood and was educated.

Seven children have been born to Dr. Olin and wife, named as follows: Lester W., Blanche. Grace, Leveritt R., Leland E... Ruth and Reine. Four of these children are still at home, and all are living in Montgomery county.

Fraternally, the Doctor belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, having joined in 1882; and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, which he joined in 1892. Religiously, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, lieing a trustee of the same.

Robert L. Ashby

Human life is made up of two elements, power and form, and the proportion must be invariably kept if we would have it sweet and sound. Each of these elements in excess makes a mischief as hurtful as would be its deficiency. Everything turns to excess; every good quality is noxious if unmixed, and to can"}- tlie danger to the edge of ruin nature causes each man's pecuHarity to superabound. One speaking from the standpoint of a farmer would adduce the learned professions as examples of the treachery. They are nature's victims of expression. You study the artist, the orator or the man of inventive genius and find their lives no more excellent than that of merchants, farmers or manufacturers. Many men get but glimpses of the delights found in nature in its various elements and moods, but there is always ample opportunities to enjoy life in its varied phases, whatever the profession. It depends upon the individual. Robert L. Ashby, for many years one of the most representative and best know n business men of Ladoga, Montgomery county, is one who takes a delight in existence. It is because he is in touch with the springs of life. He does not permit material things to supplant his better nature. His life has been filled with good deeds and kindly thoughts, and all who knew him entertain for him the highest regard, by reason of his industrious, upright and honorable career.

Mr. Ashby was bom in Scott township, near Parkersburg, this county, November i8, 1847. He is a son of Thompson V. and Dulcenia ( Lockridge) Ashby, a complete history of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

Robert L. Ashby grew to manhood on his father's farm where he assisted with the work during the crop seasons, attending the neighborhood schools during the winter months. In 1875 he married Alice Fordice, a daughter of Asa and Mary (Chambers) Fordice. Her father was born in Morgan county, Ohio, and when a young man he traveled in several states, selling fanning machines, manufactured by Fordice and DeVoe, who operated factories at Ladoga and several other places. Mary Chambers, mentioned above, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, and was a daughter of George and Ann (Allison) Chambers, natives of Kentucky. After his marriage Asa Fordice and his brothers Joseph, George, Nelson and Jesse bought farms south of Russelville and made their homes there, and it was there that Asa Fordice spent the rest of his life and there reared his family, and it was on his farm that Mrs. Ashby lived until her marriage.

After his marriage Robert Asby began farming three miles southwest of Ladoga and there he continued to reside, successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, until about 1902. He started out with one hundred and sixty acres. It was only partly cleared, but he was industrious and the years brought him prosperity. He added to his original holdings until he is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable and well improved land. In August. 1893, he purchased the grain elevator at Ladoga and went into the grain business on a large scale. Two or three years later he added the lumber yard to his business, and subsequently added cement and other building supplies, also a coal business. About 1903 he built a handsome and commodious residence on East Main street in Ladoga, which is his present home.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ashby have been born three sons and two daughters, all living, namely: Thompson V., who married Eva Grimes, li\es in Indianapolis, and they have tw^o sons, George and William; Fred ¥.. who. with his brother Thompson V.. is a member of the Wabash Veneer Company, of Indianapolis, and he lives in that city ; Wallace W., who lives in Ladoga, has largely superceded his father in the active management of both the farm and the elevator ; Dulcenia is teaching in the high school at Lapel, Indiana : Bertha is attending the Northwestern L^niversity at Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.

Robert Ashby and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he is a Mason, in which he has attained the rank of Knights Templar. His three sons are all Scottish Rite Masons, and members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Recently Mr. Ashby built a winter home at Dunedin, a Scottish settlement on the west coast of Florida and he and Mrs. Ashby now spend their winters at that pleasant tropical resort. Both the Ashbys and Fordices are of Scotch ancestrv.

James F. Taylor And Son, John Taylor

If any family in the section of Montgomery count}-, of which the beautiful and thriving little town of Ladoga is the hub, is prominent, it is the Taylor family, for members of it have played well their several roles in the local drama of civilization from the early pioneer period until the present time, doing whatever task that has been assigned them in promoting the material, civic and moral affairs of the community and lahnring industriously and honestly in legitimate vocations.

John Taylor was born in July, 1S70. at Ladoga, and is a son of James F. and Elizabeth L. (Goodbar) Taylor. The father was linrn near Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Kentucky, Novemljer 9. 1844. He is a son of Augusta and Ormilda (Allen) Taylor. When James F. Taylor was six years old, before there were any railroads at Ladoga and when this country was still in practically a primitive state, Augusta Ta\lor and wife moved with their tamilv cif eight children from tlie Blue ( irass state, coming by wagon to near (ireencastle, Indiana, where tliey located on a farm, and there James ¥. grew to manhood and there he remained for some time, but about the time he attained his majority the rest of the family moved to JMissouri, but immediately came back to Edgar county, Illinois, locating near the city of I'aris, and later settling near Ridge Farm, Illinois, not far from Chrisman and there the}- remained. The mother and two of the sons are buried at Chrisman and the father is buried at Paris.

James !-'. Taylor remained in Indiana, and here he was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Goodbar-Crow, widow of \\'illiam Crow, and a daughter of Harvey and Louisa (Lockridge) Goodbar. She was born in ]S^(> and reared in Scott township, this county, where her people on both sides had lived from early pioneer days and where her parents were reared. Her father, Hai-vey Goodbar, was a son of John H. and Rachael (Hostetter) Goodbar, who, as early as 1829, came from Montgomery county, Kentucky, and settled in Scott township, Montgomery county, Indiana. John H. Goodbar was born in Virginia, and was a son of Joseph Goodbar, the latter being one of two boys born in England, and left, orphans, early in the eighteenth century. Joseph was taken b_\- a sea captain and he followed a seafaring life. Once returning to England and failing to find his brother, he emigrated to America and settled in Virginia, where he reared his family. His son, John H., who came to Indiana in 1829, was among the first to teach school in Scott township, Montgomery county. He was trustee of this township for a period of eighteen years successively, and served a term in the legislature at a salary of two dollars a day. He was widely known in western Indiana and was influential in the affairs of Montgomery county. His death occurred in the year 1870. at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, after a long life of usefulness, loved and respected by all who knew- him.

Harvey Goodbar, father of Mrs. Taylor, also came to Montgomery county, Indiana, in the year 1829 with the rest of the Goodbar family. tra\-- eling with horses and wagon, driving their cows before them, the trip requiring sixteen days. He was a most estimable citizen and died in early life.

Before his marriage, James F. Taylor had been farming for himself, and after his marriage he continued to farm in Scott township, prospering through close application, the exercise of good judgment and foresight, and finally became the owner of a fine improved and productive farm of two hundred and fifty acres, and he continued to carry on general farming and stock raising on a large scale until 1882, when he left the farm, having accumulated a competencv for his declining years, and moved to Ladoga in order to give his son. John, the Ijeneht of the schciols tiiere. Ihjwever. not content to be idle the elder Taylor soon went into the business in Ladoga of breeding, training and racing horses, and soon became widely and well known in this field of endeavor and met with great success, being an excc])- tiolally good judge of horses and knowing every phase regarding the care and training of them. He raised some of the finest horses ever known in this section of the Wabash countn,-. Among his first was old "Red Buck," a champion pacing horse and sire of many fine colts. Another notable one was "Rescue," bred at the stables of Powell Brothers in Pennsylvania, a trotting horse and sire of a number of fast horses. "Crisis" was a Kentucky bred stallion, a great show horse, often shown with "Que Allen," and sold for six thousand dollars when sexenteen \ears old, at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Another good horse was "Dispute," a track horse bought in Kentucky when two years old, and who attained a record of 2:i5j4 on a half mile track with the old st}le sulkey, and he made it 2:0914 on a mile track. He was the sire of "John Taylor," a horse with a record of 2:0834, and winner of the M. and M. races at Detroit, Michigan, and a ten thousand dollar stake. "Dispute" was the first stallion to sire an M. and M. winner at that time. Mr. Taylor also owned "Egwood," who had a mark of 2:i4'4 on a half mile track. This fine animal was purchased in Kentucky l)y our subject at the same time he bought "Dispute." He afterward sold for a sum of fourteen thousand dollars and went t(j .\ustria. Mr. Taylor was also the owner of "Taylor McGregor," sired by "Jay McGregor," wht)se record was 2:o7'4, that sold for forty thousand dollars and went to Russia. "Jay McGregor" is the champion sire of trotters of the Cnited States, has four 2:10 trotters, in 1912, of whom "Baldy McGregor" has a record of 2 :o6^ at three }ears old. These splendid animals carried the name and fame of Mr. Taylor all over the United States, and he has long l:)een regarded as one of the leading horsemen of the country, and has accumulated a handsome fortune through the handling of horses. He has also bought, bred and trained and raced a number of other horses who accpiired records of from 2:08^ to 2:30. During the past five years Mr. Taylor and his son ha\e been breeding pure bred Percheron horses for the benefit of the framers who desire heavy draft horses, and the fillies sired by bis stallions bring as high as six thousand dollars.

John Taylor is the only child of James h'. Taylor and wife. He was ten years old when the family left the farm and located in their commodious and attractive residence in Ladoga. He received a good education, and. hav- ing grown up in the horse business and inheriting many of tlie sterhng attributes of his father, he gives promise of great success in this field of endeavor. He has long trained and driven his father's race horses. He is known as a prompt starter, always up to the scratch when the race starts, and handles his horses well.

In 1893 John Taylor married Clara Pierson, of Indianapolis, daughter of Jennings and Amanda (Browning) Pierson, a family well known in business and social circles in the Hoosier capital, where Airs. Taylor grew to womanhood and was educated.

The yi. and M. race winners are telegraphed all over America and Europe. The Ta\lor stables are known all over the United States and are visited by many admirers, some of them being noted horsemen from all parts of the country.

Daniel A. Myers

We are always glad in writing the biographical side of these county histories to note that such a large number of the older citizens have spent their lives in the county. It indicates at once a successful, contented and worthy citizenship, and it also indicates that the country is good, for not many ambitious and energetic young men will remain on his "native heath" unless it promises as much in the future for the outlay of his energy as other localities, notwithstanding the pleasant associations of the old homestead and relati\es. Such a family as that represented by the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch is a pride to any community and deserves all respect and praise, for reasons too patent and too numerous to need recounting here.

Wv. Myers was born in Scott township, this county, on September 25, 1841. He is a son of William and Lydia (Harshbarger) Myers, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this w'ork. The father of our subject did a great deal of teaming in the days before there was a railroad in ]Montgomery county, and when our subject was four years old he went with his father on one of his trips with his team to Lafayette, over in Tippecanoe county, and the old canal there with the boats going up and down made a

Daniel A. Silvers grew to manhood on the homestead and there assisted with the general dnties during crop seasons, and in the winter months he attended the neighboring schools. He remained on his father's farm west of Ladoga until he was twenty-three years old.

On October 6, 1864, Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Catherine Yenawine, who was born within ten miles of Louisville, Kentucky. She is a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Bence) Yenawine, who brought her to Montgomery county, Indiana, when she was aljout eight years old, the family locating in Scott township, where she grew to womanhood and receixed her education. Her parents later removed to Coles county, Illinois. Mrs. Myers' folks made the trip from Kentucky to Lafayette, Indiana, thence south on the railroad on a flat car to Ladoga, the road still being unfinished.

After the marriage of Daniel A. Myers and wife they bought the farm which they still occupy in the northern part of Clark township. He started with one hundred and fifty acres. Working hard and managing well, Mr. Myers prospered with advancing years, until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres. He formerly owned three hundred and twenty acres, but sold a part oi that, and he has also provided well for his family. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, ranking, as he well deser\-es, with the leading husbandmen of the southern part of Montgomery county.

Seven children were born to Daniel A. Myers and wife, named as follows: Thomas E., who lives in the southern part of Walnut t(;iwnship, where he owns a fine farm of his own, married Lola Keller, and the\' have two children, Russell and Blanche; Minnie A. married Rufus Myers, of Jamestown, who owns about eight hundred acres of valuable land near there, and they have two children, Lillie and Lambert; William F., who owns and operates a good farm in the northern part of Walnut township, married Cora Gray, and they have two daughters, Hazel and Lida; Ellen married Lodi Bradley, and had one daughter, Lida, by that marriage. Mr. Bradley died January 18, 1902, and she subsequently married James Chafifin, and lives in the southeastern part of Clark township, and she has one daughter by her second marriage, Helen. Elmer Myers, who lives in the southwestern part of Walnut township, married Eliza Bowman ; John, a civil engineer, is at present in the Philippine Islands building a railroad : Clara H., the voungest child of our subject, married Movd Smith, and thev live in

Nathaniel Hamilton

One of the leading agriculturists and business men of the northwestern part of Montgomery county is Nathaniel Hamilton, a scion of one of the sterling old families of this locality, and here he has been content to spend his life. While laboring for his individual advancement he has not neglected his larger duties as a neighbor and citizen. By deeds of kindness extending through a long period of years he has won and retained strong personal attachments, and though having passed his seventy-second milestone on the journey of life he is still in possession of his faculties, physical and mental, and bids fair to round out many more years of a happy old age.

]\Ir. Hamilton was born on October 21, 1840 in Fountain county, Indiana, and he is a son of James and Louisa (Thompson) Hamilton. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Kentucky. The former came to Montgomery county in 1832, when the country was little improved, and he later moved to Fountain county where he remained until 1850 when he returned to Montgomery county, locating on the farm of two hundred acres which our subject now owns. He devoted his life to farming. His family consisted of six children, namely: Catherine, who married Alfred Lofland; Nathaniel, of this review: Jane, who married Solon H. Brown; Albert lives in Waynetown : Sarah Louisa married John C. Bible : ]\Ielville who lives in this county.

Nathaniel Hamilton received a good common school education in Montgomery county then entered an academy where he remained some time. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry in which he served about six months in the infantry, then joined \\"ilder's famous brigade, being mounted, and he participated in the battles of Hoover's Gap. Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. He was in the army of'the Cumberland under General Girard, in General Thomas' division. He proved to be a very faithful soldier, according to his comrades, and he was honorably discharged and mustered out at Indianapolis in 1865.

tinned on a large scale ami with great success to the present time, lie lias accumulated a competency and is vice-president of the Farmers llank at Wingate. He has a finely improved farm, and a commodious dwelling, and a good grade of live stock is always to be seen about his place.

Mr. Hamilton was married on May 20, 1880, to Mary Hunt, daughter of William and Mary (Rose) Hunt. Tliev were from Ohio and were carlv settlers here.

Four children ha\e been born to our suliject and wife, nanielv : Galen is deceased: Hattie married Walter Ilaney ; ClintDn is deceased: \\'iniani Fay is at home.

Politically, Mr. Hamilton is a Republican. He was township assessor for one term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons at Wingate. He belongs to the Methodist church.

Thompson V. Ashby

Praise is always due to merit and especially where merit is the product of unassisted energy and perseverance. The self-made man commands our highest respect. Those struggles by means of which he has risen from obscurity to honorable distinction cannot fail to enlist sympathy and call forth our warmest applause. And, too, the record of a life well spent, of triumph over obstacles, of perseverance under difficulties and steady advancement from a modest beginning to a place of honor and distinction in the locality in which one devotes his efifort, when imprinted on the pages of history, present to the youth or a rising generation an exanii)le wcntliy of emulation and may also be studied with profit by those of more mature years whose achievements have not kept pace with their expectations. On the roster of the names of those who have been prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of Montgomery county that of the late Thompson V. Ashby merits a place of honor. From the age of ten years until his death he was a resident of this county, and in the early epoch of her development as well as in later years his energies were effectixely directed along normal lines of industry and enterprise, and in many w ays he made distinct contribution to the progress of this favored section of the famous Waljash valley country. His life was one of signal integrity as well as usefulness, and such was his association with material and civic atTairs here oxer an extended (65)

Thompson V. Ashby was Ixjrn April 25. 1818, in Shelby county, Kentucky, which locality furnished so many of the sterling citizens of Montgomery county, Indiana, where our subject came with the rest of the family in 1828, and here he grew to manhood and recei\ed such education as the primitive schools of that early time afforded, for the country was new and sparsely settled when he arrived here, but here he was content to spend the rest of his days, having faith in its future.

On Alay 30, 1844, he was united in marriage to Dulcenia Lockridge, who was born June 3, 1825, in Montgomery county, Kentucky. She was a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Malone) Lockridge, the former born in 1784 and the latter in 1786. Elizabeth Malone was a daughter of Andrew and Rachael (Ozier) Malone. Robert Lockridge was a son of John and Margaret (Henderson) Lockridge. Andrew Malone was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The father of Dulcenia Lockridge died in Kentucky and her mother was left with nine children, three of whom were married and all but three grew to maturity. In the year 1835 t'''^ widow and all but one of the children came to Putnam count}', Indiana, and located south of Raccoon Station and there Dulcenia lived until her marriage.

To Thompson V. Ashby and wife were born three children, namely: William Henry, Robert L., and Elizabeth Louise, the latter being now the wife of James Foster. They all live in Ladoga, Indiana, where they are very comfortably situated.

Thompson V. Ashby was a farmer by profession and was \ery successful, becoming the owner of two excellent farms near the center of Scott township, aggregating about five hundred and sixty acres. He was a man of much business capacity and energy and managed his large landed estate with that care and discretion that always insured success and he ranked with the leading and most progressive agriculturists and stock men of Montgomery county during his day. His land was well improved and carefully operated, and he has a pleasant home which was noted for its hospitality.

Mr. Ashbv was a well read man, keeping advised on the current topics of the dav, and he became well known locally as a debater, taking great interest in debating societies. In fact, he remained a great student all his life, was familiar with the best literature of the day, reading extensively of evervthing wherebv he might advance himself and he ranked, justly, too, as one of the most intellectual men of the southern part of the county. He taugln schodl in liis yoim.mT (la\>. llr took a li\cly interest in elniiTli alVairand was an clilcr in the I'roliyterian clinrcli. ilis lit'c was of such inlluence for good, in favor nl' relii;iiin and all lliat niaile for nKiral uplift. teni]R'fance, righteousness ami ijood eitixenshi]). lie did a .threat work a,i;ainst the lii|Ui)r traffic, and when near his death he read a temperance speech in i.ailnL;a, which was said b}" all furlunate enon.ijh In hear it to he the best e\er heard in this locaHty.

^^r. Ashby was called to his eternal rest in April, i()(\v His widow is still living, making her home in Ladoga. She is an unusually well preser\c(l woman, although now past eight\-eight )ears of a.ge. The advancing years, cruel to manw ha\-c left but ;i few threads of sih'er in her hair, and her e\es are clear and bright. Her bearing is as good as that of many \dung persons, and her face hears that uiunistak.able mark of one who.se life is li\ed uprightly, with kindly thoughts for others and charitable impulses.

It would be iiard to tind a more painstaking and energetic tiller of the soil in Montgomery comity than William M. Frantz, o( Clark township, a man who has worked liard and nex'er depended ui)on others to his work or his planning, and the success that has come to him has l)een well deserved in e\ery respect and we are glad to gi\e his life record space in this volume along with other deser\-ing citizens of this locality.

Mr. Frantz was born in Scott township, this county, about a mile west of Ladoga, on June 19, 1864. He is a son of Frank and Flizabeth ( Myers) Frantz. Matthias Frantz, the first of the name of whom we are informed, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. September 3. i80(S. His mother's maiden name was Hants, and she was a si.ster of Katherine Hants, who married John Alyers, Sr.. and for a fuller account of this family the reader's attention is re.spectfully directed to the sketch of hVantz O. Myers, appearing in this volume. Matthias Frantz's mother died when the bov was four or five days old. and he was taken into the f.-iniily circle of his aunt .and uncle. Mr. and Mrs. John Myers. Sr. With them he went to P.otetourt county. \'irginia. and lived there on the Myers farm until he grew to manhood. In 1831 he came on horseback with his uncle and his cousin. Henry Myers, from X'irginia to the present site of Ladoga. Indiana, to \isit John Myers. Jr.. who was here beginning on work-- of i^real imi)ortance to the new community. Later the three men returned to the old Virginia home and prepared to move here, and it was in tlie fall of 1833 that the Myers family, including Matthias Frantz, made the long overland trip in wagons to Montgomery county, Indiana, locating in the \icinity of Ladoga, where they established permanent homes and took an active part in building up the community.

Matthias Frantz entered land two miles west and one mile north of Ladoga, and this he improved and established his home thereon, and here he married Sally Graybill. He followed farming all his life. He took an interest in public affairs and was a pioneer justice of the peace, was also a deacon in the Dunkard church. His death occurred on July i, 1898. his wife having preceded him to the grave on June 1894. To them the following children were born: James P., William H., Sarah J., Elizabeth, and John Frank.

John Frank Frantz was born on January 18, 1838, on the farm where his father had settled in pioneer times, and there he grew to manhood and in 1859 married Elizabeth Myers, a daughter of William and Lydia (Harshbarger) Myers. For her ancestry the reader is directed to the sketch of Frantz O. Myers, elsewhere in this volume. She was born November i, 1838, a mile west of Ladoga, where her father, William Myers, was a pioneer settler. Frank Frantz bought a farm north of her father's farm, and farmed there all his life. Six children were born of his first marriage; the first an infant son, died unnamed on December 19, 1859; Leona Ellen, born February 27, 1861, died February 17, 1864; the third and fourth, twin sons, died unnamed in infancy on March 16, 1863; William H., born June 19, 1864; Sarah L., born August 29, 1866, was the wife of Frank Williams, and she died July 6, 1902. The mother of the above named children died July 6, 1878, when William M., of this sketch, was fourteen years old.

After the death of his first wife Frank Frantz married Emma Tapp, a daughter of John and Amanda Tapp. She was born and reared in Scott township, this county, three miles west of Ladoga. Two children were born of this union. May and Gaynelle. In 1897 Matthias Frantz, being feeble from advanced age, his family moved in with him to care for him. His death occurred on July i, 1898, and'his son, Frank, died about five weeks later, on August 9, 1898. His widow lives at Richmond, Indiana.

William M. Frantz grew up on the farm west of Ladoga and he attended the public schools in his native locality. He continued to work on the home place until liis marriage, on September 13, 1888, to \'aletta Corn, daughter of George W. Corn and wife, of Clark li)\vnslii[), a coin])lete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, l-'or a year after his nuirriage he continued on his father's farm, then moved to where he now lives in the northwest i)art of Clark township on the farm owned by Mrs. Frantz's father, and here lie has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising in partnership with Mr. Corn.

To Mr. and Mrs. I'^rantz one son has been born, ( ieorge !-".. whose birth occurred on October 13. 1894. ile is now in his junior year in the Ladoga high school.

Fraternally, Mr. Frantz is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Ladoga. He is a quiet, home man. oliliging in disposition and fair in all his dealings.

Hexry T. Thompson

One of Ripley township citizens whom nature seems to have especially designed to be a tiller of the soil is Henry T. Tiiompson, one of the \'enerable and most highly honored native sons of Montgomery county. The pursuits of agriculture have afforded him high gratification, and in the conduct of his farm the principles he has held ha\e l)een peculiarly adapted to the successful development and improvement of the \aried elements of farm life. He has ever been energetic and enterprising and everything al)Out the place indicates that an experienced hand is at the helm. This gentleman is a well informed farmer, who, from a small beginning has built up a comfortable competence and is now enjoying the result of his industry and enterprise, his property having been acquired through his untiring diligence, foresight and good management. He is one of the oldest nati\c born residents of the western part of the county, and he has li\ed to see and take part in momentous changes here, having known the county when it was little im])roved, when the vast woods stretched in every direction and when the roads were ungraded, the streams unbridged, and when there were \ery few of the evidences of present-day civilization.

Mr. Thompson was born in Montgomery C(junty, Indiana, as aljove intimated, on October 17, 1837. He is a .son of .Alexander and Jane (Taylor) Thompson. The father was born on April 3, 1796, in the state of Pennsylvania, He received a limited education in the primitive schools of his time and he followed farming and the trade of mill wright during his active life. He came to Montgomery county. Indiana, in a very early dav. when this countn- was practically a wilderness and here he established the future home of the family, enduring the usual prix-ations of life on the frontier. He was a rugged, hard-working and honest man, who never permitted hardships, no matter how appalling, to thwart him. He reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years, dying in May, 1885. The mother of our subject was born in Butler county, Ohio, on Alay 14, iSoi. and she grew to womanhood there and received what education she could in the rural schools. Her death occurred in 1867, at the age of sixty-six years.

Fourteen children were born to Alexander Thompson and wife, four of whom are still living, namely: David, bom November 2, 1818; Elizabeth, born January 14, 1822; William, born September 26, 1823; Francis, born May 12, 1825; James, born September 2, 1826; Ruhana, born April 6, 1828; Isabelle, born December 28, 1829; Jane, born August i, 1831 ; Hester, born August 17, 1833; Nancy A., born May 17, 1835; Henry T., born October 17, 1837; Sarah C, born May i, 1840; Joseph R., born December 22, 1841 ; the youngest child died in infancy.

Henry T. Thompson grew to manhood on the home farm and did his share of the work about the place. He received such educational advantages as the earl}- schools afforded in his community in the early days here. He has ne\er married. He has always followed farming and general stock raising. He is now the owner of a finely improved and valuable fami of one hundred and sixty acres in Ripley township. It is nearly all tillable, and it is rolling, so that but little tile is needed. All the improvements on the place, including the residence and outbuildings, were made by Mr. Thompson. He has a pleasant home, and keeps a good grade of live stock from year to year. He lives with his sister Jane, who is a widow, also a daughter-in-law.

George W. Harshbarger

Allegiance to duty and a fixed purpose have been dominating factors in the life of George W. Harshbarger, one of Clark township's best known citizens. Indeed, such principles as he has followed always do more to advance a man's interests than m.aterial wealth or fortituous environment. He is a worthy descendant of one of our most sterling old families, and many of the strong characteristics of his progenitors seemed to have manifested

Mr. Harshl)ai"tjer was hurn in I'lark low nsliip, .Miintg(.imery connty, October 20, 1S38, a sun of Jacob .M. and Mary (Myers) I larshbar-er, the niotlier having been the daughter of IIenr\- Myers, jjrother of John Myers, Jr. Botli the Harshbarger and Myers ancestry will be found on other pages of this work.

CJeorge W. Ilarshbarger grew to manhood, where he now lives in Clark township. He attended the coninion schools in his native community, the higii school at Ladoga, and later the agricultural college at Lafayette. He continued farming on the home place, and in 1881 married Eva Canine, daughter of Cornelius and Keziah Canine. She was born at Waveland, this county, and grew up on a farm two miles east of that town and there she was educated and lived until her marriage.

Cornelius Canine was a son of Raljjh Canine and his tirst wife. Cornelius Canine was born antl reared near \\'a\eland and farmed there all his life. He was an active Democrat and was a member of the liaptist church. He was a broad-minded man, ujjright and honoral:)le. His parents had come to that locality in a very early da\- and cleared and developed a farm.

The parents of our subject induced him to remain on the home farm, rebuild the dwelling and improve the place, the elder Ilarshbarger desiring to retire from active life. He accordingly remodeled and enlarged the old home, installing modern heating and lighting plants and many of the conveniences not usually found in the country. The mother of our subject was called to her eternal rest on June 17, 1899, and the father continued making his home with his son, George W., until ^Irs. Davidson, sister of our sul)- ject, was left a widow, in 190S, whereupon the father went to li\\e witli lier. Since that time our suliject has hail full charge of the farm where he now lives. He is the owner of six hundred and fifteen acres, all in close proximity of his liome, all well improved and well kept, and here general farming and stock raising are carried on extensively, a specialty being made of all kinds of high grade live stock. On the place is to lie seen manv good barns and outbuildings.

Mr. Harshl>arger, wife and children belong to the Christian church at Ladoga. Ever since the Fair Association was organized our suljject has been a member, and has done much for its success. He is a member of the

Mr. and Mrs. Harshbarger iiave three children, namely: Earl M., born September 14, 1885; IMary Ethel, born October 29, 1886; Everett, born August 25, 1894. Earl was married in 1908 to Mabel Thompson Batman, a daughter of Dr. W. F. Batman, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Both Earl and his wife are graduates of the Ladoga high school, and the former attended Wabash College and Purdue University, and his wife attended Northwestern University at Chicago. Earl Harshbarger is engaged in the insurance and real estate business in Ladoga and is also successfully operating a one hundred and twenty acre farm of his father's. Ethel Harshbarger is a graduate of the Ladoga high school, and later she attended Northwestern University; :she is an accomplished musician, and is a general favorite in Ladoga society; she was married in September, 1909, to Richard Dean Squires, a native of Kentucky, and for several years engaged in teaching in Indiana and was quite successful. Fifteen months before his marriage he was chosen superintendent of Ladoga schools, which position he held two years. He is now superintendent of schools at Carlisle, Nicholas county, Kentucky. To tliis union has been born a daughter, Eva Dean Squires, now about two }ears old. Everett Harshbarger is in his senior year in the Ladoga high school. He will later enter the agricultural college of Purdue University.

Georgge W. Harshbarger is a man of public spirit, but never an ofifice seeker. He was, active in procuring the services of a farm expert to assist in planning and directing farm work in an intelligent, up-to-date manner in Clark township. All movements calculated to better the township in any way have in him an ardent supporter, and he and his family are deserving of the high esteem in which thev are universally held.

V. E. Craig

Conspicuous among the progressive business men of Franklin township. Montgomery county, is the gentleman whose name introduces this article. Coming of an old and well known family, members of which were intimately connected with the rise and progress of this section of the community, he takes a pardonable pride in the parts they performed in the transformation of this locality from a wilderness into its present proud position among its sister counties of the commonwealth.

\ . E. Craig, widely known and successful merchant at the town of Darlington, Montgomery county, was born in this county on December 25, 1853. He is a son of Robert A. and Liddy (Martz) Craig. The father of our subject was born 'in this coimty, also, the date of his birth being June i, 1832, and here he grew to manhood, was educated in the old-time schools and here he devoted his life to general farming, developing a good farm from the virgin soil, living to see the great transformation that took place here, and he became popular with his neighbors and vast acquaintances for he was an honest man and a good citizen. His family consisted of eight children, three of whom are still living. They were named, Marshall, is deceased; \'. E.. of this review; Alma L., Charles W., Mary E., Isaac W.. living- in Darlington; Iva A., are all deceased; John W., the youngest is still li\ing.

\'. E. Craig grew to manhood on tlie liome farm and there he worked during the crop seasons when a boy. and in the winter time he attended the common schools. On March i. 1877 he was married to Armitta Betts, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, April 22, 1855, and here she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of Francis and Henrietta (Stewart) Betts. The union of our sulijcct and wife has been without issue.

V. E. Craig began life for himself as a farmer, following that vocation for a period of twelve years, during which he got a good start. He then came to Darlington and went into tlic grayi business, under the firm name of Craig & Kinler. He remained in this line of endeaxor fur five years, enjoying a large business. Then his partner died and Mr. Craig discontinued the business and turned his attention to real estate which he followed two years, then in 1898 he started a grocery store in the east part of Darlington, and he has been in his present location for about five years. He enjoys a large and lucrative patronage, his store being known as the Central Grocery. It is well stocked with staple and fancy groceries at all seasons. He owns a nice home in Darlington, and has a farm in Tippecanoe county.

Politically, he is a Democrat, and he has l)een quite prominent, locally, in political and public affairs. He was for seven years a member of the city council of Darlington, and was for three years a member of the school board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons and the Improved Order of Red Men, also the Knights of Pythias. Religiously, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

James Ai. Otterman

The name of James AI. Otterman, one of the progressive and successful citizens of Clark township, needs no praise by the biographer, for it has stood for clean ii\ing and honorable actions toward his fellow men during his life here of more than three score years, for he has sought at all times, no matter how trying the circumstances, to maintain the dignity of the old family of which he is a most creditable representative.

Air. Otterman was torn on Alarch 20, 1S50, in this township and county. He is a son of Lewis Otterman, Jr., and wife, a complete sketch of \\hom appears elsewhere in this work.

James AI. Otterman received a common school education and he lived on the homestead in this township until he was thirt)'-five years old. In 1885 he married Alinnie Stover, daughter of Samuel and Xancy Lee Stover. She was born and reared in Scott township, Alontgomery county, and here received her education in the public schools, and here she resided until her marriage. Samuel Stover was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, in 1820. He was a son of George and Hetty Stover. Samuel Stover was one of a large family who moved to Alontgomery county, Indiana, when he was twelve years old, about 1832, and located in Section 36, Scott township, on what is now the Bymaster farm. Samuel Stover was a carpenter in his younger days. In the early fifties he married Nancy Lee Daugherty, who was born and reared in his neighborhood. She was a daughter of James and Nancy Ann (Mills) Daugherty. The Daughertys came to Alontgomery county about 1 830 from Bullitt county. Kentucky, and located in the southwestern part of Clark township, about three-fourths of a mile north of the Putnam county line.

After his marriage Samuel Stover took up farming, which he followed the rest of his life. His father gave him eighty acres in Section 25, Scott township. As he prospered he purchased additional land until he owned a large and \'aluable farm, and here he lived the rest of his days. He and his wife were active in the work of the church, and he was a trustee of Hawk Creek Christian church. His wife was a Baptist. The death of Samuel Stover occurred on June 20, 1889, his widow surviving until Alarch 14, 1908.

James AI. Otterman farmed in partnership with his brother after he was twenty-fi\e years old. After his marriage he farmed for himself on the place where he now resides, in Section 23, and he is now owner of three hundred and fifteen acres of valuable and productive land, for the most part under a liit^h ^lalc of inii>ru\<.-mciU and cultivation, and all near his honiu. He is canvniy on !;eneral farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, and has a ])leasant home and numerous outbuildings.

To -Mr. and .Mrs. Otterman two children have been Ijorn. namely: i.elah. horn April i o. 1S89; and Carl S.. horn January iS. 1S93. The latter is now taking a course in agriculture and stock juilging at the agricultural selionl at Lafayette.

Mr. Otterman is a Democrat, and has for several years been a member of the advisory board of his township. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his party, and from the days of Horace Greeley has contrilmted generously to the sujijiort of Democracy. He is a member of the llorse Thief Detective Association, and he and his wife belong to the Christian church.

Lewis Ottermax

One of the well known and influential citizens of Clark townshii), Mnulgomery county, of a jiast generation who is now sleeping in "that low green tent whose curtains ne\er otitward swing" was the late Lewis Otterman. a man who was the ])ossessor of many commendable characteri.stics of head and heart and whose name is deserving of perpetuation on the pages of local history, and his career might well serve as a pattern for the youth, lie is remembered as a man of rare foresight and keen discernment and good judgment, and he was often called upon for advice in matters of business and often served as arbitrator. .Although well qualified he refused to acce])t office, but was looked to as a leader in local material and public affairs. The Otterman family have always been noted for their somewhat retiring dispositions, never pu.shing them.selves forward in the limelight, attending very closelv to their own business affairs, and they ha\e e\er been highly estteemed since coming to this locality in the early pioneer days to the ])resent.

Mr. Otterman was born .Septeml)er 1. iSii. m what is now rulnam county. West X'irginia. a son of Lewis ()tterman. .Sr.. who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Virginia, lie married Glory Null, daughter of Philip Xull. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, from which state he migrated to Xorth Carolina, where he married Margaret I'.ushong. lie I'oUowed farming and the tanning trade tmtil the commencement of the Revolutionary war, then entered the Continental army, serving throug-hont the conflict, under command of Generals Marion, Washington and Morgan, and for bra\ery on the field was promoted to the rank of captain.

After his marriage Lewis Otterman, Sr., returned to his native town and subsequently moved from there to Putnam county in the western part of Virginia, now West \"irginia, where he followed farming for about eighteen years. At the end of that time he came, with his family, to Indiana, and first located on land that he entered from the government in Clark township, comprising eighty acres of timber, which he at once began to clear. A few years later he sold that and moved to a farm about five miles east of Ladoga, where he lived until his death, in 1858. In early life he was a Lutheran, later a Christian. His first wife died and he married a second time, his last wife being Mrs. Jessie Ruth. He was the father of tweh-e children, all of whom grew to maturity and six of whom reached advanced ages, John, Lewis. Jr., Philip, Elisha, Eliza, Joseph, George, Mary, Elizabeth, Sam, Henry and Elijah. Elijah, Elisha and Eliza were triplets.

Lewis Otterman, Jr., was eighteen years old when he came with his parents to the wilds of western Indiana. When twenty-one years old he started out in life for himself, with no wnrldly possession Ijut an ax. He first worked for his Uncle Myers and afterwards with his Uncle John at a salary of eight dollars per month. He saved his earnings and entered eighty acres of land. During the four years following he made enough by the month to procure one hundred and sixty-five acres of land.

In the fall of 1836, after his marriage to Hettie Pefley, he took possession of his land and spent the remainder of his life on the same. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Pefley and wife, who came to this county in 1835. He was a hard worker and good manager and developed one of the finest fanning properties in the southeastern part of the county, and when old age came on he divided his land among his children, having had at that time between eleven hundred and twelve hundred acres of valuable and productive land. He retained three hundred and fifty acres. His large success was eminently deserving", since lie worked his way up from the bottom of the ladder without assistance.

Although a very busy man, he found time to render aid in the general development of his community, being especially a friend to the free school system and education in general. He was a life-long Democrat, and during the Civil war was a strong L^nionist and Abolitionist. He was a pronounced temperance man. lie ne\er wnnlil accept otiice. ami when appciinted county commissioner, refused to serve. .Mthouj^h not a heliexer in manmade creeds, he was an honorable. Bible-following man, living his religion every day; however, he was very influential in the upbuilding of the local Christian church, and was a member of that denomination for ii\er half a century. He was originally connected with the Hawk Creek church, hut in 1847 he and several others were instrumental in slarting what is now known as Christian Chapel in his own neighborhood, and he was also one of the founders of the Sunday school. He ser\-ed both as deacon and elder of the church and conlril)uted liberally of his means toward its su])])ort.

Seven children were born to Lewis Otterman, jr., and wife, namely: Ann Eliza married Isaac Smith, of Boone county; Sarah Jane married Josiah Bradley, of Clark township ; Samuel Henry, who became a prosperous fanner in his native township; James M., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; George W. became a farmer in Clark township; John F. and Lewis C. both died many years ago.

Silas F. Kyle

No history of Montgomery county, purp(jrting to go into the industrial life as well as other leading phases of our complex civilization here would be complete were there failure to make proper mention of Silas F. Kyle, one of the foremost citizens and substantial business men of the town of Ladoga, and not only as a busy man of affairs is" he eligible for representation in these pages, but also as a citizen, for he is public spirited and enterprising in his advocacy of progressive methods to an unwonted degree; as a friend and neighbor he combines the cjualities of head and heart that wins confidence and commands i^espect. He is a good manager, makes a success of whate\er he turns his attention to, possessing sound judgment and keen foresight, and who believes in pressing forward in all lines, Ijelieving with Tennyson, the old order changeth'' and should be supplanted by the new and better. He is one of our worthiest native sons and has come down to us from the pioneer epoch, his life here of over seventy years ha\ing witnesseil phenomenal changes, such as the vast forests giving way under the sturdy stroke of the woodmen to fertile fields, and grou])S of log caliins springing up into

Mr. Kyle was Ixjrn in the southern part of Clark township, Montgomery county, on April 4, 1841. He is a son of George E. and Elizabeth (Ashby) Kyle, the mother having been a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Hohimer) Ashby. The Ashbys have been a prominent family in this locality from the early days. A complete record of them is found on other pages of this work.