Montgomery County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1911 (part 8 of 14)

George E. Kyle was born in Maryland, was a son of Nicholas G. Kyle and wife. Nicholas G. Kyle came from Germany and was probaljly married tliere. George E. Kyle and Elizabeth Ashby were married in Kentucky, from which state they came to Montgomery county, Indiana, alxnit 1829. He entered eighty acres from the government, in Clark township, and the subject of this sketch still has the deed of the government, signed by President Andrew Jackson.

To George E. Kyle and wife six children were born, namely; William died when twenty years old, Mary and James both live in Kansas: Silas F., of this sketch ; John and Lettie S. are both deceased.

After the death of the mother of the above named children, the father married Elizabeth Hamilton and the following children were Ixjrn to them : Nicholas G., Mildred, Nancy, Sallie, Lottie and George. None of them now live in Montgomery county.

George E. Kyle was killed by a locomotive at Ashby' s Station, August 14, 1 87 1, being thrown sixty-eight feet and died instantly. He was both a farmer and blacksmith. He cleared his land and began farming on the eightv acres; however, he depended principally on his shop for support. He also loaned considerable money to* adva:ntage. He finally became the owner of six hundred acres. He was a business man of rare foresight and sound judgment, and he never lost on a loan but once. His honesty was unquestioned.

Silas F. Kvle remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, then, with his father, went into the mercantile business at Forest Home on the south line of the count}- and remained there from 1858 until the fall of 1875, then sold out and came to Ladoga, where he bought a partly furnished store building, furnished it and started a general store. In 1903, having been successful, he built another building on the corner west of it at Main and Washington streets, joining it to his other building. He also has a fine home in Ladoga, which was built at a cost of ten thousand dollars and is modernlv furnished.

Mr. Kyle rclircd fnnn the mcrcaiUile Inisiiu^s in kjo^, aflrr liavini; enjoyed a verv extensive trade for many years. Since then he lias carried mh an electric light and coal business. In partnership with jacnl) Lidikay he assists in operating the electric light plant at Ladoga, and llie\ ha\ c made a great success ol this venture.

Mr. Kvle has taken an active interest in local public atiairs for sume time and he has more than once been nominated for local office against his wishes, however: and in the county convention he once refused nomination for county treasurer. hVaternally. he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, having belonged to this lodge for over thirty years.

Mr. Kvle was married to Susanna McGinnis on December ,^, 1863. She was bom in Putnam county, Indiana, and is a daughter of Joseph T. and Eliza ( DeVore) McGinnis. The date of Mrs. Kyle's birth is December 3, 1844. and she grew to \yomanhood and was educated in her nati\-e vicinity at Clo\erdale. Her parents were both worthy representatives of typical pioneer families of that section. On December 3, 1863, slie and Mr. Kyle were married. For almo.st fifty years she was the faithful helpmeet of our subject, working with him, through toil and trial, through success and achie\ement, the increasing responsibilities of home and parenthood drawing them ever close. Ever since they came to Ladoga their home and family were inseperably entwined with the commercial, educational, religious and social life here. Any considerable acquaintance with Ladoga has meant of necessity some acquaintance with Mr. Kyle and his family. Mrs. Kyle's chief interest was in her home and to its welfare she delighted to make her richest contribution. She found life's sweetest joy in giving self for service, in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and ministering to suffering. Selfish interests never determined her policy in life. The lasting impression her many friends had of her was that she gave more thought to doing her own part well than to criticise others for their failures. As a wife she was of a high type of faithfulness and sympathic devotion and at her death her children said in all sincerity. "You cannot exaggerate in prai.se of mother." She was a woman of beautiful Christian character and faith, and did much good in her humble sphere of wife and mother. She was called to her eternal rest on November 2-/. 1912, after having been an earnest, faithful member of the Christian church since she was twelve years of age.

To Silas F. Kyle and wife were born six children, one of wliom is deceased, namely: Eliza Florence is the wife of William C. Rapp. the carriage manufacturer of Ladoga: Etta died when six months old: Hattie mar- ried John Lindskogg, a native of Sweden, who died four years after his marriage, and his widow now hves with her father in Ladoga: Minnie is the wife of Edward Ashby, who is at the head of the canning company at Ladoga; Walter E., who is now at Ladoga, was for some time in Iowa travehng for John V. Earweil Company; NelHe is the wife of L. Ben ^iLiyhall, who was in the mercantile business at Ladoga for a number of years.

Charles Haywood

Charles Haywood, president and general manager of the Union Elevator Company, of New Richmond, was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on August 13, 1873. He is a son of E. F. and Margaret (Peed) Haywood. The father was born in Tippecanoe county and the mother near Shawnee Mound, this state. They grew to maturity and were educated in their respective communities, and they devoted their lives to general fanning up to ten years ago, when Mr. Haywood left the farm and moved to Lafayette, Indiana, and became vice-president of the City National Bank. He has been very successful in a business way and is well-to-do. He owns large tracts of valuable land and handles a fine grade of live stock in large numbers. He is one of the well known and influential citizens of Tippecanoe county.

Eight children were bom to E .F. Haywood and wife, namely : Edward, Mattie, Ella, Charles, Emma, Henry and George are both deceased; and Frances, who is the youngest.

Charles Haywood grew to manhood in liis native county and he received his primary education in the schools at Goosenipple, later entering Purdue University, where he studied three years, after which he farmed for four years, during which he got a good start. He then entered the grain business at New Richmond, Montgomery county, and is still actively engaged in this line of endeavor, having become one of the best known grain men in this part of the state. He is president and general manager of the Union Elevator Company, and a very extensive business is carried on all over this locality.

Mr. Haywood was married on June 12, 1899, to Henrietta E. Raub, daughter of Edward and Henrietta (Ruth) Raub, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Boston, Massachusetts.

cepted Masons, also beIoi\t;s to the Conimanden- aiul the Consistory, also the Ancient Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. iNlurat Temple, Indianapolis. He is prominent in Alasonic circles. He is the oldest meinber of the Mystic Shrine in Montgomery county. Religiously, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is faithful in his support of the same.

William L. Batalvx

Dr. William V. Batman, physician antl surgeon, of Ladoga, Montgomery county, Indiana, was born near Bainbridge, in Putnam county, Lidiana, on October 22, 1858. His ancestors were from Great Britain, probably from Whales. His parents were Elijah A. and Lydia (Gillen) Batman. Elijah A. Batman was a native of Putnam county, Indiana, was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Cornell J Batman. Thomas Batman and wife came from near Louisville, Kentucky, in pioneer times and setled near Bainbridge and there established their home. Sarah (Cornell) Batman was one of the same family that gave the name to Cornell L'ni\-ersity. Her parents were William and Mary Cornell. Her father, William Cornell, was born in 1762, and at the age of fifteen enlisted in the New York state troops to fight for the colonies in the war for independence. He saw much hard service, came into close touch with George Washington, whom he fairly idolized; and even in his old age he was ready to resent and even to fight at any slur against the name uf Washington.

Elijah A. Batman grew up near Bainbridge, and became a well known farmer and stock raiser. He was a man of good size and phxsique. weighed about two hundred pounds and was finelx' formed and handsome in appearance. His life was spent in Putnam county, Indiana, where he was highly thought of and respectetl. His last days were spent in Roachdale. where his death occurred.

Dr. Batman's mother, Lydia ((iilley) Batman, was a daughter of Willis Y. Gillen and Melinda (Coombs) Gillen. The Coombs women were famous beauties in their day and lived near Mt. Sterling, Kentuck\. in a region noted for fair women. Her father came to Putnam county, lndi;ina. in ])ioneer times, and there she was reared to womanhood.

Dr. \\'illiam I-". Batman grew to manhood on the home farm near Bainbridge, and there laid the foundation for a strong constitution that has stood (66) him so well in hand in the practice of his arduous professional duties. His early education \\as received in the common schools and Bainbridge Academy. At the age of seventeen he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. R. French Stone, then of Bainbridge, now of Indianapolis, a physician of much learning ,a writer of note and later a professor in the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis. He studied three years with Dr. Stone, then in 1878 entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, where he was taught in surgery by such eminent authorities as Gunn and Parkes, and took a special course in chemistry under Professor Haines. The following year he entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, an institution that was second to none at that time. The faculty included a number of the most eminent physicians of their day, men like Doctors S. D. Gross, J. M. DcCosta, and Robert Barthalow. While there he also took a special course in surgery under Dr. J. Ewing Mears, one of the most eminent surgeons of Philadelphia. Dr. Batman was graduated from JefTerson Medical College in March, 1880, and then entered upon the practice of medicine at Roachdale, being associated with Dr. W. C. Harris.

After three years practice at Roachdale, Dr. Batman went to Bellevue Hospital, New York City, where he received a certificate in Physical Diagnosis. In this subject he was instructed by Professor Edward Janeway. He also attended lectures and saw special operations at the Woman's Hospital, bv the famous Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, and took a special course of instruction from this famous specialist. He saw Dr. Emmett's operations in Gynecology. He attended the clinical lectures of Loomis and Otis, and heard the last course of lectures delivered by the late Professor Austin Flint.

Being by this time well prepared in all branches of medicine and sui-gery. Dr. Batman returned to active practice at Roachdale, in 1884. There he remained six years, building up a large practice. In the fall of 1889 he removed to Ladoga, where he has practiced ever since, having practiced at Ladoga longer than any other physician now here. He has an exceptionally well equipped office; and notwithstanding the fact that his practice is large and its demands often arduous, he has remained a close student of the developments of his profession, and keeps up with the advances in the practice. While in Putnam county, he was president of the Putnam County Medical Society. He belongs to the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society. In 1890 he was a delegate from this county to the American Medical Association at Nashville, Tennessee. In 1896 and 1897 he was vice-president of the State Medical Society.

Montgomkrv Couxtv, Indiana. Io43

His contributions to professional literature relate to important papers and reports of cases, which have been read before tlie organizations with which he is connected.

In lodges, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Masons, both at Ladoga. In Masonry he has taken every degree of the York rite, his membership in the Chapter and Knights Templar l^eing at Crawfordsville. He is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, his membership being at Murat Temple in Indianapolis.

Dr. Batman is a great lover of music and became a skilled violinist. From his southern ancestry he inherits their fondness for fine horses, of which he is a judge, and usually he has a valuable string of them in his stable.

August 29, 1882, Dr. Batman was united in marriage with Miss Ida E. Harris, daughter of his old partner at Roachdale, Dr. \V. C. Harris and Jane (Dodd) Harris. Her father was an old and popular physician of Roachdale and well laiown. She was born and reared in Putnam county, where she received a good education.

For those who know Dr. Batman, no comment is necessary, either as lo his character or as to his standing as a ]>h}-sician. However, history being written more for those who shall come after us, it is proper to say that he seems to be not only well educated as a physician, but naturally ada])ted to the practice, in which he is unusually successful. As a man in his community he is regarded as unselfish, public spirited, a good neighbor, and a thorough gentleman of upright character.

Nathan Hulett

It would be indeed presumptuous for the biographer to make any attempt to introduce to the readers of this work the name of Nathan Hulett, of Clark township, for he is known practically to everybody in Montgomery county where his long, honorable and industrious life has been spent and where he has labored for the general good of the locality while advancing his individual interests. So. his large material success and the universal high regard in which he is held have been well merited.

Mr. Hulett was born in tlie township and count}- where he is still residing, having first seen the light of day here on September 28, 1846. He is a son of Gilson and Winefrede (Clark) Hulett. Gibson Hulett's parents came from Kentucky and settled in Putnam county, Indiana, probably near Greencastle, in an early day, and in that couty Winefrede Clark was born, and she and Gilson Hulett were married in Clark township, Montgomery county. She was a daughter of Willis and Hannah (Allen) Clark. Her parents came from Kentucky in a very early day, her mother having made the trip here on horseback. These parents later moved across into Clark township, Montgomery county, buying a farm in the southeastern part of the township, and Mr. Hulett still owns part ni their farm. Gilson Hulett purchased part of their farm and Mr. Hulet still owns part of that. The death of Gilson Hulett occurred in August, 1851, when Nathan Hulett was about five years of age. He left a wife and two children, Xathan and John W. The latter li\ed and died in Clark township. The mother afterwards married George Morris and lived in Clark township, until late in life when she and her husband moved to a farm he got near Danville. She spent her last years in Clark township, dying there during the early seventies.

Nathan Hulett grew up on the home farm in Clark township, remaining there until his mother moved to near Danville. When a young man he worked out at farming in that locality.

On March 26, 1868 he married ]\lary Grantham, daughter of Wesley and Caroline (]\Iiller) Grantham. Wesley Grantham was a son of Jesse Grantham and wife, who were early settlers in Jackson township, Putnam county, and there Wesley Grantham grew to manhood and married Caroline Miller, also a native of Putnam county. She was a daughter of James and Nancy ( Lee) Miller. After his marriage Wesley Grantham lived in several different localities before establishing a permanent home. He lived a short time in Clark township, this county, later moved to Missouri, but finally located about seven miles southeast of Ladoga. There he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, now owned by Mr. Jeffries and adjoining the Miller farm. There the children grew up, and there Mr. Grantham farmed until about 1880 then moved into I^doga and retired from active work on the farm and gave the younger children a better chance to attend school. Later he bought the T. H. ]\Iessick farm northeast of Ladoga, crossed by the Midland railroad. The title to right of railroad to run across the farm was in the legislature when he bought it and of course he became involved in the suit in that wav. The suit continued in court over eighteen vears. until after Mr. Grantham's death, when the (Iranthani estate linally was xinehcated by the CDiirts. Besitle tlie Messick farm he purchased s':>mc land at tlie southeasf edge of Ladoga now owned by Rev. Brooks, and also a tract a mile east of Ladoga known as the old Sammy Brown farm.

He was an ardent prohibitionist and spent both time and money in furthering the fight against liquor. He was a life-long member of the Methodist church and was a liberal contributor to its support. In fact, during his life he gave more to support the church than he had left when he died, having always been very active in church work and usually held some official position in the church.

Wesley Grantham and wife were the parents of two children, an equal number of sons and daughters; Mary Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Nathan Hulett, subject of this review.

The mother of Mrs. Hulett passed away in 1891. She was also an earnest church worker, belonging to the Methodist church, and later in life joined the Christian church and tliligently trained her children to follow in the same wa}'.

The death of Wesley Grantham occurred cm May 14, 1903. one day before his seventy-eighth birthday. He was a large hearted, charitable, hospitable man, who could not turn a deaf ear to the pleas of the suffering and needy.

After his marriage, Mr. Hulett Ijegan farming (in ninety acres of land that his brother owned and a year or two later bought out his brother's interest. It was ten or fifteen years before he purchased more land, when he traded forty acres for eighty acres, assuming incumbrances, which he later paid. Since then he purchased a twenty acre tract adjoining the eighty tract, and added more from time to time until he eventually owned about five hundred acres in the southwestern part of Clark township. He has since divided a part of this among his sons-in-law, but still retains three hundred forty-three and one-half acres. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.

Three daughters ha\e been born to our sulijcct and wife, name!)' : E\-a, Ella and May. The first named is the wife of John W. Dean, the second is the wife of Robert Hicks, and the youngest married Cecil C. Click. They all li\e in the southwestern part of Clarke township. A separte sketch of each of these gentlemen will be found elsewhere in these jjages.

Mrs. Hulett passed to her eternal rest on December 10, 1909. As a wife she was devoted to all the interests of her husband and was a valuable help- meet. She was a member of the Christian church and was always fond of church work. As a mother she manifested instinctive solicitude for the welfare of her children, making their interests her interest, and installing into their lives an assurance of the inheritance of the life immortal. When she realized her end was near she called the family to her bedside and bade them farewell admonishing the children to be good to their father, then gently fell asleep. Since her death Mr. Hulett has made his home with his children, to whom he is always a kind father and anxious to provide for their welfare. He is a worthy member of the Christian church, is well known and highly esteemed h\- all wiio know him.

Few men of a past generation in Montgomen- cuunt\- were held in higher esteem than the late Samuel Otterman, who, now that life's fitful fever is over, is sleeping serenely in the "windowless palaces of rest." His memory will long be revered by the vast host of people who knew him and admired him, for he was a man in w horn all took a delight owing to his sterling honest}', his ciiaritable nature and his readiness to help in the furtherance of any movement looking to the general upbuilding of the community. He was one of our sterling native sons whom we owe so mucli to, for he grew up here when the land was just being redeemed from its wilderness fastness, and, working long and hard, redeemed, with others, the fertile fields and the fine farms which we of today enjoy and which are now so valuable. We can never say too much regarding these splendid, brave and courageous pioneers and pioneers' sons, many of whom literally took their lives in their hands and, not counting the cost, forged ahead to the goal of success. Our subject inherited the courage and persistent qualities of his forebears who cast their lots in the new country, away from the pleasant hearthstones of their childhood and the advantages of civilization.

Mr. Otterman was born in Section 22. Clark township, Montgomery county, on Alay 10, 1842. He was a son of Lewis and Hettie Otterman, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was the fourth child in a family of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity.

Samuel H. Otterman grew to manhood on his father's farm where he assisted with the general work when a boy, and during the wintertime he attended the district schools and received the usual elementary education of the boys of his time. In July, 1870, he married ]Mary Roberts, a daughter of

Larkin and Hannah (Byrani) Roberts. She lived near (ireencastlc, J'vitnani county until she was about ten years of age. Her mother had died there while she was an infant and little Mary grew up without her loving care.

A\"hen Mrs. Otterman was ten years old the home was broken up and she was brought to live with ]Mr. and Mrs. Adam Keys, near Browns \'alley, not far from Parkersburg, remaining there until she was sixteen years of age then came to the home of Lewis Otterman where she resided two years tiien married Samuel Otterman, one of the sons of Lewis Otterman. Samuel l>eing the eldest son he continued to live with his father and mother until they died and afterwards remained on the home place, which he operated in a most satisfactory manner, keeping it well improved anil reaping abundant crops as a result of his good management and energy.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Otterman, namely ; Albert, born January 7, 1871 lived on the farm until the death of his father and now he lives with his mother in Ladoga ; Hettie married Jefif Whelan, of Birmingham, Alabama, and they have three children, Everett, Charles and Lucile; Dora married Leaton Dougherty who is now attending veterinary college in Chicago, and they have one daughter, Ruth; George, Jr., born January 8, 1884, married February 2.2, 1905, Edna Zimmerman, and they have three children, Irene, Marie and Eugene, and they live in Ladoga : Allie married Lee Starks ; they live on a part of the old Otterman homestead and have two sons, A\'alter and Herman.

Samuel Otterman was a member of the Christian church, of which Mrs. Mary Otterman is also a worthy member. Early in life he joined the Fountain Christian church of w'hich he continued a faithful member until the end of his earthly existence. He willingly took up his father's mantle and so long as he was able he continued to discharge his duties to the church, and every Sunday he could be seen, with his family, on foot or in some conveyance making his solemn way to the Lord's house. His last illness was of long duration but he bore it with characteristic Christian fortitude, until he was called to his reward on October 24, 191 1 at the age of sixty-nine \-ears. Physically he was a robust, rugged man, an indulgent father, kind huslKind and good neighbor. For more than forty years he and his good wife trod peacefully and hamoniously life's rugged pathway together, helping and encouraging each other, and now that he is gone to her has fallen a share of the responsibility that was his in rearing the famil\- and upl)uilding the home. She now lives in Ladoga with her two sons, Albert and ( ieorgc, and there, as in her former communities she has manv warm friends.

John Franklin Royalty

History and biography for the most part record the lives of only those who have attained military, political or literary distinction or who in any other career have passed through extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves in their day and generation for the possession of those qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability - of men who, without brilliant talents, have been exemplary in all their personal and social relations, and enjoyed the esteem, respect and confidence of tliose around them - - ought not to be allowed to perish : for all are benefited by the delineation of those. traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common walks of life. Among the individuals of this class of a past generation in Montgomery county was the late John Franklin Royalty, for some time the able and popular editor of the IVingafe Neius, who had the interests of his town and county at heart, which he sought to promote whenever possible. His life history was distinguished by the most substantial qualities of character and exhibited a commendable career of private industry, performed with moderation and crowned with success, and his memory will long be revered by the people of this locality.

Mr. Royalty was born on November 14, 1872, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was a son of Andrew Jackson Royalty and Mary (Britton) Royalty, both parents being natives of Montgomery county, the mother having been born in Crawfordsville, and near that city they established their home, conducting a fruit farm for years. They were the parents of two children, John Franklin, of this review, and Fred W., who lives in Danville, Illinois.

Mr. Royalty grew up in his native community and received a good education in the common schools. In 1892 he was united in marriage to Lily J. Palin, daughter of Henry and Keziah (Boord) Palin. Her father was a native of North Carolina, from which state he came to Indiana in an early day, locating in Fountain county among the first settlers, and there he developed a good farm through his industry and close application and followed general farming and stock raising there the rest of his life. His family consisted of nine children, named as follows: Winfield C. lives in Wingate, this county; Mary Ann is deceased; Julia Emma married Dr. Robert Claypool, of Williamsport ; Emma married Fred Wales, and they live in Elizabeth, New Jersey; Ella May married John McWhinney; Charles C. is de-

John F. Royalty And Family

Mr. Royalty was for a number of years prior to his death editor of the Wingate Ncivs, which paper he made a very potent factor in this locality. He greatly increased its circulation and prestige and made it one of the best newspapers of its class in this part of the state. He was a well read and well informed man, kept fully abreast of the times and was a man of energy, sound judgment and foresight. This paper was started by his father in 1900.

The death of Mr. Royalty occurred on June 6, 1910, at the age of thirtyseven years, w^hen in the very prime of life and when the future seemed to promise most. His death was accidental and came as the result of a railroad accident at the town of Mellott, Indiana.

Mr. Royalty w^as not active in public affairs and never held office : however, he always did what he could in advancing the interests of his locality. Religiously, he belonged to the ]\Iethodist Episcoprd church, and was a man of good habits and friendlv manners.

Success as a general farmer has come tn John W. Dean, of ("lark township, Montgomery county, partly because he has gi\eu his sole attention to his branch of endeavor, ignoring other lines in order to become more proficient in the one that he liked best, also partly because he has never held back, waiting for someone else to perform the tasks which he himself should do.

Mr. Dean was born in Jackson township. Putnam county. Indiana, on June 21, 1869. He is a son of George Matilda ( Epjjerson ) Dean. Ilis mother was a native of Putnam county and his father came from Kentucky. When John W. Dean was seven years old the family moved to Clark township, this countv and there the lad grew to manhood on the home farm on which he worked, attending the public schools in the winter time, and lived until his marriage, which occurred in 189 1. He chose as a life i)artner Eva Hulett, daughter of Xathan Hulett and wife. To this union two children have been born. Earl and Beulah.

township, in Section 27. where he has a well cared for and productive place. Mr. and Mrs. Dean belong to the Christian church in their neighborhood. The death of the father, George Dean, occurred on April 14, 1910, and the mother is now living in Roachdale.

James B. Elmore, Poet

In the domain of literature Indiana has gained a place of distinction and pre-eminence, being now b)- universal consent, the successor of Massachusetts as the literar)-- center of America. No state has produced such a brilliant galaxy of stars in the literary firmament as has Indiana. In the long list of her native writers we may mention a few such as James Whitcomb Riley, Joaquin Miller, Edward Eggleston, Lew Wallace, Booth Tarkington, George Ade, David Graham Phillips, Maurice Thompson, Gene Stratton Porter and Meredith Nicholson, to say nothing of scores of lesser lights. Alontgomery county has had her full share of the glory in literary genius, here having been born Meredith Nicholson, and here the great author of Ben-Hur spent practically all his life; but it is as the home of statesmen that this county excels. To give a comprehensive reason for the first place in literature in the western hemisphere being held by the Hoosier state would be indeed cjuite out of the C]uestion, whether it has been the result of the meeting of the sterling pioneer elements of the East and the West, or a superior system of education, or whether there is greater natural inspiration and more effort is being made to produce literature here than in other states must be left to conjecture. But the state should be proud of its eminence in this respect. Among those who have contributed materially, of recent years, locally, at least, to its prestige as a literary center, stands James B. Elmore, of Montgomery county, well known as "The bard of Alamo," who is a native son of the locality of which this history deals, whose productions marked by depth of thought and adroit polish have given him a stanch following. It is of course extraneous to the functions of this publication to enter into manifold details concerning the careers of the many representative citizens whose names find a place within its pages and in the case at hand it can be hoped to present only a succinct but we hope accurate and worthy tribute to this talented son of the far-famed Wabash valley countn-, made familiar to the wide world through the tender but masterful strokes of Paul Dresser.

Mr. I'^linurc was Ixini nn January J^, \^^J. in RipU'v tow uslii]). .Montgomery CDUiily. Indiana. He is a sun of Mattliias and .Mary ( Willis i i'llmore. The father was born in 1809 in Ohio and his death occurred in iXi)2. The mother was also a native of Ohio. Matthias Elmore grew to manhood in his native locality and there received a meager education, going no farther than the "rule of three" in mathematics, but, being a great reader and a man of quick perception he became well educated. He took a great deal of interest in politics, and was a Whig up to the race of Gen. \\'illiam Heriry Harrison for the Presidency. He was a carpenter by trade, and he helped Ijuild the first Methodist Episcopal church in Crawfordsville. His chief life work, however, was farming. His family consisted of seven children by his first wife and six by his second wife. He was three times married but the last union was w itlK)Ut issue. His first wife was a cousin of William English, a well known politician and capitalist of Indianapolis, of the past generation. The second wife was the mother of the subject of this sketch. The third wife was known in her maidenhood as X'irginia Kyle. Of the entire family of thirteen children, only five are still living.

James B. Elmore received a common school education, later attending high school, but his ambition for a collegiate course was never realized. However, he has remained a student all his life, has done a vast amount of miscellaneous reading and is a well educatctl man. He liegan life for himself as a school teacher, which he followed for a perioil of twenty years prior to his marriage. He gave eminent satisfaction to both ])ui)ils and patrons and his services were in great demand.

On February 14, 1880, Mr. Elmore was united in marriage to Mary .\nn Murray, who was born in Missouri, May 23, 1863, and is a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Templin) Murray, the father a natixe of Kentucky.

The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of five children, three of whom are still living, namely: Maud L., and Nora are i^oth deceased; Roscoe M., born October i, 1882. married Myrtle Lattimore, and he is one of the successful public school teachers of Ri])ley tt)wnship: Grace, born on January 17, 1885, married Nathan Droljnger and they live in \'eedersburg; Albert Murray, born September 20, 1889. married r,ula M. Seits; they live in Ripley township, and have two children, a son. named after our subject, James Byron, Jr., and a daughter, Margaret .Angeline.

James B. Elmore is a lover of what the great Methodi.st bishop, William A. Quayle, would call "God's glorious outdoors" and. having the love of mother nature in "all her visible forms" in him. as do all |xicts, he has spent his life in the rural districts, starting out on the farm, in\esting, at the time of his marriage, the sum of four hundred dollars, his total worldly wealth, in thirty acres of land, a part of his present farm. There he li\-ed for some time in a log cabm, and farmed and taught school. Finall}', he purchased eighty acres more, going in debt for the same ; later he traded that eighty for one hundred and sixty acres near home, and this he still owns. Subsequently, he purchased eighty acres from his father, from whom he heired another eighty, later bought sixty acres south of home and then purchased one hundred and sixty north of his home farm, and at this writing he is the owner of an aggregate of five hundred and forty acres of valuable land, nearly all tillable, well tiled, well fenced and otherwise improved in an up-to-date manner. He has a commodious home and substantial outbuildings and he makes a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs and Pole cattle, and he also keeps a good grade of medium size horses. Everything about his place denotes system, good management and that a gentleman of industry and taste has the management of this valuable farmstead well in hand, and is deserving to rank among Montgomery's foremost agriculturists.

Fraternally, Mr. Elmore is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Waynetown, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Alamo, and the Woodmen at Crawfordsville. Religiously, he holds membership with the Christian church, and politically, he is a Democrat.

When Mr. Elmore was a boy in school he began writing poetry, which soon proved him to be one of nature's gifted children, for even at that early age his verse possessed unusual merit and won for him the soubriquet of "The Bard of Alamo" which has since clung to him. Some of his best verse was written when he was teaching school, one of the most meritorious being "The Belle of Alamo," and "The Red Bird." From time to time he continued writing as the muse dictated, and eventually gathered his best verse into book form, under the title of "Love Among the Mistletoe: and Other Poems," which was well received. He continued to write, and two years later put out "A Lover in Cuba; and Other Poems." A few years later fol^ lowed another volume of verse, "Twenty-five Years in Jackville," and then appeared from his facile pen, "A Romance in the Days of the Golden Circle." His last volume was "Autumn Roses." They all bore the unmistakable stamp of genuine poetic merit, and each succeeding volume broadened its author's fame and audience until today his name has not only covered America but is known all over the world, much of his verse being especially liked in France. His name is frequently seen attached to poems of fine finish and

Air. Elmore's services as a lectnrer lias been in considerable demand and he has lectured in many colleges and other institutions throughout Indiana, being especially well received in Indianapolis. The advancing years seem to give him a deeper penetration into nature and the soul as well as rendering his verse finer in every respect and we may hope for greater things from him in the future.

Cornelius Leox.Ard Canine

The Canine familx' has been among the well known ami energetic in Montgomery count}- since the pioneer days, and, being people who lead upright and helpful lives, they ha\e always enjoyed the good will and high regard of their neighbors. One of the best remembered was the late Cornelius Leonard Canine, who spent his long, industrious and commen(lal)le life in his native vicinity in the st)Utln\esicrn jiart of the county, where he operated a good farm and did what he could toward the general u])buil(ling of the locality.

Mr. Canine was born on the old Canine homestead in Brown township, Eebruarv' 22, 1827. He was a son of Ralph and Alargaret Canine, who came to this county from Kentucky, arriving in the wilderness here on January I, 1826, making the overland journey from Shelby county, Kentucky, which required some little time owing to rough roads, or no roads at all. Ralph Canine was born in Penns}-lvania and was a son of Peter Canine autl wife. I'eter Canine was a soldier in the l\e\ olutionary war. The family originally came from Hollan<l. Peter Canine bad six sons, ibree of whom settled in Montgomery county, one in Howard county, one in lobnson county. and one in Ohio.

Ralph Canine entered go\-ernment land near W'axelaud for himself and also for his sons, Peter, William, John and James - three hundred and twenty acres for himself and probably one hundred and si.xty acres for each son. Afterwards he bought other land in that vicinity. The Union Primi- tive Baptist church was organized in his house with eight constituent members, on the fourth Sunday in October, 1826. Ever since its organization that church has had its regular monthly covenant meeting on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of the month. Ralph Canine was one of the first deacons in the church. He was a grand character and did much good among the first settlers. He reached the advanced age of ninety-two years. Politically, he was a Democrat.

Cornelius L. Canine grew to manhood on the home farm here and he lived w ithin a mile and a half of the home place all his life, engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising. He was a quiet, unassuming, home man. He took a great interest in vocal music, and was known far and near as a leader in singing, and his services were in frequent demand to lead the singing at old settlers' meetings all over this part of the country. He was active in Democratic politics, but never sought office.

Mr. Canine married Keziah Montgomery, daughter of James and Phoebe (Fisher) Montgomery. Her parents came here from Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1832, when she was about five years old, and settled northwest of Whitesville, in Union township. The land is still in possession of their descendants, being owned by a grandson. Grant Ward.

The following children were born to Cornelius L. Canine and wife: Mary Catherine, and Syh'ia Ann, both deceased. Marion Montgomery Canine lives in Crawfordsville, and operates a poultry farm there. He is an elder in the Primitive Baptist church, his membership being still in the old church that was started in his grandfather's house. He joined the church when he was seventeen years old, and has been faithful to its teachings ever since. He married Celia Jane Russell, of Parke county, and they have three sons, William Banks, Charles Russell and Cecil Clare, all married. William B. lives near Danville, Illinois. Charles lives near Marshall in Parke county ; and Cecil lives in Indianapolis. Edna Lovia Canine, fourth child of ,the subject of this sketch, married J. T. Deere, and to them nine children were born; the mother died in November, 1893. Anna Canine married Caleb Cobb, of Bedford, Indiana. Walter DeBracket Canine lives west of Ladoga, where he owns eighty acres of farm land ; he is married and has one daughter. Eva is the wife of George W. Harshbarger, of Clark township. William Rice Canine died when twenty-four years old. Louise Alice married Dudley Myers, and they live at Carmi, Illinois. Cornelius Leonard Canine, Jr., lives in Lincoln-, Nebraska. Banks has two daughters, Celia Henson and Viola Russell. Charles has a son. Roy Russell.

Celia Jane Russell was born in Parke county, Indiana, near the village of Marshall. She is a daughter of William Banks Kussell and Elizabeth (Elder) Russell, who came from Kentucky to that county in an early day. Banks married Agnes Henson from near Danville, Illinois. Charles married Dolly Myers, of Parke county. Cecil married Minnie Mish, of Crawfordsville.

No tiller of the soil in Coal Creek tDwiisliip. .Muntynniery C(junly. is more deserving of the success he has achie\ed in his chosen xocation than J. W. Crane, of near Wingate, for he has not only worked honestly and persistently in order to advance himself, but has been a close student of agricultural methods - the best known to twentieth century husbandmen, fie has been quick to make proper use of such as applied to local conditions, and it is a satisfaction to look over his fields during the crop seasons and to note their fine condition and the thriving crops they are growing, whether one is a farmer or not - for who is not pleased with a prosperous rural scene, in all its peace, suggestion plenty and rare beauty? He has taken every advantage of local conditions and has made a very careful study of the soil, the various crops adapted to them, climatic conditions and wliatever should I>e observed by the modern agriculturist.

Mr. Crane was ])orn on January 2^. 1861. in l-'ountain county, Indiana, and is a scion of a worthy old family. For a complete history of his parents and the Crane family we respectfully direct the reader to the sketch of J. R. Crane, appearing on another page of this volume, these gentlemen l)eing brothers.

J. W. Crane, of this review, received a good common school education. On September 20, 1891, he married Bertha M. Coffing, who was born in Fountain county, this state, on November 8, 1870. She is a daughter of Daton and Mary A. (Markis) Coffing. She grew to womanhood in her native community and received a good common school deucation.

J. W. Crane has devoted his life to general fanning and stock raising, making a specialty of Poland China hogs, which, owing to their superior quality, always find a very ready market when offered for sale. He also keeps a good grade of milk cows. His farm consists of seventy-nine acres, all tillable and under a good state of improvement and cultivation, and it is well tiled. Mr. Crane has a neat, substantial home, which he built himself, and he is well fixed to enjoy life in every respect.

Politically, Mr. Crane is a Progressive, and during the recent Presidential campaign was active in the work of the new movement in his locality. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Wingate. He takes an interest in whatever tends to better the conditions of his township and county. Mrs. Crane is a member of the Christian church, and with her husband frequently attends the same.

Nature, in her green mantle, is nowhere more lovely than in that part of Montgomery county set aside by survey as Madison township. Cozy farm houses nestle in gentle quietude amid green orchards which dot the landscape in every direction, presenting a scene of plenty and prosperity, though in some parts it has the appearance of newness. This division of the county has been settled for many years, and scenes once familiar to the older residents are rapidly fading from view. Only too frequently is it the case that those who have been reared in such a picturesque locality fail to appreciate its natural beauties and advantages. But this has not been the case with Walter H. McBee, a well known farmer of this vicinity.

Mr. McBee was born in the above named township and county on May 18, 1856. He is a son of William Z. and Mary E. (Shobe) McBee. The father was born in Grant county. West Virginia, from which country he came to Indiana in 1852 and settled in Madison township, Montgomery county, having made the journey here on horseback. The mother of our subject was born in Ross county, Ohio, and she came to Montgomery county, Indiana, with her parents who settled in Madison township as early as 1838. William Z. McBee devoted most of his life to farming, but in his old age he left the farm and moved to the town of Linden where he was interested in a bank, and there his death occurred in 1910 at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. His widow is still living in Linden.

Waher H. McBee grew to manhood on the home farm in Madison township and there he assisted with the general work, and he received his education in the common schools, then took up farming and is still active, owning

Montc.Omkkv Cointv. Ixdi.Wa. Io57

Mr. Mcl'.ee was daughter of Andrew of Virf^inia and her mother of Ohio. Andrew Shotts came to Montijomery county. Indiana, as early as 1830 and settled in Madison township when the country was sparsely settled and little improved. Further mention of the Shotts family is found in this volume under the caption of .\rthur R. Shotts.

Seven children were lx)rn to William Z. McL5ee and are still living, namely: Walter 11.. of this review ; M;in Minnie. Sarah Melinda. Robert !-. is deceased: and Willia of the children.

Walter H. McHee is a Democrat, and he was a member of the ;id\isory board for one term, antl was also at one time ai)iJointed superintendent of gravel roads. Fraternally, he belongs to the I-"ree and .\ccepted .Masons. He attends the New Light Christian church.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McRee. named as follows: Maud, who married Walter Hoss. lives m :\Iadison townshij), this county; N^ancv E., Elsie. Isaac C. and Minnie, are all at home.

Fame may look to the cla^h of resounding arms for its heroes: instory's pages may lie filled with :i record of the deeds of the so-called gre.at wlio have deluged the world with blood, destroyed kingdoms, created dynasties and left their names as jilague -pots upon civilization's escutcheou : the |)oet may embalm in deathless song the short and simple annals of the poor: but there have been comparatively few to sound the praise of the brave and sturdy pioneer who among the truly great and noble is certainly among the deserving of at least a little space on the category of the immortals. To him more than to any other is civilizati(jn indebted for the brightest jewel in its diadem, for it was he that blazed the way and acted as van guard for the mighty army of progress that within the last century has coufpiered Indiana's wilderness and (67) transformed it into one of the fairest antl most enlightened of the American commonwealth's domains. One of the pioneer families of ]\IontgomeiT county was that represented by our subject, Jonathan Nutt, a venerable agriculturist of Union township, he is one of the few connecting" links between the remote days of the first settlers and the present, being a son of an early settler, and he has lived to see the count}- de\elop from a wilderness to what it is today.

Jonathan Nutt was born on land enteretl l)y his father in Union township, Montgomery county, his birth having occurred on September i, 1829. He is a son of Edmund and Elizabeth (Mann) Nutt. Edmund Nutt was born in Virginia where he spent his earlier years and from which he migrated to Montgomery' county, Indiana, in the early twenties, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Union township. This he cleared and developed into a good farm. He was a hard worker and a good manager, and constantly added to his holdings, until at the time of his death in 1863 he was the owner of over two thousand antl two hundred acres, being one of the largest land owners in the county and one of its most substantial and l^est known citizens. He had de\'otetl his entire life to farming and stock raising, which he carried on \'ery extensivel\'. He had a large family, twelve children, only two of whom are living at this writing. Politically, he was a Whig, later a Democrat, but he never held office nor aspired to any. He married soon after coming to this county to Elizabeth Mann, a daughter of an early settler who came from Ohio where she was born. Only three families were known to be in the county when the Nutts and Manns took up their residence here. Members of each did much toward starting the physical, moral and intellectual work of civilization here. Mrs. Elizabeth Nutt was a woman of fine character, and a coincidence worthy of notice is that in their deaths only thirteen days inter\'ened. The two remaining children are J(jnathan, of this review: and Sanford Nutt.

Jonathan Nutt received a very limited education, for he had much hard work to do, and in early life had to shift for himself. He began farming when young and has continued this line of endeavor to the present time, with ever increasing success, having added to his holdings from time to time until he now has nearly four hundred acres in Union township, Montgomerycounty, all valuable, productive and well improved, all under cultivation. While he still has general supervision of his place the work on the same is done by his son-in-law. He has long kept a good grade of live stock and has been very successful in handling the same along with general farming.

He has a pleasant home and good sul)stantial onllmildinj^s. lie lia> always been to the front in matters of interest tn the i^cncral comnnmily. Xow in his declining years he can enjoy the i)rt)S])erity which is his ri^hl as the result of hard work and frntjal, honest ways.

In i860, Mr. Harding was united in marriage In Mary .\nn I'onper, a native of Montgomery county, where she was reared and educated, and wliere her people were well known in the early days.

Gilbert How Ell

The following is a hrief sketch of the life of one who. by close attention to his chosen profession, has achie\ed marked success in the world's affairs and risen to an honored position in the field of fraternal journalism, and is well known and highly esteemed among the enter]irising men of the city with which his interests are identified. It is a ])lain record, rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no womlerful and luck)- accident and no tragic situation. Mr. Howell is a man of honest convictions and sincere purposes, his upright career and wholesome moral influence making him respected by all who have cotne in contact with him, and as editor of The Chariot, the official organ of the great Trihe nf Ocn-Hur. his influence is most potent, and extends to many thousands ni penple thniu!.;hout the land.

Gilbert Howell was born in Miami county. ( )hio. July i(). i<S57. He is a son of Ephraim R. and Elizabeth (Brelsford) Unwell. The father, Ephraim B., was lK)rn in Trenton. Xew Jersey. May 20, 1S16. and was a son of Daniel B. and Deborah B. (Boiles) How-ell. Daniel P>. Howell was also born in Trenton. Xew Jersey, the year of his birth Iwing 1781. He was thus cradled in the \ery storm center of the Revolution. His father was Daxid Howell, a nati\e of Wales, w-ho came to the L'nited States about 1730, and settlerl in Xew Jersey. He was proprietor of the famous "Black Horse" tavern in Trenton. He served in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the se\en men detailed to capture General Rahl. commander of the Hessians. He was a non-commissfoned officer, and ser\'ed tliroughuut tlie war, participating in many of the leading engagements. The musket whicli he carried is now in possession of the subject of this sketch, who \ery higiily prizes this heirloom of his great-great-grandfather.

After the close of the Revolutionary war Da\id Howell returned to his tavern and continued to conduct the same until his death, when his son, Daniel B., succeeded to the management of the noted hostelry until 1820, when he m()\'etl to Aliami county, Ohio, and there entered a tract of land fnim the g(i\-ernment. He was one of the earl_\- settlers in upper Miami valley and worked hard clearing and developing this wild land, but eventually had a productive farm and a comforta])le hcime as a result of his industry He continued to reside on the farm until his death, which occurred at an advanced age.

Upon the death of Daniel Howell, his son, Ephriam B., father of our subject, assumed management of the farm, and followed general agricultural pursuits in a very successful manner until his death, on February 15, 1897.

Deborah Boiles, wife of Daniel B. Howell, mentioned above, was a native of England and was the daughter of a Alethodist minister. Eler death occurred in New Jerse}- in 181 8, two years prior to the removal of the little family to Ohio.

Elizabeth Brelsford, wife of Ephriam Howell, was a nati\e of Charlottsville, Virginia, and was of one of the early families of the Old Dominion, her birth occurring August 5, 1820, She and Ephraim B. Howell were married at Fletcher, Ohio, February 22, 1845. Her death occurred on August 25, 1891. They were people of sterling honesty, industry and hospitality, and were highly respected by the people of their community.

Gilbert Howell was educated at Fletcher, Ohio; however, his education was limited, but this early lack has been more than supplied in later life, and by close home stud}- and wide miscellaneous reading he has become a well informed man. He began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed two years. When nineteen years old he began clerking in the store of J. & A. W. Prugh, Piqua, Ohio, where, after a year, he was made manager of the store, remaining as such for several years. The next twelve years were spent by him on the road for the Favorite Sto\e and Range Company, giving his usual high-grade and acceptable service. During that time he was elected Secretar}--Treasurer of the Fraternal Publishing Company at Piciua, Ohio. This marked his initial step into the printing and publishing business which was destined to play a very important role in his later life. In this he learned every mechanical jjjiase of tlie husiness, mastered with increditable swiftness the ins and outs of the same, then was sent by tiie (Irand Lodf^e of the Ancient Order of United Workmen to Cleveland, Ohio, to edit tlie oBicial paper of that organization, "The Buckeye IVorknian," and he remained in that capacity for a period of five years, givin.ij eminent satisfaction to ail concerned and j>n)\ed himself lo he hy nature, as well as trainin.L;' well i|nalified for any posilion of trust and resp(.)nsiljilily in the tield i His ability being generall_\- recngnized thniughout tlie country resigned his position in Llc\ eland in hecnme editnr of "The Charit official organ of the Supreme Tribe of I'.en-Uur. ])ublislied at Cr; ville, Indiana, and here he has remained to the present time, with stil success than characterized his work in Clexeland. He has done brighten the general mechanical appearance uf the publication, brought it to its present high order of efficiency, making it rank with of its kind in the world. He is not only a business man of keen acu; is a forceful, convincing and entertaining w riter.

He belongs to the x'arious Masonic Orders, including the Knights Templar, the Mystic Shrine. Mural Tem])le. at Indianapolis. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and the Bene\ olent and ]'rotecti\e Order of I'dks, and Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Impro\e(l Order of Red Men.

He is also a member of several of the fraternal insurance societies, and is president of the National Fraternal Press Association, which body was organized by him sixteen years ago, and which under his judicious management has become strong and influential. He is also doing a very commendable work as president of the Indiana Fraternal Congress. Politically, he is a Republican, and in religious matters a Methodist.

Mr. Howell was married on September 2^. iSjy, to L(»uise .\. llarthan. of Selma, .\labama, a lad)- of culture and refinement, who died July 4. iS()i. at Picpia, Ohio, her birthplace. To this union were born three children, namely: Edith A., wife of Alfred P. McClellan, of Crawfordsville : l.loyd B., who is assistant professor in chemistry in Wabash College; ISlanche .\.. who married Walter Troemel, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were all well educated and received every advantage.

I062 Montgomery County, Indiana William Jarvis

Ninety years have dissolved in the mists of time, emhracing the major part of the most remarkable century in all the histor\- of the race of mankind, since the honored and venerable subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. Heaven has bounteously lengthened out his life until he has seen the crowning glory of this, the most wonderful, epoch of all the aeons, of time, rewarding him with an unusual span of years as a result of virtuous and consistent living in his youth and years of his active manhood, until now, in the golden Indian summer of his life, surrounded by comfort and plenty as a result of his earlier years of industry and frugality, Mr. Jan'is can take a retrospective glance down the corridors of the relentless and irrevocable past and feel that his has been an eminently useful, successful and happy life, a life which has not been devoid of obstacles and whose rose has held many a thorn, but with indomitable courage he pressed onward with his face set in determination toward the distant goal which he has so grandly won; a life of sunshine and shadow, of victory and defeat, according to the common lot of humanity since the world began, but nobly lived and worthily rewarded, as such lives always are by the Giver of all good and precious gifts, who has given Mr. Jarvis the longest span of years of any of his contemporaries, a great gift, indeed, of which he is duly grateful. Although a native of the fair Blue Grass state, the major portion of his life has been spent in the Wabash Valley country, and he has alwa}'s been deeply interested in whatever tended to promote the prosperity of his chosen locality and to him as much as to any other man is the community indebted for the material development for which it has long been noted, and his long residence in Brown township has won for him a \ery high place in the confidence and esteem of his many acquaintances and friends. He has used his influence for all moral and benevolent entei-prises, being a friend and liberal patron of the church, which he believes to be the most potential factor for substantial good the world has ever known or ever will know ; he has also been an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance. In short, he has sought to fulfill his duties as an honest, public-spirited citizen at all times. .

William Jarvis, of Waveland, Montgomery county, was born at Clementsville, Kentucky, October 21, 1823. He is a son of Reason and Betsey (Heath) Jar\'is. The father was a native of the state of Maryland, and his death occurred in Kentucky in 1838. he having located in the "dark and bloodv ground" countrv in a very early day. The mother of our subject was

William Jar\is grew to manhood on the home farm, where he finiiid l)lenty of hard work U) do when a boy, bein.g the son of a pioneer and reared amid pioneer conditions. He received a verv- limited education in the nld lo,i; school house of his community, with its puncheon floor and seats, its wide fire-place in one end. and its greased paper window. However, he has been a wide reader of newspapers and good books and is a well informed man.

On June 8, 1858, Mr. Jarvis married Mary V. Switzer, who was born in Ohio on October 10, 1840. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Xancy (Dooley) Switzer. Her father was bom on May 18, 1808. Mrs. Jarvis received a good common school deucation.

To our subject and wife one child was born, I'.mm: who was born in Parke county, Indiana, April 17, i8()0. good common school education and married Edward Olds Parke county, and there they still reside: they are the parents dren, namely : Vivian, Grace and Mary.

William Jarvis began life for himself as a farmer when a young man and he has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising with a greater degree of success than befalls the average farmer. He has worked hard, managed well and each year has found him further advanced than the preceding. He s])ent two years engaged in the .general merchandise business at Placerville, California, having crossed the great plains to the I'acilir coast before the days of railroads. After spendin.g two veais there he returned to Indiana and resumed farming. He is the owner of nver one thousand acres of valuable land, nine hundred and twentv-five of which lie in I'arke countv. and eighty-five in Montgomery county. His land is under a high stale of improvement and cultivation, and he has farmed on a large scale and r.iised large numbers of live stock of all varieties. He resides in the town of W'aveland. Brown township, where he has a commodious, attractive and modernly furnished home, which is known to his many friends as a ])lace of old-time hospitality. He is one of the substantial and well-tu-dn men of iliis i)art of the county.

F'olitically. Mr. Jarvis is a Republican, but he has never been much of a politician; however, he has takeji an abiding intere-t in tlie affairs of his to.wnship and county, and he was at one time county commissioner, which position he held with credit tn himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In religious matters he belongs to the Christian church, and was formerly a trustee in the same, and has long been one of its most acti\'e meml^ers.

Samuel A. Dykes

Sugar Creek township, Montgomer)' county, is the home of many successful farmers. Among those who have prospered by their energy, perseverance and good management, is Samuel A. Dykes, who owns and operates a fine estate, which has been accjuired through his excellent planning and characteristic industry. A visitor to his home will see that he has not only erected good buildings and kept his farm well supplied with modern machinery, but also that he keeps excellent grades of live stock.

Mr. Dykes was born on October 27,, 1869 in the township and county where he still resides, and here he grew to manhood and received a common school education. For a sketch of his parents and the Dykes ancestry the reader is directed to the life hi.story of J- E. Dykes, appearing in another part of this volume.

Samuel A. Dykes was married on June 7, 1896 to Anna Maguire, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, January 14, 1868. She is a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Yearion) Maguire. The father was a native of Ireland, born on November 14, 1835. and he is now living at Darlington, this county. The mother of Mrs. Dykes was born on December 16, 1844, in Hamilton county, Ohio, and she and Mr. Maguire were married in that state. She, too, is still living. These parents are now advanced in age. They are well known in this section of the county and are held in high esteem by all. We quote the following from the Crazi'fords^'illc Rcz'icii' under date of July 8, 1910, l^earing the caption, "Celebrate Their Golden Wedding Anniversary Today."

"Today at their beautiful country home near Darlington, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Magtiire are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary and with them are their eleven children as well as a numl^er of friends and other relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Maguire have reached the half century mark of wedded bliss, in excellent health and happiness and they are permitted to enjoy an event so few persons ever know.

his boyhood there, cominj^ to this country wlien he was alxjiit eijjiiteeii years of age. He landed in I'hihuleiphia after a stomiy voyage of six weeks and three days. From the Quaker city he went to Pittsburgii and then to Cincinnati. It was while living in Ohio that he met and wooed Miss Harriet Yearion and was married to her fifty years ago today. To them two children were Iwrn in ihe Buckeye slate, and soon afterwards they came to Indiana. The Maguires settled fust near London, in Shelby county, in the fall of 1865, and thev lived there several years, making many warm and Inving friends in that sectinn wlm h;i\e come today to assist in the festi\ities of the occasion.

"]\Ir. and Mrs. Maguire ha\e li\ed in their present home man\' years and have gathered about them a wide circle of acquaintances who hold their friendship lovingly. Mr. Maguire has always I)een a staunch Democrat, but he has always been keenly awake to the best interests of his ])arty and has been a strong advocate of right principles and party reforms that make for better citizenship and better government. He has been a member of ( ilenn Lodge No. 149. Independent (Irdcr of Odd Fellows, of Darlington for many years and at this time has the hon<ir of holding the highest office within the gift of the lodge, that of noble grand.

"All but one of the eleven children. Mrs. Flla Crowder. who died .March 23, 1903, live within a few miles of the parental home and all of them are here to help in the observing in this rounding out of half a century of beautiful and inspiring married life. The children are as follows:

"Handsome invitations to the celebration were sent out to many friends and relatives and many guests will be entertained at the Maguire home today. The hours will be from lo to 4 o'clock.'"

Samuel A. Dykes and wife have one adopted child, Irma C, born on July 5. 1902. the daughter of J. E. Dykes and Estelle (Ollinger) Dykes, the latter the eldest daughter of Dr. Ollinger of Newmarket. She is attending

Mr. Dykes has always followed fanning in Sugar Creek townshij). He owns one hundred and sixty acres, all tillable and well improved, with the exception of twenty acres. He is living east of his farm about a mile.

Fraternally, Mr. Dykes belongs to the Masonic Order at Colfax, and the Improved Order of Odd Fellows at Darlington; religiously he is a member of the Potato Creek Methodist church, of which he was a steward for eight or nine years. Politically, he is a Republican, and he served his township as constable, also justice of the peace for several years, giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned.

William Damdsox Myers

It cannot be other than interesting to note in this series of personal sketches appearing in this volume the varying conditions that have compassed those whose careers are outlined, and the effort has been made in each case to throw well-focused light onto tiie individuality and to bring into proper perspective the scheme of each respective character. Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activity is deserving of recognition, whatever may or have been the field of his endeavor, and it is the function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic record concerning those represented in its pages, and the value of such publications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accomplishments of which generic history is ever engendered. The career of William Davidson Myers, the present efficient and popular superintendent of the county farm of Montgomerv county, has been characterized by hard work and conscientious endeavor, and he owes his rise to no train of fortunate incidents of fortuitous circumstances. It was the reward of application of mental qualifications of a high order to the affairs of business, the combining with keen perceptions mental activity that has enabled him to grasp the opportunities that presented themselves. This he has done with success, and, what is more important, with honor. His integrity has ever been unassailable, his honor unimpeachable, and he stands high with all who know him.

Mr. Myers was born in Monroe county, Indiana, August 13. 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Anna Myers. The father was a native of Tennessee and he came to Indiana with his parents in the early thirties, and spent the rest of his life on a farm in Monroe county, becoming well known among the pioneers there, and well established as a result of his life of hard work as a general farmer and stock man. His wife was a native of Virginia.

and had a valuable instructur in his father, hence it is no wonder liiai lie is eminently successful with the superintendency of the county farm, lie had little chance to obtain an education, but made the best use possible w ilh w hat he did ha\e. Jlc farmed successfully in Mounie cdunty until March J5. 1889. when he renn)\ed to Monts^omery ccmnty, where he continued i^eneral agricultural pursuits. tJu June S, Kjog. he was appointed sui)crinteudeul of the count}- farm, by the county commissioners, and soon thereafter, on September I, 1909, took charge of the same, which position he has since held in a manner that reflects much credit to himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the commissioners and all concerned, keeping the place well improved and under a high state of cultivation, making it produce abundant crops and he has built up the soil, so that it has retained its fertility. He seems to be, in every respect, the right man in the right place. One June 7, 1911, he was appointed for a second term of two years, with a substantial increase in salary.

Mr. .Myers is a member of the Independent Order of Odd I'^llows, is past grand of the Subordinate of Crawfordsxille Lodge No. 223; he is also a past chief patriarch of Bethesda Encampment No. 15, Independent (^rder of Odd Fellows. He has attended the So\erin Grand Lodge. Politically, he is a Democrat.

Mr. Myers was married on September 27, 1879, to Sarah J. Pittman, a native of Brown county, Indiana. To this union five childreiji have been born, namely : Mary Ann, wife of Frank Steele, of Montgomery county ; Elmer L'. is deceased; Bertha Sophia is the wife of Bert Knight, li\es in Montgomery county: Junie Mabel is the wife of Belie \'anHook, also of this county; and Merle H., who is attending liigh school, this being his second vear.

Cecil C. Click

One of the young farmers of Clark township. Montgomery county wh< gixes unusual promise is Cecil C. Click. He combines enterprise with souni judgment and persistent effort so that a large degree of success is alteudint. his efforts from year to year as a tiller of the soil.

Mr. Click was born in this township and county. September -'4. i88_> He is a son of Jo.seph and Jessie (Owens) Click. The father was born ir \'irginia and when eight years old came west with his jjarents who settlet in Putnam county, later moving across the line into Montgoniery comity an( established the future home of the family in Clark township, and here these parents developed a good farm through their industry and spent the rest of their lives, and on that place their son Joseph, grew to manhood, assisted with the general farm work, and in this district he received a common school education, and there married Jessie Owens, who was lx)rn in Clark township, and was a daughter of Juhn Owens and wife. Mr. O'wens ran a threshingmachine, also a saw mill and later in life followed farming. He moved into Ladoga about 1905 where he now resides in a pleasant home, living a life of quiet.

Cecil C. Click grew to manhood in Clark township and there did the usual work of a farm l:)oy, and in the winter months attended comon schools. On February 6, 1902, he married May Hulett, daughter of Xathan Hulett.

After his marriage, Mr. Click began farming for himself. He has a neat little farm of sixty acres in section 2J. Clark township, on which he is getting a good start as a general farmer. He and his wife are memljers of the Christian church.

Thomas W. Gray

Farming is a delight to such men as Thomas \V. Gra_\\ of Sugar Creek township, Montgomery county, for he never goes about his work in an apathetic way and half-heartedl}-, but on the contrary is always very much in earnest and never lacks enthusiasm, so his tasks therefore seem lighter than they otherwise would and he gets better results than others who seem to have formed a distaste for their vocation. He makes it a point to keep his fields clear of weeds, sprouts, and rocks, his fences and buildings carefully repaired and everything in ship shape order, and we are glad to give him a conspicuous place in the list of present day progressive tillers of the soil in this county.

Mr. Gray was born on February 23, i860, in Sugar Creek township, this county. He is a son of Thomas and Phoebe (Peterson) Gray. The father and mother were natives of Ohio, the birth of the former having occurred in 1818, and died in 1868. The mother of our subject was born in 1826 and her death occurred in September, 1876. They de\'Oted their lives to general fanning, and were the parents of ten children, fi\'e of whom are living, namely: . Robert F., Thomas W'., James B., Martin B., and Perry G.

Thomas W. Gray grew to manhood on the farm and he did his share of the general work about the place. He received his education in the common schools. On December 23, 1884, he was married to Vena Mahoy, who was

One child was born to our subject and wife, Zola, who died in iHi)i). In 1900 our subject took a child, Lois, to raise when she was but a tew months old. She is now attending school.

Mr. Gray has devoted his life to farming and has met with a large measure of success, and he has raised cattle, including a few short horns. He has a fine farm of tliree hundred and twenty acres, all tillable but about twenty acres, which is in gro\es and good pasture and some timber. The place is fairly well tiled and otherwise well improved, and a good set of buildings is to Ije seen on the land. He has made these improvements himself and has one of the best farms in the northeastern part of the county.

Politically, he is a Republican and elected a meml>er of the advisory board in 1910 and he has held the office to the present time, and has been very successful in discharging the duties of the ])lace in a manner that has won the high esteem and trust of all concerned. He is a man who, while laboring for his own advancement delights to see the condition of his neighbors improve and the general upbuilding of the county.

Montgomery county is fortunate in having within her borders a large number of professional men of a high order, among whom consistently appears the name of John O. Rosebaum, one of the \ounger leaders of the bar, who maintains an office in the town of Waveland, in connection with his extensive business life, fire and accident insurance, and in whicii ])art ot the county he is a leader in political affairs. He is widel\ known throughout this section and is rapidly forging to tlie front, being a man of energy, strong mental, honorable impulses and a ])leasant ])ersouality. lie enjoys the good will and respect of all who know Inm and we ])re(hct a bright future in his special fields of endea\dr.

Mr. Rosebaum was born on June 2. 1S74. in I'.oone county, Imliana, and he is a son of B. F. and Sarah E. Osborne) Rosebaum. 'I lie lather was born on March 9. 1833, in Ohio, in which state he grew to manboo<l and received his educational training, and from there he remo\ed to Indiana after his marriage. The mother oi our subject was also a native of Ohio, her birth having occurred there on February fi, 1842, and there he grew to womanhood and attended the common schools in her community. Her death occurred on March 13, 1912, in Waveland, Indiana. B. F. Rosebaum is still living, making his home at Waveland, being now advanced in years. He devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits and stock raising and was successful beyond the average tiller of the soil. He has always been known as a man of great enterprise, neighborly, public spirited and scrupulous honesty. He is well known over the county.

Eight children were born to B. F. and Sarah E. Rosebaum, namely : Nora and Joseph are both deceased ; Hattie, who married V. E. Heart, is living in Chicago ; William C. lives in Cleveland, Ohio ; Albert is deceased ; John O., of this review; Franklin L. is married and lives in Detroit. Michigan ; Homer G. is married and lives in Chicago.

John O. Rosebaum grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work. He received a good common school education, later spending three years in Wabash College at Crawfordsville, then, having determined upon a legal career he entered the Indiana Law School, from which he w^as graduated in the year 1898, having made an excellent record in that institution. He was admitted to the Montgomery^ County Bar in 1897, and on March i8th of that year he was united in marriage to Laila D. Acker, who was born on February 21, 1878, in Parke county, Indiana, and from there she removed to Montgomery county with her parents when a child, the family locating in the vicinity of Waveland. where she grew to womanhood and received her education. She is a daughter of L. E. and Serena (Vandiver) Acker, a well known and highly respected family, who became well established here through their industiT.

Seven children have been born to J\Ir. and Mrs. Rosebaum, namely: Dwight, Lois S., Ruth E., Edith L., Loren Lucille; John Franklin, and Maxine Frances.

John O. Rosebaum began life for himself by teaching school in his native county, which he followed for a period of three years with success, but he had a natural bent for the law- and abandoned the school room for Blackstone and Kent. He began the practice of his profession in Waveland and here he has remained to the present time, building up meanwhile a very satisfactory and constantly growing clientele, figuring prominently in the local courts and he has met with pronounced success. In connection with his large legal practice he does an excellent business in life, fire and accident insurance, representing a number of the best companies in the United States. He is kept vers- busy

Mr. Rosehaum is a ihirty-secnd .le^vee Ma-nn. helonging to the order at Indianapolis, and he is prominent in the work ot the same. He had the honor of serving as Master for two years, and is Past Master (,t Waveland Lodge No. 300. He is also Past Chancellor of Rathbone Lodge. Kni-hts of Pythias. Keeper of Records and Seals of the Knights ot Pytlnas. and'secretarv of Waveland Lodge. No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons. Religiouslv. he is a Republican, and has long been actn e ,n the ranks, bemg a power in local affairs of his party, and doing much l^r Us success. In i.jofi he was a candidate for state senator.

Arthur R. Siiotts

Ouh- too frequently is it the case that people do not see beyond the narrow limits of their own surroundings, and items of public and private mterest are allowed to dnft mto the channel of the lorg,.tleu past. Manv unportant facts connected whh the lives of the early settlers nf Monlg.m.ery county are irrevocably lost, but a few have been found by careful research and will be appropriately mentioned in this and other sketches in this volume. One of the actors in this early history and development of this section of the Hoosier state was the honored father of the gentleman whose name introduces this paragraph, and from the early day in which he took up his residence here to the present time the name ShoUs has been well knoun and highlv respected.

\rthur R. Shotts was born in Madison township. Montgomery county. Septeml^r 22. 1867. He is a son of An.lrew and Nancy D. (Severs) Shotts. The father was a native of Virginia ami the mother was born in Ohio. The father's birth occurred on March 23. .SiO. and he died on March 9. 1878. In earlv life he came to Montgomery county, about 1828. locating on a farm on which he spent the rest of his life; however, he at first lived near Hamsburg living for a time on the old William Henry Harrison farm. His family consisted of eleven children, named as follows: John H. is deceased; Orin \ Samuel U. is deceased; Isaac P., Ira A., Ernest W., Mary E.,

Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked hard when a boy. He received his early education in the common schools, after which he took up farming and is still actively engaged in general and mixed farming and stock raising, and has been very successful, making a specialty of short-horn cattle and Duroc- Jersey hogs.

Air. Shotts married, on January 2^, 1891, Jane Gushma, daughter of John and Caroline Gushma, her parents being early settlers of Tippecanoe county.

Mr. Shotts has no children, but he is rearing a little girl. Politically, he is a Democrat, and fraternally, belongs to the Modern ^\"oodmen of America at Linden.

Our subject's father had the hrst fenced farm in Madison township. Grandfather, Henry Shotts, who married Lemina Garland, was born in Virginia, and there spent most of his earlier life, finally moving to Indiana in the twenties, and he died in Montgomery county.

Milton H. Stuckey

The history of IMontgomery county reveals the handiwork of many a great and noble soul who wrought heroically and unselfishly. Her smiling fields and splendid homes, her high grade institutions, her happy, prospering people, speak volumes of someone's steadfastness of purpose, of someone's strength of arm, courage of heart, activity of brain, of someone's sacrifice. But time, the grim obliterator, before whose destroying fingers even the stubborn granite must, in the end succumb, is ever at his work of disintegration. Beneath his blighting touch even memory fails, and too often a life of glorious achievement is forgotten in a day. "Lest we forget" then, this tribute to the late Milton H. Stuckey, for many decades one of the best known agriculturists of Sugar Creek township is penned. A son of a pioneer, he himself grew up amid pioneer environment and here he was content to spend his life and he took much interest in the general upbuilding of the community. It is the desire of the biographer as it must be of all who knew him, that his deeds and his character be recorded for the benefit of those who follow after. By no means rich, as mere worldly possessions are, he was rich in those char-

Mr. Stuckey was horn I'"el)riiary i(). 1S43 '" Monlgomcrv lounlv. Indiana. He was a .son of .\braham and Eliza (Powers) Stuckey. The lather was horn in I'ennsylvania. and his death occurred in Warren county, Indiana. The mother was born in Ohio. They spent their li\cs on a farm and came to this county when it was just being redeemed from the w ilderness and here they established the permanent home of the family which ci;)nsiste(l of seven children, all now deceased.

Milton H. Stuckey grew to manhood on the home farm in Sugar Creek township, and there he worked hard when a boy. louring the winter months he attended the district schools. Early in life he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which he continued to follow with satisfactory results all along the line.

On July 12, 1866, :\lr. Stuckey married :\Iary E. Smith, who was born in ^fontgomery county, Indiana, on March 21, 1844. She is a daughter of Henry and Nancy (Goodhart) Smith, both natives of Ohio, the father born in 1809, and died on January 4, 1855 ; the mother was born in 181 5, and died August 6, 1910. They came to this county in an early day, and here became successful farmers and spent the rest of their lives.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey, all li\ ing and named as follows: Mrs. Alice \^'. Cook; Mrs. Emma Hampt-on : Mrs. Elanora Wall: William P..: Wallace: :Mrs. Melis.sa Johnson; ]\Irs. Julia Harris; Mrs. Mary D. Crow; Warner L., born September 17, 1885 on the old home place in this count)-, on which farm he still lives, received a common school education, and on September 11. 191 1 he married Mary E. Blake. She was born in Grant county, Indiana, January 2^. 1893, and is a daughter of Charles and Sarah B. (Evans) Blake. Warner L. Stuckey and wife have one child. Charles Arthur, born August 26, 191 2. Wesley O. is the youngest child of the subject of this memoir.

The wife of our subject has lived on the present farm since .\pril, 1S67. The place consists of one hundred and ninety acres, of valuable land, all tillable but twenty acres. It was placed under a good state of improxement by Mr. Stuckey, who was a hard worker and a good manager. The twenty acres mentioned is in pasture and. all in all. the farm is a most desirable one. Politically, Mr. Stuckey was a Republican, but he was not much of a [tublic man, remaining quietly on his farm until death summoned him fmm his labors on Mav 3. 1910. at the age of nearly sixty-five years. C68) '

William Winter Washburn

One of the successful and well known business men of Crawfordsville and one of her worthiest native sons is William Winter Washburn, the scion of a sterling old family that figured more or less prominently in the earlyday affairs of the locality. He is a man who has succeeded in the \arious lines of endeavor which have claimed his attention because he has looked carefully to details, has exercised sound judgment and been uniformly fair in his dealings with his fellow men, consequently he has ever enjoyed their implicit confidence and good will and he is in every way deserving of the position he has attained as a citizen of Montgomery county. He is vicepresident and director of the Citizens National Bank of Crawfordsville.

Mr. Washburn was born near New Richmond, Montgomery county, Indiana, January i, 1864. He is a .^on of Cieorge W. and Louise J. (Whetstone) Washburn, both now tleceased, the father's death having occurred at New Richmond in 1905. the mother having preceiled him to the grave in 1900.

\\illiam W. Washburn recei\ed a good common school education, later taking a course in Wabash College, where he made a good record. After leaving school he traveled for some time, then took a position in the Corn Exchange Bank in New Richmond, as vice-president, afterwards becoming president of that institution. He was one of the organizers of that bank, and its growth and success were due for the most part to his able management and wise foresight and under his direction it became one of the sound and popular institutions of this section of the Wabash \-alley. He remained with that institution until 1906, when, seeking a larger field for the exercise of his business talent, he remo\'ed to Crawfordsville, and became \'ice-president and director of the Citizens National Bank, which position he has continued to hold to the present time to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, and he is universally recognized as one of the substantial and influential men in financial circles in Montgomery county. He is also engaged in the brokerage business, with offices in the Crawford Hotel, and enjoys an extensive patronage in this field of endeavor.

Politically, Mr. Washburn is a Democrat, and while he has never sought political preferment, he has shown himself to be deeply interested in the welfare of his county. Fraternally, he is a thirty-second degree Mason, is a Knight Templar, and belongs to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple at Indianapolis. He is also a member of the

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Washburn has been graced by tiie bntl, .>! three children, namely: Gould Engle. teller in the Citizens Xat.onal l>.ank at CrawfordsviUe; George Bennet is a freshman in W abasli College; \oim Beard is a freshman in the higli school at Lrawtordsvilic.

Grant Cook

The old Buckeye state has sent, perhaps, mure enterprising settlers into Montgomery county, Indiana, than any other state, w.th Kentucky a close second, and thus we owe that state a great debt of grat.tude. tor the n,en and women who have come fron^ within her have been emp>re Innlders and have plunged bravely mto the work of redeemn,g the wdderness tartnesses of the fair Wabash country unt,l today th.s ,s one ot the leadu^ agr,- cultural sections of the Middle ^\-est. The Oh.oans have been reck ned courageous, indomitable workers, ne^-er haltmg at any barrier no matter ho v imposing or sinister, and. not only that but they have been, as a rule, people of law-abiding and high moral n.pulses, glad to contribute m any wa> to the furtherance of civilization m the new countries where they settlecl not bemg contented merelv to make a livmg for themselves and families. Such people are always welcome in any community, for reasons too apparen to need dwelling on here. One of this number who is deserving of special mention in thes; pages is Grant Gook, successful farmer of Sugar Creek township.

Mr Cook was born at Clermont, Ohio, September 21, 1864. He is a son of William Henrv and Xancy ( XX'yatt ) Cook. The father was born o,. Tanuarv 17 18^3, in Ohio, and tliere also the mother was born. September 7. 18^^ 'Thev grew to maturitv in their native state, received common .school edu;:ations and there were married and spent the earlier part of the married lives, finallv removing to Montgomery county. Indiana, where they because well established through their industry. The father has a ways l>een a farmer and he is still living in this county. His wife died DecemW , ..1901^ Ten children, nine of whom are still living, were born to William Henry Cook and wife, namely: Edward R. John Q. is deceased: Wilham T.. Eu-

Grant Cook grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked hard when a boy, assisting his father with the general duties during the crop seasons, and in the winter months he attended the common schools in his district.

On December ii, 1891, he married Clara Marsh. She was born on January 26, 1871, in Montgomery county, Indiana, and is a daughter of John F. and Julia (Peterson) Marsh. The father was born in the state of Ohio, April 13, 1845. The mother was torn in Montgomery county, on March 2, 1849, ^"^ her death occurred on July 28, 1909.

Eight children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, seven of whom are still living, namely: Perry A., Harry is deceased; Mabel, Roy and Raymond are twins; Myrl, Florence and Martha.

Politically, Mr. Cook is a Republican, but he has never been very active in public affairs, preferring to devote his attention to his home and his fami. He has never followed any line of work other than general farming and stock raising. He owns one hundred and two acres, all tillable with the exception of about ten acres. It is well tiled, well fenced and otherwise well improved, and he has a good, convenient dwelling which he built himself. He always keeps a good grade of live stock.