AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF A REAL
DAUGHTER Mrs. Lydia Ann
Cline Simmons
My venerable father, William
Cline, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. His
education was German. He was
a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisting in Taneytown, Md., in
Capt. Key's Co. and served to
the end of the war. He died
in Jay County, Indiana, August 23,
1853, aged 106 years and two months.
He was twice married. He chose
for his first wife Miss Susannah Lance. To this union was born eight
children, all now deceased. Their names are as follows : Anna Mary
Cline Wigner, deceased, aged 100 years;
William Cline, deceased
(met
an untimely death while diving; his body was never found ; he left a
wife and three children) ; Elizabeth Wigner deceased, aged 87 years ;
Abraham Cline, deceased, aged 96 Years ; Mary Ross, deceased, aged 102
years ; Sarah Warnock, deceased, aged 89 years ; Margaret Cunningham,
deceased, aged 96 years ; Conrad Cline, deceased, aged 17 years.
Four years after the death of his wife, when all of his children were
in homes of their own, he chose for his second wife Miss Jane Woten. To
this union were born three sons and four daughters. Their names are as
follows: Susannah Bird, deceased, aged 73 years ; Cynthia Rice,
deceased, aged 81 years; Alexander H. Cline, deceased, aged 53 years, a
Civil War soldier ; Jerusha A. Mongar, deceased, aged 72 years ; Jacob
Cline, deceased, aged 5 years; Charles W. Kline, enlisted at the age of
20 years in Civil War in 110th O. V. I. at Piqua, O.; was home on
furlough spring of 1862, then returned to his regiment ; his last
service was in the Battle of the Wilderness ; was reported among the
missing; heard that he was taken prisoner, but never got any
information concerning him. Lydia Cline Simmons. I am now nearing my
80th birthday, which will be August 24, 1916. I was born August 24,
1836, in Perry Township, Gallia County, Ohio, near the town of Patriot.
My earliest recollection was when I was about three years and six
months old, when we moved from our home farm to another farm joining
the home place which father had recently bought. Some time after this
father built a new house, I believe in the year 1840. The people made
most of their own clothing from wool and flax and also made the larger
portion of their sugar from the sap of the sugar trees. They also dried
their fruit, which we always had in abundance. In the spring of 1843 my
little brother was killed by falling backward off of a rail fence and a
rail falling on his breast. The cherry trees were white with bloom at
the time was a bright, clear day, and in
a moment all was in mourning.
We felt that we did not want
to live there so moved back
to the home place the same
year.
The next year I commenced going to school. The first Sunday School that
I remember attending was at a Baptist Church; Sunday Schools those days
were not conducted as they are at the present time.
Now I will leave the hilly country of Gallia County, Ohio, and travel
towards the State of Indiana, this being the last week in September,
1847. We bade
good-bye to my native home and started on our journey to the wilderness
of Indiana. First day we ate our dinner at Point Pleasant, second day
by the roadside, where there was a large chestnut tree. Sister and I
did not rest much as we were busy gathering chestnuts. I had never seen
such large chestnut trees and I thought it was grand. We moved in
covered wagons in those days as there were no railroads. We had plank
roads to travel on part of our journey, and part of it was very rough
and very dangerous. The weather being fine we had a very pleasant
journey. It rained one night, and that was the only night we failed to
have a comfortable house to stay in. It was close to where a German
family lived, and when they learned that father was German, and being
so old, they begged of him to stay in their house. He told them that he
was no better than his family and would not go. He was then 100 years
old. We were two weeks on the road and arrived at Fort Recovery, Ohio,
early in October, stopping there to visit with mother's sister and
family ; leaving there we soon crossed the state line and were in
Indiana, and traveled south six miles to where my grand-parents, and
also an uncle lived, in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana. Here we
made our home until father within a few days bought 160 acres of choice
land for $450. It was heavy timber land, with no improvements. Then
they began work and built two cabins right in the woods, and they soon
had them finished, cleared away timber and brush, and built a fence
enclosing those cabins. We moved in and called it home. This was my
first experience in living in the wild woods. The deer and wild turkeys
would come quite close ; our nearest Post Office was six miles away, in
Randolph County, Indiana, and no church house nearer than Ft. Recovery,
Ohio. Meetings were held in the dwelling houses. In the Autumn of 1849
my father and brother made a
trip back to Gallia County, Ohio, and were gone about three weeks ;
came home feeling well, and enjoyed their visit. Soon after his return from Ohio,
father bought 80 acres of land joining
our home, which he gave to his son, A. H. Cline. The home place is now
owned by his grandson, Wm. H. Cline, and is a valuable farm. I enjoy
very much visiting the old (once cabin) home.
December 28, 1856, I was married to
Thomas W. Simmons, who was then
engaged in teaching school. At the expiration of the school, we then
commenced keeping house April 8, 1857, about half a mile from mother's,
and the same distance from his parents. Here we lived until the Civil
War, when we moved in the "house with Father Simmons, their two sons
being in the Army ; this was in the fall of 1861. As Father and Mother
Simmons were left alone they thought it best that we should move in
part of their house, to .take care of them as they were not able to for
themselves. My own mother died Jan. 27, 1862, aged 65 years and
16 days. Father Simmons died March 16, 1872. Before his death he
divided his land, giving each child 40 acres. Mother Simmons remained
with us until her death,, July 21, 1889, aged 92 years.
My husband, Thomas W. Simmons, a Civil
War veteran, died September 20,
1889, aged 57 years, 8 months. I, being left alone, rented my place,
reserving a part of the house and barn so I could keep a horse and
buggy. I owned 30 acres of land which was a part of the land my father
bought when he first came to Indiana. I gave this to my only child,
Mrs. Jane Roush. Some time after this I also gave her the 40 acres, the
home place, after I had bought property in the Village of Salem, three
miles from our old home, still remaining on the farm where we first
commenced keeping house, and never out of sight of where we
settled in the woods, after coming to Indiana in the year 1847. March
5, 1898. I moved to the Village of Salem and lived there until November
I5, 1903, when I moved to Portland, Jay County, Indiana, to make my
home with my daughter, Mrs. Jane R. Roush, my only child. "
I have eight grandchildren and four-
great-grandchildren.
Source: Daughters of the American
Revolution Magazine By Daughters of the American Revolution
THE HAWKINS FAMILY
THE HAWKINS FAMILY was here when the
first beginnings of a social order
were being worked out in this region, in the days before Jay county had
a separate civic identity, when what now comprises the twelve townships
of this county were included within the confines of Randolph county,
the country now comprised within the borders of Jay county then having
been little better than a "howling" wilderness of swamps and limber
fastnesses, the Indians still treading their trails hereabout and wild
animals everywhere lurking in the deep forests. From the beginning the
Hawkinses have been among the dominant factors in the social and
economic development of this region, and in the fifth generation are
still carrying on the work laid out here by the pioneer of this family.
John Jay Hawkins, the founder of the family in Jay county, was perhaps
the most forceful individual figure hereabout in the days before the
county was organized and his influence was largely helpful in
stimulating further settlement here. He died an untimely death, due to
the hazard of the wilderness, and was the first white person buried in
the territory which afterward became organized as Jay county. One of
his sons, Benjamin W. Hawkins, was the county agent appointed to locate
and "lay out" the county seat town when the county was organized in
1836. Another son, Nathan Byrd Hawkins, was the delegate from this
district to the Indiana state constitutional convention in 1850 and
first judge of the common pleas court in this judicial district. Prior
to that and even from the days of his boyhood he had been an active
force in the development of the commercial interests of the county, and
has been referred to as "the first business man in the county," as will
be noted by reference to the Montgomery History of Jay County (Part I
of this work), where it is set out that he "started to show land to
strangers" following the settlement of the family here in 1829. As a
lawyer, Judge Hawkins looked after the financial affairs and property
of nonresidents and in course of time, in the absence of better banking
facilities, he was asked to care for the money and securities of local
residents—for safe keeping. He had the first iron safe in the community
and kept considerable money on hand at all times, thus virtually the
pioneer banker of Jay county. One of his sons, the late Nathan B.
Hawkins, former state senator from this district, assisted in
establishing the second bank in the county and was active in its
affairs for thirty-five years. Senator Hawkins first used the name of
N. B. Hawkins & Companv in business, this later being changed to
that of the Hawkins Mortgage Company, with headquarters still at
Portland, now one of the best known financial concerns in the Middle
West, which under the direction of Morton S. Hawkins, president of the
company and son of Senator Hawkins, is carrying on the work begun by
"The House of Hawkins" here in 1829. But even prior to that, in the
days of John Jay Hawkins, a lieutenant in the War of 1812, and in the
days of his father, Samuel Hawkins, the Indian fighter, who was colonel
in command of the expedition which went to the relief of General
Harrison at Ft. Wayne and was wounded in the shoulder during that
memorable campaign, and who afterward became one of the pioneers of
this region, settling near the present site of Eaton, Ohio, the name of
Hawkins was known from Cincinnati to Ft. Wayne, back in Territorial
days, and has thus been inseparably identified with business affairs
throughout eastern Indiana for more than a century. The story of the
days of the settlement of the Hawkins family here in 1829 is so well
told in the prior narrative (Montgomery's History of Jay County—Part I
of this work) that it need not here be retold, the attention of the
reader being respectfully invited to a perusal of that narrative in
this connection, but a brief review of that narrative for purposes of
continuity is but proper. It is narrated that the founders of the
Hawkins family in America were four brothers, John, Samuel, Benjamin
and James Hawkins, who emigrated from England to the American colonies
in the fore part of the eighteenth century and settled in the
Shenandoah Valley in the Virginia Colony, these brothers being said to
have been descendants of Sir John Hawkins, an English navigator, born
at Plymouth about 1520, who, according to Chambers's Encyclopedia, has
the "infamous distinction" of being the first Englishman that
trafficked in slaves and who established the slave trade between Africa
and the American colonies. His "commercial" career ended in 1568, after
which he is found more honorably employed. He was appointed treasurer
of the British navy in 1573, knighted for his services against the
Spanish Armada in 1588, and for the rest of his life was engaged in
making havoc of the Spanish West Indian trade. In 1595, along with his
kinsman, Drake, he commanded an expedition directed against the Spanish
settlements in that part of the world, but died, November 21, in the
same year. He founded a hospital at Chatham for the relief of disabled
and sick sailors. Samuel Hawkins, one of the sons of the Samuel
Hawkins, the colonist mentioned above, was born and reared in the
Shenandoah Valley and there spent his last days. During the
Revolutionary war he served as a soldier in the patriot army. One of
his sons, Samuel III, grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and when the
tide of emigration began to flow west after the Revolution became one
of the first settlers in Bourbon county, Kentucky.! Following Wayne's
successful expedition and treaty opening new territory to settlement in
what later came to be organized as the state of Ohio he moved with his
family from Kentucky and became a pioneer of the region surrounding
what is now Eaton, in Preble county, Ohio, an older chronicle stating
that he is thought to have been the first white settler to cross the
Miami river. One of this old Indian fighting pioneer's sons, John Jay
Hawkins, the founder of the family in Jay county, was born in Bourbon
county, Kentucky, September 25, 1789, and was named in honor of John
Jay who in that same year was appointed by Washington the first chief
justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and in whose honor
also Jay county was given its name, the only county in the United
States thus named. John Jay Hawkins was but a lad when he moved with
his parents from Kentucky to Ohio and he grew up amid pioneer
conditions in what later came to be organized as Preble county, his
schooling thus having been so much neglected that he did not acquire
the ability to read and write until after his marriage to Nancy
Sellers, who taught him these accomplishments. She also was born in
Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Nathan Sellers, a
Revolutionary soldier who had emigrated to that section but who became
a pioneer of Ohio in 1809. During the war of 1812 John Jay Hawkins
served as a lieutenant in the army and later served as sheriff of
Preble county. He became a man of affairs in that county and remained
there until early in 1829 when he moved with his family into what then
was a wilderness over in this part of Indiana, having previously
selected a site for his new home on the banks of the Little Salamonie,
south of where Portland seven years later was laid out when the county
came to be organized. It was on March 8, 1829, that he and his wife and
their six children arrived at this site after the toilsome trip along
the inadequate trails of the period. During that summer the family
lived in what the pioneers called a "half-faced camp," but before fall
had a stout log cabin erected and were snugly ensconsed before the hard
winter came. All hands pitched in and presently a clearing was effected
and the making of a farm was under way. Game was plentiful and there
was no lack of meat, while the sale of furs to the traders kept up the
supply of such money as was needed. It was while hanging for dressing
the carcass of a deer that John Jay Hawkins came to his untimely end,
the carcass falling upon him and inflicting such injuries that he died
from their effect on March 15, 1832, a little more than three years
after his arrival here, and he was the first white person buried here.
His widow survived until 1868. They were the parents of six children,
four sons, Samuel, Nathan B., Benjamin W. (who became agent for Jay
county at the time of its organization, as is set out elsewhere), and
Joseph C, and two daughters, Avaline, who married James Simmons, and
Caroline, who married B. W. Clark, whose descendants in the present
generation form a numerous connection. Nathan Byrd Hawkins, the second
son of this pioneer family, was born in Preble county, Ohio, October
24, 1812, and was thus sixteen years of age when he came over here into
the Salamonie country with his parents in 1829. He took an active part
in the work of clearing and developing the home place and also found
time, as has been noted, to "show land to strangers," thus becoming the
first real estate agent and business man of the pioneer community.
After awhile, in order to gratify his inclination for a business
career, he went to Richmond and become a clerk in Elijah Coffin's
store, later becoming engaged in business on his own account at Milton.
In the meantime he had attracted the attention of John S. Newman, one
of Indiana's leading lawyers of the period, who advised him to take up
the study of law. In 1839 he returned to Jay county and began the
practice of law at Portland, which had been created the county seat
three years before. Three years later, in 1842, he was elected to
represent this district in the state Legislature and in 1850 was
elected delegate to the state constitutional convention from the
district comprised of the counties of Randolph, Jay and Blackford. Upon
the creation of the court of common pleas in 1852 he was elected judge
of that court, this judicial district comprising the counties of
Blackford and Jay, and was serving in that judicial capacity at the
time of his death on October 18, 1853. As has been noted in the
introduction to this review Judge Nathan B. Hawkins took an active part
in the general business affairs of the community and as a private
banker afforded to the pioneers their first banking facilities. Judge
Hawkins married Rebecca Shanks, who was born in Indiana county,
Pennsylvania, February 26, 1818, and who had become a resident of this
county when her parents, John and Mary Shanks, settled here in pioneer
days. Of the children born to Judge Hawkins and wife, six grew to
maturity, namely: John Jay, whose last days were spent in Washington,
where for years he was engaged in the Government service; Jane C, who
married David VanCleve Baker, in his day one of the leading lawyers of
this part of Indiana; Helen H., who married Isaac A. Griffith, in his
day one of the leading merchants of this county; Rachel A., who married
Norton A. Meeker, a former merchant of Portland; Sarah G., who married
Benjamin F. Fulton, also a Portland merchant, of whom further mention
is made elsewhere, and Nathan B., Jr. Judge Hawkins was a charter
member and first worshipful master of Jay lodge, No. 87, F. and A. M.,
and his was the first Masonic funeral held in this county. The second
Nathan Byrd Hawkins was born in Portland on January 1, 1853, and was
thus less than one year old when his father died. He completed his
schooling in old Liber College and in the Indianapolis high school and
when nineteen years of age became engaged in the lumber business at
Portland, but presently disposed of that business and in 1875 assisted
in the organization of the Citizens Bank at that place, of which
concern "he was made assistant cashier and with which he continued
actively connected the remainder of his life, thus early becoming one
of the leaders in the commercial life of Portland and of this county, a
promoter of the best interests of this region until his death. During
the days of the natural gas "boom" here he was president of the
Portland Gas, Oil and Mining Company, and did much toward the
development of the industries dependent upon natural gas hereabout. In
1906 he was elected state senator from this district and served in the
Senate during the sessions of 1907 and 1909. His death occurred on
February 20, 1911. Senator Nathan B. Hawkins married Genevra I. Jaqua,
daughter of James B. Jaqua, banker and lawver, of Portland, and of whom
further mention is made elsewhere, and to this union were born three
children, Estella, Morton S. and Zillah Pearl. As noted above, Senator
Hawkins was the first to use the firm name of N. B. Hawkins and
Company, which was later changed to the Hawkins Mortgage Company, now
one of the leading financial concerns in the Middle West and whose
business is carried on under the general direction of the Senator's
son, Morton S. Hawkins, president of the company, who continues to make
his home in Portland, direct descendant in the fourth generation of
John Jay Hawkins, the founder of the family in Indiana, and third in
descent from Judge Nathan B. Hawkins, "the first business man in Jay
county." Morton S. Hawkins was born in Portland on February 12, 1881,
and attended school there up to the eighth year when he was sent to the
Jesuit Fathers school at old Albuquerque, N. M. After a season's
attendance there he entered the West Texas Military Academy at San
Antonio, where he was in attendance for two years, at the end of which
time he returned to Indiana and entered the Law School of Indianapolis
University at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated in 1903 with
the degree of L.L. B. For twelve years Mr. Hawkins continued his
residence in Indianapolis, practicing his profession first in
association with Pierre Gray and then for a time in association with
Arthur W. Brady, general counsel for the Union Traction Company. He
then formed an association for practice with Merrill Moores, present
member of Congress from the Seventh Indiana district, and was for seven
years thus associated, or until his return to Portland. While living at
Indianapolis Mr. Hawkins promoted the organization of the Beech Grove
Traction Company and was otherwise active in the general affairs of the
city. It was in 1912, following the death of his father and the
reorganization of the latter's extensive business interests, that Mr.
Hawkins returned to Portland to take direction of the affairs of N. B.
Hawkins & Company, of which he had been elected president. In 1919
this company was reorganized as the Hawkins Mortgage Company, capital
stock $1,500,000, and Morton S. Hawkins has continued to serve as
president of the company. In 1913, the year after he entered upon the
general direction of the affairs of this financial concern, Mr. Hawkins
spent nearly a year in Europe, investigating in England, Belgium,
France and Germany the methods of handling small loans on personal
property. About that same time the Russel Sage Foundation started an
agitation in the United States to reform the small loan business and
outlaw the "loan shark". Through this movement laws were passed in many
states fixing a reasonable monthly rate of interest and otherwise
regulating such business and subjecting it to state examination. After
this form of business thus had been placed on an equitable basis the
Hawkins institution called in a staff of experts and perfected plans
for the establishment of welfare loan institutions in every city of
over 20,000 population in the country. This work is now well under way,
the Hawkins Mortgage Company's mutual system of Welfare Loan Societies
now having no fewer than twentynine branches, operating in eleven
states. In addition to his activities as the head of this growing
institution Mr. Hawkins has, since his return to Portland in 1912,
organized and promoted no fewer than ten state banks and trust
companies in the states of Indiana and Ohio. He also maintains a close
interest in various local industrial and commercial enterprises and was
actively instrumental in the establishment of the Portland Republican,
a daily newspaper started in 1913, and is a member of the board of
directors of the company which publishes the newspaper. Mr. Hawkins is
a Scottish Rite (32°) Mason, affiliated with the local lodge of the
Free and Accepted Masons at Portland and with the consistory at Fort
Wayne, and is also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Murat temple at Indianapolis. On
February 11, 1922, at Atlanta, Ga., Morton Sevier Hawkins was united in
marriage to Fannie Lamar Manley, of that city, a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. W. D. Manley and a member of the well known Lamar-Doughty and
Manley families of Georgia. The marriage, it was announced, was the
culmination of a romantic meeting of Miss Manley and Mr. Hawkins in
London during the preceding summer, the former having made the European
trip during that summer with her grandmother, Mrs. Charles L. Gateley.
BENJAMIN
F. FULTON
BENJAMIN F. FULTON, formerly and for
years one of the most active
factors in the general commercial and industrial life of Portland and
who died at his home in that city in the spring of 1911, had done much
to promote the general interests of his home town and county and it is
but fitting that there should here be carried something in the way of a
memorial to his activities. Mr. Fulton was a native of the old Buckeye
state, but for forty years his activities had been centered in and
about Portland and during that period he had done much to impress his
individuality upon the community. He was born at Sidney, Ohio, March
25, 1848, the first born of the four children born to Isaac and Jane
(Taylor) Fulton, both of whom were born in that same city, where they
spent all their lives. Reared at Sidney, Benjamin F. Fulton received
but meager schooling, the circumstances surrounding his youth being
such as early to force him to rely upon his own efforts for a
livelihood. When eighteen years of age he entered the employ of
Rhodehamel Bros., of Piqua, Ohio, and after an apprenticeship in their
store there was put in charge of one of their novelty wagons, the
territory he covered on his sales trips extending as far west as
Portland. He presently acquired also an interest in a general store at
Covington, Ohio, and in 1870 gave up his road trips and devoted his
attention to the store, continuing thus engaged until after his
marriage in August of 1871, when he sold his interests at Covington and
established his home at Portland, where he spent practically the
remainder of his life. Upon locating at Portland Mr. Fulton became
engaged in the grocery business. Four years later he sold that store
and moved to Indianapolis where he bought another grocery store and was
there engaged in business for about three years, at the end of which
time he sold out there and returned to Portland, resuming there his
vocation as a grocer. Two years later he sold his store to his brother,
William Fulton, and he and his brother, James L. Fulton, became engaged
in the hardware business, their store being on the site now occupied by
the Spades grocery on Meridian street, and this business was maintained
by the brothers for about ten years. Meanwhile, about two years after
they had become engaged in the hardware business the Fulton brothers
took up the work of drilling gas wells and organized what then was
known as the Fulton Gas Company, their operations becoming quite
extensive hereabout. They presently bought out the plant of the
Portland Gas Company and thus acquired control of all the gas business
in Portland. When oil was being sought in this county Mr. Fulton
drilled in the first producing well brought in in Wayne township, and
he continued his operations in this and adjacent territory until his
death, one of the most active promoters of gas and oil interests in
this section, his death occurring on April 2, 1911. Mr. Fulton was a
Republican and was a member of the Friends church, as is his widow. It
was on August 8, 1871, that Benjamin F. Fulton was united in marriage
to Sarah G., Hawkins, who was born in Portland, and to this union were
born two children, Ethan Allen and Jane Louise, the former of whom (now
engaged in the promotion of the oil business in this county) served as
an officer in the United States army during the time of American
participation in the World war and is now captain of Howitzer Company
of the 151st Infantry, United States National Guard of Indiana, at
Portland. Capt. Ethan A. Fulton married Gertrude Rogers and has had two
children, Dorothy, who married Joseph Campbell and died leaving one
child, a daughter, Betty Fulton, and Pauline M. Jane Louise Fulton is a
teacher of art in the Portland public schools. As noted above, Mrs.
Fulton was born in Portland, where she is still living and where she is
very pleasantly situated. She was born on November 27, 1850, a daughter
of Nathan B. and Rebecca (Shanks) Hawkins, the former of whom, born on
October 24, 1812, died on October 20, 1853, and the latter, born on
February 22, 1816, died on April 1, 1882. Mrs. Fulton is a member of
the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution by right
of descent from her great-grandfather, Samuel Hawkins, who was a
soldier of the Revolution. The family in this country was established
by Joseph Hawkins, who came to the American colonies from Wales in
1685, and has been prominent in Jay county since pioneer days.
JAMES G. ORR
JAMES G. ORR, president of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce, who is
engaged in the wholesale fruit and produce business at Portland, one of
the best known and most progressive business men of that city, is a
native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at
Selma, in Delaware county, this state, August 3, 1880, son of Joseph N.
and Nannie C. (Simmons) Orr, who are still living there. Joseph N. Orr
was born in Delaware county, a member of one of the pioneer families of
that section of the state, and early became engaged in business at
Selma, proprietor of a general store, which business he still
maintains. He and his wife have three children, the subject of this
sketch having two sisters, Nellie and Bertha. Reared at Selma, James G.
Orr received his early schooling in the excellent schools of that
village and supplemented the same by the course in the high school at
Muncie and two years of attendance at Indiana University. Reared to a
commercial life, he became engaged in business with the W. H. Moreland
Shoe Company at Muncie, where for five years he was proprietor of a
shoe store. He then sold that store and returned to Selma, where he
became engaged in the grocery business, continuing thus engaged until
in 1913, when he disposed of his interests there and moved to Portland,
where he has since been quite successfully engaged in the wholesale
fruit and produce business on West Race street. Ever since he became a
resident of Portland Mr. Orr has given his thoughtful attention to the
general commercial activities of the city and is now president of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce, to the affairs of which active and
influential organization he has long been earnestly devoted. He is a
Republican, a Knights Templar and Cryptic Mason, a past exalted ruler
of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a
member of the United Commercial Travelers, and he and his wife are
members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Orr is one of the charter
members of the Portland council, Royal and Select Masters (Masonic),
and is now. serving as steward of the council. In 1905, James G. Orr
was united in marriage to Helen Tomlinson, of Henderson, Ky., and to
this union one child has been born, a son, James N. Orr.
ANTHONY WAYNE McKINNEY
ANTHONY WAYNE McKINNEY, who died at
his home in Dunkirk in the fall of
1918, was for many years one of the most potent factors in the
development of the commercial interests of Jay county, particularly of
the region surrounding the towns of Dunkirk and Redkey, and it is but
fitting that in this formal history of the county in which he was born
and in which his useful career had its fruition there should be carried
some modest tribute to the good memory he left at his passing. His was
a permanent and enduring work in this community and promises to be
continued in successive generations, for the careful commercial plans
he so wisely laid now are being carried out by his sons—Jesse, Frank
and Arthur—in the operation of the McKinney department store at
Dunkirk, which claims the title of "Indiana's greatest country store,"
an establishment containing upward of thirty departments and occupying
30,000 square feet of floor space. Anthony Wayne McKinney was born on a
pioneer farm in Richland township, this county, May 2, 1847, and was a
son of Joseph J. and Elizabeth McKinney, who reared their family of ten
children on that quarter section homestead farm, the grant of
which—secured by Joseph J. McKinney during the VanBuren
administration—is still held in the family. The McKinneys of this line
got their start in America in Colonial times. Joseph J. McKinney's
father, Anthony Wayne McKinney, was a soldier of the War of 1812, and
the latter's father, Joseph J. McKinney, was a soldier of the
Revolution. The persistence of names—an admirable family practice—here
is noted. Anthony Wayne McKinney, grandfather of the subject of this
memorial sketch, was the founder of the family in Indiana. He served as
a soldier during the War of 1812 and when settlements were beginning to
be effected over in this part of Indiana he came here and set up a
water power grist mill on the Mississinewa river in the Fairview
neighborhood in Randolph county and thus became one of the most useful
pioneers of this section, his mill attracting custom among the then
widely separated settlers for miles hereabout. One of his sons, Joseph
J. McKinney, named for his Revolutionary grandsire, became one of the
first settlers in Richland township, Jay county. Of Joseph J. McKinney,
the Richland township pioneer, it has been written that "he and his
good wife Elizabeth were pioneers in the truest sense of the word, for
it fell to their lot, together with other early settlers of their day,
to help clear the forests and to lay out and help build the roads, and
otherwise lay the foundations for our present civilization." Joseph J.
McKinney was a useful and influential pioneer citizen, for years served
his community as township trustee and also served two terms as
representative from this district in the Indiana General Assembly. He
lived to be seventyseven years of age. As noted above, he and his wife
had ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, those besides the
subject of this memorial sketch having been Mrs. Sarah Taylor, George
W. (a soldier of the Union during the Civil war), Mrs. Nancy Goe, Mrs.
Adaline Maitlen, Mrs. Mary Nibarger, Mrs. Elizabeth Hall, Mrs. Susan
Knapp, Mrs. Ella Brown and Jesse McKinney. As most of these reared
families of their own the McKinney connection hereabout in the present
generation is a no inconsiderable one. Reared on the home farm in
Richland township, Anthony W. McKinney completed his schooling at Liber
College and when seventeen years of age began teaching school,
continuing thus engaged during the winters for several years or until
he went into business at Redkey as the proprietor of a sawmill, that
having been in the days when "timber was king" hereabout. He married at
the age of twentytwo and not long afterward added to his business
enterprise a store at Dunkirk for the sale of hardware and agricultural
implements, presently moving this stock to his home town of Redkey,
where he established the first exclusive hardware and implement store
in the vicinity, and where for more than thirty years he continued
successfully to serve his community as a distributor of household and
farm commodities. He introduced and urged upon his farmer neighbors and
friends the installation of improved farm machinery and sold and
started the first reaper and the first selfbinder in this section of
the country, it having been written of him that "so eminently did he
ply his trade in this particular line that Redkey became known far and
near as a center of supply for all kinds of farming implements,
supplies and repairs." With the develooment of the natural gas industry
in this region Mr. McKinney took an active part in the promotion of the
interests incident to that particular phase of industrial development
and was one of the prime movers in the company which took charge of the
work in Redkey, drilling wells and interesting outside capital in the
utilization of the new fuel. During the later years of his life Mr.
McKinney lived practically retired from mercantile activities aad
occupied himself with looking after his various property 'interests,
taking particular enjoyment and pride in the big department store which
had been promoted by his sons at Dunkirk and which was the outgrowth of
the business started by himself half a century before. He was a member
of the board of directors of the Farmers State Bank of Redkey and was
also a director of the City State Bank of Dunkirk. Though ever active
in the general public affairs of his community Mr. McKinney was not an
aspirant for political office and the only position of this sort he
ever held was that of treasurer of the city of Redkey, in which
capacity he -served for a number of years. Mr. McKinney was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church at Dunkirk. His wife died in 1906 and
his last years were spent at Dunkirk, where his sons had made their
home, his death occurring there on September 5, 1918. It was in 1869
that Anthony W. McKinney was united in marriage to Martha Jane Goe, who
was born in Greene county, Ohio, a member of one of the real pioneer
families of that county—a county from which so many of the pioneers of
Jay county came—and to this union five sons were born, one of whom died
in infancy; Harry, who died at the age of twentythree years, and Jesse,
Frank and Arthur, proprietors of the McKinney department store at
Dunkirk, who are doing business under the firm name of the McKinney
Brothers Company. Jesse McKinney, the eldest of these brothers, was
born at Redkey on August 16, 1875. He completed his schooling by
attendance at the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute and a term
at Oberlin College and then entered the Byron W. King School of
Oratory, from which latter institution he was graduated, entertaining
at that time views concerning the possibilities of a public life. Mr.
McKinney is a Democrat and has always taken an interested part in
public affairs. He served for two years as town clerk at Redkey and in
1906 was elected to represent this county in the lower House of the
Indiana General Assembly, serving in the regular session of 1907 and in
the special session afterwards called by Governor Hanley for the
consideration of the county local option bill. But the call of business
always has been stronger than the lure of politics and from the days of
his boyhood Mr. McKinney has been in business, he and his brothers
having been valuable assistants to their father in the operation of the
store at Redkey, which was continued until the time of the elder
McKinney's retirement, after which the younger men started out "on the
road," each with a distinctive line, and for two or three vears were
busy gaining some most valuable experience as traveling commercial
salesmen. They then were ready for the enterprise which they had in
mind and began "cashing in on a dream," as a nationally circulated
house organ of a well known office-supply concern some time ago, in a
most informative write-up of that enterprise in connection with a story
of general office efficiency, referred to the McKinney brothers'
enterprise. The brothers—Jesse and Frank and Arthur—pooled their
interests and took over the old established business of their father,
organizing at Dunkirk the Hardware Supply Company, with an initial
capital of $15,000. As the little story of commercial enterprise here
referred to says: "For six years the new firm prospered, but in those
six years the three brothers had experienced visions of a larger store,
a store that would not confine itself to a limited line. Dreaming of
it, talking it over and figuring the possibilities of branching out
only served to crystallize the idea in their minds. The day dawned when
dreams came true and the Hardware Supply Company blossomed out as
McKinney's Department Store. The old building (formerly used as a
hotel) had been remodled and repainted, display windows added,
elevators installed, intercommunicating telephones put in and each of
the thirty departments carefully stocked." To much more along this line
is added, "The business grew with each succeeding day." It was in 1915
that the department store had its beginning when the brothers bought
the old "Boston" dry goods stock at Dunkirk and added dry goods to
their stock in trade. Presently they added a furniture department, and
then men's furnishings and women's readyto-wear goods and millinery and
finally a line of shoes, all these lines with their various auxiliaries
making a very complete department store, occupying a building 60 by 130
feet, three stories in height. In February, 1910, Jesse McKinney was
united in marriage to Mary H. Gilpin, who was born in Portland, a
daughter of Levi L. and Nancy (Hawkins) Gilpin, of whom further mention
is made elsewhere in this work, and to this union one child has been
born, a daughter, Martha J., born on March 9, 1912. Mr. and Mrs.
McKinney are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Dunkirk and
Mr. McKinney is president of the board of trustees of the same, a
member of the board for some years. He also for the past four years has
been superintendent of the Sunday school. Frank McKinney, the second of
the McKinney brothers, was born at Redkey on August 22, 1877, and the
lines of his business life have run pretty closely parallel to those of
his brother, above outlined. Upon leaving the high school at Redkey he
entered his father's store and remained there until the establishment
was moved to Dunkirk in 1909, since which time he has been a resident
of the latter city, giving his attention to the affairs of the McKinney
department store. On January 9, 1909, Frank McKinney was united in
marriage to Charm Weaver, who was born in Dunkirk on June 12, 1885, and
whose schooling was completed at Glendale College, Cincinnati. Mrs.
McKinney is a daughter of John and Jennie (Maitlen) Weaver, both
members of old families in this community, and the former of whom
formerly was proprietor of one of the oldest complete general stores in
Dunkirk, later taken over by the Dunkirk Mercantile Company. Mr. and
Mrs. Frank McKinney also are members of the Methodist church, and he is
a member of the board of trustees of the church. Arthur L. McKinney,
the youngest of the three brothers and who in addition to his
mercantile interests has been for years interested in musical
expression, the author of several songs of wide recognition, was born
at Redkey on November 3, 1885. He completed his schooling under a
special tutor and then took up in such leisure as he could command from
the duties of the store the study of music, making a specialty of piano
and slide trombone, taking an active part in both band and orchestral
work. His study of musical composition has given him a facility in
musical expression which has found its outlet in the writing of a
number of pieces which have been well received in musical circles,
particularly his "When the Wheat to Gold" and "I Told Her So Long Years
Ago." On February 16, 1910, Arthur L. McKinney was unitea in marriage
to Lena M. Peterson, who was born in the neighboring county of
Delaware, daughter of Newton and Luella (McDaniels) Peterson, and to
this union one child has been born, a son, Duane P., born on April 4,
1914. Mrs. McKinney's schooling was completed at the university at
Valparaiso, Ind., and prior to her marriage she had taught school at
Albany, Ind. Mr. McKinney is a member of the United Commercial
Travelers of America. He and his wife are members of the Methodist
church at Dunkirk and he is one of the church stewards.
JAMES O. PIERCE
JAMES O. PIERCE, former
secretary-treasurer of the Bimel Manufacturing
Company, of Portland, who died at his home in that city in 1920 and who
prior to establishing his connection with the industrial interests of
the community had for some years served as a teacher in the schools of
this county, left a good memory at his passing and it is but fitting
that there here should be carried some modest tribute to that memory.
Mr. Pierce was a native of Ohio, born on December 16, 1858, and was a
son of Orange and Caroline (Selby) Pierce. He was reared at Zanesville,
Ohio, and upon completing the course in the high school there
supplemented the same by a course in the Zanesville Commercial College.
He then came to Indiana and entered Ridgeville College, making his home
at Ridgeville with his grandfather, the Rev. Asa Pierce. Upon
completing the course in Ridgeville College Mr. Pierce became engaged
as an instructor in the college and was thus engaged for several years,
at the end of which time he accepted the position of superintendent of
schools at Redkey and thus became a resident of Jay. county. For four
years he served as superintendent at Redkey and then he transferred his
services to the schools at Portland and thereafter made his home in
Portland. For two years Mr. Pierce taught in the Portland schools and
then entered the office of the Bimel Manufacturing Company as
bookkeeper. He presently was promoted to the position of
secretarytreasurer of the company and continued engaged with that
concern for about twenty-five years, or until his retirement from
business in 1913. After his retirement Mr. Pierce continued to make his
home in Portland, where he had become very comfortably situated, and
there he died on December 4, 1920, he then being in the sixty-second
year of his age. In April, 1880, James O. Pierce was united in marriage
to Sue Bowersox, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1858, daughter
of John H. and Diana (Harter) Bowersox, who later became residents of
Indiana, and to that union were born four children, namely: Inez, who
married G. T. Vail, a banker, of Michigan City, Ind., and has one
child, a daughter, Barbara; J. O. Pierce, now a farmer in this county,
who married Bessie Flesher and has one child, a daughter, Marian; Earl,
who is living at home with his mother, and Mabel, who married L. W.
Hull, a lawyer of Oshkosh, Wis., and has one child, a daughter, Nancy.
Mr. Pierce was a member of the Methodist church, as is his widow, and
was for more than twenty years superintendent of the Sunday school. He
was a Republican and was a member of the local lodge of the Knights of
Pythias at Portland.
ROSCOE D. WHEAT, former prosecuting
attorney for this judicial circuit,
former county attorney, present attorney for the city of Portland,
vice-president of the Jay County Savings and Trust Company and a member
of the bar of the Jay Circuit Court for nearly twenty-five years, is a
native son of Jay county, a member of one of the real pioneer families
here, and has lived here all his life, ever actively interested in the
development of the best interests of the community. Mr. Wheat was born
on a farm in Jackson township on February 22, 1876, and is a son of
William R. and Naomi V. (Tucker) Wheat, both of whom also were born in
this county. William R. Wheat, a substantial landowner of Jackson
township, now living retired at Portland, is a son of William R. Wheat,
Sr., who came to Indiana from Virginia and became one of the first
landowners in Jackson township, this county, and an influential figure
in the development of that community in pioneer days. Reared on the
home farm in Jackson township, R. D. Wheat received his early schooling
in the schools of that neighborhood and when little more than a boy
began teaching school, a vocation which he followed for six winters,
meanwhile continuing his studies in the old normal school at Portland
and at the Tri-State College at Angola, from which latter institution
he was graduated in 1897. During this period he also was for a time
engaged as a traveling salesman, but his inclinations ever were toward
the law and he was pursuing his studies along that line in the law
office of George Bergman at Portland, under which preceptorship he was
admitted to the bar of the Jay Circuit Court in 1897, following his
graduation from college. Not long after his admission to the bar Mr.
Wheat became associated with Judge J. W. Headington in the practice of
law at Portland and this mutually agreeable arrangement continued until
the death of Judge Headington, since which time Mr. Wheat has been
practicing alone. He has served two terms as prosecuting attorney for
this judicial circuit, has also served as county attorney and is the
present attorney for the city of Portland. Mr. Wheat also has ever
given proper attention to the general business affairs of the community
and is vice-president of the Jay County Savings and Trust Company, one
of the most influential fiduciary institutions in this part of the
state. Mr. Wheat is a Republican and has long been regarded as one of
the leaders of that party in this congressional district. He is a
Freemason, is the exalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks and is also affiliated with the Portland
Rotary Club and the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Wheat married Nina G. Bishop,
daughter of Peter L. and Maria J. Bishop, and he and his wife have one
child, Alwyn Cree Wheat. The Wheats have a pleasant home in Portland
and have even taken an interested part in the city's general social
activities. During the time of America's participation in the World
war, Mr. Wheat became associated with the Y. M. C. A. work overseas and
was also attached to. the motor transport corps, rendering eight months
of service overseas.
LEE E. FOSTER, D. D. S., one of the
best known young dentists in Jay
county, with offices at Portland, where he has been in practice since
his graduation from the Indiana Dental College in 1912, was born at
Farmland, in the neighboring county of Randolph, on October 12, 1889,
and is a son of M. B. and Hattie (Heaston) Foster, both of whom were
born in that same county, members of old families there. M. B. Foster
was reared in Randolph county and early became a contracting plasterer,
a business he followed with success. He was married in 1888 and he and
his wife have five children, Doctor Foster having four sisters, Helen,
Reba, Ruth and Inez, who are at home with their parents. Doctor Foster
received his early schooling at Farmland and upon completing the high
school course entered Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, from
which he was graduated in 1912, after a course of instruction covering
three years. Upon receiving his diploma the Doctor located at Portland,
where he opened an office for the practice of his profession and where
he has since continued in practice. On June 8, 1914, about two years
after opening his dental office at Portland, Dr. Lee E. Foster was
united in marriage to Mary I. Wickersham, who was born in Madison
township, this county, daughter of Henry C. and Clara B. Wickersham,
and to this union two children have been born, Sarah Jane, born on
January 20, 1916, and John E., December 12, 1919. Doctor and Mrs.
Foster are members of the Presbyterian church. The Doctor is a
Republican and a Freemason. He is a member of the Portland Rotary Club
and is also affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks.
S. A. D. WHIPPLE, former assistant
attorney general of the state of
Indiana, former city attorney of Portland and for many years one of the
best known members of the bar of the Jay Circuit Court, with offices at
Portland, is a native of the neighboring county of Randolph, but has
been a resident of Jay county since the days of his young manhood. Mr.
Whipple was born on a farm in Randolph county on August 25, 1860, son
of Jason and Celia (Peelle) Whipple, the latter of whom was born at
Centerville, Ind., February 21, 1819, a member of one of the real
pioneer families of Wayne county. Jason Whipple was born at Providence,
R. I., January 30, 1804, and grew to manhood there, becoming a
machinist and wheelwright. As a young man he determined to try his
fortunes in what then was regarded as the far West and after
prospecting a bit in Ohio came on over into Indiana and in 1823 settled
in Delaware county, where he remained until in 1838, when he came up
into Jay county and located at Portland, where he became engaged as a
wheelwright. Jason Whipple was a man of force and individuality and
during the time of his residence here impressed himself upon the
community. He served as the second sheriff of Jay county and in other
ways rendered public service. During the '40s he moved down into
Randolph county, where he established himself as a millwright and also
as a landowner, and there he spent the remainder of his life. S. A. D.
Whipple was reared on a farm in Randolph county and when twenty years
of age, in 1880, began teaching school there. He taught for one term in
that county and then came up into Jay county and on September 3, 1881,
entered upon a term of teaching in the old Booth school, in Richland
township. For ten years Mr. Whipple continued his service as a teacher
in the schools of this county, in the meantime reading law, and on July
1, 1890, entered upon a term of service as deputy to the county cleric,
thereafter making his home at Portland. He served as deputy county
clerk for three years and then, on July 1, 1893, was admitted to
practice at the bar of the Jay Circuit Court. Meantime, beginning in
1891, he had been serving as a deouty to the attorney general of the
state of Indiana, Alonzo G. Smith at that time being attorney general,
and he continued to serve in that capacity until 1895. Upon entering
practice at Portland Mr. Whipple formed a partnership with Theodore
Bailey, but this association soon was discontinued and he then entered
into a partnership with W. H. Williamson, which continued for three
years. In 1894 he was elected attorney for the city of Portland and for
seven years continued to serve in that important public capacity. Mr.
Whipple has long been recognized as one of the leaders in the
Democratic party in Jay county and in the Eighth congressional
district. He is affiliated with the local lodges of the Knights of
Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Portland.
Mr. Whipple is something more than locally known as a student of
literature at its best and is the author of a story that was well
received by the reviewers when it came, out some years ago. This story,
"Arthur St. Clair of Old Fort Recovery," is a historical romance
portraying the incidents of one of the bloodiest Indian battles ever
fought in America. The scenes and incidents of the tale revolve around
the great Indian battle fought on the present site of the little city
of Ft. Recovery, just over the Ohio line adjacent to the eastern border
of Jay county, in which General St. Clair was defeated in 1791 and his
army almost annihilated. Two hundred and fifty women and children were
present, most of whom lost their lives in the battle or on the retreat
to Ft. Jefferson, a distance of twenty-seven miles. The remnant of the
army was saved by a red-headed woman (Catherine Miller) and around and
through Mr. Whipple's engaging tale of the soldiers' struggles with the
Indians is woven a romance bubbling over with love's discordant trials,
culminating in the union of two fond hearts which ha'1 been separated
by family feuds. Mr. Whipple married Christiana H. Harker, daughter of
D. S.. Harker, and to this union were born three sons, John K., James
G. and Tod L., all of whom are married. James G. Whipple has two
children, Mildred and Josephine, and Tod L. Whipple has two children,
June and Montez.
CALDWELL C. CARTWRIGHT, retired
merchant, landowner and financier and
for many years one of the most prominent figures in the commercial and
industrial life of Portland and of Jay county, is a native Hoosier, a
fact of which he never has ceased to be proud, and has been a resident
of this state all his life, a resident of Jay county since the days of
his childhood. He was born at Winchester, in the neighboring county of
Randolph, a son of James and Jane (Milligan) Cartwright, the latter of
whom was born in Pennsylvania but had come to Indiana with her parents
in the days of her childhood, the Milligans settling in Randolph
county. James Cartwright was born in Randolph county, his parents
having been among the pioneers of that county, and there he was reared.
He early became engaged in the milling business and in 1852 came to Jay
county with his family and erected a sawmill at New Mt. Pleasant,
having secured the contract to saw the lumber for a plank road that was
to be built from Richmond to Ft. Wayne. For some reason work on this
road was suspended after it had been pushed north about twenty miles
from Pennville, but in the meantime Mr. Cartwright had got his mill
going and the local demand upon its product was sufficient to make it a
profitable enterprise, and it was kept in operation for ten years or
more. James Cartwright also had a general store at New Mt. Pleasant and
was there engaged in business when death interrupted his further
activities in 1864. His widow was left with six children, one but an
infant, Emma, who died in July of that same year, at the age of eight
months. Mrs. Cartwright died in the year following and within another
year the only daughter, Mary Ellen, died, leaving four other children,
of whom but two now survive, Caldwell C. Cartwright and his brother,
Charles E. Cartwright, of Spokane, Wash. Another brother, William C.
Cartwright, of Indianapolis, died on October 17, 1921. Caldwell C.
Cartwright, then sixteen years of age, was the eldest of this sadly
bereft group of youngsters, the others being thirteen, eight and three
years old, respectively, and the burden of the care of the younger
children fell upon his shoulders. He had been in attendance at Liber
College, but he did not finish the course, instead securing a school
and teaching the following winter. He secured a home with the family of
Benjamin Bradley and then for a year assumed the operation of a
sawmill,' after which he became engaged in the general mercantile
business at New Mt. Pleasant in association with Charles P. Starr, a
partnership which continued there for about seven years, at the end of
which time the partners moved their stock to Portland and set up in
business at the corner of Meridian and Walnut streets. Eighteen months
later Mr. Starr sold his interest in the store to Charles F. Headington
and thus began the long partnership which has since been maintained
between Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Headington, who continued to operate the
store until they sold it in 1919, having thus been engaged together in
mercantile business for a period of forty-five years. The partnership
was not broken, however, for they still hold in common farm lands
aggregating 725 acres in Jay county besides certain other financial
interests in common. Mr. Cartwright is vice president of the Haynes
Automobile Company, of Kokomo, of which he is the heaviest individual
stockholder, and also is interested in numerous concerns in and about
Portland, including the Portland Forge and Foundry Company, the
Portland Drain Tile Company, the reorganized Haynes Milling Company,
the Portland Body Works, the Knocker Shirt Company, the Sheller Wood
Rim Manufacturing Company, the grain elevator of Russell & Co., and
is vice president of the Midwest Stone Quarries Company and of the
Lehigh Clay Products Company. On July 8, 1868, Caldwell C. Cartwright
was united in marriage, in this county, to Sophronia Reed, who was born
in Jay county, daughter of Harvey and Mary J. (Carley) Reed, both of
whom were born in Galipolis, Ohio. Harvey Reed was a well known farmer
in the New Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and he and his wife were the
parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Cartwright is the only one now
living. To Caldwell C. and Sophronia (Reed) Cartwright were born three
children, Elwood N., who died at the age of eighteen years; Grace, who
died at the age of four years, and Earl R. Cartwright, born on January
9, 1879, who is a professional musician, now living at Portland, and of
whom further and fitting mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr.
Cartwright is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to the affairs of which they have for many
years given their interested attention.
IDA M. RILEY, a member of the
excellent teaching staff of the Portland
public schools and for years an active participant in the cultural
activities of. that city, was born in Ohio but has been a resident of
Indiana since the days of her childhood. Miss Riley was born at
Phillipsburg, Ohio, and is a daughter of Davis and Mary J. (Morgan)
Riley, the latter of whom was born in Lancaster county, Ohio, and was
three years of age when her parents, Isaac and Sarah Morgan, came to
Indiana and located at Bluffton, where she grew to womanhood and was
married. The late Davis Riley, who died at Portland at the age of
eighty-five years, also was a native of Ohio. He grew up to the
harness-maker's trade and as a young man came to Indiana and located at
Bluffton, where he presently was married. Not long afterward he
returned to his former home at Phillipsburg, Ohio, but after a sometime
residence there came back into Indiana and located at Huntington, where
he remained for three years, at the end of which time he came with his
family to Jay county and settled at Pennville. where he made his home
for twenty years, or until he moved to Portland, where his last days
were spent, one of the best known men in Jay county. Davis Riley and
his wife were the parents of six children, of whom four are still
living, Miss.Riley having three sisters—Jessie, wife of William Griest,
of Portland, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work;
Catherine Riley, who has for years been a clerk in the Portland
postoffice, and Aletta, wife of W. H. Williams, of Winchester, Ind.
Miss Riley was but a child when her parents moved, to Pennville and the
greater part of her early schooling thus was received in the excellent
schools of that village. This she supplemented by a course in the old
Portland Normal School and then began teaching school, a profession she
since has followed. For seven years she was a teacher in the schools of
Pennville and Penn township and then she became "a teacher in the
Portland public schools and has since been associated with the work of
the Garfield school. Miss Riley is a member of the Presbyterian church
at Portland and is a Republican. She is a member of the Mississinewa
chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Portland, of
which her sister, Mrs. Griest, is the present (1921) regent, and is
also a member of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebecca, the
woman's auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, her father
having for years been an influential and active member of this order.
T. W. SHIMP, president of the Jay
County Savings and Trust Company and
one of the leading realty and insurance dealers in Portland, is a
native son of Jay county and has long been recognized as one of the
dominant factors in the commercial life of this community. Mr. Shimp
was born on a farm in Wabash township on January 12, 1867, a son of
Jesse and Emily (Hiestand) Shimp, both of whom were born in Ohio, where
they were reared and where they were married. In 1861, not long after
their marriage, Jesse Shimp and his wife came over into Indiana and
located on a farm in Wabash township, this county. Some time later they
moved to a farm in Bearcreek township and on this latter place spent
the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children,
two of whom, Alonzo Shimp and Mrs. Margaret Bone, are now deceased, the
remaining being George, Mrs. Laura Kimble, Mrs. Clara Flauding, and T.
W. Shimp, of this county; Grace, of Indianapolis; Mrs. Belle Gilpin, of
California; Charles E., of Washington, Pa., and Valentine, of Van Wert,
Ohio. Reared on the home farm in Bearcreek township, T. W. Shimp
received his elementary schooling in the local district school and then
attended the old normal school at Portland for three terms. He then
began teaching in the schools of this county, his first school being
school No. 5 in Bearcreek township, which he conducted for several
terms, going then to the Salamonia school, which he taught for three
years, meanwhile taking the scientific course in the Normal College at
Lebanon, Ohio, and was graduated from that institution in 1891. Upon
securing his diploma Mr. Shimp was made principal of the public schools
at Sciotaville, Ohio, and a year later was made superintendent of the
schools at Ft. Recovery, Ohio, a position he occupied for six years, at
the end of which time he transferred his services to the schools of
Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where he acted as superintendent of schools and
as county school examiner for five years, going thence to Delphos,
Ohio, where he was in charge of the schools for six years. Wearying
then of school service, Mr. Shimp returned to Portland and in 1911
assisted in the organization of the Jay County Savings and Trust
Company and was made cashier of the same, a position he occupied for
about six years, at the end of which time he was elected president of
the institution and has since served in that capacity, at the same time
being actively engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
During the time of America's participation in the World war Mr. Shimp
was an active and influential factor in the promotion of all local
defense measures and in 1919 was made president of the County Council
of Defense. He is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Shimp has been an elder in the Presbyterian
church for the past twenty years and is now clerk of the session of the
local church, and for five years was superintendent of the Sunday
school. He has long been a member of the public library board and has
served as president of that body. On December 26, 1893, T. W. Shimp was
united in marriage to Ella E. Sheward, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth
(Clair) Sheward, and to this union three children have been born,
namely: Paul Brown Shimp, now living at Wilmington, Del., who
volunteered for service upon the entrance of this country into the
World war, was attached to the Fifth Engineer Corps and was mustered
out as a sergeant of the first class after a period of service of about
two years, ten months of which was spent overseas; Eva, who is a
teacher of music in the Portland public schools, and Helen, who is a
student in the high school.
TOHN E. FLAUDING, cashier of the
Farmers State Bank of Portland and one
of the best known bankers in this county, was born in Jay county and
has been a lifelong resident of this county. He was born on a farm in
Bearcreek township on June 21, 1876, and is a son of George and Rebecca
(Kessler) Flauding, the latter of whom (now deceased) also was born in
Indiana, a member of one of the pioneer families of this part of the
state. George Flauding, who is now living retired at Bryant, was born
in" Germany, where his mother died before he was three years of age.
Following this bereavement his father came to this country, bringing
his children with him and for a while the family was located in New
York state, presently moving to Pennsylvania and thence to Indiana,
settling in Jay county, where George Flauding grew to manhood and after
his marriage rented a farm and began farming on his own account. His
affairs prospered and he presently became the owner of a farm in
Bearcreek township, a tract of 120 acres, on which he continued farming
until his retirement and removal to Bryant, where he is now living. To
him and his wife were born ten children, all of whom are living save
Jesse, the others besides the subject of this sketch being Elias,
William, Cora, Charles, Lawrence, Clarence, Frank and Elsie. Reared on
the home farm in Bearcreek township, John E. Flauding received his
early schooling in the local schools of that neighborhood,
supplementing this by attendance at the Tri-State College at Angola and
became engaged in teaching school, a vocation he followed during the
winters for seventeen years, his summers being occupied variously, two
of these summers being given over to work on the railway section. In
1916 Mr. Flauding became employed as assistant cashier in the Farmers
State Bank at Portland and on June 10, 1920, was elected cashier of
that institution, the position he now occupies. Mr. Flauding is a
Democrat, is a member of the Portland grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and
of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and he and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the congregation of which he
is serving as secretary of the board. John E. Flauding married Clara E.
Shimp, daughter of Jesse and Kate Shimp, and to this union has been
born one child, a son, Wendel. Mr. and Mrs. Flauding have a pleasant
home at Portland and take an interested part in the city's general
social activities.
HANSON F. MILLS, clerk of the Jay
Circuit Court and formerly and for
years a well known member of Jay county's excellent teaching corps, is
a native son of Jay county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Mills
was born on a farm in Jefferson township on April 22, 1887, and is a
son of Ardon and Ella (Brubaker) Mills, both of whom also were born in
Jay county, members of pioneer families here, and who were the parents
of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. Ardon Mills is a
substantial farmer in Jefferson township and for years has been widely
known hereabout as a live stock buyer. Reared on the home farm in
Jefferson township, Hanson F. Mills supplemented the schooling received
in the local schools of that neighborhood by attendance at the normal
school at Marion and the Tri-State College at Angola. At the age of
eighteen years he began teaching school and was thus engaged for twelve
years, or until his election in the fall of 1918 to the office of clerk
of the Jay Circuit Court, which important official position he now
occupies. Mr. Mills is a Republican and from the days of his youth has
taken an active and earnest interest in local civic affairs, long
having been regarded as one of the leaders in the junior ranks of that
party in this county. He is a member of the Portland lodge of the
Knights of Pythias and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
church. Mr. Mills married Cleo Ada Hartley, daughter of Enoch and Anna
Hartley, and to this union one child, has been born, a daughter,
Margaret Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have a pleasant home at Portland
and take an interested part in the city's general social activities.
JAMES W. BADDERS, sheriff of Jay
county and formerly and for many years
occupied in running a dray line in Portland, one of the best known men
in that city,, as well as throughout the county, is a native son of Jay
county and has lived here all his life. Sheriff Badders was born in
Jefferson township on May 1, 1858, and is a son of William H. and Sarah
Ann (Burns) Badders, the latter of whom was born in Virginia and had
come to Indiana with her parrents in the days of her girlhood. William
H. Badders was born in Kentucky and was but a child when he came up
into Indiana with his parents, the family settling in Delaware county
and presently moving to Jay county, where he grew to manhood and was
married, reared his family and spent the remainder of his life. He was
a weaver and followed that vocation all his active life. He and his
wife were the parents of four children, all of whom are living save
one, Sheriff Badders having two sisters, Margaret and Sarah Jane. Tames
W. Badders was but three years of age when his father died and was
twelve when he was further bereaved by the death of his mother. He was
taken care of in the home of John Detamore and his schooling was
received in the schools of that neighborhood. He worked for Mr.
Detamore until he moved to Portland and became engaged there in
operating a dray line, a business in which he became quite successful.
For years Mr. Badders has taken an interested part in local civic
affairs and in 1920 received the Republican nomination for sheriff of
Jay county. He was elected in the following election and is now serving
in that important office, one of the best known and most popular men
about the court house, having taken office on January 1, 1921. He is
affiliated with the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, and
takes a proper interest in the affairs of that organization. Sheriff
Badders married Mary E. Fitzpatrick, daughter of James T. Fitzpatrick,
and to this union have been born three children, Charles W., Cloyce and
Harry Raymond.
LAWRENCE R. CART WRIGHT, county
attorney for Jay county, former
chairman of the Republican county central committee and for years a
member of the bar of the Jay Circuit Court, practicing law at Portland,
is a member of one of this county's pioneer families. Mr. Cartwright
was born at Portland on October 7, 1876, and is a son of William C. and
Mary J. (Coulson) Cartwright, both of whom also were born in this
county and the former of whom died at Indianapolis in the fall of 1921.
William C. Cartwright was for years engaged in the mercantile business
in Portland, a clerk in the Cartwright & Headington store, and was
thus occupied until 1912, when he went to Indianapolis as the
secretary-treasurer of the Midwest Crushed Stone and Quarry Company and
in that city spent his last days, his death occurring there on October
17, 1921. To him and his wife were born three sons, the subject of this
sketch having two brothers, Forest S. and W. Dale Cartwright. Reared at
Portland, Lawrence R. Cartwright was graduated from the high school in
that city in 1896 and then entered DePauw University, from which he was
graduated in 1900 with the degree of Ph. B. He then accepted a position
as instructor in Washburn College at Topeka, Kan., and was thus
occupied for two years, at the end of which time he entered the law
school of Columbia University and in due time received his A. M. degree
from that institution. For about three years thereafter Mr. Cartwright
served as law clerk to Judge Monks of the Indiana State Supreme Court
and then, in 1911, returned to Portland and has since been engaged
there in the general practice of law. For the past three years or more
Mr. Cartwright has been serving as county attorney. He is a Republican,
long having been recognized as one of the leaders of that party in this
district, and has rendered service as chairman of the Republican county
central committee. Mr. Cartwright is a Freemason, is affiliated with
the college fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, and he and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1907 Lawrence R.
Cartwright was united in marriage to Vida Wood, of Topeka, Kan.,
daughter of O. J. and Anna Wood, and to this union have been born three
children, Jane, Wood and Rachel. During the time of this country's
participation in the World War, Mr. Cartwright was one of the leaders
in the local work of the Red Cross.
CARL BIMEL, president of the Bimel
Spoke and Auto Wheel Company, of
Portland, successor to the old manufacturing firm of L. Bimel &
Son, and long regarded as one of the most active and progressive
factors in the commercial and industrial life of this section of
Indiana, was born at Portland and has lived there practically all his
life, from the days of his boyhood interested in the extensive
manufacturing plant of which he now is the head. Mr. Bimel was born on
March, 13, 1889, and is a son of Fred and Margaret G. (Kelsey) Bimel,
both of whom were born at St. Marys, Ohio, and the latter of whom is
still living at Portland, where she has a very pleasant home on West
Arch street. The late Fred Bimel, who was for years one of the leading
factors in the industrial development of Portland, was born on January
8, 1859, and was a son of Lawrence and Elizabeth Bimel, the former of
whom was a pioneer manufacturer of wagons and buggies at St. Marys,
Ohio. Lawrence Bimel was born in Germany in 1827 and was three years of
age when he came to this country with his parents, the family coming on
West and locating at Wapakoneta, Ohio, where the Bimel home was
established. Reared at Wapakoneta, Lawrence Bimel early learned the
trade of carriage maker and in time became a manufacturer at St. Marys,
where he established his home and/ built up an extensive plant, the
wagons and carriages turned out in this plant having been widely
distributed thereabout. In 1879 he established a branch plant at
Portland for the manufacture of spokes, hubs, felloe strips and similar
accessories of the carriage manufacturing line and his son Fred, just
about then' coming into his majority, was placed in charge of the same,
the plant being conducted under the firm name of L. Bimel & Son,
the predecessor of the present extensive plant of the Bimel Company,
which is operated under the general management of Carl Bimel, the third
in direct line in the gradual development of this business. The plant
which the late Fred Bimel started in Portland more than forty years
ago, taking then advantage of the wealth of timber which still was
accessible hereabout, gradually developed the industry until it became
one of the most important industrial enterprises in the county. In 1910
he enlarged and modernized the plant and added to his output the
manufacture of automobile wheels. This latter phase of the business was
rapidly developed and soon came to be the chief object of the factory
and has so continued, the Bimel wheels having gained a wide and justly
deserved reputation in the automobile industry throughout the country.
Fred Bimel continued active in the operation of this plant until his
death and was in other ways active in the development of the general
business interests of the city of his adoption, the handsome Bimel
block, erected in 1896-98, at the corner of Main and Meridian streets
being, in addition to the wheel works, one of the standing local
monuments to his public spirit. He established the first waterworks
plant and the first electric light plant at Portland and was one of the
chief promoters of the C. B. & C. railroad which reached Portland
about twenty years ago. Fred Bimel died on October 2, 1912, and at his
passing left a good memory. As noted above, his widow survives and is
still making her home at Portland, where she is very comfortably
situated. It was on September 14, 1880, not long after taking up his
residence in Portland, that Fred Bimel was united in marriage to
Margaret G. Kelsey, who also was born at St. Marys, Ohio, and to that
union were born seven children, five of whom are still living, the
subject of this sketch having three sisters, Lelia, Hazel and Bernice,
and a brother Frederick Bimel. Reared at Portland, Carl Bimel was
graduated from the high school in that city and then took a course in
mechanical engineering at Purdue University, following this by a
business course in the university at Valparaiso, Ind. From the days of
his youth he had been interested in the operation of his father's
industrial plant at Portland and after leaving college and in order
further to familiarize himself with the technical details of factory
operation spent a year in a large spoke factory in the South. He then
returned home and in 1910 became actively engaged with his father in
the operation of the Bimel wheel works at Portland. When his father
died in 1912 Mr. Bimel took over the general management of the plant
and upon the reorganization of the operating company was elected
president of the company and has since served in that executive
capacity, during this time doing much to extend the operations of the
plant until now the Bimel products are regarded as standards in their
line. Mr. Bimel is a Scottish Rite Mason and is a member of the local
lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which latter
organization his father also was a member. On June 4, 1913, Carl Bimel
was united in marriage to Louine Miller and to this union one child has
been born, a son, Carl, Jr.
GRANT ELLSWORTH DERBYSHIRE,
superintendent of the Portland public
schools and for many years one of the active factors in the development
of the educational interests of this part of the state, is a Buckeye by
birth, but has been a resident of Indiana since the days of his
childhood. Mr. Derbyshire was born on a farm in the vicinity of
Wilmington, in Clinton county, Ohio, December 20, 1868, and is a son of
Joshua and Florence (Deweese) Derbyshire, both of whom were born in
Ohio, members of pioneer families in Clinton county. Joshua Derbyshire,
a veteran of the Civil war, is now living in Delaware county, this
state, which has been his home for many years. He served as a soldier
of the Union during the progress of the Civil war, a member of C
Company, Twenty-fourth regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, this service
covering a period of more than four years. Upon completing his military
service Mr. Derbyshire became engaged in farming in Clinton county,
Ohio, and was there thus engaged until 1875, when he moved with his
family to Indiana and located on a farm in Delaware county, but
presently left the farm and engaged in the mercantile business at
Cammack, in that county, where he is still living. Grant E. Derbyshire
was but six years of age when he came with his parents to Indiana and
he grew to manhood in Delaware county. Upon completing the school
course there he entered a business college at Delaware, Ohio, and was
graduated from that institution. He supplemented this by a course in
the normal school of Valparaiso University and for five years
thereafter was engaged in teaching in the district schools of Delaware
county. He then for six years was engaged in teaching in village grade
schools in that county, in the meantime continuing his studies at
Indiana University, and in 1901 was graduated from that institution,
after which for two years he was engaged as principal of the township
school in the village of Cowan. Following this service Mr. Derbyshire
was employed as principal of the Garfield school at Muncie for three
years, at the end of which time, in 1906, he was called to become
superintendent of the city schools at Portland and has since occupied
that important position. Mr. Derbyshire is a Royal Arch Mason and he
and his wife are members of the Church of Christ. Grant E. Derbyshire
married Margaret Rinker and has three children, Chase, Leland and
Carmon.
JOHN M. SMITH, dean of the bar of the
Jay Circuit Court, former judge
of that court, former state senator from this district, former member
of the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly and for many years
one of the most active factors in the public life of this part of
Indiana, is a native son of Jay county and has ever taken a just pride
in the amazing development that has marked this region in his
generation. Judge Smith is a member of one of the real pioneer families
of Jay county, his grandfather, George M. Smith, a soldier of the War
of 1812, having been among that considerable number of settlers who
came over here from Greene county, Ohio, in 1836, the year in which Jay
county became formally organized as a separate civic unit, and located
on lands entered from the Government in Richland township. George M.
Smith also owned land in the neighboring county of Delaware and died
there in 1849. One of his sons, James A. Smith, father of Judge Smith,
was ten years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents in 1836,
the family settling in Jay county and later moving over into Delaware
county. After the death of his father in this latter county, James A.
Smith returned to Jay county and became a substantial farmer and
landowner in Richland township, where he had established his home after
his marriage and where he was living when the Civil war broke out. In
February, 1864, he enlisted for service returned to his farm, where he
remained until 1905, when he moved to Portland, where his last days
were spent, his death occurring there in 1920. The Nixon corn planter
which he designed and brought to perfection was one of his valuable
contributions to the cause of bettering farm conditions. Joseph P.
Nixon married Emaline Hite, who also was a member of one of the real
pioneer families of this county, daughter of William Hite, who had come
here from Ohio and had established in Jefferson township one of the
first flour mills in Jay county. Mrs. Nixon preceded her husband to the
grave about four years, her death having occurred in 1916. To Joseph P.
and Emaline (Hite) Nixon were born eight children, six of whom are
still living, those besides Doctor Nixon being James G., Millard, Anna,
Elmer and Ida. Reared on the home farm in Tefferson township, Doctor
Nixon received his early schooling in the schools of that district and
supplemented this by a course in the old Portland Normal School and in
the normal school at Marion, Ind. He early became qualified to teach
school and for five years was employed as 3 teacher in the schools of
this county. Meanwhile he had been giving his thoughful attention to
preparatory studies in medicine and presently entered the Medical
College of Indiana at Indianapolis, from which institution he was
graduated in 1904. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Nixon opened an
office for the practice of his profession at Ridgeville, Ind., and was
there thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time, in 1910, he
located at Portland, where he since has been engaged in practice.
Doctor Nixon is a member of the Jay County Medical Society, in which
organization he has been an office bearer, and is also affiliated with
the Indiana State Medical Association and the American Medical
Association. He is a Democrat, a York Rite Mason and an elder in the
Presbyterian church. In 1905, Dr. J. E. Nixon was united in marriage to
Mabel Hiested, daughter of Daniel G. and Martha (Abel) Hiested, and to
this union have been born three children, Wallace H., Martha and Grace.
CHARLES E. STEWART, dealer in
furniture and house furnishings at
Portland and one of the best known merchants of that city, was born on
a farm in Rush county, Indiana, November 17, 1882, and is a son of R.
F. and Susan E. Stewart, both of whom were born in that same county,
members of old families there. R. F. Stewart was reared a farmer and
for a year or more after his marriage continued farming in Rush county,
but then moved to Indianapolis, where he lived for years, then moved to
Fort Wayne, Ind., where his last days were spent. Reared at
Indianapolis, Charles E. Stewart received his schooling in the schools
of that city and early became employed in a furniture factory there,
continuing that employment for about twelve years, at the end of which
time he enlisted for service in the United States Navy and spent four
years in that service. Upon the completion of his naval service Mr.
Stewart, in the spring of 1908, took up the sale of carpets by sample
and located at Portland. He was successful in this venture and a his
interest and the remaining partners continued the business for two
years, at the end of which time they sold the furniture department and
confined themselves exclusively to the undertaking line. Two years
later, in 1912, Mr. Williamson bought the interest of his partner, Mr.
Straley, and has since been sole proprietor of the establishment, the
Shadow Lawn Funeral Home, which he has equipped in strictly up-to-date
fashion, adding a new chapel and motor equipment. Mr. Williamson is a
Republican and he and his wife are members of the United Brethern
church, in the affairs of which they take an active interest, Mr.
Williamson being a member of the board of trustees of the same and the
superintendent of the Sunday school. He also is a Freemason and is
likewise affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics. On August 5, 1899, Nelson R. Williamson was united
in marriage to Gertrude V. McBride, who was born in Crawford county,
Ohio, daughter of Stephen A. and Emma (Learch) McBride, and who was
nine years of age when she came to this county with her parents. Mr.
and Mrs. Williamson have four children, Darwin J., who was graduated
from the Portland high school in the spring of 1921, Juanita, Nadene
and Kathleen.
CHARLES V. GOTT, D. V. S., of
Portland, one of the best known young
veterinary surgeons in this part of Indiana, who served during the
period of America's participation in the World war with the rank of
second lieutenant, Veterinary Corps, U. S. A., is a native Hoosier and
has lived in this state all his life. Doctor Gott was born on a farm in
the vicinity of Waveland, Montgomery county, Indiana, November 19,
1888, and is a son of Press and Nannie (Dixon) Gott, both of whom also
were born in that same county and are still living there. Press Gott
and wife were the parents of three children, of whom Doctor Gott alone
survives. Reared on the home farm in Montgomery county, Doctor Gott had
his early schooling in the Waveland schools, and for about three years
after leaving school continued on the farm, a valued assistant to his
father in the operation of the same. From the days of his boyhood he
had been attracted to veterinary surgery and he presently entered the
Veterinary College at Terre Haute, from which he was graduated in 1914,
after a course of three years study. Upon securing his diploma Doctor
Gott established himself in practice at Portland and was thus engaged
when this country entered the World war. On July 18, 1918, he enlisted
his services in behalf of the Veterinary Corps of the United States
army arid was commissioned a second lieutenant, continuing this service
until mustered out on January 18, 1919. Upon the completion of his
military service Doctor Gott returned to Portland and resumed his
practice. He is a member of the Indiana Veterinary Association and the
Jay-Randolph Veterinary Association. The Doctor is also affiliated with
the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of
Moose. He is independent in his political views. On December 16, 1909,
Dr. Charles V. Gott was united in marriage to Clara Wasson, who also
was born in Montgomery county, daughter of John and May (Oliver)
Wasson, who were the parents of three children, Mrs. Gott having a
brother, Ira Wasson, and a sister, Kate. Doctor and Mrs. Gott have a
pleasant home at Portland and take an interested part in the city's
general social activities.
JAMES L. GRISELL, city engineer and
superintendent of the light, water
and power department of the city of Portland and an active and
influential factor in the municipality, is a native son of Jay county
and has lived here all his life save for a period during which he
served as deputy to the engineer of the neighboring county of Randolph,
with his residence at Winchester. Mr. Grisell was born on a farm in
Penn township, in the vicinity of the city of Pennville, February 27,
1886, son of Lowell P. and Mary C. (Davenport) Grisell, the latter of
whom was born in Wayne county, this state. Lowell P. Grisell, a well
known farmer of Penn township, was born in this county, a member of one
of the real pioneer families here, and he and his wife were the parents
oi three sons, James L. Grisell having two brothers, Russell and Lowell
H. Grisell. Reared on the farm in Penn township,. James L. Grisell
received his elementary schooling in the district school in the
neighborhood of his home and then entered the Pennville high school.
Later entering the Tri-State College of Engineering, he took there the
course in civil engineering and was graduated from that institution on
March 11, 1911. Thus admirably equipped for the profession to which he
had devoted himself Mr. Grisell accepted a position as deputy to the
county engineer of Randolph county and was thus engaged for a year, at
the end of which time he transferred his service to the Union Traction
Company and was for a year thereafter engaged in electric railroad
construction work between Muncie and Newcastle. He then returned to
Winchester and resumed his former position as deputy county engineer,
in which capacity he continued to serve until in January, 1918, when he
accepted the position as city engineer at Portland and thus returned to
his home county. A year later the positions of city engineer and
superintendent of the lights water and power department of the city
were merged and Mr. Grisell' has since been rendering service to the
city in this dual capacity. On February 27, 1918, James L. Grisell was
united in marriage to Flora J. Beck, who was born and reared at
Mansfield, Ohio, daughter of Henry and Emma (Drackert) Beck, and to
this union two children have been born, daughters both, Julia Ann and
Mary Emily. Mr. and Mrs. Grisell are members of the First Presbyterian
church of Portland and are Republicans. Mr. Grisell is a member of the
Portland Commercial Club and is one of the charter members of the
Kiwanis Club of that city. He is a Scottish Rite (32°) Mason, a
member of the blue lodge at Pennville, of the council, chapter and
commandery at Winchester and of the consistory at Ft. Wayne, and is
also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, affiliated with the temple at' Ft. Wayne. During the time of
America's participation in the World war Mr. Grisell rendered service
as a student officer of field artillery in the Central Officers
Training School at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, and he is a member of
the local post of the American Legion at Portland, to the expanding
affairs of which patriotic body he is giving his earnest attention, as
are so many of the young men of this community.
JOHN M. STARR, a well known and
substantial retired farmer of Greene
township, this county, now living at Portland, is a native son of Jay
county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Starr was born on a pioneer
farm in Greene township, the site now occupied by the village of
Blaine, October 20, 1849, and is a son of Jacob and Angelina C.
(Wright) Starr, who were among the pioneers of that section of the
county, and the latter of whom was born in Greene county, Ohio, April
1, 1824, daughter of Merrick and Nancy (Owens) Wright, Virginians, the
former of whom was a soldier of the War of 1812. Jacob Starr was born
in Berkeley county, Virginia (now West Virginia), March 13, 1813, and
was reared in the home of an Uncle in Greene county, Ohio. He married
in this latter county and continued to make his home there until 1846,
when he came over into Indiana and settled on a quarter section of land
he had entered from the Government in Greene township, this county,
locating there on August 26 of that year, one of the considerable
number of Greene county (Ohio) people who settled in that part of Jay
county about that time, Greene township being given its name in honor
of these settlers who had brought pleasant memories of their old home
county with them. On this quarter section Jacob Starr established his
home, made a good farm and spent the remainder of his life, his death
occurring there in November, 1899. He had prospered in his operations
and became the owner of 540 acres, a part of which tract now is
occupied by the village of Blaine. To Jacob and Angelina (Wright) Starr
were born six children, three of whom are still living, the subject of
this sketch having a brother, Charles P. Starr, of Portland, and a
sister, Sarah, wife of Joel Kinsey. Reared on the home farm in Greene
township, John M. Starr received his schooling in the schools of that
neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood his life has been devoted
to farming. He married when twenty-two years of age and for a few years
thereafter continued to farm the home acres, or until in November,
1876, when he bought a tract of seventy acres in Greene township and
launched out "on his own." As his affairs prospered there Mr. Starr
bought an adjacent tract of eighty acres, this addition to his holdings
giving him 150 acres of excellent land, on which he made his home until
his retirement from the farm in 1907 and removal to Portland, where he
bought his present residence at 616 West Main street, and has since
resided there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr.
Starr and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Portland and are Republicans. John M. Starr has been twice married. On
August 15, 1872, he was united in marriage to Sarah L. Spahr, who was
born in this county, daughter of Jacob L. and Elizabeth (Boots) Spahr,
also Greene county (Ohio) folks, and to this union three children were
born, Cora, William J. and Leslie I. Cora Starr married James E.
Sturgeon, now living at Muncie, Ind., and has three children: Lawrence,
who married Wilma Hawkins and has one child, Betty Marie; Lee, who
married Helen Moore, and Leah. William J. Starr, who now lives in
Michigan, married Grace Smith and has eight children. Darrell, Freda,
Kenneth, Clifford, Helen, Elizabeth, John and Joseph. Leslie I. Starr,
who now lives at Los Angeles, Cal., married Mazie Wilson and has one
child, Claudia. The mother of these children died on December 14, 1884,
and on December 31, 1885, Mr. Starr married Catherine E. Rosenberry,
who also was born in this county, daughter of David Rosenberry and
wife, and to this union have been born four children, Forrest C, Iris,
Edith M. and Herbert L., all of whom are married save the latter.
Forrest C. Starr married Edith Bird, of this county, and has three
children, Thelma, Merritt Warren and Jay. Iris Starr married Charles
Bird! and has two children, Mildred and John, and Edith M. Starr
married Clyde West and has three children, Catherine Jane, Ruth M. and
Clyde. Herbert L. Starr served in the navy for thirteen months during
the time of America's participation in the World war, attached to the
battleship Virginia, and made three round trips to France.
BLAINE P. WEHRLY, a well known jeweler
at Portland, is a native son of
Jay county and has resided here all his life with the exception of a
period of eight years during which he was engaged in business at
Hartford City. He was born at Salamonia on August 31, 1884, son of
William P and Olive J. (Smith) Wehrly, the latter of whom also was born
in Indiana. William P. Smith was a farmer, lumberman and thresherman at
Salamonia and he and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, of
whom eleven are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch
being John W., Prudence, Barbara, Catherine, Henry, Harvey, Alvah, Ida,
Ethel and Martin. Reared at Salamonia Blaine P. Wehrly received his
schooling there. He early became interested in the jewlery business,
his elder brother John W. Wehrly, having a jewelery store at Portland,
and after a course at the Philadelphia College of Horology and Optics
entered his brother's store at Portland and was there engaged for a
year, at the end of which time he was made manager of his brother's
store at Hartford City. For eight years he remained in the latter city
and then he returned to Portland and resumed his place in the local
store, continuing thus engaged until in 1919, when he started in
business for himself at Portland. Mr. Wehrly has a well stocked and
admirably equipped store in North Meridian street and his long
experience preparatory to entering business for himself gave him an
insight into the needs of the local trade which has enabled him to meet
most satisfactorily the demands along this line. On November 28, 1909,
Blaine P. Wehrly was united in marriage to Gladys Ashcraft, who also
was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, a
son. William Lewis Wehrly, born on May 27, 1913. Mrs. Wehrly was born
on a farm in Wabash township, this county, daughter of William and
Blanche (Lewis) Ashcraft, both of whom also were born in Jay county,
members of pioneer families here, and who were the parents of four
children, Mrs. Wehrly having three sisters, Pearl, Inez and Glee. Mr.
and Mrs. Wehrly are members of the West Walnut Street Christian church.
Mr. Wehrly is a Republican and is a member of the local lodge of the
Knights of Pythias at Portland.
JOHN A. MORRISON, manager of the
Portland Electric Company at Portland,
is a native of. the old Keystone state, born in York county,
Pennsylvania, May 23, 1878, and is a son of William B.. and Catherine
E. (Pabst) Morrison, both of whom also were born in Pennsylvania.
William B. Morrison was a farmer and merchant and he and his wife were
the parents of three children, two of whom are still living, John A.
Morrison having a brother, William G. Morrison. John A. Morrison
received his schooling in Fulton county, Illinois, to which county his
parents had moved from Pennsylvania when he was a child, and upon
completing the high school course entered Northwestern University,
where he took the course in pharmacy. Upon leaving the pharmacy school
Mr. Morrison took service with the Des Moines Drug Company at Des
Moines, Iowa, and in time was made assistant general manager of the
concern. He remained with this company for twenty years, or until 1916
when he became attracted to the possibilities of electrical
distribution and supplies and became engaged at Des Moines in the
electrical business, continuing there until 1919 in which year he
transferred his connection to the Portland Electric Company and has
since resided in Portland, where he is carrying on the agency for the
Lally farm and rural electric light and power plants, this local agency
controlling sales for this popular equipment within a radius covering
ten counties hereabout. On June 24, 1901, John A. Morrison was united
in marriage to Cora Mae Allison, who was born at Hastings, Neb.,
daughter of Joseph S. and Martha (Huston) Allison, and to this union
two children have been born, Ruth Elizabeth, who is a member of the
class of 1923, Portland high school, and John R. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison
are members of the Baptist church. In his political views Mr. Morrison
is "independent."
WILLIAM M. PARKS, proprietor of the
popular Ford garage at Portland and
one of the best known young automobile men in this part of Indiana, was
born at Richmond, this state, October 2, 1892, and is a son of Leonidas
L. and Jennie (Randolph) Parks, both of whom were born in Preble
county, Ohio. Leonidas L. Parks has for years been a teacher in the
public schools of Richmond. He and his wife have seven children. Reared
at Richmond, William M. Parks supplemented the schooling received in
the public schools of that city by a course in Mrs. Hiser's Business
College there and thus equipped for clerical work entered the office of
the Gaar-Scott Company in that city, where he remained for about two
years, at the end of which time he was transferred to that company's
offices at Laporte, Ind., in connection with the operations of the M.
Rumeley Company, heavy farm machinery. Mr. Parks remained with these
people about three years and then went to Toledo as secretary to the
treasurer of the Willys-Overland Company. Not long afterward, however,
his services were secured by the Ford Company as division head of the
purchasing department of that company and he went to Detroit, where he
remained with the Ford organization for five years. By that time he had
determined to enter business for himself and in casting about for a
location decided on Portland. On August 1, 1920, in association with
his brother, Ernest Parks, he bought the Ford garage at Portland,
together with the local agency for the Ford cars and tractors, and has
since been engaged in business there, proprietor of what is regarded as
one of the most completely equipped garages in this section of the
state. Twelve persons are employed in the place and business is carried
on in snappy style. Mr. Parks is a Republican. He is a member of the
local Kiwanis Club at Portland and he and his wife are attendants at
the Methodist Episcopal church. On June 19, 1915, William M. Parks was
united in marriage to Ruby Hunter, who was born and reared at
Indianapolis, daughter of Albert A. and Ada (Schaffer) Hunter, and to
this union one child has been born, a daughter, Rubynelle, born on
March 1, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Parks have a pleasant home at Portland and
take an interested part in the general social activities of the city.
R. E. KEENE, manager of the plant of
the Jay County Lumber Company and
one of the best known lumber men in this county, has been a resident of
Portland since 1911, in which year he was made manager of the lumber
company's plant with which he ever since has been connected. Mr. Keene
was born at Spencer, in Owen county, this state, April 17, 1878, son of
Henry C. and Cynthia A. (Lukenbill) Keene, both of whom were born in
that same county, members of pioneer families there. Henry C. Keene was
a well-todo farmer and he and his wife were the parents of six
children, all of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch
having two brothers, Emmet S. and Elbert, and three sisters, Sophronia,
Millie and Jessie. Robert E. Keene received his schooling in the
schools at Spencer and as a young man went to Elwood, Ind., where he
became engaged in the lumber yard of the Winters Lumber Company. He
worked there about a year, acquiring a good deal of valuable
fundamental knowledge of the lumber business, and then went to
Windfall, where for four years he was connected with the plant of the
Windfall Lumber Company. Thus broadened by further experience in the
lumber business Mr. Keene accepted a proposition to return to Elwood
and take the management of the yards of the Winters Lumber Company. For
twelve years Mr. Keene remained at Elwood thus engaged and then, in
1911, accepted the position of manager of the yards and mill of the Jay
County Lumber Company at Portland and has since resided at Portland
looking after the company's affairs there. This company handles all
sorts of building material and also does a lumber milling business. On
November 22, 1910, Robert E. Keene was united in marriage to Margaret
P. McCurdy, daughter of Ninion and Letitia McCurdy, and to this union
two children have been born, James W. and Margaret. Mr. Keene is a
Republican. He is a member of the Portland Country Club and is a member
of the Masonic lodge at Windfall and of the Elks lodge at Elwood.
ALFRED A. ANTLES, a well known retired
farmer and former stockman and a
substantial landowner of this county, now living at Portland, where he
has made his home for more than twenty years past, is a native son of
Jay county, a member of one of the pioneer families of the county, and
has lived here all his life. Mr. Antles was born on a farm in Bearcreek
township on February 10, 1851, and is a son of David and Rebecca A.
(Stanley) Antles, the latter of whom was born in Columbiana county,
Ohio, in 1829. David Antles was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1830,
and was about eleven years of age when in the summer of 1841, he came
with his parents to Indiana, the family settling in Bearcreek township,
this county. There David Antles grew to manhood and on April 7, 1850,
married Rebecca A. Stanley, who was about nine years of age when she
came to this county with her parents in the spring of 1839, the
Stanleys settling on the south half of the section 14 in Bearcreek
township, where Grandfather Stanley died in March, 1849. David Antles
followed farming all his life and was the owner of an excellent farm of
100 acres in Bearcreek township, where he died on October 14, 1892. He
and his wife were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are
still living, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Frank and
Fred Antles. Reared on the home farm in Bearcreek township, Alfred A.
Antles received his schooling in the old Center school house and from
the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the
labors of the farm. He remained on the home farm until he was
twenty-seven years of age, when he began farming on his own account and
after his marriage established his home on a farm and continued farming
until December, 1898, when he left the farm and moved to Portland,
where he became engaged in the live stock business, buying mostly for
the Buffalo market. In this business he continued until his retirement
in December, 1917. He continues, however, to give some personal
attention to his farms, of which he owns two, one of 120 acres in
sections 10 and 11 of Wayne township and one of 100 acres in section 22
of Noble township. When he was eight years old, in the summer of 1859,
Mr. Antles attended a summer school taught by Miss Alice Avery in a
little frame house which stood on what is now the corner of Wayne and
Walnut streets in Portland. In the fall of 1885, in a house on that
same corner he was married. In September, 1905, he bought that iot and
the house which stood on it and he and his wife have since been living
there, very comfortably situated. It was on September 6, 1885, that
Alfred A. Antles was united in marriage to Addie Hanlin, who was born
in Jackson county, Ohio, and who was but a child when her parents,
James and Irena (Stephenson) Hanlin, came to Indiana with their family
and settled on a farm in Wayne township, this county. James Hanlin
became one of the substantial farmers of that township and was the
owner of a fine farm of 240 acres. He and his wife had three children,
two of whom are still living, Mrs. Antles and her sister, Jennie. Mrs.
Antles completed her schooling at Ridgeville College and has ever given
her thoughtful attention to the cultural affairs of the community.
FRED W. FOLTZ, the well known local
representative of the Haynes and
the Buick automobiles at Portland, with salesrooms at 301 North
Meridian street, and formerly widely known as a traveling salesman out
of that city, is a native son of Jay county and has lived here all his
life. Mr. Foltz was born in the village of New Corydon on May 1, 1883,
and is a son of John W. and Margaret (Martin) Foltz, both of whom also
were born in this county, members of old families here, and the former
of whom was for years engaged in the drug business at New Corydon and
later at Portland. Fred W. Foltz completed his schooling in the
Portland high school and upon leaving school became engaged as a clerk
in the drug store of I. B. Little, where he remained for about four
years, at the end of which time he went into the plant of the O. A.
Rawlings Lumber Company, now known as the Jay County Lumber Company,
and was for seven years engaged working there as a cabinet maker. He
then transferred his services to the Haynes Milling Company and for
four years gave his full time to that company as a traveling salesman.
For three years thereafter he gave the milling company but half his
time, devoting the other half to the sale of the Haynes automobile. In
1918, Mr. Foltz also took the, local sales agency for the Buick
automobile, retaining at the same time has agency for the Haynes car,
and has since given his whole attention to the development of the sales
of these two cars in this territory, with his sales rooms at 301 North
Meridian street, in connection with which he also maintains a service
station for these two cars. Mr. Foltz is a Republican. He is a 32°
Mason, a member of the consistory at Fort Wayne, and is a noble of the
Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with
the temple at Fort Wayne. He also is a member of the local lodge of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Portland and he and his wife
are members of the Presbyterian church. On November 15, 1904, Fred W.
Foltz was united in marriage to Lillian May Ward, who was born at
Ridgeville, in the neighboring county of Randolph, daughter of John C.
and Eleanor (Biddlebarger) Ward, both of whom were born in that same
county. John C. Ward was for years engaged in the mercantile business
at Ridgeville, later and for about nine years was a traveling salesman
for A. H. Perfect & Co. at Fort Wayne and the last years of his
life were spent as manager of the J. A. Hood wholesale grocery at Union
City. Mr. and Mrs. Foltz have three daughters, Garnet, Marguerite and
Georgia, the two elder of whom are students in the Portland high
school. The Foltzes have a pleasant home at Portland and take an
interested part in the city's general social activities.
GUY BRYAN, proprietor of the "Made
Well' bakery at Portland, was born
in that city and has been a resident of the same for the better part of
his life. He was born on May 6, 1886, son of George W. and Maria L.
(Stevens) Bryan, both of whom were born in Mad River township,
Champaign county, Ohio, and who became residents of Portland fifty
years ago. George W. Bryan left Ohio in 1862 and came over into
Indiana, locating in Adams county, where he remained until 1872, when
he moved with his family to Portland and established a grocery store on
the site now occupied by the Jay County Lumber Company, and was for
years one of the well known merchants of Portland. He and his wife were
the parents of fifteen children, eleven of whom are still living, those
besides the subject of this sketch being Albert S., Aaron C., Olive N.,
Edith, David U., George W., Jr., Artho, Pearl, William S. and Sarah.
Reared at Portland, Guy Bryan received his schooling in the schools of
that city and early became attracted to the baker's trade as a
vocation. He went to Valparaiso,. Ind., where he served an
apprenticeship in a bake shop and remained for about eight years, at
the end of which time he started out as a journeyman baker and was for
twelve years or more thus engaged, working in various cities throughout
the country. In 1916 Mr. Bryan returned to Portland and entered upon
the study of law under the preceptorship of Frank B. Jaqua, and in
November, 1918, was admitted to the bar of the Jay Circuit Court. For a
year thereafter he was actively engaged in the practice of his
profession and then, following the serious accidental injury of his
brother, Albert S. Bryan, took charge of the latter's bakery, and for
about a year operated the same in his brother's behalf, continuing thus
engaged until on November 4, 1919, when he established his now well
known and successful "Made Well" bakery on North Meridian street and
has since been engaged in operating the same. This bakery has ovens
with a capacity of 252 loaves of bread and its products are in popular
demand hereabout. On September 14, 1918, Guy Bryan was united in
marriage to Gertrude A. Doty, who was born in this county, daughter of
Jerome and Harriet E. (Foglesong) Doty. Mr. Bryan is a Democrat and is
a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Loyal Order
of Moose and the Modern Woodmen.
GROVER BISHOP, cashier of the Farmers
State Bank of Portland, former
clerk of the Jay Circuit Court, and long recognized as one of the most
active young business men of Portland, is a native son of Jay county
and has lived here all his life, formerly and for some years a member
of the excellent teaching staff of this county. Mr. Bishop was born on
a farm in Bearcreek township on February 1, 1885, and is a son of Adam
D. and Rosa M. (Stone) Bishop, both of whom also were born in this
county, members of pioneer families, the former born in Bearcreek
township and the latter in Noble township. Adam D. Bishop is the owner
of an excellent farm of 160 acres in Bearcreek township, the original
entry to which was made by his father during the Van Buren
administration. To him and his wife were born three children, the
subject of this sketch having a brother, Ward Bishop, of Portland, and
a sister, Mrs. Myrtle F. Wilcox, of Richmond, Ind. Grover Bishop was
reared on the home farm in Bearcreek township and his early schooling
was received at the Antiville school house. This he supplemented by
attendance at the Marion Normal School for a year and a half and then
he began to teach school. Mr. Bishop taught two years at the Antiville
school, one year at Burr Oak and one year of the eighth grade at
Bryant, and then he became engaged in the insurance business, to which
he gave his attention for three years, at the end of which time he
accepted the appointment of deputy to the clerk of the Jay Circuit
Court, a position he occupied for eight years or until his election to
the office of clerk of court in 1916. Upon the completion of his four
years' term of service as county clerk Mr. Bishop became associated
with the local affairs of the R. L. Dollings Investment Company and was
thus connected until in November, 1921, when he was elected cashier of
the Farmers State Bank of Portland, the position he now occupies. On
December 24, 1904, Grover Bishop was united in marriage to Bonnie
Spade, who also was born and reared in Bearcreek township, this county,
a member of one of the old families in that part of the county,
daughter of George R. and Mary (Miller) Spade, and to this union three
children have been born, Frances, Dick and Ralph, the former of whom is
a member of the class of 1924, Portland high school. Mr. and Mrs.
Bishop are members of the Presbyterian church and are Democrats. Mr.
Bishop is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks.
WALTER M. GUEDEL, head of the Guedel
Manufacturing Company of Portland
and long recognized as one of the leaders in industrial circles in that
city, is a native of Ohio but has been a resident of Indiana
practically all the time since the days of his childhood. Mr. Guedel
was born on January 1, 1886, and is a son of John and Mary (Lennes)
Guedel, the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania. John Guedel was
born in the republic of Switzerland. In 1868 he came to this country
and located in Ohio, where he became engaged in farming and where he
married. Some years later he moved with his family to Indianapolis and
in that city became employed in the saw works of the E. C. Atkins
Company and established his home in that city. He and his wife had ten
children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Samuel,
Malinda, Charles, Louis, William, Arthur, Clarence, Henry and John.
Walter M. Guedel was but a child when his parents moved from the home
they had first established in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he was
born, to Indianapolis and in the latter city he received his early
schooling. Upon completing the course in the high school there he took
a course in Indiana University and then entered the force of teachers
employed by the Government in the Philippine Islands, manual training
being his specialty, and was thus engaged in the islands for some time.
Upon the completion of this term of service Mr. Guedel returned to the
United States and for two years thereafter was employed as a bookkeeper
in the office of the Bimel-Ashcraft Company at Dermott, Ark., being
then transferred from that office to the office of the Bimel Company at
Portland, since which time he has made his home in Portland. For seven
years Mr. Guedel served as secretary and treasurer of the Bimel Company
at Portland, or until in August, 1919, when he started in his present
line, proprietor of the plant of the Guedel Manufactuing Company, and
has built up a thriving business. Mr. Guedel's specialty is dashes for
automobiles, the Ford Company being the chief consumer of his product
in that line. Bread boards are a considerable by-product of the Guedel
factory. Mr. Guedel is a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, is
a member of the board of directors of the Country Club, a member of the
board of directors of the Kiwanis Club, a 32° Mason and a member of
the local lodge of Eagles. He is a Republican and he and his wife are
members of the Presbyterian church. In 1910 Walter M. Guedel was united
in marriage to Hazel Bimel, daughter of Fred and Margaret Bimel, of
Portland, and to this union two children have been born, a son and a
daughter, John and Barbara. Mr. and Mrs. Guedel have a pleasant home at
Portland and take an interested part in the city's general social
activities.
SUMNER W. HAYNES, for more than forty
years a member of the bar of the
Jay Circuit Court, with law offices at Portland, the nominee of the
Prohibition party in 1908 for the office of Governor of the state of
Indiana and in 1916 for United States senator, for many years actively
and prominently identified with the county board of children's
guardians, the present attorney for that board, and in other ways
helpful in the promotion of good works in district and state, was born
at Portland and has lived there all his life, long having been
recognized as one of the most helpful personal factors in the common
life of this community. Mr. Haynes was born on August 15, 1855, and is
the fourth in order of birth of the eight children born to Judge Jacob
March Haynes and Hilinda S. (Haines) Haynes, as is set out elsewhere in
this volume, together with a comprehensive narrative relating to the
late Judge Haynes, of excellent memory in this community, and details
concerning the Haynes family in America. Reared at Portland, Sumner W.
Haynes received his early schooling in the schools of that city,
schools to the promotion of whose interests his father gave so
unselfishly of his time and his services, and then entered Earlham
College, where he remained three years. In the meantime he had been
giving his attention to the study of law under his father's able
preceptorship and thus equipped for further study entered the law
school of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and in 1880 was
graduated from that institution. He was admitted to the bar upon his
return from law school and in 1881 became engaged in practice at
Portland in association with his father, Judge Haynes. Two years later,
in 1883, Mr. Haynes entered into a partnership with W. E. Cox and this
mutually agreeable association was maintained for eight years, or until
its dissolution, after which Mr. Haynes formed a partnership in
practice with George W. Hall. This association also was continued for
eight years, or until its dissolution, since which time Mr. Haynes has
practiced alone, one of the oldest members of the bar in continuous
practice in this county, he and Judge John M. Smith being now
recognized as the ranking members of the bar now in active practice.
Though reared a Republican, his father having been one of the leaders
of that party hereabout, Mr. Haynes early became an enthusiastic
supporter of the principles of the Prohibition , party and has for
years been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in Indiana, his
time and his means and his services having been given in unstinted
measure to the promotion of the Prohibition cause since he first became
a campaigner in that behalf back in 1886, when the organization which
eventually brought about national prohibition of the liquor traffic was
just getting a good start in this state. Long a leader of that party in
this county and district, Mr. Haynes was made the nominee of the party
in the state for Governor in 1908, and in 1916 was further complimented
by his associates in that organization by being nominated for the
United States Senate. In the national convention of the party in 1916
he placed before the convention the name of Ex-Governor Hanly of
Indiana, who was the party's nominee for President in that year. Mr.
Haynes took a very positive stand against the principle involved in
local option, as applied to the liquor traffic; considering the traffic
in the nature of a crime, instead as simply a matter of expediency, he
insisted that it was no part of the policy of the State to submit a
question criminal in its nature and tendencies to a vote of any
community. He also opposed the original "Hobson amendment" to the
United States constitution, for the reason that it only prohibited the
"manfacture for sale," leaving the right and power, under the
constitution, for any individual or oreanization to manufacture for his
or its own use. Mr. Haynes' helpful and sysmpathetic interest in behalf
of child welfare work has long made him one of the leaders in that
behalf in Indiana and in 1908-10 he rendered effective service as
superintendent of the Indiana State Children's Home Society, his
organizing ability brought to bear in that behalf having done much
toward the better systematization of the work of that society. During
this period of two years of service Mr. Haynes practically gave up his
law practice in order to devote his undivided attention to the work to
which he had given his heart, and he never has ceased to take an active
and influential interest in the work, an interest which took active
form in 1891 when he began his labors in connection with the
beneficient work of finding homes for orphaned and homeless children in
this state, and he is even now the attorney for the county board of
children's guardians. For thirty-five years Mr. Haynes has been a
member of the session of the Presbyterian church at Portland and in
1892 was the commissioner from this presbytery to the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian church, held that year at Portland, Ore. For ten
years or more he taught a class in the Sunday school of this church and
for twentythree years has served as superintendent of the Sunday
school. On August 24, 1881, the year in which he was admitted to the
bar, Sumner W. Haynes was united in marriage to America E. Hays,
daughter of Courtney and Ann (Claypool) Hays, of Portland, and to this
union were born two daughters, May Beatrice and Mabel Edna, both of
whom now are deceased.
ALONZO L. JAQUA, a veteran real estate
dealer at Portland and for years
recognized as one of the leaders in that line in this county, is a
native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Portland
since he was three years of age and has thus been a witness to and a
participant in the amazing development that has marked that city during
the past half century and more. Mr. Jaqua was born on a farm in Darke
county, Ohio, March 6, 1850, son of James B. and Eliza J. (Avery)
Jaqua, the latter of whom was born at Nashville, Tenn., but had been a
resident of Ohio since the days of her childhood, her parents having
moved up from Tennessee to get away from slavery conditions in that
state. James B. Jaqua was a member of one of the real pioneer families
of Ohio, his grandfather, Gamaliel Jaqua, a native of Connecticut and a
soldier of the war of the Revolution, having settled in Preble county
about the time Ohio was admitted to statehood and there spent his last
days. James B. Jaqua was a farmer in Darke county, a landowner and a
practicing attorney. In 1853 he disposed of his interests in Ohio and
moved with his family to Portland, where he established himself in the
practice of law and where he spent the remainder of his life, for many
years having been regarded as one of the leaders of the bar of the Jay
Circuit Court, as is set out elsewhere in this work. His wife died on
November 24, 1871, and he survived her nearly thirty-five years, his
death occurring at Portland on May 13, 1906. They were the parents of
nine children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Alice
(deceased), Carrie E. (deceased), Genevra I., who married Nathan B.
Hawkins, Judson A., Minnie Z., Carl W., Pearl R. (deceased) and Frank
B. Reared at Portland, to which place, as noted above, he had moved
.with his parents when but three years of age, Alonzo L. Jaqua received
his schooling in the schools of that city, completing the same at the
old Liber College. When twenty-five years of age he became engaged at
Portland in the manufacture of brick and was thus engaged for several
years, at the end of which time he became engaged in the retail lumber
business, his lumber yards occupying the site at present occupied by
the Jay County Lumber Company. After four years he retired from the
lumber business, but several years later again became engaged in that
line and was for four years again thus occupied. In 1885 Mr. Jaqua sold
his lumber yard and became engaged in the real estate business, which
line he ever since has followed and in which he has been quite
successful, long having been regarded as one of the leading realty
dealers in this part of the state, his offices in South Meridian street
having been the scene of many an important realty transfer. On
September 5, 1893, Alonzo L. Jaqua was united in marriage to Louelle
Oswald, who was born at Ft. Recovery, Ohio, but who was reared in
Portland, where she completed her schooling in the old normal school,
her parents having moved to Portland from Ohio when she was a child.
Mrs. Jaqua is a daughter of Louis and Jane (Curtis) Oswald, the former
of whom was for years a merchant at Portland. Louis Oswald and wife
were the parents of six children, three of whom are still living, Mrs.
Jaqua and her sisters, Magdalena and Sarah. Her brother, Louis G.
Oswald, formerly well known in Portland, died at San Antonio, Tex., at
the age of thirty-nine years.
HOMER TEETERS, county surveyor of Jay
county and formerly and for years
engaged hereabout in the road and bridge contracting line, is a native
son of Jay county and has lived here all his life. He is a member of
one of the real pioneer families of this county, his great-grandfather,
David Teeters, having settled here with his family about the time Jay
county was erected as a separate civic unit in the group of counties
which go to make up the state of Indiana. David Teeters settled on a
tract of Government land in Noble township, where he established his
home. One of his sons, John H. Teeters, grandfather of Homer Teeters,
also became a landowner in that township and reared his family there,
one of his sons, Hiram Teeters, father of Homer Teeters, in turn
establishing his home there after his marriage. Hiram Teeters married
Sarah A. Houndeshell, who also was born in Noble township, a member of
one of the pioneer families there, and became one of the substantial
members of that community, the owner of an excellent farm of 160 acres.
He and his wife had nine children, those besides the subject of this
sketch— the fourth in order of birth—being Dora, Pearl, Margaret,
Orville, Russell, Elmer, Glenn and Fred. Homer Teeters was born on the
home farm in Noble township, August 29, 1882, and was reared there,
receiving his schooling in the Metzner school. He remained at home, an
assistant to his father in the operations of the farm, until he had
attained his majority when he became engaged in the road and bridge
building business, becoming a general contractor and continuing in that
line for twelve years, or until his election in 1916 to the office of
surveyor of Jay county. When about twenty-four years of age Mr. Teeters
had entered upon a three-years course in surveying and mapmaking with
the International Correspondence School and was graduated from that
institution, thereafter giving considerable attention to surveying in
connection with his other work. He was the first surveyor to occupy
that office in the new court house and so admirably has he discharged
the duties of the office that by successive re-elections he is now
serving his third term in office. Mr. Teeters is a Republican and he
and his wife are members of the United Brethren church at Portland. On
June 9, 1904, Homer Teeters was united in marriage to Lolah E.
Thornton, who also was born in Noble township, and to this union three
children have been born, Edna, James and Mary, the first named of whom
is a member of the class of 1924, Portland high school. Mrs. Teeters is
a daughter of James and Mary (Arnold) Thornton, also members of pioneer
families in this county. James Thornton is a landowner in Noble
township and has also for years been engaged in ditch contracting. He
and his wife have had five children, four of whom are living, those
besides Mrs. Teeters being Sylvia, Charles and Harley.
MARION JACK, former representative
from Jay county in the lower house
of the Indiana General Assembly, former deputy treasurer of Jay county
and in other ways actively identified with public affairs, a
substantial landowner of Wayne township, now living retired in
Portland, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life.
Mr. Jack was born on a farm in the near vicinity of Ridgeville, in the
neighboring county of Randolph, March 25, 1851, and is a son of Robert
M. and Asenath (Odle) Jack, who later became residents of Jay county,
but whose last days were spent at Ridgeville. Robert M. Jack was born
in Warren county, Ohio, and was twelve years of age when his parents,
Robert L. and Sarah Elizabeth (Ferris) Jack, left Ohio and came over to
take up some of the newer lands in Indiana. Robert L. Jack entered a
tract of 400 acres in the vicinity of Ridgeville in Randolph county. On
this place he established his home, cleared the tract and became one of
the substantial and influential pioneers of that neighborhood. On that
pioneer farm Robert M. Jack grew to manhood and when twenty-one years
of age was eiven a 100-acre farm by his father, on which place he
established his home after his marriage and continued to live there for
about ten years, at the end of which time, in the middle '50s, he
contracted a severe case of "Kansas fever" and with his family moved to
the Sunflower state, which had just about that time been organized as a
separate territory, though it was not admitted as a state until 1861,
but after a year's experience amid the turbulence which then marked
that territory was content to return to Indiana and settle down on his
father-in-law's farm near Deerfield. Two years later he came up into
Jay county and bought a farm of 130 acres in the neighborhood of
Collett, settling there on March 1, 1861. He cleared that place and
remained there until 1874, when he sold his farm and moved to
Ridgeville. He later went to Oregon, where he spent the remainder of
his life, his death occurring there in 1894, he then being seventy-five
years of age. Robert M. Jack and wife were the parents of seven
children, all of whom are living save two—Harry, who died on December
26„ 1907, and Elizabeth, who died on September 3, 1911, those besides
the subject of this sketch being Edna, Cora Alice, Elmer R. and Rebecca
Jane. Reared on the farm, Marion Tack completed his schooling in
Ridgeville College and early began teaching school, a vocation he
followed during the winters for a period of thirty-eight years, his
summers being occupied on his father's farm in Pike township, where he
made his home after his marriage in 1874, his father retiring from the
farm in that year. In the meantime Mr. Jack was giving his thoughtful
attention to local civic affairs and was coming to be recognized as one
of the leaders in the Republican party in this county. In 1900 he was
elected to represent this county in the state Legislature and in 1902
was his party's nominee for the office of county recorder, but was
defeated along with the rest of the ticket in that year. In 1903 he
bought a place in Wayne township and moved from his Pike township farm,
accepting the position of deputy to the county treasurer, and served in
that position until 1907. Upon leaving the court house Mr. Jack gave
his full attention to the affairs of his Wayne township farm and
remained there until his retirement from the farm in 1914 and removal
to Portland, where he has since resided and where he and his wife are
very comfortably situated. They are members of the United Brethren
church at Portland. It was on March 8, 1874, that Marion Jack was
united in marriage to Elma Rhodes, of New Mt. Pleasant, and to this
union five sons were born, Oren Leroy, who died on December 12, 1888;
Forest A., Harry, Merle R. and Ivan R. Forest A. Jack has been twice
married. To his union with Letta Ayres one child was born, a daughter,
Dona. His wife and daughter both died and he married his deceased
wife's sister, Margaret Ayres. Harry Jack, who is living in Wayne
township, married Thetis Frazee, also of this county, and has two
children, Gerald and Marion. Merle R. Jack, who is now living in
Canton, Ohio, married Pearl Waters, also of this county, and has three
children, Elma, Iona R. and Ralph. Ivan R. Jack married Mabel George,
of this county, and has three children, Ivan Robert, Maxine L. and
Dorothy M., it thus being noted that Mr. and Mrs. Jack have eight
grandchildren, in all of whom they take much delight. Mrs. Jack is a
member of one of the real pioneer families of Jay county, her parents,
John and Susanna Rhodes, having settled in Jefferson township in 1837.
Both were born in Columbiana county, Ohio, the former in 1815 and the
latter in 1819. Upon coming to this county Tohn Rhodes entered a
"forty" in Jefferson township and there established his home. Besides
farming, he also was a carpenter and did much of the early building
thereabouts. He also was active in public affairs and for years served
as justice of the peace in and for his home township. He and his wife
had eight children, of whom four are still living, those besides Mrs.
Jack being Mrs. Elizabeth J. Kidder, Mrs. Lydia C. Finch and John A.
Rhodes.
REV. WILLIAM E. HOGAN, D. D., pastor
of the Methodist Episcopal church
at Portland and one of the best known clergymen in that city, is a
native Hoosier and has lived in Indiana all his life. He was born at
Oakland City, Ind., February 28, 1882, and is a son of the Rev. George
W. and Lucy E. (Hopper) Hogan, the latter of whom was born in Kentucky.
The Rev. George W. Hogan was a Virginian by birth and was reared in
Virginia, where he received his schooling. When a young man he entered
the ministry and was active in that profession until his death. During
the early days of his ministry he came to Indiana and was for a time
located at Salem, later moving to Oakland City, where he established
his permanent home. He and his wife were the parents of seven children,
six of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch
having been John W., Amanda B., Junius, Aaron, Montrea L. and Owen E.
(deceased). Reared at Oakland City, William E. Hogan received his
schooling in the excellent schools of that city and early gave his
attention to study for the gospel ministry, in due time being ordained
to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. His first charge was
at Merom, where he remained for two years and then was sent to Newburg,
where he served as pastor of the church at that place for a year;
thence to Washington, Ind.; thence to Valentine, in Lagrange county;
thence to Inwood, from there to Syracuse and thence to Knightstown,
from which latter city he was sent by the Conference to Portland in
1920 and has since been pastor of the Methodist church at that place.
Mr. Hogan is a Freemason and has long given his thoughtful attention to
Masonic affairs. In 1904 the Rev. William E. Hogan was united in
marriage to Lily M. Williams, who was born at Mt. Carmel, 11l., and to
this union three children have been born, Esther Marie, Hugh C. and
Harlan F., the first named of whom, born on Tune 22, 1905, died on
October 2, 1919, she then being in her fifteenth year.
SELMA FINCH, a well known grocer, of
the firm of Finch & Brosher,
proprietors of the Central grocery and shoe store at Portland, one of
the best stores of the kind in eastern Indiana, is a native son of Jay
county and has lived here all of his life. Mr. Finch was born in Greene
township on March 8, 1872, and is a son of Adam H. and Eliza J. (Allen)
Finch, the latter of whom was born in Preble county, Ohio, but was
reared and educated in Indiana. Adam H. Finch was born in Wayne county,
Indiana, and was for many years a well known farmer and merchant at
Collett, the pleasant little village south of Portland. He and his wife
were the parents of two children, Lillie M. and Selma. They had besides
an adopted son, Joseph. When Selma Finch was eight years of age his
parents moved to Pike township, this county, and there he completed his
schooling. As a young man he worked with his father in the latter's
store at Collett and later he started in business for himself at
Collett and was thus engaged there for ten years, at the end of which
time he sold his store there and bought an eighty-acre farm in Wayne
township on which he established his home and which he farmed for three
years. He then moved to College Corner, where he opened a grocery
store, meantime retaining possession of his farm, and was in business
at College Corner for about five years, at the end of which time he
traded his farm for the Southside grocery at Portland and returned to
the latter city, where he has ever since been in business and where he
has done well. Mr. Finch continued to operate the Southside grocery for
about four years and then, in association with Sherman Brubaker and
Albert H. Brubaker, bought the Central grocery, where he is now
located. About a year later Messrs. Finch and Brosher bought the
Brubaker interest in the store and have since been proprietors of the
place, which is one of the best stocked and most admirable equipped
stores in Portland. On the second floor of the establishment they
conduct a shoe department. They also carry on a general retail meat
business, and have eighteen persons employed in the establishment. Mr.
Finch is a Democrat and is a member of Red Cross Lodge No. 88, Knights
of Pythias, at Portland. On March 29, 1902, Selma Finch was united in
marriage to Ella Bockoven, who also was born in Jay county, daughter of
Louis and Mary (Devor) Bockoven, and to this union four children have
been born, Mary, Sharon Lea, Glen and Frank, the first named of whom is
now a student at Earlham College. The Finches have a pleasant home at
Portland and have ever taken an interested part in.the city's general
social activities.
VERNON E. METZ, who is widely known
throughout the counties of Jay,
Adams, Randolph and Wayne as a salesman of "made to measure" clothing
for men, with headquarters at Portland, is a native son of Jay county
and has lived here all his life. Mr. Metz was born on a farm in Wayne
township on March 22, 1889, and is a son of Thomas J. and Margaret
(Bickle) Metz, both members of old families here, the former born in
Wayne township and the latter in Pike township. Thomas J. Metz is a
landowner in Pike township, where he has farmed for years, and he and
his wife have had six children, four of whom are living, those besides
the subject of this sketch being Hazel, Glicie and Juanita. Reared on
the home farm, Vernon E. Metz received his schooling in the district
school in the neighborhood of his boyhood home and after leaving school
continued farming. He married before he was twenty years of age and for
four or five years thereafter was variously occupied until he was made
manager of the grain elevator at Blaine, a position he continued to
occupy for eighteen months, at the end of which time he became engaged
in his present line, selling men's clothing by sample and on
made-to-measure lines, his territory covering the four counties above
enumerated, and has done well. For about nine months during the time of
America's participation in the World war Mr. Metz was occunied in the
more "essential" occupation of fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad,
but upon the return of normal conditions resumed his clothing business,
making his headquarters at Portland, where he has established an
excellent business. Mr. Metz is a Democrat and is a member of the local
lodges of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Improved Order of
Redmen at Portland. On September 26, 1908, Vernon E. Metz was united in
marriage to Nellie E. Dunmoyer, who was born in Pike township, this
county, daughter of William H. and Rosa E. (Brown) Dunmoyer, and to
this union two children have been born, Millard and Noel. Mrs. Metz's
schooling was completed in the Portland high school. Her father,
William H. Dunmoyer, is the owner of a farm of 115 acres in Greene
township, this county, and he and his wife have had six children, four
of whom are living, Mrs. Metz having three sisters, Elsie, Bernice and
Dolores.
WILLIAM GRIEST, formerly and for many
years secretary and general
manager of the old Portland Natural Gas and Oil Company, the first
assessor of Jay county, formerly and for years deputy to the treasurer
of Jay county, a former justice of the peace in and for Penn
township—the township in which he was reared, and later engaged in the
insurance business at Portland, where he is now living retired, is a
native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of Jay county
since he was four years of age and few there are who have a wider
acquaintance throughout the county than he. Mr. Griest was born on a
farm in York county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1846, and is a son of John
and Hannah (Edmundson) Griest, both natives of that same county and
both of colonial Quaker stock, whose last days were spent in Jay
county, where they had established their home more than seventy years
ago. John Griest, who died at his home in the Balbec neighborhood in
1874, was born on June 26, 1806, and was a son of John Griest, the son
of Daniel Griest, who was a son of John Griest, who was of the family
of Griests who had come to this country from England in 1685, joining
their fortunes with those of the Quaker colonists in and about
Philadelphia, this last-named John Griest, the progenitor of the line
from which William Griest takes descent, settling in 1737 near the York
county line in Adams county, Pennsylvania, and William Griest has a
record of the lineal descent from that line down to the present
generation, as well as a walking stick brought by the Griest family
from England in 1685, which he greatly prizes. The Edmundsons are
descended from William Edmundson, the so-called Quaker Apostle, who was
an officer in Cromwell's army, but later joined the Friends and was a
contemporary of Fox and Penn and active in promulgating the Friendly
faith, establishing his home in Ireland about 1660. He reared a
considerable family, some of the members of which came to America early
in the eighteenth century, the line from which Mr. Griest springs
dating from Caleb Edmundson, who was living in York county,
Pennsylvania, in 1760 and who was the grandfather of Thomas Edmundson,
the Jay county pioneer, who moved with his family here from
Pennsylvania in 1837, the year following the organization of Jay
county, and became one of the most substantial and influential pioneers
of Penn township. Mr. Griest has the marriage certificate of his
Edmundson grandparents, made out after the quaint and interesting form
of the Friends discipline. John Griest was reared in the firm faith of
the Friends and was given a sound education, for some years in the
period of his young manhood being a school teacher. He was trained in
the technical details of woolen mill operation under the direction of
an uncle and in time became the proprietor of a woolen mill, but about
the time of his marriage in 1833 to Hannah Edmundson disposed of his
factory and became engaged in farming, a vocation he followed in his
home county until. 1850. when in response to the good reports which his
father-in-law, Thomas Edmundson, had been writing back concerning
conditions in Indiana, he disposed of his farm and with his wife and
ten chil' dren came to Jay county, the family driving through with
their household goods and some essential farm equipment, the journey
consuming four weeks. It was in April that the Griests made their trip
out here and they settled on land adjoining the Edmundson homestead in
the Balbec neighborhood in Penn township, put up a log cabin and
proceeded to clear a farm from out the unbroken forest. On that pioneer
farm John and Hannah Griest spent the remainder of their lives, their
deaths occurring within a year of each other, the latter dying in 1873
and the former in 1874. As stated above, William Griest was but four
years of age when he came here with his parents in 1850 and he grew to
manhood on the home farm, helpful in the arduous labors of effecting a
clearing and developing the place. Though the school facilities of that
time and place were meager, he had the advantage of home education, and
after a supplementary course at Liber College began teaching school, a
profession he followed from 1866 with but one interruption for twenty
years, this interruption being a year he spent in the court house as
deputy county treasurer during the incumbency of Albert Grissell. After
his marriage in 1874 Mr. Griest continued to make his home on the old
home place at Balbec and presently bought the farm, which he continued
to operate, meanwhile teaching during the winters, until 1886 when
David Hoover, county treasurer, employed him as deputy treasurer and he
moved to Portland, occupying this deputyship during the two terms of
the Hoover incumbency. In 1891, when under legislative enactment the
office of county assessor was created, Mr. Griest was appointed
assessor, the first to hold this office in Jay county, and served in
the interim preceding ihe next election. It was in this same year,
following his retirement from the treasurer's office, that Mr. Griest
became engaged in the office of the old Portland Natural Gas and Oil
Company as a bookkeeper. In 1904, he was elected secretary and general
manager of this company and he continued to serve in that capacity
until, after the failure of the natural gas supply, the company sold
out and the plant was dismantled, as is narrated elsewhere in this
work. Upon leaving the gas office Mr. Griest became engaged in the
insurance business in association with John W. Holmes and so continued
until his retirement from active service on January 1, 1921, since
which time he has been giving his attention largely to the collection
and preservation of data for the archives of the Jay County Historical
Society, of which he is one of the most active members and in the
affairs of which organization he has for years been deeply interested.
Mr. Griest is a birthright member of the Society of Friends at
Pennville, to the simple and quaint forms and mystical views of which
society he is devotedly attached, and is an active member of the
Pennville Meeting. Mr. Griest is a Republican and has for many years
been recognized as among the local leaders in that party's councils.
During his long residence in Penn township he for eight years served as
justice of the peace in and for that township and as 'Squire Griest
became widely known throughout that section for the soundness and
equity of his judgments in such cases as came before his court. He has
retained the interest in school work acquired during the two decades in
which he served as a member of Jay county's teaching staff and for
seven years served as a member of the school board in Portland. For
forty-four years Mr. Griest has been an Odd Fellow and is now (1921)
district deputy of the Encampment branch of that popular order. William
Griest has been twice married. In 1874 he was united in marriage to
Frances Bourne, who was born in Franklin county, this state, and who
died in 1899. In 1910 Mr. Griest married Jessie Riley, who was born in
Ohio, a cousin of the beloved Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley, and
daughter of Davis Riley, a veteran of the Civil war and formerly and
for years one of Jay county's best known citizens, who came here with
his family from Ohio and located at Pennville, later moving to
Portland, where his last days were spent. Mrs. Griest was reared in
this county, having been but a young girl when her parents came here,
and she completed her schooling in the old Portland Normal School. For
thirty-five years she was a teacher in the schools of this county, the
last twenty-five years of this long term of service being spent in the
Portland public schools, and she thus has for years been recognized as
one of the leaders in the general cultural activities of the community.
She is the present (1921) regent of Mississinewa Chapter, No. 185, of
the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a charter member of Alpha
Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah (I. O. O. F.), an officer of the
Presbyterian Sunday school and a member of the Twentieth Century Club.
WILLIAM P. SMITH, D. C, a well known
young doctor of chiropractic at
Portland, was born in that city and has lived there all his life.
Doctor Smith was born on July 20, 1899, and is a son of W. Leo and
Bessie J. (Hoddupp) Smith, both of whom also were born in Jay county,
members of old families here. W. Leo Smith, who has for years been
salesmanager in the big establishment of the Hood wholesale grocery at
Portland, was born at Redkey, but has been a resident of Portland since
his youth. He and his wife have two children, the subject of this
sketch having a sister, Mary. Upon completing the course in the
Portland high school, William P. Smith was for about nine months
engaged in the shipping department of the Hood wholesale house and then
entered the eastern Indiana branch of the State Normal School at
Muncie, where from September to December, 1918, he served in the
Student Army Training Camp for service in the army during the time of
this country's participation in the World war. In the meantime he had
been giving his thoughtful attention to the study of chiropractic and
upon leaving the normal school entered the Ross College of Chiropractic
at Fort Wayne and on April 27, 1921, was graduated from that
institution. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Smith returned to
Portland and opened there an office for the practice of his profession
and has since been thus engaged. On May 27, 1920, Dr. William P. Smith
was united in marriage to Geraldine Ohmart, daughter of James E. and
Emma (Goehler) Ohmart, the former of whom is a well known real estate
dealer at Portland. Mrs. Smith was born at Laketon, Ind., but her
schooling was completed in the high school at Portland, to which place
her parents moved when she was a child. Doctor and Mrs. Smith are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are Democrats. The Doctor
is a member of Delta Chapter of the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity at
Portland.
JACOB M. SPADE, a veteran grocer at
Portland and the proprietor of the
oldest continuous grocery store in Jay county, is a native son of this
county and has lived here all his life, well known in business circles
in Portland since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Spade was born on
a farm in Wayne township, this county, and was reared there, a son of
Daniel and Mary Spade, both of whom were born in the state of Maryland,
the former a son of John Spade, who became one of the pioneer settlers
in Wayne township. Daniel Spade and wife were the parents of six
children, three of whom are still living, Jacob M. Spade having two
brothers, Alexander and Horace M. Spade. Jacob M. Spade supplemented
the schooling received in the public schools of this county by a course
in the Indiana State Normal School and then became engaged in telephone
work at Portland, helping to install the first telephone system in that
city. He then became engaged in the lumber business there, associated
with the firm of Wilt & Spade, and was the bookkeeper and buyer for
that firm for nine years, at; the end of which time, in 1892, he became
engaged at Portland in the grocery business and has ever since been
thus engaged. Mr. Spade's first store was in the room now (1921)
occupied by the Iholt wall paper store, but he long since moved into
the room now occupied by him as a grocery in North Meridian street, and
there has a well established business. On December 27, 1882, Jacob M.
Spade was united in marriage to Olive Bowen, who was born in Wayne
county, Indiana, and to this union were born six children, Maud, Ethel,
Frank, Keith, Emily and Dorothy, all of whom are married save the last
named, who is attending school at Roanoke, Va. Frank Spade, who was
born on September 23, 1889, is engaged with his father in the grocery
business. Keith Spade is the secretary-manager of the local commercial
association, or chamber of commerce at Portland, with offices in the
court house. Jacob M. Spade is a Republican. He is the treasurer of the
Rotary Club and is affiliated with the local lodges of the Knights of
Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
BENJAMIN E. SEARS, proprietor of the
Sears Insurance Agency at Portland
and one of the best known young business men in that city has been a
resident of Portland since 1912 and has established himself firmly in
the business life of that city. Mr. Sears is a native Hoosier and has
resided in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Daviess
county on June 13, 1887, and is a son of Tohn R. and Eveline (Cummings)
Sears, both of whom were born in that same county, the former a farmer
and carpenter and the owner of a farm in that county, and who were the
parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being
Homer, Elza, Cora, Walter and Sarah. Benjamin E. Sears was reared on
the home farm in Daviess county and received his schooling in the
schools of that county. He was married when twenty years of age and
continued making his home on the farm until he was twenty-five years of
age, when, in 1912, he moved to Portland and was for about eighteen
months thereafter engaged in traveling out of that city for the S. F.
Baker company of Keokuk, Iowa. He then became engaged as an agent for
the Prudential Life Insurance Company and continued thus engaged for
eighteen months, at the end of which time he entered upon business for
himself, opening at Portland the Sears Insurance Agency, which he has
since been operating quite successfully. It was on July 10, 1907, in
Daviess county, Indiana, that Benjamin E. Sears was united in marriage
to Lora E. Myers, who also was born in that county, daughter of Frank
P. and Nancy Myers, and to this union one child has been born, a
daughter, Florice Fontella. Mr. and Mrs. Sears are members of the
Christian church and are Republicans. Mr. Sears, is a member of the
local lodges of the Modern Woodmen and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
HARRY H. SHUCK, proprietor of a
gasoline filling station, automobile
accessory store and vulcanizing plant in North Meridian street at
Portland has only been a resident of this county for the past five or
six years, but there are few men in the county who have a wider
acquaintance than he. Mr. Shuck was born in Ripley county, Indiana,
March 18, 1883, and is a son of James H. and Anna (Rochat) Shuck, who
are now living at North Vernon, this state, fames H. Shuck was born in
Switzerland county, Indiana. When he was a child he moved with his
parents to, Ripley county, where he grew to manhood, learning there the
blacksmith trade. In time he set up a shop of his own and was thus
engaged at Marble Corner and at New Marion, later moving to North
Vernon, where he is now living retired. He and his wife were the
parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the
only survivor. Harry H. Shuck was but a child when his parents moved
from Ripley county to Jennings county. When he was eight years of age
he went to Johnson county, where he made his home with his uncle, and
in the schools of this latter county he received his schooling. He
early turned to commercial pursuits and presently became engaged as a
salesman in a hardware store at Franklin, Ind., where he remained until
1916, in which year he came to Jay county and became engaged as a clerk
in the hardware store at Pennville. Two years later he went to
Portland, where he became engaged as a clerk in a hardware store. A
year later he bought the Crown filling station in North Meridian street
and has since been engaged in business at that point. In addition to
his filling station Mr. Shuck carries a full line of automobile
accessories and has also added to his establihment a well equipped
vulcanizing plant. On July 27, 1904, Harry H. Shuck was united in
marriage to Bonnie Patterson, who was born in Johnson county, Indiana,
a daughter of Benjamin and Mollie Patterson, and to this union one
child has been born, a daughter, Mary Evelyn, who is now attending the
Portland schools. Mr. and Mrs. Shuck are members of the Christian
church and are Republicans. Mr. Shuck is a Freemason, affiliated with
the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons (No. 107) at Franklin.
CLARENCE N. NICHOLS, president of the
city school board, junior member
of the firm of Reinhard & Nichols, clothing merchants at Portland
and one of the best known young business men of that city, has been a
resident of Portland since he was four years of age. He was born in the
neighboring county of Randolph on April 24, 1888, and is the son and
only child of William A. and Laura Belle (Ulsh) Nichols. William A.
Nichols also was born in Randolph county and there became engaged in
the railway service, remaining there until 1892 when he was appointed
local agent of the G. R. & I. Railroad Company at Portland and
moved to that city, which has since been his home. As noted above,
Clarence N. Nichols was but four years of age when he came to this
county with his parents in 1892 and he grew up at Portland. During his
course in high school he specialized in commercial forms and for a year
after leaving school was employed as a stenographer in the office of
the Portland Drain Tile Company. He then decided to become engaged in
business on his own account and in association with W. G. Reinhard
became engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing business at
Portland, under the firm style of Reinhard & Nichols, and has ever
since been thus engaged, the firm doing business at 110 North Meridian
street. Mr. Nichols is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of
Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is
the secretary, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles; is affiliated with
the local chapter of Phi Delta Kappa and he and his wife are members of
the Presbyterian church. Mr. Nichols is a Republican and has long given
his studious attention to local civic affairs. For some time he has
been a member of the city school board and in August, 1921, was elected
president of that body. For years he has been one of the leading
spirits in the Greek letter fraternity Phi Delta Kappa and for the past
five or six years has been the secretary-treasurer of the national
organization of that body. In 1910 Clarence N. Nichols was united in
marriage to Hilda M. Tudor, of Portland, and to this union two children
have been born, a son and a daughter, William A. and Elizabeth A.
WILLIAM H. MCLAUGHLIN, trustee of
Wayne township and one of the best
known citizens of Portland, is a native son of Jay county, a member of
one of the pioneer families here, and has lived in this county all of
his life. Mr. McLaughlin was born on a farm in Madison township on May
8, 1864, and is a son of Hugh and Sarah A. (Lehmer) McLaughlin, both of
whom were members of pioneer families there. Hugh McLaughlin was born
in Ohio and was about ten years of age when his parents, John and
Barbara McLaughlin, came over into Indiana with their family and
settled on a farm in Madison township, this county, where they
established their home. Tohn McLaughlin, the pioneer, and his wife were
the parents of eight children, of whom three are still living, Francis
M., Anna and Rebecca. Hugh McLaughlin grew to manhood on the old home
farm in Madison township and after his marriage to Sarah A. Lehmer
became engaged in farming on his own account and was long recognized as
one of the substantial farmers of that community. He and his wife were
the parents of eight children, three of whom are still living, the
subject of this sketch having a sister, Barbara, and a brother, Wiley
A. McLaughlin. William H. McLaughlin received his schooling in the
district schools of this county and for three years after reaching
manhood's estate farmed with his father. He then became engaged in
blacksmithing and was thus engaged for nine years, at the end of which
time he bought a general store at College Corner and was for thirteen
years engaged in business at that place. Selling his store at College
Corner, Mr. McLaughlin resumed farming for one year and then became
engaged at Portland in operating a shoe repair shop. In 1918 he was
elected trustee of Wayne township and is still serving the public in
that capacity. Mr. McLaughlin is a Republican and he and his wife are
members of the Congregational church. In 1894 William H. McLaughlin was
united in marriage to Anna M. Weber, who also was born in this county,
a daughter of Benjamin and Mary A. Weber, and to this union eight
children have been born, Harrison Emerson (deceased), Harriet R., Mary
L.r Lula, Walter L., Byron and Gerald.
WILLIAM F. MILLIGAN, head of the firm
of Milligan & Company, real
estate and loans, at Portland, secretary of the Jay County Farm Loan
Company, president of the Milligan Finance Company of Ft. Wayne, and
for years regarded as one of the active and influential business men of
this county, is a native of Ohio, born in Darke county on April 17,
1865, and is a son of John and Rominia (Carter) Milligan, the latter of
whom was born at Cincinnati. John Milligan was born in Pennsylvania and
grew to manhood in that state. He moved to Ohio and thence to Indiana,
where he married Rominia Carter. He later established his home on a
farm in Darke county, Ohio, and there became a substantial farmer and
landowner. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, four of
whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters,
Martha, wife of George Denney, of Mercer county, Ohio, and Ellen, wife
of Ernest Lowry, of New Madison, Ohio, and a brother, J. Wesley
Milligan. Reared on the home farm in Darke county, William F. Milligan
received his early schooling in the schools of that county and
supplemented this by a course of eighteen months in the Normal School
at Portland, after which he was employed as a bookkeeper in his home
county for four years, at the end of which time he went to Chicago and
was there for two years engaged as a shipping clerk in a wholesale
concern. He then moved to Selma, Ind., where for two vears he was in
the retail meat business. Disposing of his interests at Selma he then
became a resident of Portland, where for about four years he was
engaged as a collector for the mercantile firm of Cartwright &
Headington, acquiring thus a form of experience which presently
prompted him. to go into the collection business on his own account.
With this end in view he formed a partnership and for two years
conducted a collection agency, with offices at Portland and Muncie. In
1906 Mr. Milligan disposed of his interest in that concern and became
engaged at Portland in the real estate and loan business, which
business he since has maintained, his business being incorporated under
the firm name of Milligan & Company, he being the head of the
concern, and has been quite successful. Mr. Milligan also is secretary
of the Jay County Farm Loan Association and in other ways has been
active in the business concerns of the, community in which he resides.
He is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. Mr. Milligan has been twice married. In 1904 he was
united in marriage to Elizabeth Peden, who was born in Randolph county,
this state, daughter of Thomas and Martha Peden, and to this union were
born two children, Arah, who married Bernard Hiatt, of Portland, and
Luella, who is now (1921) a student in the Portland high school.
Following the death of the mother of these daughters Mr. Milligan
married Mrs. Dora E. (Woods) Cable, who was a friend of his youth in
his old home neighborhood in Darke county, Ohio, where she also was
born, a member of one of the old families of that section of the state.
Mr. and Mrs. Milligan have a pleasant home at Portland and take an
interested part in the general social activities of their home town.
MORTON GARRISON, a well known
insurance underwriter at Portland, is a
native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of
Portland since 1912. He was born on a farm in Wabash county on January
16, 1862, a son of Elihu and Mary B. (Shell) Garrison, both of whom
were born in Ohio, but who spent the most of their lives in Indiana.
Elihu Garrison was but a child when he came to Indiana with his parents
in 1839, the family settling in Wabash county, where he completed his
schooling. After his marriage to Mary B. Shell, who was born in Miami
county, Ohio, he established his home on a farm in the vicinity of
Wabash and became a substantial citizen of that community. He and his
wife were the parents of three children, all of whom are living, the
subject of this sketch having a brother, Kenton Garrison, who married
Jennie V. Smith and is living at Converse, Ind., and a sister, Rosa M.,
who married M. L. Ray and is living at Peru, Ind. Reared on the home
farm in Wabash county, Morton Garrison received his schooling in the
schools of Wabash, going through the high school course, and upon
leaving school took up the work of the home farm, continuing thus
engaged for five years, at the end of which time he became engaged in
railroad work, first employed by the Wabash Railroad Company as a
brakeman and presently was promoted to conductor. He transferred his
services to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and by this
latter company was employed as a conductor. He continued-thus employed
until 1893, in which year he became engaged in association with his
brother in the grain and milling business at Converse, this state. In
1904 he took up a special line of promotion work in behalf of the
shippers of this state, in an effort to secure a more equitable
regulation of. the rates of transportation, and was for several months
thus engaged, the movement in which he had thus interested himself
eventually leading to legislation which brought about what is now known
as the state railroad commission. In addition to their other line, the
Garrison brothers also were engaged in the real estate business at
Converse and so continued until Kenton Garrison's retirement from
business in 1912, after which Morton Garrison moved to Portland, where
he since has been quite successfully engaged in the insurance business.
In 1887 Morton Garrison was united in marriage to Lola M. Fink, who was
born in Dekalb county, Indiana, and to this union two children have
been born, namely: Hugh Garrison, who married Edith Catterson, of
Martin county, Indiana, and Bessie, who married Rollin W. Harman, of
Jay county and has three children, Harry, Robert and Ruth. Mr. Garrison
is a Freemason. In his political views he is "independent."
WILLIAM DANIEL SCHWARTZ, M. D., former
secretary of the board of health
for Jay county and a practicing physician at Portland for nearly a
quarter of a century, one of the best known physicians and surgeons in
this section of Indiana, is one of Jay county's native sons who has
ever taken an interest and pride in the advancement of the general
cultural activities of the county and of his home town, and has thus
for years been accounted one of the leaders in such activities
hereabout. Doctor Schwartz was born on a farm in Pike township on
February 21, 1870, and is a son of Charles B. and Fredericka Anna
(Rowls) Schwartz, the former a veteran of the Civil war, who had come
over here from Hamilton county in 1866 and settled in the beautiful
valley of the Butternut, where they reared their family and became
useful and influential factors in the development of that section of
the county. Charles B. Schwartz was the owner of a good farm of 120
acres and he and his wife were the parents of seven children, all of
whom became teachers in the schools of this county and all of whom are
living save Jacob, the first born, the others besides Doctor Schwartz
being John H. Schwartz, the Portland photographer; Charles F. Schwartz,
a Portland lawyer, George S. and Oliver F. Schwartz and Caroline, wife
of John Hudson. Reared on the home farm, William D. Schwartz received
his early schooling in the schools of Jefferson township and at the age
of nineteen began teaching school, a profession he followed for five
years, his last service in that connection having been as principal of
the Bryant schools, and an older chronicle narrates that "it is stated
upon good authority that he held the best marked certificate in Jay
county and that he was one of the most thorough students and systematic
up-to-date teachers in the state." During this period of service as a
teacher he had been continuing his studies and attended successively
the old Eastern Indiana Normal School at Portland, the normal school at
Covington, Ind., and the Marion (Ind.) Normal School, from which latter
he was graduated in 1892. In the meantime he had been pursuing
preparatory studies in medicine under the able preceptorship of Dr. J.
T. Dickes and in 1893 entered the medical college of Indiana University
at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated in 1896, second in honors
in a class of fifty-three. Following a spirited competitive examination
Doctor Schwartz received an appointment as an interne in the
Indianapolis City Hospital and after fifteen months of intensive
practical experience there spent six months at the Post-Graduate
Hospital in New York city, where he specialized on nose and throat
surgery and diseases of women and children. Thus thoroughly equipped
for the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his life,
Doctor Schwartz returned home and opened an office at Portland, where
he ever since has been engaged in practice. In 1901 he made a trip to
Europe for further post-graduate work and in the great hospitals of
London, Paris and Berlin acquired further and practical knowledge of
the advanced methods of European surgery. The Doctor is a member of the
Jay County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society, the
Eighth District Medical Society, of which he is a past president, and
the American Medical Association, in the affairs and deliberations of
which organizations he takes a keen interest, and it is his practice
annually to take additional post-graduate work with a view to keeping
fully abreast of modern advancement in surgical and medical science.
For some time he served as secretary of the county board of health and
has done much to advance the public health service in this county. The
Doctor is a Democrat. He is a Freemason and a member of the local
lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of
Pythias, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Modern Woodmen of America,
and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the
Doctor being a member of the board of trustees of the church. During
the time of America's participation in the World war Doctor Schwartz
rendered local service as the examining surgeon for the Jay county
conscription board, examining all registrants under the operation of
the selective draft law between the ages of 18 and 45 years. The Doctor
passed the examination for army surgeon at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and
was accepted for service with the rank of captain, the commission to
become effective as soon as his work on the conscription boa'rd should
have been completed. The armistice was signed about the time the board
completed its work, however, and he never was called. Doctor Schwartz
is interested in several of the more important commercial and
industrial enterprises of the city and has done much to help promote
the general business interests of the community. He is a member of the
board of directors of the First National Bank of Portland and chairman
of the loaning board of that institution. He also is a member of the
board of directors and vice president of the Home Telephone Company of
Portland and the vice president and a member of the board of directors
of the Bimel Spoke and Auto Wheel Company, as well as having other
interests. On October 14, 1897, the vear following his graduation from
medical college, Dr. William D. Schwartz was united in marriage to
Belle V. Moon, daughter of Sidney R. Moon, former reporter of the
Indiana Supreme court, and to this union one child has been born, a
daughter, Geraldine. Mrs. Schwartz was born at Rochester, Ind., and her
schooling was completed in the Indianapolis high school. Miss Geraldine
Schwartz, who is now (1921) a student in Miss Maderia's private school
for girls at Washington, D. C, was graduated from the Portland high
school and then entered Butler College at Indianapolis, during the same
period taking a course of instruction at the John Herron Art Institute
in that city. Miss Schwartz has made a specialty of dramatic expression
and has been an important contributing factor in the presentation of
plays by the local Dramatic Club at Portland. She was a member of the
dramatic society of Butler College during the time of her attendance at
that college and in 1920 enacted the leading female role in "Stop
Thief," the college play of that year.
ROBERT S. FITCH, district agent for
the Prudential Life Insurance
Company at Portland and one of the active business men of that city, is
a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of
Indiana for years, having moved to Portland from Marion. Mr. Fitch was
born at Flemingsburg, Ky., December 23, 1876, and is a son of David R.
and Katherine (Cooper) Fitch, the former of whom was born at Fitchburg,
Mass., which town was named for his grandfather. David R. Fitch was for
years engaged in the general mercantile business at Flemingsburg. He
and his wife were the parents of four children, but two of whom are
living, the subject of this sketch and his brother, D. Wall Fitch, who
is engaged in the insurance business at Anderson, Ind., those deceased
having been Amanda and Benjamin C. Fitch. Reared at Flemingsburg,
Robert S. Fitch completed the high school course there and was for ten
years thereafter engaged in the dry goods business there. He then went
to Cincinnati, where he took employment as a city salesman with the
Tohn Shileto Company. A year or more later he transferred his
connection to the firm of Lansburg & Son and was engaged with that
concern when two years later the death of his brother necessitated his
return home. Not long afterward he became engaged in the newspaper
business4 at Brookville, Ky., where he remained thus engaged for two
years and a half, at the end of which time he disposed of his interests
there and moved to Litchfield, Ky., where for two years thereafter he
published a newspaper. He then accepted a position with the Osborn
Paper Company at Marion, Ind., and moved to the latter city. Six years
later he transferred his connection from this concern to the Prudential
Life Insurance Company, his connection being with the Marion office of
this company, and was engaged there in that line for three years, at
the end of which time he had established a record for service with the
Prudential which warranted his advancement and he was made a district
agent, being given charge of four counties, including Jay, and has
since made his home in Portland. In 1905 Robert S. Fitch was united in
marriage to Minnie S. Walton, who was born in Grange City, Ky., and to
this union have been born three children, Rollo W., Annie Helen and
Clyde R., the latter of whom died in March, 1913, at the age of three
months. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Mr. Fitch is a Democrat. He is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd
Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, is a member of the Portland Chamber of
Commerce and also is affiliated with the local Kiwanis Club.
THOMAS C. STEPHENSON, a substantial
landowner of Wayne township and
formerly and for years a progressive farmer of that township, now
living retired at Portland, where he and his family are very pleasantly
situated, is a native of Ohio but has been a resident of Jay county
since he was ten years of age. Mr. Stephenson was born in Jackson
county, Ohio, December 22, 1852, and is a son of Richard M. and Anna
(Dempsey) Stephenson, who came to Jay county in 1862 and here spent the
remainder of their lives. Richard M. Stephenson was a Virginian, bom in
Cabell county, that state, in 1812, and was but a lad when his parents,
James I. and Margaret V. (McCollister) Stephenson, moved from Virginia
to Ohio and settled in Jackson county in the latter state. James I.
Stephenson was a son of a substantial landowner of Virginia, living in
that section of the Old Dominion now comprised within the borders of
West Virginia, who had early shown his aversion to the institution of
human slavery by freeing his slaves and providing for their support on
land which he gave them. His hatred for slavery caused him to leave
Virginia and move into Ohio, where he established himself in a
substantial manner. His son, James I. Stephenson became one of the
prominent citizens of Jackson county and for some time served as an
associate judge of the court there. Richard M. Stephenson, son of Judge
Stephenson and father of Thomas C. Stephenson, received his schooling
in Jackson county, Ohio, and upon' reaching manhood's estate was
started going by his father, who gave him an eighty-acre farm, on which
he established his home after his marriage and where he resided until
1862, when he disposed of his interests in Ohio and came over into
Indiana, buying a tract of 320 acres of land in Wayne township, this
county, where he and his wife spent their last days. They were the
parents of eight children, of whom but three survive, the subject of
this sketch having a brother, Tohn Stephenson, of Wayne township, and a
sister, Mrs. Hulda Snyder, widow of Perry Snyder, of this county. The
deceased members of this family were James, William J., Ira, Douglas
and Jeremiah. As noted above, Thomas C. Stephenson was but ten years of
age when he came to Jay county with his parents in 1862 and he grew to
manhood on the home farm in Wayne township. He completed his schooling
in Ridgeville College and for about eight years thereafter taught
school in this county, farming during the summers. His father gave him
a tract of eighty acres in the Westchester neighborhood and he began
his farming operations there in 1876. Two vears later he disposed of
that place and bought a tract of 200 acres in Wayne township on which
he established his home after his marriage in 1881 and there he
continued to make his home until 1912 when he retired from the active
operation of the farm and moved to Portland, where he has since
resided. In addition to his general farming operations Mr. Stephenson
was for years quite extensively engaged in raising live stock and did
well in his operations, increasing his land holdings until he was the
owner of 400 acres. Since his retirement from the farm he has rented
his land. Mr. Stephenson is a Republican and he and his wife are
members of the Presbyterian church. As above noted, it was in 1881 that
Thomas C. Stephenson was united in marriage to Amanda C. Giffe, who was
born in this county, daughter of William and Deborah Giffe, members of
pioneer families here, and to this union have been born three children,
Chester E., Giffe and Anna May. Dr. Chester E. Stephenson, now a
resident of Indianapolis, married Blanche Miller, of Adams county, this
state, and has one child, a daughter, Helen. Giffe Stephenson married
Nellie Weist, who also was born in this county, a daughter of Noah
Weist, and is now living in Wayne township. Anna May Stephenson married
Carl B. Anderson.
GEORGE W. ADAMS, proprietor of a feed
store at Portland and for years
one of the best known business men of that city, is a native son of Jay
county and has lived here nearly all his life. Mr. Adams was born on a
farm in Wabash township on March 21, 1861, and is a son of William
Thompson and Margaret (Arbaugh) Adams, both members of pioneer families
in that section of the county. William Thompson Adams was born in
Columbiana county, Ohio, and was but a child when he came to Indiana
with his parents, David Adams and wife, who settled on a quarter
section of land which the former had "entered" in Wabash township, this
county, and became influential pioneers of that neighborhood. Of the
eight children born to the pioneer David Adams and wife, three are
still living, John and Joseph Adams and their sister, Sarah. William
Thompson Adams grew to manhood on the home farm in Wabash township,
completed his schooling in the old academy at College Corner and had
been for several years engaged in teaching school in addition to his
farm work, when the Civil war broke out. Despite the family obligations
he meanwhile had assumed he enlisted for service in the Union army and
went to the front as a member of the Thirty-ninth regiment, Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for more than three years.
Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Adams returned home and
resumed his farming operations, also for some time thereafter
continuing to teach school during the winters, his total term of
service as a teacher in the schools of his home township covering
nearly ten years. He acquired a good farm in Wabash township and
remained there until 1883, when he moved to Portland and there engaged
in the lumber business, continuing thus engaged for four years, at the
end of which time he disposed of his interests here and went to Kansas.
Three years later he went to New Orleans, but after a year's experience
in that city returned to Indiana and located at Columbus, where his
last days were spent, his death occurring there in 1918, he then being
eighty-four years of age. George W. Adams grew up on the home farm in
Wabash township and received his schooling in the neighboring schools.
He was married at the age of twenty-one and the year following became
engaged with his father in the lumber business at Portland. When that
business was disposed of he went with his father to Kansas, but after
several years returned to Portland and became connected with the
operation of the old Centennial' mills at that place, remaining with
that concern for fifteen years, at the end of which time he was made
manager of the Holmes grain elevator. Four years later he gave up the
elevator business and in 1910 became engaged in the general feed
business at Portland, the line he has since followed with considerable
success. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the First Christian church
and are Republicans. It was in 1882 that George W. Adams was united in
marriage to Sarah R. Wells, who was born in Noble township, this
county, and to this union three children have been born, Dessie, Lula
and Ray V. (deceased). Dessie Adams married Cloyce Badders and has nine
children, Donald, Diana, Mary, Margaret, Deloris, Harold, James, George
and Lula. Lula Adams married William Weller and has had two children,
Troyla and Tod (deceased).
MAURICE ELBERSON, a well known garage
owner and local agent for the
Overland and Cleveland automobiles at Portland, is a native son of Jay
county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Elberson was born on a farm
in the vicinity of Westchester on December 25, 1890, and is a son of
William H. and Jennie (Brookheart) Elberson, who are now living in
Portland. William H. Elberson was born in Ohio, son of Samuel H. and
Sarah Elberson and was reared in that state, where he received his
schooling and early became engaged in farming. He married in that state
and continued to reside there until he was thirty years of age when he
came over into Indiana and rented a farm of eighty acres in the
Westchester neighborhood in this county. Some time later he gave up
farming and moved to the village of Bryant, where he became engaged in
the hardware and drug business, and was so engaged at that point for
twenty-seven years, at the end of which time he retired from business
and moved to Portland, where he is now residing, associated with his
son Maurice in the management of the automobile establishment which
they maintain in that city. To William H. Elberson and wife were born
three children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Bonnie, and
a brother, James Elberson. Maurice Elberson was reared at Bryant and
upon completing the course in the high school there went to Portland,
where he became engaged in the automobile business in association with
James Rupel. In 1914 he became engaged in business alone and so
continued until the partnership with his father was contracted in 1920.
The Elbersons have an attractive place of business on Main street. They
hold the local agency for the Overland and Cleveland automobiles and
the Pennsylvania and Ajax tires and have done well in their line,
handling also a general line of auto accessories. On May 29, 1911,
Maurice Elberson was united in marriage to Della E. Rupel, who was born
in this county, daughter of James and Ara Rupel, members of old
families here, and to this union one child has been born, a son,
Robert. Mr. Elberson is a Democrat. He is an active member of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce and is affiliated with the local lodges of
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of
Eagles.
C. HARRY AYERS, former mayor of
Portland and for years actively engaged
in the real estate business in that city, is a native of the old
Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Jay county since the days of
his boyhood. He was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, Tune 24, 1868, and
was thirteen years of age when he came into Indiana and became a
resident of Pike township, this county. He completed his schooling in
district school No. 2 in that township and early became engaged in
buying and hauling timber, a line he followed for eight years or more,
or until about 1898, when he moved to Portland and became engaged there
as custodian of the high school building. From the time of his arrival
in Portland Mr. Ayers took an active interest in local civic affairs
and in 1903 was elected mayor of the city for a term of two years. So
satisfactory were his services in this capacity that in 1905 he was
re-elected for a term of four years and thus served as mayor of the
city for a period of six years, at the end of which term of service he
became engaged in the real estate business in Portland and has ever
since been thus engaged, one of the most active factors in the realty
market in this section of the state. Mr. Ayers is a Republican and has
long been recognized as one of the leaders of that party in this
county. He is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias,
the Modern Woodmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Portland and he
and his wife are members of the Christian church. On July 11, 1890, C.
Harry Ayers was united in marriage to Nora Silvers, who was born in the
neighboring county of Randolph, and to this union have been born two
daughters, Goldie M., who married Russell Bergman, of this county, and
has one child, a son, Jack, and Marie, who is at home with her parents.
FRANK ALBERSON, proprietor of the
Alberson hotel and cafe in West Main
street, Portland, and one of the best known residents of that city, has
been a resident of Jay county since the days of his childhood. He was
born at Champaign, 11l., in January, 1875, and is the son and only
child of James and Catherine (Williamson) Alberson, the former of whom
was born and reared in Adams county, this state, later becoming a
resident of Orange county, where he is the owner of a farm of 120
acres. Frank Alberson was reared at Bryant, this county, and received
his schooling in the schools of that village. From the days of his
boyhood he had been a fancier of fine horses and as a young man became
engaged in the work of training horses for the track, a vocation he
followed for years, becoming one of the best known figures in racing
circles in this part of the state. In 1905 Mr. Alberson gave up the
work which had for so many years interested him and bought the hotel
and cafe which he since has been operating at Portland. In 1907 Frank
Alberson was united in marriage to Edith Hanks, who was born in Jay
county, daughter of Frank and Ella (Journay) Hanks, and who died on
September 12, 1920. Mr. Alberson is a member of the Portland Lodge of
the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
JOHN W. McCOY, a retired baker of
Portland, former member of the firm
of Thomas, Huey & McCoy, and one of the best known men in the city,
was born in Missouri but has been a resident of Portland practically
all his life, his parents having been but temporary residents of
Missouri at the time of his birth, their permanent home having been at
Portland. It was on April 17, 1868, that Mr. McCoy was born and the
place of his birth was Stockton, Mo. His parents were William and
Catherine (Leonard) McCoy, the former of whom was born in Jay county
and was for years a lawyer, practicing at Portland. Catherine Leonard
was born in Ireland, but had been a resident of Portland since the days
of her girlhood, her parents having come here with their family many
years ago. William McCoy and Catherine Leonard were married in Portland
and were the parents of two children, of whom the subject of this
sketch alone survives. Reared at Portland, John W. McCoy received his
schooling there and as a young man became engaged as a clerk in the
Eyman grocery store, where he remainder for about three years, at the
end of which time he transferred his services to the Wilson grocery
store and was there engaged as a clerk for a number of years. He then
for several years was connected with the operation of a restaurant in
Portland and while thus engaged was attracted to the possibilities of
the bakery business and presently became engaged in that line, a member
of the firm of Thomas, Huey & McCoy, this connection continuing
until his recent disposal of his interest in the business and
retirement. On September 5, 1909, John W. McCoy was united in marriage
to Jane Tourney and to this union three children have been born, John,
Mary Catherine and Margaret Jane. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are members of the
Methodist church. Mr. McCoy is a Democrat and is a member of the local
lodges of the Loyal Order of Moose and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles
at Portland. Mrs. McCoy was born on a farm in Darke county, Ohio,
daughter of Jeremiah and Margaret (Heis) Tourney, the former a native
of Ireland and the latter of Germany, who have been residents of this
country since the days of their childhood, having accompanied their
respective parents to America many years ago. Jeremiah Toumey and wifa
are the parents of seven children, Mrs. McCoy having five brothers,
Sylvester, William, Frederick, John and Leonard, and. a sister, Mary.
HERBERT LONG, a well known sporting
goods merchant at Portland, who
formerly was engaged in the drug business in that city, is a native
Hoosier and has been a resident of Portland with the exception of some
years spent in prospecting and homesteading in the West ever since he
was a child, his parents having moved to that city when he was eight
years of age. He was born in Kosciusko county, this state, December 5,
1867, son of John A. Long and wife, and was this command took a turn
down the Tennessee river to Eastport, Miss., presently going thence to
New Orleans, where they were held three weeks, at the end of which time
they went by gulf boats to Mobile, Ala., and took part in the siege and
capture of Ft. Blakeley, April 9, 1865. While between Greenville and
Ft. Blakeley the command received word of Lee's surrender. The
remainder of the regiment's service was rendered at Mobile, where it
was kept on patrol duty until July 19, when it was mustered out and
returned to Jeffersonville, Ind., thence to Indianapolis, where it
received its final discharge on August 8, Mr. Corwin being mustered out
as a corporal.
WESLEY T. METZNER, a well known and
substantial retired building
contractor of Portland, is a native son of Jay county and has lived
here all his life, an important factor in the county's general
development, for his building operations have been carried on in all
parts of the county. He was born on a farm in Noble township on
November 9, 1855, son of John and Catherine (Young) Metzner, the former
a native of Germany, born in the kingdom of Saxony, October 2, 1805, a
son of Jasper and Hannah (Reisenberg) Metzner; and the latter a native
of France, born on July 18, 1819, daughter of Nicholas and Salome
(Young) Young, who were among the early settlers in Jay county and
whose last days were spent here. John Metzner was twenty-three years of
age when he came to this country in 1838 and on November 4, 1839, at
Newark, Ohio, he married Catherine Young, who had come to this country
two years prior to that date. For twelve years after his marriage John
Metzner worked at his trade, that of a wagon maker, at Louisville,
Ohio, and then, in 1851, came over into Indiana and located on a farm
of eighty acres in section 7 of Noble township, this county, where he
and his wife established their home and spent their last days, well
known and influential residents of that community. They were the
parents of eleven children, of whom four are still living, the subject
of this sketch having a brother, William F. Metzner, and two sisters,
Catherine E., wife of George Stolz, of Portland, and Mary A., wife of
Harvey A. Huey. Reared on the home farm in Noble township, Wesley T.
Metzner received his schooling in the old Metzner schoolhouse, so named
because it occupied a site at the cross-roads on a corner of his
father's farm. From the days of his boyhoood he was a valued assistant
to his father in the labors of the farm and for several years after his
school days were over continued farming, at the same time being more or
less engaged working at the carpenter's trade and thus acquired an
early skill as a builder. He married at the age of thirty and then
bought a forty-acre farm in Wayne township, establishing his home
there. It was then that Mr. Metzner entered upon his career as a
building contractor, a line which he followed with success until his
retirement in 1920, for many years having been regarded as one of the
county's leading contractor his operations covering a wide territory
hereabout. Years ago Mr. Metzner left his farm home in Wayne township
and moved to Portland, where he since has made his residence. He sold
the place in Wayne township and is now the owner of a well developed
farm of something more than 102 acres in Pike township. Mr. Metzner is
a Republican and for some years during the time of his residence in
Wayne township (1894-99) served as assessor of that township. He is a
member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Portland and he
and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. It was on November 15,
1885, that Wesley T. Metzner was united in marriage to Mary Emma Roser,
who also was born in this county, and to this union were born four
children: Ethel C, Jay E., Mabel E. and Mary V., the last named of whom
died on May 13, 1920. Ethel C. Metzner married John McDaniel, of
Portland, and has three children, John, Max M. and Lee A. Jay E.
Metzner, who is unmarried, is now living at Muncie, Ind., where he is
employed as a bookkeeper in the offices of Ball Bros. During the World
war he served as clerk of the draft board of Delaware county. Mrs.
Metzner was born in Noble township, a daughter of Evan and Catherine
(Sprecher) Roser, natives of Pennsylvania, who had located in this
county about the year 1860. Evan Roser was a substantial farmer of
Nbble township and he and his wife spent their last days there. They
were the parents of five children, of whom but two are now living, Mrs.
Metzner and her brother, Edwin Roser.
EMERY N. SPAHR, of the firm of
McConochy & Spahr, proprietors of a
popular garage and automobile accessory shop in North Meridian street,
Portland, is a native son of Jay county, a member of one of the
county's pioneer families, and has lived here all his life. Mr. Spahr
was born on a farm in Greene township on February 12, 1893, and is a
son of Morris H. and Anna B. (Miller) Spahr, both of whom also were
born in this county, the latter a daughter of David T. and Jane (Pratt)
Miller, early residents of this county, as is set out elsewhere in this
volume. Morris H. Spahr, proprietor of a half section of land in Greene
township, is a representative of one of the real pioneer families of
Jay county, a son of John O. and Experiences (Hildreth) Spahr, who came
over here from Greene county, Ohio, in pioneer days and became
influential factors in the development of Greene township, which was
given its name in honor of the numerous Greene county people who
settled there in the days when lands in that section were being taken
up, as is noted elsewhere. To Morris H. Spahr and wife were born five
children, of whom three are living, the subject of this sketch having a
brother, Oliver Spahr, and a sister, Alta. Reared on the home farm in
Greene township, Emery N. Spahr received his schooling in the old Union
school (district No. 8) and from the days of his boyhood was a valued
assistant in the labors of the farm. He married at the age of
twenty-two and for five" years thereafter continued to reside on the
home place, renting a portion of the same from his father and farming
it. He then moved to the village of Blaine, where he was engaged in
business for a year or more, at the end of which time, in April, 1921,
he formed his present partnership with H. J. McConochy in the garage
business at Portland and has since resided in that city. This garage,
located at 414-416 North Meridian street, has a capacity for about
sixty cars and has become one of the best known service stations in
eastern Indiana. The proprietors of the same also have a well equipped
general accessory store and are likewise agents for the sale of the
Studebaker, the Oldsmobile and the Chevrolet automobiles. On April 4,
1915, Emery N. Spahr was united in marriage to Helen Hudson, who also
was born in Greene township. Mr. and Mrs. Spahr are Republicans and Mr.
Spahr is a member of the Masonic lodge at Portland. Mrs. Spahr also is
a member of one of Jay county's pioneer families, she being a
representative of the fifth generation of Hudsons who have resided in
this county, the family here dating back to 1839 when Benjamin and Ruth
(Dodd) Hudson came over here with their family from Ohio and settled in
the woods in section 19 of Pike township. Mrs. Spahr is a daughter of
Selby E. and Jessie (Shoup) Hudson, of Greene township. Selby E.
Hudson, proprietor of a farm of 240 acres in that township, is a son of
William and Ocy Ann (Collins) Hudson, the former of whom was a son of
Aaron D. and Mary (Matts) Hudson, the latter of whom was a daughter of
William G. and Hannah Matts, who came here from New Jersey with their
family in 1836, the year in which Jay county was organized, and settled
in Wayne township. Aaron D. Hudson, who was a son of the pioneer
Benjamin Hudson mentioned above, became a substantial landowner in Pike
township and served for one term as sheriff of Jay county.
BERT LOCKER, a well known blacksmith
and welder at Portland, where he
has been in business for years, is a native son of Jay county and has
lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Madison township on
September 9, 1878, and is a son of Jacob D. and Leara (Freemyer)
Locker, both of whom were born in that same township, members of
pioneer families, and who are still living there. Jacob D. Locker is
the proprietor of a well kept farm of forty acres and is one of the
well known men in his community. To him and his wife have been born
eleven children, all of whom are living save two, Oliver and Ethel, the
others besides the subject of this sketch being Jesse, Andrew, Vernie,
Leo, Blanche, Minnie, Elsa and Vera. Reared on the home farm, Bert
Locker received his schooling in the old Center school in Madison
township and in the schools of Portland and as a young man left the
farm and began working in the Bimel factory at Portland, continuing
there for about six months, at the end of which time he begae to learn
the blacksmith trade under Lewis Cook and perfected himself in the
details of that craft. After about eight years of service for others in
this line Mr. Locker decided to begin operations on his own behalf and
bought the Doctor Culbert blacksmith shop on East Main street and
started in business for himself. He remained at that location for about
seven years and then bought the shop he has since been operating at 121
East North street, where he has one of the best equipped blacksmith and
welding shops in this part of the state. His machinery is electrically
equipped and he has his own generator for the acetylene welding done in
his place. Mr. Locker is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's
attention to local civic affairs. On November 17, 1900, Bert Locker was
united in marriage to Anna Gowdy, who was born in Iowa, daughter of
Aldon and Eliza (Kreamer) Gowdy, and to this union two children have
been born, Gladys, born on December 25, 1901, and John, June 14, 1904.
JESSE L. PETERS, manager of the Equity
Exchange elevator at Portland,
councilman-at-large for that city and for years one of the best known
grain men in this part of the state, is a native of the Buckeye state,
but has been a resident of Indiana since the days of his childhood. He
was born in Darke county, Ohio, December 13, 1877, and is a son of
Newton and Rachel (Light) Peters, both of whom were born in thaf same
county, who came over into Indiana and located at Portland in the early
'80s. The Rev. Newton Peters was a farmer and a minister of the gospel.
He and his wife had four children, the subject of this sketch having a
sister, Gertrude L., wife of George W. Myers, of Portland, and two
brothers, George M. Peters and Harry D. Peters, of Wayne township.
Jesse L. Peters grew to manhood at Portland, completing his schooling
in the old normal school there and in the Indiana State Normal School
at Terre Haute, and was for some years engaged as a teacher, principal
of the General Shanks school at Portland. In 1908 he purchased the
elevator and general store at Collett and was there engaged in business
for eight years, or until 1916, when, on the organization of the
Portland Equity Exchange, he was made manager of the same. Not long
afterward he resigned this position and became engaged in the
mercantile business at Alexandria, Ind., and later at Burlington, Ind.,
continuing thus engaged until 1921, when he returned to Portland to
resume the management of the Equity Exchange elevator and has since
occupied that position. The Equity Exchange started in a small way but
it was not long until it had so firmly established itself in the
confidence of the farmers hereabout that it has grown to be the most
extensive grain elevator in Jay county, its operations providing an
outlet for a wide market. Mr. Peters is a Democrat and for some time
served as a member of the local board of health at Portland. In 1921 he
was elected councilman-at-large and is now serving in this latter
capacity. In 1902 Jesse L. Peters was united in marriage to Myrtle E.
Crouch, who was born in Mercer county, Ohio, but who had been a
resident of Portland since the days of her girlhood, and to this union
have been born two children, Madonna and Ivy R.
WILLIAM H. LUDY, telegraph operator
for the G. R. & I. Railway
Company at Portland, Ind., was born at Winchester, Ind., September 16,
1868, the son of John W. and Olive (Roosa) Ludy, both of whom were born
in that same county, members of old families in that section of the
state. John W. Ludy was reared in Randolph county and early became
inclined to the mechanical trades, becoming both a cabinet maker and a
machinist. He later became a farmer and still later became engaged in
the real estate business at Winchester, which latter business he
maintained until his death in 1905. William H. Ludy received his
schooling at Winchester and early learned telegraphy, his first
employment in that line being secured in the office of the Big Four
Railroad Company at Winchester. For about two years Mr. Ludy served as
operator there and then he became engaged in the contracting business,
a line which he followed at Winchester for about a year, at the end of
which time he became employed in a furniture factory, where he remained
two years. He then became engaged with his father in farming, but after
three years of farming, returned to the telegraph key and went to work
as operator for the G. R. & I. at Winchester. In 1907 Mr. Ludy was
transferred from the Winchester office of this company to the office of
Portland and has since been engaged as operator at the local station.
Mr. Ludy is a Freemason and he and his family are members of the
Friends church. On January 20, 1891, William H. Ludy was united in
marriage to Flora L. Stanley, who also was born at Winchester, and to
this union have been born six children, John, Roger, Charles S.,
Mildred, Martha and Mary, the last two of whom are twins. Roger Ludy
married Lucile Figel, who was born in this county. During the period of
America's participation in the World war he went out with the first
line of selective service men from Jay county and was sent to Camp
Taylor, where he presently was made a corporal. Charles Ludy enlisted
for service in the aviation corps and was sent to the field at San
Antonio, Tex. He was mustered out as a sergeant.
JACK WILKINS, a well known young
business man at Portland, proprietor
of a well equipped tinshop and general sheet metal works as well as a
dealer in furnaces and general supplies along that line, was born in
Portland and has lived there all his life. Mr. Wilkins was born on May
16, 1889, and is a son of James and Martha E. (Smith) Wilkins, both of
whom were born at St. Marys, Ohio, from which place they moved to
Portland after their marriage. Tames Wilkins was thirty-five years of
age when he located at Portland, where he became engaged in the live
stock business, later taking up the harness business and also became a
dealer in agricultural implements. His wife died on May 5, 1894, and he
survived until March 11, 1921. They were the parents of four children,
those besides the subject of this sketch being Grace, who married Bert
Harruff and has two children, Dorothy and Jeannette; Roy, who married
Cora Polly and has two children, Roy and Ray, and Lillian, who married
Harley Weymouth and has two children, Ned and James. Reared at
Portland, Jack Wilkins completed his schooling in the high school there
and then became an apprentice in a tinshop. He learned the trade
thoroughly and in 1914 became engaged in business on his own account,
opening a completely equipped tinshop, with equipment for general sheet
metal work, and also prepared for furnace installation and general
service along that line, and has done well in his business. On June 14,
1911, Jack Wilkins was united in marriage to Frances C. McCoid, who was
born in Logan county, Ohio, and to this union one child has been born,
a daughter, Mary C. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are members of the
Presbyterian church and in their political views are "independent." Mr.
Wilkins is a member of the local lodges of the Free and Accepted Masons
and of the Knights of Pythias at Portland and in the affairs of these
organizations takes a proper interest. History of Jay County, Indiana:
including its World War record and ...,
Volume 2
HAWES, Mrs. Flora Harrod, postmaster, born in Salem, Ind., in 1863,
where she was educated. Her maiden name was Flora New Harrod. She is a
daughter of the late Dr. Sandford H. Harrod, a physician well known
throughout southern Indiana. The Harrods, after whom Harrodsburg, Ky.,
was named, went to that State with the pioneer, Daniel Boone. Miss
Harrod, at an early age, became the wife of Professor Edgar P. Hawes,
of Louisville, Ky. After a brief married life, her husband died, and
she was left upon her own resources. She turned to teaching, and became
a successful instructor in elocution, an art in which she excelled and
had earned the honors in her school-days. She applied to President
Harrison for the post-office in Hot Springs, Ark., going in person to
urge her own appointment. She received the commission 16th August,
1889. took charge of the office 15th September, 1889, and was confirmed
by the Senate 19th December of the same year. Mrs. Hawes receives a
salary of $2,600 a year and has a force of thirteen employes, four of
whom are women. As postmaster, she is a rigid disciplinarian, and she
keeps the business of her office in the most satisfactory shape in
every department. She is the youngest woman in the United States
holding so important a position, and her office is the second largest
one in the Union controlled by a woman. Her administration has
been thoroughly satisfactory and successful.
(Source: American Women, by Frances Elizabeth Willard, Mary Ashton Rice
Livermore, Vol 1, 1897. Transcribed by Marla Snow)
