FRANK M. GREATHOUSE, The leading clothing merchant of Elwood, Mr. Greathouse, became a resident of what was then a small town more than twenty-six years ago, and began his career as clerk in one of the local stores, He has advanced himself through his own ability and by persistent application of industry and good judgment and now enjoys a prosperous position second to none among the larger business men of this city.
Frank M. Greathouse was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, August 16, 1859, a son of John and Carolina (Van Winkle) Greathouse, both of whom were natives of Ohio, The paternal grandparents were Isaac and Catherine Greathouse, who were natives of Virginia, and representatives of a pioneer family in the early days of the Ohio Valley. The paternal grandparents became early settlers in Highland County, Ohio, where they died at a good old age, the former at the age of ninety-two, In their family were the following children: John, Thomas, Isaac, Addison, Mary J., Johanna and Julia, On the mother’s side the grandparents of the Elwood business man were Daniel and Eve (Giddings) Van Winkle, who were early residents in Cincinnati, Ohio, and subsequently moved to Highland County, Ohio. The grandfather was a farmer, and was also employed by the government as a mail carrier, He died when well along in years, and in the large family of the Van Winkles were the following children: Mary A., Lewis, William R., James M., Carolina and Peter W.
John Greathouse, the father, was reared in Highland County, Ohio, and became a merchant and farmer. In Highland County he improved a farm and partly reared his family on that place, Subsequently he moved to Hamilton County, Indiana, in 1865, settling at Noblesville, where he continued his occupation as a farmer until 1870, at which date he took his family out west to Lincoln, Nebraska, where his death occurred in 1872, and where his remains now rest, He was fifty-nine years of age at the time of his death, His widow brought her family back to Ohio, and settled near New Vienna, where her death occurred in 1878 at the age of seventy-one. She, as also her husband, was a member of the Methodist faith, The father took an active part in politics and was an influential Republican, The four children in the family are named as follows: Lewis C., now deceased; Frank M., of Elwood; Mary S., who died in early childhood; and John, who lives at New Vienna, Ohio.
Mr. Frank M. Greathouse spent his early boyhood days in Ohio, where he attained his early schooling, and in 1865 came to Indiana, and then in 1870 to Lincoln, Nebraska, and at the return of the family to Ohio, grew to manhood in that state. He was reared on a farm, had district school education, and subsequently attended town schools for a time, His occupation up to the age of twenty-five was farming, and in 1886 he came to Elwood a young man without capital, and began his career as a clerk in one of the stores in this then small town, In 1902 he opened his own stock of clothing, and since then has conducted a very prosperous business and now has a beautiful store, with a large stock of goods and with a patronage which is drawn from the best class of custom in this city and vicinity.
On May 9, 1891, he married Miss Roxey Brown, daughter of Rudolph and Martha (Wiggins) Brown. Mrs. Greathouse was born in Madison County, and her father and mother were both natives of this state. Her father died in 1896 at the age of sixty-five and her mother died at the home of Mrs. Greathouse in Elwood, January 1, 1913, in the eighty- third year of her life, There was a large family of children, and the three now living are: Mrs. Frank Greathouse; Mrs. George Dice of Tipton, and Frank Brown of Frankfort, Mr. Greathouse, among other evidences of his prosperity, owns some farming interests in Ohio, He is affiliated with Quincy Lodge No. 230, A. F. & A. M., and also with the order of Elks and the Maccabees, In politics he is a loyal Republican.