Indiana

Biography of John A. Smethers

JOHN A. SMETHERS, A farmer and lifelong citizen of Greene Township, in Madison County, John A. Smethers has lived a life of usefulness and worthy influence in his native community, and is well deserving of the position he holds in the minds of those who know him. He was born here on August 20, 1867, and is the son of James W. and Mary R. ( Schweikhardt ) Smethers. James W. Smethers was born in this Township also, and is now a resident of Ingalls, He has been twice married, His first wife died on April 7, 1889, leaving him … Read more

Biography of Benjamin H. Cook, M. D.

BENJAMIN H. COOK, M. D. Numbered among the most important of the learned professions, and the one that undoubtedly has made the most progress during the past several decades, is that of medicine, whose devotees are called upon to continue their studies at all times and to keep fully abreast of the times in order to observe the numerous discoveries and advancements of their honored calling, A practicing physician since 1885, Dr. Benjamin H. Cook has risen to a high place in his profession, and since 1903 has been located in Anderson, in which field of endeavor he is highly … Read more

Biography of Thomas Morris Hardy

Thomas Morris Hardy

THOMAS MORRIS HARDY, The prosperity and advancement of a community depend upon the social character and public spirit of its members and in every prosperous town or country center may be found citizens who take leadership and give their energies not atone to their well being but to the things that make better and fuller life for all, Such a citizen at Pendleton has Mr. Hardy been recognized for many years. Lieutenant Hardy was a soldier of the Civil war, was in early life a teacher, from that became actively identified with farming, and for the past twenty-five years has … Read more

Biography of John Meckel

JOHN MECKEL. With the pre-conceived ability to design and execute plans for buildings, possessed of marked artistic talent and that hardheaded practicality which puts ideas and ideals to the test of materiality, and the capacity for co-operation with others, John Meckel, architect of Anderson, has accomplished a work in the planning of structures that is of such a character as to leave its impress on the city for many years to come. With a mind fertile in means, resources and expedients, he has fully mastered the multitudinous details of his complex and many-sided profession, and has risen to deserved prominence … Read more

Biography of George W. Bickford

GEORGE W. BICKFORD. Mr. Bickford has been a resident of Anderson for more than twenty years and during the greater part of that time has been one of the faithful and efficient men in the postal service, He comes from good New England stock, and was born in the village of Rochester, New Hampshire, June 11, 1856, a son of John H. and Mary Jenks Bickford, both natives of New Hampshire. The father was a carpenter by trade and worked in that line the greater part of his life, and did well by his family. George W. Bickford grew up … Read more

Biography of Hon. George Nichol

HON. GEORGE NICHOL. Still hale and hearty at the age of eighty- three and a familiar figure on the streets of Anderson and a daily visitor at the store whose business was founded and built up by him, Hon, George Nichol has a record as a soldier, business man, public spirited citizen and official, which places him among the most venerable and useful men of Madison County, Nearly sixty years of his life time has been spent within the limits of this County, and he is one of the few still living whose memory and intimate knowledge of business and … Read more

Biography of Charles J. Rozelle

CHARLES J. ROZELLE. Eminent in Anderson business affairs, and also in the political life of the city, Mr. Rozelle has for a number of years successfully followed the contracting and building trade, and his practical endeavors have their results in many of the permanent structures to be seen in this city and vicinity. Charles J. Rozelle was born in the city of Anderson, November 16, 1883, and belongs to one of the old families of Indiana, The Rozelles are of French descent, the first ancestors having come from France and settled at an early date in the colony of Virginia, … Read more

Biography of Herbert D. Webb

HERBERT D. WEBB. Among the energetic and successful citizens of Anderson, Indiana, none is better known that Herbert D. Webb, secretary and treasurer of one of the important manufacturing plants of this city, Mr. Webb has always taken an active part in any movement which had as its aim the advancement of Anderson or of this section of the state, and he has played a prominent part in the commercial history of the city, Mr. Webb has been a hard worker throughout his life and his success is not the result of good fortune but of industry and a natural … Read more

Biography of Ira Williams

IRA WILLIAMS. Now retired from business and looking after his real estate business in Anderson, Mr. Williams is a citizen of Madison County, who started out as a farmer, found himself against a losing game, then managed to turn, ventured into a new field in a very modest way and by furnishing exceptional value and service in return for his customer’s money, built up a local business which was highly profitable and from which he was able to retire a few years ago, and spend his later years in comfort, To his wife he also credits a large share of … Read more

Biography of Herbert D. Webb

HERBERT D. WEBB. Among the energetic and successful citizens of Anderson, Indiana, none is better known that Herbert D. Webb, secretary and treasurer of one of the important manufacturing plants of this city, Mr. Webb has always taken an active part in any movement which had as its aim the advancement of Anderson or of this section of the state and he has played a prominent part in the commercial history of the city. Mr. Webb has been a hard worker throughout his life and his success is not the result of good fortune but of industry and a natural … Read more

Biography of John E. Davis

JOHN E. DAVIS. For many years one of the well known business men of Anderson, Mr. Davis has spent nearly sixty years of his life time in Madison County, and has been very familiar by experience with the development of the country east of Anderson from pioneer times to the present, During the many years of his residence in the County, he has prospered, has enjoyed many of the good things of life, and has well provided for his family, and is still active and vigorous in business affairs at the County seat. John E. Davis was born on a … Read more

Biography of Henry Clay Brown

HENRY CLAY BROWN. A life long resident of Madison County and for many years a progressive farmer of Fall Creek Township, Henry Clay Brown has enjoyed the best elements of success, having acquired a good home, having given his family the comforts of living and education, and having steered an honorable and straightforward course throughout his own career. Henry Clay Brown was born in Anderson Township, Madison County, June 12, 1852, a son of Warner and Lavina (Clark) Brown. Both parents were born in the state of Maryland, where they were reared and married. After their marriage they came west … Read more

Biography of Lewis D. Kinnard

LEWIS D. KINNARD. Few of the farmers of Fall Creek Township, in Madison County, Indiana, have made a better showing from a similar beginning than Lewis Dunwoody Kinnard. He has gained prominence in the agricultural sections of the County as a farmer and stock raiser, as well as being a feeder and shipper of some extent, and has a fine place of one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. He takes his place among the representative citizens of the Township, and enjoys the esteem and friendship of a large circle of the best citizenship of the Township. Lewis D. Kinnard … Read more

Biography of William R. Kinnard

WILLIAM R. KINNARD. Since he located on the old Thomas farm in Pendleton Township, securing the place on the status of a renter, the fortunes of William Rush Kinnard have kept pace with those of the most prosperous of the men of his community, and he is today the owner of the fine old place which had been the property of his wife’s family years ago. Success has attended his efforts and he is reckoned among the prosperous and substantial men of the town, and one whose influence and opinion are potent factors in the communal life of the place. … Read more

Biography of George A. Phipps

GEORGE A. PHIPPS. In the little village of Huntsville in Fall Creek Township, on the north bank of historic and picturesque old Fall creek, the principal industrial features and also business institutions are the flour mill and the saw mill which for many years have been conducted under the name and proprietorship of Mr. Phipps. A mill or factory is always an important institution in any community, and particularly is this true of the small rural settlement of Huntsville, where the mill becomes almost the central feature of the place and around it are grouped in comparative order the church … Read more

Biography of John Willits Jones

JOHN WILLITS JONES. Madison County from its early pioneer history to the present time has had the benefit and the productive labors of different members of the Jones family, one of whose best known members is Mr. John W. Jones of Fall Creek Township. The industrial and social character of a community is the result of its citizenship, and among the many family groups which have contributed in this important regard to the development of Madison County, none could claim more credit than the Jones family, through its various representative since early pioneer times. Mr. John W. Jones the Fall … Read more

Biography of Samuel Swain

SAMUEL SWAIN. The old citizenship of Madison County had no better representative than the late Samuel Swain, who was born in Fall Creek Township in the decade of the forties, and who died on the 9th of September, 1913. He had been continuously identified with this section of the County throughout practically all the years that intervened since the pioneer period. Mr. Swain was an infant when the first railroad was brought through the County and in the vicinity of his old homestead, he was a boy in his teens when the Civil war broke out, and he witnessed practically … Read more

Biography of John W. Lewark

JOHN W. LEWARK. Madison County’s citizenship contains few members whose careers have illustrated so well the varied battle with fortune and with circumstance as that of Mr. John W. Lewark, of Pendleton. Mr. Lewark came to Madison County a runaway boy, obtained his education between periods of hard work, went from this County to the Union ranks in the great war between the states, and since returning a veteran from that conflict has been one of the honored citizens and business men of Pendleton. John W. Lewark was born in the city of Anderson on Ninth Street, April 20, 1842, … Read more

Biography of Oscar F. Mingle, D. V. S.

OSCAR F. MINGLE, D. V. S. A resident of Pendleton for the past four years, and the only doctor of veterinary surgery in that locality, Dr. Mingle is a progressive young citizen and has made a very excellent success in his profession and in general affairs of citizenship in this locality. Oscar F. Mingle was born in Hancock County, Indiana, May, 28, 1878, a son of Madison and Martha D. (Jackson) Mingle. The father now makes his home in Pendleton and the mother passed away in the fall of 1906. They were the parents of five children, four of whom … Read more

Biography of A. W. Cook

A. W. COOK. One of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Fall Creek Township, Mr. Asahel Walter Cook has spent the most of a long life of eighty years in this County, has given a long period of service as a teacher and educator, and for a number of years was a trustee of his home Township first elected in 1890 for five years, then re-elected in 1899 for another four years. The opportunities for such service in behalf of the public come only to the man whose integrity and efficiency are proved beyond all doubt to the citizenship, … Read more