Madison County IN

Biography of Cassius C. Jacobs

CASSIUS C. JACOBS was born on a farm in West Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, on September 1, 1845. At the age of five years he moved with his parents and older sister to Madison County, Indiana, He is the son of Charles P. and Esther A. Jacobs. The former is a son of Thomas and Sarah Jacobs. Charles P. Jacobs was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on October 6, 1816, and died on October 6, 1901. He married Esther Ann Fussell, daughter of William and Jane Foulk Fussell in Chester County on October 28, 1842, and they came to … 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 Andrew J. Shetterly

ANDREW J. SHETTERLY, Numbered among the progressive and energetic business men of Lapel, Indiana, where he has been identified with elevator interests since 1896, Andrew J. Shetterly is justly considered one of the representative men of his native County, He is the fortunate possessor of just those qualities which are essential to success in any line of business, and his long experience in his present venture has made him thoroughly familiar with its every detail, He belongs to an old and honored family of Madison County, and was born on a farm in Jackson Township, December 23, 1865, a son … Read more

Biography of John T. Starr

JOHN T. STARR. Adams Township can boast of some of the best regulated farms in Madison County, and here are also to be found some of the most progressive agriculturists of this part of the state. Many of these men have been the architects of their own fortunes, and, appreciating their success because it has been self-gained, take a pardonable degree of pride in their own achievements and those of their community, and are striving earnestly in behalf of the public welfare. Prominent among this class stands John comas Starr, who has not only won an enviable position in agriculture, … Read more

Biography of Arthur Davis

ARTHUR DAVIS. A well known success as a farmer and live stock dealer has been that of Arthur Davis in Stony Creek Township. He is a native of this part of Madison County, has spent most of his life within the limits of the County, and when he began his independent career it was with a capital of self-reliance and well-trained body and industrious habits rather than with money or influence. He and his wife have prospered since their Marriage and their first attempt to make a home, and they now enjoy not only material prosperity but the esteem of … Read more

Biography of Martin M. Beeson

MARTIN M. BEESON, In America, pre-eminently a land of self-made men, opportunities for achieving success are to be found as in no other land. The youth of energetic spirit, ambitious nature and industrious habits may here establish a position for himself in any of the various vocations of life, provided that he respect the principles of integrity and honorable dealing, for his fellow-citizens will quickly recognize and appreciate the force of character and persistent determination which have enabled him to work his way from a humble position to one of independence and prominence, Madison County is fortunate in that it … Read more

Biography of Daniel L. Boland

DANIEL L. BOLAND, Clerk of the Court of Madison County since January 1, 1911, and for a number of years engaged in the insurance and loan business, is one of the more prominent and popular men of the city and County in which he has long been located. Born in Henry County, Indiana, Daniel L. Roland is the son of Patrick and Ellen (Tierney) Boland, the father a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the mother of the same place. Patrick Boland was educated meagerly in the schools of his native land and passed his boyhood days on a farm. … 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 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 Archie C. Anderson

Archie C. Anderson

ARCHIE C. ANDERSON. In farming and stock raising and the general business activities of Fall Creek Township, Mr. Anderson is one of the leaders, and has occupied a prominent place for many years. He is a native of Madison County, has spent practically all his life here, and by persistent and honorable industry has been successful far beyond the average. Archie Clifton Anderson was born in Fall Creek Township, Madison County, September 7, 1855, a son of John A. and Elda (Hiatt) Anderson. The founder of the family in Indiana was grandfather Wright Anderson, who came to this state in … Read more

Biography of Lewis Heffner

LEWIS HEFFNER. A substantial business citizen whose history has been commensurate with that of Elwood from the time this flourishing and prosperous city was but a small, struggling village, Lewis Heffner has played no small part in the great growth and development here during the past forty years, during which time he has been intimately identified with some of the city’s largest business interests, His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed have won him the support and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Heffner was born in Berks … Read more

Biography of Chancey Vermillion

CHANCEY VERMILLION. On the first day of January, 1910, Chancey Vermillion, a pioneer resident of Richland Township, and Madison County, died at his home, full of years and leaving behind him a record for useful living that will be an honor to his memory far into the future, For seventy-six years he was a resident of Madison County, and few there are who won a more secure position in the hearts and minds of the people than did he, A farmer of the most prosperous order, he was long known to be a man of means, and he retained to … Read more

Biography of James A. Van Osdol

JAMES A. VAN OSDOL. The bar of Madison County numbers Mr. Van Osdol among its leading and representative members. He has practiced in the courts here for twenty years, and controls a large and important clientage. He is the general attorney for the Union Traction Company of Indiana, one of the substantial and important corporations controlling interurban electric lines in this state. Prior to entering upon the practice of law Mr. Van Osdol gained distinctive success and prestige as a representative of the pedagogic profession, and he is known as a man of fine attainments and sterling character. He was … Read more

Biography of Frank M. Greathouse

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 … Read more

Biography of Joel B. Benefiel

JOEL B. BENEFIEL. In Madison County where he has spent his entire life, and where his ability as a farmer and business man and citizen is highly appreciated, Joel B. Benefiel is now serving as incumbent of the important County office of auditor. His residence is in Pendleton, and his name has been known in the southwestern section of the County since 1889. Of all the old and respected families of Madison County, it is doubtful if any has played a more important part than the Benefiels, in the settlement, development and the business and civic activities of this section. … Read more

Biography of Elmer Ellsworth Fornshell

ELMER ELLSWORTH FORNSHELL As postmaster of Elwood since 1905 Mr. Fornshell has performed a large amount of useful public service for his home city, and has managed the affairs of his office to the best advantage and convenience of the citizens. But the accomplishments for which he is best known and by- which his name is most closely identified with the city of Elwood were his enterprise in establishing the Leader, and his subsequent connection with that and the combination paper now known as the Call-Leader, Mr. Fornshell has been in the newspaper business for many years and has a … Read more

Biography of Curran “Jack” Beall

CURRAN “JACK” BEALL, Modern agriculture holds out many inducements to the industrious, progressive worker, especially when he has been trained to farming from boyhood, It is natural for such a man to capably perform the duties pertaining to this class of work, and, having had wide experience, he is able to recognize and appreciate the various advantages offered by new methods, Again, having passed through instructive experiences, he is not to be easily deceived with relation to the true value of proposed innovations, nor is he apt to decline advantageous propositions, The demands of his neighborhood are known to him, … Read more

Biography of Wesley White Jr.

WESLEY WHITE, JR. For more than half a century the White family has been identified with Madison County, and always with the larger activities of farming and country life. Wesley White, Jr., is one of the Grand Army men still living in this County and has a splendid country home in Green Township. He has known Madison County since before the war, and has not only witnessed practically every important phase in the development of the region from the wilderness, but has borne his individual share of the labors and responsibilities in this work. Wesley White, Jr., was born on … Read more

Biography of George W. Pettigrew

GEORGE W. PETTIGREW. From an inheritance of five and a half acres of land, George W. Pettigrew has increased his holdings in Madison County in recent years until today he has a goodly acreage of two hundred and sixty-two and a half acres of the finest land to be found in this section of the state, all of which is under cultivation and which yields its owner an excellent income, Mr. Pettigrew has been a resident of this Township all his life, and was born here on January 8, 1858, the son of Samuel J. and Mary J. (Tingley) Pettigrew. … Read more

Biography of Mark E. Winings

MARK E. WININGS, The proprietor of the undertaking parlors at 1610 Main Street in Elwood, Mr. Winings is a young business man whose conscientious work in his profession has been much appreciated in Elwood, where he has been a resident for the past ten years, and has enjoyed a progressive success in his business, He was born, reared and spent most of his life in Indiana, and Mr. Winings has enjoyed probably a larger share of world travel than any of his contemporaries in business at Elwood, and his career has had many diversified and interesting experiences. He was born … Read more