Mr. Mount was born on December 28, 1875, on a farm in Noble township, Shelby county, Indiana, two miles west of Clifty, or Milford, the son of Thomas J. and Nancy (Thornburg) Mount, natives of Noble township, Shelby county, Indiana, the former of whom was born on August 24, 1846, and who died on October 10, 1910, and the latter of whom was born on July 6, 1844, and who died on September 2, 1894, many years before the death of her husband. The late Thomas J. Mount was the son of Matthias and Margaret (Marsh) Mount, natives of Kentucky, the former of whom was born in 1823, and who died in 1893. Coming to Shelby county, Indiana, with his father when a mere lad, he eventually succeeded to the land his father entered from the government, and it is this land which is now held by the Mount family. His wife, who before her marriage was Margaret Marsh, was born in 1825, and died, three years before the death of her husband, in 1890. They had ten children, six of whom lived to maturity, Thomas J., was the father of Harry H.; Mrs. Martha Hanks died on February 23, 1913; Amos died in March, 1894; Hannah is deceased; Sarah died in 1881; and Mrs. Emma Blackmore lives on the old home place.

Thomas J. Mount, a successful farmer and stockman, removed to Greensburg in November, 1884, from which place he looked after his farming interests, living there until 1908, when he returned to the farm, and there died. In 1896 he purchased a farm from Frank Butler on the Shelby and Decatur county line, a part of which was in Clay township, Decatur county, and a part of which was in Shelby county. He owned four hundred and fifty acres in all, and at one time was an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs. He exercised his right of franchise as a Republican. He and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The late Thomas J. and Nancy (Thornburg) Mount had only two children, Harry H., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Elmer E. Wooden, who lives in Greensburg. Mrs. Nancy (Thornburg) Mount was a native of Noble township, Shelby county, Indiana, and the daughter of Thomas and Maria (Berry) Thornburg, who were in turn natives of Pennsylvania, and Ohio, respectively. They migrated to Shelby county, Indiana, in the late thirties.

Educated in the country schools of Decatur county and in the Greensburg high school, Harry H. Mount attended the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, pursuing his studies in the scientific course. After teaching school for two years in Clay township at the Hiner and Brown schools, he resigned in 1899 to take a position as bookkeeper in the Third National Bank, and from December 1, 1899, to May 1, 1912, a period of thirteen years, he was bookkeeper and teller at this institution. Since 1912 Mr. Mount has been devoting all of his attention in directing the work on his two-hundred and forty-acre farm on the Shelby county line.

On June 7, 1905, Harry H. Mount was married to Daisy E. Gartin, of Hartford City, Indiana, who is the daughter of Griffith and Laura E. (Templeton) Gartin, formerly residents of Decatur county, Indiana. The father now lives in Muncie. Mrs. Mount was born on September 27, 1876, in Decatur county. Her father, who was born in this county on October 26, 1854, is the son of Griffith Gartin, Sr., a native of Virginia, and an early settler in Decatur county. Her mother, who before her marriage was Laura E. Templeton, was born on February 13, 1853, and died on June 25, 1882, in Franklin county. She was the daughter of John Templeton, who came to Decatur county in an early day. Mrs. Mount is the only child born to her father's first marriage.

A Republican in party politics, Harry H. Mount is a member of the Greensburg city council, and is giving efficient service to his fellow townsmen as a public official and ail enterprising and public-spirited citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Mount are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 148, at Greensburg, and for seven years has been keeper of records and seal. Mr. and Mrs. Mount live in a modern home, and both are well educated and highly refined. Mrs. Mount is treasurer of the Department Club at Greensburg, and both take an active part in the social life of the city.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Samuel H. Stewart, who is one of eight children born to Adam L. and Isabella Stewart, and who is a prominent stock dealer and farmer of Greensburg, now living retired, is the subject of this sketch. Samuel H. Stewart was born on January 26, 1837, in Fugit township. He was the eldest child born to his parents, the others being James, who died at the age of thirteen; Mrs. Sophia Weed, deceased; Eliza, who died in 1868; Mrs. Nancy Amanda Foley, a widow who lives in Greensburg; John, of Kansas City; Margaret, who died in April, 1914, and Mary, who died at the age of two years.

Samuel H. Stewart, who responded to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, enlisted in Company F, Seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in 1861 and served three months, being mustered out in July, 1861. He was in the first battle of the Civil War at Philippi, Virginia, and also served throughout the Cheat river campaign.

On November 9, 1865, Mr. Stewart was married to Hannah Donnell, who was born on August 9, 1837, in Fugit township, and who is the daughter of Samuel Addison and Mary (Lowe) Donnell, natives of Kentucky, the former of whom was born in 1808 and died in 1870 and the latter born in 1810 and died in 1858. Samuel Donnell, whose wife was Hannah Quiett of Kentucky, settled in Decatur county in 1823. He was the son of James Donnell, a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer settler in Kentucky. James Donnell married Catherine Gibson, a native of Virginia. Six children were born to Samuel A. and Mary (Lowe) Donnell, as follow: Mrs. Hester Jane Rankin, of Greensburg; Luther, who died in Fugit township; Hannah; Seth, deceased; Thomas R., of Greensburg, and Mrs. Rebecca Angelina Miller, of Franklin, Indiana. The Donnell family is a very large one in this section of the country. Mrs. Mary (Lowe) Donnell, the mother of these children, was a daughter of Seth and Rebecca (Ryan) Lowe, the latter of Virginia. He was the first settler in the Kingston neighborhood, the Hamiltons and McCoys coming in 1823, he preceding them by two years. Although a member of the Baptist church, he attended the Presbyterian church and was a man of charitable and benevolent disposition. He reared several children beside his own family, and was known during his day and generation as a noble character.

After Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were married, they settled in Clinton township and in 1871 moved to Greensburg, where he engaged permanently in the live stock business. This business, however, he had really begun in 1855. During his life, Mr. Stewart has bought and sold thousands of cattle and hogs. In the early days he shipped from three to fifteen carloads of cattle and the same number of carloads of hogs, at one time. He shipped to Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, principally. Although Mr. Stewart has owned as high as two hundred and fifty acres of land, he now owns only sixty acres in Clinton township. His farm of two hundred acres which he owns, three miles south of Greensburg, he is now selling off from time to time. After selling the farm, Mr. Stewart leased it for a period of twenty years.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Stewart have been the parents of four children, Mary, who is the wife of Charles J. Erdmann, of Greensburg; Edna, who is employed by the State Life Insurance Company, at Indianapolis; Anna, who is employed on the Greensburg Review and who was formerly a school teacher, and Kate, who lives at home.

An independent Republican in politics, Mr. Stewart is a great admirer of President Wilson. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church as is Mrs. Stewart also. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Pap Thomas Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Born on February 16, 1863, at St. Joe, Vanderburg county, Indiana, he is the son of Bernard and Barbara (Wiedner) Urich, the former of whom was born January 1, 1818, and who died on April 5, 1887, and the latter of whom was born in 1820 and died on June 27, 1909. Both were natives of Hambach, Bavaria, Germany, and were born, reared and married in their native land. With their children, Barbara, Mary and Peter, they came to America in 1854, locating in the Catholic settlement at St. Joe, near German township, Vanderburg county, Indiana, a distinct German emigrant neighborhood. The father became a well-to-do citizen, who owned one hundred and eighty acres of land and who died in good circumstances in his old home in Vanderburg county. A brother of his wife, having urged him to locate in America, he and his wife being of sickly natures, on their doctor's advice, came to Indiana. They had seven children, of whom John Adam was the youngest. The other children were: Mrs. Barbara Nurenbern, of Vanderburg county; Mrs. Mary Rallet, of Evansville; Peter, who lives on the old home place; Joseph, of Vanderburg county; Mrs. Margaret Czteller, deceased; Regina Czteller, of Evansville.

After having studied at Tentopolis College in Illinois for two years, the Rev. John Adam Urich entered St. Meinrad College, in Spencer county, Indiana, where he remained for eight years, finishing the theological seminary course. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Francis S. Chatard, at Ferdinand, Indiana, on June 19, 1886, and was assigned the pastorate of St. Anne's church in Jennings county, where he remained until June 15, 1904, when he was placed in charge of St. Mary's church at Millhousen.

During the Rev. John Adam Urich's pastorate of St. Mary's church all of the parish buildings, including the church, school house, the priest's house and the sisters' house, have been painted and reroofed. Three altars, costing two thousand dollars, have been purchased. The interior of the priest's house and the sisters' residence have been renovated, cement walks have been installed, school grounds have been graded, and a wire fence has been erected around the entire property. Gas lights have been installed inside and outside of the church and many other minor improvements have been made. There can be no doubt that the pastorate of the Rev. John Adam Urich has been a distinct success. This is a large parish and comprises altogether one hundred and sixty families.

The Rev. Father Urich is not only successful in his pastoral duties, but he is an eloquent and forceful preacher, a man well learned in the historic foundation of Christianity and a man who is able to inspire his parishioners with love of the Christian church.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

George Menzie was born in the city of Greensburg, Indiana, on January 6, 1871, the son of John and Mary (Luther) Menzie, the former of whom was a native of Switzerland and the latter of whom was born in Greensburg, this county, both of whom are still living, enjoying their latter days in quiet retirement a t their pleasant home in the county seat.

John Menzie was born in Switzerland on December 12, 1837, the son of Jacob and Verina (Snaille) Menzie, the former of whom was a shoemaker. During his early boyhood, John Menzie worked for his uncle in a saw-mill and at the age of sixteen years decided to seek his fortunes in the land of opportunities across the sea. Coming to America, he proceeded to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, at which place his brother, Jacob, had located some years previously. Shortly after his arrival at Lawrenceburg he and his brother went to Chicago, with a view to possible permanent location there, but notfinding things just to their liking, returned to Indiana. John went to Greensburg, where for a short time he worked for Charles Zoller in a meat market, later taking occupation as a farm hand in the Springhill neighborhood, in this county. After two years of this form of experience, he returned to Greensburg and entered the butcher business, working for Harvey Anderson and George Menzie, presently becoming the sole owner of this business, in which he became quite prosperous, gradually enlarging the scope of the same to include general dealing in cattle and hogs, becoming an extensive shipper. His shop was located on the corner, which he then owned, but is now occupied by the I. O. O. F. building. In 1905 he turned the business over to his sons, John and George, since which time he has been retired from active business cares.

At the outbreak of the Civil War John Menzie sold out his butcher shop and enlisted in Company F, Seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After three months of service, however, he was seized with a serious illness, which so incapacitated him that he was discharged. Returning to Greensburg he found his invalidism did not properly respond to local treatment and took a trip to Europe, finding his health greatly improved thereby. Upon recovering his wonted health, Mr. Menzie returned to Greensburg and resumed the butcher business, success attending him from the very start.

On September 29, 1861, John Menzie was united in marriage to Mary Luther, who was born in Greensburg on October 8, 1844, the daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Nice) Luther, natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Caleb Luther was a contractor and builder who located in Greensburg in the early days and was an active builder there for years. In 1856 he bought a small farm near the city and there spent the rest of his life. His wife, Elizabeth Nice, was the first teacher in the old seminary in Greensburg, a woman who exerted a very wholesome influence upon the a youth of that day in and about the county seat and whose memory still is kept green in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Luther were the parents of four children, Mrs. Abbie Whipple, who died in Iowa; Mrs. Frances Gilchrist, who also died in Iowa; Edward, who died in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Mrs. Menzie. To Mr. and Mrs. Menzie were born two sons, John and George, both of whom live at Greensburg. Two daughters died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. John Menzie are members of the Presbyterian church and are held in the highest esteem in the city in which they live. Mr. Menzie is a Democrat and formerly took much interest in political affairs. He is a member of Pap Thomas Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic, and a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights and Ladies of Honor lodges in Greensburg, in all of which he is very popular.

George Menzie was educated in the local schools at Greensburg and at the age of fifteen went to Cincinnati where he remained for three years, learning the butcher business. At the end of this time he returned to Greensburg and for one year worked for Charles Zoller, after which he and his brother, John, engaged in the butcher business for themselves, continuing this association for ten years, at the end of which time, in 1912, John sold his interest to his brother, George, having conducted the business alone since that time, being the exclusive buyer and shipper of live stock in the city of Greensburg, his shipments amounting to as much as five hundred carloads of cattle and hogs annually.

On December 25, 1892, George Menzie was united in marriage to Mollie Rader, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Rader, of Greensburg, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Elizabeth, on July 12, 1894, who is bookkeeper and stenographer for the Sal-Tone Company, of Greensburg.

Mr. Menzie is a Democrat and is particularly active in the lodge circles of the city in which he lives. He entered the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias lodges when he was twenty-one years of age; has passed through all the chairs in the encampment of the former order and is past chancellor commander of the local lodge of the latter order. He also is an active member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a prime favorite in all these lodges. Mr. Menzie is a busy, energetic man, public-spirited and progressive and is regarded as one of the leaders in the busy life of his home city.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

The Lathrop family had its original home during the fourteenth century in northeastern Yorkshire, England, in what was known at that time as Lothroppe College Rectory, a church and school. The founder of the family in America was the Rev. John Lathrop, a Congregational preacher, whose church in the city of London was raided under the Archbishop of the English church and all of the congregation, including the minister and sixty-six men, thrown into prison. The Rev. John Lathrop was released after having been kept in prison for five years, and took the first vessel for America, landing at Plymouth Rock, where he was greeted by forty of his old congregation. For four years he served as pastor of the church at Scituate in what is now Plymouth county, and was then appointed chaplain to the governor at Boston, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was accustomed to write the annual Thanksgiving proclamation for the governor of Massachusetts.

The next member of the Lathrop family in line of descent from Rev. John Lathrop was Erastus Lathrop, a native of Connecticut, who moved to Canada, and whose property was confiscated by the crown during the War of 1812. He returned to this country and settled in Vermont, where he owned a fine farm on the St. Lawrence river. A brother of Erastus, Ezra by name, served during the War of 1812. Erastus himself was a captain in the home guards, a company which was called out at the battle of Lake Champlain. He was a well-known Baptist minister in his day and generation. On his father's farm, located near the St. Lawrence river in Canada, Ezra Lathrop, the father of James B., was born in 1803. Ezra was a native of Canada and was reared in that country. During the year of 1812 the family refused to take the oath of allegiance to the British crown. About 1822, the year in which the town of Greensburg was laid out, Ezra Lathrop came west to Decatur county, Indiana, with his father. They selected one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the site of the county seat, and also another one hundred and sixty acres north of the present site of Greensburg. Erastus, having returned home to bring back the family, died of typhoid fever. Ezra, the brother, came to Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1817, and grew to manhood, the hired man having, in the meantime, made a camp out of the bark of a poplar tree. During the winter of 1812 they lived on the site of Webb Woodfill's present residence. They cleared ten acres of land and in the spring returned for the mother and her other children.

Ezra Lathrop married Abi Potter, a member of the pioneer family of Huguenot descent, who fled from France, and who settled first in South Carolina, and later migrated to North Carolina. Nathaniel Potter, the father of Abi Potter, lived near where the battle of Cowpens was fought, and he had four brothers who were soldiers in the American Revolution. Subsequently he moved into Kentucky and from there moved to Decatur county, where he purchased several tracts of land. He gave each of his eight children eighty acres, and retained for his own use one hundred and sixty acres east of town. He was an important man in his day and generation and was considered extremely wealthy. Ezra Lathrop inherited considerable land from his father. During the first few years of his residence in Decatur county he did odd jobs, and during the second year he got a contract with another man for the building of the brick school house in Fugit township. The partner, however, absconded with all the profits, and Ezra got nothing. Eventually, however, he became a successful contractor and a manufacturer of brick, building many houses in Greensburg. He served as justice of the peace, having jurisdiction over the entire county, and held this office for a period of twenty years. A dry goods merchant, he also loaned money. The old home farm, adjacent to the town of Greensburg, two miles north, and upon which a part of the present city of Greensburg is built, he sold for two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. After having reared a family of two children to maturity, Ezra Lathrop died in 1894. Six children, however, were born to himself and wife, four of them dying in infancy. Levi, one of the sons who grew to maturity, died in 1884, and the other son is James B., the subject of this sketch, who was born on November 24, 1825, in a one-story brick house, which stood in the second square from the court house on East Washington street, and which Ezra Lathrop had built probably in 1823.

The venerable James B. Lathrop received an extraordinary education for his day and generation, having been instructed in the pioneer schools of Greensburg, and at Indiana University. Immediately after leaving college he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. Beginning in 1847, at the age of twenty-two, he served almost continuously as pastor of some church for thirty-one years. He was first called upon to fill a vacancy on the Martinsville circuit. Later he was transferred to Greenville, having in the meantime eighteen appointments in school houses, homes and churches. At Vincennes, Indiana, he had a very hard field, but was able to establish two new churches. From Vincennes he was transferred to Point Commerce on the Wabash river. From Point Commerce he went to Franklin, Indiana, a very poor church, which had only fifty members as late as 1851. Among other charges he was pastor of the church at Connersville, Vevay, Madison, Brookville, Columbus, Rushville, Aurora and Adams. When he went to Adams, there were only sixteen members, and within two years during his pastorate the church had increased to one hundred members and a new building had been dedicated. The Greensburg church had the best village Sunday school in Decatur county.

After a brief absence from the ministry, during which he was engaged in business with his brother at Greensburg, he returned to Connersville in the fall of 1864, and became presiding elder, a position which he held for two years, having jurisdiction over the Indianapolis district, and completing the balance of the six-year term on Moores Hill district, as the result of having traded districts with Elder Holliday, of Moores Hill. He was presiding elder of the Lawrenceburg and Moores Hill districts for six years each.

At one time Reverend Lathrop was in charge of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church in Indianapolis, but on account of the death of his brother and the aged parents, he returned home and served as pastor within the Milroy circuit for four years.

On the death of his brother in 1884, Mr. Lathrop became guardian for his children, and had charge of his deceased brother's estate. Subsequently, he became guardian for two girls left fatherless, and served in this capacity for five years. The father having been a mill owner, Mr. Lathrop operated the mill for the children for one year, selling the mill to a company. He operated the mill for the company for five years. He has been connected with the Citizens National Bank of Greensburg for many years, and on his father's death became manager of his estate, assisted by Lewis E. Lathrop, which position he held until 1884, when he turned the estate, amounting to a hundred thousand dollars, over to his children.

In this connection it may be said that Mr. Lathrop's career as a minister ended with a final period of four years during which he was a junior preacher on the Milroy circuit.

On November 28, 1845, James B. Lathrop was married to Mary C. Butler, who was born in Bloomington, Indiana, and who was the daughter of F. T. Butler. Mrs. Lathrop was born in 1830 and died in 1897. She was the mother of six children, two of whom died early in life. Levi died at the age of twelve years, and William died at the age of two years. The other children are Mrs. Ella Gavin, wife of Judge Gavin, of Indianapolis; Lizzie, who lives with her father; Harry, the secretary of the Business Men's Association of Greensburg, and Mrs. Margaret Shannon, wife of John Shannon, who lives one and one-half miles northwest of Greensburg.

James B. Lathrop has been a life-long Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar, being a member of the Baldwin Commandery at Shelbyville, Indiana. Possessed with a genius for public service, the influence of James B. Lathrop will live when he is gone. As his career is nearing a close he may enjoy the satisfaction of looking back on a life which has been spent in his Master's vineyard. Having carried the Christian Gospel to the people of this state at a time when it involved a greater sacrifice than at present, and having been a true servant, it is not too much to believe that his work will be approved by the One he has served in these well-known words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Mr. Lathrop became a stockholder of the Citizens Bank at Greensburg, Indiana, in 1873. He has served as president of the bank for several years.

Click here for photo.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Although Anthony Habig is not a native of this county, he has resided here now for twenty-five years and is naturally well known. He was born in Cincinnati on December 5, 1870, the son of Joseph and Theresa Habig, natives of Cincinnati, who moved to Indiana in 1880 and located on a farm one mile east of Shelbyville. They later resided in Greensburg and he was engaged in the milling business until 1897, when they moved to Indianapolis, where they died in 1905.

Mr. Habig has resided in Greensburg since 1890. From 1890 to 1897, he was employed in the office of the mill operated by his father. In the latter year he engaged in the real estate business and has been continuously engaged since that time.

In 1891 Mr. Habig was married to Ethel Fromer, of Greensburg and to them have been born two children, Marguerite and Velma.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Habig has never taken a special part in the councils of his party. He has never held office nor has he ever aspired to office, devoting his time almost exclusively to his own private business.

Fraternally, Mr. Habig is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. John and is prominent in both organizations. The Habig family are all members of the Catholic church and are liberal contributors to its support.

Anthony Habig is a man, who, in his dealings with the public, has established an enviable reputation for honorable and square dealings. In his business especially this is an important asset and it is responsible largely for the splendid clientage which he today enjoys. He also handles old line fire insurance, Hanover Fire Insurance Company, New York City; Aachen and Munich, New York City; also has a rent-collecting department.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Bernard H. Blankman, the county surveyor of Decatur county, was born on October 28, 1877, at Millhousen, Indiana, where he now resides. He is the son of Henry and Mary (Goldschmidt) Blankman, the former of whom was born on December 6, 1849, in Cincinnati, and the latter of whom was born in 1857 in the same city. Nine children were born to Henry and Mary Blankman; Bernard, the subject of this sketch; Edward, Frank, August, William and Mrs. Clara Vaske, all of whom reside at Bigelow, Minnesota; Mrs. Josephine Ruhl, who lives in Millhousen; John and Theodore, who still live at home.

Henry Blankman was the son of Bernard H. and Angela (Lueken) Blankman, both of whom were born in Germany, although not in the same state. They came to America when still young people, met and were married in Cincinnati, Ohio. They moved to Millhousen, Decatur county, when their son, Henry, was six year old. Mr. Blankman's maternal grandparents were John Bernard and Elizabeth (Brinkers) Goldschmidt, who were also born in Germany. They moved to Millhousen, Decatur county, when Mr. Blankman's mother was eleven years old. Henry Blankman and Mary Goldschmidt were married in Millhousen.

Bernard H. Blankman attended the parochial school at Millhousen until fourteen years of age, and was then a student in the district school, No. 6, in Marion township, being graduated from the district school at the age of seventeen. Subsequently, he attended the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, during the summer of 1895, preparatory to teaching. He has learned surveying by home study and by practical work. Mr. Blankman taught school for fourteen years, having begun at the age of eighteen. He taught until 1913, when he assumed the duties of surveyor, having been elected to the office in November, 1912. This office was wholly unsought, as Mr. Blankman is in no sense of the word a politician. He gave such excellent service that he was re-elected in 1914. During the three years that he has held the office he has had no trouble and during this period has had charge of all land surveys, the building of macadamized roads and all bridges in Decatur county. Mr. Blankman has one hundred acres of land well improved farm which he rents out. He, however, still lives on his farm.

On June 7, 1905, Mr. Blankman was married in Millhousen to Clara M. Hardebeck, who was born at Millhousen on December 4, 1885, and who is the daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Funke) Hardebeck, the former of whom was born near Marion, Indiana, on January 27, 1840, and who died on October 10, 1913. The latter was born in Germany on February 2, 1845. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Josephine Steltenpohl; Mrs. Mary Butz; Mrs. Cecelia Ronnebaum; Frances, at home; Theodore, a farmer of Marion township; Louis and Henry, also at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Blankman have had five children: Cyril, who was born on December 14, 1907; Paul, August 20, 1909; Alvin, May 17, 1911; Laura, October 21, 1913, and Orval Theo, June 20, 1915.

Fraternally, Mr. Blankman is a member of the Knights of St. John. He and his wife and family are members of the Catholic church and he is identified with the Democratic party. He owes his nomination and election as county surveyor to this party.

Click here for photo.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Harry Emmert, who has been general manager of the Greensburg Water Company since 1896, was born on October 6, 1868, in Greensburg, but is the son of native-born German parents, John and Catherine (Seitz) Emmert. The former, who was born in Mannheim, Germany, came to this country a poor boy, and attended night school after coming here to obtain an education. Coming to Greensburg, Indiana, in 1866, he built the Garland mills, and operated these mills until his death. Before coming to Greensburg he had lived in Lawrenceburg, to which place he came in 1853. He not only was engaged in the milling business, but he was a miller by trade, as was his father before him, and no doubt his technical knowledge of the business was, in a large measure, responsible for his great success. During his life John Emmert was an influential man in Decatur county. A Democrat in politics, he served as councilman of Greensburg for a number of years, and was public-spirited, progressive, industrious and became very wealthy. A member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years, he was prominent in that organization. There were three eventful years in the career of John Emmert. In 1845, when he came to America with his parents and located at Trenton, New Jersey; in 1853, when he located at Lawrenceburg, where he was married to Catherine Seitz, and in 1866, when he came to Greensburg, Indiana, where the most of his fortune was acquired. His wife, who before her marriage was Catherine Seitz, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, and was brought to America with her parents when four years old, in 1838. They first located in Hamilton, Ohio, but her father, Christopher Seitz, later removed to Dearborn county, where he became a farmer. John Emmert died in 1882, while his wife survived him many years, dying in 1909.

Harry Emmert grew up in the milling business of his father, having worked in his father's mill from the time he was a small lad. In the meantime he received a liberal education in the public and high schools of Greensburg, and when finishing high school was reasonably well equipped for a business career. At the age of twenty-eight he became manager of the Greensburg Water Company, and with the growth of this company he also has grown as a business man, having become, in the meantime, president of the Citizens Gas Supply Company, a fifteen thousand dollar corporation, president of the Sand Creek Gas Company, a five thousand dollar corporation, which supplies natural gas to the Citizens Gas Supply Company, besides being extensively interested in other important local enterprises.

Mr. Emmert has never married. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Water, as we all know, is a public utility and a public convenience and necessity, and the man who is responsible for furnishing pure, clean water to the people of a city, performs a greater service than a man can perform in almost any other way. Mr. Emmert is a skilled manager, and being supplied with the best equipment, he naturally is in a position to maintain cordial relations with the public. In the city of Greensburg he is very popular.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

There is probably no other occupation which yields the certain returns that may come to the farmer, and the striking success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Mowrey are ample evidence that he has applied his energies in such a way as to produce maximum results. Starting out in life with only a small competency he has labored to the end that he has accumulated more material wealth from the soil than any other farmer who has ever tilled the soil in the county.

But it is not mere wealth which makes a man. If it were, there would be no outcry against the man of wealth in this country today. It is the use of the wealth once gained which marks the true American citizen, and it is in this particular that Mr. Mowrey stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens. More than one church in the county can testify to his generosity; more than one congregation in the county today is doing the Master's work better and more efficiently because of the broad philanthropic spirit of Mr. Mowrey. The crowning act of Mr. Mowrey, however, which shows his worth as a public-spirited citizen was his gift to the city of Greensburg which made the magnificent new Young Men's Christian Association building a possibility. This was erected in 1915, solely through the munificence of Mr. Mowrey and will stand as a monument through many generations yet to come. Thus it may be seen why Mr. Mowrey merits the title of the "Grand old man of Greensburg."

Nelson Mowrey, the son of Joel and Priscilla (King) Mowrey, was born on July 30, 1832, in Clay township, Decatur county, Indiana. His father, a native of Kentucky, was a thrifty citizen for his day and generation and when he came from Kentucky to Decatur county in the early twenties, he at once set about to carve a place out of the primeval wilderness. Here he and his good wife lived until their death, he passing away in 1834, when Nelson was only two years of age. The mother was left with a family of four children, Nelson being the youngest. The other three children, John L., Malinda Jane and Thurza Ann, are deceased. Nelson was born in a log cabin which is still standing. His mother lived to a ripe old age, dying at the age of seventy-eight in 1880.

Educational opportunities were exceedingly meager in the boyhood days of Mr. Mowrey. The old-fashioned log school house was still in vogue and the only school was what was known as the subscription school and was in session seldom more than three months in the year. It is a well-known fact that the long nine months' vacation often caused the youngsters of that day to forget practically all that they had learned in the short three months that they were permitted to attend during the winter season. Nevertheless, Mr. Mowrey got a good knowledge of the elements of the "Three R's" in such a school and this was supplemented by wide reading in later life so that he became a well-informed man. He continued to reside on the home farm with his mother and the other members of the family until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time he was given his share in the paternal estate, which amounted to fourteen hundred dollars, and with this small amount he started out to make his way alone in the world. It is not the purpose of this brief summary of Mr. Mowrey's life to follow his career in detail through the long years which have followed. Only the larger landmarks in his career will be noticed.

On March 1, 1857, Mr. Mowrey moved to a farm one and one-half miles south of the old home place and six miles west of Greensburg. This farm of eighty acres was soon increased by the purchase of one hundred and forty-five acres, and on this farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres, he lived until 1887. In the meantime he had been buying land in other parts of the county and in 1887 he moved on to one of his eighty-acre farms in Clay township. Year after year saw his acreage increase until he had accumulated twenty-eight hundred acres of land in the county.

The acquisition of such an extensive estate could only come about by the closest application and the widest foresight. Much of the wealth of Mr. Mowrey has come about by the natural increase in the value of his land, much of which has increased several fold in value since he acquired it. Mr. Mowrey continued in the active management of his extensive farming interests until his marriage in the fall of 1907, since which time he has made his home in Greensburg.

Mr. Mowrey was married on October 2, 1907, to Carrie F. Seitz, who was born in Patriot, Indiana, a daughter of Michael and Sophia Seitz. Her parents were natives of Germany and first located in Switzerland county, Indiana, upon coming to this country. A few years later they settled in Dearborn county where they made their home the remainder of their lives.

The career of Mr. Mowrey has been altogether too active as a farmer and financier to permit of any participation in politics. He has always been identified with the Republican party and given it his hearty support at all times. While he leans to the Christian church, yet he has been a generous contributor to all denominations. Fraternally, he has been a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Milford for many years.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Starting in life as a lawyer, Mr. Bonner soon left the profession to enter banking and has made this his life-long work. For more than thirty years he has been identified with the Third National Bank of Greensburg.

Walter W. Bonner was born near Springhill, Decatur county, Indiana, on July 30, 1860, a son of William H. and Narcissa E. (Elliott) Bonner. His father was born in Wilcox county, Alabama, a son of James and Mary P. (Foster) Bonner, who came with his parents to Decatur county in 1836. The father of James Bonner was a Scotch Presbyterian and left his home in the north of Ireland toward the end of the eighteenth century. He came to America and settled on a plantation near Anderson, South Carolina, not far from the historic old plantation which was destined in after years to become the home of John C. Calhoun, and there James Bonner was born. The latter was reared near Abbeville, South Carolina, and there married Mary P. Foster, whose father, James Foster, was born in the north of Ireland, and who became a farmer after his migration to South Carolina and in 1837 came to this county, settling on a farm in the Springhill neighborhood, where he spent the rest of his life. Two years after his marriage James Bonner moved to Wilcox county, Alabama, where he dwelt for sixteen years, owning and operating a large plantation, the work of which was performed by slaves. Coming to hate the institution of slavery, he sold his slaves, in a body to his brother and, in the spring of 1836, came to this county, becoming a large farmer in Fugit township, where he died at the age of fifty-five. Mary, the wife, died in 1837, where he was married a second time. James Bonner was the father of six children, two daughters who died in early womanhood, James F., Dr. John I., William H., father of the immediate subject of this sketch, and Robert, who died in childhood.

William H. Bonner was reared on the home farm near Springhill and was a farmer all his life. He became a man of large influence in the county and in 1868 was elected representative from this county to the state Legislature. He served one term in a manner very acceptable to his constituents, but declined a re-nomination. Hon. William H. Bonner for many years was one of the leaders of the Republican party in this part of the state and was influential in all good ways. We was a member of the United Presbyterian church and served for many years as a ruling elder of the local congregation.

He was twice married, his first wife having been Elmira L. Hamilton, a sister of Thomas M. Hamilton. Upon her death, he married, secondly, Narcissa E. Elliott, to which union there were born two sons and one daughter, Henry E., a farmer of this county; Walter W., with whom this biography directly treats, and Mary F. The Hon. William H. Bonner died on August 12, 1874.

Walter W. Bonner was educated in the district schools of Fugit township and in Indiana University at Bloomington. In the year 1881 he began studying lam in the office of Miller & Gavin, in Greensburg, and in 1882 was admitted to practice at the bar of the Decatur circuit court. He did not practice law very long, however, for when the Third National Bank was opened at Greensburg he entered that institution as a bookkeeper and in 1884 was promoted to the position of assistant cashier, being advanced to the responsible position of cashier on February 3, 1887, which position he since has held, his services having proved most satisfactory to the directors of this excellent financial institution.

.On September 15, 1884, Walter W. Bonner was united in marriage to Libbie Donnell, of Springhill, to which union there was born one child, a daughter, Ruth, who married Homer G. Meek and has one child, Mary Lois.

Mr. Bonner is one of the best-known and most successful financiers in this part of the state. To his excellent direction of affairs undoubtedly is due much of the strength of the sound financial institution with which he is connected and he has the utmost confidence of all business men throughout this part of the state.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.

Thomas Knox Smiley was born in the state of Ohio on May 30, 1846, the son of William and Mary Ann (Kenny) Smiley, both of whom were of Irish descent. William Smiley's father emigrated from Ireland to this country and settled in Pennsylvania, where he reared a family and spent the remainder of his days. Mary Ann Kenny was born in New Jersey. Her mother was a Boston woman, and from a nearby hill was an interested spectator of the battle of Bunker Hill, the presumption being that her husband, in common with most of the patriots of that city, was a participant in that historic struggle. Later the Kennys moved from New Jersey, to which latter state they had emigrated from Massachusetts, to Ohio, where the parents of Mrs. Smiley spent the rest of their lives.

William Smiley was born in Pennsylvania on March 14, 1814, the son of Irish parents, and upon reaching manhood's estate moved to Ohio, where he married Mary Ann Kenny about the year 1838, and on January 9, 1849, came to Decatur county, settling in Clay township on what is now known as the Smiley homestead. He bought land at that time for ten dollars an acre that now is worth more than ten times that price. William Smiley was a man of strong character, a stanch and upright citizen and an excellent farmer. He was energetic and enterprising and speedily began to prosper, eventually becoming the owner of nine hundred or one thousand acres of land in Clay township and gaining the reputation of being one of the shrewdest business men in that part of the county. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith. Mr. Smiley was an ardent Democrat and took an active interest in political affairs. In one election years ago he was the candidate of his party for the office of county commissioner from his district, and despite the fact that the county at that time returned an overwhelming Republican majority, he was defeated by but two votes, a circumstance which attested unmistakably his popularity throughout the county. As their children grew to manhood and womanhood, Mr. and Mrs. Smiley divided their large land holdings among them and for nearly twenty years lived a life of pleasant retirement in the city of Greensburg. Mr. Smiley died in Greensburg in June, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years. His widow survived him just three years and she also died at the age of seventy-nine. They were a most estimable old couple and the memory of their wholesome lives and good deeds lives long after them.

To William and Mary Ann (Kenny) Smiley were born the following children: Permelia, deceased, who was the wife of James L. Henry; Caroline, who married Edward Sefton; George W., deceased, father of William G. Smiley, who died in 1907, on the old Smiley homestead and was a very successful farmer, being the owner of seven hundred acres of fine land; Harvey K. married a daughter of John E. Robbins and died in 1915; Thomas Knox, the immediate subject of this sketch; William F., who lives in Greensburg, this county; Mary, who died in August, 1914; Sovereign Patrick, who lives in Texas, and Margaret, the widow of William Johnson.

Thomas Knox Smiley has always lived the life of a bachelor, and makes his home with Frank Jalop and wife on the old Smiley homestead, three and one-half miles southwest of the village of Burney, on the Greensburg and Columbus road. He is a member of the Methodist church at Hartsville and was one of the charter members of the Knights of Pythias lodge at the same place. He is a Democrat and takes an earnest interest in political affairs, but has never sought office. He became the owner of a goodly farm in the distribution of the home acres, but to his share he has added one hundred and twenty acres, acquired by his own industry, and is very well circumstanced. Though still giving careful attention to the general details of his extensive farming operations, Mr. Smiley for the past ten years has lived practically retired from the active duties of the farm and is taking life easy. The good cheer which he brings into his intercourse with his neighbors, makes him a prime favorite in the neighborhood and no one thereabout is more popular than he.

Click here for photo.

"History of Decatur County, Indiana"
Lewis A. Harding
B. F. Bowen & Co.
Indianapolis, Indiana
published in 1915.