Mr. Rothrock was born at Monticello on the 7th of February, 1900, and is a son of Orville A, and Mae (Bennett) Rothrock, the former of whom was born in White County and the latter in Pulaski County. Orville A. Rothrock has been a representative business man of Monticello, where he organized and is the executive head of the Rothrock Agency and where he formerly served as city marshal and as deputy sheriff of the county, and he has for several years been a member of the Indiana bar. He is a son of the late John A. Rothrock, who likewise was born and reared in White County, where he gained no minor distinction and influence as editor and publisher of the White County Democrat, his father having been one of the early settlers in White County, whither he came from Pennsylvania in the 1830 decade. He was one of the leaders in the local councils of the Democratic party and otherwise was one of the honored and influential citizens of his day and generation in White County.

John A. Rothrock, of this review, is the elder in a family of two children, and his brother, Lindell B, is prominently associated with business affairs in Monticello. John A. Rothrock was a student in the Monticello High School, when, in June, 1918, he enlisted for World war service, in the United States Navy. He received preliminary discipline at the Great Lakes Naval Training State, near Chicago, and was assigned to duty on the United States vessel Mongolia. He continued in service after the armistice brought active hostilities to a close and was honorably discharged with the rank of petty officer, June 11, 1919.

After the termination of his World war service Mr. Rothrock became a student in the law department of the University of Indiana, and subsequently was transferred to the University’s branch at Indianapolis, the Indiana Law School, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1922, he having been admitted to the bar in the preceding year and having been admitted to practice before the Indiana Supreme Court and the Federal courts of the state in the year that marked his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In 1922 Mr. Rothrock opened a law office in his native City of Monticello, where his personal popularity and his recognized professional ability have combined to gain him a notably substantial and representative practice in the intervening period. He gave two terms of effective service as official prosecuting attorney for the district comprising White and Carroll counties, he is a popular young member of the White County Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association, he is, as previously noted, prominent in the affairs of the Democratic party contingent in his home county, his religious faith is that of the Methodist Church, and in addition to being affiliated with the local post of the American Legion, of which he is a past commander, he has membership also in the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Sigma Delta Kappa and Phi Delta Kappa college fraternities. While a student in the Indiana School of Law Mr. Rothrock was active in student athletics and was a member of the Amateur Athletic Union.

In White County was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Rothrock to Miss Eva B. Friend, who likewise was born and reared in this county, and the one child of this union is John A., III, who bears the name of his father and of his paternal great-grandfather.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

CURTIS RANCK resides in the City of Indianapolis, where he is living virtually retired, and he is the owner of a large and valuable farm estate in Wayne Township, Marion County. Mr. Ranck is a representative of one of the old and honored families of Indiana and has long maintained alliance with the great basic industries of agriculture and stock raising, through the medium of which he has achieved a success that marks him as one of the substantial capitalists of his native state. He has been a constructive worker and has not found it necessary to bewail the decadence or unprofitableness of farm enterprise, for he has brought to bear progressive methods and policies and has made success come as a normal result.

Mr. Ranck was born in Wayne County, Indiana, September 9, 1859, and is a son of Mathias and Nancy H. (Helms) Ranck, both likewise natives of Wayne County. Mathias Ranck was reared and educated under the conditions and influences that marked the pioneer era in Wayne County, and there he long held secure status as a substantial representative of agricultural and live stock enterprise. Members of the Ranck family went from their native Germany into France, and from the latter country the paternal great- grandfather of Curtis Ranck of this review came to America and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. From that county of the old Keystone State George G. Ranck, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to Indiana in the pioneer days and established the family home in Wayne County, where he passed the remainder of his life and where he did well his part in advancing civic and industrial development and progress, he having been one of the prosperous farmers in that county in his day and generation, even as was his son Mathias in later years.

Curtis Ranck was reared on the old home farm in Wayne County, and there he supplemented the discipline of the public schools by a two years' course in Earlham College, the staunch old institution maintained in the City of Richmond under the auspices of the Society of Friends. In his native county Mr. Ranck well upheld the honors of the family name in connection with loyal citizenship and as an exponent of agricultural and live stock industry, he having there become the owner of a fine farm of 240 acres and having also developed a prosperous business in the buying and shipping of cattle. He finally sold his Wayne County farm, and he thereafter came to Marion County, where he purchased the Holmes farm when that fine property was sold under the hammer, this splendid farm estate being now widely known as the Ranck farm, its improvements being of the best and most modern type and its area 360 acres. This is one of the show farms of Wayne Township, and in that township Mr. Ranck owns also another farm, of 144 acres. His modern residence in Indianapolis was erected by him, is situated at 5023 Sixteenth Street, West, and has been his place of abode since 1918, when he removed from his farm to the capital city, he having been a resident of Marion County since 1900. Mr. Ranck and his wife pass the winter seasons at the attractive home they own in Miami, Florida, at 73 Northwest Forty- seventh Street. Mr. Ranck is a Democrat in politics, and while he has had no desire for public office his civic loyalty was constructively shown in the several years of effective service that he gave in the position of road supervisor. He has been liberal in the support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general communal welfare, he and his wife are active members of the United Brethren Church, and Mrs. Ranck has membership in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

On the 20th of July, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ranck to Miss Emma B. Marlatt, who likewise was born and reared in Wayne County, this state, and who is a daughter of the late Harrison and Anna (Swisher) Marlatt. Harrison Marlatt was a prosperous farmer in Wayne County, where he passed the closing period of his life, his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Beller) Marlatt, having come to Indiana from Virginia, where the family had been established in the Colonial era, the original American representatives having been French Huguenots who fled their native land to escape the religious persecution that followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

Mr. and Mrs. Ranck have two children, Oscar and Ivy R. Oscar Ranck, who owns and resides upon a farm of 100 acres in Marion County, married Miss Sadie Hightshue, and their children are four in number - Sherman O., Hiram M., Martha J. and Mary S. Ivy R. Ranck married Elmer Klingensmith, and they have one child, Pauline O.

Click here for photo.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

CHARLES WEBSTER JEWETT. In the capital city of his native state Mr. Jewett is a member of the representative law firm of Elliott, Wile & Jewett, which controls a substantial and important general practice, with major attention being given to corporation law, the offices of the firm being established in suite 1411 Fletcher Savings & Trust Building. Mr. Jewett is a loyal and appreciative citizen of the fine old Hoosier commonwealth and his interest in all that has concerned its development, progress and general welfare is indicated by his possession of virtually all published histories of Indiana.

Charles W. Jewett was born at Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana, January 7, 1884, and is a son of Rev. Edward Parker and Alma Mary (Aten) Jewett, both likewise natives of Indiana, where the former was born at Warrenton, Gibson County, and the latter in Johnson County, both families having gained pioneer prestige in this state. Rev. Edward P. Jewett became one of the distinguished and honored clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Indiana, where he held many important pastoral charges, his service having included the pastorate of a leading church in Indianapolis.

The public school discipline of Charles W. Jewett was continued until he had completed his high-school course, and thereafter he continued his studies along academic lines, first in Franklin College and subsequently in DePauw University, in which latter institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1907 and with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In preparation for his chosen profession he entered the law department of historic old Harvard University, and from that institution he received in 1910 his degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forthwith admitted to the bar of his native state and initiated the practice of his profession in Indianapolis, where he has been continuously associated with Charles H. Wile.

Mr. Jewett has made a record of notably successful achievements in his profession and has been influential also in the Indiana councils and campaign activities of the Republican party, he having served as secretary of the Republican Union at Indianapolis in 1913, and having been elected in 1914 and 1916 as chairman of the Republican state central committee. His is a vital and loyal interest in the welfare of his home city, and this was significantly shown in his able and progressive administration as mayor of Indianapolis, an office that he held during the period of 1917-21. He was mayor of the Capital city during the entire period of the nation's participation in the World war, and thus had to meet and adjust many exceptional executive problems. It was through the initiative of Mayor Jewett that was instituted the plan for providing in Indianapolis a suitable and permanent memorial to Indiana men who sacrificed their lives in the World war. Within his regime was completed the elevation of railroad tracks that had previously had grade crossings in the city and while he was mayor was initiated the work of providing Indianapolis with a sanitary sewerage system that has been developed into one of the best to be claimed by any metropolitan center in the world. Under his administration the platoon system was adopted by both the fire and police departments of Indianapolis and the equipment of the fire department was changed to motor power in place of the former horse-drawn engines, hose-wagons, fire-patrols, etc. In the World war period Mayor Jewett had much of leadership in the patriotic activities that caused Indianapolis to exceed its quota in all of the drives in support of Government war bonds, Red Cross work, etc., and it is to be noted that the city rendered a significant over subscription to the War Savings Stamp campaign. Mayor Jewett likewise effected the adoption of the municipal budget system that unified the work of making all purchases for the city government, and thus was effected an annual saving of fully $100,000. The splendidly constructive record of Mayor Jewett doubtless gained popular recognition of his administrative ability and this was shown in 1928, when he appeared as a Republican candidate for the office of governor of Indiana.

Mr. Jewett has membership in the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with both York and Scottish Rite bodies, as well as the Mystic Shrine, and he has membership also in the local organizations of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, Loyal Order of Moose and Fraternal Order of Eagles. In his home city he is a member of the Columbia Club, University Club, Dramatic Club and Indianapolis Athletic Club, besides having membership in the Indianapolis Country Club. He and his wife are active members of the Meridian Street Methodist Episcopal Church.

The year 1911 recorded the marriage of Mr. Jewett to Miss Elizabeth Dougherty, who was born at Bluffton, Wells County, a daughter of Hon. Hugh and Emma (Gilliland) Dougherty, the former a native of Darke County, Indiana, and the latter of Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Jewett have no children.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

CHARLES FREDERICK REMY, who is serving with characteristic loyalty and ability as judge of the Appellate Court of the State of Indiana, has long been a representative member of the bar of his native state and both his paternal and maternal ancestors gained distinctive priority as pioneer settlers of Indiana, with whose civic and material history the names of the respective families have been prominently and worthily identified since the first decade of the nineteenth century.

Judge Remy was born near the Village of Hope, Bartholomew County, Indiana, February 25,1860, and is a son of Calvin J. and Marinda (Essex) Remy, the former of whom was born in Franklin County, this state, in 1834, and the latter of whom was born in Bartholomew County, in 1836, she being now one of the venerable and revered native daughters of the Hoosier Commonwealth and her home being maintained with her daughter, in the City of Indianapolis. She is a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Fry) Essex, who were born near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and who became early settlers in Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Calvin J. Remy was a son of John T. Remy, who likewise was a native of Franklin County, this state, where he was born in the year 1810, he having been a son of James and Mary (Jones) Remy, both natives of Virginia, whence they came as young folk to Indiana, their marriage having been solemnized in Franklin County, this state, where James Remy established his residence in 1809, he having there reclaimed a farm from the forest wilds and both he and his wife having there passed the remainder of their lives. Their son John T. likewise followed farm industry as a life vocation and was one of the honored native residents of Franklin County at the time of his death.

Thomas Essex, maternal grandfather of Judge Charles F. Remy, was long one of the most honored and influential citizens of Bartholomew County, he having been a successful school teacher and a skilled surveyor, and he having been called upon to serve in various offices of public trust, including those of county surveyor, county commissioner, county recorder and representative, three terms in the State Legislature, besides which he gave two terms of administration in the office of mayor of Columbus, judicial center of Bartholomew County.

Mrs. Rebecca (Adair) Remy, paternal grandmother of Judge Charles F. Remy, was born in South Carolina, a daughter of James Adair, who thence removed with his family to Kentucky, from which latter state he came to Franklin County, Indiana, about the year 1909, the marriage of his daughter Rebecca to John T. Remy having occurred in Kentucky. James Adair had served as a patriot soldier in the War of the Revolution, and his mortal remains rest in the cemetery at Brookville, Franklin County.

Calvin J. Remy was afforded the advantages of the pioneer common schools of Franklin County, where he early began to aid in the work of the home farm, and he was a youth of sixteen years when, in 1850, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Bartholomew County, where he passed the remainder of his life and where he long stood forth as a progressive exponent of farm industry, as well as a substantial and highly honored citizen. He was one of the venerable native sons of Indiana at the time of his death, which occurred October 11, 1917, and though his widow is now (1930) ninety-four years of age she retains admirable command of both physical and mental powers, and her memory is a repository of much and accurate information touching the early history of Indiana. She has long been an earnest member of the Baptist Church, as was also her husband, and the latter was an unswerving supporter of the cause of the Republican party.

Judge Charles F. Remy supplemented the discipline of the public schools by attending the preparatory department of and later completing a regular course in Franklin College, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1884 and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During a period of three years he supplemented his financial resources by rendering effective service as a teacher in the public schools, and in preparation for the profession of his choice he entered the law department of the University of Michigan. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1888, his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws having been followed by his admission to the Michigan bar and also to that of his native State of Indiana. The Judge was for eight years engaged in active general practice at Columbus, county seat of Bartholomew County, and as a representative of that county he served one term in the State Legislature - during the session of 1895. In the following year he was elected official reporter of the Indiana Supreme Court, he was reelected in 1898, and his service continued until 1905, in January of which year he formed a law partnership with James M. Berryhill, with whom he continued to be associated in the control of a large and important law business until January 1, 1919, when he initiated his service on the bench of the State Appellate Court of Indiana. In this important department of the judiciary service of the state government he has since continued his able administration, and he now has secure vantage-ground as one of the distinguished legists and jurists of Indiana.

Judge Remy, well fortified in his opinions concerning governmental and economic policies, has ever given zealous allegiance to the Republican party, and in their home City of Indianapolis he and his wife are earnest members of the First Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of the board or directors of his academic alma mater, Franklin College, he is a past grand chancellor of the Indiana Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias and he is a past president and a past supreme representative of the Sons of the American Revolution. He has membership in the Columbia Club and the Century Literary Club of Indianapolis, and in a professional way he is affiliated with the Marion County Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

On the 25th of November, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Remy to Miss Deborah Henderson, who was born in Wells County, this state, a daughter of William and Mary E. (Hughes) Henderson, the former of whom was born in Ohio, whence he came to Indiana and first became a resident of Blackford County. Judge and Mrs. Remy have one son, William Henderson Remy, who was born December 18, 1892, at Columbus, this state, and who is now engaged in the practice of law in the City of Indianapolis.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

CHARLES T. MISER, a skilled civil engineer, maintains his private office in the Y. M. C. A. Building in the City of Auburn, judicial center of DeKalb County, and in his administration as county surveyor he has executive headquarters in the county courthouse.

Mr. Miser was born in Indiana, November 2, 1905, and his parents, Edward and Mae (Showers) Miser, now maintain their home at St. Joe, DeKalb County, this state, their other children being William H., Martha and Frank. After completing his studies in the high school at St. Joe Charles T. Miser continued his studies in DePauw University, where he prepared himself for the profession of which he is now a representative. He has been successful in his activities as a civil engineer and his serving as county surveyor of DeKalb County. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he was reared in the faith of and is a communicant of the Lutheran Church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Phi Beta Sigma and Delta Alpha Psi college fraternities. He is not only one of the efficient members of the official executive coterie of DeKalb County but also one of the popular young bachelors of this county.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

BINNIE T. SMITH is secretary and treasurer of the Davis-Birely Table Company, one of the manufacturing concerns that give stability and industrial importance to the City of Shelbyville. Mr. Smith first became connected with this organization on the score of his knowledge and ability in handling traffic problems, his early experience and training for many years having identified him with railroad work.

The Davis-Birely Company was started in 1884, as the Conrey-Birley Company. It was reorganized and incorporated as the Davis-Birely Company in 1911. The original company was started for the manufacturing of furniture and their first shop was an old woolen mill building on a lot 40 by 100 feet. This old plant has undergone extensive remodeling and complete additions of new factories and equipment, so that the present plant and yards cover an area of seven acres. About 250 persons are employed regularly through the year. The chief output of the Davis-Birely Company is living room tables. They also make an extensive line of furniture novelties. Car lot shipments are made from the plant at Shelbyville to all parts of the United States. The company maintains a permanent exhibit at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The president of the company in 1911 was Mr. Charles Birely, the vice president, Joseph R. Mardis, and Mr. Smith, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Smith was born at Shelbyville, October 9, 1873. His grandfather, Thomas Smith, came to Indiana and settled in Rush County in 1830. Mr. Smith is a son of Marshall Smith who was born in Rush County, was a soldier in the Civil war, and has spent most of his life in the postal service. He was the first mail carrier at Shelbyville. He married Miss Jennie Clark.

Binnie T. Smith was one of a family of three children. He attended schools in Shelby County and after his high school course at Shelbyville found his first opportunity for work was as clerk in a furniture factory. He left this to become a clerk with the New York Central lines and rose to the responsibility of chief clerk and relief agent, and was in that service until called by the Conrey-Birely Table Company to the duties of traffic manager and office manager and credit man. He has been one of the officials and stockholders in the business since its reorganization in 1911, and from time to time has acquired additional interests and has had an increasing part in the executive direction of the business, handling the sales management.

Mr. Smith is also a director of the Shelbyville Trust Company. For fifteen years he was a director of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, is a director of the Grand Rapids Market Association, and for six was president of the Shelbyville Furniture Manufacturers Association. He was the second president of the local Rotary Club, is affiliated with Shelbyville Lodge No. 28, A. F. And A. M., the Royal Arch Chapter, Council and Commandery, the Scottish Rite Consistory and Murat Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis. During the World war he did his part toward speeding up industrial production for war purposes and acted as a director of the United States Employment Board. Mr. Smith is a prominent layman of the Christian of Disciples Church and is on the budget and promotion committee of the National Board of the church.

He married Miss Lola A. Womack, of Bartholomew County, Indiana. They have one son Harry W. Smith, now associated with the Davis-Birely Company, in charge of cost accountings and promotion and industrial relations. He was in an officers training camp during the World war, training for the field artillery at Camp Knox, Kentucky. Harry W. Smith married Nondas Young, of Vigo County, Indiana, and they have a daughter, Shirley Ann.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

CURT SOWDER, one of the present board of county commissioners of Lawrence County, was born and has always lived in Pleasant Run Township of that county. Mr. Sowder has made a name for himself as a very capable farmer, is a large land owner and for years has been prominent in farm and agricultural organizations.

He was born May 17, 1869, on a farm located about a mile west of his present place. Mr. Sowder's holdings as a farmer comprise about 400 acres, land which he has acquired at different times, and most of it has been in the family ownership for seventy-five years. His parents were William S. and Eliza Jane (Dayton) Sowder. His grandfather, Jefferson Sowder, came to Indiana from Kentucky in 1839 and acquired land when it was cheap. He is buried in the Hawkins Cemetery of Lawrence County. William S. Sowder was a boy when the family came to Indiana and settled in section 8 of Pleasant Run Township. He grew up there and during the Civil war joined Company F of the Ninety-third Indiana Infantry and was slightly wounded in one battle. He was extensively engaged in stock raising. There were seven children in the family: Mary, who became the wife of William Chambers; James M., whose first wife was Ureto Gilstrap and after her death he married Estella Normand; Emma, wife of Peter Hawkins; Alice, wife of William Chambers; Hugh, deceased; Curt; and John, who is married.

Mr. Curt Sowder was educated in the common schools at Bartlesville, spent three years in the old Mitchell Normal School and during his early life taught for about three years. Aside from his work as a school man he has been constantly engaged in farming since early youth. He operated his father's place for several years and during the winter worked in the timber. His industry and thrift enabled him to begin buying land when a young man, and his accumulations have been steadily mounting during his active years. He showed good judgment in his farming operations, and gave his thought and energy to his business and in that way acquired a reputation for business leadership.

Mr. Sowder was never interested in politics except for what service he could render his community. His only public office has been that of county commissioner, a position to which he has been elected for two terms. He and his two associates on the board planned and carried out the construction of the new courthouse at Bedford.

Mr. Sowder married, May 6, 1893, Miss Cora L. Stafford, daughter of James M. and Sarah (Meadows) Stafford. Her father is deceased and is buried at Pleasant Run. Mr. and Mrs. Sowder have three children. Their daughter Ethel is the wife of Ed Stipp, a farmer in Lawrence County, who owns about 200 acres, and their three children are Hester, John and Mary. Earl Sowder, who married Hermina Bitner, is a farmer and stock raiser in Lawrence County, and during the World war was at San Antonio, Texas, in a training camp and later was in the navy. The daughter Evelyn is the wife of Earl Bartlett, and they have two children, Harold and Marjorie. Mr. Sowder and family are members of the Christian Church.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931