Mr. Cooper was married in 1887 to Elizabeth L. Bridges, who was born in 1865, the daughter of Robert L. Bridges, her family having long been well known in Putnam county. This union has resulted in the birth of one daughter, Mabel B., born August 21, 1388. She graduated at the high school and she took music at DePauw University, manifesting considerable talent in this line. She was married January 1, 1910, to Ralph Cross, of Lebanon, Boone county, Indiana, and is now here, going to farm the homestead.
Mr. Cooper is the owner of two hundred acres of well improved and highly productive land in Franklin and Russell townships. He has a modern and attractive dwelling of ten rooms, located in the midst of beautiful surroundings. He has a substantial barn and other outbuildings. He keeps a good line of stock and feeds a great many cattle and hogs, being regarded as one of the leading general farmers and stockmen in Franklin township.
Mr. Cooper is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, Brick Chapel, Mrs. Cooper being a member of the Universalist church. Mr. Cooper is an independent voter, preferring to support the individual whom he considers best qualified for the office sought rather than the party. Personally he is obliging, jovial, neighborly and a man whom everybody likes. His father, George H., died on December 30, 1896.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
FRED L. GUILLIAMS.
Back to the earliest settlers of Putnam county is traced the record of the Guilliams family, the many members of which have done much for the general progress of the locality, since they have all been hard workers and law-abiding and always willing to do their just share in the interest of the county. Among the best known of this family in Russell township is Fred L. Guilliams, who was born in this county, October 4, 1867, the son of Daniel Guilliams, born September 27, 1833, and the grandson of John Guilliams, born April 26, 1802, a native of Virginia, who was one of the first settlers of this county and who married Lydia Fosher, born October 2, 1806, a native of this county: they resided on a farm at Blakesburg and were the parents of the following children: John, Christian, Daniel, Lydia, Sarah, Mary and Betsy, all deceased but Lydia, who married a Mr. Leonard and is living in Kansas. Daniel Guilliams was reared on the farm and had the advantages of the early schools of the backwoods. He was married to Clarissa Hart, September 14, 1856, daughter of John M. Hart, who was born December 10, 1806, and who on February 21, 1830, married Nancy Colwell Lockridge, who was born July 12, 1812. They were the parents of ten children, John L., Margary E., Clarissa, Margaret, Henry C., Sarah A., Nancy P., Pauline and Eliza. The Harts also lived in Putnam county in its earliest days.
After his marriage, Daniel Guilliams began farming on his own account, which he continued for a few years, then engaged in business as a retail merchant at Portland Mills. After four years he went back to his farm. Both he and his wife belonged to the Christian church. Politically Mr. Guilliams was a Republican. His death occurred August 10, 1893, his wife surviving until August 17, 1895. They are buried in the cemetery at Blakesburg. Six children were born to them, four of whom are living, namely: John M., born October 16, 1857, married Fanny Gavins, of Illinois; he is professor of mathematics, languages and history in the normal school at Bowling Green, Kentucky; Ida E. is a teacher in the public schools of Putnam county; Ella B., now Mrs. Morton Fordice, was born August 11, 1873, and is the mother of four children, Margery, Daniel, Mary and Rudolph.
Fred L. Guilliams, of this review, spent his boyhood days on the home farm. After completing the prescribed course in the common schools he was graduated from the Danville Normal School, where he prepared himself for a teacher, and for three years taught very successfully in the public schools and one year in a normal school in Florida. On April 23, 1899, he married Laura M. Grimes, daughter of John and Amanda (Clodfelter) Grimes, an influential family of this county, where they have lived since the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Guilliams began their married life on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, for which they paid fifty dollars per acre, that being less than one-half of its present value, for Mr. Guilliams, who has continued to reside here, has improved the place until it is equal to any in the community, he having always been regarded as one of the successful and enterprising agriculturists of the county. He has given his attention exclusively to farming and stock raising and is an enthusiastic poultry raiser, keeping a large number of choice fowls, from which he realizes a handsome income; he also makes a specialty of breeding Duroc Jersey hogs of a superior quality, these are eagerly sought after and admired by all who see them. He has a neat and comfortable dwelling, nicely furnished and good outbuildings.
To Mr. and Mrs. Guilliams one child has been born. John Leroy, born May 29, 1908. Both are members of the Christian church.
Regarding the several branches of the Guilliams family the following facts are briefly noted:
William Guilliarns, born at Parkersburg, Virginia, married Sarah Ferguson and they had nine children, viz.: Mary Guilliams Smith, John Guilliams, Frances Guilliams Smith, Edgecombe Guilliams, Chanty Guilliams Myers, William Guilliams, Richard Guilliams, Naomi Guilliams Landers, George Guilliams. Of these children, John Guilliams' paternal grandfather of Fred L. Guilliams, married Lydia Fosher and they had eight children, viz.: Daniel Guilliams, Susannah Guilliams Henkle, Elizabeth Guilliams McGaughey, Sarah Guilliams McGaughey, Mary Guilliams Long, John Guilliams, Christian Guilliams and Lydia Leonard. Daniel Guilliams, father of Fred L. Guilliams, married Clarissa Hart, September 14. 1856, and they had six children, viz.: John Milton Guilliams, Alice Guilliams, Charley Guilliams, Ida Emily Guilliams, Frederick Leon Guilliams (subject of sketch), and Ella B. Guilliams Fordice. Fred L. Guilliams married Laura M. Grimes April 23, 1899, and they have one child, John Leroy Guilliams. Ella B. Guilliams married Morton Fordice and they have six children, viz.: Margery Morton Fordice, Rudolph Gilliams Fordice, Mary Charlotte Fordice, Daniel Kirkwood Fordice, an infant son born December 25, 1903, and Asa Olney Fordice. Mary Colwell married John Lockridge, and they had seven children, viz.: Milton Lockridge, Nancy Colwell Lockridge (who married John M. Hart), Matthew Lockridge, Elizabeth Lockridge, James Lockridge, Joseph Lockridge and Lou Lockridge. Of these, Nancy Colwell married John M. Hart and they had nine children, as named elsewhere. Philip Hart married Margery Colwell and they had four children, viz.: John M. Hart (grandfather of Fred L. Guilliams), born December 10, 1806, Pleasant Hart (died when eleven years old), Susanna Hart Allen, and Jane Hart.
John M. Hart married Nancy Colwell Lockridge and they had nine children, viz.: John Hart, Margery Elizabeth Hart, Clarissa Hart (born July 4, 1836, who became the wife of Daniel Guilliams), Margaret Priscilla Hart, Henry Clay Hart, Sarah Anne Hart, Nancy Pennelia Hart, Pauline Hart and Eliza Hart.
Clarissa Hart married Daniel Guilliams and they had six children as mentioned above.
Daniel Fosher, born in Germany, May 12, 1763, came to America with the Hessian soldiers. His son, John Fosher, born in Franklin county, Indiana, in 1786, married Elizabeth Landers and they had nine children, viz.: Christian Fosher, Lydia Fosher Guilliams, Daniel (died in infancy), Henry Fosher, John Fosher, Anna Fosher Guilliams, Kate Fosher Nichols, Betsy Fosher Fall, Mary Fosher Todd Smith. Of these children, Lydia Fosher (born October 2, 1806) married John Guilliams and they had eight children as given elsewhere. Daniel Guilliams, the eldest of these, married Clarissa Hart and they became the parents of six children as noted elsewhere in this genealogy. The fifth of these children was Frederick Leon Guilliams (subject), who married Laura M. Grimes, daughter of John and Amanda (Clodfelter) Grimes, and they have one son, John Leroy Guilliams.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
THOMAS J. McGAN.
Back to the early pioneer days in Putnam county is traced the ancestry of Thomas J. McGan, one of Russell township's best known citizens, owning a good farm here and a nicely arranged and well equipped jewelry store in Russellville, being one of the influential and substantial men of northwestern Putnam county. His birth occurred here November 24, 1844. He is the son of James McGan, a native of Pennsylvania who went to Kentucky, from which state, in 1829, he came to Indiana, locating in Russell township, Putnam county, when a young man. He first engaged as a laborer in a woolen mill which was operated here in the early days, in time getting a good start. He was married to Margaret Everman, the daughter of Michael Everman, one of the oldest settlers of this county. He was the father of five children, Andy, Margaret, Betsy, Wesley and William, all of whom are deceased. Shortly after his marriage Mr. McGan bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 5, adjoining the town of Russellville, and engaged in farming and stock raising and fed a great deal of stock. He was a money maker and from time to time added to his farm, owning a section of land, except one small tract, all in a body. In 1853 he erected on his original farm a very pretentious brick house for those days, a two-story, commodious structure, having burned the brick on his own farm that entered into its construction. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying August 17, 1872, his death occurring July 20, 1873; they are buried in the Russellville cemetery. Ten children were born to them, named as follows: William, born September 11, 1833, died August 23, 1862; Andrew J., born February 2, 1835, died September 20, 1841; Eli V., born July 14, 1836, died November 4, 1841; George W., born April 8, 1838, died November 6, 1841; Mary, born July 17, 1839, died August 1, 1840; James W., born April 11, 1841; died November 14, 1841; Benjamin F., born October 15, 1842, died December 29, 1874; Thomas J. (of this review), born November 24, 1844; Sarah, born March 9, 1847, died December 9, 1847; Rachael, born February 20, 1849; Rachael and Thomas J., of this review, being the only ones living at this writing.
Thomas J. McGan was reared to manhood on his father's farm and received a common school education, upon the death of his parents he heired the home place and he has continued to reside here to the present time. He engages very successfully in farming and stock raising, keeping the old place well improved and carefully tilled, so that the soil has not depreciated in strength and value.
Mr. McGan has never assumed the responsibilities of the married state, and his sister, Rachael, now a widow, makes her home with him most of the time. She was twice married, first to James Senett, now deceased; her last marriage was to Howard Anderson. She has one child, William Senett, who is married and is living on a farm near Crawfordsville, Indiana. Six members of his father's family died with scarlet fever when young.
As stated at the onset, Mr. McGan conducts a jewelry store at Russellville, spending much of his time looking after the same; however, he lives on his farm. He enjoys a good trade with the surrounding community. He has the undivided respect of all his neighbors and has always been square in his business relations.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
ALBERT C. LOCKRIDGE
Among Franklin township's successful farmers and influential men of affairs is Albert C. Lockridge, who is the owner of a fine farm which he renders highly productive by the latest scientific methods, reaping abundant harvests from year to year as the result of the energy, time and thought expended upon it, and he is regarded as one of the leading young farmers of Putnam county. He comes from a good old pioneer family. His birth occurred near Greencastle, Indiana, February 20, 1873. He was reared on the home farm which he worked during crop seasons when he became old enough, attending the district schools in the winter-time, remaining on the place where he was born until he was thirteen years of age when he moved to Raccoon, in the northwest part of the county, and remained there five years. In 1891 he came to Roachdale, Franklin township. After his preliminary education in the common schools he attended DePauw University for one year, after which he took a year's course in a business school. He worked on the farm until 1900, then purchased a farm of his own, and in 1904 he built the old elevator at Roachdale and he has been engaged in the grain business ever since in connection with his farming. He buys and ships all kinds of grain and hay, having built up an extensive and lucrative business. He also has an interest in the Bainbridge lumber yard at Bainbridge, Indiana, where the firm handles not only lumber, but also cement, coal, grain and all kinds of seeds, flour, feed, etc., doing an extensive business. Besides these extensive interests, he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and forty-two acres in section 2, Franklin township, which he looks after personally, giving it a great deal of attention, as already intimated, especially to the raising of grain, at which he is very successful. The place is well improved and he has a modem, comfortable and attractive home. He has been very successful in all his business operations owing to his soundness of judgment, his ability to foresee the outcome of present transactions and his honorable dealings with his fellow men, which has gained their confidence.
Mr. Lockridge was married to Alice Hillis, of Greencastle, where she grew to maturity and where she received her education, being a graduate of the high school there. She is the daughter of a highly respected citizen of that place, where her family were long well known. This union has resulted in the birth of three children, Louise, born in 1897, Elizabeth, born in 1900, and Nellie, born in 1905.
Mr. and Mrs. Lockridge are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally, Mr. Lockridge is a member of Roachdale Lodge, No. 602, Free and Accepted Masons, which he has served as secretary; he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 297. He is a Prohibitionist and is a member of the board of town trustees of Roachdale. Personally he is a pleasant man to know, a good mixer, straightforward and unassuming.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
SAMUEL PRESTON BROWN
One of the men who is enjoying the fruits of his labors in his declining years and who has found it to his advantage to remain in his native locality is Samuel Preston Brown, owner of an excellent farm near Coatesville, having by long years of patient endeavor accumulated a valuable estate, although starting out in life with small capital. He was born in Putnam county, January 15, 1842, the son of Williamson and Jane (Rich) Brown, a well known old family of this community. Grandfather Williamson Brown was a native of North Carolina, who came to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1832, locating in Floyd township, Putnam county, two years later; however, he never owned land here, although a farmer by occupation. His family consisted of nine children, namely: William, Hesekiah, Isaac, Stephen, Williamson, Nancy, Rebecca, Mary and Betsy. The father of these children died in 1840 and is buried in the cemetery at Coatesville.
Williamson Brown, Jr., was born May 7, 1794. He remained at home until reaching maturity and attended the primitive schools of his day. On May 16. 1804, he married Jane Rich and they located on a farm of one hundred and forty acres in section 36, Marion township, and here he followed farming all his life. He was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. They made their home on the present Brown farm, he dying here January 2, 1876, being survived by his widow until September 12, 1899; they are buried in the Coatesville cemetery. Twelve children were born to them, namely: Mrs. Sarah E. Noble, a widow; Mrs. Sarah A. Harsch and Mrs. Emily J. Kelsey are both living in Iowa; Samuel Preston, of this review; Jabez; those now deceased are, Mrs. Rachael L. Pierson, Manuel, Samuel R., Hannah E. (who remained single), Mrs. Mary A. Kelsey, John W. and Nancy M.
Samuel P. Brown remained with his parents assisting with the work about the farm until he reached maturity. His education was gained in the local schools. On March 20, 1873, he married Sarah J. Paddock, of Dublin, Wayne county, Indiana, where her father owned a good farm.
After his marriage Mr. Brown moved onto a farm of sixty acres adjoining Coatesville on the north and he has continued to reside here. He has prospered by reason of good management and close attention to his individual affairs and also owns one hundred and eighty-eight acres adjoining, also one hundred acres in Marion township and one hundred and forty acres in Floyd township. All his land is among the most valuable in this part of the county, has been well improved and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, - in fact is regarded as one of the model farmers of Putnam county and one of the best judges of livestock in this community. His judgment seldom errs in his business transactions and he holds high rank as one of the county's substantial and representative citizens. He has a modern, commodious and attractive home near Coatesville, his home farm adjoining the town.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Frank L. and Cora A. The former was born January 31, 1878; he attended the local schools, then entered DePauw University, from which institution he was graduated with honors. Deciding to turn his attention to the ministry he took a course in the Theological School of Boston, Massachusetts. December 15, 1908, he married Grace Elizabeth McVey, a talented representative of a well known family. Mr. Brown was engaged in teaching at Pachuca, Mexico; previous to his marriage he taught school in San Antonio, Texas. He is at present pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fairview, Indiana. He is a young man with a brilliant future and is very popular wherever he is known. Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Brown have one son, Waldo Preston Brown, born March 11, 1910. The daughter, Cora A., a young lady of refinement, is a graduate of the Coatesville schools and is still a member of the home circle.
Members of this family are all Methodists in their religious beliefs. Mr. Brown is a Republican, but he has never aspired to public office, being content to devote his time exclusively to his individual affairs. He has always been regarded as a man in whom the utmost confidence could be reposed and, being friendly and neighborly, he is well liked by all classes.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
MADISON YOUNG
The gentleman to a review of whose life the reader's attention is here respectfully directed, is recognized as one of the energetic and successful citizens of the north part of Putnam county, who by his enterprise and progressive methods has contributed in a material way to the general advancement of the county, especially Franklin township, where he has long maintained his home and become one of its leading men of affairs. Like many of the enterprising citizens of this section of the Hoosier state, Madison Young is a Kentuckian, having been born in the old Blue Grass state, January 5, 1856. He is the son of Harrison and Riziarh (Baugh) Young, both born in Kentucky where they were reared, educated and married and in 1873 they came to Putnam county, Indiana, and farmed in Franklin township where they lived until about 1883 when Mr. Young went west, but he has returned and is now living in Roachdale. He and his wife are the parents of these children: G. R., Madison, Margaret, Mary B. and Samuel K.
Madison Young grew to maturity in Kentucky, where he worked on his father's farm during the summer months and attended the common schools in the winter. He came to Indiana with his parents and remained with them until he was twenty-three years of age. He had worked considerably on the farm by the month in order to get a start.
On April 6, 1880, Mr. Young was married to Emma F. Bymaster, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, November 18, 1861. Her father, David L. Bymaster, a man of high principles and well known in his community, was a native of Pennsylvania, who finally moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he resided during the latter part of his life. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Young who is now deceased. Her name was Letha M., born June 10, 1881, and died January 13, 1893; she was a graduate of the high school at Ladoga, Indiana, and was a bright and interesting child.
Mr. Young is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and six acres in Montgomery county, this state, which is under a high state of improvement and cultivation. He moved to Roachdale, Putnam county, on November 23, 1906, and is residing at the corner of Washington and Walnut streets, in one of the finest and most attractive dwellings in the town or this part of the county, being equipped with all modern appliances, with basement, furnace, bath, hot and cold water, etc. It was built at an expense of three thousand dollars. He still looks after his farm and is especially interested in good livestock, of which he is a splendid judge, and, because of the high grade of the various kinds of stock he handles, they always find a ready market.
Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the Christian church at Roachdale, and Mr. Young is a charter member of the Ben Hur lodge here, carrying an insurance in the same. Politically he is a Republican and, while he has never found time to take a great deal of interest in political affairs, he has always done what he could toward the betterment in any way of conditions in both Putnam and Montgomery counties, and because of his public-spirit, his cordial manners and his honesty he is held in high favor wherever he has lived.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
CHARLES BOLES BRIDGES.
Few men of a past generation in Putnam county so impressed their strong personalities upon the minds of those with whom they came in contact, did more for the general upbuilding of the locality and left behind them a worthier record than Charles Boles Bridges, who has long since joined the great "caravan that moves to the pale realms of shade," yet the luster of his singularly pure and worthy life is still shed along the pathways of those nearest and dearest to him, and for many reasons his biographical memoir is worthy of a conspicuous position in the history of the country where he "lived and moved and had his being."
Mr. Bridges was born October 30, 1800, and he closed his eyes on earthly scenes March 2, 1879, thus nearly reaching the advanced milestone of fourscore years. He was one of the pioneers of Putnam county, having come here seventy years ago from Kentucky, where he was born. His paternal ancestors were English and, perhaps, Welsh. His mother was an orphan whose ancestry cannot be definitely traced, being quite young when she lost her parents. William Bridges was the third son of a family of five children, James, Charles, William, George and a daughter. William Bridges settled first near Salisbury, North Carolina, during the Revolutionary war period. He was a blacksmith by trade and was pressed into the service to make shackles for the Tories. He was married to his first wife when he came to this country from England, but she did not long survive after coming to America. After this he settled in Kentucky, about the year 1790, in a vast wilderness, among the native redskins, bears, wolves and other kinds of wild animals, in what is now Madison county. Here he married Elizabeth Wright, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, and soon afterward moved to what is now Montgomery county, Kentucky, about eight miles from Morgan Station, the scene of an Indian massacre. To this union five sons and three daughters were born, namely: William, James, George, Charles, Milton, Tamer, Abigail and Eiizabeth. These children had three half-brothers and one half-sister. Their parents were both old-time and they delighted in attended the camp meetings held in the woods of those early days where people "shouted" and "went into trances."
Charles B. Bridges knew little else than hard manual labor from the time he was six years of age to the age of twenty-six. When about nine years old he was placed in school, traversing a foot-path through the woods to a primitive log house where only such test-books as the old Columbia speller, Guthrie's arithmetic and the Bible were used. His schooling did not amount to six months in all. He was nineteen years old when his father died. He practically took charge of the farm, managed it and handled stock successfully, selling some of his own property to satisfy his father's creditors. In dividing the farm of one hundred acres, forty of it fell to the subject. He began supporting the family by raising hogs for market, and making a good crop the first year. The following fall he accepted an offer of ten dollars per month, to go to Richmond, Virginia, and drive hogs. He made the trip thither on foot, a very trying journey. He made another crop the following year and in the fall hired to drive hogs to Sumpterville, South Carolina. He continued farming and trading in stock and in time he accumulated some property; however, he had many discouragements for fifteen years after he began life for himself. Borrowing nine hundred dollars, he bought a number of horses and drove them to Alabama where he sold them. Later he took a drove of horses and mules to Georgia, meeting with adverse luck, such as getting hold of a large amount of counterfeit money. After making a number of trips to the South and trading extensively in stock at home, he had, by 1829, accumulated enough to establish a home of his own, and while cradling wheat he first saw Rachael Lockridge, a farmer's daughter who was carrying water to the reapers, and after a short courtship they were married on October 28, 1830. She was the daughter of Robert Lockridge, who then lived about six miles north of Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Mr. Bridges had purchased a seventy-five-acre farm near there, and the young couple went to live there in an "old log cabin." Their first child, Robert, was born October 17, 1831; William was born in September, 1833. Mr. Bridges sold his farm for thirty dollars per acre, a large price for that time, and upon surveying the place it was found that the boundary contained about nine acres more than the original estimate. The following spring he and his brother, Willis, made a trip to Indiana, which was then practically a wilderness, but little of the land being under cultivation and the inhabitants poor. They went to Montgomery county and as far as Lafayette in Tippecanoe county, only a few houses then marking the site of the last named city. After refusing to buy land very cheaply where the city of Crawfordsville now stands, they purchased a tract near Parkersburg. They could have bought land at a very low figure now covered by a part of Indianapolis. They returned home and moved to the new country the following fall and here started life again in true pioneer fashion, leaving Kentucky September 18, 1834, and, notwithstanding the subsequent hardships and privations, they never regretted making the change. The trip required twelve days to Montgomery county, Indiana, and they began clearing their wilderness land, keeping house in a one-room shack. He cleared about fifteen acres and planted corn, but the season was a wet one and nothing was raised. In the fall he went to Illinois, whither he had gone about a year previously, but owing to the prevalence of chills and fever did not care to locate there. He later went to Putnam county and bought land in the Foster settlement, selling out in Montgomery county. Here he found conditions much more favorable and soon had a good start, raising a splendid crop of corn. He liked the locality so well he purchased the old Secrist farm of one hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid six dollars per acre, and moved to the place. He improved the land on which a house had already been built and some fences put up, and a few acres set in blue grass.
About the year 1837 Mr. Bridges and two of his neighbors began the agitation of abolishing whisky at log-rollings and husking-bees, etc., Mr. Bridges having always been a temperate man. Within a short time they appointed a temperance meeting at Blakesburg, inviting several noted speakers from different places; this may be said to be the first temperance movement of this section of the state. He had a fine blue grass farm in a few years and bought stock and kept them on the place and by 1840 had a good start again. However, those were trying times financially, following the national bank law of 1833. Mr. Bridges had purchased another piece of land, and the panic coming on he offered it for one thousand dollars less than he had paid for it, but could not sell it. In 1843 he purchased the old Myer tract of about one hundred and twenty acres, on which he moved his family and lived there three or four years, then built a new house and barn in 1845. His older boys had become large enough to attend to the place and Mr. Bridges now devoted most of his time to stock trading. In 1847 he purchased the first cookstove ever brought to this community. He dealt extensively in sheep, having as many as one thousand head on the place at one time. By 1851 he had sold all his land but about three hundred acres, and he decided to engage in the mercantile business; so, forming a partnership with Reub Moss, they opened a store at Fincastle, Putnam county, Mr. Bridges leaving his farm to the care of his boys. A year later he bought his partner's interest and after continuing it another year he sold out. He had done well in this line of endeavor, having over four hundred names and twenty thousand dollars on his account book when he closed out. But his patrons were very prompt in paying. A year later he built a store room at the cross roads one-half mile from his residence, afterwards called Cairo, and commenced the business again and sold goods for about two years, his son Milton, who was born in 1835, having acted as clerk. After trading in land until 1861 he bought the store back, taking his son, DeWitt, who was born in 1847, to clerk. The breaking out of the Civil war brought an increase in the price of manufactured goods and almost all commodities and he made money rapidly, continuing in business two and one-half years. He continued to look after his land and in the spring of 1865 purchased a small farm near Bainbridge, having disposed of his other possessions, built a good house and quietly spent the remaining years of his life there.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bridges. Those not mentioned above are, James, born in 1837; Elizabeth, born in 1840; Dulcenia, born in 1845; Amelia, born in 1852, and Rachael, born in 1855.
James Bridges, a worthy son of a worthy sire, lives on the old Stevenson homestead, where he is very successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He was educated in the common schools. On November 10, 1859, he married Mary Darnall, who died August 14, 1867, this union having resulted in the birth of the following chi1dren, all living: Douglas, Jesse and Thomas. On September 1, 1865, James Bridges married Mary Nelson Stevenson, daughter of Dr. Alexander Campbell and Mary Jane (Gillespie) Stevenson, and the following children have been born to them: Sarah, Flora, Harriet, Alexandria was born in January, 1871, and died July 19, 1887.
Charles B. Bridges was scrupulously honest in all his dealings with his fellow men; he strictly avoided all coarse and vulgar language, and always had a soft answer with which to turn away wrath. His interest in temperance work continued unabated. He was one of the builders of the Universalist church in Putnam county and was always a liberal supporter of the church, and his children were reared in such a wholesome home atmosphere that they have all become members of the church and worthy of the name they bear.
Mr. Bridges' political affiliation was with the Democratic party, but he was neither bitter nor violent as a partisan. He was loyal to the Union cause. Honored in life and regretted in death, his name will long remain a fragrant memory to those who knew him. He was fortunate in the selection of a life companion and was much devoted to his wife, it being a great comfort to him that she fully sympathized with him in his religious faith and philanthropic views. She was reared a Presbyterian, but became an avowed believer in Universalism. Rachael Ozier (Lockridge) Bridges was born about five miles northeast of Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Kentucky, October 13, 1812. Her ancestors were of Scotch-Irish and English extraction, having emigrated to this country at a very early period. Her parents had a hard struggle in the early Kentucky days. Rachael was the second of a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters. She was reared to work about the homestead, for her father owned a small farm and had to have assistance in making a living for his large family. One of her first duties was to keep watch over the newly sprouted corn, for in the wilderness days of the Blue Grass state farming was rendered doubly hard from the fact that innumerable birds, squirrels, etc., destroyed the crops. When about seven years of age she began attending school in one of those old historic puncheon-floored clapboard-roofed school houses of the pioneer days of the middle west. She learned very rapidly, but her school days were brought abruptly to a close, having attended school less than one year. Her father died when she was young and the family was left in none too favorable circumstances, but by manufacturing almost all their wearing apparel and by hard work they managed to live comfortably. When very young Rachael was put to weaving and doing other like work. She had little opportunity to attend social functions and up to the age of seventeen, when she met Mr. Bridges, she had been absent from home but little. She was a woman of great fortitude, courage, strong-minded, gentle and always deeply concerned regarding the welfare of her children. Her death was triumphant, that of a true Christian "sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust" when the final summons came on January 3, 1881.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
DAVID EMANUEL PAVEY REED, M. D.
There is a weight of character, a native sagacity and fidelity of purpose in Dr. David E. P. Reed, of Russel1ville, which commands the respect of all and he has left his impress for good upon the medical, social and business circles of Putnam county, which he has ever had at heart and whose interests he has ever sought to promote and where he has built up a lucrative and very satisfactory practice. He was born at Fillmore, this county, March 14, 1867, the son of George W. and Nary Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Reed, the latter the daughter of Solomon Shoemaker, of Virginia, the genealogy of this fine old family tracing back to the "Mayflower," to German Scotch-Irish antecedents. George W. Reed was born in Shelby county, Kentucky. He became a member of the Eighth Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers, during the Mexican war and saw active service in Mexico. He lost the use of his eyes in blasting a well in Kentucky about 1850. Although handicapped, he was a man of sterling qualities and nothing could daunt him, consequently he learned the broommaker's trade, at which he worked after coming to Indiana. He reached an advanced age, dying in 1884, having been preceded to the grave by his wife in 1872, and he is buried at the National Soldiers' Home at Dayton. Ohio. He followed his trade at Fillmore, this county, until his wife's death, spending his last years in the home referred to above in Ohio. Three children were born to them, namely: Margaret Ann, wife of A. R. Stevens, living in Oklahoma; Robert Solomon lives at Mattoon, Illinois; Dr. David E. P., of this review.
David E. P. Reed was five years of age at his mother's death, and he spent two years at the county farm, and lived for some time with James H. Hall, of Brick Chapel, growing up with Charles Hall, whose companion he was until he reached the age of twenty, where he got his board, clothing and attended the common schools, having worked for Mr. Hall from the age of eleven years, receiving about one hundred dollars compensation for his labors. Desiring to become a teacher, he went to the normal school at Danville for three and one-half terms, then taught in Clinton township, where he rendered very satisfactory service and became well known as a local educator, following teaching for a period of nine years. During the last four years of his career as teacher he read medicine, then entered the medical department of the Kentucky University at Louisville, receiving his degree with the class of 1897. He returned to his native county and began practice at Portland Mills, where he soon built up a very satisfactory patronage. Desiring a larger field for the exercise of his talents, he came to Russellville in 1906, since which time he has been engaged in active general practice with his usual success, his practice extending into Montgomery and Parke counties, being kept very busy with his numerous patients at all times of the year, and his success has been such that his prestige is constantly growing. He is a member of the State and the American Medical Associations. He keeps well abreast of the time and is a well-read man in everything that pertains to his profession, confining his attention exclusively to his practice.
Doctor Reed was married August 20, 1890, to Lucy J. Newgent, a lady of rare culture, the daughter of William W. and Patsy Newgent, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. She was eighteen years old at the time of her marriage. This union has been blessed by the birth of two children, Robert H., born in 1892, is attending the local high school, and Bessie Louise, born in 1900, is also attending school.
The Doctor is a Democrat, a Mason, Woodman and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
WILLARD GOUGH
In looking over the list of Putnam county's most representative citizens the name of Willard Gough should not be left out owing to the fact that he has always been interested in the general progress of the county and has done what he could toward the development of the same while carrying on the affairs of his farm. He is a native of Franklin township, this county, where he was born October 6, 1857, the son of John and Eliza (Carpenter) Gough. Philip Gough, his paternal grandfather, was a native of Virginia and a fine old pioneer. The father, John Gough, was a farmer and saw-mill man, and he was killed when his son Willard was less than two years old. The mother was married a second time and Willard was reared by his step-father on the home farm, which he began working when but a mere lad. He attended the district schools during the winter months and received a very serviceable education. He took charge of the farm upon the death of his step-father and successfully managed the same until he was twenty-one years of age.
Willard Gough was married in September, 1878, to Mary Rogers, who was born in 1855, the daughter of a highly respected family. Five children were born to this union, namely: Nellie, wife of Cortland C. Gilliam, an attorney at Greencastle, Indiana, is a graduate of the common schools; Nettie, the wife of A. P. Underwood, lives at Fincastle, this county; Grover is single and is living at Roachdale, this county; John B., who graduated from the common schools, was a teacher, and he married Lulu Pyle; Vernie V. is the wife of Otha Fowler.
The mother of these children passed to her rest on October 22, 1900, and Mr. Gough was again married in August, 1907, to Mrs. Laura Rettinger, a native of Monroe township, Putnam county, Indiana, having been born on September 8, 1866, the daughter of John W. and Mary (Everson) Hanks. She was educated in the common schools of Montgomery county, Indiana. Her father was a Kentuckian and her mother was a native of Montgomery county, this state, where they still live. Mrs. Gough was first married to David P. Rettinger.
Mrs. Gough is a member of the Christian church, and both she and Mr. Gough are members of the Eastern Star, the latter also being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Roachdale Lodge, No. 602. Politically he is a Democrat and he served very acceptably as trustee of Franklin township in 1904 and in January, 1905, he took office and served until January, 1909. During his term of office he did many things that will always be gratefully remembered by his fellow citizens, having somewhat consolidated the township schools and he turned over the township to his successor free from debt.
Philip C. Carpenter, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Gough, came to this state from Virginia and settled in Franklin township, Putnam county, and the town of Carpentersville now stands on the land he settled. He established a tannery here which was largely patronized, and he remained here until his death. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Eliza, Alexander, Ephriam, Rufus, Elizabeth, Sarah and Lucy. Mr. Carpenter was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was known as an honest and upright man.
Stephen Hanks, the grandfather of Mrs. Gough, was an old settler in Putnam county. He married Eliza Ketchen, by whom he had six children.
Mr. Gough has a neat and well kept farm of eighty acres in section 16, Franklin township, which he manages in a manner that yields a comfortable income from year to year. He was formerly engaged in the drug business and managed a general store in Carpentersville, and later at Raccoon, this county, continuing in that line for about six years, having moved to his present farm in 1889.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN
JAMES C. FORDICE.
Among the native-born residents of Putnam county who have reached a well merited success we must certainly include the name of James C. Fordice, well known resident of Russell township. Honesty and fair dealing have been his watchwords, and these twin virtues have been personified in his active life. He is the son of Joseph B. Fordice, who was born January 23, 1818, in Morgan county, Ohio, and the grandson of William Fordice, born May 11, 1786, in Nora Scotia. He married Ruama Buck, March 1, 1806, in Lower Canada, from which country the family moved to Morgan county, Ohio, where they lived for several years. Then Mr. Fordice moved to Putnam county, Indiana, where his children had preceded him, his desire being to spend his declining years with them. His death occurred October 2, 1862. Mrs. Fordice, who was born December 9, 1756, died November 27, 1875. They were the parents of thirteen children. Some of the sons engaged in the manufacture of fanning mills in Ohio and one of them was a manufacturer in Kentucky for five years, or until 1845, when they all came to Putnam county, Indiana, locating at Russellville, where they started a factory, and it was from this source that these sons, Nelson, George, Asa, Joseph and Jesse H., were enabled to buy their farm land and made their start in life. Their father purchased land in section 7, adding to it from time to time until he finally owned one thousand acres all in one body. February 24, 1842, he married Rebecca Elliott, of Illinois. He devoted his life to farming and stock raising at which he was very successful. In 1838 he was elected to the Legislature, serving very ably in that body. His death occurred February 17, 1883. He was a useful and influential man in his community. His children, of whom two are living, are as follows: James C. and Elizabeth; those deceased being Annie, John, Jesse H. and William A. The last named was born December 9, 1842, married Celia Durham and they had two children, Myrtle and Lula. Elizabeth married William Ashby; she was born August 30, 1852, and she became the mother of the following children living: Jesse, Joseph, Howard and Lela, those deceased being Siggie and Mary. Howard is a graduate of Wabash College and now one of its instructors in the department of mathematics. Chester is a freshman of the same college. Lela is a teacher in the public schools. Jesse H., now deceased, was born July 14. 1853, and died in 1909. He married Lucy Allen, May 25, 1881, and they became the parents of the following children: Margaret, Donald, Joseph, Paul and Elizabeth. Jesse H. Fordice was a successful physician and was located in Wichita, Kansas, where his death occurred. His family now resides in the state of Washington; his son, Donald, graduated from the state college in Washington.
James C. Fordice was reared to manhood on the home farm, received a common school education, and attended Wabash College, after which he became engaged in business and for a year was treasurer of an iron industry in Martin county, Indiana. He was at one time surveyor for the road now known as the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, rendering very efficient service and having the good will of his employers.
June 10, 1885, Mr. Fordice married Bertha Allen, daughter of Joseph Allen, of Greencastle, and after a mutually happy married life of thirteen years, she passed to her rest on August 30, 1898. Two children were born to them, Frederick, born March 31, 1886, and Harold, born January 10, 1888; both are graduates of Wabash College and are young men of much promise.
Mr. Fordice lives on the old homestead which his father purchased from Cyrus VanCleve, who entered the land from the government. He erected a one-story brick house, burning the brick himself, the house still standing on the farm. The father built a very modem house on this farm, in which his son now lives. Mr. Fordice makes farming and stock raising his occupation, and he is very successful in each; he is a money maker and one of the best known men in his township, being well read and thoroughly posted on all current events. Representing one of the oldest and largest families of the county, he has ever striven to conduct himself in a manner that would perpetuate the early record of the family for right living and right thinking. Politically he is a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian church.
"Weiks History of Putnam County Indiana" by Jesse W. Weik. 1910
B.F. Bowen & Co., Publishers, Indianapolis IN