Eli Frost was born in Dutchess county, New York, sixth in order of birth of the seven children born to his parents, the others having been Charles, Mrs. Caroline Dale, Mrs. Lydia Robinson, Mrs. Sarah Wells, Hyatt and George. His father met his death as the result of an accident at his home in New York and his mother, who before her marriage was Sophia Kelly, came with her children to Indiana and settled on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Harrisburg, in Harrison township, this county. Eli Frost then having been but seven or eight years of age. On that farm Eli Frost grew to manhood, later engaging in wagon-making in Harrisburg, following that occupation until he was thirty-five years of age, when he returned to farming in Harrison and on the farm reared his family. His mother spent her last days at Harrisburg, she being about sixty-five years of age at the time of her death. Eli Frost married Melsena Kerschner, who was born in Ohio, daughter of Daniel and Anna M. (Emerick) Kerschner, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Indiana from Ohio about 1840 and settled on a farm in Harrison township, this county, where Daniel Kerschner died not many years afterward, at the age of thirty-five years, and where his widow spent the rest of her life, she living to a ripe old age. They were the parents of seven children, those besides Mrs. Frost, the first-born, having been Amanda, Anna M., Matilda, Sarah, Daniel and William. Mrs. Frost died on July 26, 1889, aged about fifty-six years, and her husband survived her until October 15, 1916. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow: Rose A., wife of Rev. Ellsworth Cole, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Laura T., who married Harry Clifford and is now deceased; Emerick K., of Twin City, Idaho; Homer E., of Cleveland, Ohio, and Della W., wife of Carey E. Clifford, of Glenwood, this county.

Hyatt L. Frost was reared on the paternal farm in Harrison township, and received his schooling in the local schools, meantime being a valuable aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm. For four years he taught school and then began to read law in the office of Florea & Florea at Connersville. After a thorough course of reading under that able preceptorship he was admitted to the bar in October, 1881, and has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession at Connersville. Mr. Frost is a Republican and for years has been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. For four years, from September, 1894, to September, 1898, he served as mayor of the city of Connersville and in other ways has given of his services in the public behalf. Mr. Frost is an extensive landowner, owning a farm of two hundred and fifty acres at the north edge of Connersville, in Harrison township, a farm of one hundred and ninety-four acres, known as the Reese farm, west of the city, and one of one hundred and ten acres in the black lands of Fairview township. He also has charge of several farms for other people. For years Mr. Frost has been a student of the subject of good roads and is one of the most earnest advocates of the good roads movement in Indiana. He believes in taking care of the rural districts by a system of good roads all over the country and has for years afvocated the subject that is close to his heart and will continue to do so until the objects of the widespread good-roads movement in this country have been accomplished.

On June 11, 1882, Hyatt L. Frost was united in marriage to Dora A. Berkheiser, who was born in Waterloo township, this county, September 14, 1860, daughter of George A. and Miriam (Skinner) Berkheiser, early settlers of Favette county, the former of whom died in November, 1894, at the age of fifty-six years, and the latter of whom is still living. George A. Berkheiser and wife were the parents of two children, Mrs. Frost having a brother, William Berkheiser. Both the Berkheisers and the Skinners are old families in Fayette and Wayne counties. Mrs. Frost's grandparents on both sides having come here in an early day, and numerous representatives of these two families are found in this part of the state. George A. Berkheiser was the son of George and Elizabeth Berkheiser, who were well known among the old settlers of Fayette county and who reared a considerable family. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have one child, a daughter, Jessie M., who married Charles F. Murphy, of Connersville, and has a son, William F. Mrs. Frost is a member of the Episcopal church and Mr. Frost is a member of Warren Lodge No. 15. Free and Accepted Masons, at Connersville, in the affairs of which lodge he takes a warm interest.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

J. H. Fearis, veteran insurance agent at Connersville and former postmaster of that city, was born in Connersville and has lived there all his life with the exception of a brief periof during the eighties when he was engaged in business at Minneapolis. He was born on January 1, 1848, son and only child of George L. and Margaret N. (Huston) Fearis, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsylvania, who were for years accounted among the leading residents of Connersville.

George L. Fearis was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, in 1807, and there grew to manhood. He early learned the saddle-making trade and when twenty-one years of-age came up into Indiana and located at Connersville, where he engaged in the saddlery business and where he was thus engaged for a period of forty-two years. Upon his arrival at Connersville, he having come up the valley on horseback, he began working as a saddler in the employ of his uncle, Joseph Nelson, and presently engaged in business for himself, in partnership with a Mr. Hull, under the firm name of Fearis & Hull. After awhile he bought his partner's interest in the business and conducted the same alone until his retirement from business in 1871, his saddlery establishment having been located at the corner of Fourth street and Central avenue.

It was after coming to this county that George L. Fearis married Margaret N. Huston, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, of Revolutionary stock, her grandfather, Capt. William Huston, having been the commander of the Second Battalion, Cumberland County Associators, September, 1776; captain, July 31, 1777, of the Sixth Company, Sixth Battalion, Cumberland County Militia, in actual service; captain of the Sixth Battalion, January, 1778, and captain of the Fifth Company, Fourth Battalion, August, 1780. Captain Huston was born in 1755 and died in 1823. George L. Fearis and his wife were active in all good works in and about Connersville during their generation. They were members of the Presbyterian church and he for years served as a member of the session of that congregation. His wife died in 1876 and he survived for more than twenty years, his death occurring in 1898, he then having reached the age of more than eighty years.

Reared at Connersville, J. H. Fearis received his elementary schooling in the schools of that city, later attending Hanover College and after a course in that institution entering Miami University, completing his college course in 1866, after which he for some time was engaged as a clerk in mercantile establishments at Connersville. In 1876 he engaged in the fire-insurance business in a partnership, under the firm name of Fearis & Barrows, and after eleven years of such connection sold his interests at Connersville to Mount & Roots, of the First National Bank, and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in the insurance business. On account of his wife's health, Mr. Fearis presently returned to Connersville and during the administration of President Harrison was appointed postmaster of that city, a position in which he served for about five years, during which incumbency, December 1, 1890, free mail delivery was established at Connersville. In the meantime Mr. Fearis had been making considerable real-estate investments and upon retiring from the postoffice gave his attention to his land interests and also resumed his general insurance business, in which line he ever since has continued and in which he has been quite successful. Early in the days of the development of the telephone business Mr. Fearis established a telephone system in Connersville, the plant which he organized having been the one hundred and eighth such plant started in the United States, and got it going in fine shape, when, two years later, the Central Union Telephone Company began picking up small local telephone plants and Mr. Fearis sold his plant to that company. In other ways Mr. Fearis has ever had the interests of his home town at heart and has for years been recognized as one of the active factors in the development of the city along general lines. He is a Republican, but has not been a seeker after local office, his service as postmaster having been the only official public service he has rendered.

On November 1, 1870, J. H. Fearis was united in marriage to Josephine Du Bois, daughter of A. W. Du Bois, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Huston Du Bois Fearis, who married Alice Graham. Mr. and Mrs. Fearis are members of the Presbyterian church and for years Mr. Fearis was a member of the board of trustees of the local congregation. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

The late Michael C. Buckley, for many years one of Connersville's most energetic and enterprising citizens, for years actively connected with the grocery trade in that city and then for years the proprietor of the Buckley House, formerly one of the best-known hostelries in eastern Indiana, was a native of the Emerald Isle, but had been a resident of this country since the days of his boyhood. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, March 20, 1840, son of Dennis ant1 Elizabeth (Dorgan) Buckley, also natives of Ireland, who came to the United States with their family in the spring of 1852 and located in Hamilton county, Ohio.

Michael C. Buckley was about twelve years of age when he came to America with his parents and his youth was spent in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he completed his schooling and where he grew to manhood, remaining there until he was past twenty-one years of age, when, in the spring of 1862, he came to Indiana and located at Connersville, where he spent the remainder of his life. Not long after his arrival at Connersville Mr. Buckley secured employinent as a clerk in the Groff grocery store and was thus engaged for six years, or until a year after his marriage, when, in 1868, he engaged in the grocery business in that city on his own account. A year later he formed a partnership with J. W. Ross, the firm continuing in the grocery business for two years, at the end of which time Mr. Buckley bought his partner's interest in the concern and continued it alone until 1883, when he retired from that line and in August of that year assumed the management of the Buckley House, a hostelry famous in its day, which he owned and which he continued to conduct with much success until his retirement from business in 1900, renting the house at that time to others. The old Buckley House was maintained as a hotel, under various managements, for some years afterward and was then converted into an apartment house, which purpose it is still serving, standing at the northeast corner of Fifth street and Eastern avenue. For years also Mr. Buckley had been extensively interested in real-estate transactions in and about Connersville and when he retired was accounted one of the well-to-do men of that city. He also gave his close attention to local civic affairs and for some years served as a member of the city council and for two or three terms as a member of the city school board. Michael C. Buckley died at his home in Connersville on September 8, 1915, and his widow is still living in that city, having a very pleasant home at 509 Eastern avenue, where she is quite comfortably situated.

It was on May 23, 1867, at Connersville, that Michael C. Buckley was united in marriage to Susan Mullikin, who was born in that city, a daughter of Josiah and Ellen (Morrison) Mullikin, natives of Maryland, whose last days were spent in Connersville, useful and influential residents of that city. Josiah Mullikin was born in the village of Trappe, Talbot county, Maryland, September 27, 1807, and when a boy moved with his parents to Baltimore, where he learned the trade of shoemaker and where he grew to manhood. On May 6, 1830, in that city, he married Ellen Morrison and in the next year came to Indiana, locating in Fayette county. He and his wife's mother both entered land on Orange township, paying for the same one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, and there the family lived for ten years, pioneers in a new country. Josiah Mullikin then left the farm and moved to Connersville, where he resumed his trade as a shoemaker, but later became one of the builders of the old foundry on Eastern avenue, near the tracks of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, and in other ways became actively identified with the growth and development of the city. Mr. Mullikin was an energetic, straightforward citizen and exerted a large influence for good in the town in an earlier day, serving Connersville when it was a village and later when it was incorporated as a city in various public capacities, among these being assessor, a member of the school board, street commissioner, member of the village board of trustees, chief of the fire department and as a member of the city council. When the river began eating away the graveyard at the east end of Third street Mr. Mullikin tried earnestly but vainly to interest the town board in a movement toward erecting a protecting wall for the purpose of saving the graves of the forefathers of the village from destruction. Josiah Mullikin died on Novemher 14. 1884, and his widow survived him more than ten years, her death occurring in 1895. To Michael C. and Susan (Mullikin) Buckley four children were born, namely: Mabel E., wife of Dr. H. M. Zehrung, a dentist, of Connersville; Frank Buckley, assistant secretary and treasurer of the Ansted Spring and Axle Company and also interested in various other business and industrial enterprises in Connersville, for the past twenty years connected with the Ansted Company, attended DePauw University for three years and in 1906 married Grace Forte, of Fortville, this state; Stella Marie, who married Samuel Davis and has one child, a son, Robert Buckley, and Jessie, born on September 21, 1876, who died on June 19, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Davis make their home with the latter's mother on Eastern avenue.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

The late Frederick Schoenholtz, for years a well-known baker at Connersville and who also served that city as a member of the common council, was a native of Germany, but had been a resident of this country since the days of his young manhood. He was born on November 14, 1848, and received his schooling in his native land. As a young man he left Germany and came to the United States, locating at Cincinnati, where he became engaged as a baker, a short time afterward coming on up into Indiana and locating at Connersville, where for a number of years he worked in a local bakery and then bought a bakery and was engaged in that business the rest of his life, his popular establishment having been located where now the Mettles bakery is doing business.

Frederick Schoenholtz was a good citizen and a substantial business man and at his death on November 21, 1897, was mourned by many friends. Mr. Schoenholtz was a stanch Republican and ever took a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs, having for some years represented his ward in the city council, in which capacity he ever exerted his influence in behalf of the city's best interests. He was an earnest member of the German Presbyterian church and for some years served as a member of the board of trustees of the local congregation. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias and took a warm interest in the affairs of those popular organizations.

Mr. Schoenholtz was twice married. His first wife, Josephine Fridgen, died, leaving three daughters, Mrs. Charles Glore, Mrs. A. J. Henry and Mayme Schoenholtz, and he then married Catherine Billau, a daughter of Valentine and Henrietta (Ellers) Billau, and to that union two children were born, sons both, Carl and Frank Schoenholtz. Mrs. Catherine Schoenholtz was born at Connersville and has lived there all her life. Her parents, who were natives of Germany, came to this country in the days of their youth with their respective parents, both the Billau and the Ellers families locating at Cincinnati, where Valentine Billau and Henrietta Ellers were married. Valentine Billau was a brewer, a business he followed at Cincinnati for some time, later moving to Connersville, where he followed the same business for a number of years. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom - five are still living, those besides Mrs. Schoenholtz being Mrs. H. Pfafflin, Mrs. Elsie Schweikle, Mrs. Emma Ready and Otto Billau. Mrs. Schoenholtz is a member of the German Presbyterian church and has ever taken a warm interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Glen Zell, auditor of Fayette county and one of the most popular officials in the court house, was for nearly twenty years superintendent of the plant of the Connersville Buggy Company and in that capacity was long one of the best-known figures in the industrial life of Connersville. He was born on a farm in Huntington county, this state, September 14, 1875, a son of John Zell and wife, the former of whom was a blacksmith, who followed that vocation most of his life, for many years a resident of Milton, over the line in Wayne county, but in his latter years moving to Huntington county, where he spent his last days.

Upon completing the course in the district schools Glen Zell entered the normal school at Marion, this state, and was graduated from that institution. He then took a supplementary course in the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute and was thereafter engaged in the grocery business for two or three years, at the end of which time, in 1897, he located at Connersville, where he became employed in the factory of the Connersville Buggy Company and presently was advanced to the position of superintendent of the plant, a he occupied until he resigned to take up the duties of auditor of Fayette county. Mr. Zell is an ardent Republican and in November, 1914, as the nominee of that party, was elected county auditor. He entered upon the duties of his official position on January I, 1916, and is now serving the public in that important capacity.

On November 25, 1903, Glen Zell was united in marriage to Tina McCready, daughter of Miller McCready and wife, and to this union two children have been born, Robert and Russell. Mr. Zell is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has also given his active attention to a number of other fraternal societies. He is past noble grand of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, past chief patriarch of the encampment of that order and was for two years district deputy of the order, while both he and his wife are members of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Zell also is a past chancellor of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, is a director of the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, a trustee of the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and a member of the local tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

William J. Cain, recorder of Fayette county and a resident of the city of Connersville for the past thirty-six years, was born at Brookville, in the neighboring county of Franklin, July 9, 1847, a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Weinens) Cain, the former of whom was born in the state of Delaware and the latter in Ohio.

Jonathan Cain was born near the city of Dover, Delaware, and was but a child when his parents came to Indiana, the family driving through and locating in Franklin county. There he grew to manhood and was married to Sarah Weinens, who was born at Piqua, Ohio. Jonathan Cain was trained as a paper maker and continued thus engaged in the paper mil1 at Brookville until about the year 1873, when he moved up into Fayette county and was here engaged in farming until 1883, when he moved to Tipton county and was there engaged in farming until about 1893, when he retired and spent the rest of his life in the homes of his children in this county.

Reared at Brookville, William J. Cain received his early schooling in the schools of that city and supplemented the same by a course in the old Brookville College. He early learned the tinner's trade and followed that trade at Brookville until 1881, in which year he moved to Connersville and established a till shop of his own in that city, soon having a thriving business in that line. Mr. Cain continued engaged in business at Connersville until his election, in 1910, to the office of recorder of Fayette county, when he sold his business. Mr. Cain entered upon the duties of his office in 1912 and so satisfactorily did he conduct the same that he was re-elected to the office of county recorder in 1914 and is now serving his second term in that important office. Mr. Cain is a Republican and has for years been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county.

In 1871 William J. Cain was united in marriage to Elizabeth Lindsay, a daughter of William Lindsay, and to this union three children have been born, George, Lindsay and Thomas, the latter of whom died in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Cain are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Cain is a charter member of the Connersville lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

CAPT. THOMAS DOWNS.
In the memorial annals of Fayette county there are few names held in better memory than that of the late Capt. Thomas Downs, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former assistant quartermaster, United States Army, and for some years prior to his death in 1911 connected with the interior department of the United States government as special Indian agent and later as Indian commissioner, in which latter service he incurred the illness which resulted in his death. Captain Downs was a native Hoosier, a fact of which he ever was proud. He was born at Lawrenceburg, this state, March 31, 1845, and with the exception of the time spent in the government service remained a resident of this state all his life. His parents, Hezekiah and Ruth Ann (Chase) Downs, were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and of Ohio and he was one of nine children born to that parentage. Hezekiah Downs was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, March 6, 1819, and died at his home in Connersville on April 12, 1883. His widow, who was born at Marietta, Ohio, April 3, 1813, survived him a little less than two years, her death occurring on March 15, 1885.

Thomas Downs was but a boy when his parents moved from Lawrenceburg to Madison county, this state. Though his opportunities for schooling in the latter environment were very limited, by diligent effort he acquired a fair education and the mold in which he was cast and the training of a pious mother influenced him toward right living, honesty and integrity of purpose. Though he was but sixteen years of age when the sable cloud of the Civil War overcast the homes of this beautiful land, Thomas Downs answered his country's call and joined the "boys in blue," enlisting as a private in Company K, Fifty-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he went to the front and was later transferred to Company K, Sixteenth Indiana. While serving with that command his health became greatly broken and he was furloughed home on sick leave, returning to Connersville, to which place his parents meantime had removed, and there he suffered a long and severe illness of typhoid fever. Before he had entirely recovered from this illness this plucky soldier boy returned to his regiment and presently was transferred to Company K, Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, and with that command served until the close of the war, being mustered out with the rank of corporal on October 22, 1865. During this service Captain Downs participated in many important engagements and battles, including the siege and taking of Vicksburg, ,Arkansas Post and the Red River expedition.

Upon the completion of his military service, Captain Downs returned to Connersville and there entered upon the pursuits of peace as a carpenter. In the fall of the next year he married and settled down in Connersville, which he ever afterward regarded as his home, although in the later years of his life he was much absent on government business. Captain Downs' business career was an active one and in it, as well as in his social life, the fine character of the man stood out, exhibiting a singular sincerity, promptness, directness and firmness. From 1870 until 1898 he was connected with various firms engaged in general contracting and building and in 1884 he became the senior partner in the firm of Downs, Ready & Company. R. G. Waite, his former partner and life friend, being the other member of the firm. The reputation of this company became state-wide through its connection with the construction of important buildings in various parts of the state, as well as at Connersville, the seat of its operations. Among these buildings may be mentioned the McFarlan building, the Catholic church, the Methodist church, the Fifth street school building, the Eighth street school building, the National Bank building and the remodeling of the court house as it now stands, besides a number of fine residences at Connersville; the erection of a Catholic church at Rushville, a Catholic church at Greensburg, a business block for F. T. Roots at Muncie, additions to Oxford College buildings and the new building for the National Soldiers' Home at Marion.

From 1887 to 1889 Captain Downs served as a member of the Connersville city council and was a member of the city school board from 1890 to 1899. He was a director in the Fayette Savings and Loan Association and a stockholder in the Fayette National Bank. He was a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Royal Arch Mason and a member of Otonka Tribe No. 94, Improved Order of Red Men, in the affairs of all of which organizations he took a warm interest. Captain Downs was an ardent Republican and ever took an active interest in political affairs, both at home and throughout the state, and was long regarded as one of the prominent figures in his party in this section. His public service met with high approval and commendation, his acts in his various official capacities ever being animated by a high sense of duty and loyalty. The interest which Captain Downs manifested in the various lines of work in which he was engaged, and which characterized his whole life, was a great source of power and perhaps in later years led him to efforts far beyond his strength.

In July, 1898, during the progress of the Spanish-American War, Captain Downs received a commission from the federal government to act as assistant quartermaster, with rank of captain, and for a year he was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, near St Louis, where he chiefly was engaged in fitting out regiments en route for the Philippines and Cuba. He later was stationed at Cincinnati for a time and then spent two years at Ft. Stevens, Oregon, where he superintended the erection of an army barracks. On February 1, 1903, Captain Downs accepted another federal commission and for nearly seven years thereafter served as a special Indian agent. This latter service called the Captain to nearly every state west of the Mississippi, his duties having to do with the establishment of Indian schools, the settlement of difficulties among the Indians and the enumeration and enrollment of the various tribes. Captain Downs served in this capacity until in September, 1909, when, as a reward for efficient service, he received the appointment as Indian commissioner, the duty assigned with that appointment being that of enrolling the Winnebago tribe of Indians, which service he completed in about three months. The roll of the Winnebagos carried nearly fifteen hundred names and Captain Downs reported with the same at Washington, D. C., January 6, 1910. On January 20 of that same year he was ordered to Muskogee, Oklahoma, to inspect the schools of the Five Civilized Tribes, and was ready to take charge of the schools at Anadarko, when he was attacked by a serious disorder of the liver, which was destined to end his busy career. Captain Downs, upon being thus stricken, returned to his home at Connersville and after a year of illness passed away there on Friday morning, January 20, 1911.

Among the Indians, for whom he gave his best thought and judgment during the later years of his life, Captain Downs built for himself a monument of friendship, his invariable sympathy, kindness and courtesy in behalf of the wards of the nation winning for him their sincere regard and affection. Captain Downs's service as a soldier during the dark hours of the nation's trial in the sixties was ever a source of satisfaction and pride to him and he always enjoyed the friendship and the greetings of his comrades of those stirring years. On one notable occasion the flag which he loved, honored and followed, came to his rescue at a time when his life was in extreme danger. That was during the uprising of the Utes at Thunder Butte, Cheyenne ,Agency, South Dakota, in November, 1907, when Captain Downs was at the mercy of the turbulent redskins for three days and nights, with but one companion, all others at the agency save his clerk having fled for safety. The Indians were insolent and sullen and threatened to shoot the whites and burn the agency buildings. Captain Downs and his clerk were far out on the reservation, ninety miles from the agency, and the nearest telephone station was fifty miles away afterward, in speaking of his eventual rescue, Captain Downs said that when he heard the tread of the rescuing party of troops and saw the old flag advancing at the head of the column, "Old Glory" appeared to him with a new aspect, if possible, it never had looked so good to him before -for it brought protection and safety.

Captain Downs's widow is still living at Connersville, where she has a very pleasant home and where she is very comfortably situated. It was on November 20, 1866, that Captain Downs, then not very long returned from his service in the army, was united in marriage, at Connersville, to Mary Jane Esman, who was born in that city on June 1, 1849, daughter of Jacob and Saloma (Honhart) Esman, who became residents of Connersville during the early forties. Jacob Esman was born in Ermite, Alsace, then a German province, March 19, 1809, and was there trained to the trade of millwright. He served in the army of Louis Philippe and later came to the United States and at Warren, Pennsylvania, married Saloma Honhart, who was born in Arglesheim, Bavaria, Germany, December 16, 1816, and who had come to the United States with her brother in 1838, settling at Warren, Pennsylvania, where, three years later, she married Mr. Esman. Following their marriage Jacob Esman and wife came to Indiana, voyaging down the Ohio river by flatboat to Cincinnati and proceeding thence by wagon to Connersville, where they established their home and where they spent the remainder of their lives, honored and useful pioneer citizens. Jacob Esman became a citizen of the United States in 1844, his naturalization papers being issued by Amos Edwards, then clerk of Fayette county. He died at his home in Connersville on Ju1y 1, 1861, and his wido2 survived him for more than thirty-three years, her death occurring in Connersville on September 13, 1894.

To Thomas and Mary Jane (Esman) Downs five children were born, namely: Florence, wife of Martin Reifel, of Connersville; Susan Jane, wife of Charles A. Rieman. of Connersville; Augusta Ann, wife of Jesse B. Rhoads, also of that city; William Francis, who died at Connersville, October 30, 1888, and Dr. George Downs, of Spokane, Washington, who married Marie Seiling. Mrs. Downs has six grandchildren, namely: Gladys Rieman, wife of Robert C. Hamilton; Mildred Salome, wife of George M. Lennard; Mary Jane Rieman, Jane Augusta Reifel, Helen Downs Reifel and Thomas Downs.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Benjamin Walter Cole, former treasurer of Fayette county and present assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Connersville, is a native son of this county and has lived here practically all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Waterloo township, near the old village of Waterloo, May 24, 1872, son of Joseph and Margaret (Thomas) Cole, for many years prominent and influential residents of the northeastern part of the county, who later moved to Connersville, where the former spent his last days and where the latter is now living.

Joseph Cole was born in the neighboring county of Wayne, a son of Joseph Jared and Patience (Foster) Cole, natives of Maryland, who moved from Wayne county to this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Joseph J. Cole at one time owned about one thousand acres of land, but lost the greater part of his fortune in the pork-packing business. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Mrs. Ann Farrey, Mrs. Frances Harlan, Alfred, Mrs. Sarah Burris, Joseph and Mrs. Sophia Jones. Joseph Cole grew to manhood in this county and married Margaret Thomas, who was born in this county, daughter of Benjamin Thomas and wife, who came here from Maine in pioneer days and reared a large family, their children having been Mrs. Jane Carson, Mrs. Sallie Coss, Mrs. Margaret Cole, Samuel, Austin, Oliver, Walter, Scott and Mrs. Catherine Drischel. Joseph Cole became a substantial farmer in Waterloo township, the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and fifty-seven acres there, where he lived until 1906, when he retired from the farm and moved to Connersville, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on June 16, 1914, he then being seventy years and ten months of age . His widow still survives him and is making her home in Connersville, where she is very pleasantly situated. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has ever taken a warm interest in church work. Joseph Cole was for years actively identified with the county's political affairs and was for six years trustee of Waterloo township. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow: Harry, who died in infancy; Maude, who married Ellis Filby, of Cambridge City, this state; Effie, wife of Reece D. Eby, of Connersville, and Joseph J. Cole, president of the Cole Motor Car Company, of Indianapolis.

Benjamin W. Cole was reared on the paternal farm in Waterloo township and received his elementary schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home, supplementing the same by a course in the business college at Richmond, from which he was graduated in 1901. He then was engaged on the farm for a couple of years, at the end of which time he became a traveling salesman and was thus engaged for one year, after which he became an agent for the Parry Manufacturing Company and was for five years engaged in the buggy business, at the end of which time he went to St. Louis and there spent a year, later spending some months at Chicago and at Cincinnati, after which he resumed the buggy business and was thus engaged at Connersville for two years, at the end of which time he returned to the farm and was there engaged in farming for seven years, or until his election to the office of treasurer of Fayette county in November, 1914. Mr. Cole entered upon the duties of his office on January 1, 1915, and served the public in that important capacity until January 1, 1917. As an instance of Mr. Cole's popularity among the voters of Fayette county, it may be stated that he is the only Democrat elected to the office of county treasurer in this county for the past five years. He has for years taken an active interest in local political affairs and has long been regarded as one of the leaders of the Democratic party in this county. Upon the expiration of his term of public office Mr. Cole was elected assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Connersville and is now serving in that responsible capacity.

On March 14, 1907, Benjamin W. Cole was united in marriage to Elizabeth Sparks, who was born on a farm one and one-half miles southeast of Connersville, in this county, in 1879, daughter of Milton T. and Minnie (Campbell) Sparks, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio, who were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Cole, the second in order of birth, being William E., Mrs. Pearl Williams, Mrs. Charity Rudd and Webster Sparks. Mrs. Cole is a member of the Christian church and Mr. Cole is a Mason, a member of Warren Lodge No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of Connersville Lodge No. 379. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of Aerie No. 1065, Fraternal Order of Eagles, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm and active interest. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have a very pleasant home at Connersville and take a proper part in the city's general social activities.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Miss Isabel Bonbrake Cressler, one of the founders and owners of the Elmhurst School for Girls at Connersville, is descended, on the paternal side, from nobility of the Rhine country, and, on the maternal side, from English and Welsh pioneers prominently identified with the early colonization of Pennsylvania. She was born at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Charles H. and Elizabeth Sager (Jones) Cressler, and grew to womanhood there.

Miss Cressler attended the public schools of Chambersburg, and later was a student at Wilson College, one of the pioneer institutions for the higher education of women, and located in Chambersburg. After finishing her studies at Wilson Miss Cressler entered the Chicago Art Institute, and after a year of study there returned to Chambersburg and there opened and conducted, as owner, a Latin school for boys and girls, and. was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time she was called to Wilson College and for two years was a member of the faculty of that institution. Miss Cressler then went to Europe and for four years was associated in ownership and management with the Roman School for American Girls at Rome, Italy, a private school for American girls who had come from the finishing schools of the United States, the course in the same including seven months of schooling and five months of European travel each year - a delightful work and one requiring great self-reliance on the part of the preceptress.

While thus engaged in Rome Miss Cressler, who was planning to return eventually to America and develop a certain type of high-grade rural private school which should express the best in American life, heard first of the Elmhurst property, and without any plan of remaining, arrived in Connersville, in July, 1909, accompanied by Miss Sumner, and with no other luggage than suit cases, to look over the estate. Miss Cressler was so charmed and delighted with the situation and so filled with enthusiasm over the prospect that was there opened for establishing and developing a country school for American girls that she straightway decided to remain. She dispatched at once for her trunks and her three servants in Italy and for two years did not leave Connersville; nor has she ever had occasion to regret her choice, for as one of the founders and owners of Elmhurst she has been privileged to see the slow but sure development of ideas and plans fostered during her years of residence and study in Europe.

Miss Cressler is a member of the Episcopal church. She also is a member of the College Art Association and of the Alumnae Association of Wilson College, and is interested in the equal-suffrage work of Indiana.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Dr. B. R. Smith, a well-known practicing physician at Connersville, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state the greater part of his life. He was born at Milroy, in the neighboring county of Rush, February 1, 1879, a son of S. R. and Catherine (Richey) Smith, both of whom were born in that same county. S. R. Smith was a machinist and followed that vocation all his life. He and his wife were the parents of two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, the Rev. William F. Smith, D. D., who was formerly pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Connersville.

Reared at Milroy, B. R. Smith received his elementary schooling in the schools of that place and was graduated from the high school there in 1896. He then entered Moores Hill College and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1900. Thus equipped by pre1iminary study he entered the Medical College of the University of Kentucky at Louisville and was graduated from the same in 1903, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his degree Doctor Smith was appointed an interne at the hospital of his alma mater and after a year's valuable experience in practice there opened an office for the practice of his profession at Clay City, Kentucky, where he remained in practice for seven years, or until 1910, when he returned to Indiana and opened an office at Connersville, where he ever since has been engaged in practice and where he has done very well, having built up an extensive practice in the city and surrounding country. Doctor Smith keeps fully abreast of the modern advances in his profession and is a member of the Fayette County Medical Society and of the Indiana State Medical Association in the deliberations of both of which bodies he takes a warm interest.

In 1907 Doctor Smith was united in marriage to Laura Askin, daughter of the late Thomas Askin and wife, the latter now also deceased, and to this union four children have been born, three of whom are living, B. R, Jr., Charles Thomas and Charlotte Catherine. Doctor and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Doctor is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

VINCENT HAMILTON GREGG, M. D.
During his day and generation in Connersville there were few men better known or held in higher regard hereabout than was the late Dr. Vincent Hamilton Gregg, who began the practice of his profession at Glenwood in 1855 and three years later located at Connersville, where he spent the remainder of his life, an earnest, conscientious, painstaking physician, his good work in that community being continued until the time of his death in 1895. During the Civil War Doctor Gregg held a commission from Governor Morton as an army surgeon and in that important capacity rendered a beneficent and humane service in behalf of the wounded and suffering soldiers who were placed under his benign care. In that service he was greatly aided by his faithful wife, who was at his side much of the time during that trying period and who is still living at Connersville, honored by the entire community.

Dr. Vincent H. Gregg was a Kentuckian, born in Bracken county, that state, in 1824, a son of Joseph M. Gregg and wife, the latter of whom was a Hamilton. Joseph M. Gregg was the proprietor of an extensive plantation in that county and a slave holder. He died in that county and after his death his widow disposed of her interests in Kentucky and came up into Indiana, locating in Rush county, where she spent the remainder of her life. Of the children born to Joseph M. Gregg and wife all have long since been dead. Of these children Doctor Gregg was the first-born and was the last survivor. He was twenty-two years of age when he came to Indiana with his mother and as the eldest child of his widowed mother was a great stay and comfort to her. Some time after coming to Indiana he determined upon a career as a physician and after a course of study in preparation for such a career began practice, in 1855, with Doctor Taylor at Glenwood. Three years later, in 1858, he moved to Connersville, where he opened an office for the practice of his profession and where he ever afterward made his home.

Doctor Gregg was living at Connersville when the Civil War broke out and by that time had attained a wide reputation throughout this part of the state as a careful and prudent physician and a skilled surgeon. In 1862 Governor Morton tendered him a commission as an army surgeon and he served in that capacity until the close of the war, his service in field and in hospital enshrining his memory in the hearts of many a poor soldier boy who came under his gentle ministrations. In this service, as noted above, the good Doctor's gentle wife rendered him aid of a particularly valuable character and she, too is remembered with gratitude by many of the veterans of that stern conflict between the states during the sixties. Upon the completion of his army service Doctor Gregg returned to Connersville and there resumed his practice. Not long afterward he formed a partnership with Doctor Rolls in the drug business and was thus engaged for years, conducting the drug store in addition to his general medical practice. Doctor Gregg was a most liberal and public-spirited citizen and did much to promote the interests of his home city in a material as well as in a religious, social and civic way. An ardent Republican, he ever gave his earnest attention to the political affairs of Fayette county and of the city of Connersville and was recognized as a power for good in local politics. He was a member of the Christian church, as is his widow, and was ever a leader in local good works. As an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Doctor ever took an earnest part in the affairs of that patriotic organization and for years was a familiar figure at local reunions of the veterans of the war and at the state encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Doctor Gregg passed from the scenes of earth on September 12, 1895, he then being in the seventy-second year of his age, and he was given burial as befit a veteran of his country's wars and a good citizen of the community in whose behalf he had so long and so earnestly labored.

Dr. Vincent H. Gregg was united in marriage, in this county, to America Justice, who was born in Fayette county, daughter of Joseph and Delilah (Fuell) Justice, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. Joseph Justice grew to manhood in his native Pennsylvania and later went to Kentucky, where he married Delilah Fuell, who had moved to that state with her parents, of French stock, from Virginia. Not long after his marriage Joseph Justice came up into Indiana and settled on a farm in this county, near Orange, where he present1y opened a general store, early becoming one of the best-known men in that part of the county, as he was one of the most successful and influential. He and his wife were members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom Mrs. Gregg, the youngest, is now the only survivor. Joseph Justice died on his farm near Orange and his widow spent her last days in the household of Doctor and Mrs. Gregg at Connersville. Joseph Justice was a son of James Justice, a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, who served with General Washington's army during all the long struggle of the colonies for independence. He was one of five brothers who served in that struggle from Pennsylvania and was the only one of the five who survived the struggle. James Justice lived to be one hundred and one years of age and his last days were spent in the home of his son, John Justice, in this county, where he is buried. He was a fine, large man of powerful physique, weighing more than two hundred pounds, and his four brothers, who fought for the independence of the colonies at his side, were men of equal might. Mrs. Gregg, who is still living at Connersville, is a member of the Christian church and her life has ever been devoted to good works.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

William Hendrickson, sheriff of Fayette county and one of the best known men in the county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the citv of Connersville on March 6, 1876, son of James Brookfield and Rebecca Ann (Hutchinson) Hendrickson, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio, whose last days were spent in Connersville, which was their home for many years.

James Brookfield Hendrickson was born on a pioneer farm in the neighboring county of Franklin, one of the eight children born to his parents, John and Rachel (Goble) Hendrickson, the former of whom was a native of the state of New Jersey and the latter of Indiana. James B. Hendrickson was trained to the trade of a saddler and was working at that trade in Ripley county when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted as a member of Company H, Eighty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer infantry, was elected color bearer of that command and served for three years and six months. During his long service Mr. Hendrickson saw much active service and was engaged in some of the most exciting engagements of the war, but never received a bullet wound, though he was badly injured on severa1 occasions, particularly so at the battle of Resaca. Upon the conclusion of his military service James E. Hendrickson located at Laurel and was there engaged in the tanning business until that industry became unprofitable, after which he moved to Connersville, along in the middle seventies, and there engaged in carriage painting, a vocation he followed the rest of his life. He died at his home in Connersville on December 24, 1895, he then being sixty-two years of age. His widow survived him for more than ten years, her death occurring in 1906, she also being sixty-two years of age at the time of her death. She was born in Ohio, a daughter of Asbury and Mary Hutchinson, who came over from that state into Indiana and became pioneers of Brown county, settling on a farm there and spending the rest of their lives in that county, both living to a ripe old age. Asbury Hutchinson and wife were the parents of six children, those besides Mrs. Hendrickson having been John Aaron, Mrs. Mary Johnson, William and Mrs. Ella Gray. James B. Hendrickson and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being, Charles, of Hamilton, Ohio; Edward, formerly of Indianapolis, now deceased; Oscar, of Connersville; Geneva, who married Walter Hayward, of Connersville; Ella, who married Harry Backert, of Kokomo, and is now deceased, and Bismark, of Connersville.

William Hendrickson received his schooling in the public schools of Connersville and early turned his attention to the trade of a carriage-trimmer which he followed for twenty-five years, thirteen years of which time he was engaged in the establishment of J. P. McFarlan. From the days of his boyhood he has given his earnest attention to local political affairs and at the early age of eighteen was made a member of the Fayette county Republican central committee and has ever since held that position, performing an excellent service in behalf of the party in this county. In 1914. as the nominee of the Republican party, Mr. Hendrickson was elected sheriff of Fayette county, the youngest sheriff ever elected in this county. He entered upon the duties of that office on January 1, 1915, and is now serving in that important public capacity, one of the most popular officials in the court house.

On December 24, 1898, William Hendrickson was united in marriage to Grace M. Bell, who was born on a farm near Brownsville, in the neighboring county of Union, May 23, 1876, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Thomas) Bell, both natives of that same county, the former of whom died in 1881 and the latter of whom is still living. Jacob Bell was a farmer and stock buyer and was a son of John F. and Ann (Carr) Bell, natives of Butler county, Ohio, and pioneers in Union county, this state, who were the parents of six children, Malinda, James, Alfred, Jacob, Emma and George. Mrs. Margaret Bell's parents were John and Margaret J. (Whitinger) Thomas, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana, who were the parents of nine children, Russell, John, Mary Ann, Elijah, James, Henry, Rachel, Milton and Margaret. Jacob Bell and wife were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Hendrickson was the last-born, the others being Carrie, who married Lee Cully, of Brownsville, and John F. Bell and Frank T. Bell. To Mr. and Nrs. Hendrickson one child has been born, a son, Frank Brookfield Hendrickson. The Hendricksons are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917