CLODFELTER, Noah J. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Noah J. Clodfelter, late of this city, died Monday night at 7:45 o’clock at the Central insane hospital in Indianapolis, where he was committed September 7, 1899. The body was brought to Crawfordsville on Tuesday and was taken immediately to Oak Hill Cemetery, where it was interred by the body of his first wife. At the grave Dr. Nave conducted a short service.

Noah J. Clodfelter was the son of Matthias Clodfelter and was born in Ripley Township near Alamo, on December 14, 1853. There were thirteen children in the family, only four of whom are now living. They are M. E. Clodfelter, Mrs. T. E. Ballard, Mrs. E. E. Ballard, and Mrs. Dr. Etter.

Matthias Clodfelter was a substantial and progressive man and gave all of his children a good education. At an early age Noah began to write rhymes and soon attained quite a local reputation by reason of his contributions to the county newspapers. He finally published a volume of his poems under the title of “Early Vanities.” A little later appeared a novel, “Snatched from the Poor House.” This work was devoted to exploiting the benefits of life insurance, and had quite a run. Mr. Clodfelter was then engaged in life insurance work, having established the “Wabash Valley Protective Association,” a mutual company which was quite successful for several years, but which finally was discontinued. Mr. Clodfelter made considerable money with his insurance company and built “Knoll Cottage,” now the home of John L. Davis.

Mr. Clodfelter was married about twenty three years ago to Miss Cinderella Clark, who died in 1889. Four children were born to them, two of whom are living, Misses Hazel and Mabel Clodfelter, of this city. Several years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Clodfelter was married to Miss Hannah Hough, of this city. She has been residing in Indianapolis since Mr. Clodffelter’s detention at the hospital. Mr. Clodfelter went to Indianapolis in 1895, shortly after the discontinuance of his insurance company.

Concerning his life in Indianapolis, the Journal says:

“He came to Indianapolis several years ago and for a time was engaged in the insurance business here. His last business venture, however, was in the interurban railway line. He was one of the first to secure a franchise for an electric railroad in the gas belt. He was associating with a number of men of means, but somehow the enterprise failed to progress successfully.

Mr. Clodfelter was a determined man and fought gamely against financial reverses. At one time the work on his railroad came to a standstill because of lack of funds which to pay off the men. The newspapers contained accounts of the trouble and the Indianapolis newspapers had something to say about the apparent failure of the scheme. As the chief promoter Mr. Clodfelter bent every energy to get the work started again, and was finally successful in getting money from Chicago sources. One day he walked into the city room of an Indianapolis newspaper with a bag of money on his shoulder. He threw the bag on the table and the chink of the gold caused the only man in the room to open his eyes in wonder. The visitor explained that he had come in to show the editors that he had money with which to start the work on his road again.

Finally, however, he quit the electric line business, but remained in this city. He lived with his family in Woodruff Place for a time. Three or four years ago he issued a satirical work on the poets and learned men of Indiana. There were some rather cutting things in many of the verses and some of the keenest satire was directed at certain Crawfordsville citizens whom the author had known. One of his close friends expressed the belief last night that he was probably insane at the time he issued this satire. He worked for a long time on a poem, which was a sort of a legend of the moon. When he first began to show signs of mental decay, he had a great deal to say about this poem, telling his friends of fabulous offers he had received for it. One day he called at one of the city newspaper offices and asked that a certain reporter, who had formerly shown him favors, be sent to his house, as he had something for the paper. The reporter went to see him at his home and was told that two English literary critics had been to see him and had spoken highly of his poem. The reporter afterward learned that this was a fancy of his diseased brain.

The unfortunate man thought he was possessed of great wealth and would offer to assist his friends when they would call at the hospital to see him. His language was always classic, and some of his sentences when talking in a rambling, incoherent way were couched in beautiful words. Once he said to a woman whom he had known and who called to see him: “Have you plenty of money? If not, I’ll tip the stars and they’ll fill your lap full of shining gold.”

At his bedside when he died was one of his oldest and best friends, Mrs. Sue McWilliams, of this city, and her daughter. The attending physician at the hospital telephoned Mrs. McWilliams early in the evening that Mr. Clodfelter would probably not live through the night. Mrs. McWilliams and daughter hurried out to the hospital and remained with the patient until his death, which occurred about a quarter before nine o’clock.

Mr. Clodfelter leaves two beautiful daughters, Hazel and Mabel Clodfelter, aged seventeen and nineteen, respectively. They have been living at Crawfordsville with relatives. His brother, Marion Clodfelter, is one of the most prominent of Crawfordsville’s attorneys. Two sisters also survive him. The body will be taken to Crawfordsville for burial.” - thanks so much for these Sharon !!!