Cording - Richard N. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

p.880

The subject of this sketch has long enjoyed distinctive prestige among the enterprising men of Montgomery County having fought his way onward an dupward to a prominent position in the circles in which he has moved and in every relation of life his voice and influence have been on the side of right as he sees and understands the right. He has long ranked with the leading business men and substantial citizens of the town of Wingate. He has always been interested in all enterprises for the welfare of the community and has liberally supported every movement calculated to benefit his fellow men. Mr. Cording has witnessed wonderful progress and improvement during the time he has lived here, has been a very important fator in local growth and prosperity and has an extened circle of acquaintances throughout the county who wish him well, for his life has been exemplary in every respect since casting his lot with our people. He has taken a surprising interest in our institutions in view of the fact that he was born under alien skies and was taught to respect another flag. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having started in life at the bottom of the ladder, and unaided, ascended to a topmost rung through the exercise of those attributes that never fail to win.

Richard N. Cording was born in Somerset, England, Nov 10, 1851. He is a son of John and Jane (Norrish) Cording, both natives of England, and there they grew to maturity, were educated and married and reared a large family 9 children having been born to them; one die din early infancy; a daughter grew to womanhood and passed away and a son also grew up, dying in middle life, but six of the brothers and sisters are yet living and actively engaged in life's duties. The children were respectively named: Edwad, the eldest, Richard N, subject of this sketch; John, William, Anna (deceased) ; Lucy, the wife of John Marson of South Haven, Michigan; Laura, wife of William Herron who lives in Attica, Indiana; and Thomas, who was a well known citizen of South Haven Michigan is now deceased; Alice, the youngest child is deceased. John Cording, father of the above named children came to the United States with his family in 1867, coming on west from the eastern coast where they landed after a tedious journey and they located in Illinois upon whose broad, virgin prairies they found a pleasant home, but did not long remain together. It was in a bleak month of January that they arrived there and by spring they were squared away ready to begin raising a crop. The father was a skilled agriculturist, and devoted his life to general farming and stock raising with gratifying results. His death occurred at an advanced age on April 19 1910 his wife having preceded him to the grave in July 1905.

Richard N. Cording spent his boyhood day sin England and there attended public school. Upon arriving in Illinois he first located in the town of Forrest where he remained but one year. He then came to Indiana and engaged to work by the month for Hugh Meharry, a well known resident of Montgomery County. An energetic, tactful and quick-thinking young man, thoroughly versed int he various phases of agriculture, our subject gave his employer eminent satisfaction and continued in his service four years, during which time he saved his money and got a good start. At the expiration of this time he found a home and employment with Isaac Meharry for whom he worked faithfully 3 years.

Then, having mastered the ins and outs of stock raising as well as tiling the soil, and the general management of agricultural interests, he determined to become his own employer and to this end located on a neighboring farm. He was successful from the start and each succeeding year found him further advanced, until he eventually became one of the most progressive general farmers and stock raiser in Montgomery County and he is now the owner of a valuable and highly improved landed estate of 829 acres, a part of which is in Indiana and part in Illinois. It is all productive, well tiled, tillable and fertile. He sold out part of his farming interest in the year 1890 and removed to his present commodious home in Wingate. Her he was not long idle, almost immediately entering into a partnership with Mr. Sturm. The succeeding year he materially improved the appearance of the main thoroughfare of his town when he created thereon one of the most substantial, attractive and convenient brick blocks in this section of the state. He has been engaged in the mercantile business here since 1891 and has built up a large and ever growing trade with the surrounding country, carrying at all seasons a complete and carefully selected stock of up-to-date merchandise.

Mr. Cording is a Democrat and has long been active in the ranks. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, having attained the 32ns degree in that time-honored fraternity. He is a member of Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple, Indianapolis.

Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a liberal supporter of the same. He is also a Knights Templar, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the National Detective Association. Mr. Cording has been twice married, first to Ellen P. Dick, who was born and reared in Montgomery County, Indiana. Together they began their home life upon the farm, and there remained 12 years. After the death of Mr. Cording's first wife he was united in marriage to Villa Hayes who was born near Elmdale, this county. Our subjet's family consisted of 3 children: Effie died in infancy; E. John who was a student in DePauw University at Greencastle died in 1904; and Opal who is at home.  -- typed by kbz

RN CORDING, an enterprising citizen and representative business man of Wingate, Montgomery County, Indiana materially improved the appearance of the main thoroughfare of his town in 1891, when he erected thereon one of the handsomest and most commodious brick blocks in that section of the state.  As a prosperous merchant, and a leader in matters of local interest, he is widely known and respected, and, although not a native born American, is thoroughly in sympathy with the Constitution and Government of the US, and one of its enthusiastic supporters.

Born in England in 1852, our subject remained in the Queen's dominions until he was 19.  The place of his nativity was Somersetshire, a county which contains manyr emains of antiquity and has been the theatre of many remarkable events in English history.  Much of its soil is very fertile, and upon one of its well-tilled farms the father and mother of RN Cording lived a full score of years. The parents, John and Jane Norrish Cording were both natives of England and in that country reared a large family of active, healthy girls and boys.  The children were 9 in number, one died in early infancy, a daughter grew to womanhood and passed away, but 7 are yet living and actively engaged in life's duties.  The children were named: Edward; RN; John; William; Anna (deceased); Lucy, wife of John Menson, residing at South Haven, Michigan; Laura, wife of William Herron, whose hom is in Attica, Ind; and Thomas, a well-known citizen of Grand Haven, Michigan. The father is yet living and makes his home in Michigan, at South Haven.  He has been a life long agriculturist and was a successful farmer in his native land, but after due consideration, decided to emigrate with his family to the US.  In 1871, the family embarked for America and after a tedious voyage landed upon our shores.  Without much loss of time, they reached Illinois, upon whose broad prairies they found a pleasant home, but did not long remain together.

Our subject on arriving in Illinois first located in Forrest, where he remained but one year.  He then came to Indiana and engaged to work by the month for Hugh meharry, a well-known resident of Montgomery co.  An active, intelligent young man, thoroughly versed in the round of daily farming duties, Mr. Cording gave satisfaction to his employer and continued in his service four years.  At the expiration of this time, he found a home and employment with Isaac Meharry, for whom he worked faithfully 3 years.  Then, having attained a thorough knowledge of the ways, methods and profits of stock raising and the general management of agricultural interests, he determined to become his own employer and to this end located on a neighboring farm.  Before beginning life for himself, our subject wisely married, choosing for a life partner Miss Ellen P. DICK, a native of this county, and most estimable lady.  Together Mr. and Mrs. Cording began their home life upon the farm and there remained 12 years.  The wife, a faithful helpmate, busied herself with indoor duties, while our subject, sowing and reaping and variously employed in necessary agricultural labor was yearly bringing the land up to a high state of cultivation.  In Dec 1890, Mr. Cording sold out his farming interests and removed to his present home in Wingate.  Here he was not long idle, almost immediately entering into a partnership with Mr. Sturm.  The succeeding year our subject built the substantial block of which we have before spoken.  Mr. Cording is an active Democrat, and is socially and fraternally connected with various organizations.  he is a member of the National Detective Association, Knight Templar of the Masonic order and Knight of Pythias.  Mr. and Mrs. Cording occupy a prominent social position in Wingate, and are especially interested in all matters of public welfare. - typed by kbz