Price - Michael - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

PRICE, Michael, grain dealer, Crawfordsville, was born in Carlow County, Ireland 1821 and is the son of William Price, who was a farmer and miller and died in Ireland. The subject of this sketch obtained his education by going to night schools, reading, and from active business. When 24 he went to Liverpool, England, and managed the grain business for a man who dealt with American grain dealers. He remained in Liverpool 13 years and then came to America and settled in Crawfordsville, where he has ever since presided. His brother and sister, William and Mary, came to America before he did, and settled in NY. Mr. Price first engaged in handling farmers' produce, which he continued 4 or 5 years. He then began buying grain for a milling company in New Albany & Indianapolis. In 1869 he bought his present warehouse for $3,600. He has been very successful, and has bought as high as 125,000 bushels of grain in one year. In 1873 he was elected city councilman and served two terms. He was married in 1864 to Jane A. REGAN of NY. They have six children: Mary; Margaret; Anunciatta; Jennie; Bernard and Angeline. Mr. & Mrs. Price are both members of the Catholic Church. -- typed by kbz

Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893, p. 639

Michael PRICE, a very successful grain dealer of Montgomery County is a resident of Crawfordsville. So well known is this gentleman for his uprightness and straight forwardness in business, that if the old philosopher should appear with his candle, his journey would be a short one, for the soul of honesty dwells within the subject of this sketch. Michael Price was born in County Carlow, Ireland in 1820 and was a son of William Price, a native of the same country. In 1859 our subject came to the US and after working at various occupations in the East, he came to this city, where he immediately engaged in the business of shipping grain, making efforts to always buy for cash. So successful was he in this business that in 1864 he opened a grain office in this city to which he has since devoted his attention and in 1869 purchased his present location. At times his shipments exceed one million bushels of grain annually. He has been in the business in this vicinity longer than anyone else and has always carried on a large and lucrative trade. Four times has our subject been honored by election to City Council. In 1875, he was elected for two terms and again in 1880 from the second ward. During his first occupancy of the position, the gas plant was established in which he was actively interested. During his second term he took a stand in opposition to the plan adopted to secure the waterworks. He favored having the latter, but opposed the scheme used, deeming it not best for the interests of the people. The electric light plant was established by a private company during his term of office, and in this matter also he looked for the best interests of the people, regardless of adverse comments. Mr. Price was elected County Commissioner in 1880 by the Republican party. During the time of his service the toll roads of the county were purchased by the various townships, under the supervision of the three commissioners. About this time Mr. Price found that the county farm was not conducted in a manner to advance the interests of the people. He used his best efforts to remove the incumbent from the position of Superintendent, hoping to replace him with another Republican, but being in the minority failed at the time. After the election of a new Commissioner who happened to be a Democrat, he renewed his efforts but not receiving support from his Republican colleague, he joined hands with the other official, and was successful in accomplishing his purpose, although it resulted in placing a Democrat in the position. Our subject then, as ever regarded the public serving as paramount to the temporary party advantage. The marriage of Mr. Price took place in 1864, when Miss Jane Reagan became his wife. She was engaged in teaching in that place for several years. Of their family, 5 children are now living: Mary, wife of Charles VanCleve, of Crawfordsville, Margaret; Annunciata, now Mrs. Mark Deering, her husband being employed in Booth's Oyster House in Chicago; Jane and Bernard Joseph. Three children also died in infancy. Our subject is known for the interest he has ever taken in the affairs of the poor and and unfortunate and tlhough he is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, so wide is his sympathy and so broad his vision of human needs, that he stands high in the estimation of all. No man has a wider circle of warm-hearted friends than has he of whom we write. His unswerving honesty of purpose makes him a man of whom his fellow citizens may well be proud, for all know that he will advance the interest of the masses as far as in his power.

Source: Death Record H33 p 56 Michael's wife is Jane.

Died: 28 April 1902

Cause: Congestion of brain.

Born: 10-9-1820 Ireland

Occupation: Grain Dealer.

Father: William

Mother: Mary Graham.

Buried: 4-31-1902 Calvary Cemetery. Montgomery County, Indiana

Source: Naturalization Record

Age: 38

Born: County, Carlow, Ireland

Left: Liverpool

Arrived: NY NY 15 Aug 1859

Naturalized (signed own name with Clerk Vance) 8 Sept 1860.

Source: 1870 Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana #394 age 49 Commission Merchant $5000/500 b. Ireland Jane 31 (Regan) b NY; Mary 5 Indiana; Margaret 3 Ind; Annuciatta 1 Indiana. B. Kennedy (male) 68 $5000/500 b. Ireland Margaret 50 Ireland.

Source: 1880 Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana #178 Pt 4. Price, Michael 59 Grain Dealer Ireland Ireland Ireland Anna Jan 41 NY Ireland Ireland Mary 14 Ind Ireland Ny (as is all children) Margaret 13; Annuciata 10; Jane 7; Joseph B 5; Angel 2

Source: Crawfordsville Journal Crawfordsville, Montgomery County Indiana April 28, 1902

Michael Price died this morning at 6 o'clock at his home on North Washington Street after a long period of gradual decline from old age (picture included). The funeral will be conducted from St. Bernard's Catholic Church Wed. morning at 9 o'clock interment being in Calvary Cemetery. Michael Price was born in Co. Carlow, Ireland in 1820 and came to US in 1859 locating in the East. In 1864 he opened a grain office in this city and continued in the grain buying business until recently when the business was turned over to his son. He was one of the largest buyers in the state for some time his shipments some years exceeding one billion bushels of grain. He was elected to the city council four times in 1875 for two terms and again in 1880 for two. During his first two terms the gas plant was established and electric lights were also introduced while he was in the council. In 1880 Mr. Price was elected co. comm. By the Republican party and during his term of office the toll roads of the County were purchased by the various townships under the supervision of the board of commissioners. Mr. Price was married in 1864 to Jane A. Regan who with five children survive: Mrs. CN VanCleave, Mrs. Mark Deering of Chicago; Margaret, Jane and Bernard of this city. Mr. Price was a man of broad charity, and his unswerving honesty of purpose for what he thought was right made him many friends. He was highly esteemed as a public spirited citizen and his death will be universally regretted.