Elmore, James B
Also see his biography page for much more - interestin' fellow
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In the domain of literature Indiana has gained a place of distinction and preeminence being now by universal consent, the successor of Massachusetts as the literary center of America. No state has produced such a brilliant galaxy of stars in the literary firmament as has Indiana. In the lo ng list of her native writers we may mention a few such as James Whitcomb Riley, Joaquin Miller, Edward Eggleston, Lew Wallace, Booth Tarkington, George Ade, David Graham Phillips, Maurice Thompson, Gene Stratton Porter and Meredith Nicholson to say nothing of scores of lesser lights. Montgomery County has had her full share of the glory in literary genius, he having been born Meredith NIcholson and here the great author of Ben Hur spent practically all his life; but it is as the home of statesmen that this county excels. To give a comprehensive reason for the first place in literature in the western hemisphere being held by the Hoosier state would be indeed quite out of the question, whether it has been the result of the meeting of the sterling pioneer elements of the East and West, or a superior system of education, or whether there is greater natural inspiration and more effort is being made to produce literature here than in other states must be left to conjecture. But the state should be pr oud of its eminence in this respect. Among those who have contributed materially of recent years locally at least to its prestige as a literary center, stands James B. Elmore of Montgomery County, well know as "The Bard of Alamo," who is a native son of the locality of which this history dials whose productions marked by depth of thought and adroit polish have given him a staunch following. It is of course extraneous to the functions of this publication to enter into manifold details concerning the careers of the many representative citizens whose names find a place within i ts pages and in the case at hand it can be hoped to present only a succinct but we hope accurate and worthy tribute to this talented son of the far famed Wabash Valley Country, made familiar to the wide world through the tender but masterful strokes of Paul Dresser. Mr. Elmore was born on January 25, 1857 in Ripley Township Montgomery County. He is a son of Matthias and Mary Willis Elmore. The father was born in 1809 in Ohio and his death occurred in 1892. The mother was also a native of Ohio. Matthi as Elmore grew to manhood in his native locality and there received a meager education, going no farther than the "rule of three" in mathematics, but being a great reader and a man of quick perception he became well educated. He took a great deal of interest in politics and was a Whig up to t he race of General William Henry Harrison for Presidency. He was a carpenter by trade, and he helped build the first Methodist Episcopal church in Crawfordsville. His chief life work, however was farming. His family consisted of 7 children by his first wife and six by his second. His first wife was a cousin of William English, a well known politician and capitalist of Indianapolis of the past generation. The second wife was the mother of the subject of our sketch. The third wife was known in her maidenhood as Virginia Kyle. Of the entire family of 13 children, only 5 still live.
James B. Elmore received a common school education, later attending high school but his ambition for a collegiate course was never realized. However, he has remained a student all his life has done a vast amount of miscellaneous reading and is a well educated man. He began life for himself as a school teacher, which he followed for a period of 20 years prior to his marriage. He gave eminent satisfaction to both pupils and patrons and his services were in great demand. On February 14, 1880, Mr. Elmore was united in marriage to Mary Ann Murray, who was born in Missouri, May 23, 1863 and is a daughter of James and Mary Ann Templin Murray, the father a native of Kentucky. The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of 5 children, 3 of whom are living: Maud L, and Nora are both deceased: Roscoe M, born October 1, 1882, married Myrtle Lattimore and he is one of the successful public school teachers of Ripley Township; Grace born Jan 17, 1885, married Nathan Drollinger and they live in Veedersburg; Albert Murray born Sept 20, 1889, married Lula M. Seits; they live in Ripley Township and have two children, a son, named after our subject, James Byron, Jr. and a daughter, Margaret Angeline. James B. Elmore is a lover of what the great Methodist Bishop, William A. Quayle would call "God's glorious outdoors" and, having the love of mother nature in "all her visible forms" in him, as do all poets, he has spent his life in the rural districts, starting out on the farm, investing at the time of his marriage the sum of $400 his total worldly wealth in 30 acres of land a part of his present farm. There he lived for some time in a log cabin and farmed and taught school. Finally, he purchased 80 acres more going in debt for the same; later he traded that 80 for 160 near home and this he still owns. Subsequently, he purchased 80 acres form his father from who he heired another 80, later bought 60 south of home and then purchased 160 north of his home farm and at this writing he is owner of an aggregate of 540 acres of valuable land, nearly all tillable, well tiled well fenced and otherwise improved in an up-to-date manner. He has a commodious home and substantial outbuildings and he makes a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs and pole cattle and he also keeps a good grade of medium size horses. Everything about his place denotes system, good management and that a gentleman of industry and taste has the management of this valuable farmstead well in hand and is deserving to rank among Montgomery's foremost agriculturists.
Fraternally, Mr. Elmore is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Waynetown, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Alamo and the Woodmen at Crawfordsville. Religiously, he holds membership with the Christian Church and politically he is a Democrat. When Mr. Elmore was a boy in school he began writing poetry, which soon proved him to be one of nature's gifted children for even at that early age his verse possessed unusual merit and won for him the soubriquet of "The Bard of Alamo," which has since clung to him. Some of his best verse was written when he was teaching school, one of the most meritorious being "The Belle of Alamo" and "The Red Bird." From time to time he continued writing as the muse dictated, and eventually gathered his best verse into book form, under the title of "Love Among the Mistletoe: and Other Poems" which was well received. He continued to write and two years later put out "A Lover in Cuba; and other Poems." A few years later followed another volume of verse, "25 years in Jackville," and then appeared form his facile pen, "A Romance in the Days of the Golden Circle." His last volume was "Autumn Roses." They all bore the unmistakable stamp of genuine poetic merit and each succeeding volume broadened its author's name and audience until today his name has not only covered America but is known all over the world, much of his verse being especially liked in France. His name is frequently attached to poems of fine finish and original theme in New York, Indianapolis and other metropolitan journals. Mr. Elmore's services as a lecturer has been in considerable demand and he has lectured in many colleges and other institutions, throughout Indiana, being especially well received in Indianapolis. The advancing years seem to give him a deeper penetration into nature and the soul as w ll as rendering his verse finer in every respect and we may hope for greater things from him in the future. "Let our annals be well written, that it stand a scanning test, Those of fame are never hidden, They shall live among the blessed!" JBE
Seems to me kind of a witch hunt
Source: Darlington Herald News, Friday, November 8, 1918
The Montgomery County War Emergency Committee finished its labors Wednesday evening October 30, 1918 at the Commerce building at Crawfordsville. The Committee was in session for about 3 weeks, during which time there was brought before the Committee about 200 names. The Committee weighed each case very carefully and nearly all of the people under consideration showed a fine loyal spirit in appearing before the Committee or going to their Banks and subscribing for their share of Liberty Bonds. The total amount of new or additional subscriptions made to the Fourth Liberty Loan Issue in this way was in excess of $50000.00. An entirely satisfactory understanding and adjustment was made with all those considered by the Committee with the exception of 17 persons. Based upon the committee's investigation, the following named 17 persons have failed or refused to make a satisfactory showing in the purchase of Liberty Bonds or in other War Activities.
William L. Anderson Clark Township
Henry Brown, Walnut
Philip Bruch, Walnut
William Bowers, Sr. Sugar Creek
Marion Clouser, Sugar Creek
Charles W. Clouser, Franklin
James B. Elmore, Franklin
R.M. Elmore, Franklin Twp.
J.E. Lidikay, Clark
William Martz, Sugar Creek
Sam Nixon, Wayne Twp
George Phebus, Sugar Creek
John Follett, Scott Twp
Andrew Pearson, Wayne
J.W. Timmons, Coal Creek
Fred Thomas, Madison
Henry Thompson, Walnut Twp
In the list of names printed above, furnished to us by the War Committee is that of the Principal of the Darlington HS, R.M. Elmore. It is indeed a very bad state of affairs, when a man who poses as an educator, and who is supposed to be an example for the pupil's who must daily be associated with him in their school work, permits his name to appear in a list of what is commonly called "slackers." From the fact that his name does appear in this list, we know that he has refused to assist his country, in a financial way, sufficiently to satisfy the judgment of men whose fairness cannot be questions. In order that our readers may form their own opinion in this case, we will print the facts as learned from Mr. Elmore himself. He is the owner of a 90 acre farm which has an encumbrance of $1000. He states this land to be worth $100 per acre. He is at present holding a position that is paying him a salary of more than $100 per month. His contributions and investments toward helping win the war are as following: Contribution to Red Cross, $2 and to the War Chest $6. He previously purchased one $50 bond but later sold it at a discount. He bought one $50 bond of the last loan. He was called before the War Committee and requested to invest $300 in bonds, which he refused to do. We believe that it will be the concensus of opinion that Mr. Elmore has not done his duty as an American citizen and that the request of the War Committee was entirely reasonable. The time has come when a distinction should be made between the man who has willingly done his bit sometimes at a great inconvenience and sacrifice and the man who deliberately refuses. Most certainly such a man is not qualified to be a teacher of American boys and girls.
Birth: Jan. 25, 1857
Death: Mar. 12, 1942
Crawfordsville Journal Review - March 12, 1942
Obit - James B. Elmore, "Bard of Alamo" is Dead at 85
The echoes of a once lively lyre were muted for all time early Thursday, with the death of the Bard of Alamo. James B. Elmore, Ripley township octogenarian, who in the "Gay Nineties" and for some years thereafter delighted Hoosier folk with his rustic poems died at his 900-acre farm home near Alamo at four am. He had been suffering for the past six months with the infirmities of age. Once the "bard bountiful" whose pen was never still, he had foresworn verse in recent years, devoting his entire interest to his farming properties. But to his many friends, particularly of the older generations, he was still affectionately remembered as the man who fashioned couplets about earthy things such as sassafras and turnip greens and railroad wrecks. The 85-year-old former sonneteer was born on the same farm where death occured, on January 25, 1857 the son of Mathias a d Mary Ann Willis Elmore and on February 14, 1880, he was married to Mary Ann Murray, who, according to an autobiography of the bard, came from Nevada City, MO. He later dedicated one of his poems "My Mary of Missouri ", to her. He graduated from the Alamo Academy, where he studied with a large class which also included Noah J Clodfelder, William Humphrey, once member of congress from Washington, Oswald Humphrey, once president of Cornell and Eva Ballard, novelist. He taught school for twenty years, spending the summer months at farming. He wrote occasional poems for the newspapers of Indianapolis and Crawfordsville and in 1898 he published a volume of poems. Three other volumes of his prose and poetry were published in later years by Mr. Elmore. The pastoral scenes with which he was familiar inspired most of the writings of the benign bard from Ripley township. Few older people in western Indiana have not repeated to their children and grandchildren passages from "The Monon Wreck" with its climatic "Cut, Oh Cut My Leg Away!" petition; have not chuckled over his "Shoe Cobbler ", or have not recalled that song of spring from the bard's "Sassafras, Oh Sassafras!" The mellifluous singer of rural roundelays was given the name - the "Bard of Alamo" - by Jesse Green, a Crawfordsville newspaper man. The Alamo poet wrote hundreds of verses before he put his pen aside, and most of his songs were of a rural theme as attested by his poems "Sugar Making", "When the Pawpaws are Ripe", "The Frog", "The Old Sawmill ", "Katie Gathers Greens", and "The Good Old Sheep-Sorrel Pie". On other occasions he wrote on politics, on Wabash College, and on crime. He toured the nation early in the century to read his compositions. Mr. Elmore was a life-long member of the Alamo Christian church and belonged to the Knights of Pythias lodge of Waynetown, and for some years of the Odd Fellows lodge of Alamo. He was prominent in Democratic politics. He is survived by his wife, three children, R.M. Elmore of Crawfordsville, Route 3, Mrs. Grace Drollinger of Veedersburg, Route 3, and Albert M. Elmore of Route 1, Waynetown; one sister, Mrs. Fannie Gardner of Crawfordsville, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Two daughters, Maude and Nora Elmore, preceded him in death. The body was brought to the Proffitt and Sons funeral home here where friends may call until Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, at which time the poet's remains will be taken to the Elmore family home near Alamo. The funeral will be held from the Alamo Christian church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon in charge of Rev. John Servies. The body will lie in state at the church for one hour preceeding the services. Burial will be made in the Alamo cemetery.
Burial:
Alamo Cemetery
Alamo
Montgomery County
Indiana, USA
Created by: Robin Dixson
Record added: Sep 28, 2003
Find A Grave Memorial# 7919799
Source: Sunday Star June 24, 1901
James B. Elmore, the poet of Alamo was fined and costed to the tune of $12.25 in Justice Buck's court on a plea of guilty last week for allowing a dead cow on his farm to putrefy in the open air near the roadside to the great annoyance of the passerby and to the danger of the health of the community at large. The animal laid there 14 days and after the buzzards had carried off most of the carcess Elmore, being fined, moved the carcass back from the road and, it is said to still lay in the open air to be smelled miles away. The poet was anxious that the offense be not heralded to the worked but it should be known of men his neighbors think.