CLODFELTER, Noah J - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Noah J. Clodfelter was born in Fountain County in 1852 and passed away 30 April 1901 in the state Insane Asylum.  He married Cinderella Clark who passed in 1889 of consumption.  They were parents of four children (Byron Burdette who died at age four – see his poem concerning Byron – Alma Nina who died at age seven – Hazel and Mabel, Mabel just five at her mother’s death).  The next year he married Hannah Hough.  

Noah was the son of Matthias and Mary Magdeline Saylor Clodfelter and was one of their 12 children, nine daughters and three sons.  Here are several articles regarding Noah

Source: Weekly Argus News May 30, 1896 p 3

A special from Anderson announces that Noah J. Clodfelter, the originator of the scheme to connect all of the Indiana gas belt cities by an electric railroad, says that he now is ready to put the road through and that work will begin on it between June 1 and 7 and that it will be completed and in operation by Oct 1 with cars running between Anderson and Marion.  He has paper which show that he now has associated with him one of the oldest and best known railway men in the nation and a man of unlimited means.  Only the main line between Anderson and Marion will be built this year, but it is the intention to not only connect all of the gas belt cities, next year, but make one of the terminals at Indianapolis .  He has his right of way between Anderson and Marion and part of the material has already arrived.  

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Source: Saturday Press Attica, Ind -- 5-4-1901 - Noah J. CLODFELTER of Crawfordsville died at the Central Hospital for the insane at Indianapolis Monday night aged about 48.  He had been an inmate of the hospital for almost two years.  Mr. Clodfelter lived in Jackson Twp this county for a good many years and taught school until his removal to Crawfordsville where he practiced law and wrote a number of popular novels and poems.

Source: Waveland Independent Friday Jan 12, 1900 -- The dream of Noah Clodfelter is now a reality. the electric road from Ft. Wayne to Marion is now completed. The scheme was Clodfelter's but he realizes nothing from its completion. His connection with the enterprise took all his property and sent him "Over the Hills to the Poorhouse" and now he is in the insane hospital.

Montgomery Co Marr. Supplement  Noah Clodfelter  resides C'ville  age 38  can't read Occupation lives near Alamo  Father; Mathias  Mother; Magdalena Sayler  2nd marr.

Hannah M. Hough  resides C'ville age 35

b. Hamilton Co Ohio  Father; George Hough Mother Carrie Williams  1st marr .

Married by Rev. John Stafford in Crawfordsville 7-16-1890

Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana (Chapman Brothers, 1893) p 558 -- Noah J. Clodfelter -- poet.  "Blessings be with them and eternal praise, who gave us nobler loves and nobler cares; The poets, who on earth have made us heirs, of truth and pure de light by heavenly lays."  It is with the utmost satisfaction that the biographer places before the reader of this record a brief notice of the talen ted gentleman whose name appears at the opening of this article.  In the se practical days the poetic fire with the gentle, dreamy temperament belonging to it, comes too seldom to the notice of the world.  When among us is born one of the gifted, the life of this individual holds superior interest,  as the existence of a different kind of being.  The subject of the present sketch was born in Alamo, Indiana Dec. 14, 1853 and he has been affectionally and proudly named, "The Wabash Poet."  He is scarcely conscious of the time when his thoughts did not run in rhythm, some of his published poems having been the emanations from the pen of a l ad of only 17.  Perhaps the best known and most ambitious book of poems is the one entitled, "Early Vanitas."  This is to be found in most of the larger libraries, and although it has received slashes from the critics, Mr. Clodfelter can point even now to the critics of Shakespeare.  Our subject has not confined his pen to poetry, his novel, Snatched from the Poor House, having been kindly received, and having had a sale of 4000 copies.  His first publication took place in 1866, since which time he has contributed to the papers and periodicals over the country.  His residence is at "Knoll Cottage," a beautiful home erected at a cost of over $20,000 00.  Probably more will be heard from this western poet in the future.  In spiring themes are not lacking and the valley of the Wabash has many spots beautiful enough to encourage the poetic flame.

Waveland Independent, Friday, May 3, 1901 -- N.J. Clodfelter, formerly an Alamo poet, but latterly a financier and railroad promoter died in the insane hospital at Indianapolis Monday night.

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Note: Dr. Russell was an amazing person, poet, friend and I love that he wrote a poem to almost everyone he treated

"Lines to N.J. Clodfelter, after Partaking of His Hospitality" from Dr. Joseph Russell

Kind, sir within my memory's stored

A picture of your home and heart

And day by day it is encored

In justice to your noble worth

Its site rests on the city's crest

Long lines of view are amplified,

Your mansion one of art the best,

Aloft it stands - is dignified.

Two little cherubs light your way,

And wing your soul with raptures sweet

By prattle of their little tongues

And patter of their tiny feet

Between the threshold and the gate,

A gushing fountain pure and free,

Where fishes in their lithe estate

Glide through its waters leisurely

Here too are dragons, just a pair,

Their coiling tails are intertwined

Inanimate - but eyes aglare

Their savageness is well defined

On thes old Neptune proudly stands

And blows the waters into spray,

His limbs well set and lifted hands

Proclaim him sovereign night and day

Like him persistent let us be;

Continuous effort wins the prize/

To one whose work is masterly

An open door forever lies

May fortune kindly bless your store,

And amplify your good estate

If my good-will could give thee more

'Twould rank thee with the good and great."

Waveland Independent, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana

Friday, May 3, 1901

N.J. Clodfelter, formerly an Alamo poet, but latterly a financier and rail road promoter died in the insane hospital at Indianapolis Monday night.

Weekly Review 29 Oct 1887

Mr. Clodfelter, the author, has sent on to the publishers the manuscript for his new work of fiction, "Snatched from the Poor House." The book will contain 360 pages will be issued about Dec 15. The publishers are T. Peterson & Bro, Philadelphia. 10,000 copies will constitute the first installment for which Mr. C. receives $1,000.

Source: Indianapolis Journal 3 Jan 1895 p 6

Noah J. Clodfelter, promoter and VP of the Indianapolis, Anderson, Alexandria & Marion Electric Railway was in town last night, flushed with visions of the apparent success of his new venture. Yesterday afternoon the directors of the company held a meeting at the office of McBride & Denny, attorneys for the road.  The following directors were chosen: NJ Clodfelter; Franklin M. Cice; Charles A. Miller and William F. Miller of Crawfordsville; George F. Huggins, New York; ML Painter and VC Quick of Alexandria; FM Dice, who is prominent among the moneyed men of the Hoosier Athens is president of the company. Noah J. Clodfelter, who won his spurs a few years ago by writing verses is VP and Charles A. Miller, a Crawfordsville real estate agent occupies the position of treasurer. William F. Miller, assistant treasurer is a Tennessee capitalist now sojourning in C'ville; ML Painter and VC Quick, the Alexandria members of the corporation, represent a land syndicate in the gas belt. The meeting of the directors yesterday was called to ratify the contract for the construction of the road which was last week awarded to CE Loss & Co of Chicago. This firm, Mr. Clodfelter says, "will receive 525,000 for building 35 miles of the road. The contract calls for the full equipment of the line. The first branch of the road will be constructed between Anderson and Marion and is to be completed by Sept 1, 1895.  The directors of the company say they have already secured the right of way through Madison and Grant Counties to the Marion County line. The franchise provides for 32' which will admit of a double track. "We shall commence the construction within 60 days," said Mr. Clodfelter "and we expect to have the road running into Marion County before many months. We are not quite ready to ask the commissioners for the right of way but expect to do so in good time. If they refuse to grant it we won't feel a bit discourage, for we have money and can buy a private right of way. The capital stock of the company is $100,000. Last week we negotiated in NY $600.000 worth of bonds. They bear 6% and are 20 year gold-bearing coupons. The standing of the company financially is gilt-edged and we will get through, despite the rumors of opposition.  Charles L. Henry, who owns the Anderson Street railway undertook to bluff us out of entering his town but the game didn't work and our cars will go into Anderson on time. We have heard that there is a scheme to united all the towns of the gas belt by electric railway but if this is done it will be by our company.  We got in first and they can't touch us!"

Marion County, Indiana

[Indianapolis Recorder, May 11, 1901]

Noah J. Clodfelter, who was at one time well known as a writer, died Sunday night at the Central Hospital for the insane, where he had been

confined for nearly two years. He was in his 49th year. I addition to having won some fame as a writer of verse and also as a story writer, Mr. Clodfelter was well known as the promoter of an interurban railroad scheme. He made much money in his time but financial reverses finally depleted his purse and his friends believe, caused his mental trouble.

Mr. Clodfelter was raised in Montgomery county near the village of Alamo. One of his hallucinations in his last days was that he was immensely rich. To a recent lady caller he said: "Have you plenty of money? If not, I'll tip the stars and they will fill your lap full of

shining gold." The funeral took place at Crawfordsville.

Submitted by Teresa Haines Rigney from Genealogy Trails, History Group - Marion County.

Source: Seymour Tribune Thu 13 May 1897 p 2

Fairmount, Ind May 13 - The contractors building the Indianapolis, Anderson and Marion electric railroad have put two forces of men with teams to work between here and Marion grading the line and other forces will be organized and put to work at other points within a few days.  Noah J. Clodfelter, general manager of the company, says the line will be in operation between Anderson and Marion by September and between Indianapolis and Marion by the first of the year. There will be two powerhouses, one located here and the other at Alexandria. The bu8ilding of the road will cost $500.000.

American Literature Blog 1-27-2013

"I suppose it is natural for every parent to weep for his child, but the ties that bound me to this little one certainly were strong and if I were foolishly attached, it is a weakness for which I am innocently to be pitied."  When Byron died 1-27-1879 at the age of 3 years 7 months 28 days.  All of the poem is extremely touching but my favorite stanza is: "But now farewell, on earth, farewell, My little boy, farewell to you, Soon will I go to thee and dwell and there forget this sad adieu.”