Randolph County, Indiana
Ernst E. Chenoweth
One of the best known and most successful of the younger members of the Randolph county bar is Ernst E. Chenoweth, of Winchester, formerly one of the most prominent educators. He has always been an assiduous student and is therefore a man of scholarly attainments and gifted by nature for a professional career, so we do not hesitate to predict for him a future replete with large success and usefulness.
Mr. Chenoweth was born November 12, 1874, at Hollandsburg, Darke county, Ohio. He is a son of John M. and Lydia A. (Bowen) Chenoweth. The father was born in Maryland and the mother in Randolph county, Indiana, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education. Her parents were well-known in the early history of the county. John M. Chenoweth grew to manhood in his native state and was educated in the public schools. He came to Randolph county, Indiana, in 1862, remaining about two years, then returned to the East for a short time, but came back to Randolph county. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully until the close of the war, participating in the many battles of the regiment, but was never wounded or taken prisoner. After being honorably discharged from the service he returned to Indiana, and he and Lydia Bowen were married on January 14, 1867, and began housekeeping on eighty acres of land lying in the very southeastern corner of Randolph county. Soon afterwards they removed to Richmond, Indiana, and remained there two years, moving from Richmond to Hollandsburg in 1873, and in 1877 returned to the farm in Randolph county, where they continued to reside until 1909, in which year they went back to Hollandsburg, Ohio, where they still reside. The father was a tinner by trade, which he followed while a resident of Richmond and Hollandsburg, but after returning to the farm, in 1877, he engaged exclusively in general agricultural pursuits until 1909, when he retire from active life and moved to town.
To John M. Chenoweth and wife five sons and two daughters were born, namely: Cora V. is the wife of Alvin I. Hiatt, of Lynn, Indiana; Everett M. lives at home; Sarah E., who married Lewis Mikesell, is deceased; John B. resides at Lynn; Ernst E., of this sketch; Chester C. lives in Wayne county, Indiana; Squire G. is operating the old homestead. The father of these children has always been a loyal Republican, and actively interested in public matters. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Spartanburg. He and his wife belong to the Christian church.
Ernst E. Chenoweth was reared on the home farm, where he did his share of the general work during the crop seasons, and during the winter attended the public schools in his neighborhood. He was graduated from the Hollandsburg high school in 1894, after which he attended Lebanon University, at Lebanon, Ohio, for a year, then was a student at the Normal School at Danville, Indiana, completing the scientific course and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1896. He then attended the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute for one year. Thus exceptionally well equipped for the serious work of life he began teaching in 1896; however, this was before entering the State Normal, and after leaving that institution he continued teaching for a period of seven years in the district schools of Randolph county, during which his services were in great demand. But finally tiring of the school room and believing that his true bent was in another direction, he began studying law in the summer of 1900 in the office of S. A. Canada, of Winchester, and taught in the winter, completing his law course, and was admitted to the bar in the summer of 1903. He was admitted to practice by the supreme court in1906. He gave up teaching permanently in the spring of 1905, and engaged in the practice of law with S. A. Canada, under the firm name, of Canada & Chenoweth, and they still continue, being successful from the first, and this is now recognized as one of the strongest law firms in Randolph county and one of the busiest.
Mr. Chenoweth is a member of the county and state bar associations. In the fall of 1910 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Randolph county, serving one term in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents, doing as much in those two years for the enforcement of law and order as had any other man. He was elected justice of the peace in 1905, and served a term of five years, giving satisfaction to all concerned, his decisions being noted for their uniform fairness and clear insight into the basic laws of jurisprudence and the statutes of the state of Indiana, and his decisions were never revoked at the hands of a higher tribunal. Politically, he is a staunch Republican, and active and influential in local public affairs. He has been a member of the Republican County Central Committee.
Mr. Chenoweth was married August 2, 1902, to Cora B. Stapelton, a daughter of Samuel J. Stapelton, of Darke county, Ohio. To this union two children have been born, Cecil E., whose birth occurred May 22, 1903; and Dale M., born June 22, 1911. Mr. Chenoweth is a member of the Masonic Order, including the Chapter and Council. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the Encampment; the Improved Order of Red Men, including the Haymakers; he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen, and the Sons of Veterans. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and are active in church and Sunday school work. His office is in the Red Men's Building, and his home on East Franklin street.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson