Randolph County, Indiana
Charles Halliday
If there is one thing which distinguishes the American business man from those of any other country it is the faculty with which any and all occupations are readily taken up by him and made successful. In the older countries it was customary for the son to follow the father's pursuit. It is in such countries as the United States that full swing can be given to the energies of the individual. A man may choose any business or profession he desires, and he is limited only by competition. He must meet the skill of others and give as good service as they or he will not get the position, or business, as the case may be. Such adaptation to any work or business is well shown in the career of Charles F. Halliday, one of the substantial and influential men of affairs of Randolph county, a banker of Parker.
Mr. Halliday was born in Randolph county January 11, 1862. He is a son of Elias F. and M. Jane (Ringo) Halliday, whose family consisted of five sons and one daughter, namely: William R., a druggist at Lynn, Indiana, married Ella F. Stafford, and they have three daughters, Olive G., Ada F. and Bernda; Waldo M., who lives at Long Beach, California, married Elizabeth Neal, of Randolph county, and they have one son, Herbert Garfield; Flora R., of Farmland, married Philip M. Bly, a banker, and they have two children; J. Garver, a banker of Farmland, married Minnie Edwards, and they have one child, Geraldine; Charles F., of this sketch; George Lincoln, of Indianapolis, is state agent for the Ohio Cultivator Company; he married Laurel M. McKenzie, of Bellevue, Ohio, and they have one child, Justine.
Charles F. Halliday grew to manhood in his native county, and in Farmland he received a good education in the public schools, later attending a commercial college in Dayton, Ohio, from which he was graduated. His father was a farmer and he remained with him on the home place until he was twenty-three years old, then worked in a claim office for two years, then was employed in the State Bank at Farmland for seven years, after which he was employed by the Ohio Cultivator Company, of Bellevue, Ohio, for a period of five years. In all three positions he gave eminent satisfaction, winning the confidence and trust of his employers and showing himself eminently capable in every way. Upon invitation he came to Parker, Randolph county, after leaving the Ohio concern mentioned above, and organized the now popular and well-known Parker Banking Company in December, 1899, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, and his wise counsel and able assistance made it a pronounced success from the first and its growth has been rapid and constant. On March 15, 1913, this sound and safe institution was re-organized as a state bank, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, but retaining its former name. Mr. Halliday has been cashier of this institution since it was first organized, and his service of fifteen years in this connection has been eminently satisfactory to the patrons and stockholders of the bank. For a number of years he has been a director of the Parker Telephone Company, and did much to make it a pronounced success.
Politically, Mr. Halliday is a Republican, but he has never been specially active in political matters. His father was county commissioner for a period of six years, and was incumbent of that office when the courthouse and jail were built. He did much for the general good of the county. He also served as treasurer of Randolph county for four years, during the Civil war period, from 1861 to 1865.
Charles F. Halliday was married to Sarah L. Jones, of Delaware county, a daughter of William W. and Rebecca Jones, who spent their lives engaged in farming. Their family consisted of five children. Mrs. Halliday grew to womanhood in her native community and was educated in the common schools. She is purely a home woman, devoted to her family.
The union of our subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Rebecca Jane, born June 19, 1894, was educated in the local schools and DePauw University, and is employed under her father in the bank at Parker; Adah Florence, born May 24, 1900; Helen Elizabeth, born September 6, 1911.
Mr. Halliday is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson