He has never married, and has no relatives near him. His parents left Massachusetts in 1854, and settled in Rosendale, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, where he occasionally visited them before their death. In politics he is a Republican, and has ever taken an active interest in the public affairs of the county. He is a comrade of Owen Post, No. 329, G. A. R.
ADDISON L. WHITCOMB was born in Clinton, Vermillion County, Indiana, in the year 1839, and died at his birthplace October 7, 1886. His father, John R. Whitcomb, was one of the pioneers of the county, settling at Clinton in 1831, where he became one of the leading business men. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Clinton, where he made the most of his educational advantages. Soon after reaching his majority he began to show that capacity for business which later made him one of the most successful merchants in Western Indiana. He began his business career as clerk in his father's mercantile establishment. Eventually he engaged in business for himself, never halting in his successful course, and at the time of his death was the head of the firm of A. L. Whitcomb & Co., the leading establishment of the kind in Vermillion County. He was the architect of his own fortunes, having commenced life a poor boy, but through persevering energy and good management he became wealthy, having at the time of his death four farms in Clinton Township, real estate in the city of Clinton, and personal property exceeding in value $75,000. Mr. Whitcomb was united in marriage, December 25, 1861, to Miss Emeline A. Greene, a daughter of James M. and Julia (Halstead) Greene. She was born in Erie County, New York, May 12, 1841, coming to Clinton with her parents, where her mother died July 5, 1875. Her father was at one time a business partner of Mr. Whitcomb. After the death of his wife he returned to his old home in Erie County, New York. Mrs. Whitcomb was their only child. She still makes her home in Clinton, where her husband died. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb united with the Christian church, of which she is still a member. He was a member of no secret societies. In politics he always affiliated with the Republican party, and although he never aspired for official honors, he was not lacking in interest in public affairs. He was a highly respected citizen, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintenances.
JACOB C. PETERS, general merchant, Cayuga, was born in Circleville, Ohio, the date of his birth being December 8, 1856. He is a son of Newton and Margaret (Harren) Peters, of Circleville, both being natives of Ohio, the father born in Stoutsville, Fairfield County, and the mother born in Delhi, Hamilton County. Jacob C. was reared in Circleville, receiving his education in the schools of that place. He learned the carriage painter's trade, which he followed four years before coming to this county. In 1875 he came to Eugene, and for ten years following was employed as clerk in the store of his brother, H. O. Peters, after which he was associated with his brother as partner for two years, and in September, 1887, he bought his brother's interest. The brothers had established their business in Cayuga in 1885, since which time it has steadily increased until it has become one of the leading mercantile establishments in Eu-
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gene Township. They deal in dry goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, groceries, hardware, queensware, and gents furnishing goods, carrying a capital stock of $3,500, their annual business amounting to about $12,000. Mr. Peters was married June 14, 1882, to Miss Olie Parren, who was born in Perrysville, Vermillion County, Indiana, a daughter of William Parren, who is now deceased.
PLATT Z. ANDERSON, attorney at law, and one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Clinton, has been a resident of this city since November 7, 1856. He is a native of West Virginia, born in Wood County, December 28, 1838, a son of Michael and Prudence (White) Anderson, both of whom were Virginians by birth. The maternal grandfather of our subject, George White, married for his second wife, Rebecca Jackson, who is still living, aged seventy-nine years, and is an aunt of the late General Thomas Jackson, familiarly known as Stonewall Jackson. Michael Anderson still resides on the old homestead in West Virginia which has been the family home for forty-five years. His wife died at the age of thirty-five years. Besides our subject, three of their children are living, William P., Cummings and Elizabeth, their homes being in West Virginia. Soon after coming to Vermillion County, the subject of this sketch entered the mercantile establishment of Dale, Livengood & Co., of Clinton, as a clerk, and later was employed in the same capacity for John Whitcomb, becoming his partner in 1866, the business being conducted under the firm name of Whitcomb, Anderson & Co., for two years. Mr. Anderson then retired from the firm, and in company with Dr. Bogart, engaged in the drug business. Buying the interest of his partner soon after, he continued the business alone until 1875. In 1879 he was elected county surveyor, and a more thoroughly competent and efficient officer than Mr. Anderson the county has never had. He served in this capacity four years, and during this time, under his supervision and direction, all the graveled roads of the county were made, and the principal bridges built. He also served twelve years as magistrate, from the year 1861. In 1872 he was admitted to the bar, and has since been engaged in the practice of law. In connection with his law practice he does an agency business in real estate, insurance and collecting. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage September 1, 1859, to Miss Jennie Nourse, who was born at Nauvoo, Illinois, June 28, 1837, a daughter of E. B. Nourse, then a resident of Nauvoo, but now living in Clinton, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of seven children -- Eva, wife of John Payton; Lawrence B., Claude M., Max, Clifford, Platt Z. and Forrest G. Mr. Anderson cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since been a staunch adherent to the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Anderson has always manifested a deep interest the town in which he lives, and in every movement calculated to aid in building up the place or developing its business interests has his encouragement and assistance.
TILGHMAN FONCANON resides on section 35, Helt Township, where he owns a fine farm of 200 acres, 160 acres of which he entered from the Government. He was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1812, a son of Jacob Foncanon, a native of the same county, who