Compendium of Biography
Of Henry County, Indiana
B.F. Bowen
Surnames in this biography are: Sadler, King, Coffin, Pride, Tribby, Moyer,
Mason, Bell,
JEROME F. SADLER.
There are no positive rules for building characters; there is no invariable
rule for achieving success. The man who can rise from the ranks to a position
of eminence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that surround his
path. The essential conditions of life are the same, the surroundings of
individuals differ but slightly, and he who reaches the goal of prosperity in
advance of those who started before him has but taken advantage of the
opportunities common to all. An eminent example of the class of men who rose
from the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few was Jerome
Ferdinand Sadler deceased late of Knightstown, Henry County, Indiana. Mr.
Sadler was born near Oxford, Ohio on the 25th of April. 1837, and was the son
of Elijah and Cordelia (King) Sadler, who had removed from Massachusetts to
Ohio about 1830. Elijah Sadler was an agriculturist and remained on his farm
near Ox-ford until his death, which occurred when he was forty-one years old.
After his death his widow faithfully reared the family of children, seven
sons and two daughters, on the Ohio farm until her death, at the age of
seventy-four years. The youngest of this family died when thirty-one years
old. A son, William T., was an army surgeon during the Civil war and was
killed at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, aged thirty-two years. All of the surviving
Sons were engaged in the live stock business. L. L. Sadler is a live stock
commission merchant at Cincinnati, Ohio, and the youngest brother, S. P.
Sadler, is in the same business at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and George
Sadler, now deceased, formerly engaged in that line also in Cincinnati.
Another brother, Elijah D. Sadler, was in the grocery business at Oxford,
Ohio, but died during the past year. When the subject of this memoir was but
eighteen years old he left the old farm and, coming to Knightstown, Indiana,
engaged in the live stock business, buying and shipping to Cincinnati. He had
previously engaged to a limited extent in this business at Oxford, Ohio, but,
coming to Knightstown in 1860, remained here five or six years, being
associated in business with a Mr. Coffin. In 1863 Mr. Sadler and J. W. Fort,
of Knightstown as equal partners, engaged in the live stock commission
business at Cincinnati. Ohio which arrangement continued until 1871 during
which time L. L. Sadler was their bookkeeper. In 1871 they opened a branch
house at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and for five years the subject remained in
charge there. In 1876 a branch was also opened at Philadelphia and was
maintained for three years, when it was closed and the subject opened
stockyards at Jersey City. New Jersey, and assumed charge of that business.
He remained in charge there for about fourteen years and at the same time
built an immense abbatoir in New York City, to which he gave his personal
attention, also conducted a business at Buffalo, New York. In 1892 the New
York business was closed up and Mr. Sadler removed to Buffalo, and also
opened another branch in Cleveland, Ohio, thus giving him business interests
in three cities, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Buffalo, while he resided in the
latter city, at the New Tift hotel. His brother, S. P. Sadler, had taken the
Pittsburg branch off his hands. His old partner, Mr. Fort, had remained his
business associate, but broke down, both physically and mentally, and Mr.
Sadler continued alone and had personal oversight of the business in Buffalo
and Cleveland. He was for ten years also associated in business with R. P.
Lindsay of St. Louis having a branch establishment in that city. Mr. Sadler
owned seats in the stock exchanges in New York and Chicago, and was president
of the company that built the Petroleum Exchange in New York City. He made
much money in the live stock commission business, but was ambitious, and
became largely interested in ranches on the western plains devoted to stock
growing. However, this venture was not financially satisfactory. He also
dealt very heavily in railroad stocks and bonds. He was an indefatigable
worker, and put forth tremendous efforts to build up and maintain his
business interests. But nature has its limit. The strain was telling on him
and he realized that a rest was imperative though he was feeling fairly well
up to the morning of his death. This deplorable event occurred on the 19th of
January, 1898 when, as he was rising from his seat at the breakfast table, he
was stricken with cerebro-paralysis. His remains were laid to rest in the
Glencoe cemetery at Knightstown, in a handsome white marble mausoleum, which
had been built according to his own ideas. The marriage of J. F. Saddler
occurred at Knightstown, December 25, 1866, at which time he was joined in
matrimony to Miss Martha Amelia Pride, the daughter of John and Rachel
(Tribby) Pride. John Pride was a native of Morgantown, West Virginia; while
Rachel Tribby was born in Cynthiana. Kentucky. They were married at
Rushville, Indiana, and settled in Knightstown in 1848. Mr. Pride was one of
the pioneer stock dealers of this section buying horses and mules and driving
them to southern markets before railroads were in existence. He was later
engaged in the cattle trade and also followed farming. He settled on the
tract, which is now the home of Mrs. Sadler in 1858 or 1859, and lived there
until his death January 15, 1892 at the age of eighty years. His wife passed
away July 28, 1901 in her eighty-seventh year and she had to the close of her
life retained her faculties exceptionally well. The mother of John Pride was
in her maidenhood Amelia Moyer and was born near Lancaster. Pennsylvania. She
reached the remarkable age of one hundred and eleven years, dying on the
Pride homestead at Knightstown in July, 1879. At ninety years she was quite
active, though somewhat lame, and was notably vigorous after she had passed
the century mark. She was totally blind for two years preceding her death.
Paternally she was of High Dutch (German) parentage. Her father was not able
to speak English but would not allow his children to speak German. Her mother
was a native of England. Rachel Tribbys parents were English people and she
was born on an ocean vessel while they were on their way from that country to
America. A cousin. Daniel Mason, of Knightstown, Indiana, was a soldier of
the war of 1812, and his eight sons were all in military service during the
war of the Rebellion. Two of them gave up their lives in defense of Old
Glory, one at Chickamauga and the other in Missouri. Only one of these
brothers is now living, Robert W., now in the National Soldiers’ Home at
Marion, Indiana. Of the Pride family but two children reached years of
maturity, Angeline (Mrs. John Bell) and the widow of the subject. The latter
was but sixteen years old when married to Mr. Sadler. She has erected a
magnificent residence on the homestead where she makes her home. Her brother
in-law, John Bell, has the practical over sight of the farm. Mrs. Sadler
always accompanied her husband, his business trips taking him into nearly all
of the states and into Canada. Politically J. F. Sadler was a stanch and
uncompromising Republican always keen and anxious to defend his party’s
policy and principles and spending much time and money in its interests.
Fraternally he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Knightstown. In 1881 he brought the old Pride home-stead located about one
mile and a half west of Knightstown, and this he always called his home,
regardless of the fact that much of his time was necessarily spent elsewhere.
He was a stockholder in the Citizens’ Bank at Knightstown. Mr. Sadler was a
man of many striking qualities. Of a distinctively social disposition, he was
fond of company and of the theater. He enjoyed all sports and games as did
his wife, and had many warm friends. He took a special pride in his
Knightstown farm, which he called “Hereford Place” and in his herd of
Hereford cattle, having imported some thoroughbred stock. He expected to
retire to this farm and live in more ease than lie had formerly indulged in.
He was an energetic, pushing, enthusiastic businessman, capable of
successfully operating extensive enterprises. No undertaking discouraged him.
He was somewhat venturesome and speculative, but his investments usually
yielded satisfactory returns. He was cool-headed under the most trying
circumstances, no difficulty ever disturbing his self-composure. He was large
of body and large of mind, and had little use for men of small caliber. His
was a positive character and he was always able to impress his views upon
others and lead them to action. When once he had determined upon a line of
action he was unswerving in his allegiance thereto. Quick and clear in his
decision, he was strong and precise in his actions. He enjoyed life to the
utmost, made many warm friends, and his decease was mourned by all who knew
him.
I typed this for those that are researching these surname. Sorry, but I don’t
know any more about this family, or this biography. Typed by Lora Radiches.