| Biography from "The Memorial Record of Northeastern Indiana" date and publisher unknown |
| From sterling ancestry is Dr. Maddox descended,-people of genuine worth and responsibility. No event of especial importance occured during his childhood and youth, which were passed on the old home farm in Chester Township, (Wells County, Indiana), where with the family he went through experiences of frontier life. In conning his lessons in the district schools and working in the fields his early years were spent. He also pursued his studies in a select school for a time, and at the age of eighteen began teaching, which profession he followed altogether for four years. At length he determined to engage in the practice of medicine. He read medicine for two years and then entered Liber College in Jay County, (Indiana), where he pursued his studies for two years, In 1871 he continued his studies with Dr. Doster, of Poneto, and in 1873 entered the medical department of the Michigan State University of Ann Arbor, at which institution he was graduated on the last Wednesday of March, 1875. Being thus fitted for preparation for his chosen calling, he opened an office in Vera Cruz, Wells county, where he remained until 1881, when he removed to Keystone. There he engaged in practice until March, 1887, and also carried on the drug business, purchasing the store of Mr. Shull, of Montpelier, which he conducted from 1887 until february, 1893. His health then failing, he laid aside business pursuits and has since lived retired. The Doctor is a man of excellent business and executive ability, and has been interested in various enterprises which have largely promoted the material welfare of the city. He was one of the organizers of the Northern Indiana oil Company, but after eighteen months sold his interest in that concern. he was also at one time a stockholder in the Salamonie Gas and Mining Company. He is now interested in the business of L.A. Centilivre & Company, oil producers, and also operates independently in oil. He owns 140 acres of land in the county which is leased to the Ohio Oil Company, also eighty acres in Wells County. He gave ten lots to the Chicago Truck & Steel Casting Company on the erection of it's plant here, and owns considerable valuable real estate in the Maddox addition to Montpelier and other parts of the city. On the 20th of August, 1872, Mr. Maddox was united in marriage to Miss Mary Emily Newman, who was born December 25, 1850, and is a daughter of John and Lydia Newman. They now have two children: Myrtie, born April 30, 1874; and Minnie Catharine, born december 29, 1876. Socially, the Doctor is connected with Bluffton Lodge, No. 145 A.F.& A.M., Montpelier Lodge, No. 188, K. of P.; and Kama Division, No. 77, Uniformed Rank. In politics he is a Republican, and as every true American citizen should do he feels interest in the growth and success of the party, yet has never sought or desired political preferment. The family attends the Methodist Church. The Maddox household is noted for it's hospitality and it's members occupy an enviable position in social circles. The Doctor is regarded as one of the most promoinent citizens of Montpelier, and his career has gained hime the confidence and high esteem of many friends. He is a capable business man, enterprising and energetic, who has worked his way steadily upward to a position of affluence. He has hosts of warm personal friends and is making more each year by the urbanity of his kindly nature and the strict fairness and honesty of his business dealings. |
| Montpelier Evening Herald Friday, January 16, 1920 ------------------------------------------------------------------- "Death Takes Dr. Maddox" "At Ten O'clock Thursday Night A Well Known Man of the City and Community Answered Call" Dr. Leander Erastus Maddox, one of the best known men in Montpelier, Blackford County, and southern Wells County, passed to the beyond Thursday night at 10 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks caused by leakage of the heart. At the time of his death he was 68 years, 8 months, and 4 days old, having been born on May 11, 1851, on a farm in Chester township, Wells county. While the Doctor's health has not been the best for several years, he has failed fast since the death of Mrs. Maddox, which came suddenly on June 27, 1919. The deceased was the son of Wesley H. and Eliza Ann Grove Maddox, well-known settlers in southern Wells County. The subject of this sketch worked at home and went to school until he was past sixteen years of age, and then taught in the Maddox School in Chester Township, which was on the corner of the old home place, from 1867 to 1870. After leaving the schoolroom, he went to Poneto, where for two years he studied medicine in the office of Dr. Doster. Leaving this office he went to the office of Dr. Bennett, of Poneto, for a year, and took a medical course in the school of medicine at Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduating from that institution in 1875. He located at Poneto and practiced medicine for a year and then moved to Vera Cruz, where he followed his profession for seven years. From that place he moved to Keystone, and practiced medicine there for six years. In 1887 he came to Montpelier and bought the drug store now known as the Pioneer Drug Store, from J.P. McGeath. He conducted this store until 1900, when he sold it, and he, associated with David A. Bryson, Dr. C. Q. Shull, and others organized the First National Bank. He has since served as President, cashier and director of the bank and just this week was re-elected as director of the institution. In 1908, Mr. Maddox and H.R. Maddox (Harry Rupert-his nephew) bought The Pharmacy Drugstore, and he managed the business for two years, and felt the confinement was not the best for his health and the store was sold to it's present owner, Walter F. Bonge. He has been very much interested in farming and at the present time has two good farms east of the city, and on one of them he has one of the best herds of holstein cattle in this part of the state. Five years ago, he sold his Godfrey farm to H.R. Maddox. He was at one time a member of the school board, a director of the Montpelier Manufacturing Company and was interested with Neal Paving Company in street building in this and other Indiana towns. He was also interested with John F. Buckley in road contracting work. All of his life he has been a very active man. Soon after Mr. Maddox moved to Montpelier he purchased the home he has resided in for years. It included the land which is now a good resident pasrt of the city, on South Main street. The home place and grounds were retained, but the other land was laid off into city plots, and the addition is known as the Maddox Addition to the city. The land was formerly owned by the Boons, men who settled in this city, and helped start the town. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. A.F. Howell, of Muncie, and Mrs. B.M. Cloud of this city. The deceased was a member of the Montpelier Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges and the Muncie Lodge of Elks. Funeral from the home Monday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, with the Masonic Lodge in charge. Burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery. |
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| Dr. Leander Erastus Maddox and Mary Emily Newman Maddox had the following children: 1) Myrta Maddox- born April 30, 1874 in Montpelier, Blackford County, Indiana. Died ? in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. Married A. Fletcher Howell of Muncie, Indiana. A.F. Howell was Vice President and Secretary of the Jospeh A. Goddard Company of Muncie, Indiana. Their children: a) Leander F. Howell b) Joseph M. Howell c) William D. Howell 2) Minnie Catherine Maddox- born Dec. 29, 1876 in Montpelier, Blackford County, Indiana. Died August 3, 1952 in Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana. Married Bruce Morrison Cloud-born Dec. 28, 1868 in Wells County, Indiana to John T. Cloud and Emma Jane Buckland. Died May 1, 1940 in Montpelier, Indiana. Bruce Cloud was an independent oil producer. Their children: a) Mary Emily Cloud Bigler of Chicago, Illinois b) Catherine M. Cloud Pachter of Topeka, Kansas c) Alice Lee Cloud Sholty of Montpelier d) Boy Cloud-died in infancy |
| Fourth Generation- Dr. Leander Erastus Maddox son of Wesley Harvey, grandson of Michael, great grandson of Nathan |
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| MADDOX FAMILY HISTORY |
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| Dr. Leander Erastus Maddox-date unknown |
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