Elmer E. Massey
Elmer E. Massey, who has been holding one of the leading clerical positions in the offices of the Indiana Rubber and Insulated Wire Company, at Jonesboro, since March, 1904, is well known to the people of this city. He was born at Malta, Morgan County, Ohio, June 18, 1862, was educated at Muskingum College, of New Concord, Ohio, and at the Normal College of Valparaiso, Indiana, and then took up the vocation of teacher, which he followed in Morgan County for a period of four years. He first came to Indiana during the winter of 1883-4, and here taught a the principal of the Harrisburg (now Gas City) schools for three years, following which he present two years in the clerical department of the De4ering Manufacturing Company, Chicago. On his return to Indiana, Mr. Massey again adopted the vocation of educator, and this he followed until accepting his present position in March 1904. He was a successful teacher, was popular alike with pupils and parents, and had an excellent record, and in the line of his present vocation he is also showing marked ability. He has profited by his long and thorough training, may be said to be an expert in his calling, and has the confidence and respect of the business men among whom he ahs labored for so long.
Mr. Massey is a son of John Massey, also a native of Morgan County, Ohio, and a son of William Massey. The grandfather was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and there grew to manhood, in an old Quaker family, descended from William Penn stock. AT an early day with four brothers, he left his home in the Keystone State and journeyed to Ohio, where he remained although his brothers pushed on and finally located in Western Indiana. He was married in Muskingum County, Ohio, to Mary Gay and they became pioneers of Morgan County, settling in the depth of the woods and living in a little rude log cabin. They hewed themselves a home from the wilderness, lived to see the wolves and deer desert their native hiding places, driven forth by the relentless march of civilization, and became prosperous and highly respected citizens. The grandmother was sixty-seven years of age at the time of her demise.
John Massey was reared to agricultural pursuits and was given the usual education obtainable in the public schools of his day and locality. On attaining manhood he was married in Morgan County, Ohio to Mary C. Crawford, who was also born in that county. Together they cleared and improved a good and valuable farm, added to their holdings as the years passed, and accumulated a valuable property, which they left to their children along with the priceless heritage of an honored name. Mr. and Mrs. Massey were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a stalwart Republican, although not an office seeker, but took a keen and sincere interest in all that affected the welfare of his community or its people and endeavored to assist movements which had for their object the progress of his locality in any way. At the time of the Civil war he shoed his patriotism by enlisting in an Ohio regiment in the Federal army, and after serving for one year received his honorable discharge and returned to the duties of a civilian. Of the children, two died in infancy; W. J. is a successful attorney at law of Zanesville, Ohio; a sister, Mary E., was a teacher for some years and died while thus engaged; Charles L. is in the tire department of the Indiana Rubber and Insulated Wire Company, is married and has a family; and Elmer E. is the other child. The father died at the age of seventy-seven years, while the mother reached the age of eighty-two years.
While a resident of Richland Township, Grant County, Indiana, Elmer E. Massey was married to Miss Maggie U. Walker, a native of this township, who was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. Two children have been born to this union, namely: Emil L., born October 9, 1896, a graduate of the Jonesboro High School, class of 1914; and Pauline Retta, born July 14, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Massey are active members of the board of trustees, and in the work of which both are very active. He is popular in fraternal circles as a member of Amana Lodge, No. 82, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Jonesboro; Junior Order United American Mechanics; Grant Lodge, No. 7; The Knights of Pythias, at Converse, Indiana; and the Tribe of Ben Hur, at Jonesboro.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914