Howard-Clinton-Carroll County IN Archives Biographies.....Eikenberry, Martin W. 1858 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow (circa 1909)

MARTIN W. EIKENBERRY.

   Praise is always due to merit and especially where merit is the product of
unassisted energy- and perseverance. The self-made man commands our highest
respect. Those struggles by means of which he has risen from obscurity to
honorable distinction cannot fail to enlist sympathy and call forth our warmest
applause. The subject of this review is a notable example of the successful
self-made man, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellow citizens
by rising to one of the most important positions within their power to confer,
being at the present time the capable and popular clerk of the Howard county
circuit court, in which office he has displayed ability of a high order and
fully met the high expectations of his friends and the general public.

   Martin W. Eikenberry springs from a large family which had its origin in
Germany, but whose representatives are now scattered over a large portion of the
United States, being especially numerous in the northern part of Indiana, quite
a number residing in Howard county. The name is an old and honorable one and
wherever known stands for upright manhood and sterling citizenship. Those
bearing it have ever been jealous of the family honor, and tracing the genealogy
back through a long line of sturdy ancestors but few, if any, instances can be
discovered in which that honor has been sullied or its luster tarnished by the
commission of unworthy acts. The subject of this review is a creditable
representative of the family and inherits to a marked degree many of the
sterling qualities by which his antecedents have long been distinguished. He is
a native of Clinton county, Indiana, where his birth occurred on September 7,
1858, and is the son of Peter and Margaret (Eaton) Eikenberry, both of whom died
in that county, the father in 1865, the mother several years previous. Left an
orphan at the early age of seven years, young Martin made his home with an
uncle, Samuel Eikenberry, of Carroll county, until his twenty-second year, in
the meantime receiving a common school education and becoming familiar with the
more practical duties of the farm. In the year 1880, he accepted a position in a
general store at Middlefork and was thus engaged until 1886, when he resigned
his clerkship and the following year came to Howard county to engage in farming.
After spending two years at this vocation he disposed of his interests in this
county and in 1889 went to Nebraska, where he followed agricultural pursuits
until 1893, when he returned to Indiana and again resumed farming in Howard
county, which he continued with fair success for six years, his place of
residence during that time being in the township of Monroe.

   In 1899 Mr. Eikenberry discontinued tilling the soil to enter the employ of
Eikenberry Brothers, a mercantile firm of Russiaville, for whom he kept books
during the four succeeding years, and at the expiration of that period became
collector for Eikenberry Brothers, in which capacity he continued for five
years, spending the greater part of the time on the road. While still a youth in
his teens, he began taking an interest in public and political affairs and in
due time became not only well informed on the questions of the day but quite an
influential local politician, his services in behalf of the Republican party
being duly recognized and appreciated in his various places of residence. At the
earnest solicitation of his friends he was induced in 1902 to contend for the
nomination of clerk of the courts, but his competitor being a very popular man.
with a large following, he was defeated in the convention, though by a very
small majority, this fact leading him to make a second attempt four years later,
when he was successful.

   A Republican nomination in Howard county being almost equivalent to an
election, it followed as a matter of course that Mr. Eikenberry carried the full
party strength at the polls in 1906 and triumphed by a very decisive majority,
though he did not take possession of the office until January 1, 1908. Since
entering upon his official duties he has proven a very capable and obliging
public servant, being exceedingly diligent and methodical in the routine work of
the office and sparing no pains in looking after the important trust with which
he has been honored.

   Mr. Eikenberry has never failed to show a loyal interest in the welfare of
the county in which he resides, and is ever ready to lend his aid and
co-operation in the support of measures for the general good of the same. He is
public-spirited in all the term implies, believes in progressive measures in
every line of activity, and all laudable enterprises for the benefit of his
fellow men are sure to find in him an ardent advocate and liberal patron.

   In every relation of life he is zealous, ambitious and successful, but no act
inconsistent with the strictest integrity has ever been imputed to him, nor has
his name ever been connected with any measure or movement that would not bear
the closest and most critical scrutiny. Thus far his official career has fully
demonstrated the wisdom of his party in his nomination and election, and that
the future will but add to a reputation that has ever been above reproach is
universally conceded by his many friends throughout the county, irrespective of
political differences.

   In 1880 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Eikenberry and Angeline Bock,
daughter of Rev. Daniel Bock, a well-known minister of the German Baptist
church, who moved from Ohio to Howard county when Mrs. Eikenberry was a child
and settled in Ervin township.

   Mrs. Eikenberry was reared and educated in the above township and is a lady
of many estimable qualities, popular among her friends and highly esteemed in
the social circles of the city in which she lives. She has borne her husband
four children, whose names are as follows: Roxie, wife of Earl Woody, of
Russiaville; Edna, a stenographer and her father's deputy in the clerk's office:
Daniel H., a freshman in the State University, and Loren, a student in the
Kokomo high school. Mr. and Mrs. Eikenberry hold membership with the United
Brethren church of Kokomo, and take an active interest in all lines of religious
and benevolent work under the auspices of the congregation, contributing
liberally to the support of the Gospel and demonstrating by their daily lives
the beauty and exceeding worth of Christianity when practically applied.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)



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