People of Medora Brick Plant



 Medora, Indiana
Indiana 425 southwest of Medora in Jackson County

History        Photos        preservation        BRickMaking        People        HOME

* Note - the Medora Brick Plant site is currently owned
by a private owner and IS NOT open to the public in any way.

 

 

 

 

How to help tell the story by sharing copies
of the images you have of the Medora Brick Plant

 

 

  

Names and information presented is what is believed to be true BUT without  guarantee.  Historical references used to compile this list can be inaccurate or incomplete. 

Please give correcting feedback email  Thank you for helping to get this correct.

 

A

 

 
B

Branaman, William T.

Founding Board of Directors 1904; third largest stockholder at that time.
 

Brown, Harry

machinist in 1930
C

Chapman, Charles

burner at brick plant in 1915; wife Delia A.
 

Clark, Howard

Known to be the Superintendent of the plant in 1930 at the age of 58. Resided with wife at 162 Main St. in Medora
D

Darkis, Troy L.

Current owner of the Medora Brick Plant site.  Worked at the plant as a young man.
 

 

 
F

 

 
G

Gray, Bernard A.

Superintendent of plant from 1968-1992. Began working at the plant in 1946 as a high school student the full time in 1951. 

 

Gray, Ralph

Worked at the plant beginning in 1925. Father of Bernard A. Gray and

 

Gray, Erridine

Brick plant salesman, son of Ralph Gray
H

Heller, John W.

Purchased the Medora Plant in 1925.  His son James P. Heller followed as President of the company beginning in about 1946.

 

Heller, James P.
 

President of Medora Brick Plant and the Jackson Brick & Hollowware Co. 1946 through 1970's when the Jackson Co. was still operating and then Medora until its closing in Jan. 31, 1992.  James Heller (1910-2000).
 

Heller, Mildred

Wife of James P. Heller.  Lives in Brownstown.

 

Hook, Fred N.

brick burner in 1915; wife Ella
 

Hughes, D.M. 

occupation farmer/ investor who was the largest stockholder at the plants founding in 1904.  Board member in 1908.
 

Hunsucker, Josiah L.

Founding Board of Directors 1904.  Board member in 1908.
I

 

 
J

 

 
K

 

 
L

 

 
M

Medora Shale Brick Company

The original name of the company operating the Medora Brick Plant.
 

McMillan, C.C.

Board Member in 1908
N

 

 
O

 

 
P

Parker, Samuel

Know to be the Superintendent of Brick Plant in 1910 at the age of 30. born ~1879 married for seven years with child, Florence age 4 . He was from Ohio. Wife Eliza parents, 31, born in Ohio 1878 from England, Daughter

Q

 

 
R

Robertson, Joseph

President of both the Medora Brick Co. and the Jackson Brick & Hollowware Co. of Brownstown ~1922-1940.  Purchased the Medora plant in partnership with John W. Heller in ~1922.  Joe would have been 44 in 1922. Wife Bessie B. and daughter Carolyn born in ~1921.
 

Rudder, Elmer E.

a boss / foreman at the plant in 1914
S

Sheppard, George A

foreman in 1930
 

Smith, H.M.

Board of Directors 1908
 

Sutherland, Alva

Age 27 in 1910 - engineer at the plant - keeping equipment running.
 

Sutton, John H.

Founding Board of Directors 1904
T

Trautman, Cornelius V.

Founding Board of Directors 1904 and second largest stockholder at that time. Occupation: miller.  Board member in 1908.
U

 

 
V

 

 
W

Weddle, William

fireman at brick plant in 1915; wife Laura
X

 

 
Y

 

 
Z

Zollman, George W.

Founding Board of Directors 1904

 


In addition to the directory above the following people who resided in Carr Township (Medora) of Jackson Co. Indiana  indicated in the 1910 census that they worked at the Brick Plant:

Name and age in 1910

 

Lonsberry, Henry 27

 
Jackson, Curtis 52

perhaps - listed as a  'brick maker'

McMillan, Clyde 37

bookkeeper for the plant
McMillan,   Roland 26

nephew of Clyde?

Peck, Lew 30

married no children

Shelton, John 22

single, boarder   laborer at Brick Plant 

Sons, Nick 26

single living with Henry Lonsburry, his brother in law

Trueblood, Virgil 27

married, child

Williams, Charley 24

married children laborer   

Woods, Garry W. 21

son

Woods, David 18

son

 

The following people who resided in Carr Township (Medora) of Jackson Co. Indiana  indicated in the ~ April 11-22, 1930 census that they worked at the Brick Plant:

Name and age in 1930

 
Blair,Price 32  
Brown, Frank 24

 
Brown, Harry 41  
Davis, Ansell 26

 
Dixon, Alva 25

 
Dixon, Harrod 23

 

Durham, Perry 20

 

Durham, Gilbert 57

 
Gallion, St Clair 73

 
Gray, Ralph 28

 
Greathouse, Clifford 28

 
Greathouse, Lester 21  
Greathouse, Lonns 25  
Henderson, Russell 24

 
Hubbard, Roy 27

 
Hughes, Nineva 50

 
Hunsaker, Robert 50

 
Hunsaker, Henry S. 16

 

Lane, Everett 25

 

Loch(k)man(n), Erastus 54

letters in name unclear from census record image

Lonsberry,  John 29

 
McMillan, Rolland 46

 
Poor, Ralph 32

 
Pray, John 25

 
Shelton,  Frank 39

 
Shelton,  John 41

 

Sheppard, John W. 37

 
Smith, Frank 51

 
Smith, Taft 22

 
Sons, Frank 47

 

Tomsberry, Henry 49

 
Watts, Clarence 34

 
Watts, James 28

 
Weaver, Carroll R. 21

 
Weddel, Henry 42

 

Wineiseg--, Millard  47

last letters of last name unclear
Williams, Clarence 28  
Williams, William S 42

 
Williams, Willie 18

 
Woods, Daniel 38

 

 

     Help get the story of the brick plant correct.

  • What do you know about the brick plant's history? 

  • And how do you know  it?  Have any photo images to share?

  • How are names or events mentioned here familiar to you?

How to help tell the story by sharing copies
of the images you have of the Medora Brick Plant