Clouser - Ira
IRA CLOUSER
Source: Bowen, A.W. History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: Bowen, 1913 p. 944
Selecting the law as his sphere, early in life, Ira Clouser, the able and popular prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County and one of Crawfordsville's best known professional men, has devoted his energies exclusively to that, ignoring other aspirations to make himself what he is today, well night a thorough master of legal science in all its ramifications. The common law, the statues of Indiana, the history, progress and growth of jurisprudence, as well as the higher and more obtuse principles of equity, are all completely at his command, constituting him one of the leaders of the local bar which position is readily conceded to him by his associates. As a practitioner he is cautious, vigilant and indefatigable, contesting every point with unyielding tenacity and employing his vast store of legal knowledge in sustaining his position and attacking those of his adversary. In argument Mr. Clouser is clear, forcible, logical and convincing, his irreproachable personal character and untarnished honor giving him great weight with juries, and his known ability and learning equally impressing the bench. Such a man is a credit to the community, and his life forcible illustrates what energy and consecutive effort can accomplish when directed and controlled by correct principles and high moral resolves, his character being the expression of a strong, virile mature, and his name is entitled to a conspicuous place in a work of the province assigned to the one in hand. Mr. Clouser was born in Sugar Creek Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, Oct 15, 1874. He is a son of Daniel and Mahala Hampton Clouser. Daniel Clouser was born on January 17, 1833 in Ross County, Ohio. He is a son of John and Margaret Orick Clouser the former born in 1777 in Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to Ohio soon after the close of the War of 1812, in which he served. He remained in Ohio until 1822 when he moved to Indiana, when Daniel Clouser was 5 years old, and here John spent the rest of his life, dying in 1868. He was a man of many trades. He ran a saw mill in Ohio and after coming to Indiana he continued to operate a saw mill, also a grist mill. These mills or combination mill was located in Sugar Creek Township, Montgomery County, and patrons came from all over this section of the country. His wife, Margaret Orick, was born in 1771. Her grandmother came from Ireland. The death of Mrs. Margaret Clouser occurred about the time she reached the century mark. Five children were born to John Clouser and wife, Daniel being the only one living at this writing, he having bee the youngest in order of birth; the others were named Mary, Alfred, Henry and George, all long since deceased. Daniel Clouser received what little education he could while growing to manhood amid pioneer environments, attending school in an old log school. He has lived to see Sugar Creek Township develop from a veritable wilderness to one of the most advanced farming communities in the state and he has been active in the progress of his community and is one of our most substantial farmers and honored citizens. On October 6, 1859, Daniel Clouser married Mahala Hampton, who was born Feb 7, 1840 in Crawfordsville, Indiana and was a daughter of Michael and Catherine Booher Hampton, her parents being from Tennessee. Eight children were born to Daniel Clouser and wife, all surviving but one: they were named as follows: Mary, John, Chestley, Sarah is deceased; Frank, Marion, Grace and Ira. Daniel Clouser has lived in Sugar Creek Township 76 years and is therefore perhaps the oldest inhabitant of this part of the county. He has always engaged in general farming and stock raising, also ran the Clouser Mill for many years, and was postmaster there quite a long time. He has always been one of the prominent and influential citizens of the northeastern part of the county and no man is held in higher esteem, for his life has been exemplary in every respect. He is owner of a finely improved and productive farm of 442 acres of valuable land in Sugar Creek and Franklin townships. He remodeled his dwelling some time ago and has a large, pleasant home and a good set of outbuildings. An excellent grade of live stock is always to be seen about his barns and fields. Politically, Daniel Clouser is a Democrat and has long been a leader in local public affairs. He served as justice of the peace in Sugar Creek for some time, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. His decisions were characterized by uniform fairness to all parties and they were seldom reversed at the hands of higher tribunals.
Ira Clouser received a good education in the common schools, the preparatory department of Wabash College and two years in the regular college work here, later attending the Indiana University at Bloomington for a year and a half. In 1900 he began reading law in the office of Johnston & Johnston and making rapid progress was admitted to the bar in 1902. He then established himself in the practice at Ladoga, opening an office there on August 12, 1903. He soon had a good practice there, and became attorney for the Ladoga B& L Company. In 1910 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County and his record was so eminently commendable that he was reelected to this responsible post in 1912 and is still discharging the affairs of the office in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has been connected with a number of important cases in this connection and has been very successful inn the trail of the same. One of the most important of these was the Jeffries murder case in June 1911. He has been prompt and effectual in the discharge of his duty in brining about better moral conditions in the city of Crawfordsville and throughout Montgomery County. He has lost but one case during his practice as prosecutor in circuit court. Fraternally, Mr. Clouser is a 32nd degree Mason, belonging to the Knight Templar, the Order of Eastern Star, having been worthy patron of the latter, and filled all offices in the Blue Lodge. He is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Temple at Indianapolis. He is also a member of the Benevolent and protective Order of Elks, the Progressive Order of Sons of America, and the Phi Kappa Psi, the latter a Wabash College fraternity. He is an uncompromising Democrat and has for some years been a local leader in the party. Mr. Clouser was married Oct 26, 1904 to Alice Sands, a lady of many estimable characteristics. She was born, reared and educated in Montgomery County and is a daughter of Wilson and Mary Sands, a prominent family of Darlington. -- typed by kbz