Francis M Sonday
Thought but a short time a resident in the town no citizen has
impressed himself mere favorably on the community, which is due to his genial
character, his friendly greeting to everybody as well as his excellent business
habits and reliability as a citizen. He is full of enterprise and has already
done much to improve the conditions of his adopted home and altogether has been
a valuable addition to the commercial and social life of this enterprising and
progressive little city. His parents. Jacob and Barbara Sonday. were settlers of
Jay county, where they earned their livelihood by
farming and were esteemed members of the community in which they lived. Francis
M. Sonday, the second of their nine children, was born in
Jay county, June 8, 1873. and was reared to manhood in the place of his
nativity. Being studious and attentive, he received a good education in the
common schools, which has served him a good purpose through life. His parents
were poor, however, and before reaching his majority he was compelled to "strike
out for himself" as they say in the country. In 1892 he secured employment at
farm work in Allen county and kept at this for
about three years, when he took personal charge of his
own farm of one hundred and forty acres. Wearying of this, he concluded to try
another line and in 1900 opened up in the general mercantile business at Ari,
one of the live towns of Allen county,
and near his home place. He was appointed postmaster
of the place and acted as local agent for the Wabash Railroad Company. He
remained at Ari for fifteen months and then returned to his farm, which he sold
and in April, 1906, came to Churubusco. where he purchased the furniture and
undertaking business of E. L, Welshmier, enlarged the stock and otherwise
improved the plant and now conducts a first-class establishment. In 1906 he
erected a commodious store building, twenty-two by ninety with three floors,
built of cement blocks, equipped it thoroughly and by paying strict and personal
attention to all the details has enjoyed a full measure of prosperity. He is
public spirited and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all his townsmen. In
1892 Mr. Sonday was married to Miss Alice Galloway. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sonday are
identified with the United Brethren church.
History of Whitley County, Indiana By Samuel P. Kaler,
R. H. Maring
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