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From: Lora <>
Subject: [INFAYETTE] Biography of James Groenendyke
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 20:04:00 -0700

Posted on: Fayette Co. In Biographies
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/In/FayetteBios/10004

Surname: Groenendyke, Painter, Burke, McMullem, Burk, Corey, Rader
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Surname: Groenendyke, Burke, Painter, McMullem, Burk, Corey, Rader

Surnames are: Groenendyke, Burke, Painter, McMullem, Burk, Corey, Rader,
Painter

Compendium of Biography
Of Henry County, Indiana
1920
B.F. Bowen

JAMES GROENENDYKE

One of the most important industries in Middletown, Henry County, Indiana,
is the manufacture of the Favorite Washing Machine of which James Groenendyke
is the capable manager and John T. Burk the competent secretary and bookkeeper
of the company that hears the same name. James Groenendyke was born in
Fayette County, Indiana. July 6, 1838 and when five years old was brought
to Henry County by his parents. Michel and Anna Groenendyke, who settled
on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jefferson Township, where the
boy was reared to manhood. April 9, 1862 he married Miss Mary J. Painter,
daughter of Samuel D. and Anna Painter, and to this union four children
were born, of whom two died in infancy, the surviving two being Sarah Louretta,
who was married to James McMullen, but was called away in 1893, leaving
one son, Merta, and the second surviving child, Bertha G., is the wife
of Frank Smith, of Fall Creek township. Mr. Groenendyke in 1875 began making
drain tile on his farm of two hundred and twenty acres which he had purchased
in Fall Creek township, where he also owns one of the finest dwellings
in the neighborhood, his plant being known as the Bell Creek Tile Factory.
In 1880 he added a steam sawmill and a few months later discarded the manufacture
of tiling and took the initial step in his present extensive business,
in which he secured a half interest in 1882 as far as the right to manufacture
is concerned, but in this right to manufacture his sole interest is concentrated
or consists. And for this reason: Some years ago Mr. Groenendyke met with
financial difficulties that necessitated an assignment, but this trouble
did not last long. Mr. Groenendyke being a man of the strictest integrity,
matters were satisfactorily adjusted and he was permitted to resume business
as a manufacturer, his output being considerably augmented by the increased
popularity of the Favorite and the consequent demand for it on the market.
But the name of Mr. Groenendyke has been submerged and that of his wife
substituted, and she is now the ostensible head of the business and its
sole owner, While Mr. Burk attends to the details of the manufacturing
and Mr. Groenendyke devotes his attention to the outside interests of the
concern. Although the plant is situated about three miles from Middletown,
it is nevertheless classed as among the substantial industries of the thriving
little city. When Mr. Groenendyke started in life for himself he first
rented a farm and next, in 1868, purchased eighty acres of the Coffman
farm, giving fifty-six dollars per acre for it, but going in debt about
nine hundred dollars. At that time wheat brought two dollars per bushel
and hogs ten dollars per hundredweight. Later on his wife received one
thousand dollars from her father and he seven hundred dollars from his
father. These two sums went to pay for the farm in part, and another farm
was purchased, until at last he owned two hundred and twenty acres, at
a cost varying from seventy one to thirty-seven dollars per acre. He continued
manufacturing tiles until about ten years ago, the output being disposed
of to the local trade, but he has laid many rods on his own property. He
has also made a specialty of grass growing and of fattening cattle. The
Favorite Washing Machine plant netted Mr. Groenendyke about ten thousand
dollars and has a capacity for turning out fifteen thousand dollars worth
of this popular household machine annually. The wood, beech, poplar and
cottonwood, is grown on the premises, but large quantities are also shipped
from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Cairo, Illinois. Sales of the machine are made
through hardware dealers, as well as local agents, a Mr. Neff selling about
one hundred the first year, and the sales increasing annually until 1883,
when Mr. Groenendyke started on the road himself. He made exhibits at many
fairs and in the year mentioned was awarded a silver medal at Cincinnati.
Many carloads are shipped to local agents and as an illustration of the
extent of the trade, which these local dealers carry on it, may be mentioned
that one dealer at Richmond recently ordered two hundred and fifty as one
consignment, total sales averaging three thousand per year. John T. Burk,
the secretary and bookkeeper for the Favorite Washing Machine Company,
is a native of Virginia and was fifteen years old when he came to Indiana
with his mother, a widow. About a year later, in May, 1877, he entered
the Groenendyke family and acquired a common school education, worked on
the farm for some time and was then placed in the factory until his leg
was broken by a runaway horse in April, 1892, and in the following December
it was amputated below the knee. Since his recovery his work has been in
the office and he is practically the manager of the business for Mrs. Groenendyke.
In 1901 Mr. Burk was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Corey. Mrs. Groenendyke
parents, Samuel D. and Anna (Rader) Painter, were among the most respected
pioneer families in Indiana. Samuel Painter was a son of Absalom Painter,
one of the original settlers. Mary J. (Mrs. Groenendyke) was born on the
old homestead of Absalom Painter at Foyer's Mill November 13, 1840, and
is the eldest of a family of eight children, of whom she and an elder brother
are the only survivors. One brother, John Painter, died in his twenty-first
year; the father, Samuel Painter, was called from the scene of his earthly
labors to his reward on high July 12, 1876, leaving a name that is still
honored among the descendants of the original pioneers.

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