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Newton
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Newton
County
was a baseball player born on February 20, 1890 on a farm near Morocco, Indiana. He was known for his fleet-footed fielding and base running, which earned him the nickname “Baseball’s Man O’ War”.
Rice is considered to be one of the greatest athletes to be born and reared in the Newton County area. The Beaver Township baseball field is named in his honor. Rice’s story is one of glory on the playing field which earned him enshrinement in baseball’s Hall of Fame.
However, his story is also colored by sadness, as he is linked to what is considered to be the greatest natural tragedy to ever occur in Newton County.
Sam Rice Historical Marker
514 S Main St, Morocco, IN 47963
In 1908, William Howard Taft visited the Hazelden Farm estate of George Ade in Brook, Indiana, to formally kick-off his successful campaign to be the 27th President of the United States. Historians have termed the occasion “the most celebrated historical event ever to occur in Newton County.” John Ade, in his history “Newton County, 1853-1911,” described the gathering as “the largest and most interesting public meeting in the history of the county.”
George Ade was one of America’s most popular journalists and the author of the best-selling “Fables in Slang.” In 1908, he was the foremost playwright of the American theatre. Earlier that year, he had been a delegate to the Republican National Convention, which had nominated Taft, then Secretary of War, for President. Ade became acquainted with Taft when he served on the notification committee, which formally informed Taft of his nomination.
Hazeldon - George Ade Home
Brook, Indiana
Ade had built his beautiful Tudor-style home on his beloved Hazelden Farm near Brook, Indiana, a few years earlier. The home is now a national landmark
... Indiana's thirtieth governor, was born near Brook, Indiana, on February 4, 1865. At the age of fifteen, McCray finished his education and went on to work as a clerk in his father's bank, the Discount and Deposit Bank. He became a successful businessman, with interests in grain elevators, grocery stores, and Hereford cattle breeding.
McCray entered public service in 1904, serving on the board of trustees for the Northern Hospital for the Insane, a position he held until 1912. He also served on the Indiana Board of Agriculture from 1912 to 1916, was chairman of the Food Conservation Committee of Indiana during World War I, and served as a trustee of Purdue University from 1917 to 1918. McCray won the 1920 Republican gubernatorial nomination and was sworn into the governor's office on January 10, 1921.
William T McCray Historical Marker
2775 W 1500 S, Kentland, Indiana 47951
George Ade, the celebrated humorist, embodied a unique blend of charm, creativity, and amiable disposition. Standing tall and slender, with thick eyebrows framing pale blue eyes, he exuded a sense of leisure and kindness. Despite initial shyness, Ade’s interactions with others were delightful, leaving a lasting impression.
Ade’s legacy extended beyond his wit and humor. His Tudor Revival Style cottage, nestled in the grove, evolved into a two-story, fourteen-room masterpiece. Leaded glass windows adorned the upper floor, complemented by beamed and vaulted ceilings. Decorators from Chicago collaborated on the interior, incorporating Ade’s tapestries, furniture, and art objects collected during his travels to the Far East. The result was an eclectic blend—the living rooms exuded exotic oriental influences, while the bedrooms embraced an Early American aesthetic, all while maintaining comfort.
George Ade & Hazelden Historical Marker
3705 IN-16, Brook, Indiana 47922
