This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Halstead, Bernethy, Abbott, Shell, Ross, Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/xh.2ADE/1633 Message Board Post: This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it just has the insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. NOTE: I don’t know if there is any additional mention of this family in the book, it has no index. I do not want to sell this book. I am typing the biographies from it. Typed by Lora Radiches: Surnames in this biography are: Halstead, Bernethy, Abbott, Shell, Ross, ARTHUR M. HALSTEAD. Since 1918 the tailoring business of Arthur M. Halstead has been one of the substantial business enterprises of Gary, where the proprietor, a thorough master of his trade, has built up a large, lucrative and representative patronage. Mr. Halstead commenced his career as a teacher in the public schools, but after a short experience in this line decided that he could find greater profit in some other field of endeavor and therefore applied himself to learning the business with which he has since been identified. From modest beginnings he has developed a large clientele among the prominent business, financial and professional element of the city and has established himself firmly in public confidence and esteem. Arthur M. (Art) Halstead was born at Clay City, Indiana, March 4, 1881, and is a son of B. F. and Marilla (Bernethy) Halstead. His father, a native of New York State, was educated in the public schools there, but as a young man came to Indiana and wa! s married at Logansport, subsequently moving to Clay City, where he lived for some years. Later he resided for a few years each at Patricksburg and Monticello, but eventually moved to Plainwell, Michigan, where he passed the evening of life and died December 27, 1929, being buried at Plainwell. For many years Mr. Halstead was engaged in mining, but during the latter part of his life was a traveling salesman. Mrs. Halstead, who still survives him and resides at Plainwell, was born and reared neat Logansport, Indiana, where she was educated in the public schools, and has always been active as a Seventh Day Adventist, a church to which her husband also belonged. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Arthur M., of this review; B. G., of Indianapolis; D. L., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; I. F., of Indianapolis; and Vivian, the wife of Harry Abbott, of South Bend, Indiana. Arthur M. Halstead attended the public schools of Monticello, w! here he was graduated from high school as a member of the class of 1898, and on leaving school adopted the vocation of teaching school, in which he was engaged for two years. He then applied himself to mastering the tailoring trade, became an adept in this art, and in 1912 embarked in business on his own account at Monticello. He achieved success in that city during the six years that he conducted an establishment there, but in 1918, desiring a broader field, moved to Gary, where he now has a large business, conducted under his own name, at 522 Broadway. He has attracted an exclusive and highly desirable patronage and his establishment is now one of the largest individual enterprises of its kind in this section of the state. Mr. Halstead is a past master of Libanus Lodge No. 154, A. F. and A. M., of Monticello, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Rotary Club. In his political views he is a Republican, and while he has n! ot sought office has always been ready to give his aid to any worthy civic movement. On September 12, 1905, Mr. Halstead was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Shell, daughter of John and Mary (Ross) Shell, of Monticello, the former of whom was for years a prominent coal dealer of Monticello, and died in 1917. Mrs. Shell died in 1912 and both are buried at Monticello. Mrs. Halstead received a high school education at Monticello, and for seven years was a schoolteacher. While she is a woman of superior intellectuality, she has few activities outside of her home. Mr. and Mrs. Halstead are the parents of one son: Richard Arnold, who is attending public school.